Crossed Worlds

Chapter 7: Progress

Jade took her usual position of sitting on the woodland floor by the barrier, with her legs crossed and her hands sat nervously in her lap. He hadn't arrived yet, but she didn't allow herself to worry. She knew, somehow, he'd be there. Instead of letting any concern grow, she closed her eyes. The whining branches became even more apparent with one of her senses blocked off. The chirping birds sang the sweetest song and, in the distance, she heard trickling water, something she hadn't recognised on her previous visits.

James saw her, and stopped in his tracks. She looked so peaceful, so content, with her eyes closed and a gentle smile on her face. He didn't announce his presence, he just stood there, admiring her. It had paralysed him. He knew he should have moved from his spot, it was getting creepy, but he couldn't help it. Jade fascinated him.

She opened her eyes and jumped.

"James! You scared me!" Her cheeks flared red as she spoke. Was she angry or embarrassed? He prayed for the latter.

"Sorry, sorry! You just look so at peace. I didn't want to disturb," he laughed, and took his seat opposite her.

She wondered what he had been thinking, as he had watched her, and how long he'd been there for. She didn't know why, but she felt like these questions would return to her later, as she tried to fall asleep, painting her slumber with a smile.

"Don't worry," she smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks. Yourself? Oh, and I actually have some news for once," he reached into his rucksack.

As she told him she was good, too, he presented a plastic wallet with two phones in it. They looked old and heavy, not lightweight and smart like the one she used now.

"What...what?" She laughed in her confusion. "What are they for?"

He pointed at one of them. "This one's yours. The other one is mine. We can use them to talk to each other from our separate sides!"

Jade felt a wide smile spread across her face. It made her cheeks ache in the best way possible. Being able to talk to James at any time of the day was something she assumed would be an impossible dream.

"How? This is crazy!" She couldn't sit still.

"I have this friend called Salim. Some may say he does dodgy deals, but it's clearly worked in our favour!" He wiggled the bag around. "I asked him if it would be possible to programme some old phones so we'd be able to contact each other, despite being in different sectors. He, of course, found a way to do it! Just don't ask me how."

Jade couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing.

"So, Salim knows you're visiting me? Talking to a Being?" She queried.

"Yeah, basically. He doesn't ask many questions. But we can trust him, don't worry. You can have yours when I cross over Friday."

It was at that moment that Jade realised that this Friday, in two days' time, James would be stood right in front of her. No life-threatening barrier. Just the two of them, together. It made her feel a cocktail of emotions. She was excited to be able to walk next to him, or accidentally brush her arm against his, be able to get that hug he wanted to give her. Yet, she was sickeningly nervous, too. He would be in her land, where they were already suspicious, and what if he got caught? What if they were found out? She felt her stomach start to cramp with stress.

"If this is too much, say," James put the phones back into his rucksack. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I guess I'm just worried for you. What if someone finds you out when you cross over?" She frowned.