In Your Time

Chapter 21

With only a few weeks of Torin tutoring me, my grades were already improving. At school, Torin and Braden has a stand off at my locker again. I was worried they were going to make it a habit. The stare downs had been happening ever since Torin transferred. I decided to ignore them like I always did as I opened my locker and grabbed my books.

"Here let me hold those," Torin said as he reached for my books. Braden stopped him.

"I got it," Braden glared at Torin. I sighed and slammed my locker before I walked off without either of them. It was a second before both of them were walking on either side of me.

"Can you two stop it already. I don't even know why you two fight with each other," I begged quietly.

"You already know why I don't like him," Braden said.

"And he refuses to let you have any friends other than him," Torin countered. I stopped in my tracks and sighed. They both stopped a step ahead of me before turning to look at me.

"Until you figure it out, both of you stay away from me," I said resolutely before walking off on my own. They stood there arguing with each other until I was out of sight. Going to my class, I finally felt at peace. Truthfully, I understood both of their points. Braden was worried because I was from the future, but it did seem like he wasn't allowing me to have other friends from an outsider's point of view. I knew he was worried, but I still had to attempt a normal life.

At lunch, I decided to sit at a table by myself. Torin and Braden had been fighting each other at the lunch table as well lately. I started eating my food when the pair sat across from me. I glanced at them briefly before going back to my food. Oddly enough, they were quiet.

"Have you figured it out?" I asked. They looked at each other before nodding hesitantly.

"Torin understands that I worry about you because of your health," Braden said vaguely.

"And I just want to be a good friend to you," Torin said. I sighed before glancing at them again.

"Good. You two should probably become friends too. You'll need each other when I go," I muttered.

"Where are you going?" Torin asked at the same time Braden said my name.

"I told you before, Torin. My family is in Australia," I answered automatically. Braden gave me a knowing look. I hadn't been pulled in weeks, and I was starting to get anxious about it. Either my dad couldn't get it to work anymore or the next time would be the last. After lunch, Braden pulled me aside in gym class.

"Have you felt anything recently?" He asked. I shook my head. I think the next time will be the last. Help me explain to Elizabeth and George when it happens," I asked him. He nodded.

After my tutoring session with Torin, Braden decided to take me to the boardwalk for some fresh air. He brought his guitar along with him. After finding a good bench, we sat and he pulled his guitar out.

"I wanted to join the talent show, but I think I should get used to playing in front of people first. You relax, and I'll practice," he bargained. I chuckled slightly before I stood and took a few steps away from him.

"I'll be your first fan then," I said. He smiled at me before he started playing. After a moment, people started to gather and watch. A few people even pulled out their phones and recorded him. I remembered now. This was the moment that made him famous. It felt surreal to see it happen in person. With no knowledge of the future, anyone would think that it was just a kid playing on the boardwalk, no one would even know that this was the moment that would change his life forever. I was suddenly glad I moved from beside him. If I'd been captured in that viral video that made him famous, I wouldn't had a lot of explaining to do later on, and I could've altered the timeline. After Braden finished, everyone cheered for him. Seeing it from the sidelines like this, he really did have the star quality. After a few more songs, he packed up his guitar and stood with his case.

"Excuse me. What is your name?" Someone asked.

"Braden Park," he answered with a shy smile. The crowd stayed to tell him how good he was before they continued about their day. The sun was finally starting to set.

"We should head back for dinner," Braden said as he laced his hand with mine. I felt giddy. I was glad everything happened like it was supposed to. Before, I was worried that my pushing might have changed something. It was a relief that I didn't.

***

The next few weeks were, thankfully, monotonous. Like any other day, I went to school with Braden, then went through the motions of my classes. When we got home, Torin tutored me as usual when I finally felt it. I held my head gently as the feeling cane over me. I grabbed Torin's arm tightly as my breathing came in pants.

"Get Braden," I begged. He hesitated before running out of the room. When Braden came back, he closed the door on Torin and locked him out before coming to my side.

"I think this is it. Apologize to your parents for me," I asked as my breathing labored.

"I will. And in the future, I'll find you. I'll wait for you," he said. I shook my head but Braden pulled me onto his lap anyway.

"Keep playing music. You're really good at it," I smiled weakly. I felt myself fading fast. Braden kissed my head gently.

"I love you," he said softly before I was flying through the familiar colors. When I reached the wall I always got stuck at, I saw my dad's lab. There was a reenforced specialized crane that reach in towards me. Hesitantly, I held onto it as I saw the machine whirl down. When the machine was fully shut down, the weight of gravity returned to me. My hands slipped and I fell to the ground. I coughed briefly before losing consciousness altogether once I saw my dad rushing towards me. I was finally home in my own time.