Black to the Past

Chapter 29

Michael hadn't been able to find Jalen after school in the parking lot. He'd sent multiple texts but Jalen hadn't responded. Brooke finally convinced Michael to leave with her. She hopped in the passenger seat of his car and fixed her gaze on him.
    "Michael, have you ever given any thought to the fact that maybe Jalen just isn't into you like that?"
    "Yeah, I think about it all the time," Michael responded sadly.
    "And have you ever considered that maybe someone else might like you," Brooke asked him shyly.
    "Nah, I doubt that," Michael told her without looking at her.
    He pulled out of his parking space, his mind on one person only. He was ready to drop Brooke off at her house but she wanted to go to the library. Having nothing else to do he took her there. When they got inside he followed her to the teen section. He didn't notice that the professor had followed him.
    Once inside the teen area Brooke went off to find some YA dystopian novel she'd been dying to read so Michael took a seat at one of the computers. He typed in time travel. There were over 234,000,000 results. He sighed. He typed in time machine. Google asked what do you want to do with time machine? Why was that even an option, he cursed himself. Much of that search resulted in the movie The Time Machine or some new product from Apple. Michael was beyond frustrated. He needed some material to explain why he needed Jalen to call or text him back tonight!
    Michael sat back in his chair and pinched his nose with his fingers. If what this professor said was true, why wasn't the information available for someone else to find and discover? Maybe it's because it wasn't true. In frustration, Michael started to turn away and give up but when he turned to get up the professor was right behind him. How had he snuck up on him like that?
    "It's not in there. You won't find anything on the internet like what I have to show you, tell you."
    "Professor," Michael said in a shocked and high-pitched voice.
    "Michael," the professor responded.
    "Wait, how do you know my name? I never told you," Michael asked.
    "Michael I know everything about you," he said in a low voice. "I know that you and your friend are two of the most intelligent kids alive right now. That's why I came looking for you," he told him.
    "Wait, what? You came looking for me," Michael asked in disbelief.
    "I don't have a lot of time Michael. What are your fears?"
    "That you're lying to us. You're going to kill us," Michael blurted out.
    "I can understand your fears. I'm not here to kill you. I need you. I've been waiting for you for decades. I need you to go back in time with me Michael. Time travel isn't what you think. This isn't the movies. I don't have time to explain. Will you and your friends be there tomorrow?"
    "Yes. Most of us," Michael responded unsure of who all would actually come.
    "I need all of you," Professor Harold told him urgently. "You all play an important part in the future."
    "How?"
    "I can't explain how right now but in time I will. Be there, Michael," the professor urged him with a squeeze of his shoulder before he disappeared out of the room.
    "Be where?" Brooke asked as she came up from behind Michael.
    "Huh? Oh, no where," Michael lied.
    "You're lying, Michael. That old man just told you to be there. Be where and who is he?"
    "I don't know him. It's nothing," Michael said exasperatedly.
    "You don't want me to come, fine, but don't lie. I've got my book, let's just go."
    Brooke was visibly upset. Not only was he choosing to spend his time thinking about Jalen more than her, now he was lying to her. They'd been best friends for a very long time, she didn't feel she deserved that!
    Brooke refused to speak to Michael in the car. He was still disturbed by what he'd been told that he had an important part in the future. He couldn't imagine how that would be possible. His head was starting to hurt. He needed to get in touch with Jalen and the rest of the crew. He called him using the bluetooth feature in his car. Finally, Jalen picked up.
    "Man, I've been texting you! Where've you been?"
    "We came to see Halle. What's wrong with you? Did you see a ghost," Jalen joked.
    "No but I need to tell you all something. Are you still there, at Halle's?"
    "Yes."
    "Okay, I'm coming over. It's very important. Tell everyone I have more information from Professor Harold," Michael told Jalen forgetting that Brooke was still in the car right next to him.
    "I thought you said you didn't know him," Brooke whined.
    "Brooke, stay out of it. I don't think this guy is safe. I don't want you to know what's going on," he told her honestly.
    "Too late. I'm coming to Halle's too," Brooke told him defiantly.
    "Brooke, no. I'm taking you home."
    "I won't get out of the car, then what?"
   
    He knew she wasn't lying so he just dragged his fingers through his hair and turned towards the direction of where he and Halle lived.