Timelines Are Not Meant To Be Joined Together (SAMTBK Vol. 5)

Act 7: Hidden Angers

(I'll make the act card later)

Claire's P.O.V.

Next thing I realized... I had messed up my own room quite a bit...

"I just can't stand to see how he's changed," I said to myself, tidying up a bit. "I don't get why he has to change... I wasn't gone a lifetime. I was only gone a few years..."

I hopped out the window, mainly because I didn't want to have to talk to anyone or stir them from their slumber, and went for a walk. I noticed Larry at the pier and decided to talk to him.

"Stayed up all night too?" he asked me.

"What kept you?"

"Homework... and maybe the fact that X and Chrysta are at the verge of de-sibling-ize-ing... and maybe the fact that Jersey is beginning to think up of way to many theories about the strange girls who look oddly like Max... and maybe the fact I heard a thud or three from the room above mine."

"Ooops... sorry about that Larry..."

"...Edric is up too."

"Really? Why?"

"He had a nightmare... he talked to me about it... he's currently skipping stones about half a mile south."

"Hmm..."

"So what kept you up?"

"Oh... where do I start?"

"...Maybe with a name?" I then realized he already knew... and was only trying to help me recover...

"Okay... stand back, Larry... I'm going to say this bluntly: Maxwell Zuki is what Earthians call a jerk. He can't even be in the same room as me without doing something to ruin my joy. All I want to do is spend time with you all. That's why I came back. But Max doesn't seem to want me around. It's like reverse of what usually happens! I'm on the receiving end this time and I understand that it hurts! Can Max please just stop already?! HE'S PROVED HIS POINT!"

Larry pat me on the back and nodded.

"I find yelling helps." I looked up at him and smiled, wiping the tears from my eyes that I didn't realize where there and didn't know why they were.

"Thanks."

"It's what I do..."

"Something else on your mind, Larry?" He nodded.

"I... have a confession to make."

"Okay. You can vent." He took a breath before telling me.

"Claire... I look up to you very much. Since the day we met, you've been nothing but an influence in my life. I've aspired to be like you, but I just don't understand much... how can you do things like this so easily? How can you not tremble when you are faced with deadly situations? How can you say goodbye to those you care about so easily? How...I just need to know... it is the only way for my Wish Feather to appear. When I fulfill this last self request..."

"...I have no clue what a Wish Feather is, but know this, Larry... you're wrong. I don't let go easily."

"Then... how come you've been gone so long?"

"I..." I felt my face change... I wasn't sure if it was being flushed of color or heating up, but I knew it was one of the two. "I sort of wrote letters... and never sent them... and now never plan on doing so..."

"Letters, you say?"

Max's P.O.V.

I can't take it anymore! I have to talk to Claire about this... maybe if I understand her side of things, I can understand what exactly happened during these past few years... I knocked on the door to Claire's room. No response, but the door is unlocked, so she can't be asleep. I opened the door and saw the lights were off. Sunshine was rising over the horizon and sent an orange glow into the room. The window was open and the curtains were fluttering slightly with the wind...

Claire went out the window... well, I guess I'l just wait here while she's out...

At least, that's what I thought I'd do, until I noticed a letter on her nightstand... addressed to me.

I picked it up and noticed that there was no postage stamp or anything. Just my name on the envelope...

Claire's P.O.V.

"We should probably head back. The sun's starting to rise and they'll begin wondering." Larry nodded.

"Yeah. Let's get Edric first."

We jogged over to where Edric was, and he was actually jogging back, so we met up and began jogging back to the house. When we arrived, I parted ways with the two and decided to go back into my room through the window.

Max's P.O.V.

"How. Do. I. Open. This. Thing?!" I said quietly as I struggled to open the letter addressed to me. I heard a thud and froze. Claire was back. She was trying to jump back in through the window... good thing she can't jump high. I silently ran, put the envelope back where I found it, and left the room, quietly closing the door behind me. I then retreated to my room for a few minutes to process what I saw...

A few hours later...

Destiny's P.O.V.

"Wait. You want ME to teach you how to read and write in Neolian?" Max nodded. "You also want me to teach you the ancient art of Heartscript?" He nods again. "Why?"

"I... might've... found something... and I feel I need those skills to fully understand it..."

Well, he asked me.

I'll teach him.

~~~~~~~~~~

I am still picturing frantic Max in Claire's room in my head.

I can't help but laugh thinking about it.

What is a Wish Feather?

What is the ancient art of Heartscript?

What does it have to do with Destiny?

What letters were Claire talking about?

Why couldn't Max open that envelope addressed to him?

Why WAS it addressed to him?

Well, question it all you want, I'll not spoil!

Though I still do even when I say that, I won't...

That's it.

Bye!