A Glance Through Time

Chapter Four

  I woke up in a haze to my alarm chip chirping relentlessly in my ear, and the bright morning light seeping in through my window. I had stayed up until the early hours of the night, scouring the e-net for any information on time boxes, and gotten very little sleep in the process. I reluctantly lifted myself out of bed and began getting myself ready for yet another torturous day at school. Every school day was just a minute closer to the inevitable change in my life, and I resented it for it, but ultimately had no choice in going.

  I made my way downstairs after finishing up getting ready, expecting to find my mother in the kitchen like most mornings. To my surprise I found it empty and dark, signifying her absence from the room. I suppose she had just left early and had decided against waking me up to let me know. I shrugged and made my way to the front door, stopping to slip on my shoes before leaving my house. I would have to walk to school today, since my mother wasn't here to give me a ride. My school wasn't very far at all from my house, and the walk was quiet and peaceful at this time in the morning. It gave me plenty of time to think, although there was only ever one thing occupying my mind these days.

  I arrived after only a short fifteen minute walk, and stood anxiously in front of the tall ashy grey building. It's always looked pretty uninviting from the outside, but today especially it made me want to crawl out of my skin. The thought of having to go inside and listen to hours of my teachers preach about "our next step" and "journey towards adulthood" made me sick to my stomach. 

  I took deep breath and began walking towards the front double doors, watching them get closer with every step but unable to feel the ground beneath my feet. Soon I was standing in front of them, only needing to reach out my hand and push them open to make it inside. Instead I felt myself turning the opposite way.

"Hey Adelyn!" Jakob chirped, making my gasp in surprise. "You coming in?"

"Yeah of course." I laughed nervously. "I was just waiting for you of course." I smiled at him and he smiled back, before taking my hand and pulling through the doors and into the building. 

"I'm totally not looking forward to today's lectures, and especially not the bullshit inspiring speeches from the teachers. But hey, just think that In a few weeks we'll be done! I can't wait to get out of here and just start living already." 

  Jakob was practically skipping next to me, with the most cheeky smile plastered on his face. He's always been a pretty happy and optimistic person, but recently it's like hes been throwing up rainbows and shitting out smiles. I couldn't help but mentally roll my eyes at his enthusiasm. I just couldn't understand why on earth he was so happy about having his profession and the entire rest of life being chosen for him. He's always been the complete opposite of me in that way, trusting the order with his life, while I resented them for choosing it for me. 

  We arrived at our first class for the day, which used to be history, arguably my favourite class, but has now become just another room for exam preparations. Jakob began dragging me towards my seat but I stopped and released my arm from his grip.

"Class doesn't start for a few so i'm going to run to the washroom. Save me a seat?" I said as I began walking out of the class.

"Uh, yeah sure." He called out after me, but I had already left.

  I started making my way through the corridors, occasionally pushing my way through groups of chattering teens on their ways to class. I made it to the far bathroom on the third floor just as the bell rang. It was the least commonly used bathroom in the entire school so I was sure I would have some peace and quiet. I sat down on the toilet in the far stall and locked it behind me. I reached into my bag and pulled the time box out from under my textbooks and sat it on my lap. I stared at it for what seemed like hours, but was most likely only minutes, before slowly turning the knobs. I feel like I've gone crazy. Completely consumed by this image of a boy who by now is long dead, but with a touch of a finger could be standing right in front of me. Part of me wanted to forget that this is happened all together, but another, stronger part of me,  wanted to meet this boy and touch him. I knew I could feel him because I had touched his windbreaker the second time I had gone to meet him, but I had yet to feel his touch. I yearned for it in a way that felt foreign to me and made my stomach twist.

 I touched my thumb to the reader and shut my eyes as I felt the rush of my body being transported through time. I opened my and found myself in the middle of the concrete jungle that I had come to love. Everything was the same as the other times I had come, and in strange way it had began to feel like home to me. I yearned to be a part of the crowd - a part of this world. I wanted nothing more than to leave the restraints of the time bubble and become a part of this world and never go back.

  Instead I sat down in the usual bench and hugged my knees to my chest. I wasn't sure what I was going to say once he got here, let alone if I would even be able to work up the courage to talk to him. I had a million things that I wanted to say but none of them made even the slightest bit of sense. The last time I had tried to speak to him I couldn't find the words and ended up making a complete fool of myself. Thankfully he would never remember it, and I could hopefully make a much better impression.

  The sun began to set right on cue, and like clockwork I watched the fast paced city begin to slow. I watched as his eyes appeared through the crowd, his gaze as fierce as the day I first saw him. I sat up from my seat, expecting him to drop his gaze and continue on his way like the previous times, but something was different this time. His gaze remained locked on mine, and I watched as he began moving towards me in the most elegant stride. His face carried the warmest smile, creasing the skin around his eyes. 

  How was this happening? He shouldn't be walking towards me, this has never happened before and I know for a fact that history couldn't be altered in this way. He was always meant to continue walking, but for some reason he wasn't. It only took him a few steps to reach me but it felt like it carried on for centuries. The tension in the air was thick and heavy, and I could feel my blood pumping through every vein in my body.

"Hey." He said, breaking the silence with a single word. "You know, you don't really seem to fit in here dressed like that." He chuckled and motioned at my clothing. I was still wearing my school uniform which was a sleek silver colour with golden metallic detailing swirled throughout.  

  I laughed nervously and shook my head. "Yeah I guess I don't. It's just a costume."

"Cool." He smiled, stopping to take a seat on the bench beside me. "So are you from around here."

"Uh no not really. Just visiting. And you?"

"Born and raised. Some people think the cities way to loud and crowded but I love it. It's my home y'know?'"

 I smiled knowingly at him and nodded my head. On the outside I looked calm and collected but on the inside I could hardly hear myself think from how fast my heart was beating. He was inches away from me, his face so close to mine I could almost feel his warm breath against mine. I wanted to stay here with him forever, just talking and laughing until the sun went down and it was a new day, but I had to go. I remembered that I was still at school and that at least an hour had gone by already if not more. Class would most likely be over by now and Jakob would be worried about me.

"I'm sorry but I really have to get going now." I said, hopping of the seat and grabbing my bag from beside me. "It was great talking to you."

"I'd love to see you again, could I have your number or something?"

"I'm sorry I can't. I'm not from here. But i'll be back exactly a year from now if you'll still remember me by then."

"A year?" He laughed at the idea. "Alright sure. You were very memorable so I suppose I'll wait the year to see you again." He pulled out his phone and began typing something into his calendar before sliding it back in his pocket. 

"Bye. See you." I started walking quickly away from the bench and towards the same alley I had hid in the previous time. 

"Wait!" He called out after me, causing me to jolt to a stop. "I didn't catch your name."

"Adelyn!" I yelled back, before turning back around and leaving him behind me.