Chapter 2: message from the future.
Dear past Erille?
What in the actual hell?
I tore open the pretentious envelope mocking me with the cursive writing on it and grabbed the letter in there. And figures, it was printed and signed with yours truly, the 26 years old you.
what a bunch of bullshit!
I sat on the grass trying to choke back the crushing feeling of regret forming at the back of my throat and swallowed it with a grimace, I shouldn't have written anything. Not when it can lead to the end of my friendship with one of the only people I actually give a shit about, and I sure as hell shouldn't have left it out in the open where anyone walking on the beach can have access to it.
I fucked up, and someone read it.
Someone with clearly a lot of free time on his hand to have the whole thing printed before delivering it. Someone who think they're too smart and cool for a simple 'you're caught' letter.
I don't know why but one person came into mind at the description and I actually caught myself hoping it was him, because as much of a pain in the ass he was, he was also never the gossiping type. And he actually knows that I love Austin and he has done nothing to expose me, which was something I was more than grateful for. So with a new sense of hope I grabbed my phone from the back pocket and searched for his number.
It was a number I never used, even though we have a lot of projects together. And I would have liked to keep it that way but I need to know if it was him. So I texted him.
Erille: Elias.
A text popped up almost immediately, that I was kind of impressed.
Elias: Ellie.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname. How can someone be so annoying over a text?
Erille: dude that was fast, get a life.
Maybe I was pushing my luck. But this was Elias, I just simply couldn't help it.
Elias : hasn't it occurred to you that maybe you're my life? And maybe I'm in love with you and that's why I texted back so quick?
Erille: maybe it did, once or twice in my ugliest nightmares.
Elias: so you dream about me, huH? ;)
Erielle: I dream about you being lead to your demise in one hundered different ways? All the time man.
Elias: if that helps you sleep at night, babe. So is there a reason you actually texted or do you just miss my wit and the amazing ways my mind works?
Erille: I just seriously miss when this was a blank conversation. Anyways, did you happen to be stalking me this morning?
I didn't know how else to ask, don't judge. And he didn't miss a beat anyway.
Elias: on Mondays? Nope, not my stalking days, Fridays are. And Sundays if I'm feeling like it.
smartass.
Erielle: so that's a no?
Elias: Affirmative.
Erille: and you didn't happen to pass by the beach house?
He does know the way since he was here last week for a chemistry project and I had to be one hundred percent sure.
Elias: no, officer. I was at home, had pancakes for breakfast, went to school and then back home. I don't think I have any witnesses but my word is all I can offer you.
I actually cracked a smile. But quickly reminded myself who I was talking to.
Erille : alright, Dunbirk . Let's end this conversation.
Elias : Later, Stevens.
I shoved the phone back in the back pocket of my shorts and layed on the grass holding the letter up to inspect it and studied it as if it held an alien invasion. I could have read it, but I was as nervous as a virgin on prom night. I didn't want to find out because no matter what ignorance is a bless, and as long as I didn't know what was in there I can act for a while that nothing happened, that everything is alright and I never even written a letter to my own goddamned self to begin with so with a sigh I folded up the letter shoved it along with my phone in the back pocket and stood up.
I took a look at the sorry excuse of a makeshift mailbox, with a smile and couldn't even hate the thing for getting me caught in the first place. It was an old wooden table leg that carried a shoe box which had a poorly cut hole in the middle so we can access to the letters. It looked so silly now but back then we would play with it for hours and then claim it was the best day ever.
And we couldn't wait to grow up.
I shook my head at my silliness and stood up, dusting my shorts and headed to the beach. Maybe a little walk could help me get my head clear.
So maybe I loved my best friend. A stupid fucking cliché but who gives a shit? Maybe I should just get it out of my chest, tell him I expect nothing of him in return and we can go back to being buddies again. Then I wouldn't have to worry about a stupid printed paper.
Easier said than done.
I ran a hand threw my hair and pulled in frustration, so much for a relaxing walk. I groaned loudly and turned back heading for the front door and out the front door to the parking lot where my black Ferrari F12 sat looking too fancy for my liking. Dad couldn't just settle for a normal beaten up first car for me but had to go all out. He said it would give me a great highschool experience. Well, a great school experience my ass, I wanted a normal ugly truck that will break down more than it drove and a crappy door that gets stuck all the time.
Call me a crazy ungrateful hoe but that's What it was.
I opened the door and got in throwing the keys on the passenger seat and fetched the letter from the back pocket, sighing.
Alright. Let's see what that mother fucker has to say.
Dear ( I'm guessing 17 years old?) me,
This is so weird, and bizarre, and strange and I am aware that those are all synonyms but That's just how eccentric this feels. I don't know how this is happening, and for what reason I am not sure, and if the Letter hadn't appeared literally out of nowhere, I would have thought it was a prank. Maybe it is, but I decided I am not going to waste a chance, just because I am skeptic. I can't afford losing chances and as it turnes out I really need to talk to you.
So maybe this is what it is, and I need you to believe this is as much as I do, Because I am going to get serious.
So first of all, If you can write back and this works (I am not really sure how it does) please feel Free to vent because no one will be more of a great listener than yourself, a mature version of yourself. Nine years older to be exact.
I am afraid I can't disclose any information that can mess up with anything, though, besides what's the fun in knowing exactly what is going to happen?
Just know I am here.
Live for me okay? do everything a teenage would, get a tattoo, go on road trips, Because life is so much more than boys. Especially the ignorant assholes. be wild. Be Free, and all that motivational shit you see on posters. I am an adult now and my life is too fucking awesome, but it still sucks knowing I messed on a lot of stuff when I was Young. I don't know. I am talking sky driving bungee jumbing kind of crazy, you know? Anyway, don't really listen to me, I think I am having a middle age crises on my twenties. God save me :)
And can I ask you a favor? Maybe, you know, try to steer clear from Elias? I can't really explain, but take it from one very regretful soul.
I am writing this as a theraputic experience, Because I am not really sure you do exist, or if this is really happening. It would be really amazing if you wrote back, though
All the love,
Your twenty six year old you.
It felt like a dream. or at least one of these shows where the boyfriend confess to being a vampire or the protagonist discovers she has a super power. where eventually reality gets mixed with illusions to the point where it gets so hard to tell both apart.
I didn't want that, I needed my life just the way it is. Normal. Boring. I don't need a freaking message from the future to mess things up. Especially, an unsettling message, where I didn't sound happy at all. It left an acidic feeling in the bit of my stomach that I couldn't get rid of. How was that happening?
Should I write something? What would I even say? Hey, this is so weird and I don't know what to say But yeah nice to Kinda meet You? Why do you sound like your life is not really too fucking awesome?
I shouldn't believe this. I should toss the Letter aside, forget it exists, and just drive back home.
I didn't do any of those, though.
I held the letter on the steering wheel contemplating my next move, should I just ignore her, ignore my own self or reply, she ( or I, this is getting confusing ) won't tell me what will I do for a living and she won't tell me what happened between me and Austin so why would I write back? I don't need her. I mean even her advises are stupid. Stay away from Elias? What kind of shit is that? If she really was me she'd know that avoiding Elias is a second career to me, by now.
I sighed coming to a decision. I grabbed both sides of the letter And tore it into two pieces the four then eight then threw it on the back seat. I may be curious, but this shit is real. And for The first time I am staying out of trouble.
For now that is.
She'll always be there. Maybe someday I'll ask her all the questions running around in my head right now. Maybe someday I'll need to vent to myself or maybe Even someday My curiosity will get the best of me and I'll write back just about anything.
Just not today. Not now.
With that thought I stepped on The accelerator and drove the hell out of the beach house.
_
_
_
I deal with stress through two simple steps.
step #1: go straight towards the fridge the moment I step into the house.
step#2: Yeah, pretty much eat.
Right when I was about to go through with step number two I heard some steps behind me. perfect timing " dad, we're in desperate need for grocery shopping and it's your turn. "
however when I turned around the person standing there was not my father,well, unless dad had somehow sported a new sets of poops and a set of long blond hair somewhere between the time I went to school and came back.
" Oh, hey, I didn't realize someone else was here. " the stupidly beautiful woman said somewhat shyly. I didn't like that, I truly disliked unconfident, pretty much no back bone women. She was the type.
" well, hello dad, you have a strangely sweat voice today. " I gave her a sarcastic smile. I was more than used to women parading through the house, by now. you see, my dad loves bubblegum. something to enjoy while the flavor lasted, then spit out once you're done with it. I couldn't really blame him nor did I ever held it against him, because he had earned every right to do whatever the hell he pleases. he had me when he was 16 and raised me all by himself while my mother fled the moment she had me. so he deserves to have fun. but I was kinda getting tired of those women trying to sweat talk me, thinking that they would have a better chance with dad if they got my approval. no chance in fucking hell.
bubblegum #28 smiled politely at my comment " I'm Alyssa, you must be Mark's daughter " she waved. I sighed.
" it will come as a shock to you but unless I see you a second time around here, I don't care." A little blunt. But I don't have a habit of being nice to people I'm never going to see again.
her face turned red instantly and her eyes went so wide that I almost felt bad for her. Key word: almost. I'm never gonna see her again anyway. plus my dad swept in like a knight in a shining armor to save her.
" what have you done to the poor woman, Eri. " he said coming down the stairs going to her side and giving her a side hug. I almost laughed at how relieved she looked.
I shrugged " no one can take a good joke these days. " then I decided they weren't worthy of my attention anymore and grabbed the ice cream cartoon from the freezer.
" don't mind her. she gets like that on her period " I heard him mutter behind me and rolled my eyes so hard that I almost had a headache. way to be sexiest, father.
the woman giggled like what he said wasn't offensive at all and then I almost emptied what I had of the ice cream when I heard them kissing.
" for god's sake guys. you were just in a room! "
dad laughed ushering the woman outside to do whatever the hell my dad did when he wanted to crush any hope of it being more than a one nightstand.
two minutes later dad slid across the counter with a spoon in hand and helped himself to the cartoon " so what's wrong, Little one? "
I narrowed my eyes at him " funny you ask. aren't I suppose to be on my period? "
his eyes twinkled in amusement " yeah, sorry about that, she just looked like she was about to cry. I hate when women do that. "
" yeah, god forbid you have to do anything but bag'em "
he chocked sputtering ice cream all over the counter. " Gee, woman. at least use the term love making. "
I laughed at his expression enjoying the fact that I managed to rattle him up " the only thing you're making My dear Father is potential kids. so be careful man " I said taking my spoon to the sink to wash it.
he narrowed his eyes pointing the spoon at me " it's really unsettling that you find it comfortable talking to your dad about these stuff. "
I laughed going to his side to give him a kiss on the cheek " guess it helps that you're an awesome dad. "
he rolled his eyes trying to hold himself from smiling " kiss ass"
I grinned heading for the stairs but turned around last minute " It's really unsettling that you find it comfortable to swear in front of your daughter. " I laughed when he threw an apron my way And threw it right back at him. He usually doesn't, swear that is, so when he does I really like teasing him about it.
" just go upstairs, do your home work. Ovilia and the guys should be here any moment and if they see you they are not gonna let you go " He smiled at me shaking his head and went back to eating his ice cream. Ovilia was my Dad's bestfriend, from highschool. She helped him raise me and she basically my mother. Actually for a while in preschool people actually thought she was, because she used to drop me off all the time. The guys were Ted, Ben, and Lance. Our house were like their hanging spot, because Ted think that I make the best coffe in the world. I honestly just think he's too lazy to make his own. As much as I loved them though, I don't think I am up for making coffee today.
So upstairs I went. Home work I didn't do.
It was probably the fastest I've been at getting changed and ready for bed, even though it was just six. guess I was more than ready to get this day over with.
I went to sleep the moment my head hit the pillow, dreaming about a 26 years old someone.