REBECCA'S POV
My knees knocked and the anguish takes over a portion of my body different seconds- at first, the upper part and then lower, sometimes sideways or just mentally in my brain like a migraine. My hands held onto Clay's and Austin's hands, the three of us forming a circle.
"Remember guys. Only 5 times."
My eyelids dropped and we all had our eyes sealed until Austin made a move. Opening my eyes, I found ourselves outside the school, the scorching sun above us beside the clouds. I recalled the terrific storm the previous day and getting the chance to see the summer sun made me satisfied.
And then I remembered the colorful tingling sensations all over my body, making me nauseous throughout the transportation process. For a moment, I could hardly believe we just traveled back in time. I gasped. Oh lord.
"When is this though?" I inquired for confirmation, still hidden behind the trunk of the large oak tree outside our school gates.
"The first day when our exam started. It was thermochemistry for me and you. I don't know about Clay's. But however, we got all the answer sheets for the whole final term examination questions. All we have to do is give it out to our past selves, making sure our eyes don't meet. Otherwise...we'll be trapped back in time. Forever. Get it?"
"Yeah. Another thing. Let's not mess up our future by changing anything except our exam-passing capabilities. Or else, everything in our time will be changed. Maybe even worsened." I pointed out sternly.
"And hey. Let's go after each of us has finished our jobs, one by one. Otherwise, we'll be totally confused when we try to find each other."
"I'll go first. I said, eager to do things quick.
-
I went through the corridor, and based on how much attention I got from people, it was quite easy to not get spotted as a second Rebecca. But for the time of face-off in front of everyone, I needed a disguise.
That's when my eyes fell on the plumed cap Rex was wearing. Even though he took part in many drama acts, people considered him a bit mysteriously weird.
And having no time, I didn't have any other option, but to approach him.
-
"Hey Rex." I called out politely, while he was at an vacant corner of the corridor. He turned back with an offensive frown, but smiled instantly he saw me.
"Hi, Beca. Long time, no see."
"Yeah, about that. I hope you're doing fine but I really like your cap, you know?"
"The cap I wear everyday, being a topic for obnoxious gossip and presumably the reason why you rejected me to prom? Yeah, thanks."
I parted my lips, then closing it, I licked my lips in embarrassment. Well, that was a great start.
I chuckled a bit, covering my mouth with my palm and then waving my hand off, "Oh no. I would never judge someone based on their dress-up, you know? I'm not like those barbie dolls." He forced out a laugh and I continued, "Can I wear the cap, today? It just feels so precious."
His eyebrows raised in curiosity and he chuckled, "Oh re-really? That's um...okay, I guess. If that seems pre-precious to you," he paused, "Belle."
It shook me in a flash of remembrance, but removed any negative thoughts forming for Rex. Belle?
He took off the cap and handed it over, while I got away quickly with a gentle hug. No offense to the good guy, but yeah-good riddance.
However, I pulled the extended front of the cap downwards to cover half my face and lumbered towards my locker, because that's where I'd probably be before the first exam. And as far as I remembered, I reach the exam hall 3 minutes earlier, and the fact that there was five minutes before the exam, I had 2 minutes. Oh shit.
I had myself- my past self almost on sight, except she- I was a few metres away. I extended my hand to hold my shoulders, just when my eyes moved towards the ceiling as I bumped into someone, falling backwards.
I shook my head, brought out the cap that fell beside me and got up on feet.
"Oh darling, I'm so sorry. Actually I'm not."
I looked up to see no one other than Brittany. God, I hate her.
"Ooh, is that Rex's cap? Are you two dating or like what?" She snatched the cap from my face and hung it in the air, holding with her two damn fingers
"Give it back, Brittany." I gritted my teeth, time running on the clock.
"Nah. I think I just love it." She put it on her head, and when my hand reached to grab it, she pulled it away and threw the albino coloured cap on the ground. And as watching, the students feet stepped on it, creating dirty looks.
I was about to run to get that thing before time went out, but Brittany grabbed my hand, refraining my movements. I was already losing my breath and she was only getting me exasperated. My hand jerked away from her touch, making way towards her cheek. SCHISH!
The sound of the slap was loud enough to grab everyone's attention but I didn't bother to care about her injury. I looked back at the time and I knew I had around 30 seconds before my past self gets into the classroom.
When I didn't see her near my locker, I knew my past self was heading to class. I ran and hurriedly picked the cap, dumping it on my head and then to where I was- my past self.
I immediately had her in my sight and before her right foot could move any further into the room, I grabbed her hand and just ran in the washroom's direction. I could feel her twisting her hand to get rid of my hold.
Once we were inside, I quickly started speaking, "Look, Rebecca, first of all, don't panic cause I'll not hurt you. And second. I am you, from the future, so just don't start panicking as I would do, I mean whatever." I lifted the cap and put it on the sink, but as mentioned, I made sure our eyes didn't meet.
As far as I knew myself, I would back off and cock my eyebrow, so assuming that, I held onto her shoulders and uttered, "I'll be super direct and quick. Firstly, keep our eyes away from meeting each other, otherwise, I'll be trapped back in time, inside you and the future would turn out terrifying."
"Wh-why are you here? How do I-I kno-know its you who...I mean you are me but from the future? And I thought my story was some supernatural, paranormal thingy, not sci-fi."
I puffed and huffed in irritation, was I that stupid?
"Oh. Did you ever heard the word 'magic?'"
"Of course I did."
"Then you must know our spirits can do magic. Power. Now can you relate? Of course, you can. Now Austin's spirit has the power of...of time machine- as we would prefer." I waited for her response but realized that all our unnecessary blabbering might have taken around 5 to 6 minutes.
"OH shit. So does that mean, you want me to change something from the past so that the future world doesn't get destroyed and burn to ashes? But really, you- as in the future me is just the same, no physical change, which also...oh no!" She cringed back from my touch and I frowned, "It means you are some shapeshifter! A vampire, or like...ah!"
"Shut the hell up! I'm not from years after! It's just a few months later! Like 1 or 2, I'm still 17- my birthday 5 months ago!"
"No, you're wrong! My birthday's 3 months ago!" The idiot me protested, her hand on the door handle.
"Aaaargh! I'm from the future, remember? So obviously- just leave it." I exhaled again, taking out the answer sheets. I rushed to where she was before she could run away, and forcefully handed out the paper.
"YOU ARE GONNA FAIL 5 EXAMS, DO YOU COPY?"
"What?"
"Here are the answer sheets. Trust me, you are gonna fail and if I tell you to study harder than I did, that's not gonna work cause....cause things are gonna keep you busy- like super busy. Get it? But I can't tell you anything because that's gonna warn you about future stuff and that will change everything- which will be a disaster. So if you do not wanna fail, just freaking take this answer sheet, study them for a few minutes cause they're relatable to what we studied before the exams. And show it to the others, including Austin. I mean, you won't be able to give it now, so he has to fail but he basically failed 7...so whatever. Just make a copy of these papers and give it to Clay, Joey, Travis, and Austin, later in the day."
My hand removed touch from hers and moving her aside, I opened the door to go but stopped, for a reminder, "I know you are confused, but trust me- trust yourself and do what I said, otherwise you are gonna regret stuff. A lot of stuff."
Just as I got out, with a short-time view of Clay's face, something thwacked my head, and lightheaded feelings took part aside from the shaky vision I had. I could feel myself getting all wobbly as the floor swayed beneath me. Before the darkness consumed me completely, I was able to catch a glimpse of his wide-eyed, innocent face. Shit Clay.
CLAYTON'S POV.
I mentally slapped myself consistently, watching my stupidity take over. How is my past self so ridiculously stupid while my future is just bright? I mean, c'mon dude!
Hesitatingly, I watched my past self bang a stick on the future Beca's head and then realized who the hell he hit, the past me jumped in surprise and before Beca could fall totally fall on the ground, he held onto her waist. He picked her up and ran towards what I knew the nurse in the medical room.
I lifted my legs up and down like jogging in anxiety. What was I supposed to do?
Well, what could I possibly do except to bring Beca back from me- the past one? I glanced at Austin and told him to stay where he was until I got back with Beca. With a once-over around, I hurried to the nurse room, and rash decisions taken place, I opened the door yet I was able to drop my gaze before it met my past self's eyes.
"Holy moly! You look like me!"
"UH...YES! I do cause I am you, but from the future. And the Beca you hit is also with me, from the future!"
"Future...? What are you talking abo- oh I get it!"
"Oh you do? Thank god you're not that idiotic."
"You are both shapeshifters who changed to look like us to fool us! Now I can assure, the one I hit was a shapeshifter, and not regret it cause I thought it was my Beca but I should've known by the change of dress!" Even though I was impressed at how my past self said all those in a jiffy but then again, he was shrieking horribly, "You all are monsters trying to kill us cause we have some spirits, right? OH GOD HELP!"
We heard a woman yawn behind and uttered lightly, "Oh lord. Twin fights are fun but you can keep it low cause I'm asleep." The nurse then rolled her eyes and lied down on a bed beside where Beca was unconscious.
However, I kept my eyes away from meeting his eyes, approached him, and shook his shoulders, "Don't yell! We are not here to kill you! Why would I kill myself-" All my words hung in the air as I felt a sting in my arm. As far as I could relate, that damnable me injected me with- before I could get more clues, darkness intruded my vision and I knew I was losing consciousness.
-
I woke up feeling like I stopped breathing. I took in a deep breath to wash away that breathless sensation and it caused me to cough. I got up from the ground and observed the surroundings. I was still in the medical room but there was so Beca lying in the bed, unlike the last time I saw her.
It made my adrenaline rush up, and without a second late, I hurried out of the room, caring less of the nurse who was somewhat sleeping. Was she sleeping the whole time?
Still and all, I kept a low profile with a cap I found lying downstairs. Looking at the clock above the cap, I realized it was break time, which meant the students were in the cafeteria. But if it had been so long, then did Beca and Austin leave me back? I gasped.
I had to find out if they were still here, back in time.