The meadow was only a few minutes away from Isabella's house. Her sister decided that city life was not for her and chose to live in the quiet mountains instead. Nestled amid the woods, Isabella's little blue house was surrounded by a riot of colorful flowers. The crickets chirped and fireflies flew around them, you could hear the sound of a river in the distance. The crisp fresh air blew on their faces as they walked. As they approached, Isabella stood on her porch, arms crossed, wearing a pink bathrobe and sporting a guacamole mask. Her dark curls were concealed under a pink silk wrap around her head. She bore a striking resemblance to their mother, especially when she was upset. Thalia couldn't help but notice the shared furrowed brows, tan skin, and slim figures. Her long face and full lips, sprinkled with freckles, only added to the resemblance. Isabella's thick eyebrows knit together as she glared at them from the top of the stairs, and in a flurry, she descended in her favorite bunny slippers.
"Do you know what time it is? Do you think it's okay to have my child out this late at night? I called you like 50 times," Isabella scolded, taking Leo from Jason's arms.
Jason, looking apologetic, placed his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry, we lost track of time, and our phones died."
Thalia, still fiddling with the watch, half-heartedly attempted to defend herself. "Yeah, sorry Shrek, our phones died, and I'm the worst sister ever. Okay, bye!" Thalia waved dismissively as she prepared to leave.
"Shrek? Some of us have good skin care," Isabella said as she rolled her eyes in annoyance. She notices Thalia staring at the watch, "Are you still seriously obsessed with that thing? You know time travel is not possible," Isabella chided, cradling Leo.
"Thanks for your support," Thalia replied with a touch of sarcasm.
"I'm supportive of things that are real, not your silly time travel fantasies," Isabella replied with a worried tone.
"It's not a fantasy I'm going to save our parents and prove it to you," Thalia said.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Isabella said.
Isabella looked at Thalia with a worried expression before bidding Jason goodnight. She ascended the stairs and closed the door behind her, leaving Thalia and Jason to stride away, still engrossed in the watch. If only they could get it to work, their troubles might be solved. Jason, a few steps behind Thalia, suggested they catch a taxi due to their aching legs. Thalia looked at him, realizing that her legs felt like jelly after the long walk from the meadow to Isabella's house. Her body was sore, and she knew it would hurt in the morning.
"Yes, let's get a taxi," Thalia said.
The taxi ride was quiet, the streetlights passing by as they rode in silence. The scenery changed as they drove into the city. Several tall buildings surrounded them, cars honked, people argued in the street, and the air wasn't as fresh. Accepting defeat, Thalia pocketed the watch. Jason offered some comfort by placing a hand on her shoulder. Eventually, the taxi pulled up to her apartment building, and she trudged to her door. Thalia unlocked it, revealing her cozy little apartment. A dark brown loveseat couch, a swirly orange carpet, and a red lava lamp greeted them. Jason settled on the couch, while Thalia flopped onto her warm bed in the adjacent bedroom. She was so exhausted that she didn't even remember falling asleep that night. Suddenly, a bright light invaded her sleep, and she struggled to open her eyes.
"Good morning!" Jason stood over her bed, dressed in her pink "Kiss the Chef" apron. Thalia let out a groan and buried her face under the blanket. She noticed that she was still wearing her long brown jacket and black military boots from the night before. Jason, well-groomed with combed hair and twinkling blue eyes, was the epitome of a morning person, while Thalia leaned towards being a night owl.
With effort, Thalia forced herself to get up and rubbed her eyes. She followed Jason into the kitchen, where he began cracking eggs.
"How do you like your eggs?" Jason asked.
"Scrambled, please," Thalia mumbled, her thoughts drifting. Cooking was never her strong suit, and her sister had gifted her the apron in a futile attempt to change that. Her sister was never pleased with her life choices. However, maybe they'd get along better if their family were back together.
As Thalia sat there in her thoughts, watching Jason work, she couldn't help but wonder if her quest to reunite with her parents was a futile endeavor. Isabella had the chance to know them before their deaths, so she couldn't fully grasp her longing to see them again. After freshening up with a shower, she put on her favorite red flannel top and denim jeans. Wrestling her military-style boots onto her feet, she tamed her curly hair with coconut cream, hoping to achieve some semblance of order. "The House Of The Rising Sun" blared from the kitchen where Jason sang loudly, his morning cheerfulness in stark contrast to her grogginess.
The song transported Thalia back to her freshmen year in high school, a time when the world felt both uncertain and full of promise. She had just finished a particularly challenging math class, her mind buzzing with formulas and equations. As she walked down the hallway, the haunting melody of "House of the Rising Sun" drifted into her ears, drawing her like a siren's call.
Curiosity piqued, Thalia followed the music to its source and found herself standing outside the slightly ajar door of the school's music room. There, bathed in the soft glow of afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, sat a boy with combed, wavy black hair and a casual yet charming attire consisting of a neatly buttoned-up shirt. His fingers danced gracefully across the strings of an acoustic guitar, conjuring a soulful rendition of the classic song.
"Hey, I didn't see you there," he said, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he looked up from his guitar.
Thalia, slightly embarrassed at having interrupted such a captivating performance, managed a shy smile. "Sorry for barging in like that. I couldn't help but follow the music. You're really good."
Jason returned her smile, his blue eyes warm and welcoming. "Thanks. It's not often I have an audience, especially one as appreciative as you. My name is Jason, what's your name?"
"My name is Thalia, it's nice to meet you, Jason," Thalia said with a warm smile.
"It's nice to meet you too, Thalia," Jason replied.
From that chance encounter in the music room, an unexpected friendship began to blossom between Thalia and Jason, Thalia joined him every day in the music room. They became inseparable and he never left her side.
As Thalia and Jason sat in the cozy kitchen, the aroma of scrambled eggs filled the air. Thalia couldn't help but feel relieved that Jason believed in her quest, even if it involved a mysterious watch and the concept of time travel. She had always known he was the one person who would stand by her side through thick and thin. Thalia leaned against the kitchen counter, her expression pensive. She decided it was time to confide in him about the depth of her longing to meet her parents again.
"Jason," she began, her voice earnest, "meeting my parents again, even for a moment, would solve a lot of my issues. You have no idea how much I miss them."
Jason, focused on the eggs but attentive to her words, paused for a moment. He had always been the practical one, the voice of reason in their adventures.
"Thalia," he finally said, his tone tinged with worry, "I understand how much this means to you, but we need to be careful. Time travel, if it's even possible, comes with risks we can't ignore. What if something goes wrong? What if we change the course of history or get stuck in a different time?"
Thalia looked down at the table, her fingers tracing the edges of her coffee mug. She knew Jason was right, but the thought of reuniting with her parents had clouded her judgment.
"I know you're concerned, Jason," she admitted, "but I can't let go of this chance. I miss them every day. And Leo... he deserves to know his grandparents."
"I'm not saying we shouldn't try," he reassured her, "but we should be cautious, and we should do our research. We must understand the watch and its capabilities better before jumping into anything."
Thalia nodded, appreciating his wisdom. "You're right, Jason. Let's figure this out together, step by step. And maybe, just maybe, we can make the impossible possible."
They shared a determined look, their bond stronger than ever. Thalia knew that with Jason by her side, they would face whatever challenges came their way in their quest to reunite with her parents.