„There you are, a memory I will never forget. Oh, but how fragile and pure you look as I scream with ardor in the pit of neglect. The young adult years that perished, I wish to meet them again. They brought onto me the most immense dread."-Peter Zahn
Another day at school was showing it's way to fruition.
Vivien got dressed to leave, adjusting the collar of her favorite white and black plaid shirt while looking in the mirror. She moved the collar downward, upward, to the right and to the left, but she still hated the way it looked.
She had ironed the shirt a day before, so why was this occuring?
She took her schoolbag with her and left the house. She was harbored with a feeling of resentment for the fact that the collar didn't look straight enough.
The thought was racing through her mind, so she went back inside and kept trying to fix it. She kept trying and trying, but to no avail. That collar still didn't look good enough to her.
Vivien rummaged through her wardrobe and picked a black jacket. She hid the collar inside, this way she wouldn't have to keep staring at that unstraight collar.
She fixed her hair, but why did it also look a bit off? She took a bit more hair from the back and tried bringing the same amount of hair on the right and left side.
The girl wanted to break the mirror, but she immediately remembered what Luis said about enjoying her time in highschool while it still lasted, so she turned around.
She left the house once again with a sort of fullfilment.
She was jealous her brother's university was much closer to their home than Elton High. Luis usually woke up much later than her because of that.
The girl waited for the bus, her head jerking once it became visible.
She stepped forward and got inside the bus, taking a free seat in the front. As time passed, she looked outside the window, trying to make her mind stop racing from things that didn't matter.
One of them made her afraid to step into class, one of them made her afraid to speak, another made her scared of germs, illness and imperfection. The last negative thought she had made her afraid of stress itself because of the effects it has on the body and mind.
But right then and there, she was in the bus, making her way to school. There was no point in thinking about it. She needed to be a source of inspiration for everyone else around her.
A few stations later, a familiar face entered the bus through the door in the front. He didn't smirk, he didn't say anything funny. He only tilted his head to the right. Perhaps to get a better look at her.
„Morning.", the boy said, and Vivien felt a quiet pull, as if signaling that something had changed.
Was it her, him, or just the relationship between them? They were never friends, anyway.
She recalled the silent promise she had made to herself to never interact with him ever again, but it would have hurt her not to say something. He was her classmate.
„Good morning. Your vow to show up to school on time once again is astonishing. I might drop dead in complete and utter shock."
„That's a funny way to say that you're glad to see me, but yeah, here I am. School is where the people are."
„School is where we make fun of eachother. We learn, which is what we're meant to do, but not as much as we're supposedly intended to."
„What are we supposedly intended to do more of, tell me again? I couldn't quite hear you over the sound of the bus and my awesomeness."
„You care to listen?"
„Mhm, maybe I'm just bored and prefer to listen to you rambling about meaningless existential questions in the morning."
„I figured as much."
He leaned against the bus seat, unfazed. That smirk was still hanging on his face. Perhaps, if she didn't mention anything about the journal and didn't show her feelings of anger towards him, he would forget about it.
„You're not amusing, did you ever have an introspective session to think about that?"
„Amusing? Nah, I'm trying to be real today. Weird concept for the happy person I am, right?"
The bus jolted, but she didn't look away. She was looking intensly at him, hoping he'd know why she was angry at him.
Because of her silence, he turned away for a second, then looked back at her.
„Noted. Next time, to make it more funny, I'll add tragic music during my artistic plays of realness. I know you'll love it."
„I won't indulge and create unpleasant feelings. I am aware of how you are.", the girl said as she pushed herself off the seat. Right when getting off the seat, the bus jerked to a stop and Vivien stumbled.
She was about to fall, but regained her balance just in time. That was enough to make Sylas reach out in an attempt to steady her.
He grabbed her left arm without thinking.
His grip was unyielding, making it unlikely to be swayed with ease. He let go of her immediately once he realised what he just did.
„Uh.. sorry. Reflex."
„Don't touch me ever again.", Vivien shot an arrow into his soul.
Sylas looked away and shoved his hands into his pockets, seeming strangely guilty.
The girl glared for a bit longer at him, then looked outside the window.
Elton was blurring into view. The stone archway and the ivy walls were signaling them that they arrived where they needed to.
Sylas looked outside as well, watching as the world sped up as the bus picked up speed again.
For a while, the bus engine was the only sound that could be heard. The boy decided to break the silence.
„I have a question.", the words caught her off guard, his voice sounding strange without the usual lighthearted tone.
„Surprise me."
The boy didn't look at her when he asked. He was fixed on the landscape outside, watching the buildings blur in because of the fog into one grey smudge.
„Let's say, for a week, I stop joking around and act all serious, like this. What would you think of it?"
„Realistically, something would have happened to you. In my mind, I'd think you're simply trying to be yourself more, or needing attention."
„God forbid I do something that doesn't fit the mold you made."
The rest of the ride went into complete silence. The bus arrived at the last station, and they both stepped off with quiet tension etched on their shoulders.
The boy walked beside her with his hands in his pockets, looking lost in thought. The casual confident swagger was replaced with a certain annoyance.
The girl was wondering what more was to his personality other than the jokes he tried so hard to display.
The first few hours passed by too fast. Sylas took his usual seat behind Vivien and kept quiet for a while.
She found it rather relaxing, but also concerning. Grace and Rachel came by to her desk and had conversations with her about various topics. There were abundant indicators showing the tension between the boy and the girl, but her friends didn't mention it.
Time passed, and geography class did not seem as appealing as it used to. During the lesson, the teacher asked the class the main type of climate found in America. He raised his hand briskly.
„Ah, Sylas, finally decided to make a contribution to my class?", the teacher asked.
„Mhm, the climate in America is diverse ranging according to each region. I'll talk about Southeast America and let the others share what they know about other regions since I'm so kind. The southeast region is where we can find Alabama, Florida and Georgia as a few examples. There's a humid climate present there, with hot humid summers and mild winters."
„Correct. Anyone else have something to say about the climate in the US?"
„Sure, like that one time Vivien tried giving us a tiring speech for english class. We had fate as the prime subject and she chose to call fate her personal interlude. That was classic humid tension."
A few chuckles could be heard from the students sitting in the back of the class.
The teacher didn't have anything to comment on Sylas' antics, he settled down the class and continued asking questions. Nobody really wished to volunteer to learn, much less Vivien at that point.
Once the bell rang and the geography teacher left, immediately, as if in a brisk motion, the girl turned around and stared at him for a bit. He smiled innocently at her.
„What?"
„What do you mean „what"? You know what."
„I have no clue what you're talking about."
The boy leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk.
The classrom was pretty quiet, a few students chatting silently or looking out the window.
Outside was a gorgeous view of the yard which was almost always occupied by busy teenagers and too crowded and noisy to have a small chat with somebody.
She looked at the small pastry in the left corner from which they usually bought sandwiches and water.
Then, she saw once again how spacious the schoolyard was. The floor outside was made of black colored concrete, creating a contrast with the cream color of the outside walls of the school.
As she stooped to put her geography notebook back in her schoolbag, the girl felt a kick in her chair, and that's when she drew the limit.
„You're obnoxious.", she hoped her single words could somehow make him stop berating her sarcastically.
„Maybe, but at least I don't take myself way too seriously. Life is too short for being gloomy and putting up the attitude „I'm so dark and mysterious". Why not have some fun instead of being a smartass?"
„I don't work well with that mentality. It's bothering."
„Of course you don't. You and your stupid little journal must have a whole section on why jokes are evil."
Sylas mentioned the journal again. If he did that once more, she might as well punch him in the face in front of everyone.
„How about you go to your own amigoes and stop talking to me? You're popular anyway."
She got up and was about to leave class before she turned around to tell him one last thing.
„By the way, fate can be understood as a personal interlude in a metaphorical sense. Think of fate as not a fixed script, but as a pause or turning point into your life. It will resemble an interlude."
Vivien walked out the door and had her fixed spot she wanted to be right then, where her friends were waiting for her and where she could take her mind off of his bullying.
She had always dreamt of becoming a famous writer and going to a speaking conference.
She was great at creating speeches for the world to hear, and she wanted her vigorous morals to be displayed out to people.
Her heart ached for others to hear her plea and understand her more, as if needing it for some sort of grounding.
She had a lot of speeches written, but she wasn't sure which was the most elegant to be talked about in front of others.
The girl saw her friends eating their lunch in the yard, on the bench.
She approached with a serious expression on her face, trying to make it as unreadable as she possibly could.
„There you are, Viv, we thought you got scolded by the teacher for some reason!", Rachel started the conversation.
Vivien plopped down beside Grace with too much force, holding her sandwich close.
„I want to travel back in time to the mesozoic era. I'm positive dinosaurs were less vicious."
„What are you talking about?", Grace asked.
„Hehe, and this, Vivien, is why we are friends. I want to travel back in time toooooo! Well actually, I would get eaten up in a few seconds by a T-Rex. If the world had a rewind button, I would choose to go back to my favorite moments. I know which ones they are. Though, I wouldn't wish to get stuck reliving everything. Makes sense, right?", Rachel gestured with her hands while explaining.
„I didn't get half of what you just said, Ray. How about we stop thinking about this and meditate about cute things instead?", Grace answered.
„What moment would you go back to, Grace?", Vivien asked.
„I'd go back to freshman year and try out for cheerleading again. It was always such a pleasure to chant for one team to win. The uniforms we had to wear were adorable, and everything about it simply gave you a nice feeling.", Grace said, looking wistful.
„Not going to lie, my brain would go vacay and never come back if I tried cheerleading. I can't chant. I'd rather sail, and you both know how much I hate fishing and sailing.", Rachel assured her.
„I'd catch fish, then set them free, just to learn how to fish!"
„Ha, you'd still beat me at it. You'd catch too many fish to count."
VIvien sat in quiet disbelief as she listened to the two girls talking.
She sometimes joined in to say something when other topics were brought up. She was careful not to let her true feelings loose. The girl recalled she had another book she wanted to borrow from the school's library, so she chimed in once more.
„I remembered that I have to borrow another book. Please excuse me, I might come back!"
She rose from her seat and walked towards the school library in a slouched posture. She went past the sight of the beautiful architecture Elton had and tried not to get distracted.
This highschool was one of the top best in Tallis, yet it felt to her like many teenagers weren't devoted enough to their lectures, making it utterly complex of her to comprehend.
Being admitted into the best highschool in your town means you like to learn, right? It was probably not a set score, since even she had moments when she didn't feel like studying.
She only went to grab her book like she promised herself because she feared somebody else would do that before her, not because she was thrilled to read it. Enlivening the predicament, a small cloud placed upon the sky would attract her attention. It was grey and unpleasant, but its shape made her think of a bee carrying nectar to its hive.
Vivien only then thought she loved natural sugars like honey and fruit, but she was allergic to honey and to certain fruit.
One of them was peach, which was her exact favorite.
Good to know blueberries don't cause her rashes to appear, since those were her second favorites.
She finally arrived at the school library. She stood by the door for a little while before her hands started to tingle again.
What was it with that weird feeling in her hands? She paid no attention to it and she opened the door for the library.
Vivien just then noticed that the atmosphere completely changed. The walls were colored differently, there was a staircase that wasn't there before leading to a small spot to read, and the amount of people walking by left her bewildered.
They didn't look like freshmans, sophomores, juniors or seniors. They looked a bit older. Just what was going on?
The silence was broken by hushed chatters, rustling of pages and occasional tapping on the keyboards.
As she walked deeper into the stacks, a sudden voice rang out from behind her.
„Watch it!"
She spun around, her eyes landing on a slender boy wearing a leather jacket.
She didn't recognize him. He brushed past her annoyed at Vivien for standing in the way and admiring the sorroundings.
The girl decided to shake her head and to not focus on whatever peculiarities were happening around her.
Perhaps the library was recently renovated. She stepped forward and asked the librarian for the book that she'd been meaning to get.
„Good afternoon, I'm looking for „Weather's changing" by Walter Brown. Do you happen to still have it around?"
The librarian was an old woman with greying hair. She had a kind smile and wore glasses. The woman eyed her quizically, waiting for something more to hear from her.
„Sweetheart, that's a book learnt in highschool. Are you sure you need it? From what I know, you don't go through it again in college. Not many students look for it unless they need to learn it for a grade."
Vivien looked perplexed. College? What did the warm-hearted librarian mean with that statement? Was she suddenly in college? Just what was going on? This was something unforseen by Vivien herself, and her thoughts were forming so fast in her head.
The girl didn't want to make the librarian think she was crazy, although she had to find out what the woman meant by what she shared.
„I'm in college?", she asked, quite fearful of the answer.
The librarian paused, confusion etched on her face. She scanned her up and down, as if trying to figure out if there was something wrong with Vivien.
„Yes, you are, sweetie. Are you alright?"
„I'm fine, don't worry. Can I get that book?"
„Yes, but are you absolutely sure you are okay? Sometimes, college stress can get to us. It's only natural, I went through the same thing."
The librarian asked as she went to look for the book Vivien had asked for.
The kind woman came back and handed her the novel, still eyeing Vivien with concern.
„Thank you, have a good day!"
„You too, dear. Take care!", the librarian gave her a warm smile as she walked away.
Vivien tried to shake that off.
There was no use in getting rattled over a few minor weird interactions and moments.
The girl looked around once again. The carpeting of the library was too worn on the most-trodded paths.
The bulletin board was plastered with flyers for movies and parties.
She searched for her pocket, holding her book in her left hand. She grabbed her phone and that's when it hit her. The year that was shown was 2028.
Did she step into the library and travel two years in the future, and now she was in college? Vivien stood there frozen with the weight of the discovery she had just made. That would have meant she was in her second year of college.
She felt a vibration in her pocket and she noticed a message from an unfamiliar name. It was someone she didn't know, but perhaps she was affiliated to that person in the future? The text message read: „What's taking you so long?", coming from a person named Jude.
Vivien glanced around once again. The worn carpet, the unfamiliar names and faces. This wasn't Elton High, it really was college.
She received another message, this time reading: „Come on, Vivien, don't do this now. I'm outside the library doors. You promised me we'd talk today."
She swallowed, remaining stuck in one place. Her only choice was to go check what Jude wanted from her.
She brushed past the people going out the library and a boy held open the door for her. She nodded at him to let him know she thanks him, then looked around.
The halls looked much more different than she had remembered a few minutes before traveling into time.
Her mind was trying to figure out a way to comprehend everything, but it couldn't catch any lead suspects to solve the mystery. A low voice jolted her back to reality.
„There you are."
He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms to his chest in a guarded stance. The boy had short brown hair and amber colored eyes. His eyebrows were thick and dark, and he looked a few years younger than his supposed age.
„Finally, you decided to actually show up."
He took a few steps closer to her. The sun was casting his face in a dusky shadow, making it difficult to discern his facial expression.
„Listen", Vivien spoke. „I'm going to make this very simple and clear for you. I don't know who you are, and I don't mean to find out anytime soon."
„You're serious, you don't know me?"
„Cross my heart and hope to die. I attest to sincerity and solemly swear only the truth has been spoken."
„What... but we've been friends for one year. You know how crazy this all sounds, right?"
„I might have a screw loose, who knows? Anyway, are you acquainted with anybody named Grace, Rachel or Sylas?"
„What? No, they don't ring any bells. Why, who are they?"
„This is weird. Guess I'll see you around."
Somewhere, a clock tower chimed in, signaling the hour 2 p.m. It provided timekeeping for the people in Tallis as its bells rang two times, or more than that? Vivien couldn't quite exactly tell.
„You always say that, everytime I try to talk to you. „See you again", but I remember the last time you said it, you vanished for three days."
„Cool, I think I'll go take another book."
She had to find a way to escape from the odd situation. She reached for the doorknob and stepped inside the library once again.
The picturesque changed, and it seemed like she was back to the present.
She opened the door once again just to test something, and she was in the future again. She traveled in time whenever she touched the doorknob of the library door.
Finally, she stepped once again out the library, the year signaling 2026, the present. She walked farther away from the door and she decided to stay away from it completely. She wanted to find someone to show this to, but who?
Grace and Rachel would only think she's going insane judging by how she'd been acting towards them because of her stress. Perhaps, Sylas wouldn't think of her as insane.
The air flickered around her like a broken film reel. 2026 and 2028. Somehow, only one person could possibly ground her in the mids of all this.
The boy who's joked didn't land well. Maybe he'd know why time kept stuttering around her.
Vivien found Sylas talking to his friends. She stared at them, not wanting to disturb their conversation. The girl watched as the boy laughed loud at something one of his friends said.
His head turned slightly and his eyes locked onto hers across the hallway of the school.
„Yo! You good?"
„Yeah, man. Just thought I saw a ghost walking down the hallway. It was most likely a trick of the light."
VIvien's face was probably red with anger. She wanted to interrupt them and confront Sylas, but she held back from her notorious thoughts leading to bad actions.
The girl stepped away and waited against a corner for him to finally make up his mind and talk to her.
His friends continued chatting, oblivious to what occured just then. After a little bit of waiting, the boy pushed off the locker and crossed the hallway in a couple of strides.
„Oh, you finally decided to grace me with thy presence. I am truly moved."
He smiled, but his eyes were guarded. He leaned in a bit closer as if trying to share a secret with her.
„Still being a smartass? I guess you'll never change."
„What ghost did you see? You're aware you're being ridiculously annoying."
„You were standing there watching me."
„Because I didn't want to disturb you and to make my entrance in front of your friends. I have something important to show you."
„Go ahead, show me whatever is important."
„Follow me."
Sylas hesitated, then he smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets, signaling he was ready to move.
„Oooo, mysterious, commanding. Better not lead me somewhere secluded. People might talk."
The boy followed her, deep down sensing that something was off. She lead him in silence to the library, going past the students and making their way with determination.
„Watch this."
Vivien opened the door for the room, but nothing interesting happened.
She could only let a few words of bewilderment out as she looked around, her eyes sweeping over the stacks of books.
„Okay, so you dragged me all the way here to show me a library? How riveting."
„No! No... forget it. I'm a creep and I hallucinate. You could go ahead and let everyone know for all I care, but I could swear the room changed when I opened this door before."
„Changed how?"
The girl looked embarrassed to even speak. She didn't understand, she assumed the same change would happen again.
„Vivien, you're not a creep. If you saw something, it wasn't a hallucination. Maybe it wasn't meant for everyone else to see. So tell me, what changed?"
„I was in college when I opened this door. It was two years ahead of time. Do you believe that?"
„You went through the door, and time changed? Prove it."
She signaled him to come with her inside the room. That's when her hands started tingling as she reached for the library door.
The boy's hesitation was visible, but he trusted her. His footsteps were quiet against the hardwood floor as he followed her inside with a strong sense that something was wrong.
The room changed, dark bookshelves and more people walking by making the differences stand out.
The new staircase was still there. Sylas' expression morphed from skepticism to disbelief. He glanced at the differences just like she did the first time she discovered it.
„What year is it now? Don't lie to me.", he asked.
„It's 2028."
„You're lying."
He stared at her, trying to make sense of it all. The bookshelves, the college students walking by. He rubbed a hand against his face.
„You traveled through time?"
„You mean, we traveled, because we're both here."
His eyes darted around the tired eyes of the students and the bookshelves once again.
„This is weird and pretty cool...", the girl uttered.
„No... weird or cool doesn't even begin to describe it. This is purely insane. There has to be a logical explanation to this."
„I wish."
„We traveled two years ahead. Do you even know what this means?"
„That we missed the launch of your favorite game?"
„Hahaha. I'm being serious. We don't know anything about this place, how long we can stay or if we can even get back."
„I suppose this place will turn into a college, and I'll attend."
„What if... this place chooses who comes through?"
„It wouldn't be a surprise given the fact that we can magically travel through time walking inside this library."
„I'm saying, what if we're not supposed to be here? You think this is a fun little time-traveling shortcut when you can pop in and pop out whenever you want?"
„I don't notice anyone being upset at us over it. Do you?"
„My point is, what if this magic is waiting for us to screw up so we can get stuck in this reality forever?"
„If you keep being annoying, I won't tell you how to get out."
„How do we get out?", Sylas asked as he paced around, wondering what to do with this information.
„All we have to do is walk out the door again."
„I know you're smart, Vivien, but even for you, that sounds absolutely insane. Until we can find a way to fix this and make sure we don't get stuck here, I'm staying far away from that door."
„I'm telling you, that's what happened. I came back from the future to inform you about this. You won't believe that affirmation, but you'll believe being in the future with me? That's nonsense."
„I... just.."
„Fine, goodbye."
„Wait, Vivien. If we go back, can you please reassure me you won't forget I exist again? Don't leave me behind."
„Where's this suddenly coming from, tough guy? When have I ever left you behind, and on what occasion?"
„If we leave now, can you promise me we'll be together through all this, whatever this is?"
„I can't stand your theatrics and whatever it is you're displaying. You can't even answer a simple question I asked. Tell me when have I ever made you feel left behind, if I may so hear it out clearly?"
„It's every time you ignore me, ask me to be quiet or... leave me alone all of a sudden. I turn around and you disappear."
„With the way you've been treating me these past few days, I'd say it's something normal for me to ignore you. I'm not in pursuit of anything in particular. Perhaps staying away from you will blend all my Sylas jokes allergies really well into one memory I'll forget eventually. So, what's the big deal?"
„So, what's the big deal? Can't you see? Can't you get that through your thick skull?"
„Oh, calm yourself down. I'm aware nothing means anything to you, and me doing my best to avoid you couldn't possibly have changed anything. You're just a big fat liar. Even so, if you truly wanted us to become friends, I wouldn't need that type of connection from you. I'm not dependant on feelings and mask everything up like you do.", Vivien finished talking, and just then, she realized she had said a lie.
„But you do like me teasing and pushing your buttons. Admit it!"
„I only speak for sincerity, and we're not acknowledging the truth, which is that you and I will never get along. I fear it's absolutely horrendeous to have a boy like you constantly nagging me."
„That's rich coming from you. You're too stuck up focusing on your perfect girl reputation instead of realizing that I'm more important than that."
„Reputation?"
„Come ooon, the perfect student who never talks back. Never gets caught skipping class, always does the right thing. I'd say the only mistake you make is avoiding everyone like we're all contagious."
„The only mistake is building any type of relationship with somebody like you! I don't need you. I never needed anyone!"
„You think anyone in this highschool likes you? They don't even like me, and still, I'm trying to be better."
„You know what? Get stuck here for all I care."
Vivien had had enough. She stormed out of the library door. She was glad she didn't mention anything about that journal, otherwise the argument would have lasted even longer than that.
The time seemed to slow down as the seconds ticked by. She waited outside the library door, hoping to see him again.
After what felt like an eternity, she catched a sudden movement with the corner of her eye.
The door swung open and shut behind him. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked dejected.
For a moment, he just stood there, a mix of emotions crossing the bridge to his heart: anger, frustration and uncertainty. He looked at the ground, not finding anything else to say.
„You can check your phone, we're back to the present", she uttered in a harsh tone.
„Yeah, we are..."
„You're popular, Sylas. What do you need me for?"
„You think this is what it's about? Popularity doesn't fix anything. Being loud and in the center of attention doesn't mean anything."
„You know that a person's beliefs and the way they act towards you are unrelated to you."
„I know... You don't need to act like a know-it-all wise elf."
„This way of speaking will only make people stay far away from you. As far away as possible... but who am I to judge? Sometimes it's futile to care if you feel nobody else around you does."
The girl walked away, leaving Sylas to reminisce on their conversations.
He stood there in the emptying hallway and watched her leave. His hands were in his pockets.
The last class passed by and the final bell rang.
The hallway was flooded with students who were waiting all day to go back home and relax in their rooms.