Time Will Tell

Chapter 4

Trigger Warning (SA): This chapter contains talk of s****l abuse that some readers may find upsetting. Please read at your own risk.

Cheyenne was shakily gazing off into space on the passenger seat. Aera hurriedly drove away from the scene because she couldn't stand how her friend was currently acting. Aera decided to gently break the stillness in the car in order to avoid startling her friend as the two girls were traveling in silence.

"Did you know that guy?"

Cheyenne's face was still bearing a shocked expression as she stared into space with her mouth slightly open. She opened her eyes again and pushed herself to return to the present.

"N-no. I don't."

Aera knew better than to exert more pressure on her friend. Once more, the car is filled to the brim with deafening silence.

"H-he knew my mom. He knew me," Cheyenne broke the silence a couple of minutes later, her voice as shaky as ever.

"He could be a stalker or something, that s**t's real and it's crazy. Did you catch his name by any chance?"

Cheyenne was confident that she had heard his name. But for some reason, she made the decision to shrug off the inquiry and refuse to admit the truth. She managed to look Aera straight in the eyes this time.

Beginning with the time when she was a child and her mother had always cautioned her, questions began to flood her thoughts.

"I'm telling you... which parts anyone is not allowed to touch you, including me...?"

She replayed her mother's words in her brain as an unexpected want to cry welled up in the pit of her stomach. After clearing her throat and adjusting herself in her seat, Cheyenne gazed directly ahead while wiping away any anticipated tears that could have come.

She vividly recalls the memories of her younger self pointing to regions of her body that no one is permitted to touch. Her young age made it difficult for her to fully comprehend what her mother meant by such statements. At the time, she felt as though innocence still surrounded her, and as she grew older, she is incredibly appreciative of her mother's constant reminders.

"Hey," Aera calls her attention in a calm voice, checking on Cheyenne while also glancing back and forth along the road.

"He mentioned a woman coming up to my mum and me in the playground. I was 3! I shouldn't be able to remember things at my age, but I definitely understood what he meant...."

Aera continues to drive while still paying attention to her friend.

"She would no longer let me hang out with my uncle after that day. I am certain of exactly what happened. She constantly makes sure to ask me about which areas of my body are off-limits to anyone, including her. Despite the fact that I always believed she was being extra careful, she was actually right. My uncle was molesting girls and was put behind bars because of it..."

Aera's eyes were glued on the road, but her facial expression shows that she empathizes with her friend.

"Shit... that's crazy. I'm so sorry you had to go through that..."

Cheyenne relentlessly shook her head in denial.

"Thank you, but he didn't do anything with me. As young as I was, I listened to my mother. That's why he wasn't able to get to me. And I remember that woman coming up to me and my mom. I even remembered wondering why she was tearing up and hugged my mom..."

"And this guy knew that?"

Cheyenne couldn't get any words out. She thinks that whatever answer she might relay to her friend wouldn't make as much sense. She could only shrug her shoulders in confusion and stare at the road until both of them reached her aunt, witnessing her pacing back and forth on a curb, a couple of feet away from the entrance of the grocery store.

Relief seemed to wash over her aunt's face when she spotted Cheyenne and Aera stepping out of the car.

"What happened? Are you okay? Where's your car?" Cheyenne immediately asked her, with Aera following behind, the same concern flashing across her face.

Cheyenne sighed wearily as she glanced at Aera. Margaret shook her head and reached out to take Cheyenne's hand.

"Don't worry," Margaret said.

"I'm sorry you had to come here. My car got towed, and I tried to call you, but you didn't answer, so I sent you a message instead. Did you not receive it? I said you didn't have to come..."

Cheyenne realized that the message must have slipped her mind, as she had been preoccupied with the recent incident involving the guy.

Cheyenne rubbed the back of her neck, her unease making it hard to focus on anything else. All she wanted was to help her aunt, but the weight of everything that had happened was bearing down on her.

Aera noticed the tension in her friend and quickly interjected, "Don't worry, I can give you a ride. Do you want to go home or to the car company? And how long do you think it'll take for your car to get fixed?"

"I already spoke to the tow truck guys and it's going to take a few days. Something's wrong with the transmission and a bunch of other stuff that's way over my head. But thanks for the offer to drive me home," Meredith explained, seemingly oblivious to the state of Cheyenne.

Aera knew just how to diffuse the tension. She flashed a grin at Meredith before leading her to the back seat of the car. Then she turned to Cheyenne.

"You doing okay?"

Cheyenne shook her head hesitantly, scratching at her arm in an attempt to distract herself from her worries.

"Don't worry," Aera said, laying a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I'll stick with you at school and drive you home after so that creep can't get anywhere near you. And we can grab coffee later - my treat."

Cheyenne couldn't help but smile at Aera's thoughtfulness.

"Thanks," she said. "I think I'll be okay, but I definitely won't say no to that coffee."

They all piled into the car and drove Meredith home, where she couldn't stop thanking Aera for her kindness. Cheyenne felt a weight lift from her shoulders, if only for a little while.

*****

They arrived at school just in time, and Aera felt a pang of guilt at the thought of leaving Cheyenne alone. But she had classes to attend, so she promised to meet up with her friend after the last period and reminded her about their plans for coffee.

Cheyenne made her way to her history class and arrived just as the other students were settling into their seats. With no other options, she took a seat in the back corner of the room, nearest to the window.

Despite her best efforts to shake off the earlier events, Cheyenne found herself struggling to focus on the teacher's lecture. Her eyes drifted to the window, and she absentmindedly gnawed on the skin around her fingers in a fit of anxiety.

Mrs. Campbell began the day with her deep, resonant voice - a quality that almost made her sound like a man.

"Why is history important?" she asked the class. "Anyone who can answer that question will be exempt from this week's test."

Cheyenne's attention was fixed outside the classroom window, her gaze lost on the swaying trees and the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind. Despite her best efforts to focus, her mind kept wandering back to her recent troubling dreams and the earlier events. It was a strange feeling, but somehow the peacefulness of the outside world seemed to ease her inner turmoil. Lost in thought, she struggled to come to terms with everything that had happened and tried to make sense of it all.

One of the popular girls in the class, with flowing blonde locks, eagerly raised her hand in response to Mrs. Campbell's question.

"Yes, Miss Venn?" the teacher prompted.

"Because it helps us learn from other people's mistakes," Miss Venn replied with a proud grin.

Mrs. Campbell nodded approvingly. "That's right. And can you give us an example?"

Miss Venn didn't hesitate.

"Like what happened last week with Cami Mendoza. She went against the trend and wore her hair differently, and it messed up her social status. Word got out, everyone talked about her, and it was even posted in the tabloids. It was so embarrassing. But now, all of us have learned not to make the same mistake."

Mrs. Campbell chuckled, and the rest of the class followed suit. But Miss Venn didn't lose her confident smile.

"Very practical example, Miss Venn. Does anyone else have a more in-depth explanation to add?" the teacher asked, prompting the rest of the class to join in the discussion.

The classroom was suffocatingly quiet, and Mrs. Campbell's eyes scanned the students, hoping for a brave soul to step forward.

"Isn't there anyone else who wants to take a shot at answering this question and avoid the test this week? Are you all confident you can pass?" Mrs. Campbell's tone was challenging, and she prowled the room like a predator seeking its prey.

Despite the pressure, no one dared to raise their hand, and the teacher's disappointment was palpable. She strolled closer to the students, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Come on, it's a fair deal. Give me a good answer and you're off the hook for the test. The question isn't too difficult."

Mrs. Campbell's gaze drifted towards the back row where Cheyenne sat lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the window, seemingly oblivious to the lesson being taught.

Mrs. Campbell cleared her throat, hoping to snap Cheyenne out of her trance. But the girl remained lost in her thoughts, staring out the window as if nothing else in the world mattered.

“Miss Eliott,” Mrs. Campbell repeated, a little more loudly this time.

Cheyenne jumped in her seat, her chair scraping against the floor. She turned to face the teacher, blinking rapidly as if trying to shake herself out of a dream.

"Is there something on your mind, Miss Elliott?, perhaps much more interesting than Cami Mendoza's hair fiasco and the test exemption?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Cheyenne shifted in her seat, feeling exposed under the scrutiny of her classmates and teacher. She cleared her throat before responding.

"Just lost in thought, ma'am," she replied, avoiding eye contact.

Mrs. Campbell didn't seem convinced, but she let the matter go for now.

"Returning to the matter at hand, Miss Elliott," the teacher prompted.

Cheyenne felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she asked the question she'd been turning over in her mind. "Why is history important?" she stuttered, hoping she hadn't missed the point entirely.

Her classmates chuckled at her hesitation, but Cheyenne took a deep breath and composed herself.

"I agree with what was said earlier," she began. "We can learn from the mistakes and experiences of others, like Cami Mendoza. By understanding the actions and decisions of people in the past, we can gain insight into how we got to where we are today. It's not just about personal growth, but it's also relevant to current events. We can examine how different leaders handled their countries and learn from their successes and failures. Each new leader builds on the legacy of the ones who came before them, and that's what makes history so important."

Mrs. Campbell's eyebrows furrowed with interest as she spoke up.

"Interesting point. If we're correcting the mistakes made by others, it's for the benefit of those who come after them. But what about the people who made those mistakes in the first place? Do they have a chance to change their actions and alter history?"

Cheyenne pondered for a moment before responding.

"It really depends on the circumstances and how much time they have to make things right. While they may not be able to completely undo the damage they caused, they can work towards making things better. Of course, that also depends on whether or not time allows them the opportunity to go back and make changes."

"So, what you're saying is, if they could travel back in time, they could completely fix their mistakes?" Mrs. Campbell leaned in with intense interest, and everyone's attention turned to Cheyenne.

"Exactly," Cheyenne replied. "But, of course, that's a whole other discussion, and it's impossible."

Mrs. Campbell's eyes narrowed with curiosity.

"But if you had the chance, would you go back in time to fix something?"

All eyes turned to Cheyenne as Mrs. Campbell directed the question to her, and suddenly, it became personal.

Thoughts flooded Cheyenne's mind, especially those about what she could have done differently for her mother when she was still alive. If given the chance, would she go back and make things better for her and her mother?

As the memories of earlier events resurfaced, a chill ran down Cheyenne's spine. The man's face flashed before her, and his words echoed in her mind. He claimed to have come from the past and had met a future version of Cheyenne.

Was it all true? The blood drained from her face as the realization hit her. It was as if she was trapped in a horror movie, and she couldn't escape the feeling of dread that now consumed her. And if it was, who was that guy?

Cheyenne was about to answer when the bell rang, interrupting the discussion. She wasn't sure if it saved her from answering or if it had pushed her into a deeper hole.

As everyone started to gather their belongings and prepare to leave the classroom, Mrs. Campbell returned to the front of the room to make an announcement.

"Only two students have qualified for the test exemption. The rest of you will be taking the test this Friday. Study hard and good luck."

Cheyenne was too stunned to respond. Unnoticed by anyone, a tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand and gathered all her textbooks before leaving the room in a hurry, with only one thing in her mind.

She needed to find that man.