A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 21

"Claire, Claire" my brother's voice echoed along the hallway as his footsteps approached my room. I was forced to break my hold on Nicholas and slightly reduce the proximity between us. 

"Claire" Charlie's voice came again and this time much louder that I could tell that he was right in front of my door before the door cringed open. 

"Claire, it's really happening isn't it? It's happening?" Charlie panicked looking worried and quite depressed. 

"No, it's not, at least not yet" my reply lit hope in his eyes and his panic was suddenly replaced with curiosity. 

"The light would be back on soon but after 23hrs it'll totally go off" Danny contributed leaving Charlie's mouth agape.

"have you locked the alien in the basement?" I asked and he despondently nodded feeling crashed at the news he'd just received. 

"good, we don't have much time left Charlie. Go drop mom and Dad off with Nicholas while I wait here with Danny so we can all go and save Hero-

" actually, I'm thinking you two should go " Danny suggested and I gave him a questioning look. 

" my mom, I mean Danny's mom is gonna be worried if we don't return sooner and I wish you know how she could be when she's mad. It's not a very good sight. Same to my dad. He's really going to be mad at me, I mean Nicholas if we don't return back now" Danny explained and I pondered for a minute. It's a really good start that Nicholas now regard Mrs Evans as his mom now. Maybe him being in Danny's body isn't such a terrible thing. I concluded before nodding my head and turning to Charlie. 

"I think I'll go with you now. Both of them can return to finish up the meal but-" I concurred then paused turning back to Danny. 

"you think you'll be ready before we get back to pick you, you know for saving Hero?" I asked looking into his eyes for any hesitation or reluctance but if he had any. He did a good job at masking it. 

"yeah" he finally responded after some seconds silence. 

"would just tell mom and dad you asked us to hangout with you for the evening since you're gonna be having fun. So I'll tell him we said yes so Nick and I could bond more and spend some time together and also to give them more personal space" Danny pondered saying every word slowly like he was trying to perfect his lie. That wasn't a terrible lie though. I was certain anyone would have believed them. 

"that sound pretty convincing" Charlie commented as if sharing my thoughts. 

"yeah I guess" Danny gave a soft smile scratching the back of his ear in a child like manner as if trying to come up with a even better lie. It made me smile to watch his act. 

"okay that's settled then but thinking about it now. You guys are having a family meal and trying to get to know each other, why isn't Nicole there with you guys?, I mean she's supposed to be there with you" I observed trying not to sound too curious but I definitely was curious. I thought as I picked a duffel bag and started to shove in few of my stuffs because I was certain we were not coming back to the house. It was too risky. 

"well she's on a field trip at the moment. As selfish as it may sound. I'm glad she's away. I mean I wouldn't know how to act around her and I definitely do not want her to get involved in all of this because she's a curious one" Danny sighed while I turned my back to both of them while secretly shove in some underwear into the bag. 

"oh" I pouted in realization making my way to the door so as to inform Nicholas about the change of plans. Immediately I opened the door the light came back on and we all sighed in relief. I mean I'll hate to think those things already landed on earth while we still haven't rescued Hero. 

"Thankfully" Charlie muttered following me out of the door. 

"you and Nicholas think the same way. He said exactly the same thing to me while trying to make him believe me" I pointed out moving down the hallway with both boys right behind me. Danny clicked his tongue and smiled. 

"we are sort of the same-

" no, you are the same " I corrected and Danny snickered. 

" No" he disagreed and I stopped to give him a curious glance because I would love to hear his reasons. 

"maybe he is me but we aren't exactly the same right now. I have gone through series of changes right before I died. Most of my beliefs and principles have changed before now. Time has changed a lot about me Claire" Danny explained having a sympathetic and yet cynical look on his face. It made me smile. 

"like seriously, you guys are preternatural for acting so casual when we were almost killed and facing the world's end in just 23hrs. I definitely wish to have as much peace with all that's going on" Charlie interposed scoffing in disbelief. Such a drama king. 

"we've gone through worst Charlie. I mean we did survive the five wave of the alien. It's a pretty good achievement if you ask me" Danny boasted. 

"oh please. You didn't really survive" Charlie jeered passing by us to arrive down the stairs first. Nicholas had a wild, strange expression of disbelief on his face as he met my eyes while I walk down the stairs with Danny right behind me. He was giving me a curious and pensive glance that was actually very misleading. He was standing right in front of my parents who had a playful grin on their faces. They look quite optimistic for some reason I found myself curious of. 

"what's... Going on?" I drawled turning to my mom who beamed immediately our eyes met. 

"oh Claire. Glad you're here. I was shocked to find out that the Nicholas Robinson you told me saved you and Charlie is him. The same Nicholas you told me you were in love with each other. I see why you like him really. He's impressive" my mom whispered the last part and my heart practically stopped at her revelation. Just how much have my parents told him for him to give me that look. I wondered as I met Nicholas petulant stare. 

"you know, if you didn't have a boyfriend, there's a chance you both might fall in love again before the future, don't you think?" my mom's silly chatter was now starting to irk me. 

"mom!" Charlie hushed his tone warning as he stared at my mom wide-eyed with his teeth almost gritting. 

"what?" my mom playfully asked literally clueless about the effect of what she'd just said. But she seem to notice how tensed I had become with my gaze locked with Nicholas after her chatter.

"is... Something wrong?" she drawled her question. Her voice sounding hollow and despondent. I gathered my courage and tried not to look affected by the awkward tension that lingers in the air forcing a smile while battling my lashes trying to compose myself. The look on Nicholas face told me had questions. Why would he not after all the revelation ?. But I merely ignored his questioning gaze, turned to my mom deciding to break the awkward silence. 

"no mom. It's completely fine. I'll be going to the workshop. Charlie and I would be in charge of that now so Danny and Nicholas can go back to their family..... Gathering" I informed almost tempted to say reunion. I tried to avoid Nicholas intense gaze which was threatening to wreck my forced demeanor. 

"so where did all the body go?" I questioned after realizing the bodies filling our living room had disappeared and I seriously wanted to get rid of the tension that still lingers in the air. 

"Nicholas, your mom and I took them to the lab though we wrapped up one in a waste bag and dump it into your mom's car boot so we can study it. Although your mom and I would have preferred a live specimen, we'll take take what we can get. It really gonna be interesting studying them. "my dad reported and I smiled reminding me of just how much he lived researching. He had a duffel bag in his hand like him so I watch him shove some stuffs in before deciding for us to leave. I was about walking down the family stairs when Nicholas held me while my family glided off to the garage and Danny sauntered to the open street about to head to his house before noticing he was alone. I saw him turn to see the action making him walk hastily back to us as I met Nicholas gaze. I didn't know how to refer him in this case maybe he was the guy I love or part of the guy I love. Though I know it wasn't just him that I love my breath still hitched at his firm grip and intense stare on me. 

"let her go Nick" Danny rasped harshly sounding as if he was holding back from pouncing on his younger self. 

"I just want to ask few questions Danny" Nicholas let go of his grip also sounding as if he was holding something back. Just that I don't know what that is. 

"you don't have to ask any questions because I doubt Claire has answers for them" Danny put in and I gave him a grateful look at that but I knew it wasn't right to ignore Nick's question. He had every right to ask. I kept that part from him while telling him about what we'd gone through together. It was wrong but it felt right. He had a girlfriend. He was different from his future self. It was just the right thing to do. 

"Claire. I just want to talk okay?" he sounded relaxed now but his desperation was still evident. I turned back to Danny and sighed. 

"it's okay Danny. I'm fine. You don't need to worry" I forced a smile which I pretty well know Danny didn't buy. 

"okay" he replied moving closer which I pretty much frowned at. If he said okay, why did he have to move closer. Acting all protective. It wasn't like Nicholas was gonna hurt me. I mentally scoffed and turned back to Nicholas who had a scowl on his face. 

"can you... Tell him to excuse us?" he requested me after Danny shot him a fierce look. 

"Danny-

" oh no Claire. You want me to leave? "he sharply interjected me after I sounded much like I was gonna ask him to leave. And yes he had to leave. He wasn't out of earshot and Nick pretty much have personal questions to ask. 

" please " I pleaded and he groaned before renouncing and storming off. 

"I was stupid." Nick started and I arched my brow at him in question like I pretty much did not understand what he meant by the statement. 

"I mean. There was so much proof that something was on between us in the future and I failed to notice it. I mean the timidness when talking, the blushes, the quick glances. You hating Hailey. I failed to notice it all. Why didn't you tell me?" Nick asked and I scoffed. 

" tell you? So you'd do what Nick? Leave your girlfriend for me? " I asked with a quirked brow. 

" I-

"it's no use Nick. It's baseless. We shared something special in the future. Not now Nick." I pointed out and he sighed. 

"was that why you hang around with Danny, to veil what we shared... In the future? Or you fell for him regardless?... Because the way you look at him, act around him everything doesn't convince me we actually shared something special in the future. Or since you thought we might never get there, you decided to disregard it? " Nick insinuated with a frown on his face. His conclusions irked me really, he and no idea what he was talking about but he made it sound I was unfaithful. Not that we were in any committed relationship but we knew what we share. Our feelings was totally obvious to each other. I was speechless for a second not knowing exactly what to tell him because I knew it was a terrible idea telling him the whole truth. Or maybe I could lie. 

"I dated Danny in the past. Just following the way life flows" I lied sounding as convincing as I could. 

"but you still love him don't you?" he asked his brows furrowed tighter in a deep frown. Hold on a second. Is he practically defending his future self I mean for crying out loud future Nick need no defending. 

"I don't love Danny-

" Claire " my brother called honking and interrupting me after making his presence known from the RV parked on the street right in front of the house. 

" I gotta go " I said feeling grateful I could actually escape his interrogation. 

" but-

" later Nick. You need to go back too. Bye" that was my last statement before walking briskly to the car not bothering too look back. It was hopeless seeing the betrayed look on his face even though he loved someone else at the moment. 

"sorry guys" I apologized before joining my family in the RV which was our family motor home. We didn't take it out except on special occasions when the family are going out together. Like now. 

"you got all the stuffs you need?" Charlie asked I nodded dropping the duffel bag I had been holding into the half couch inside of the RV. 

"I need to call Brian to inform him of this. He might be shocked if we showed up all of a sudden." I hinted grabbing my cell phone to call Brian. 

"hey Brian it's me-

" thank goodness you called Claire " Brian exclaimed sounding relieved and out of breath. 

" are.. You okay?" I questioned suddenly worried. 

" we had to leave the workshop. Those things found us there. Thankfully we were able to pack up and take another exit out of the junkyard. I wanted to call you but we were in a hurry to leave since we didn't wanna be caught. Thanks for all the cam Tony set up we were able to leave unnoticed " Brian informed and I sighed.

"stop the car Charlie" I requested sounding extremely pissed. Charlie immediately pulled the car to a halt then turned to face me so he could listen to my conversation with Brian on phone. 

"what is it Claire?" my mom was the first to ask but I couldn't respond since I was still on call with Brian. 

"so where are you guys?" I further questioned giving my mom an apologetic look for having to ignore her question but she just smiled assuring it was fine. 

"on our way to your house" Brian asked and my brows instantly furrowed quite taken aback by the revelation. 

"our house?" I asked rhetorically finding it quite hard to believe. 

"yeah, and with my wounded dad and Tony's grandma actually" I winced at that. 

"what the f**k happened?" I found myself asking and I heard him sigh before my mom gave me a look that pointed my language. 

"sorry" I mouthed to her before deciding to continue my conversation with Brian" 

"they went to my house Claire. They imitated my dad and I wouldn't have found out without the lens and when I arrived at my house with the rest of the team. We outsmarted them and was able to get my dad out of the house. I don't know how the f**k they know. Tony said they must have realized that he owned the garage where you're normally cited because they asked if my dad knew you. " He explained and heaved a heavy sigh turning to my dad. 

" this is way bigger than I thought Brian. The same happened to my parents and we were all on our way to the workshop. What about Hailey and Brent? "I asked suddenly recalling they were supposed to be in the workshop. 

" they are also here with us" Brian painfully replied. 

"we aren't so far from the house Brian. I'm in an RV with my family. Get over here, we'll figure out something" I breathed hoping to come up with something, anything before my friends arrive. 

"let me guess. They pull up the imitate-parent prank on Brian too?" Charlie asked still turned to the back. 

"yeah if that what you'll call it" I hissed feeling down rather than furious. 

"I think I might have a solution" my dad's pitched up voice had me jolting out of my reverie. He was seated next to my brother in the front seat. You'll actually think the saying goes 'men front' 

"the penthouse" my dad suggested looking at my mom so she could figure out what he meant. The two stared at each other for a while before my mom shook her head. 

"oh no, no" my mom shook her head vigorously. 

"oh come on honey. It's like the safest place there is for us. I mean we even have our labs set there. It's perfect" my dad coaxed and I stared at Charlie with a questioning expression. He shrugged his shoulders and have me his 'I don't know what they are talking about kinda look' 

"um... Mom dad, what's you two talking about?" I asked studying them both as dad try convincing mom to agree to his penthouse idea. 

"your mom and I used to live in her penthouse-

" mom's got a penthouse? 'Charlie interrupted and I threw him a glare for his rudeness. 

"sorry, continue" he urged dad and dad resumed his explanation. 

"we used to live there when Charlie was a kid. It was the only thing your mom got from her father's share of properties with her siblings. But we were living there before your grandfather died, he gifted the place to us on our wedding. So it was quite shocking when the place appeared again in his will as the only share of your mom not only share because your grandfather paid 25years maintenance fee for the place. She even got an upkeep. But your mom was enraged. She was mad because she was supposed to be left with more. She made us pack and leave the house in anger. But she vowed to never return. " my dad narrated and I blinked several times to rid myself of the brief shocking story. So mom's got a penthouse? That's f*****g impressive but I'm just so freaking upset that she said nothing about it even after wandering for months during the apocalypse. How can one be so adamant! 

"grandpa must be a freaking money bomb" Charlie commented. 

"well you can guess. The penthouse is in Northern Jefferson." my dad relayed and next I knew he was giving descriptions to Charlie even though mom hasn't given her consent. 

"mom, we don't have a choice now. These things are unto us. Unto my friends and their family. I don't know how they'll feel if anything ever happens to them. We have less than 23hrs before the apocalypse and all we need right now is get our families a safe place before we face the waves. Mom please? " I cajoled and my mom sighed looking up at my dad and Charlie who were now staring at her for consent. 

" okay. But I feel you should bring this notice to Mrs Evans too. After that s**t that happens In our house I doubt she'll be safe considering she's our neighbor and she's Danny's mother" my mom worried and Charlie squealed. 

"turn back now Charlie. Let's go get Mrs Evans while we wait for Brian. After getting everyone to the penthouse. We'll devise how to get Hero". I informed and Charlie nodded. 

"so excited" Charlie squealed. He was excited. Too excited for a person facing apocalypse on less than a day! 

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