A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 4

"What do you mean his eyes changed color?" my brother questioned after explaining the whole prom scenario to him.

"I said it, didn't I?" I rhetorically asked while I arranged my bed ready to retire for the day.

"You might be wrong" My brother pointed out and I heaved a heavy sigh.

"That's what I'm thinking, I might be wrong. It's the same color as Nick's eyes. I mean it's might be my pure imagination but at this point nothing freaks me out-

"Spider, spider on your bed" Charlie shouted and I screamed running downstairs terrified and itchy all over. That's what the thought of spiders do to me. Scientifically termed arachnophobia, fear of spiders. I was still scratching my skin at the thought of a spider being on them when Charlie came laughing. He was holding his stomach in uncontrollable laughter.

"Good to see that hasn't changed...and...I thought.. you said...nothing...freaks you out" Charlie stuttered as a result of his cackles. At this point, he had tears in his eyes but I was boiling.

"Oow" Charlie let out as my mother slapped his shoulders while she climbed downstairs with laundered clothes in a basket.

"Stop picking on your sister" mom cautioned and I wore a proud look at my mom's support. Charlie scoffed and he walked away to only God knows where. I moved back upstairs to get my beauty rest. It wasn't long since I slept when I found myself at the edge of the same cliff watching the same scene again. This time I make out from the scene something else. A very unfamiliar figure. In the leaves. But all I made out was its luminous green eyes. Glinting in the dark. Then I fell. I found myself looking at the set of green eyes again while I fall to my death. I woke up with a start. The scent of sweat hit my nose and I scrunch it up in reaction. The linen material of my pajamas stuck to my body, my sweat standing as the gluing agent. I sighed and moved into my bathroom for a quick and cold shower.

I had just changed into a small nightgown when I noticed it was 3 AM. I made my way to my reading chair and brought out my drawing book from my drawers. I sketched out the drawing of the unfamiliar green eyes which the green leaves almost made inconspicuous. That moment I realized there was more to me being reincarnated. There was so much I need to find out and it was weighing down on me. I doze off researching on Alien sightings and earth status in space.

Waking up in the morning was everyone's normal routine, but have you ever woken up and tried to stand but feel your body weighing you down. That was how I felt on the second day of prom.

"Claire, mom said you should come down for breakfast" my brother relayed turning to leave but paused when I made no movement. Not like I didn't want to. I was awake but I couldn't stand. Every part of my body was completely disobeying the signals from my brain.

"Claire, come on. Get your a*s up mom said you should come eat" Charlie reiterated but I was still.

"Claire" my brother called a bit louder. I was giving effort too. I was trying...willing myself to stand but my body was completely disobeying me.

"Claire!" my brother yelled and my eyes fluttered open. My breathing was fast, erratic, and frantic.

"Claire are you okay?" My brother questioned.

"No, what was that?" I found myself asking.

"What was what? I didn't mean to scare you, Claire. You scared me first. You completely ignored me. I thought something happened to you-

"Yeah something happened to me Charlie " I cut in finding what happened to me strange.

"What is it? " Charlie asked and I explained just how I felt while he called.

"Maybe you were just too tired, Claire. Come, let's go eat but make sure you brush first" He reminded going downstairs. Moving to my table I jotted down another strange occurrence to me. For some kind of reason, I felt it was time I approach Nick and Brian. As much as I tried to convince myself whatever was going to happen was in two years, 24 months. I felt myself getting closer to the time I dread the most. The apocalypse. I had only burned down a week in the gift of time I had but with every second I feel closer.

"I think we should go talk to Nick today" I announced to my brother after making my way into his room dressed in a plain blue gown with fluffy white flip-flops. He was distracted by his phone which his eyes hardly leave a seat he rested his back against his headboard right on the pile of clothes weighing his bed.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked realizing his closet was opened and most of his stuff was out.

"Just clearing up" he replied eyes fixed on his phone.

"It doesn't look like you're clearing Charlie" I furrowed bending to pick his jeans lying carelessly on the floor.

"So what's up?" he finally decided to concentrate on me.

"I wanna go see Nick. We need to get him into the plan. He's a college kid. Two years ahead. He might be quite useful" I explained and he sighed.

"What if this isn't true, what if-

"You have got to believe me, Charlie. Charlie the apocalypse is real and it's gonna happen if we don't stop it. And if we can't stop it. We can at least warn the world of it and prepare for it" I said suddenly panicking Charlie was backing out now.

"Oh okay. Let's go get this Nick guy. I have until October to get this s**t done" he mumbled sluggishly standing and grabbing his car keys. I took my phone and dialed Nick's number.

"Hey, Nick. it's Claire. Can we meet?, I have something to tell you" I requested immediately he picked the call.

"I'm sorry. Um. Claire right? I'm kinda busy right now and I don't think we can meet, by the way. How did you get my number?" he asked and I could practically picture him frowning.

"From your f******k profile Nick and we have to meet. Right now. It's urgent" I insisted getting into the car with Charlie.

"Okay, look Claire whatever you have to tell me-

"It's about you, you're going to die in less than two years if we don't meet right now-

"What!? wait, are you threatening me?" he asked voice expressing disbelief.

"Good move sis. I don't know why you're full of d**k moves" Charlie complained at my way of approaching the matter.

"What would you have me do he was completely reluctant to meet. This is about everyone's future Charlie" I shot back at Charlie while covering the phone to avoid Nick from making out our conversation.

"Look, Nick. I need your help. To stop everyone in the world from dying but I cannot explain on call. We need to meet. Please Nick" I pleaded and I heard him sigh from the other end of the call.

"Okay. I'm at Hayden shop mart" he finally revealed. I told my brother and in no time we were zooming down the highway.

"Thanks, Nick. I really appreciate it" I said disconnecting the call.

"Are you sure you're ready? you seem rather nervous" my brother pointed out and I sighed.

"I've faced him before. It shouldn't be much of a big deal now" I said that right. Well, I lied. Walking down to the entrance of the mart to see Nick standing hands into his bomber jacket and face furrowed in a frown got my heart racing again. I could see his eyes on us immediately we got down from the car.

"Hi" I greeted trying to calm my nervous head.

"Hi" he greeted back with a shrug.

"Can we talk?" I requested studying his perfectly built figure. Even in his younger years he still looks handsome and hot.

"What do you have to say?" he questioned coldly and my brother frowned eyeing him warily. Seeing the look on his face I could tell he wasn't a huge fan of the guy. I don't blame him, Nicholas first impression on Charlie wasn't a good one as well as my first observation. My first observation on younger Nick was termed 'rude' judging from his cold look I could tell he was rude.

"Look it's a really long story and we can't be having this discussion right here, do you think there's a place we could sit down and talk?" I requested not minding his cold attitude toward us. He gave an exasperated sigh before finally replying.

"There's a café at the corner, we could drop in" He suggested and I nodded following him with Charlie as we head right to the place with him.

We got to the Café and were gestured in by a brunette waitress.

"Here are our menus, is there anything you folks would like me to get you?" the brunette who was probably in her late twenties asked. I was still thinking of it was such a good idea for us to get anything because Nick seems to be in such a hurry when my brother ordered for cappuccino and just as I thought Nick didn't like the idea of ordering for anything.

"Look...I have a baby to babysit, I don't have all day so can you spit and let me get the hell out of here already" oops, second observation younger Nick is grumpy.

"Are you some sort of a babysitter, is that your part-time job? Claire, you've got terrible taste" my brother commented and I shared a frown with Nicholas. I knew he obviously didn't know what my brother meant but he was offended by it.

"And who is he?" Nick turned his question to me.

"My brother. he's Charlie" I embarrassingly introduced.

"Well, it's not nice to meet you" Charlie stated and Nick's frown deepens.

"Just...just ignore him please." I pleaded and he did just that turning to me almost immediately.

"So, what's this about?" he asked and I inhaled sharply before deciding on what to say. I know I had to choose my lines perfectly. Younger Nick doesn't look like the understanding one.

"Nick, what I'm about to tell you can sound very stupid but it's true. It might sound unbelievable but it's real. Nick, I need your help on something-

"You said that on the phone" Nick cut in and I nodded realizing it was stupid to repeat it.

"Nick. The world we know is gonna end in 2023" I started and he arched an eyebrow in question.

"Nick, I've lived past this-

"Claire I don't think you should start from there. It's baseless telling someone like him without proof" My brother finally decided to help after watching for a while. Just then the waitress came with his cappuccino and he gave her his charming smile. p*****t I thought.

"Is there anything you know about him that you think he might not have told anyone Claire?" my brother asked stretching to grab his drink as his back was completely buried in the chair he was sitting on. He was tilting the chair back a little such that he was resting his whole back on it while one of his legs supported him so wouldn't fall back, his second leg was crossed on the one supporting him.

"Well, I knew he lost his mom when his sister Nicole was five, I knew he had a father who was not really his favorite, and his sister meant everything to him. His best friend from fifth grade was Brian and his worst enemy was Tony, and he prefers to stay at his aunt Liz-

"Wait wait wait...hold on. Are you like stalking me now? I knew you were one of those attention-seeking girls the moment I saw you, but guess what, I don't like you. I have a girlfriend" Nick lashed at me after watching me in awe for some time. Okay, younger Nick is full of himself and he's got a girlfriend. That hurts.

"And I knew you were the arrogant type the moment I saw you" My brother retorted placing down his drink to give Nick his fiercest look. But I seem to have completely lost my voice. I was numb probably at the realization that Nick had a girlfriend when he was younger and didn't bother to tell me. We didn't actually date but I expected him to tell me. I don't know who I was upset with but I was furious.

"And I don't give a f**k if you have a girlfriend or not, because I don't like you to Nick. If you could just shut the f**k up and listen. You might actually know what I'm talking about" I quipped at Nicholas who seem taken aback by my sudden reaction. He blinked furiously before wearing an embarrassed look.

"Look Nick, you died. You f*****g died. December 2022. You died as well as the rest of us. An apocalypse is gonna happen soon and I need your f*****g help to stop it. Among the people that died at this time I have no freaking idea why I'm the only one back and into my younger body. Nick, I didn't know you because you were my friend from f******k. As a matter of fact, you were never my friend. All I recalled was falling off of a cliff after predators tear you and my brother to shreds and waking up in a hospital and in a different year to be precise. Nick, you and I were survivors and before I died we used to fight side by side to protect each other, and now that I'm back in this time. I hope you were that Nick but no, you are not him. How can someone change in just two years? " I asked but I wasn't directing the question at him but myself.

Nick had the dumbest look on his face. He was looking at me like I just l just sputtered the worst gibberish words he'd ever heard. I sighed deeply and throw myself back at the chair.

"He's never gonna understand" I muttered completely frustrated.

"Nick" I called as calmly as I could because I knew I was close to losing my s**t. Fourth observation younger Nick is way dumber.

"What do you not understand?" I inquired hands flared in question.

"You dying and coming back. That story is completely crazy. When I met you. I thought you were hot. I mean you were beautiful and all that. I actually thought I could go out with you sometimes but you are one real psycho" Nick said standing to leave.

"Your aunt," I said and he froze. I had just gotten a flash of my previous memories of Nick telling me he regretted his aunt didn't detect her kidney problem sooner. It claimed her life and he hated it.

"You might need to ask her to go for a check-up" I hinted and he scoffed heading out but I followed him, ran after him, and stopped him.

"You don't have to believe me, but I know you love your aunt Liz very much. She has a kidney stone and she can still be saved if she go visit the doctor now Nick. In the future, you told me you regretted her not visiting the doctor sooner because...it killed her. Please, Nick. Just this one" I pleaded and he gave me one last look before stomping off in haste.

"I don't how he's like in 2022 but trust me I don't like him in 2019" my brother declared appearing next to me.

"I really hope I can convince him, Charlie. I need him on this" I admitted sadly and head for the car with him. I arrived home to see Danny on my porch.

"Hey Hi" Danny greeted moving over to us immediately my brother and I appeared in front of the porch.

"That's what I'm talking about" Charlie whispered and I felt the urge to punch him right in the middle of the stomach. I shoved away the mental image of it and faked a smile to meet Danny. Moving Closer I realized he had a brown carton on the porch.

"Hey I got you something" he said and I moved closer only for him to bring out a fishbowl with a little cute purple tail fish.

"Awwn it's so cute" I smiled looking at the little creature at the transparent bowl.

"I wanted to get you this-

"Really?"I cut in super excited. I love fishes.

"How did you know I love fish as a pet? " I asked studying the little thing but he only smiled.

"I don't know. I just thought you might like it " He said all flushed. I led him to my room to place the fish down. I didn't want it falling by trying to get it from him.

"Nice room " he complimented but I was completely engrossed studying and looking at the little fish.

"I've always wanted a fish a fish as a pet. Since I was a kid. I never get a chance to keep one because mom thought I wasn't gonna do a good job raising one" I told Danny who was still busy studying my room. His eyes suddenly fell on my chart.

"What is this?" he slowly asked dazzled and confused.

"Oh that... It's nothing to be concerned about. I think we should head downstairs now" I said not wanting to get into any details as I lead Danny downstairs.

"Danny" My mom, who had come back earlier from work because she wasn't feeling very well called in surprise as I lead Danny downstairs.

"Hi, Mrs. Chadwick" he greeted moving into the sitting room.

"Didn't know you waited for them, Claire Danny came around thirty minutes ago. He said he and a gift for you, so what's this gift about?" my mom questioned with a suspicious look grabbing an earthenware full of freshly chopped vegetables from the table to head to the kitchen.

"It's a fish mom" I squealed.

"A fish?" my mom asked giving me a quizzical look.

"Yeah a fish, a pet fish. Thanks Danny" I said turning to Danny who was completely flushed.

"It's...nothing" he stuttered. How cute. I thought watching how he nervously played with his fingers. Danny joined us for Dinner. Dad came back a little wet from the rain that had started some minutes before dinner was ready. But dad came back to join us for dinner completely changed and refreshed. I enjoyed talking to Danny really. He's a brilliant kid, we were always the nerd in class but I wasn't really a nerd I mean I prefer parties to libraries.

"You sure you'll be okay?" I asked Danny as I accompanied him to the front porch while I offer him an umbrella.

"Yeah, I'll be okay" he replied smiling. I screeched and ended up jumping on him as the thunder rumbles loudly.

"I...think..you...should go...back inside" he stuttered his suggestion to be completely trapped in his arms and I nodded immediately hurrying back into the house. I left my family chatting in the sitting room while I head up. I smiled to see the little fish on my table. I took it and replaced it with my bedside lamp. I only need a bedside lamp. I could do without one. I thought as I put to the floor the bedside lamp I had replaced with the fishbowl. I was very happy thinking of waking to see it every day. The vibration of my phone distracted me and I moved over to my table which I had dropped earlier after I came to drop the fishbowl off. It was Nick's number.

"Hello" I said Into the phone after picking.

"How did you know?" it was the first thing I heard him say.

"Know what?" I asked not too certain I know what he meant.

"How did you know about my aunt's health?" he asked pitch higher.

"I already told you" I simply answered.

"Lies" he spat.

"Is there any other explanation for me knowing what your aunt herself hasn't figured out Nick...think about it, how can I know that. You have got to believe me, Nick. All I said to you was true" I told him and I heard him snicker.

"No, it's not true-

"Brian died Nick. She died and if you don't take any actions that's gonna come to pass. It's in your hands now" I pressured.

"You're a Liar-

"You wouldn't have called me if you didn't believe me now Nick. You believe me-

"I do not!" that was the last thing I heard him say before the line went dead.

"Fifth observation, Nicholas is stubborn," I said out loud hoping there was a way to convince him.

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