Leading To You

10. Coming Clean

Ethan

I couldn't believe I'd forgotten to ask for her number. How could I let that slip my mind? We were supposed to meet Dr. Callahan this weekend, and I had no way to reach her.

As I paced the length of my room, I couldn't help but chastise myself. "Smooth move, Ethan," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "You had one job."

The room seemed to close in on me as I replayed our conversation in my head. I'd been so engrossed in the excitement and mystery of the day that I'd neglected the most basic of details. It was a rookie mistake, and I couldn't believe I had let it happen.

I stopped in front of the window, staring out at the cityscape. The graffiti that adorned the buildings seemed to mock my forgetfulness. How was I going to contact her now before the weekend?

I flopped onto my bed, running a hand through my hair. The warm glow of the sunset streaming through my window served as a stark reminder of how I had let the moment slip through my fingers.

"Stupid.” I chided myself. ”Where's that artist's intuition now?"

ust then, a gentle knock came from the door. Before I could respond, my mom, with a curious expression, peeked her head in. "Ethan, who are you talking to in there?"

I turned, startled by her presence, and the flush of embarrassment warmed my cheeks. "Oh, uh, just talking to myself, Mom," I stammered.

She entered the room with a bemused smile as she leaned on the doorframe. "Is everything alright, sweetheart? You seemed pretty engaged in that conversation."

I ran a hand through my hair, still feeling a bit flustered. She already knew about my visions and my visit to Dr. Callahan, and it was only fair that she knew about this new, captivating development.

"Actually, Mom," I began, "I met someone today. Her name is Maeve.”

She stared at me for a moment before realization dawned. “Is she the girl from your visions?” Mom asked, intrigued.

“Yeah and she's been having these Future Fragments, too."

“That's great. How did you meet her?"

I recounted the serendipitous encounter, leaving no details untouched. Mom listened intently, nodding along. "It sounds like quite the day, Ethan. Meeting someone who shares your experiences with Future Fragments... that's extraordinary."

"Yeah, it is," I replied. "And you know what, we both have an invitation from Dr. Callahan to meet him this weekend. It seems like he wants to talk to us together, maybe help us understand these visions better."

My mom's face lit up with curiosity. "Well, that's a wonderful opportunity, Ethan. If Maeve is experiencing these visions, too, she must be going through similar emotions and questions."

“I know, mom. That’s why we decided to do this together.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression a blend of maternal pride and apprehension. "I trust your judgment, Ethan. Just remember to stay safe and let me know if you need anything."

I smiled at her, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Mom. I will."

“Okay, but all this still doesn’t explain why you were having a conversation with yourself.” Her eyes lit with mischief.

“I didn't get her number. I can't believe I forgot to ask. It's like I'm back in middle school."" I said, embarrassed.

“How tragic, young Romeo.” Mom chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, you've always been a bit absent-minded, but this takes the cake.” She added with a teasing glint.

“Mom!” I groaned and rolled my eyes but couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, yeah, Mom, I get it. It's just that, since we're planning to meet up again this weekend to visit Dr. Callahan, it would've been nice to have her number in case we needed to coordinate."

My mom leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "You're right, Ethan. Lovebirds need to be well-prepared, after all."

I groaned playfully, realizing my mom was thoroughly enjoying my moment of awkwardness. "Alright, alright, you win. But I don’t know if all this has got anything to do with love, Mom. It’s just that there's something about this connection, these visions, that feels profound. It’s like this connection is more than just chance."

"Well, I can't argue with fate, can I? Just make sure you don’t get lost in the moment and forget to get her number this time.” she teased. “Now, enough mopping. Come down for dinner. I’ve bought roasted chicken and mashed potatoes from your favorite restaurant.”

“You are the best, Mom.” I exclaimed before jumping up from the bed.

—--

"Hey, Ethan," Jayden began, his voice a mixture of curiosity and excitement as he sat at our usual spot on the school grounds. "Why did you want us to meet early?"

I was already seated while Jayden and Leila joined me. I had asked them to come early before classes started. I hadn’t yet told them about my visions and was feeling really nervous of their reaction to keeping it from them.

I hesitated for a moment, while Jayden and Leila looked at me expectantly. It had been two days since my meeting with Dr. Callahan and Maeve, and I was wondering how to tell my friends about the Future Fragments or the strange connection I felt with Maeve. I hadn't been sure how to bring it up, and part of me still wondered if it was all too surreal to be true.

"Guys, there's something I need to tell you," I began, watching their expressions change from curiosity to concern. "It's about something strange that's been happening to me lately."

Jayden and Leila exchanged glances. "Strange how?" Leila asked.

"Uhh…," I finally replied, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "Alright, you know how there's been this buzz about Future Fragments?"

Curiosity gleamed in their eyes as they nodded. "Of course! People are talking about it all over, sharing their experiences. It's like a city-wide obsession." Leila added.

I took a deep breath and leaned in closer, making sure my voice was hushed. Though the place was practically empty, I didn’t want to risk anybody hearing. I didn’t want that kind of scrutiny. "Well, guys, here's the thing. I've been having these... visions."

Leila's eyes widened with surprise, and Jayden raised an eyebrow. "Visions? Like, what kind of visions?"

I swallowed hard, not entirely sure how to put it into words. "I've been seeing glimpses of possible futures, and they're connected to this girl I met in one of the visions. It's like...a thread that's pulling me towards her."

I recounted my encounters with the mysterious fragments and the girl I had glimpsed. I shared the tale of the chance cafe and subway encounter, meeting Dr. Callahan and also about how I met Maeve and spoke to her at the cafe two days ago. As I spoke, I could see their disbelief slowly turn into fascination.

Leila leaned back on the bench, her expression a mix of awe and bewilderment. "Ethan, this is... unreal. You've actually experienced these Future Fragments?"

Jayden's expression softened, and he gave me a knowing look. "Is that why you've been so distracted lately?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's been on my mind constantly. I didn't know how to explain it to you guys."

Jayden patted me on the back with a half-smile. "Man, you should've told us earlier. We're your friends, and we're here for you, no matter what. Plus, this sounds pretty cool, in a strange way."

Leila chimed in, "We may not understand it completely, but we've got your back. Just keep us in the loop from now on, okay?"

I nodded, grateful for their understanding. "I will, and I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. It's just been so strange, and I wasn't sure how to explain it."

Jayden slapped me on the back, offering a supportive grin. "No worries, man. We're here now, and we'll figure this out together. Besides, this sounds pretty awesome."

Leila leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell us more about this girl you met. Maeve, right? Was it like love at first sight?"

I chuckled, glad for the shift in mood. "I wouldn't say love, but it was definitely something... unique. It's like I've known her from somewhere, and not just in my dreams."

Jayden leaned back, his brow furrowed. "And this Dr. Callahan, what does he think about all of this?"

"He's intrigued," I replied. "He believes there's a connection between Maeve and me. He even offered to help us explore the Future Fragments. He's a scientist studying them, and he might have some answers."

Leila nodded. "It's like you've stumbled upon some kind of hidden world, Ethan. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Jayden leaned back, his expression suddenly turning serious. "You know, you should be careful. I’ve heard people say that those visions can mess with your head. You don't want to end up like one of those conspiracy theorists, seeing signs and connections everywhere." he ended with a teasing grin and I smacked the back of his head.

Jayden chuckled and then his eyes gleamed with excitement. "So, what's the plan? How do we start investigating this?"

I leaned forward, feeling a sense of purpose with my friends by my side. "First, we need to learn more about Future Fragments. Dr. Larkin invited us to his lab this weekend," I explained. "Maeve and I will be heading there to learn more about this phenomenon and, hopefully, get some answers."

Leila leaned forward, curiosity brimming in her eyes. "What do you hope to find out, Ethan?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "But there's something about those visions, about Maeve, that feels... important. Like they're meant to lead us somewhere. Dr. Callahan might have answers."

Jayden clapped me on the back. "Well, you better keep us updated, Ethan. We'll be living vicariously through your adventures."

Leila shook her head at him but nodded in agreement. "And take lots of notes. Who knows, this could be the start of something groundbreaking."

“Then, all of us can try and figure out why my paths seem destined to cross with Maeve’s. We can maybe ask Maeve if she would like to join us in this." I added.

Jayden and Leila exchanged a determined look, and then Jayden spoke for both of them, "Let’s do this."