Testing Vickie

Chapter Seven

“I was going to ask you later, but; I was wondering if you want to come with me on a trip to the City? Just us, good food and the stars?” He said, slightly shy.

“Of course! How long do you want to go away for?”

“I was thinking of just a one night trip? Just so we don’t have to take too much time off work.”

“Sounds good!” I say, kissing him on the cheek. We get home and Nick starts preparing. “I’m gonna go to the library, find some music for the car ride up.” And check my book. Hopefully Michael lets me look at it now that there’s something in there. I mean, technically, in this world I’ll have completed the TEST’s right? What if this is Utopia? But, then what about the jump in time? That isn’t supposed to happen… Is it?

I get to the library that never seems to change and run up the stairs. The books, there’s so many! I look for where mine was in the first world. It’s not there! I look at the completed books in the B section. Bones, Alexander, Bones, Harry (my uncle) and Bones, Zara (my aunt). No Victoria. Damn it. Where am I? I search through the sections. Then it hits me, I’ve passed through one TEST, but I’m not at Utopia. Is there a grey area? Then suddenly, I hear shaking. I turn my head around and a door reveals itself. It looks modern, almost, futuristic. I walk towards it cautiously and suddenly a big whoosh of wind sweeps me to it. I almost fall into the door, then I straighten out my elbows and put my palms in front of me. I stop right before the door, not even touching it. I push gently and it surprisingly creaks open for something so new. A vast hall opens, this must be the grey area of all the people searching for Utopia. I look again for the B section and find that I’m the only person with the surname starting with B doing it. Strange. I take my book out and wait for Michael to appear like he did last time. Only, he didn’t. I flip through the pages of the book and see what happened in the last world I was in, each thought, each action. They were all recorded in word and picture. It almost looked like Ana did them herself. I’d love for Ana to illustrate my TEST book. There’s nothing useful in there TEST wise so I close it, gaining the reassurance that this is a TEST and not Utopia. It totally could be Utopia. I’d believe it.

I look at the clock. 11:55am? No it looks more like 11:57am. Nonetheless, I should be getting back home soon. I go to the third floor where all the media is and choose three CDs: A poppy one, a ballady one and a musical. This should last us about three and a half hours? I run down the steps of the library and walk left. Wait, was it right? I take my phone out only to realise that I don’t know the password. That’s a bit awkward. Can’t exactly ask people if they know my password. I think for a bit then brain dead. I can’t think of anything. I sit on the steps of the library, slightly glum and play around with my phone. Suddenly, it just unlocks. Of course! Fingerprint I.D! I saw Nick use it this morning! I get into my phone and search for ‘Home’. Perfect, I live not far from the Ghanda building where I did that model thing. I wonder if that came to this world.

I follow the GPS and find myself at the apartment building. I walk in and the guy at the elevator smiles at me.

“Third floor Ms Bones?”

“Yes thanks.” He sees the ring.

“Ah, about time.” I chuckle. “Congratulations.” He says and turns. As he turns I see his name tag on the side of his shirt: Johnny

“Thanks Johnny.” I enter the elevator and there’s an awkward silence with just me and my CDs. I get up and see Nick with two duffel bags.

“You ready?”

“For an adventure with you? Always.”

“Then let’s go!” With two duffel bags slung over his shoulder, a backpack on his back and front, he extends his free hand to me.

“Let me help with some of that.” I say, taking the bag from the front and one of the duffel bags. I chuck the CDs in the backpack. “Let’s go!” I say brightly, kissing him gently on the cheek.

We go back down and Johnny smiles again. “Heading out?”

“Yeah for two days. No one is expected at our apartment. Do you mind taking any mail we get and putting it under my apartment door?”

“Of course. Have a good time!”

“Seeya Johnny.”

Nick leads the way to a metal door I didn’t see before that leads to the garage. How long can I keep up this charade? I’m supposed to have lived here for ages. We climb into the car and I slide in the poppy CD.

The car ride is mainly quiet, except for my crappy singing. We listen to all three CD’s, then the car falls silent.

“What are we going to do when we get there?” I ask, trying to not make it awkward.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Tell meeeeee. Please?” I pull out the puppy dog eyes and his face softens.

“I’ll give you a clue.” He pulls out two slips of paper from his pocket then quickly slips it back into his pocket. “That’s all you get to see.”

“No! That wasn’t fair!”

“Well you’re just going to have to wait.” He flashes me a grin and I instantly melt.

“Do I get any more clues?”

“Mmmmm, nah. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

We speed along the freeway and I let the windows down letting in the cool air. My hair flies out behind me and my eyes start to water a little.

“I have a surprise for you halfway there though. Which is about now.” My curiosity spikes, I wonder what it could be. We’re quite close to the coast maybe we’re going to the beach? But I don’t have any bikinis… There’s also a park on the other side of the road a bit further in. Maybe we’re going to go on a hike?

“What are we going to do?” I say as we pull up on the coast side of the road. Nick takes my hand and leads me to the beach.

“Close your eyes.” He instructs. So I do. “Do you want me to take your shoes off for you? We’re about to go on sand. I know you hate sand.”

“Ok” I murmur. So Nick took my shoes off along with my socks. I see nothingness as my eyes close, a soft fabric laying over them. It’s strange how safe I feel with his hands on my waist and outstretched hand guiding me.

“Ok, now lower yourself down onto a bench seat. Sit tight, I’ll be back in five minutes.”

The five minutes of nothingness is torturous. All I hear is a lapping of waves and the soft craw of seagulls. At one point there was a soft breeze coming from the ocean, a salty tang hitting my nose. It feels…lonely without Nick.

“I’m back.” I hear Nick’s soft voice and the feeling of loneliness flees. “Ready?” I’ve been ready since he informed me of the surprises. “Are your eyes still closed?”

“Yes.” I murmur and the fabric over my eyes slide off.

“And open.”