COUNTING DOWN THE YEARS

FALSE ALARM

The next morning I pack my heaviest jackets and a few clothes to leave for the snowy part of the country which will take me some hours  by bus to get there. I need to find some answers and it's there I will. I have to get answers. 

I leave at around eight and straight to the bus point. I'm among the first people to get settled in. I like being early. Okay lie, I was late once and missed a flight. They really mean it they don't refund. The bus is scheduled to leave at half past so people will slowly come in. The journey takes eight hours so I take out a book and start to read. Nothing like a good romance novel as the bus moves swiftly to my long awaited destination. 

A few minutes later the book gets knocked onto my face with a, 'nerd '. People around laugh at that. I'm not in a hurry to see my perpetrator but maybe I should have been because the book is knocked off my hands. Then my eyes meet face to face with Peter! Yeah! 

"Kid what's your problem? " I question carefully. 

"Boohoo, what's your problem. " He imitates me mockingly wiping at his eyes. 

I ignore him and look out through the window. I can't deal with this now. I seriously hate confrontations . I'd rather someone talks to themselves until they realize nobody cares and shuts it. 

"Wait I know you... " He starts. 

Uh-oh !

"You are the old lady from uh... "

"Peter that's enough. Settle down and leave the poor girl all alone. " A woman on the other side of the isle says to him. 

"Yeah, she looks poor alright! "Peter says this then sits down. 

The woman from earlier gives me an apologetic smile.

"Take your seats everyone, fasten your belts we'll be leaving soon. Journey takes eight hours and we only have two stops in between. If you need to go to the bathroom time's now. Otherwise, safe travels and thank you for choosing to travel with us. " A male voice says from the front. 

Being seated towards the back and slouched on my seat I couldn't see him. I didn't know buses had cabin crew. I mean they should if it's convenient for them but unnecessary because buses are pretty basic. They don't even have bathrooms for people to use while traveling. Or does buses where you come from have those? That would be cool as much as a health hazard. 

The bus takes off and I get excited to see buildings passing through. Before there are no buildings and other cars to look at. I have always been nostalgic about leaving town. It feels like I'm never coming back here and that sucks. I know I'm coming back but the one percent just in case. I stare longingly at the environment that I have been accustomed to for like twenty years. It's home. Even when it's not what it was before. 

I remember everything now. It's why I'm headed to the mountains to find the time machine. I can't believe I could have forgotten something as big as that. I can't believe it actually worked and that I did not die that day. 

I know that day has not come yet but I have a memory of it. And I can't help wonder if things had gone differently. I still remember Peter's panicked face and voice. And my own screams of horror. Damn, I had missed being called Annie even when my former boss did call me that. It irritated me and I don't know why. 

The ten years younger Peter now is some kind of a delinquent. I don't remember him being a bully either. He was always sweet and charming. Focused and ambitious. I wonder what happened to him now . I wonder how he does at school now. Whom he spends time with. 

Who knew people could have two different lives and that there is a person who could see inside the both of those lives. It's very confusing. So crazy. What changed for him? Or has he always been like that in the inside. Or did everyone else's timeline change along with mine! 

I can't be the only one who's life changed like this. But I can't be sure because I'm not a scientist here. And the guy who knows or would know anything about the time machine likes to hate me for no reason. I wonder what I did to this kid honestly. 

And I know he most definitely won't break a sweat for me. So here I am wondering what I'll do with the machine if I even ever found it. It could be damaged. It could be working fine. But I wouldn't know the first thing about working it. 

But first things first! I fall asleep for a minute not wanting to stress myself over things I can't control. But it's only for that minute because I feel a poke on my side. I give you one guess whom it may be. 

"Try not to drool over me. This is no regular leather. It cost me a fortune. " An irritated Peter warns. 

I don't even drool! Must he be a douche bag every second? I stay quiet not even sparing him a glance. Silence is the heaviest comeback. We are just breathing for a while before the lump in my throat tightens too much. 

"Why must you be a jerk ass to me? Do you even know me? Cause I know you, you are one of those spoilt brats who think being rude and making fun of people makes them cool. Well I don't care. For all I know you are a teenager with a lot of insecurities and I'm over that. So that's the difference between you and I. Call me what you want to, say whatever, however you wish to me but just remember it doesn't get to me. So joke's on you !"

After my rant we are both quiet and the lump in my throat threatens to choke me. Suddenly I have an urge to cough and relieve an itch but I know the tears pricking my eyes could drop and embarrass me. So much for being over his words! 

I take out a bottle of water from my shoulder bag and take a huge gulp with my face upwards. I try to blink the tears away. I know Peter is watching me from the corner of his eyes just like I'm watching him. He can't see me cry. 

He'll feel like he's won and I can't let him. Unfortunately, the more I think of this matter the more the tears welling up in my eyes. Get it together girl, you are twenty now! 

I end up drinking the whole bottle but not controlling my tears. This is humiliating! How could I? Then I pick up movements beside me. Peter slouches on his seat and covers his face with a snap back. I assume he tries to sleep himself. I just hope he sleeps until we get there. 

I slowly breathe out, really slowly so he doesn't hear me. Last thing I want is to be laughed at right now. I would sob like someone is dead until I can't breathe so I use my mouth like a fish. 

Moving on, at some point I fall asleep and wake up to an empty bus. So reached our destination and people already left the bus. So hurriedly I pick my belongings and step out. Turns out most people just got out as they are still lingering around. 

I exchange glances with Peter. Still same hostility. You would think after our little talk and him leaving me on the bus he would have felt like he got me but no! So that's it, the kid hates me for life. I miss the him from the other timeline. I did take him for granted but at least he was not a monster. And didn't hate me. 

It's late now and the sun is almost down. I need to find a motel to rest the night then wake up to chase the wind. Haha, did I just say that? And the hunt begins. Lucky for me the bus left us close to the small town. Saved me from wandering around looking for a motel because there are just two and close to each other, close to other stores you just can't miss it. This town really is small. 

I think it's one of those where everyone knows everyone and everything and that means that the arrival of new people, I'm mostly talking about myself because I can't be sure about everyone else, will spread like a wild fire. Yay, the questions!