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Julia had the decency to wait until we were outside before she threw out the first question.
“What was that all about?”
The door clicked closed and I waited until we hit the sidewalk before speaking.
“I guess the training they did must have awoken some latent... powers,” I said, trying to pick my words carefully. “Yesterday I wished I was home and bam, I’m in my backyard in Maine and I got a chance to sit on the beach for a while before Ben and Danny brought me back.” I let that settle. The soft patter of our footsteps filled the quiet between us. “I guess I got a little homesick,” I added when she hadn’t spoken.
Her gaze locked on mine when I turned her way, but it wasn’t awe in her eyes. It was more like she was in a bizarre nightmare that she couldn’t escape from and the shock made me swallow hard.
She shook her head, recovering from whatever gripped her. “So why did you show up in my room?”
“I’d still be in Maine if it wasn’t for you.” Based on her lack of reaction, I don’t think she got what I was saying. “You are the only reason I could think of to come back,” I added and took her hand.
She gave my hand a gentle squeeze and we continued toward school, neither of us slowing down to wait for Noah or the two reapers. We didn’t even look their way when we hit the main road. I heard our names and traded a glance with Julia before I raised my hand in a wave, acknowledging but not slowing down to wait. I wasn’t in the mood for the silent reminder of what a freak I was. I just wanted the normal feeling of holding my girlfriend’s hand and walking to school.
The morning sunshine dimmed and I glanced at the clouds growing in the sky. It looked like the thunderstorms were primed to start earlier than normal today, which didn’t help my mood at all. I bet the weather in Maine wasn’t oppressive like this.
“I wonder if I can move through time the same way I can move through space,” I mumbled and stopped as soon as the words were out of my mouth. “What if,” I started, meeting Julia’s gaze.
“You can turn back time,” she completed my sentence and her eyes widened with hope.
I glanced at the road behind us, at the three kids approaching, two of whom were sending warning glares and shaking their heads. They started running toward me and I turned back to Julia tightening my grip on her hand.
“I wish I went to your house instead of home the day my father showed up,” I said the words and her eyes widened before I pulled her into a kiss and our surroundings faded in the rush of wind and rumbling of thunder.