Parallel (Travelers Series Book 1) (7 page)

“E
tta, wake up!” I cautiously open one eye and see that it’s Jaime, nudging me out of a well deserved sleep. She keeps tugging on my arm. “You have to get ready for school.”

“I…what?” I forget where I am for a moment and wonder what Jaime is talking about. I can’t seem to shake the dream I was having. It was different than the other ones I’d been having the last couple of weeks. This one seemed even more real than before. I dreamt I’d been taken to another dimension and lived in a beautiful stone house. Even the sweet scent of the linens still lingers in the air. But it has to be a dream because Jaime is here, waking me up.

“Come on! Get up.” Jaime is starting to get annoying. It’s way too early to be so demanding.

“Alright, I’m up.” I sit up in bed and clean the gunk that’s itching the hell out of the corner of my eye.

I glance past Jaime’s shoulder and the room suddenly comes into focus. Everything that happened the day before comes flooding back and I realize it isn’t a dream. I scowl as Jaime tries to pry me out of bed. I almost ask her to pinch me to make sure all this is really real. It dawns on me for the first time that I’m now in the company of family and friends and I know I won’t be missed in the other world. There’s no one back there to miss me. Everyone that matters is right here.

“Maggie asked me to come wake you up. Now get dressed and let’s get some breakfast. You have fifteen minutes.” Jaime runs out of the room and leaves me to get ready.

I don’t know which is worse, having my best friend share a room with me, or having her live down the street and pop in whenever she feels like it. Mornings are definitely not my most shining hour, especially when I have someone nagging me to wake up.

Considering my upbringing, I was never much of a clothes horse, so I hope whatever waits for me in the closet is decent. Just because I’ve taken back this version of me, doesn’t mean I have the same sense of style. But my curiosity will have to wait a few minutes more until after I clean myself up, so I walk past the closet, resisting the urge to open it, and head straight for the shower.

Leave it to me not to notice it before, but my bathroom is
en suite
—I learned that term in school. My very own private bathroom! I do a little jig. I totally take advantage and indulge in a long hot shower. It’s nice not having to share a community bathroom or worry about using up all the hot water. I can get used to this kind of life.

After ten glorious minutes, I reluctantly step out of the shower and pad my way back into the bedroom to take a look at the closet. Taking a look inside, I’m disappointed to find row after row of dresses. Nothing fancy, just simple sundresses and one-piece jumpers. I hope this isn’t my everyday wear aside from school. Venturing further back, I spy a few pairs of jeans, a few dozen t-shirts, and some sweaters. I must have favored a more feminine touch in this world, but for now, I’m happy to don the school uniform I’m required to wear. All that’s left is to finger comb my hair and I’m all set.

Using the full-length mirror attached to the closet, I take a long hard look at my reflection staring back at me. The pleated khaki skirt and white polo shirt (complete with the school’s crest in the upper left corner), isn’t what I picture as far as private school uniform go, but at least it’s casual.

Jaime raps on the door. “Breakfast? Maggie went crazy again and made enough for an army,” she announces, making her way back into the hallway.

Does she spend all her time here? I’m grateful to have her around, but I don’t think I can take this type of abuse every morning. I quickly check my appearance one last time before tearing myself away from the mirror. I certainly don’t feel like the girl staring back at me in the private school uniform, but I guess this is my life now: new reality, new house, and new clothes.

“Coming,” I yell down. I check to make sure I have everything I need. Looking around, I spot a designer looking handbag on the desk. I rummage through its contents: gum, tissue paper, a wallet, and a cell phone—definitely need the latter two, so grab those. I don’t see any text books or notebooks lying around, but I manage to find an old backpack hidden behind the mess of dresses in the closet—the fancy purse has to go. The backpack will have to do until I figure out where I kept my school stuff. I shove my wallet and cell into the side compartment and I’m all set.

Sure enough, Maggie is bustling around the kitchen. I detect the scent of waffles. Without turning around, Maggie busies herself in front of the counter, manning the waffles. But she knows when I enter the room. “Well good morning, dear. How did you sleep? You looked so peaceful sleeping last night, I didn’t bother to call you down for dinner.” She flips the waffle maker over.

There’s no excuse for bad manners, even if I did grow up without a proper family. “Good morning. I slept well, thanks. Sorry I missed dinner.” And I truly am. I didn’t mean to stretch my nap into the early morning. I bet the stew from last night was delicious. I make a mental note to ask about any leftovers when I return home from school.

Maggie just smiles and hands me a plate of waffles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or smelled anything so yummy. “You two girls eat up,” she encourages us, as I graciously accept the food. Sitting beside my plate is a bowl of homemade whipped cream and I greedily help myself to a couple of dollops.

“Blueberry waffles? What’s the occasion?” Jaime asks. “Normally it’s just regular old pancakes.”

“Who cares? They’re delicious,” I say, stuffing my face. Seriously, this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had. I wonder if this is a normal morning here at the Fleming household. As I chew, I watch Jaime accept a couple of waffles from my aunt and proceed to drown them in syrup.

“Ugh, so I came over to tell you I can’t give you a ride to school today,” Jaime says with her mouth half full. “Apparently I broke house rules by staying late after class waiting for you. So mom said she’s dropping me off as a way of punishing me.” She stops to take another bite of her waffle. “As if being grounded isn’t bad enough.”

Guilt sinks in again, having Jaime wait up for me at school. But I can’t help but feel happy for her at the same time. Too bad I can’t put things in perspective for her. Here, she has parents who care about her, even if it comes with the occasional punishment. Tough love is still better than being stuck in foster care.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “Do we always ride to school together?” Unlike Jaime, I manage to say this without a mouth full of waffles. This is my first meal here and I don’t want to look like I don’t belong in this nice house. Not that anyone would know. But just the same, it’s important to me that I make a good impression.

Almost as if by magic, the waffles on my plate suddenly disappear. Skipping dinner probably has something to do with it, that and dimension hopping can certainly make a girl hungry. But before I can ask for a second helping, my aunt is one step ahead of me and is already sliding two more waffles onto my plate. She’s rewarded with one of my sheepish smiles and I dig in.

“You sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting totally weird since yesterday. Of course we always ride together.” Jaime’s voice is full of concern. “Your car is way nicer than my Jetta. Besides, I practically live here. Not that my parents ever notice—except when I violate curfew.” She winks.

“Since Jaime’s mother is giving her a ride, I can run you up to school this morning. Your car should be ready any day now, then you can go back to driving yourselves,” Maggie offers.

“Thanks Aunt Maggie.” That sounds so weird coming out of my mouth.

Jaime holds her wrist up to check her watch. “Look, I gotta run. Mom is probably pitching a fit as we speak not knowing where I am.” Jaime rolls her eyes. “Thanks for the breakfast Maggie,” she yells back, heading out of the kitchen.

I scarf the last waffle on my plate and wait as my aunt tidies up before giving me a lift to school. She stops wiping the counters long enough to take a look at me.

“Is everything alright, hon? You have been acting a bit confused. Disconnected almost.” She walks over to me and puts her hand on my forehead. “Well, it doesn’t look like you have a fever, but do me a favor and take it easy today. I don’t want you to overdo it in case you’re coming down with something.”

I study my aunt’s face, wondering what side of the family she from. “Hmm? I’m fine really. Guess I didn’t sleep as well as I thought I did.”

She gives me the once over as if she knows I’m hiding something. “If you say so,” she says, letting me know she’s not entirely sure I’m telling the truth. “Are you about ready to go?” My aunt grabs her keys from the kitchen table and wanders out of the kitchen.

I pat my backpack. As ready as I’ll ever be.

But we don’t get far. As soon as we make our way outside, we notice her car is blocked by Cooper’s Land Rover.

“Looks like you have a ride to school after all.” She kisses the top of my head and strolls back into the house. “Don’t forget to take it easy today.”

I sigh with relief. I’m glad I don’t have to go through another round of her second guessing my awkward state on the way to school. That and I’m sure she has better things to do with her morning than to chauffeur me around town.

I immediately run over to the familiar shiny white SUV. “I’ll see you after school,” I manage to yell over my shoulder before my aunt makes her way back into the house.

“You!” My tone changes the second I enter the Rover. “You have a lot of nerve dropping me off here to figure things out on my own.”

Cooper raises his hands in defense and chuckles. “What? No thanks for picking you up?”

“Stuff it Cooper.” His amusement at my expense is getting old. He’s still sexy hot and all, but a girl can only take so much. “What else have you failed to fill me in on?”

He gently puts the truck in reverse and eases his way out of the driveway. “What would you like to know?”

“My father, for starters. What the hell was up with that cryptic message you whispered to me at the last minute? He’s either missing or you just don’t know where he is. Which is it?”

His eyes remained glued on the rearview mirror. “You didn’t ask your aunt?”

“No. I had a hard enough time trying to figure out who
she
was.” I’m definitely pouting. I know it’s not a good look for me, but there you have it: I’ve been reduced to a brat. I realize this is beginning to become a habit whenever I’m around Cooper. He always seems to bring out the spoiled child in me. If he wasn’t so hot, I would have stuck my tongue out at him too. “You could have told me.”

“Fair enough. But about your dad—honestly, I don’t know where to begin. Your dad went missing a few days ago. By the time I finally figured it out, all leads to his disappearance were cold.”

“Does this have anything to do with me?” Cooper never came out and explained exactly why I was brought back or who initiated my return. Surely this isn’t a coincidence.

Cooper thinks for a second before answering. “I wasn’t sure before, but now I’m thinking maybe it does. There are other reasons behind my bringing you back, but I figured that by doing so, it would also undo whatever happened to your dad.”

“Kinda like me taking over a life I never left.”

“Precisely, darlin’”

“How does this work exactly? Alternate universes, I mean.” As he maneuvers his way out of the neighborhood, I can already tell that the one thing that hasn’t changed in this reality is the traffic. Rush hour in the metro area can set you behind schedule, even if you’re only traveling a couple of miles. So I know we’ll be sitting here for awhile. Cooper has plenty of time to explain things while we sit, whether he wants to or not.

“In order to explain alternate realities, you have to think of multiple universes as two sheets of paper lying on top of each other. Now, imagine a small slit that goes through both sheets. If you were walking down the road and slipped through that perforation, you’d now be on the other side of the second sheet. It would be similar, except now you’re now on the other sheet of paper.”

“Are there more than two alternate universes?”

I know I’m on to something when I catch Cooper’s smile. “Yes. Every time something changes in the timeline, a new reality is created.”

“So, instead of two sheets of paper, it’s more like a ream.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I guess you could say that.”

“This still doesn’t explain how I have parents in this reality, but I’m an orphan in the other.”

“Doesn’t it? There are realities where you have one, both, or none of your parents. In this scenario, you were placed in another world where your parents died in a plane crash when you were five.” Cooper pauses for a second before he continues. “And I’m guessing you died in the crash along with your parents, because like I said before, in order to avoid a paradox, your father must have chosen a reality where you couldn’t run into yourself.”

It takes a moment to digest this. What he’s suggesting hits me: I don’t have a mother in this world either. “So here, it was only my mother who died. What changed? I mean, I know I have to expect some differences between the worlds, but why weren’t me and my dad on that flight?”

“Because you two were together.”

“You mean…” I choke on the words.

“I’m afraid so, darlin’. While your mom was on that flight, you and your father were over in the other reality, making sure you were safe.”

I shake my head in disagreement. “Impossible.”

“What do you mean?”

I might be new to this alternate reality stuff, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. “If my father supposedly took me to a place where I couldn’t possibly run into myself because I was already dead, how is it that he knew ahead of time? If the events happened simultaneously, how is that possible?” And for that matter, if he knew about the crash ahead of time, how could he allow my mom get on the flight here? The thought leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“You’re smart, I’ll give you that. But in all honestly, I can’t answer that. I’m pretty limited in what I know. I wish I could tell you more.”