He backs away. “School. That’s it. Lots of school studying. You know?”
Her lip curls, and she sits back. “He’s hanging out with Mallory, isn’t he?”
Sam shakes his head. “No, no. Nothing like that.”
“You sure?”
“I’m telling the truth. Go ask her yourself if you don’t believe me,” he says.
“Do you think he’d ever hurt someone?”
I slam the table. “Shut up!”
Emma and Sam jump. Now, the whole class is staring at us.
My heart is beating fast, and there’s a piercing sound in my ears. I want it to stop. I don’t understand where this anger is coming from all of a sudden. Is it really from Emma asking questions, or is it the fact she’s next to me at all? How could she start talking to me like nothing ever happened between us?
“Is everything okay, Myles?” Ms. Simon asks.
My mouth is dry. “Yes—sorry—” I tilt my head down to hide from all of the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
There’s a moment of silence and then Emma whispers, “So you have a temper.”
I bite my tongue.
She doesn’t care that she upset me or that my hands are shaking. I’m clearly uncomfortable around her, but she’s oblivious. She doesn’t care how badly she hurt me in the past, so why would she care about how I feel right now?
She might’ve been my friend at one point, but that’s a lifetime ago. If today proved anything, it's that my heart doesn’t flutter around her anymore. It burns.
It burns from the hate that’s been brewing for the last three years.
Hate is all that’s left of what we used to be.
8
EMMA
I don’t want to believe history is going to repeat itself, but the way Myles talked has me convinced there’s something going on between him and Mallory. I’ve always been able to catch him in a lie.
Part of me is still waiting to close my eyes and be back in my own timeline when I open them, but somehow I stay put here. I think it’s a sign the universe wants me to save Mallory.
I sit, fully ignoring the class I’m in as I try to come up with a plan. I’ve managed to remember my schedule from last year, but I can’t pay attention. I couldn’t care less about my classes. I have more important things to do. I have a life to save.
But how am I supposed to save her?
I’ve never done anything remotely “good” in my life. I don’t think it’s in my nature. I have the abhorrent skill of always messing up like it’s written into the code of my being.
I could always kidnap her. Lock her up and force her to stay home, but I doubt the others would go along with it.Someone would notice, and then I’d be the one grounded until who knows when. Not to mention that my sister is strong, and I don’t think I’d stand a chance of tying her up.
I need another plan. An actual plan. Something that could convince Mallory to stay away from Myles, and vice versa. But I have nothing to prove I’m from the future. I look relatively the same. I don’t remember any meaningful sports game scores or news events. I have nothing but the words out of my mouth.
Or . . .
A seedling of hope pops into my head.
I’m here from the future, which means past Emma, the Emma that belongs in this time, is still here. She’s my proof.
The bell rings, releasing us for lunch. Before any of the other students have time to react, I’m out of my seat with my backpack draped over my shoulder, aiming for the door. I beeline straight to the cafeteria, waiting under the arched entrance for Mallory.
