I need to get her attention before she sits down so I can talk to her without her friends around. Otherwise I’m sure she’ll react the same way she did earlier. She’ll be too embarrassed to talk to me.
My stomach growls as the smell of chicken alfredo and garlic bread fills the air. I was so focused on Mallory I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I haven’t eaten since yesterday, but this is so much worse than it should be. My appetite has been suppressed lately, but right now I’m so hungry I’m considering getting in line and ditching my plan of attack.
Concentrate, Emma.
I turn away from the food, but it doesn’t stop the garlic from reaching me. I lean against the wall and hug my middle as my stomach growls again.
Lots of students filter in, lining up and filling the seats one by one, but Mallory is taking her sweet time. Watching each person go through the line and exit the other side with a full tray is torture.
I have to focus. This is serious and I’ll have plenty of time to eat later.
Minutes tick by, the line dwindling. Maybe Mallory isn’t coming after all and I’ll miss my opportunity for pasta. It’s already seven minutes into the lunch period. There’s no reason she’d be at her locker for this long. What if she brought her own food and is eating somewhere else? I’ll have to forfeit the rest of lunch to search the school and find her—
Her rosy pink cheeks and dark hair pulled into a ponytail walk by.
“Mallory,” I say, stopping her.
She turns, eyes narrowing. “What’s wrong now?”
“I need to talk to you about something,” I blurt out.
Her eyes dart over to the line. “Can we get lunch first?”
“No,” I say, placing my hands on her arms. “I know you’ll think I’m being dramatic, but you have to listen to me. You’re in danger and if you don’t listen to me, you’ll die.”
She throws her head back and groans. “Emma . . . I’m tired and hungry. I can’t handle one of your stories right now.”
I tighten my grip, refusing to let her go. “I realize how this sounds—” I bite my lip, trying to figure out where to start. “But I’m from the future, and I know that seems unbelievable but it’s true. The other Emma—the Emma that belongs here—ran away yesterday after you fought with her. I don’t know how I ended up here, but I’m telling you that someone is going to kill you, and if you would come with me to find theother Emma, that’ll prove I’m telling the truth. She’s heading to Lancaster as we speak.”
Mallory blinks a few times, no doubt processing all of this new information. “So let me get this straight. You traveled from the future to warn me that someone is going to kill me.”
I nod. “Exactly.” She’s following my logic quite nicely.
“And you want me to take you to Lancaster?”
I nod. “It’s the only way for me to prove it to you.”
“Naturally.”
“So will you take me?”
“No.” She tugs my hands off her and steps forward.
“But—”
“I already told you I’m not taking you to see Mom.”
I reach for her again, grasping her hand tightly in my own. “That’s not why I want to go. I’m telling you the truth! You have to stay away from Myles!”
Her head snaps up. “Myles?”
“No—yes—I mean, he’s dangerous.”
“Have you been following me?” Her eyes narrow at me.
A stone sinks in the pit of my stomach. Did she just admit that she’s been spending time with him? Does this confirm I was right about Myles lying to me?
“Please,” I beg. “Stay away from him.”
