“When you said that you ran into people you didn’t want to see—was that who you meant?”
“Yeah.” I could have left it at that—but I also knew it wouldn’t have been honest. And for whatever reason—maybe it was the fact that we’d really just met—I found myself wanting to tell Freddie the truth. Thewholetruth. “But it was also some other people, too. I move a lot.” I took a breath and explained about my dads, and their business, and always leaving, always finding the next house, the next project to make perfect. “And so over the years, it just got too hard. Constantly saying goodbye to people, saying you’re going to keep in touch? but knowing it’s not going to work.”
We’d reached the Pixar Pier, and I stopped for just a moment to look at the water, the lights from the Ferris wheel reflecting down on it. People on the roller coaster nearby were whooshing around and giving the occasional “AAAGH!” before being whisked away again, going upside down in a loop.
“That does sound really hard. Not that I would know. We’ve lived in the same house forever. Same neighbors, same street, everyone a little too much in everyone’s business. Sometimes, home is your favorite sweatshirt that you’ve outgrown.” He paused and blinked.
“You okay?”
“Yes,” he said, holding out his ice cream cup to me. “Would you mind…”
I took it from him, and he reached into his messenger bag for his notebook and scribbled down the line. He flipped some pages, and I could see they were mostly filled with his handwriting.
“Sorry,” he said, dropping the notebook back in his messenger bag. He slung it across his shoulders and then took his ice cream back. “I thought that might have potential for a song. And I didn’t want to forget it.”
“Is that where you write down all your song lyrics?”
“Pretty much. But I’m sorry to interrupt you.”
“You weren’t,” I assured him. “I—” I stopped short as I realized where we were. We were in front of the Little Mermaid ride, where the stage was set up. It was busy and bustling, stagehands hauling out equipment and taping down cords. One of them, a girl with bright purple hair, waved at Freddie, and he waved back. All around the stage were blown-up pictures—some of the band, but most just of Niall and his soulful pout. There was an electronic sign at the top of the stage, the message readingETON MESS TAKES THE STAGE INand then, underneath it, a countdown clock, showing fifty-nine minutes and nineteen seconds.
“Do you need to go?” I asked Freddie, suddenly worried I’d interrupted his night. Even though he’d told me he had some free time, I was sure listening to a girl talk about her time-loop issues was not how he’d been intending to spend it.
“I have a little more time,” he assured me. “I’m good.”
We tossed out our ice-cream cups, then started to walk again. But just seeing the countdown clock had been enough to remind me that time was moving forward, and that he didn’t have all night to just walk around with me. My phone buzzed, and when I pulled it out of my purse, I saw three texts.
BRYONY:
Hey! Having fun? Long line at Guardians, we’re going to Incredicoaster!
Incredicoaster down, we’re going back to Guardians!
On Guardians line now! Will text when we’re done!
I smiled and put my phone back in my bag—glad that Bryony was having fun without me. I noticed a bridge across the water that cut back to the start of Pixar Pier. I tipped my head toward the bridge and Freddie nodded.
We started walking down it together—it was practically empty, save for a group of three seniors, all laden down with plastic Disney bags full of souvenirs. They were standing by the railing, laughing and talking together.
Once we were past them, Freddie turned to me. “So what do you think the reason is?”
“What reason?”
“Why this is happening in the first place. Like, do you think you’re supposed to learn something?”
“LikeA Christmas Carol?”
“I mean, not no?”
I laughed at that, even as my thoughts were racing.
He shrugged. “I’m just basing this off all the time-loop movies where that seems to be the case.”
“What does Pettigrew have to learn?”
“Ah.” Freddie smiled. “Pettigrew has to learn to break from his normal routine and go out and take chances. And also, adopt a cat. But I’m not sure that’s part of it.”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing.” I glanced over at him, debating if I should tell him that one of the possibilities for why this was happening might be…well,him. “What’s confusing me is that I wished for this. So shouldn’t I be able to end it whenever I want? Without having to go through a whole—thing?”
