Virgil tried not to laugh when he saw Chester and Eugene because they looked so uncomfortable and afraid now that Zeke was sitting at their table. In the other time line, the three friends had grown used to sitting at this table after Chester and Eugene left it. Virgil had completely forgot that it used to be theirs in the beginning.
They tried to say hi, but Zeke merely replied with a grunt and a careless glance, which they misinterpreted as a leave-me-alone glare. The pair was more than relieved when Virgil and Charlie finally showed up.
"H-Heeeyy guys!" Chester said.
"Hey dude," Virgil talked to Zeke. "Charlie and I were thinking about eating out at the bleachers today."
"Give me a sec..." Zeke scanned the cafeteria and the lunch line.
Virgil looked around with him. "...Whooo are you lookin' for?"
The tall teen heaved a sigh and grabbed his lunch bag. "I'll tell you later."
"Hey guys, we'll see you around," Virgil told the other two, who had grabbed their trays to join the trio.
"Oh...okay," Eugene said. It made Virgil feel guilty, but the truth was he really only wanted to talk to Zeke and Charlie.
While the three made themselves comfortable in the bleachers, Virgil asked, "So who WERE you waiting for?"
"Jay."
"Is there a specific reason she didn't show up?"
"She's not ready."
Others would have taken Zeke's tone as a subtle threat, but Virgil now heard past that. He sounded sad...regretful. Virgil could kind of relate. He was getting closer to Stephanie back then, he even managed to kiss her! And all of it had been wiped away. The difference between the two boys was that one had to start over with a complete stranger.
Virgil clapped Zeke's shoulder reassuringly. "She will be."
The three ate in silence as they stared at the spot out in the field...the spot where the black hole opened and closed. The events played like a movie in Virgil's mind.
"I can't believe we're alive."
"I can't believe it's over." Zeke said at the same time Virgil spoke. "Aside from the black hole, I was actually having a lot of fun doing what we did."
Virgil grinned. "Even with the guards and the reporters."
Zeke shrugged and returned the grin. "Even then."
"It's a shame things turned out the way they did," Virgil said. "If the risks weren't as big as we saw...maybe we could build it again."
"I would never ever build that machine again," Charlie suddenly said. "You guys were losing your minds with it!"
Virgil laughed. "Are you saying that because you lost control of it?"
Charlie looked flabbergasted. "Wh-No!"
Virgil and Zeke shared a playful look. "Got 'im."
"The consequences could be more drastic next time, that's why I've concluded it's safer to follow the teleportation route," Charlie said a little triumphantly.
Zeke stopped eating altogether. "Charlie, NO."
"Why not?"
"Because it could turn out to be just as bad as time travel. Anything that involves warping, opening, reversing or closing a hole in the fabric of reality is bound to create trouble."
"But-"
"And what does teleporting do? It opens holes in the fabric of reality. So NO, Charlie. No teleportation," Zeke concluded.
"You can have fun making other things," Virgil suggested timidly; although Zeke's attitude had improved considerably, he was still afraid to cross him when he argued. "Like an invisibility machine. Or something that can make you fly."
Charlie pouted. "That isn't SCIENCE. That's...That's...vigilante business!"
"Weren't we already doing that?" Virgil said.
"We were and because of it, he ended up getting carried away with Jeanette," Zeke implied slyly, poking around in his chocolate pudding.
Charlie's face turned red.
"Huh? What's this I hear?" Virgil teased, raising an eyebrow at the short genius.
"N-Nothing!"
Zeke and Virgil laughed.
"Let's just say that Charlie forgot Jeanette made the first move beforehand," Zeke chuckled.
Charlie's mouth dropped open and he tried to talk. Virgil and Zeke enjoy messing with him, but they knew when to stop.
"Well, whatever happened, let's be glad it was able to happen because we stopped the black hole." Virgil raised his milk carton. "To second chances."
His two friends tapped their cartons-Charlie more hastily than Zeke-and repeated after him. The bell rang and they picked up their trash. Virgil took in the happy, peaceful environment. People were laughing and going back to finish the school day, oblivious to the fact that they were living the day a second time.
It made the blonde feel inspired. "You know what? Let's celebrate. After all, we WERE almost stuck in the past."
"What did you have in mind, Virg?" Zeke asked.
"A movie. And a celebratory meal at The Burger Hour."
"Just the three of us?"
Virgil snorted. "Come on, dude. When have we EVER done anything without the Minutegirls?"
Zeke shrugged. "Stephanie never officially became one."
Virgil simply stared at the tall teen. Even though he didn't say anything, his intention to invite Stephanie along was transparent. He sighed. When did he become so predictable?
Zeke chuckled and raised his shrug higher. "Sorry dude, but it's the truth."
"Whatever man," Virgil grunted, upset that Zeke could read him so easily. The three dumped their trash and said goodbye before splitting up to go to class. Further ahead, Virg saw Stephanie buying a drink from the vending machine. Grinning, he picked up the pace to go talk to her.
...
Zeke wondered if Jay would agree to go to the movies with the group and he broke out of his train of thought when he saw her climbing down the stairs.
To him, she was perfect. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous, or had natural features of a beautiful queen. She was just an average girl who understood his sense of loneliness, who actually had common sense that helped her survive three years of absolutely no friendly contact. How she managed to have a huge stash of sarcasm hidden inside her made no sense, but she did. And it was fun to talk to her.
Zeke thought back to all the conversations they had, all the times he made her laugh and he managed to see that pretty Vampire Smile. He missed that Jay and he wondered if he would be able to coax her out of the current state she was in, that depressed stage he knew all too well.
Then a sudden thought stabbed him.
He sounded like he was trying to change her to the way he wanted her. Up to that point, his thoughts had been, "She's in her sweater stage, she's not the girl she was before, she's not ready, what if she never is?"
It disgusted Zeke when he realized his thoughts were about changing her instead of accepting her for who she was. If he truly liked her, he should be able to embrace all sides to her.
He watched her maneuver so she wouldn't touch anyone at the base of the stairs, the busiest part. Her sense of style was so much different now than it was pre-black hole. She wore more feminine things before. They were still dark, but in good taste. Now she wore a black hoodie with rolled up sleeves.
He remembered himself noticing her figure, her v-neck shirts, and he watched her walk to her next class.
Did he initially pay attention to her because of her looks? Is that all he was attracted to? If she never became the date he left at the Homecoming dance...
...would he still like her?
-XYZ-
Hey y'all! I know it's been a while since the first part of the story and I apologize. I FINALLY worked up a storyline I was content with. ^-^ I originally wanted more Derek drama, but it would have interfered too much with the teleportation reveal. And other stuff... Anyway, I'm back and here's the sequel to "If Things Went Differently." :)