ETERNITY IN YOUR ARMS

By Kim and Trish

Chapter One

1899

It was the middle of the night and Mush could hardly close his eyes. The room was dark and everybody else was sleeping soundly in their beds. Mush looked to his left and saw Blink snoring quietly on his back. It's been six long months since the incident, and Blink still wasn't himself. I need to think… Mush sighed, put his shirt on, stood up and walked over to the window. He quietly opened the window and climbed down the fire escape.

Mush found himself walking around Central Park and heading towards the place where he kissed Kris. It's been six months… she couldn't have just gone like that! She was with me that night when… Mush started to finger the ring that Kris gave him. It had a golden band and a small shimmering round stone in the middle. The night she left, he ran a string through it and had worn it as a necklace since, never allowing it to leave his sight. The ring was like Kris, always close to his heart.

Hey… where am I? Mush was so deep into his thoughts that he didn't notice where he was going. He looked up and saw a two-story building in front of him. He knew every part of Manhattan, but this part of Manhattan seemed unfamiliar to him. This is weird… I've lived here all my life, and I've never seen this building before… Without knowing it, he had opened the front door and walked inside.

Present

"All I hear is raindrops falling on the rooftop… Tell me why'd you have to go… 'cause this pain I feel won't go away… and today I'm officially missing you…" Kris was walking around singing softly to herself. After her dream, she became confident in singing. She sang for herself, Emily, and most of all, Mush. A few days after the incident, Kris concluded that it was just a dream. How can you time travel? That's so stupid… I just needed to dream… and I end up dreaming of Emily, Mush, and New York during 1899…

Kris was looking through her DVD collection, trying to see what would be nice to watch that night. Her parents were out for three days on a business meeting, leaving her alone. She ended up scheduling a sleepover since she didn't want to be lonely, and of course, no parents! A girls' night out was exactly what she needed.

Rachel's ten minutes late! What's taking her so long?! Kris looked out the window and found no sign of Rachel. Kris sighed. Rachel was usually late… it wasn't something new. I'll just put up posters in my room…

She walked over to her room and opened a drawer, which was full of magazines. She picked the very first from the pile, and started flipping through the pages. She finally found a page, which had a Pepsi advertisement on it. This looks good enough. She found a roll of tape on her desk, cut off a piece and started putting it on the back of the page. How am I supposed to reach THAT?! Kris looked up the wall and found a perfect space for it, only it was too high. I can reach it… if I can only… Kris stepped on a bunch of drawers, hoisted herself up and placed her other foot on the desk next to the drawers.

Suddenly she heard the doorbell. Great… right when I'm putting up posters! Kris shouted, "Come In!"

Kris heard footsteps walking around. "Tawny! It's me! Rachel! Where you at? Um… we gotta talk about something!"

"I'm in my room! Just come in, I'm putting up posters and stop calling me Tawny!"

"But its such a cute nickname!" Kris saw Rachel standing at the doorway, holding her backpack. She was shorter than Kris, short black hair, and green eyes. "I got all the stuff you asked for… and, um… something else…" Kris eyes darted back and forth. Kris noticed that she kept on looking at something at the hallway.

"What is it? You got me a boyfriend?" Kris chuckled and looked down at Rachel. She was still putting up her posters.

"Why don't you come here…" Rachel answered.

"I am here!" Kris replied. But she found out that she wasn't talking to her. She was looking at the hallway. It was a boy their age. He had brown curly hair and dark brown eyes. He was wearing an engineer hat, a white blouse with a blue vest and black cut-off pants. Kris suddenly knew who it was. Mush!

There was silence in the air until Rachel said, "Um… Tawny… do you guys know each other? He's dressed as a Newsie… alright I'm not here." Rachel looked from Kris to the boy she had met outside. They were both staring at each other.

Oh my God! It's Mush! So it was real! He's really here! Kris felt the desk underneath her feet move. Her feet started to slip as she started to fall backwards.

"Whoa! I got you!" Mush stepped forward, held out his arms, and caught Kris right before she fell on the floor.

Rachel laughed, "Hey, nice reflexes! If you didn't catch her, she would've been… um, anyways… you guys?" Rachel looked at Mush and Kris. He was still holding Kris in his arms. Oh my goodness… "Hey!" Rachel started to poke Mush on the shoulder. "You can put my friend down… hey Tawny he looks sooo familiar!"

Mush finally realized what he was doing and gently put Kris up on her feet. "Um… sorry…"

Rachel eyed Mush curiously. "You guys look like you know each other… Tawny? Are you alrite? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Kris jumped, "Oh! How many times do I have to tell you Rachel? Call me Kris!"

Rachel waved her hand, "Oh forget that, I was talking about him!" Rachel pointed at Mush.

What am I supposed to say? That I went back in time, met him, and fell in love with him?! She's not gonna believe me! Thank God Rachel's got a big soft heart! "I… uh… I me-met…ss- saw… I…"

She's stuttering! It really is Kris! "We met a few months ago!" Mush looked at Kris and eyed her.

"Oh… yah! We met a few months ago… " Kris chuckled.

"No wonder I don't know you. I just moved a few days before school started. And where did you guys meet? 1899?" Rachel laughed jokingly.

"I've been trying to tell you! I'm from…" Mush exclaimed.

"Uh… Um… so how'd he get here?" Kris asked.

"Well, I was walking to your house and he came up to me asking me what year it is. So I thought I'd bring him over here." Rachel tiptoed over to Kris and whispered in her ear. "I think he hit himself or something…" Rachel pointed at her head. She looked over at Mush who was looking very interested at her computer. "And I don't think he's got anywhere else to go… I mean, look at what he's wearing! Why don't we let him stay here for the night?" Rachel asked and looked at Kris who was still shocked seeing Mush again. "I mean, you met him a few months ago… so it'd be alrite… right?" Rachel was whispering the whole time so that Mush wouldn't hear.

"Um… right. Sure… he can stay for the night… since my parents aren't home." This is gonna be really really weird… "He can sleep on the couch," said Kris in her normal tone.

Rachel smiled. "Cool. Um... what's your name?"

"Mush. Just call me Mush." Mush walked over to Kris and Rachel.

"Ooh, funny nickname! I'm Rachel. Ok, so I guess you'll be staying here for the night. That's fine right?" Rachel had a habit of helping people in need. Even though it occasionally meant dragging Kris with her, and offering assistance on behalf of her friend.

But before Mush could answer, Kris quickly cut in. "We're gonna be sleeping on the couch. There's already pillows and blankets there since Rachel's gonna sleep over."

Mush's eyes widened. "Are you sure? You wouldn't mind having me sleeping next to the two of you?"

Kris was about to say no, but changed her mind when she saw Rachel with a worried look on her face. "I dunno…" said Kris uncertainly.

Mush shook his head. "I'll just sleep by myself. I'll be fine."

"But… hey! Where are we supposed to sleep then?" Rachel whined.

"In here! It's just the same as the living room! I got a TV, computer, DVD player… all we need's a fridge and we're all set!" Kris replied.

"Ah, ok. Well, I guess it's the same."

Why isn't she talking to me? What's wrong? "Where's the couch? What's a couch?" Mush looked at Kris hoping that she would answer his question.

"Oh, follow me." Kris walked out her room and turned to the left. "It's not mush… I mean, much… but its fine." Kris looked at him and smiled. I can't be myself when Rachel's here! It'd be too weird!

Four hours later, everybody was sleeping in their spots. The two girls were in Kris' room and sleeping on her bed. Usually on sleepovers, they would go to the living room and sleep on the floor, but Kris' floor didn't have carpets on it. Sleeping on the floor was hard. Mush, however, was sleeping on the couch in the living room. It would look weird if Mush was sleeping next to two girls… it wasn't his first time, however.

Rachel was sleeping with her back turned to Kris. Kris however, was still awake. I can't believe it… he's right out there and why can't I talk to him? Just get up and go! But Kris stayed where she was. On the other hand, Mush was also awake. What happened? She should be happy that I'm here!

I'm actually going to do this… I'm going to talk to him... Kris stood up and walked over to the living room. It was pitch dark and she could hardly see anything. She had to put out her hands and see if she was going to hit anything. Kris finally saw his outline. He was sitting up, his hands on the back of his head and his eyes were closed. She slowly walked over to Mush and sat down on the couch. It looks like he's asleep…this was a stupid idea. Suddenly, Mush's eyes opened.

"Hey," Kris smiled. "Long time no see." She looked at him and saw something hanging from his neck. "It's my ring!" Kris moved towards Mush and took the ring in her hands, the necklace still hanging from his neck. "You kept it all along!" Kris looked up at Mush and smiled. Damn! He looks so good when he's shirtless! OoOoO…so hott!

He looked at her with caring eyes and smiled. "I missed you so much." He held out his arms and hugged her.

"Shh… you might wake Rach up…I missed you too," Kris whispered and hugged him back. They remained still for a few moments and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Kris opened her eyes and checked to see if Mush was still there. Thank God! He's still here! Suddenly Kris noticed that something was different. She wasn't at her house. This wasn't her couch! She looked around saw that she was in a room filled with bunk beds. She realized that they weren't the only people there. There were people sleeping on the bunk beds… more like, boys. Kris looked to her left and saw a boy wearing an eye-patch. Oh my Godness! Kris eyes widened. But before she could do anything, she heard someone scream. "KRIS!!!!!"

Several boys woke up from the scream while the others stayed in their beds. They boy next to her wearing an eye-patch opened his eye, and looked at Kris. "Kris? Is that you?"

Kris finally saw that she was sleeping in Mush's arms… in his bed! Kris leaned her head on Mush's shoulder and sighed. Oh no… not again…