Prologue

**Don't read if you like to live in suspense for the entire story!**

I stare, stunned, at the two people before me. Were they serious? Give all this up just to... I mean, it was ridiculous! I glance into Spencer's eyes, ugh they were perfect- green like a beautiful emerald and always sparkling. The familiar twinkle never failed to make me feel better but for some reason, now, they weren't sparkling in a good way, instead, there was a pang of sadness and desperation. I bite my lip and shift my glance to the floor, I couldn't focus on that right now. I look back up but this time at Bethany, one of the few people I've really trusted through all of this. Her intensely clear blue eyes flash between doubt and hopefulness as our eyes meet.

My face is growing hotter and it's all I can do to choke back a sob. I look back down at the yellowed paper in my hands. How is this happening? The best thing that's ever happened to me is turning out to be the worst. It doesn't have to be, I reminded myself, you could just say no. But of course, I couldn't say no to this either. I think wistfully of my sisters, Julia, Katherine, and Georgia, my best friend, Emma, and, of course, my brother, Blake... poor Blake, how could I do this to him? It wont affect them! I reasoned, this can only hurt you, and they all promise it only hurts for a few days while the confusion clears!

I shook my head as if to clear my thoughts and Spencer, clearly sensing me leaning away from going along with it placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up, startled. Our eyes met and I gazed into his eyes as he calmly said, "Emily, listen to me, as much as it hurts me to say this it hurts me more to see you this upset. You don't have to do this." He said, "it's completely up to you but we do have a limited amount of time so if you could try and make your decision soon everything will work out, I promise. I hate seeing you this upset and I don't want to lose having you but if you decide not to do it please understand we'll have to clear your memory, you wont remember any of this." He gulped, "I love you Emily, I don't want to have to do that to you."

I felt my mouth hanging open in shock, he loved me? I moved my mouth as if to speak but before I could his hand entangled itself in mine and he pulled me into a rough, almost desperate hug. I finally stopped trying and allowed myself to sob raggedly into his neck. He let my hand go and entangled it in my hair, holding my head close to him, while the other hand rubbed lazy, soothing circles on my back. We stood like this for a good few minutes until finally Bethany pulled us out of our haze with a small gasp. "Spence! Em! It's time to go if we're going to do this!"

I stepped back, attempting to dry my face with my hands and sniffling almost pathetically. I turned and let out one more dry sob as I took one last look at my beautifully familiar house. I see my parents window, dark, along with Julia and Georgia's windows. They were all too young to be up this late but Katherine and Blake both had their lights on. Blake was probably doing the homework he "forgot" about all night and no doubt Katherine was still watching her Romantic Comedy Movie Marathon. I gave them all one last good luck wish and a watery smile and turned back to my friends. "Will I ever remember them? Or will they ever get deja vu when they remember me?" I asked. Spencer nodded,

"It's been known to happen, it'll most likely happen with you and Blake because of how close you are. And you can always find where he is in the world and see him. He wont know you and I will forever forbid you to talk to him but if it doesn't hurt too much and you recognize him it might be nice. However we'll try and make sure everything is painless as possible so you don't remember anything except those few unavoidable times where it's gonna happen. We'll provide you with the best family possible and it will seem to you like they've been your family all along."

I nod as if I had a choice and I were accepting this one. This was my choice and I was okay with it now. I squeezed my eyes tight and felt Bethany's comforting arm around my shoulder as the cold chain of the time turner was slipped over my neck and I sucked in a deep breath, this was it. I was going away and I would never see them again. I felt the sobs coming back and let my breath out with a shuddery sort of gasp. Spencer's fingers tangled themselves in mine and I squeezed his hand. He held mine tight and I peeked out of my shut eyes to see Bethany spinning the time turner so many times I just sort of lost count.

Suddenly my body was being pulled from the navel as we made the huge leap in time and I briefly felt the pang of second-guessing hit me before everything was black. The one thing I was sure of through it all was that Spencer's hand never left mine.