The year: 1998. The place: New York City, Manhattan.
They had been best friends since she could remember. He was the only one who would listen to all of Rebecca's problems. It seemed that he always knew when something was bothering her, even when they were only talking on the phone and he couldn't see her. In high school, he realized that he'd fallen in love with Rebecca. He asked her out. They had been dating for two years (since their sophomore year in high school) when it happened.
She was waiting for him at their favorite restaurant. She waited for three hours... and he never showed up. She was furious.
That's when the table flew.
She hadn't even touched it, yet it flew far away and landed in someone's backyard. Rebecca was scared. All anger had left her, replaced by fear. How had that happened?
Was she special, like he kept saying? He always said that she was destined to be great one day. But how would he know that? He dreamed of being special and after a few years of knowing him, so did she. Had her dream come true?
It was possible.
She paid for the missing table and left.
The next in school, she yelled at him, letting all her anger that had built up out. Then, her locker door flew off its hinges. She had been two feet from the door, yet it flew off. It almost hit him too. What was happening to her?
After graduation, Rebecca went to college down in Texas. She found she liked it there more than she liked the city. The little town she was in seemed much more peaceful than New York. She planned on staying there.
Eight years later, Rebecca James, in a pink t-shirt and jeans, was walking down the road. She loved walking around Midland. It was here, near this very motel, where she learned to control her abilities.
She was passing a motel when her phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and looked. Unknown. She answered. "Hello?"
"Hello, Becca." No, it couldn't be. "Miss me?"
"How did you find me?"
"My secret. I want to see you again. Please, Becca."
"No. Leave me alone!"
"It doesn't matter what you say. I'm on my way to find you. We'll be together soon." He hung up. She did too. She didn't know what to do. She knew what he had become. Why would he be coming after her now? She couldn't face him, not after how they had parted. She still had feelings for him. Was that why he was coming? Because he still cared, too? It had sounded like it. Oh no. No, not now. Not after all this time. She didn't think she could face him.
She started to run back to her house, then stopped. He would go there first.
The woods. She would be better in the woods. They led up to right behind her house. She would hide there. But for how long?
"Why now, Gabriel? Why?"
Yes, it was true. Her former love was Gabriel Grey, the man now known as Sylar.