Chapter Two
Day One
The breeze ruffled my hair and carried the sweet scent of blooming spring flowers. I opened my eyes and giggled just for the fun of it. I smiled at the boy across from me and he smiled back.
"Hey, Saige," He said, his child voice so sweet. "I have an idea! Let's get married when we're older."
"W-why?" I asked, finishing the crown of flowers and placing it on my head.
"Because then we can play together forever!" He answered, laughing, and held out his pinky to me. It was our tradition. A pinky promise could never, ever break. I laughed back at him and intertwined my finger with his. It was official.
Saige opened her eyes and glanced around the small room. For a moment, her body went into shock. Where was she? Then she remembered. She was in the past, at a clock-makers house in Renton. Sitting up with a yawn, she thought back to her dream. It was a memory she had of her and Teddy as children, playing in her backyard like they always did. She had forgotten about the promise they made when they were six to get married.
Why did I think of that now? Saige wondered silently as she stretched and blinked her eyes to rid herself of the sleep. Strange. I bet he doesn't even remember that.
Something caught her eye at the foot of the bed. A rust colored over-coat was laying over the edge of the bed, along with a simple purple dress and some tan shoes. She inspected them curiously, figuring that Nathan had left them there for her. A note pinned to the coat informed her it was a correct assumption, and she quickly changed into them. Once her own clothes had been neatly folded on the bed, she slipped from the bedroom and padded quietly down the wooden steps of the staircase. A look out the window showed to Saige it was around late afternoon, and a glance into the living room of the house revealed a sleeping Nathan, crashed on the old sofa. He must have taken a break from working on the Time Jumper and dozed off, she decided.
Oh well, I'll let him rest. I think I'll go exploring while he naps, Saige thought to herself and headed towards the door. As a second thought, she quietly darted back to Nathan's shop and fastened her Time Jumper back on. No use in leaving it unattended, especially since she didn't know what kind of person Nathan was. She didn't dare press any buttons though, she would wait for Nathan to wake up first. Returning to the door, and pushed it open and stepped out onto the grass that sided the road. She stood surveying the scene of the city, deciding where to go first. The first place that came to mind was to revisit the nice little train station she had first arrived at. Quietly humming, she set off towards the west, trotting along the dirt path and waving hello to the odd person wandering about the streets.
Before she knew it, Saige was lost. And it was getting dark. There was no way she was going to the train station that night. Actually, without help, there was no way she was getting back to Nathan's that night.
I'm just as bad as Teddy… Teddy! I bet he's worried sick! Well, serves him right, he got me into this whole mess… Saige silently conversed with herself. She balled her hands up into fists, but her anger at Teddy was fleeting and soon she broke down into just missing him. Would she ever even get back? Maybe Nathan has finished the Time Jumper. Maybe when –if- I get back, I can go right home! I'll ask for directions.
Saige stopped and looked around. She caught sight of a warehouse with its lights on. Maybe she'd check there. Someone had to know the way, at least to that part of town.
"Uh, h-hello?" She called out timidly, not seeing anyone at first. But then a body stood up from where it had been laying on the ground and looked her over. The person, what looked to be a boy in his late teens, had on scrubby work gloves and was holding a large wrench. For a moment, he reminded her of someone from a horror movie, but she quickly shoved the thought from her mind.
"Um, hi," Saige greeted him, walking a little further into the warehouse.
"Hi," The boy replied after a long, agonizing pause. "Do you need something?"
"Me? Oh, I, uh, was just…" Saige trailed off, taken off guard by the boy's abruptness.
"If you got something to say, say it," He grunted to her, still staring. "Do you mind, I'm kind of busy here."
"Oh! I'm sorry, am I bothering you?" Saige quickly apologized, then felt stupid for asking the question that followed. Obviously she was being a bother.
"Well, you being here is kinda distracting…" He muttered and turned his back to her. It was then she noticed the small aircraft behind him. Various parts lay strewn about and the grease stains on the boy's clothes shouted loud and clear that he was indeed busy.
"What are you doing?" Saige let her curiosity get the better of her and walked a little closer.
"What's it look like I'm doing, I'm fixing a plane," He snapped, falling to his knees to inspect something. "Why are you still here?"
"I-I'm sorry! Am I not allowed to be here?" Saige quickly retorted, feeling greatly offended. Maybe she ought to just go find the service of someone else.
"Well, no but…" The boy trailed off with a glare. "Look, can I help you?"
"Yeah, you can, actually. I need directions; I'm new and kind of lost. I was trying to get to the train station, but ended up here. I'm staying at a clock-makers house just east," She explained in a rush, stopping finally for breath. The boy just stared back at her for a long time before heaving a long sigh and tossing his wrench down to the floor.
"Fine, I'll take you. I know well enough where it is, but don't expect this to happen again," He agreed and briskly took off walking out of the warehouse.
"H-hey! Wait!" Saige called after him, having to rush in order to keep up. It went on like that for awhile, quickly walking in silence. "So, who are you anyway?"
"Um… I'm Roland," He answered her, and it might have been a shadow but it almost looked as if he blushed. Saige shook her head, knowing she was imagining things. "What are you anyway, an alien?"
"What?" Saige exclaimed in alarm, stopping short to stare at him. "Why would you ask that?"
"That thing on your wrist, it looks pretty alienish to me…" Roland snapped back, turning his face away from her and speeding up. "What is it anyway, its glowing."
"It's a Time Jumper, I'm from the future, see?" Saige tried explaining, hoping that someone who believed in aliens would believe in time travel. Roland thought it over and finally gave a firm nod. Saige shook her head, still incredulous to how she was believed. The rest of the walk continued in silence, until she noticed she was outside of Nathan's house.
"Thank you, Roland," Saige turned to him and smiled. He grudgingly stuck his hand out for her to shake, and with a little hesitation she shook it. He nodded and turned on his heel and stalked off. She watched him go, mulling over her thoughts. Who knew how long she stood there thinking about him until a voice snapped her out of her trance.
"Saige! I was worried! It got dark and you were gone!" Nathan called from the house, rushing over to her. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around to face him. "Are you alright? You were nowhere to be found!"
"I'm fine," She answered him, forcing a smile. She was getting tired again. And she couldn't stop thinking about Roland. What was up with that kid? He seems harsh and cruel at first glance, but there is definite depth to him. "I was just exploring."
"Well, please let me come with you next time. There can be some bad people around here and I wouldn't want you hurt…" Nathan scolded with a worried frown. He turned and motioned her to come inside. "Come in, I fixed us dinner. And I have news. But we can wait until after we eat to discuss it."
The meal was pleasant. Very plain and simple but well made. After the dinner Saige and Nathan went into the living room with mugs of tea to talk before they would retire to bed. Saige had been itching to ask about her Time Jumper but was waiting for him to bring it up. And just when she felt she would explode, he began to talk.
"I regret to inform you that I was unable to fix your Time Jumper. In fact, I don't even know a single thing about the way it works. Everything is so advanced, I'm not sure I could name one piece of equipment used to make the gadget!" He sadly stated, giving her an apologetic smile. Saige's heart dropped. She felt tears rush to her eyes and she had to swallow hard to keep from bursting into tears right there.
"But you can stay here, if you want! I'm sure there is some way to get you home, don't lose hope, please Saige!" Nathan rushed to add, getting a desperate look on his face. Taking a couple deep breaths, Saige calmed herself down enough to get out a smile and excuse herself to the bedroom. Nathan was a gentleman enough to know not to push her and say much more. Once she was behind the closed door of the room, she sunk down to the floor and buried her face in her hands. Everything seemed hopeless. Utterly hopeless. She was stuck in Renton 100 years before her time and had no way of getting back. She gritted her teeth as she imagined the smiling face of Teddy, but the emotions she felt weren't anger. They were of regret. Before the tears could come, Saige forced herself up and stripped down to her under clothes and got into the bed and shut her eyes. Sleep came almost instantly. Day one of the blast to the past was complete. Only a lifetime to go.
