The Time Machine
Chapter 2- ANGELA: Sophomore Squint Squad
3rd Person POV
AN: WOW, am I due for an update or WHAT?? Haha. Anyway, I'm going to be more on the ball about that. Starting now, I'll write in school during the week, and post what I've written every Saturday (Eastern Standard Time). I'm not only typing this, but I'm reading another story. I'll tell ya what it is at the end if I really like it. So yeah, this is what I wrote. Here ya go!
Hodgins attached one last wire to the switchboard, whooping triumphantly. Finally, it was working! Now to tell the rest of the squints.
"Hey guys, are you busy?" he asked, walking out on the platform.
"We are, kind of, but if it's that important, we can take a break. Just make it quick," answered Cam.
He grinned. It is and it will be. It'll only take a second." Hodgins motioned for Cam to follow him, and the rest of the squints (and Booth) followed her. Angela shuffled to the front.
"Am I about to discover what you've been hiding from everyone?" she whispered.
He grinned even wider. "Maybe," he replied. Angela knew that he meant "Yes," so she hurried the line along. Hodgins chuckled.
They got to his office and Angela (along with the others) stared in awe at the huge machine-phonebooth-thingy in front of them. Cam gasped. Brennan's eyes widened. Zack looked confused. Angela grinned smugly. Hodgins began his introduction.
"What you are looking at is a complex piece of machinery. No one has successfully built a complete one in all of known history. I myself had to--"
"Cut to the chase, Jack," interjected Angela.
"Right. Well...It's a time machine," he said, and everyone gasped. "It appears to work, and I've tested it many times. I gurantee that no harm will come to those who use it properly. Who wants to come along with me?"
The squints (and Booth) were speechless. No one knew what to say. After a long time, Zack's hand slowly went up, followed by Dr. Brennan's. Cam, Angela, and finally Booth rose theirs as well. "Alright," said Hodgins. "Follow me."
The six of them filed into the phone booth. No one really knew whaqt to expect. Once they were all inside, Hodgins pulled the doors shut and shuffled over to the little number box on the other side. "Does anybody have a specfic date that you want to visit?" he asked the squints (and Booth). Angela answered him.
"November 10th, 1993," she answered without hesitation. It must have been a pretty important day for her.
"Okay...11...10...1...99...3!" read Hodgins as he punched in the numbers. He pressed a big green button, the machine jolted a bit, and they were in a room full of boxes. Voices flowed in from a small crack in the doorway.
"Drat," muttered Hodgins to himself. "Didn't think of that. How on Earth are we gonna get out of here???"
Angela knew what he meant; there were other people here, and they couldn't be seen. "Well, why not just wait? They've got to take a lunch break sometime. What time is it?"
Brennan checked her watch. "Quarter to eight. School starts at...quarter after, I think. We've got plenty of time." Apparently Brennan knew what was going on today, too.
"I think they're gone," said Zack, "I can't hear anything." Everyone else stopped moving to listen.
"Yeah, I got nothing," agreed Angela.
"Nope. No voices," added Cam.
"Yeah, okay, where are we going?" asked Booth. Everyone looked at Angela.
"Oh. Me. Um, Capital High. Science wing. It's on 2nd and Connecticut."
"Alright, let's get going!" announced Hodgins, opening the doors. They were in what was now a storage room, but would become Hodgins' office in a few years. When they got out onto the platform, few people saw them, and those who did didn't care. Thank goodness they weren't still wearing their uniforms; there were no workers there with their names, not yet. Anyway, after a very long walk across D.C. they arrived at Capital High School's science building. A young Temperance Brennan ran hurriedly through the throngs of students and faculty to get to her next class, a frightened expression on her face. The squints (and Booth) followed her into the building, where she met up with 16-year-old Angela.
"Hey Temps, what's happenin'?"
"Nothing really. I gotta get to class, bye!"
Young Angela sighed. "Relax, hon. Hey, sweetie--look at me." Young Tempe looked up. "You're going to be fine. I know it's scary when you have to skip half of ninth grade, but the school wouldn't do it if you weren't ready. Come on, look at you! Your IQ is higher than mine, and you're 2 years younger. So go! AP Biochemistry, prepare to feel the wrath of Miss Temperance Brennan! Yeah!" Young Tempe smiled, waved, and ran off to AP Biochem with an enlightened expression. Young Angela waited to see that she got to class on time, and then headed to her own class: Physics. "Oh, joy," she muttered, and sauntered away. The present-day squints (and Booth) stayed in the hall; following them would require a difficult explanation. While they waited, Angela and Dr. Brennan filled them in on what their 16-year-old selves were doing...
*************************************************YOUNG TEMPE'S POV*************************************************
I hurried into my class, excited now. Angela's little pep-talk had worked; I knew today was going to be great. My first day as a sophomore--an AP sophomore, no less--and I was only 14! What did I have to lose?
"Hello Mrs. Cope, I'm Temperance Brennan," I said as I walked in, 2 seconds before the bell. The woman at the desk checked her attendance list.
"Oh yes. Everyone, this is Temperance." I waved timidly, smiling. "She is joining us from downstairs on Track 9C. I hope you will all make her feel welcome. Temperance, welcome to 10C." She handed me a folder full of paperwork and information, whispered, "Bring everything back signed tomorrow," and pointed me to my seat in the back. I took my books and folder and started filing through it when I heard a voice beside me.
"So you're from 9C, huh?" she asked.
"Yeah. I don't like to brag, but I skipped a grade. I--"
"9C's geek track," she interrupted. "And grade-skippers are geeks too."
I couldn't believe it. I wanted to cry. She had just called me a geek twice in the same sentence.
"Well...well you're in 10C!!" I shot back, trying to hold back tears.
"Yeah, now. Mom's fault. Something 'bout my 'full potential' or other bullcrap. I'm workin' on a straight 'F' to get outta this geekhole. It's where you belong though." She snapped her gum and gave me a small shove. "Leave me alone, ya hear? Don't talk to me."
"Hey, shut up!" sdaid another voice. "What did she do to you?"
I turned around and saw a boy about sixteen, wearing glasses but otherwise looking pretty non-geekish. He'd been listening to our whole conversation. I didn't care about that though--he'd defended me! I'd never known anyone besides Angela and Jack who would do that!
Mrs. Cope started class just then, so I didn't get to thank him, but I left class as soon as the bell rang and went straight to Angie's locker so I could tell her all about it. She wasn't there, so I met her back at her class. She congratulated me, and even walked me over to AP English Lit so she could tell me about her day...
YOUNG ANGELA'S POV
I watched Temperance run off towards Mrs. Cope's room for AP Biochem, elated that she was here now. Tempe and I had been friends for a while and I'd always known that she was capable of Track 10C, with AP classes. Tempe excelled far beyond any other 14-year-old I knew. Well, she made it to class, and then I had to get going.
I ran off down the hall, past a group of ogling adults, and off to Physics class. Mr. Josaiah. Great. Anyway, I got there, just as the bell rang. Mr. Josaiah looked angry, but I was technically on time, so he just waved me to my seat. Next to me, in the seat that was usually empty, was this kid Jack from 10C. "Um, Jack?" I asked, and he looked up. "This is 10B. Not C."
"So?" he retorted.
"So, um, why are you here??"
"I got moved. To 10B. But it's just for physics, don't worry. I won't geekify you too much."
I cringed; I had constantly called his (and Tempe's) track the Geekhole. "Bug off, Shorty," I shot back. He stuck out his tongue at me. "Baby," I muttered.
The rest of the class went okay, and by tht I mean no comments from jack. But as soon as the final bell rang, he waited until we were the last 2 left and stood between me and the door. He wouldn't move.
"Outta my way, shorts."
"Make me."
I'll take you out!"
"I'd like to see you try!"
"That's a tall threat for someone who's only 2 feet tall!"
"Cockroach, cockroach!!" he yelled, pointing behind me.
"Ha-ha. How dumb do you think I am?"
"Well I-"
"Hm, what have we here?" said an intelligent voice from behind me.
"Tempe!" I stepped forward, but Jack didn't move. I pushed him to the side. "How'd it go?"
Jack glared at me, then looked over at Tempe. "Hey, Temperance."
"Oh, hi Jack. Angie, guess what?!"
I was going to the Language Arts wing, and so was Tempe, so I walked her to class while she told me all about what happened...
BACK IN THE HALLWAY (3RD PERSON POV)
"Wow," commented Booth. "I never knew you three were in school together."
"Oddly, neither did I," added Hodgins. He turned to Angela. "That was really you?"
"Yeah." answered Angela and Dr. Brennan.
"Wow. Why did you pick on me so much?"
"Well, actually she--" began Dr. Brennan, but was cut off by Angela.
"We'll save that for another day. Anyway, we can go now, right?"
"Yeah, we can," answered Hodgins. "Let's get back to the lab"
END CHAPTER
AN: WOW HOLY PANZERCRAPPISTASTICA THAT WAS LONG!!!!!!! lol don't ask. Anyway, the story I was reading is MySpace Love by xXxevacuate-the-dancefloorxXx. It's really good so I decided to mention it ;) Anyway, till next time! Next update will be for Friends in D.C.!
Review :)