Chapter 9
Instead of telling Jamie about my dilemma, I decide to test my theory about time travel first. That in itself is pretty awesome, especially since I love history so much. If this is true, the possibilities are endless. My classes are on spring break and I have a four-day weekend. I push back Alice's note for the time being and concentrate on research.
If I'm being honest with myself, I'm scared to meet her again. Not just meeting her but the thought of her being an old friend of mine really scares the crap out of me. I think about Mary Alice and how she died. The names are merely a coincidence, right? If they are, in fact, the same person, that would put Mary Alice or Alice about a hundred years old, no one lives to be that old and still look like a teenager. Shaking my head at where my thoughts go, I continue on with my current project.
In the background, I hear Jamie watching Titanic. Just listening to the music I know where he is at in the movie. He claims he watches the movies to analyze the characters, but I know better. He has a crush on Kate Winslet. He's watched every movie she starred in…more than once.
That brings me to my current research. To test my theory of time travel, I'm gonna go back and visit Titanic. Yes, I know it sinks and that a lot of people die. But, it's well documented when it goes down. Not to mention, all the passengers on board and a layout of the ship itself. If I can plan it right, I want to go and look around. See what the first class passengers looked like in their fancy pansy getups, and to see if the third class passengers really have an all out party down in bowels of the ship.
After finding a website that has everything I need, I spend the next two hours looking over everything and take notes. I'm so involved in what I'm doing; I don't realize that Jamie is standing behind me reading along with me. I jump when he starts talking.
"Huh. Looks like they did a good job with the costuming."
"Geez Louise, Jamie." I yell as I bang my thighs against the table from jumping.
"Sorry Chief. Thought you knew I was here." He laughs. After a few minutes he calms down to read over my shoulder.
"What are you doing anyway?"
"Just checking out how accurate the movie is to the actual thing." I replied.
My phone starts beeping at me again. It's been doing that all night and I ignore it. Hitting the end button again I lay the phone down next to my laptop and scroll down and continue reading.
"You know she's gonna keep calling or texting you until you answer." He said
"I know. I'm just not ready to talk to her yet." I stated.
"She seems… persistent."
I only nod. She does seem to be.
After muting the phone buzzes four more times, I give in and answer. Before I say hello, she starts talking.
"Don't do it Abby. I know what your planning and please don't follow through."
"How…" she cuts me off.
"You're looking at a website on Titanic and are planning to test your theory. Please don't do it. At least, until we have talked." She replied.
I hold the phone away from me. How did she know that? Looking behind me to see if the patio door curtain was closed, it was. I start looking around the dining room to see if I can see any hidden cameras.
"There are no cameras around you Abby. I just know these things." She whispered.
"You're kinda creeping me out here, Alice." I stated, still looking around me.
"I know Abby, just please, please, please wait until we talk." She begged.
I take a deep breath and close the laptop conceding to her wishes.
"Thank you Abby."
"Yeah, yeah." I replied. "When do you…"
"Tomorrow about noon." She answered.
"You know…"
"Yes. See you tomorrow." She said and hangs up.
That is so annoying.
Getting up from the table to stretch, Jamie makes his way back in with a bowl of cereal.
"So." He said between bites, "She's coming over?"
"I guess." I shrugged.
"Is she bringing those two cuties with her?" he asked wagging his eyebrows.
"I have no idea." I said with exacerbation.
"Oh." His shoulders slump at that.
After finishing his bowl of cereal he goes back to the kitchen and places the bowl in the sink.
"How does she know where we live?" He yells from the kitchen. Probably looking for something else to eat.
That's a good question. How does she know where I live? "No idea." I answer.
Shrugging it off I take off for my bedroom and decide what to do next. I still plan on going back. That's a given. Once in my room I pace the small space between the bed and closet and try to come up with a plan. As one starts to form, I leave my room and walk to the kitchen. Once there, I grab a couple of Ziploc bags, a couple of plastic bags and the saran wrap for safe measure.
Ignoring Jamie's stares, I walk back to the bedroom, I stop at my laptop and grab my notes. I wrote down directions to the third passenger dining area, thinking that is where a party would be held if they had one and where the first class dining area is too. There are other notes there that I think will be useful, but I hope that I don't need them. I just want to get there, look around and get back. Easy enough to do, right?
Back in my room I quickly change out of my work clothes and put on a set of under armor dri fit sports wear. On top of that, I dress in layers. A tee shirt and a long sleeve flannel over that and cargo pants to keep my phone and a camera in each pocket. I empty out my bag and place the stuff I got from the kitchen into, along with a notepad and a few pens.
As I pull out a pair of thick socks I can hear the doorbell ring. Something tells me that it could be Alice trying to stop me. I quickly tie my boots and sling the bag over my shoulder. I hear Jamie talking to Alice. Actually, it sounds more like arguing with her. The door slams open and I hear footsteps coming down the hall. Grabbing my fingerless gloves and a wool beanie, I run to the bathroom and close the door.
Thinking about Titanic, I close my eyes and concentrate on the luxury ship. Clenching my jaw and squeezing my eyes shut, I start to go numb. My fingers are tingling and my torso feels as if it is being pulled away from the rest of my body. I hear the bedroom door bang open and a few footsteps later the bathroom door bangs open. Guess the lock didn't help any.
Just as I am fading out I open my eyes and see a very irate looking Alice reaching out for me. That's when I feel my whole body being jerked and compressed. I seem to blackout for a minute, or an eternity. I have no sense of time. Grunting from the pressure and hoping I don't get stuck like this, I start to panic. But, before I get myself into a real panic attack, everything calms down. As I get my bearings I can smell the ocean and open my eyes. I look around and know that I am standing on the main deck of Titanic.