Chapter nine

"Typical," John shook his head, "A girl finds out that she's a different person and the first thing she asks about is the boyfriend."

"But seriously," Sarah said excitedly, "I have a boyfriend?"

"Justin Aarons!" Alan snarled.

"So you don't like him?" Sarah asked.

"Like him?" he laughed, "I hate him!"

"Why?" Sarah sat on the couch.

"He was a jerk," Alan said.

"What about me? What was I like?" Sarah said quickly. Alan looked at her sadly.

"You were cruel and heartless," he said coldly. Sarah's jaw dropped.

"Was not!" she said.

"You read the paper!" he said, "I was her assistant! I followed her around with a clipboard and took notes! I know her better than anyone else!"

"Then how come you didn't remember who I was?" Sarah smiled.

"She had blonde hair," Alan said indignantly, "Yours is brown. And besides, I never wanted to remember her again."

"So I was cruel and heartless?" Sarah asked.

"Very," he said, "You hated everyone. Hated me. Hated Justin. Hated all of your workers. Hated them."

"Why?" Sarah wondered.

"Because they hated her," Alan said, "Except for Justin. He worshipped her."

"She hated her boyfriend?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Then why did she keep him around?"

"Company, I guess. He followed her around like a puppy dog. Stood right behind her next to me, constantly. And besides, she needed someone to kiss."

"Gross," Sarah and John said at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise.

"Here's a picture," John handed her a picture from the folder.

In the center was Sarah, only she had white blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail. She was talking into a microphone on a stage. A few feet behind her was a younger Alan who was looking at the sky with a bored expression. Right next to Sarah was a boy with gold/brown, short, curly hair.

"That's Justin," Alan pointed to him.

"I don't like the look of him," Sarah said.

"You know," Alan smiled, "Ms. Parks invented that necklace to make herself very different. She succeeded."

"Good," Sarah looked up at Alan, "I don't want to be cold and heartless."

"It's strange," Alan said, "how many times I've heard that."

"So," Sarah flipped the picture around in her hand, "Where did you get this profile thing?"

"We hacked Time Incorporateds website," Alan grinned, "And we got as much information as possible, then stuffed it into that filing cabinet. In there is a folder for me, John, James, Will, and everyone else on our team and others. As well as people who have previously helped us out."

"Like who?" Sarah asked.

"Old friends," Alan said absentmindedly, "like Mel."

"Don't talk about Mel," John said abruptly.

"Fine," Alan said, "I won't talk about Mel. How about George, Analie, Nanalia, Katherine, David, and Joseph."

"I miss Nanalia," John said.

"You miss Mel," Alan smiled.

"I thought you said we weren't going to talk about Mel," John said.

"Who's Mel?" Sarah asked.

"Old friend," Alan said, "Who John refuses to talk about."

"Anyway!" John said loudly, "Now that we have Sarah Parks, we're rich! Let's celebrate!"