"What the hell does that mean? 'Oh, of course you know what I mean, don't you, Crowe?'" Alexia glared at her friend.
"Alex!" Janice cried, insinuating to the guy in question. "Get a taste of *reality* here! For one thing, Gerry has a *girlfriend*!"
Alexia sighed, eyes turned heavenward. She turned her body, not wanting to hear this… but Janice grabbed Alexia by the arm, forcing her to look her way.
"Second, since I have already accepted the fact that we *are* stuck in the past, I want you to consider just how *old* Gerry really is. If you two were to meet in *our time*, he'd be old enough to be your dad!"
"Oh yeah," Alexia couldn't help but reply sarcastically, "He's *so* my daddy."
Janice gasped, then smacked her friend on the arm. "Don't, Al. You are not funny."
Sighing, "I wasn't trying to be, Jan." She looked past Janice, at this guy who had stolen her heart with his smile. With a sincere grin, "I really like him, Janice."
Unable to stay angry with her, Janice nodded understandingly. "I know, Alex. I can see it in your eyes." Yet trying to get through to Alexia, "But you have to accept the reality to this warped adventure we seem to be stuck in." Sadly, "We can't stay here forever. We have to go back home. And that means that nothing can happen between you and Gerry."
"But something already happened, Janice!" Alexia spoke with such light in her voice. "We shared a kiss that spanned time itself!"
"Now you're being a bit dramatic." Janice pointed out. Seriously, "Speaking of time. Did you even consider that maybe that quote-unquote innocent kiss you two shared might have changed history somehow? I mean, you should now all about this whole time travel thing and its rules!"
Crossing her arms stubbornly, "Yeah, I watch Quantum Leap."
"So you know!" Exclaimed Janice as she threw her hands up. "It's dangerous to screw with time! We don't need Gerry all Cupid love struck over you during games! He needs to be straight as an arrow focus on winning. Think of what would happen if they lost even *one* game? Coach Boone loses his job and this town would be taking a step *backwards* from accepting racial equality instead of going *forward*!" She stood back, letting Alexia think about her words. Janice also added dangerously, "And don't get me started on women's lib! If this town gets screwed over on the whole racial business, imagine when it comes to equal rights for women!"
Despite her the seriousness in her friend's rant, Alexia amusingly asked, "Are you done spewing?"
Janice shook her head. "Nope. Just one more thing I have to add."
"And that is?"
"If time is screwed with… shit will fly."
Attempting to hid a laugh at her friend's apparent paranoia, "Couldn't have said it better myself."
============================================================================================================================================
"Oh I doubt that shit will fly, Jul." Gerry commented in disbelief. His arms were crossed as he listened in on his friend's advising words.
"Listen to the man, Gerry." Blue said.
"Yeah, Gerry." Lewie agreed. "When it comes to women fighting over men, it's not a pretty picture."
"Major cat fight, my brother." Said Rev.
"And I'm betting all my money on that Alexia girl." Petey added. He looked over at the two girls still talking, sizing Alexia up. "If she was able to flip you around like that and pin you…"
"She'd have no trouble taking Emma down." Sunshine finished.
"Guys, c'mon now…" Alan came in, his voice defending. He placed a hand on Gerry's shoulder. To Petey and Sunshine, "You sound ridiculous."
"Thank you, Alan." Gerry said, smiling at the fact that he has at least *one* reasonable friend.
"I mean, you guys forgot factoring in the fact that Gerry let himself get *pinned* by Alexia. I mean, wouldn't you?" Alan snickered, causing Gerry to quickly remove Alan's hand.
He practically knocked it aside, growling, "Real funny, Bosley."
"Seriously, Gerry," Julius began, "You have to consider Emma's feelings. I mean, what would happen if she found out that you kissed another girl, practically made out with her, while she was still considered as your 'girlfriend'? It's not good, man."
"Ah man," He said, sitting himself down to think things through. Before Alexia, the only girl that mattered to him was Emma. Lord only knows that, despite his growing feelings to Lexi, he still loves her.
"What is it about Alexia that makes her so special, Bertier?" Asked Lewie.
Julius added, "Last we saw you, you were so out of it over Emma. You were so concerned about her that you almost risked an ass kicking from Boone at practice."
"So tell us," Lewie asked again, "What makes her so worth it that you risk everything you have with Emma?"
============================================================================================================================================
"You're not sure if you want to risk it, huh, Al?"
Alexia hated the fact that her friend had this uncanny ability to be right sometimes. "You're asking if I'm willing to sacrifice Gerry's future, as well as the future of Alexandria and the Titans, just for something you consider as physical attraction?"
Sighing, "I know it might run deeper than that, Alexia. However, you two just met. He wouldn't have noticed you in the first place if you were butt-ugly."
"You're not making this better by flattering me."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"F-you."
Janice grinned, placing a sisterly arm around Alexia. "I'm just jokin' with ya, girlfriend. You know you gorgeous."
Alexia could never stay pissed at her soul sister. She shrugged off her friend, and hugged herself as she began to pace. Smiling at Janice, despite feeling awful, "I know, but I still feel like shit over the truth in your rant."
"Can't say that I wasn't honest with you."
A silence fell on the two young women. The quietness became uneasy for Janice, though, as she watched her best friend's movements. She knew it only too well. Alexia was in her deep thinking mode. Lord only knows what was brewing in that wicked little brain of hers.
"Alex? What're you thinking?" Laughing lightly and nervously, "I… uh, don't like that look of concentration of yours."
Suddenly, a light bulb seemed to have turned on for Alexia. Her face lit up as she faced Janice with a mind-blowing idea. "I can save his life!"
"What?!"
"Think about it, Jan. Remember in the movie? Gerry had gotten into an automobile accident! We can save his football career! Not to mention forewarn him of that drunk driver that ultimately killed him."
"NO!" Cried Janice. She shook her friend, wanting to snap that idea bubble of hers. "Forget it, Al! No way in heaven and hell will I let you do such a thing!"
"Why not?" She whined, almost near tears at the thought of Gerry helpless in a wheelchair and then buried six feet under years later.
"We are not here to change history, Alexia Crowe! If it was supposed to happen, it *must* happen!"
"Well why were we sent here then, huh? Why?! Why this certain date and time? Why not during the eighty's? How about during the Civil War? Why this *place*? Why not New York? Seattle? France?! Why September of nineteen seventy-one, in Alexandria, Virginia?"
"I don't know why, Al!" Janice replied, throwing her hands up in frustration. In a more calm voice, "But I do know that it would be time suicide if we change history. We can't, Alexia."
She saw that this was tearing her friend up inside. This Gerry really had some affect on Alexia, and it shone in her eyes and smile. Even the way she talked about him showed Janice just how much Alexia was falling for the football hero. Janice reached up to wipe the fresh tears of defeat on Alexia's face.
"I'm sorry, Al, but you know I'm right." She grabbed her friend, pulling her in for a big comforting hug. "It's just too dangerous for us to tamper with time, no matter how good your intentions are. I'm sorry for making you give up what could be the true love of your life. It's too bad that he lives in another lifetime."
============================================================================================================================================
He stood outside the stadium, waiting patiently for her. Upon the sounds of footsteps, he gazed behind him and saw her.
"Hey there." She smiled shyly at him.
"Hey there yourself." He replied, equally as shy.
Alexia glanced at Janice, who nodded. Janice walked past her, and up to Gerry. She stopped in front of him, indicating him to lean in closer. Whispering to him, "My sister here has really fallen for you, Gerry. Despite what happens, know that, okay?"
The message sounded cryptic to him, but he nodded, glowing in the fact that he has the approval of Alexia's closest friend. To her, "I won't hurt her, Janice, if that's what you're worried about. I'm starting to fall for her too."
Sadly, giving him a gentle hug, "Yeah, I know. Good-bye, Gerry." With that, she walked away know that it would be the last time she'd see Alexia and Gerry together.
"See ya, Janice." He called out to her, unaware about everything except Alexia. Gerry turned to the girl that had managed to capture his heart, softly reaching out to her.
As she walked into his arms, she forced herself not to cry. Not to break down right in front of him.
Gerry immediately sensed that something was wrong. Looking at her with concerned eyes, "Lexi? Are you okay?"
She gazed up at him, her eyes brimming, "Of course. I'm just tired."
Regarding her carefully, "Why are you lying to me?"
Alexia steadied herself, practically on the brink of telling him everything. She opened her mouth, about to say give way to the truth, when…
"Hey you two!"
They turned towards the voice, seeing Janice holding a camera in her hands. Beaming proudly at them, "Let me make some memories, okay?"
Gerry glanced at Alexia as she nodded in approval. He held her close as he smiled into the camera. Alexia quickly wiped her eyes, forcing a smile on her face.
"C'mon you two… look like you're in love. I know that won't be too hard to fake." Janice joked. "Count of three, say 'Cheese'." Holding up one hand, "One… two… three…"
"Cheese!" They both said as the light flashed upon their frozen memory.
Gerry watched as the camera quickly developed the picture after the photo was immediately taken. "Wow, what kind of camera is that?"
Smiling sheepishly at him, Janice replied, "It's a new model back home. Now I'm going to take another one, okay? Ready?"
He nodded, still holding Alexia tight.
"One… two… smile!"
Once the second photograph was taken, Janice approached them. Handing one each, she said, "Can't say that I didn't get you two nothing. A keepsake worth two lifetimes."
"Thanks, Janice." Gerry replied, gazing appreciatively at the picture.
"You're a brave one, Jan. Taking such a *time*-less photo like this." Alexia said, giving her friend this look.
Janice just shrugged, answering cryptically, "Hey, gotta take a risk sometime in my life."
The two smiled at her as Janice turned and left. Gerry slid the photo into his back pocket, mentally reminding himself that it was there. Lifting Alexia's chin, he planted a soft kiss on her lips.
When he did that, Alexia felt time stand still… and knowing that brought her back to her harsh reality. She pulled back, looking up at him with the saddest eyes ever.
"Alexia?" He asked, fear twisting in his stomach. He didn't like the look that she was giving him. For the look said that she has to leave and she might not ever see him again.
"Please know that you've forever changed my life. Know that you didn't do anything wrong… that I have no other choice."
"Lexi…" He began. He gripped her arm, afraid to let her go. "Alexia, don't do what I think you're going to do."
"I have to." She gulped back her sob. With her own heart breaking, she reached up to give him one last kiss good-bye, bittersweet and passionate. "Good-bye, Bertier." She hugged him, then released him and running into the rising darkness of the evening sun.
He stood there, stunned for a brief moment. Suddenly he cried out to her, breaking into a run. Gerry watched as she hopped into a car, and drove off and away from sight.
It was Julius and Alan who physically kept him from chasing after her.
"Let her go, man." Julius said, trying to calm him down.
"I have to see her! I have to know why she can't stay with me!" Gerry cried, feeling like he was going to break down right there and then.
"She just can't, Gerry." Said Alan. "I know that this sounds weird, but I have this feeling like she can't. No matter how much she wanted to, she just couldn't."
Finally, Gerry began to let his defenses fall. Nodding wearily, "I know. I could feel it too… and I saw it in her eyes. Even if I prayed hard enough, she can't ever stay."
Gerry gave his friends a tired smile. Slightly pushing them, he began to walk and away from them.
However, his teammates seemed to have something different in mind.
"Oh no you don't, Bertier." Called out Lewie.
Julius jogged up to Gerry, practically shoving towards their direction. "Gerry, we ain't gonna let you deal with this alone. You're our brother, and you're in pain. You're stuck with us."
Despite his own heartache, Gerry began to smile brightly at them. "And knowing that should make me feel better?"
"Fellas… I feel a song coming up!" Proclaimed Blue.
"Guys, no." Gerry shook his head, yet still smiling.
"Listen baby…" Lewie began.
Sighing, Gerry rolled his eyes, yet still grinning despite it all as he indulged the harmonious sound of his teammates.
"Ain't no mountain high enough/ ain't no valley low enough/ ain't no river wide enough/ to keep me from getting to you babe…"
============================================================================================================================================
"Can I ask you a simple little question, Jan?"
Janice, with her eyes on the road, "Sure, Al."
"How are we exactly getting home? Back to Maui that is?" Alexia asked, tired and half asleep in the passenger seat.
"Easy." Her friend grinned this knowing grin.
"Explain."
"At about the exact same time we arrived here, we just go through the exact same place we arrived here and we should find like some sort of time hole. Just drive through it and *BAM*! We is island drivin'!" She said, beaming proudly at herself.
Alexia just gave her this incredulous look before uttering, "Dork." She lulled her head to the side, staring outside into the closing night. She finally spoke up with, "So where are we going exactly?"
"I'm finding us a rest spot for the night. We're going to sleep in the car for tonight. I just have to find a good place that was far away from the chances of Bertier ever finding you."
"Uh-huh." She replied. Silence then fell, until… "So at about what time tomorrow do we return back to the stadium parking lot to find that quote-unquote sort of time hole?"
"Just check the time in which our watches stopped at. Didn't you see Stephan King's The Langoliers with me?"
"But we're not piloting a plane, girlie." She pointed out.
"Yeah, but I also heard on the local news that there's a storm a coming to Alexandria."
"So?"
"So…" Began her scientific friend, "So if it's anything like the storm we had last drove through on Maui, I'm guessing that in this situation, lightening *will* strike twice!"
Alexia nodded wearily, yet still aware of the insaneness of Janice's plan. However, she was too tired to argue with her about the stupidity of it. Instead she said, "Sounds easy enough."
Glancing at her friend, knowing her well enough, "You're just saying that because you're too wiped out to prove my short comings."
"Damn straight I am." She mumbled, closing her eyes and slowly falling asleep. "But wait in the morning…"
============================================================================================================================================
It was good thing that she slept so early and before Janice. At what she figured as around one in the morning, as quietly as she could, she rummaged through the back of the car to find a piece of paper and pen. When she struck gold, she turned on the mirror light and began writing.
When she was through, and wrote what she needed to write, Alexia quickly hid the letter in her jacket. She vowed that tomorrow, before she left, Gerry will know the truth… despite the consequences.
============================================================================================================================================
THE NEXT AFTERNOON
Bertier swore to himself that if he ever survives *all* of Boone's boot camp practices, he would join the priesthood. Damn near miracle to come out of the practice unscathed!
He slowly followed his teammates, not caring if he took his sweet time walking back to the lockers to change. Gerry gazed up at the sky, noticing an army of black clouds surrounding the area. Looks like there's gonna be a heavy storm.
"Gerry! Hey Gerry!"
Gerry turned around, seeing Bill Yoast's daughter, Sheryl, running up to him. The energetic nine-year old waved a letter at him. "Gerry! This is for you."
He smiled down at the little girl, "Thanks Sheryl." Looking at it, "Who's it from?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. Indicating towards the walls outside of the stadium, "Probably that same girl who gave it to me to give to you."
Gerry's heart dropped, "What girl?"
Giving him another shrug, "Just some girl."
He knelt down to her level, "Sheryl, this is important." Looking at her with serious eyes, "What did she look like?"
"Well, she had black hair." She said, hoping that it would help him. "I don't know, Gerry! She looks like any other girl around your age. Except that she wasn't wearing the type of clothes that they wear."
His spirit began to rise, a smile beginning to appear, "When she gave this letter to you, Sheryl, was she with another girl just like her? Except her hair was brown and a bit longer?"
"Yeah. That's her!" Sheryl proclaimed.
Despite his aching back, Gerry swooped Sheryl up into a huge bear hug. "You're an angel, Sheryl!"
"Bertier! What's going on here?"
Gerry immediately placed Sheryl down at the mere bark of the assistant coach. He smiled sheepishly at Bill Yoast, nodding at him apologetically. "Sorry, sir. I just need to run this quick little errand before I hit the showers." To Sheryl, "I owe you big time, Sheryl."
"Bertier!" Shouted Yoast. He watched, extremely confused, as the young man bolted his way out the stadium. To his daughter, "Should I even know?"
Smiling innocently at her father, "Maybe not, coach."
============================================================================================================================================
Never would Gerry have believed what just happened in a million years if he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes.
As he raced outside to catch Alexia, the dark sky began to shudder a low rumble. Once on the parking grounds, his eyes caught the most beautiful sight he could ask for.
"Alexia!" He cried, waving frantically for her to look his way. He called her name again, but found that his voice had to fight against the thunderous sound of the upcoming storm. Strange thing though, it seemed as if the storm itself began to focus all its energy on that one spot in the parking lot where Alexia was.
"Alexia!" He shouted, praying for her to look his way. Suddenly, the unbelievable happened.
The clouds began to swarm around that one spot, the sound becoming deafening. The wind kicked up and the rain began to pour. Gerry fought to stay in his place. Instantly, with no warning, an immense lightening bolt struck down on Alexia's car, sending a blinding flash all around. Gerry became blinded by the flash, but had seen clearly what had happened to Alexia's care.
He screamed out her name, picking himself up, forcing himself to find her. Non-the-less he became stunned to find that once the blinding light lifted, the storm wasn't the only thing that vanished from sight.
Gerry blinked his eyes a couple of times, rubbing them clear. He checked all over, totally disbelieving what had happened. Gazing up at the sky, he only saw immense cloudless blue. Gazing at the parking lot, he only regarded its emptiness.
She was gone, his heart whispered. Yes she was, his mind agreed. And you're going to miss her terribly, his soul cried. Indeed Gerry was. He crumbled the piece of paper in his hand, and then folded it up into his pocket.
Suddenly, he remembered the importance of that letter. Knowing that, he quickly reached for it, and began reading it:
"Dear Gerry,
"I hate writing letters. But I have to write this one to you. To let you know the truth on why I can't stay. Believe it or not, I'm not of your time. I'm from the future. Yes, the FUTURE. Weird huh? You don't have to believe me, for I wouldn't believe it either. But I am. And I know things about you that I don't want to know. But despite all else, I have to say it. I can't lose you. I don't want to lose you… so please believe me when I say what I have to say. For it might very well mean your life…"
============================================================================================================================================
TIME: Present Day (next day after the storm) 2001
PLACE: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
"Hey!"
Alexia quickly covered her head with her pillows. She recognized that voice and wanted nothing to do with it.
"Hey, Sleeping beauty!"
"Go away, Jan!" She moaned, covering herself more with her blanket.
"Can't do that, girlfriend." Her extra sunny friend smiled, lifting the covers off her.
"Get out of my room, bitch!" She cried, shoving Janice away.
"My, my, my. Get up on the wrong side of the bed, did we?" Janice clucked her tongue, still teasing. She strained her ears as she heard Alexia mumble something. "What did you say?"
"Nothing!" she replied.
"Liar!" She retaliated. "C'mon, pal," Janice sat down on the foot of Alexia's bed, "Tell me, tell me, tell me."
"I said, 'he's dead.'" She looked up at Janice with such sad eyes that it practically tore her friend apart to have to see them.
"Well sweetie… of course he did. Don't you remember? He had to die just like history meant it." She then added, "I'm glad you decided to be an adult and not change history, Al. I am so proud of you, girl!" Janice swooped her friend up for a hug.
However, as she did so, she noticed just how tense Alexia became. Knowing her like the back of her hand, she gazed into her friend's eyes and became very uneasy. Suddenly, something clicked. "You didn't."
Nodding sadly, "I did."
Knocking her back onto the bed, "What?! How?!"
Sniffing, "Well, when you were sleeping, I wrote him a note. I told him everything."
"After I told you not to?!"
"Yes." She replied meekly.
"Oh my Lord! Alexia! How could you?!"
"I had to, Jan!" Alexia moaned, sinking deeper into depression. She then watched as her friend began to pace nervously back and forth. "Oh don't worry, Jan. It didn't work anyway."
"You prevented his death!"
"No I didn't." she sighed. Alexia reached for her VCR remote, turning the TV on. "If I did," she turned on the part in "Remember the Titans" where the epilogue spoke of Gerry's death. "Then Gerry wouldn't have died. I even talked about his accident that left would leave him paralyze from the waist down… he still gets into that accident." Turning off the TV, sinking her head into her pillows, "I didn't change a damn thing!"
"Wonder what happened then when he read your letter?" Janice asked out loud, just as confused. "I mean, if history is still in tact, then what really happened?"
*KNOCK, KNOCK*
"Alexia, honey?"
Glancing up at her mother as she poked her head in her daughter's room, "Yes, mom?"
"You have a visitor, sweetheart. A young man."
Alexia perked up, looking up at Janice. Janice just shrugged, just as curious.
"Send him in, mom." She said, quickly grabbing her robe and tying it on.
As the young man entered the room, Alexia and Janice held back a gasp.
"Hi," he said, acknowledging both ladies. "Is one of you Alexia?"
Raising a shy hand, "I'm Alexia."
Giving her a shy smile, actor Ryan Hurst beamed at the young lady. "My name's Ryan…" Pulling out an envelope, "And I believe this is for you."
As she took the letter from his hands, Ryan continued with, "It's kind of interesting, actually. As soon as I was cast for the role of Gerry Bertier, I was given these instructions to follow. It was from the real Mr. Bertier himself."
"Really?" Janice replied, a bit stunned.
Alexia sat herself down, staring numbly at the letter while Ryan began to explain the rest of his story.
"Yeah. It said that when the following date he instructed arrived, I was to get on a plane to Hawaii and to find the person whose name was on the letter. He paid for everything." He smiled at the young woman, "Everyone wants to know the mystery woman herself. None of the real Titans that knew Gerry would say a single word about who 'Alexia' was. Seemed like a good enough secret for everyone to keep talking about on set." Ryan chuckled to himself, adding, "Everyone wants me to contact them as soon as I delivered his letter."
Janice noticed that Alexia had yet to remove her gaze from the letter. To Ryan, "Y'know, let's step outside for a while, okay? I think she needs to read the letter alone."
Nodding understandingly, "Of course." To Alexia, "Y'know, the real Julius did say that Gerry thought 'Alexia' was the most beautiful woman he's ever meet. Inside and out." Shyly, "Surely fits you to a T."
Startled by his departing words, Alexia finally looked up and at Ryan. Giving him a kind smile, she whispered, "Thank you, Ryan."
He nodded at her, while Janice pulled him gently out the door with her.
Once left in her solitude, Alexia's shaky hands began to open the letter. As she read it, her heart raced into overtime. She took in every word, every single emotion placed into his letter. When she was done, Alexia hugged the piece of paper and began to weep openly. Never has she been so happy, so sad, and so loved in her whole entire life.
Janice and Ryan both stepped into the room, concerned as they heard Alexia weeping.
"Al? Alexia? What's wrong? What did he say?" Janice asked, making her way over to her.
"Alexia?" Ryan slowly stepped in, a bit cautious and concerned at the same time. He hardly knew this girl, but he knew her enough to realize that he didn't want to see someone as sweet as her cry.
Alexia didn't say a word. Instead, she held up the letter, letting it speak for itself. As they both read it, they clearly understood her tears.
"Dear Alexia,
"You must know by now that I couldn't change my future, no matter how much we both wanted to. Also know that just like I couldn't change my future, I could never change my feelings for you. As each day goes by, I found myself loving you even more. Most of my life, I had lived and shall live it as if you never existed… but that you didn't exist in my life is not true. You're in my heart. And when I die, I will watch over my angel. You have changed me, Alexia. And ain't no time and space long enough that will change how much I love you. When you remember the Titans, remember me. When you remember me, know that it's okay to love someone. Even if they are from another lifetime… because love can last that long as well, if not, 'til the death of forever."
"Love, Gerry Bertier."
===================================================================================================================================
THE END!
Okay, if ya made it all the way to the end, the story must not be that bad for people to still be interested enough to read til the end. If you did, thank you. If you didn't, then why are you reading this part? Thanks for at least considering reading the story. Again, I know it's a fluff piece, I admit it! But I was bored and I loved that movie, so there! Please R&R and have good evening/day!
"Alex!" Janice cried, insinuating to the guy in question. "Get a taste of *reality* here! For one thing, Gerry has a *girlfriend*!"
Alexia sighed, eyes turned heavenward. She turned her body, not wanting to hear this… but Janice grabbed Alexia by the arm, forcing her to look her way.
"Second, since I have already accepted the fact that we *are* stuck in the past, I want you to consider just how *old* Gerry really is. If you two were to meet in *our time*, he'd be old enough to be your dad!"
"Oh yeah," Alexia couldn't help but reply sarcastically, "He's *so* my daddy."
Janice gasped, then smacked her friend on the arm. "Don't, Al. You are not funny."
Sighing, "I wasn't trying to be, Jan." She looked past Janice, at this guy who had stolen her heart with his smile. With a sincere grin, "I really like him, Janice."
Unable to stay angry with her, Janice nodded understandingly. "I know, Alex. I can see it in your eyes." Yet trying to get through to Alexia, "But you have to accept the reality to this warped adventure we seem to be stuck in." Sadly, "We can't stay here forever. We have to go back home. And that means that nothing can happen between you and Gerry."
"But something already happened, Janice!" Alexia spoke with such light in her voice. "We shared a kiss that spanned time itself!"
"Now you're being a bit dramatic." Janice pointed out. Seriously, "Speaking of time. Did you even consider that maybe that quote-unquote innocent kiss you two shared might have changed history somehow? I mean, you should now all about this whole time travel thing and its rules!"
Crossing her arms stubbornly, "Yeah, I watch Quantum Leap."
"So you know!" Exclaimed Janice as she threw her hands up. "It's dangerous to screw with time! We don't need Gerry all Cupid love struck over you during games! He needs to be straight as an arrow focus on winning. Think of what would happen if they lost even *one* game? Coach Boone loses his job and this town would be taking a step *backwards* from accepting racial equality instead of going *forward*!" She stood back, letting Alexia think about her words. Janice also added dangerously, "And don't get me started on women's lib! If this town gets screwed over on the whole racial business, imagine when it comes to equal rights for women!"
Despite her the seriousness in her friend's rant, Alexia amusingly asked, "Are you done spewing?"
Janice shook her head. "Nope. Just one more thing I have to add."
"And that is?"
"If time is screwed with… shit will fly."
Attempting to hid a laugh at her friend's apparent paranoia, "Couldn't have said it better myself."
============================================================================================================================================
"Oh I doubt that shit will fly, Jul." Gerry commented in disbelief. His arms were crossed as he listened in on his friend's advising words.
"Listen to the man, Gerry." Blue said.
"Yeah, Gerry." Lewie agreed. "When it comes to women fighting over men, it's not a pretty picture."
"Major cat fight, my brother." Said Rev.
"And I'm betting all my money on that Alexia girl." Petey added. He looked over at the two girls still talking, sizing Alexia up. "If she was able to flip you around like that and pin you…"
"She'd have no trouble taking Emma down." Sunshine finished.
"Guys, c'mon now…" Alan came in, his voice defending. He placed a hand on Gerry's shoulder. To Petey and Sunshine, "You sound ridiculous."
"Thank you, Alan." Gerry said, smiling at the fact that he has at least *one* reasonable friend.
"I mean, you guys forgot factoring in the fact that Gerry let himself get *pinned* by Alexia. I mean, wouldn't you?" Alan snickered, causing Gerry to quickly remove Alan's hand.
He practically knocked it aside, growling, "Real funny, Bosley."
"Seriously, Gerry," Julius began, "You have to consider Emma's feelings. I mean, what would happen if she found out that you kissed another girl, practically made out with her, while she was still considered as your 'girlfriend'? It's not good, man."
"Ah man," He said, sitting himself down to think things through. Before Alexia, the only girl that mattered to him was Emma. Lord only knows that, despite his growing feelings to Lexi, he still loves her.
"What is it about Alexia that makes her so special, Bertier?" Asked Lewie.
Julius added, "Last we saw you, you were so out of it over Emma. You were so concerned about her that you almost risked an ass kicking from Boone at practice."
"So tell us," Lewie asked again, "What makes her so worth it that you risk everything you have with Emma?"
============================================================================================================================================
"You're not sure if you want to risk it, huh, Al?"
Alexia hated the fact that her friend had this uncanny ability to be right sometimes. "You're asking if I'm willing to sacrifice Gerry's future, as well as the future of Alexandria and the Titans, just for something you consider as physical attraction?"
Sighing, "I know it might run deeper than that, Alexia. However, you two just met. He wouldn't have noticed you in the first place if you were butt-ugly."
"You're not making this better by flattering me."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"F-you."
Janice grinned, placing a sisterly arm around Alexia. "I'm just jokin' with ya, girlfriend. You know you gorgeous."
Alexia could never stay pissed at her soul sister. She shrugged off her friend, and hugged herself as she began to pace. Smiling at Janice, despite feeling awful, "I know, but I still feel like shit over the truth in your rant."
"Can't say that I wasn't honest with you."
A silence fell on the two young women. The quietness became uneasy for Janice, though, as she watched her best friend's movements. She knew it only too well. Alexia was in her deep thinking mode. Lord only knows what was brewing in that wicked little brain of hers.
"Alex? What're you thinking?" Laughing lightly and nervously, "I… uh, don't like that look of concentration of yours."
Suddenly, a light bulb seemed to have turned on for Alexia. Her face lit up as she faced Janice with a mind-blowing idea. "I can save his life!"
"What?!"
"Think about it, Jan. Remember in the movie? Gerry had gotten into an automobile accident! We can save his football career! Not to mention forewarn him of that drunk driver that ultimately killed him."
"NO!" Cried Janice. She shook her friend, wanting to snap that idea bubble of hers. "Forget it, Al! No way in heaven and hell will I let you do such a thing!"
"Why not?" She whined, almost near tears at the thought of Gerry helpless in a wheelchair and then buried six feet under years later.
"We are not here to change history, Alexia Crowe! If it was supposed to happen, it *must* happen!"
"Well why were we sent here then, huh? Why?! Why this certain date and time? Why not during the eighty's? How about during the Civil War? Why this *place*? Why not New York? Seattle? France?! Why September of nineteen seventy-one, in Alexandria, Virginia?"
"I don't know why, Al!" Janice replied, throwing her hands up in frustration. In a more calm voice, "But I do know that it would be time suicide if we change history. We can't, Alexia."
She saw that this was tearing her friend up inside. This Gerry really had some affect on Alexia, and it shone in her eyes and smile. Even the way she talked about him showed Janice just how much Alexia was falling for the football hero. Janice reached up to wipe the fresh tears of defeat on Alexia's face.
"I'm sorry, Al, but you know I'm right." She grabbed her friend, pulling her in for a big comforting hug. "It's just too dangerous for us to tamper with time, no matter how good your intentions are. I'm sorry for making you give up what could be the true love of your life. It's too bad that he lives in another lifetime."
============================================================================================================================================
He stood outside the stadium, waiting patiently for her. Upon the sounds of footsteps, he gazed behind him and saw her.
"Hey there." She smiled shyly at him.
"Hey there yourself." He replied, equally as shy.
Alexia glanced at Janice, who nodded. Janice walked past her, and up to Gerry. She stopped in front of him, indicating him to lean in closer. Whispering to him, "My sister here has really fallen for you, Gerry. Despite what happens, know that, okay?"
The message sounded cryptic to him, but he nodded, glowing in the fact that he has the approval of Alexia's closest friend. To her, "I won't hurt her, Janice, if that's what you're worried about. I'm starting to fall for her too."
Sadly, giving him a gentle hug, "Yeah, I know. Good-bye, Gerry." With that, she walked away know that it would be the last time she'd see Alexia and Gerry together.
"See ya, Janice." He called out to her, unaware about everything except Alexia. Gerry turned to the girl that had managed to capture his heart, softly reaching out to her.
As she walked into his arms, she forced herself not to cry. Not to break down right in front of him.
Gerry immediately sensed that something was wrong. Looking at her with concerned eyes, "Lexi? Are you okay?"
She gazed up at him, her eyes brimming, "Of course. I'm just tired."
Regarding her carefully, "Why are you lying to me?"
Alexia steadied herself, practically on the brink of telling him everything. She opened her mouth, about to say give way to the truth, when…
"Hey you two!"
They turned towards the voice, seeing Janice holding a camera in her hands. Beaming proudly at them, "Let me make some memories, okay?"
Gerry glanced at Alexia as she nodded in approval. He held her close as he smiled into the camera. Alexia quickly wiped her eyes, forcing a smile on her face.
"C'mon you two… look like you're in love. I know that won't be too hard to fake." Janice joked. "Count of three, say 'Cheese'." Holding up one hand, "One… two… three…"
"Cheese!" They both said as the light flashed upon their frozen memory.
Gerry watched as the camera quickly developed the picture after the photo was immediately taken. "Wow, what kind of camera is that?"
Smiling sheepishly at him, Janice replied, "It's a new model back home. Now I'm going to take another one, okay? Ready?"
He nodded, still holding Alexia tight.
"One… two… smile!"
Once the second photograph was taken, Janice approached them. Handing one each, she said, "Can't say that I didn't get you two nothing. A keepsake worth two lifetimes."
"Thanks, Janice." Gerry replied, gazing appreciatively at the picture.
"You're a brave one, Jan. Taking such a *time*-less photo like this." Alexia said, giving her friend this look.
Janice just shrugged, answering cryptically, "Hey, gotta take a risk sometime in my life."
The two smiled at her as Janice turned and left. Gerry slid the photo into his back pocket, mentally reminding himself that it was there. Lifting Alexia's chin, he planted a soft kiss on her lips.
When he did that, Alexia felt time stand still… and knowing that brought her back to her harsh reality. She pulled back, looking up at him with the saddest eyes ever.
"Alexia?" He asked, fear twisting in his stomach. He didn't like the look that she was giving him. For the look said that she has to leave and she might not ever see him again.
"Please know that you've forever changed my life. Know that you didn't do anything wrong… that I have no other choice."
"Lexi…" He began. He gripped her arm, afraid to let her go. "Alexia, don't do what I think you're going to do."
"I have to." She gulped back her sob. With her own heart breaking, she reached up to give him one last kiss good-bye, bittersweet and passionate. "Good-bye, Bertier." She hugged him, then released him and running into the rising darkness of the evening sun.
He stood there, stunned for a brief moment. Suddenly he cried out to her, breaking into a run. Gerry watched as she hopped into a car, and drove off and away from sight.
It was Julius and Alan who physically kept him from chasing after her.
"Let her go, man." Julius said, trying to calm him down.
"I have to see her! I have to know why she can't stay with me!" Gerry cried, feeling like he was going to break down right there and then.
"She just can't, Gerry." Said Alan. "I know that this sounds weird, but I have this feeling like she can't. No matter how much she wanted to, she just couldn't."
Finally, Gerry began to let his defenses fall. Nodding wearily, "I know. I could feel it too… and I saw it in her eyes. Even if I prayed hard enough, she can't ever stay."
Gerry gave his friends a tired smile. Slightly pushing them, he began to walk and away from them.
However, his teammates seemed to have something different in mind.
"Oh no you don't, Bertier." Called out Lewie.
Julius jogged up to Gerry, practically shoving towards their direction. "Gerry, we ain't gonna let you deal with this alone. You're our brother, and you're in pain. You're stuck with us."
Despite his own heartache, Gerry began to smile brightly at them. "And knowing that should make me feel better?"
"Fellas… I feel a song coming up!" Proclaimed Blue.
"Guys, no." Gerry shook his head, yet still smiling.
"Listen baby…" Lewie began.
Sighing, Gerry rolled his eyes, yet still grinning despite it all as he indulged the harmonious sound of his teammates.
"Ain't no mountain high enough/ ain't no valley low enough/ ain't no river wide enough/ to keep me from getting to you babe…"
============================================================================================================================================
"Can I ask you a simple little question, Jan?"
Janice, with her eyes on the road, "Sure, Al."
"How are we exactly getting home? Back to Maui that is?" Alexia asked, tired and half asleep in the passenger seat.
"Easy." Her friend grinned this knowing grin.
"Explain."
"At about the exact same time we arrived here, we just go through the exact same place we arrived here and we should find like some sort of time hole. Just drive through it and *BAM*! We is island drivin'!" She said, beaming proudly at herself.
Alexia just gave her this incredulous look before uttering, "Dork." She lulled her head to the side, staring outside into the closing night. She finally spoke up with, "So where are we going exactly?"
"I'm finding us a rest spot for the night. We're going to sleep in the car for tonight. I just have to find a good place that was far away from the chances of Bertier ever finding you."
"Uh-huh." She replied. Silence then fell, until… "So at about what time tomorrow do we return back to the stadium parking lot to find that quote-unquote sort of time hole?"
"Just check the time in which our watches stopped at. Didn't you see Stephan King's The Langoliers with me?"
"But we're not piloting a plane, girlie." She pointed out.
"Yeah, but I also heard on the local news that there's a storm a coming to Alexandria."
"So?"
"So…" Began her scientific friend, "So if it's anything like the storm we had last drove through on Maui, I'm guessing that in this situation, lightening *will* strike twice!"
Alexia nodded wearily, yet still aware of the insaneness of Janice's plan. However, she was too tired to argue with her about the stupidity of it. Instead she said, "Sounds easy enough."
Glancing at her friend, knowing her well enough, "You're just saying that because you're too wiped out to prove my short comings."
"Damn straight I am." She mumbled, closing her eyes and slowly falling asleep. "But wait in the morning…"
============================================================================================================================================
It was good thing that she slept so early and before Janice. At what she figured as around one in the morning, as quietly as she could, she rummaged through the back of the car to find a piece of paper and pen. When she struck gold, she turned on the mirror light and began writing.
When she was through, and wrote what she needed to write, Alexia quickly hid the letter in her jacket. She vowed that tomorrow, before she left, Gerry will know the truth… despite the consequences.
============================================================================================================================================
THE NEXT AFTERNOON
Bertier swore to himself that if he ever survives *all* of Boone's boot camp practices, he would join the priesthood. Damn near miracle to come out of the practice unscathed!
He slowly followed his teammates, not caring if he took his sweet time walking back to the lockers to change. Gerry gazed up at the sky, noticing an army of black clouds surrounding the area. Looks like there's gonna be a heavy storm.
"Gerry! Hey Gerry!"
Gerry turned around, seeing Bill Yoast's daughter, Sheryl, running up to him. The energetic nine-year old waved a letter at him. "Gerry! This is for you."
He smiled down at the little girl, "Thanks Sheryl." Looking at it, "Who's it from?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. Indicating towards the walls outside of the stadium, "Probably that same girl who gave it to me to give to you."
Gerry's heart dropped, "What girl?"
Giving him another shrug, "Just some girl."
He knelt down to her level, "Sheryl, this is important." Looking at her with serious eyes, "What did she look like?"
"Well, she had black hair." She said, hoping that it would help him. "I don't know, Gerry! She looks like any other girl around your age. Except that she wasn't wearing the type of clothes that they wear."
His spirit began to rise, a smile beginning to appear, "When she gave this letter to you, Sheryl, was she with another girl just like her? Except her hair was brown and a bit longer?"
"Yeah. That's her!" Sheryl proclaimed.
Despite his aching back, Gerry swooped Sheryl up into a huge bear hug. "You're an angel, Sheryl!"
"Bertier! What's going on here?"
Gerry immediately placed Sheryl down at the mere bark of the assistant coach. He smiled sheepishly at Bill Yoast, nodding at him apologetically. "Sorry, sir. I just need to run this quick little errand before I hit the showers." To Sheryl, "I owe you big time, Sheryl."
"Bertier!" Shouted Yoast. He watched, extremely confused, as the young man bolted his way out the stadium. To his daughter, "Should I even know?"
Smiling innocently at her father, "Maybe not, coach."
============================================================================================================================================
Never would Gerry have believed what just happened in a million years if he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes.
As he raced outside to catch Alexia, the dark sky began to shudder a low rumble. Once on the parking grounds, his eyes caught the most beautiful sight he could ask for.
"Alexia!" He cried, waving frantically for her to look his way. He called her name again, but found that his voice had to fight against the thunderous sound of the upcoming storm. Strange thing though, it seemed as if the storm itself began to focus all its energy on that one spot in the parking lot where Alexia was.
"Alexia!" He shouted, praying for her to look his way. Suddenly, the unbelievable happened.
The clouds began to swarm around that one spot, the sound becoming deafening. The wind kicked up and the rain began to pour. Gerry fought to stay in his place. Instantly, with no warning, an immense lightening bolt struck down on Alexia's car, sending a blinding flash all around. Gerry became blinded by the flash, but had seen clearly what had happened to Alexia's care.
He screamed out her name, picking himself up, forcing himself to find her. Non-the-less he became stunned to find that once the blinding light lifted, the storm wasn't the only thing that vanished from sight.
Gerry blinked his eyes a couple of times, rubbing them clear. He checked all over, totally disbelieving what had happened. Gazing up at the sky, he only saw immense cloudless blue. Gazing at the parking lot, he only regarded its emptiness.
She was gone, his heart whispered. Yes she was, his mind agreed. And you're going to miss her terribly, his soul cried. Indeed Gerry was. He crumbled the piece of paper in his hand, and then folded it up into his pocket.
Suddenly, he remembered the importance of that letter. Knowing that, he quickly reached for it, and began reading it:
"Dear Gerry,
"I hate writing letters. But I have to write this one to you. To let you know the truth on why I can't stay. Believe it or not, I'm not of your time. I'm from the future. Yes, the FUTURE. Weird huh? You don't have to believe me, for I wouldn't believe it either. But I am. And I know things about you that I don't want to know. But despite all else, I have to say it. I can't lose you. I don't want to lose you… so please believe me when I say what I have to say. For it might very well mean your life…"
============================================================================================================================================
TIME: Present Day (next day after the storm) 2001
PLACE: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
"Hey!"
Alexia quickly covered her head with her pillows. She recognized that voice and wanted nothing to do with it.
"Hey, Sleeping beauty!"
"Go away, Jan!" She moaned, covering herself more with her blanket.
"Can't do that, girlfriend." Her extra sunny friend smiled, lifting the covers off her.
"Get out of my room, bitch!" She cried, shoving Janice away.
"My, my, my. Get up on the wrong side of the bed, did we?" Janice clucked her tongue, still teasing. She strained her ears as she heard Alexia mumble something. "What did you say?"
"Nothing!" she replied.
"Liar!" She retaliated. "C'mon, pal," Janice sat down on the foot of Alexia's bed, "Tell me, tell me, tell me."
"I said, 'he's dead.'" She looked up at Janice with such sad eyes that it practically tore her friend apart to have to see them.
"Well sweetie… of course he did. Don't you remember? He had to die just like history meant it." She then added, "I'm glad you decided to be an adult and not change history, Al. I am so proud of you, girl!" Janice swooped her friend up for a hug.
However, as she did so, she noticed just how tense Alexia became. Knowing her like the back of her hand, she gazed into her friend's eyes and became very uneasy. Suddenly, something clicked. "You didn't."
Nodding sadly, "I did."
Knocking her back onto the bed, "What?! How?!"
Sniffing, "Well, when you were sleeping, I wrote him a note. I told him everything."
"After I told you not to?!"
"Yes." She replied meekly.
"Oh my Lord! Alexia! How could you?!"
"I had to, Jan!" Alexia moaned, sinking deeper into depression. She then watched as her friend began to pace nervously back and forth. "Oh don't worry, Jan. It didn't work anyway."
"You prevented his death!"
"No I didn't." she sighed. Alexia reached for her VCR remote, turning the TV on. "If I did," she turned on the part in "Remember the Titans" where the epilogue spoke of Gerry's death. "Then Gerry wouldn't have died. I even talked about his accident that left would leave him paralyze from the waist down… he still gets into that accident." Turning off the TV, sinking her head into her pillows, "I didn't change a damn thing!"
"Wonder what happened then when he read your letter?" Janice asked out loud, just as confused. "I mean, if history is still in tact, then what really happened?"
*KNOCK, KNOCK*
"Alexia, honey?"
Glancing up at her mother as she poked her head in her daughter's room, "Yes, mom?"
"You have a visitor, sweetheart. A young man."
Alexia perked up, looking up at Janice. Janice just shrugged, just as curious.
"Send him in, mom." She said, quickly grabbing her robe and tying it on.
As the young man entered the room, Alexia and Janice held back a gasp.
"Hi," he said, acknowledging both ladies. "Is one of you Alexia?"
Raising a shy hand, "I'm Alexia."
Giving her a shy smile, actor Ryan Hurst beamed at the young lady. "My name's Ryan…" Pulling out an envelope, "And I believe this is for you."
As she took the letter from his hands, Ryan continued with, "It's kind of interesting, actually. As soon as I was cast for the role of Gerry Bertier, I was given these instructions to follow. It was from the real Mr. Bertier himself."
"Really?" Janice replied, a bit stunned.
Alexia sat herself down, staring numbly at the letter while Ryan began to explain the rest of his story.
"Yeah. It said that when the following date he instructed arrived, I was to get on a plane to Hawaii and to find the person whose name was on the letter. He paid for everything." He smiled at the young woman, "Everyone wants to know the mystery woman herself. None of the real Titans that knew Gerry would say a single word about who 'Alexia' was. Seemed like a good enough secret for everyone to keep talking about on set." Ryan chuckled to himself, adding, "Everyone wants me to contact them as soon as I delivered his letter."
Janice noticed that Alexia had yet to remove her gaze from the letter. To Ryan, "Y'know, let's step outside for a while, okay? I think she needs to read the letter alone."
Nodding understandingly, "Of course." To Alexia, "Y'know, the real Julius did say that Gerry thought 'Alexia' was the most beautiful woman he's ever meet. Inside and out." Shyly, "Surely fits you to a T."
Startled by his departing words, Alexia finally looked up and at Ryan. Giving him a kind smile, she whispered, "Thank you, Ryan."
He nodded at her, while Janice pulled him gently out the door with her.
Once left in her solitude, Alexia's shaky hands began to open the letter. As she read it, her heart raced into overtime. She took in every word, every single emotion placed into his letter. When she was done, Alexia hugged the piece of paper and began to weep openly. Never has she been so happy, so sad, and so loved in her whole entire life.
Janice and Ryan both stepped into the room, concerned as they heard Alexia weeping.
"Al? Alexia? What's wrong? What did he say?" Janice asked, making her way over to her.
"Alexia?" Ryan slowly stepped in, a bit cautious and concerned at the same time. He hardly knew this girl, but he knew her enough to realize that he didn't want to see someone as sweet as her cry.
Alexia didn't say a word. Instead, she held up the letter, letting it speak for itself. As they both read it, they clearly understood her tears.
"Dear Alexia,
"You must know by now that I couldn't change my future, no matter how much we both wanted to. Also know that just like I couldn't change my future, I could never change my feelings for you. As each day goes by, I found myself loving you even more. Most of my life, I had lived and shall live it as if you never existed… but that you didn't exist in my life is not true. You're in my heart. And when I die, I will watch over my angel. You have changed me, Alexia. And ain't no time and space long enough that will change how much I love you. When you remember the Titans, remember me. When you remember me, know that it's okay to love someone. Even if they are from another lifetime… because love can last that long as well, if not, 'til the death of forever."
"Love, Gerry Bertier."
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THE END!
Okay, if ya made it all the way to the end, the story must not be that bad for people to still be interested enough to read til the end. If you did, thank you. If you didn't, then why are you reading this part? Thanks for at least considering reading the story. Again, I know it's a fluff piece, I admit it! But I was bored and I loved that movie, so there! Please R&R and have good evening/day!