Chapter 22:

"Mandy?" Coffee said. "Do you know what's goin' on?"

"Yeah, I do," I replied, earning a questioning stare from Coffee. "I s'pose I should explain, shouldn't I?" I looked up just past where Coffee, Ink, and Bit were standing. I didn't like what I saw, and Bit apparently noticed the flash of fear in my eyes and turned around.

"No time, I think we should go now," she squeaked in a whisper. So she's not the idiot she comes off as. "I don't like the what those guys is lookin' at us." And more of her IQ is revealed.

"Yeah, we gotta get out fast," Ink and I said at once. Both of the boys had detached themselves from me. Ah, blissful freedom.

We turned and started in the opposite direction, walking quickly but still acting natural. As natural as three people from 1900 and a girl from now, but has 'visited' the past, that is. Crap, forgot about the alley part, and how many end with dead ends.

"Sure would be nice to have Tuck here with us, wouldn't it?" I said, forgetting that none of them knew what had happened.

"Why?" Bit asked. "Tuck is pro'ly just as clueless as we. . ." She stopped, realizing what had happened. "You mean Tuck knows about this?"

"Yeah, she knows just about as much as us," Ink filled in, not allowing me the chance to respond.

"So you know about it too?" Coffee asked Ink. Did neither of them realize we were walking deeper and deeper into the trap? "And there's a reason you failed to tell me?"

"And me?" piped in Bit.

"Yeah. Do you really think it's that normal to be from a hundred four years in the future?" This earned me two understanding nods. "That's what I thought."

"So what made us jump this time?" Ink said.

"I don't know." I stopped to think about all the ways I'd hopped. "Off the top of my head, I think I jumped most times I got nervous."

"I don't know if you're right about that, but it could be that," Ink said. I'm not sure that he liked that idea, with his first jump our first kiss.

"I wonder what Birdie-that felt funny saying that- and Spot thought of what they saw," Coffee input. He was taking to this whole time hop thing very well. A bit too well, but that's just me.

"What do you think of this?" I asked. Ink obviously had the same idea, as he had started something but was cut off in his first syllable.

"I think it's awesome," he replied. Did that word exist back then.

"Awesome?" Bit asked. Question answered. "I'd say freaky." Ok, maybe not.

We had gotten to the wall at the very end of the alley. It really didn't take us too long, but we were talking fast and could fit all that information into the time span of that short walk. Long-ish for an alley, though.

Now Delancey and his gang were approaching our halted mass. They looked pissed. There was a boy behind him, his right hand man I assume, that had a bandaged nose. Oops. Now that I think of it, they both resemble the Delancey brothers of the past. OMG! Is that possible? I did break the other one's nose, it's too coincidental.

"Eh, Mandy, we's got a bone ta pick wit you," the leader said. Oscar, I'd assume.

"How'd you know her name?" Coffee asked.

"We go way back, don't we, Mandy?" he said, leaning on a stick I hadn't noticed before. "Way back."

"Who is he?" Coffee needs to shut up.

Crap, we're trapped. There's no way out. There are more of us, yes, but equally more of them. This could get ugly.

___________________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~____________________

That's my update for the moment. This one was fully mine, no help from friends. Oh, just so Baby won't kill me, she is 'with' Race. And to my other buddies, Coffee IS Josh, but not because I like him (which I don't) but because he fit the part and I am so creative that I can't create my own characters. Shout-outs!

Klutz- Yes, I think it's better without the friends' help, but make them happy once, and I hope they leave me alone no *grumbles* Anyways, thanks bunches for reviews.

Bit- Yes you are, darling (kidding). You just didn't do anything about it (in your own word, DER!). Klover gets a bigger part for now cuz she can't murder me should I do something wrong with her character.

Imaginelet- Yes, that was short. It's hard trying to compile all of that junk into one chapter and not turn it into mindless dribble. I don't know who/when she'll choose, depends on how reality works. . .

Racetrack da hottie- I'll talk ta ya in person.

Molly- You still haven't replied, what is up with that? Never mind that. Nice to hear you don't want to instruct me how to write. Thanks for reviewing.