Time Transcended
Stranger on the Sidewalk
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Authors note: Well, I hope you all have liked it so far, I hope you all like this chapter and the ones to come. REVIEW! Or I don't know how I'm doing! Constructive Criticism is welcomed!
The next day, Rebecca, feeling much better, found herself humming a merry tune as she wandered from one class to the next. During her lunch hour she briskly walked from her class building to a local diner for a sandwich and a hot drink. It was a chilly day but she was unaffected by it, she was in a good mood.
On her fourth bite of her chicken club sandwich she looked out and across the street saw a tall, dark haired man wearing a dark blue suit walking towards another restaurant and then entered. He reminded her of Elrohir.
"I've got Elro on the brain," she thought to herself as she took a sip of her hot cappuccino.
That evening, while walking home after her last class, she saw a man walking her direction, but on the other side of the street again. She thought their glances met for a split second, but then a semi-truck went between them and when it was gone, so was he.
"Well, whoever he is, he sure is an attractive stranger," Rebecca thought to herself. "Might have been two different guys though."
When she got back to her apartment, she found Liz munching on a bag of potato chips.
"Guess what Liz," Rebecca said.
"Um...You found the dancing polar bear toy in your smiley meal at lunch today," Liz answered, a grin on her face.
"No. I saw a guy," Rebecca said.
Before she could continue Liz said, "Oh my goodness! Call the Detroit Free Press! You saw a guy, in Ann Arbor!" Faux shock and amaze in her voice.
Rebecca rolled her eyes and said, "Let me finish. I saw a guy that looked like Elro. Twice!"
"Maybe it was Elro," Liz said. "Anything's possible."
"I assure you, this isn't. It can't be him, but it's a guy that looks like him."
"Is there another point to this story, or is it just not a good story," Liz teased.
"Well, I guess it isn't that good. I just thought it was strange how the first day after I talked about him since I left him I see his look alike."
"Ah. I see. Fate works in straaaaange waaaaays," Liz said in her ghost voice.
Rebecca chucked a pillow at her. "You're not helpful."
Liz, now annoyed, sat up and chucked the pillow back at her. "Reb, your acting weird. You're asking for answers to unasked questions. I'm a good guesser, but I'm a lousy psychic."
"Sorry. I guess I want to know what to think about it all," Rebecca said.
"Well, I wasn't there, I don't know what Elro looks like, and so, I can't help you. I've a suggestion though, just keep living your life and keep your eyes open."
Rebecca suddenly smiled. "Okay Master Liz, I'll do it."
The next day, Wednesday, Rebecca went back to the place she had eaten lunch at the day before and looked up just as the man walked by. This time he went to the cross walk and came to her side of the street. She prayed he would walk past the window, or in the diner so she could see his face closer and dismiss the theory that Elrohir was indeed there, but he never did.
She saw the figure again as she was walking home, this time she brushed by him on the street and got only a blurred glance at his face, well, more like his jaw, collar, and neck, nothing that could help her solve the mystery.
As she gave the report to Liz of how her day went, she mentioned the blurred vision.
"I wish I would have gotten a better look at his ear," Rebecca said.
"What would that have done for you. Ears are ears you know," Liz said.
"His were...unique. Just trust me when I say this," Rebecca replied.
"Whatever Reb." They were both quiet for a while, then Liz spoke again. "Let's go out for dinner tonight. I don't feel like cooking. Maybe we'll see your Elro look alike."
Rebecca just sighed. She knew Liz was teasing her. Both grabbed their coats and headed out into the twilit chill of an October evening.
As they were finishing off their desserts Rebecca said, "I think I see him...oh wait, nope. Not him."
Liz turned and saw the only dark haired guy in that direction. All she could see was the back of his head. She looked at Rebecca, eyebrow raised and asked, "How the samhill do you know if that's him or not. All you can see is the back of his head!"
"I told you I know him very well. I can see the differences between him and his identical twin brother at a glance. I know him very well Liz. Very well."
"Whatever Reb. If you're sure," Liz said. "You know, the more I get to know you, the stranger you get and the more I like you."
"I'm not sure Liz, is that a compliment?" Rebecca joked.
"Yeah. Weird and strange good. Normal, bad!" Liz said like a caveman.
Rebecca and Liz began laughing and were forced to stop eating their ice cream lest it come out of their noses.
As they walked back to their apartment, Rebecca thought she saw him again, but she got a good look and knew it wasn't. He was shorter. She rolled her eyes and kept walking.
Thursday and Friday she saw the look alike, but never got a good look.
"I swear the Valar are playing a trick on me!" Rebecca mumbled to herself.
That night as she walked home, she pondered where Elrohir could be. Had he sailed? Tolkien never mentioned it. At least, not that she had read. Did he just continue living in Middle-earth, even after it changed. Had Middle-earth broken already? Suddenly a thought came to her, maybe Middle-earth wasn't another world, but another time. If that was true, he could have stayed, hoping to meet with her again. Rebecca dismissed that notion. One, it was ludicrous, two, it was not Elrohir's way. He would have sailed and waited for her there, lest he missed her and stayed longer than he should. Suddenly her heart sank. Maybe it was his son, or grandson, or great-great-great grandson that was living around there. Had he then found someone else? Was there love not true? Should she now consider a human husband? The very thought made her want to cry. That was worse than saying he was dead. Yes, she had told him to marry another if his love for her was truer, and he the same to her, but... She didn't want to think about it. She brushed tears away that threatened to fall and entered her apartment.
"Reb, what's wrong?" Liz asked, seeing her red rimmed eyes.
"N..nothing. I was just thinking about Elro and..." she broke off suddenly.
Liz put her arm around her and sat down next to her on the couch. "Tell Liz what's wrong," she said, like one would to a child.
Rebecca was too disturbed to notice. Before she knew what she was doing she said, "The last time I saw Elro I told him that if he found someone he loved more than myself that he should marry her, and not wait for me. He told me the same. I was just thinking, perhaps he has married someone else."
"Whoa, wait! Marriage? After two months you two were talking about marriage?" Liz asked, wide eyed. This was definitely uncharacteristic of Rebecca.
Rebecca nodded.
"No wonder you're so crazy about him. Did you almost marry him, or were you just talking about it?" Liz pried.
"Well, we only had two months, but we would have if we could have. I know that much."
Liz looked at Rebecca with renewed wonder. There was more to this story than Rebecca was telling. What was it? "Wow. So that is why you were crying, because you think he left you?"
"Yes," Rebecca replied. "I mean, I know that I told him to should he find someone he loved even more, but, but... I just can't help but feel depressed at the thought. It just makes me wonder about it all and..."
"And what?"
"It makes me wonder whether I was good enough for him. I mean, he was an... such a great guy. He deserves someone like him. I feel inferior."
"Of course you were good enough for him! And if you felt inferior, it is probably because he was demanding and overbearing," Liz said, trying to comfort. The minute she said it, she regretted it. "Sorry, I mean..."
"No, I know what you mean. And that wasn't it. If anything he made me feel like a princess, but... it's complicated," Rebecca said, not wanting to reveal too much.
"Okay Reb, I'll take your word for it," Liz replied with a nod. This was all rather surprising to her. Here was Rebecca, a few weeks ago Liz considered her a dateless old maid of early twenties. A few days ago she learned she had a secret past love. A few seconds ago she learned that she was ready to marry the secret lover. It was a whirlwind of information that had caught her up. The whirlwind however, made her curious. She would not be obvious, she would not ask questions. She knew Rebecca well enough by now to know the best way to get her to talk is to say nothing at all. Thus, she would be silent and listen.
Authors note: Well, this is the end of this chapter. What the next one shall hold, I do not know. Isn't that comforting? LOL! As always, I am VERY appreciative of REVIEWS! So please give them!
