Alex
"This place has not changed a bit," I murmured to myself as I entered the substation. Except there was one key difference, there were strangers working the counter and waiting on the tables. The fact I'd never seen anyone but a member of my family in this capacity made me queasy.
Max and Justin were sitting on the stools by the cash register. Seeing them made my heart swell; it was so good to know I wasn't alone in this scary future. I had them with me even if they got on my nerve and drove me crazy sometimes.
I rushed and hugged them both simultaneously, grinning wide. They both groaned and acted like they were disgusted but I had the feeling they were just as happy as I was.
"I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually glad to see you Alex," Max said, pulling at the uncomfortably tight collar of his white shirt. "If only I could find some other clothes to change into, everything would be perfect."
"Is anyone else's head spinning?" Justin asked, rubbing his temples. "Cause I feel a headache coming on."
Ignoring him, I got on with my good news. "Guess what? I'm an artist. I was researching myself online. I'm one of the most in demand artists in the state and I have an awesome apartment. And even better, I think I'm still with Mason!"
Justin brightened. "I'm a doctor and I'm married to a hot blonde lawyer. Top that."
"I'm the head of a huge corporation."
Both Justin and I turned to Max who was leaning back with his elbows on the bench, staring quite simply at us.
"Excuse me?"
"At least I think I am," he said, scratching his head. "I run this substation and apparently I've opened up like another twenty of them and like, made them into a franchise or something."
"How the hell did you do that?" Justin blurted and I smiled wryly. I'd never heard him use language like that before but it seemed appropriate. Max was not the business type or work type or any...type really. It was incredibly hard to fathom he'd managed to set up a huge business.
"Beats me," he grinned. "All I know is I'm stinking rich."
I giggled; things seemed to be pretty good for the three of us. We were all pretty well off and living our dream jobs. I looked around. The place was plenty busy but something was bothering me, other than the strangers working.
"Where's Mom and Dad?"
"Holiday," Max answered. "There was a post card on the fridge upstairs for me."
This was probably best. Without our parents here, we could avoid weird confrontations.
"This is amazing," Justin muttered, getting up from his chair to pace. I noticed he'd hadn't grown over the last ten years and was the same height as me. Also, his hair was thinning; looked like another thing he'd inherited from our dear father besides the irritating urge to have everything in its place.
Meanwhile, Max stood up as well and I had to crane my neck upwards. He'd filled out, become muscled and had a major growth spurt. "Whoa you've grown."
"I know, isn't it cool?" he said excitedly, admiring his arms and legs.
"Okay we need to focus people and work out what exactly is going on."
"Yes sir," I said, mocking a salute to our self appointed captain.
"How did we get here?" Max asked, picking up a spoon and checking out his reflection. "Damn I look good."
"Some random psycho bitch pushed us into a time portal," I said, knocking the spoon out of his hands. He looked irritated as it went to the floor with a clang. Customers around us turned to stare.
"Language Alex!" Justin berated and he pulled the two of us into the kitchen.
"Hey I'm 27 now; I think I'm allowed to swear."
Justin moved to the freezer door and tried to pry it open. "Do you think the lair's still here?
"If Max still runs this place and lives upstairs, I'm guessing so." I stepped aside and pushed Max forward. "Open it."
"What do you mean, open it?"
"You're the family wizard, aren't you?" I asked slowly.
He shook his head. "I thought I was but I couldn't find a wand anywhere or cast any spells. So I assumed it was Justin."
"Did no one believe I could win?" I exclaimed. They both just exchanged side-along glances.
"I don't have any powers," Justin said, stretching out every word.
They both turned their gaze to me. "Don't look at me." Admittedly I'd tried to cast a spell but nada, nilch, had happened.
"That's not possible. One of us has to have powers."
"Maybe we all lost," Max suggested.
Justin groaned and held his head. "Max, do me a favour and shut up."
"Roger that," Max answered, straightening and clapping Justin on the shoulder. He walked out of the kitchen, swinging the door shut as he did.
"Something's wrong. There's no way none of us have powers."
"Maybe Max is right. Maybe they changed the rules. I really don't have an explanation."
Justin swung open the freezer door and we were met with a cold chill and stacks of frozen food. He slammed it shut in frustration and started to bang his fists on it.
"Somehow, I don't think that will work," I said, narrowing my eyes.
He just groaned and started to bang his head against the heavy metal door instead.
"I don't think that will work either."
"What do you suggest?" he asked, rubbing his head.
"I suggest we ride this out. We'll figure a way to get back to our time sooner or later but for now let's just live our future."
"That's your plan? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. We can't stay here Alex, this isn't a vacation."
"Got any better ideas?"
He sighed. We were in 2020, with no powers and no way to get back. He was stuck in a corner and he knew it. "Sadly no."
"Then relax my brother," I said calmly, slinging my arm around him. "Enjoy your hot wife and glamorous career. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"
"I'm not going to answer that."
He shurgged me off and walked away. I smiled, calling out, "You work on getting us home; I'll work on enjoying this while it lasts."
He simply threw a hand back dismissively and walked right out of the substation. I turned to Max. "Think you'll be alright to handle your mega corporation Max?"
"If I can do ninth grade maths, how hard can it be?"
"You can't do ninth grade maths Max," I pointed out.
"I can't do it well," he countered, straightening his tie like some James Bond try-hard before heading upstairs. "Call me when it's time to go back."
I took a taxi back to my apartment, having luckily memorized the address before I left. Being in it though, didn't make me feel like any more of an adult. I was still seventeen, giddy over my prospective future. There were few things I knew though about my current life and I made a mental list of them in my head.
1. It was the year 2020
2. I was twenty seven.
3. I was a budding artist.
And that's about it.
I searched the place for any sign of photos of me and Mason but there were none. In fact, there were no photos anywhere, of me or Mom or Dad, or Justin or Max. That was the first thing to strike me as odd. I felt so tired, almost like I had jet lag except really it should have been portal lag. I was relaxing on my bed, my face buried in pillows when someone's hands went over my eyes. I lifted my head slightly and held my breath as I felt the weight of a body hovering over me, barelt touching my back
"Hey baby," whispered the husky voice.
Mason. It had to be Mason. It didn't really sound British but the accent could have easily faded away over time; there was something so familiar about it. With the hands still over my eyes, I couldn't see who it was and I was too tense and nervous to move. The guy's lips started to nibble on my ear. I shivered at the sensation, feeling all tingly inside, something I'd never felt before. I could no longer hold my breath as he moved down to my neck, sucking at the sensitive skin there.
He spun me over and I caught a flash of dark hair and eyes before the head disappeared to bury itself at the base of my neck. My eyes closed briefly as I blissfully sat there, enjoying the moment. Before I knew it, my lips were forced open and he'd slipped his tongue inside my mouth.
But I decided I couldn't take the anticipation anymore and rolled out from under the guy, finally catching more than a glimpse of him. I caught sight of the chiselled chin, wavy chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. But it wasn't Mason, although it was someone I recognised.
"What's wrong Alex? You look like you've seen a ghost." he asked with a cunning smile.
I think I just have, I thought, my face burning.
"What are you doing here Dean?"