CALIX

The slamming of the flimsy screened door has me scurrying to my feet. I straighten my jacket and comb my fingers through my hair. My poor attempt to right myself comes to a halt when I lay eyes on the woman in front of me. Her wild mane is burnt orange and red in the sun's light and her pale skin adorned in freckles is radiant. The moon rays should be cursed for failing to truly display her beauty.

I clear the sleep from my throat and say, "Good morning, Ella,"

She pushes a curl off her forehead and raises a ginger eyebrow. "Have you been out here all night?" she asks, her green eyes wide. Thankfully, she does not sound annoyed—only surprised and maybe even concerned.

"I was unsure where else I should go to wait for you. This appeared to be the best option. I hope it wasn't too...stalker."

She cracks a smile and shrugs. "You just better be glad my roommate isn't back from her family vacation yet. She probably would've karate chopped you if she'd walked out and seen you just chillin' on the porch." She sighs and says, "And it wasn't too stalkerish...at least you weren't creeping under my bedroom window."

"No! I would never invade your privacy."

The way she nods with a hint of a sparkle in her eyes tells me that she is warming up to me. For the first time since we met, I have hope. It may take some time, but she will come around and I pray that it will be her who sets me free.

She shifts the bag she carries on her shoulder and clears her throat. "So...do you eat or what? I was heading out to the bookstore and I was going to get breakfast on the way. My Southern hospitality is telling me that I need to make up for the fact that you just spent the night in that plastic chair on my porch at the beginning of August."

"I'm famished." Sitting under the open sky did not bother me as I tried to succumb to fatigue; it was the loud grumbles my stomach had made that hindered my sleep. Living on the human plane means that my body mimics many of their traits—hunger, fatigue, aches, and pains. It takes a moment to adjust to, and the first few days out of my suspended state are always the most difficult.

Ella leads the way down the sidewalk, and I struggle to keep pace with her. My gaze wanders around the street, soaking in all the unusual sights. The cars are fascinating contraptions and the lack of clothing on those we pass screams of immodesty—bare arms, legs, and chests. This time and space is a far cry from London, and oddly enough, I thought they had made substantial advancements in their society.

When I've fallen further behind her, she turns around and puts a hand on her hip, pushing the hem of her shirt up, the soft, pale skin of her stomach visible for a moment. I snap my gaze back to her face as she says, "Hurry up, slowpoke. I want to beat the rush to the bookstore, so let's get a move on if you want to eat first."

"I–Uh, my apologies," I stammer, picking up my pace so I am walking next to her. "There is just so much to see that I have never laid eyes on before. It is all quite overwhelming."

Ella glances at me and laughs. "If you think Durham, North Carolina is overwhelming, you should see New York City."

Finally, something I know about. "I've read about New York. Have you been there?"

She nods. "Yes. My father..." She trails off and shakes her head once as though she were trying to forget something. "Yes. I've been there."

I suck my lower lip between my teeth and fight the urge to learn more about her family. There will be a time and place for that, and perhaps I could use it to my advantage.

We enter a dining hall with a golden "M" engraved on the door. Several people of different creed stand behind a counter wearing odd brimmed hats, and above them are moving pictures of drinks and food.

"May I take your order?" asks a girl with a bright smile.

I turn to Ella and await her answer.

She takes one look at my bewildered expression and says, "We'll have two sausage biscuits, two hash browns, and two large sodas."

The girl behind the counter taps the plastic device in front of her a couple of times and says, "That'll be $6.56."

Six dollars and fifty-six cents? Bloody hell, that would've equaled enough pounds to buy a feast the last time I was outside the locket.

When the girl with the funny hat hands us cups, I follow Ella to the machine that appears to give liquid refreshment. "What is 'soda'?" I ask, and Ella clicks her tongue.

"Wow. I just can't get used to this," she says with a chuckle as she takes my cup and fills it with a bubbly brown drink. "Here. Try it. It's called Dr. Pepper."

"Dr. Pepper? What a strange name for a drink," I say before taking a sip. It is sweet but a little spicy at the same time, and the fizziness of it explodes inside my mouth, like candied firecrackers. "My stars, that is delectable."

She giggles as she takes a sip of her own drink. "I'm glad you like it."

"What did you get?" I ask, my eyes scanning all of the names on the machine–Coca-Cola, Sprite, Hi-C... the choices seem endless.

"The sugarless, calorie-free version of yours...the only soda worth drinking: Diet Dr. Pepper."

My eyebrow dips. "Sugarless? You don't think...because I think you look—"

"Number 24? Your order is ready."

Ella jumps and rushes to retrieve the food, and I quietly thank the stars for saving me from my awkward rambling. When she comes back, we sit down to eat, and I have to admit that it smells rather tasty.

"Sausage," I say with a sigh. "I'm glad that not everything has drastically changed."

After breakfast, I follow Ella through the university campus. The walkways are busier than they were last night. People stroll along under the summer sun carrying on lazy conversations. We reach a red brick building with glass doors and a sign which reads "Textbooks." But it is the banner flapping from two strings connect to the roof that catches my attention.

"Ella, is that the correct year?" I ask pointing up at the signage welcoming students back to Duke University.

"Huh?" she asks, shifting her attention from the list in her hand to my face. "The correct year?"

I nod, extending my hand a bit further. "Yes. Is that right?"

Her eyebrows furrow and she nods slowly. "Yes...why?"

My heart sinks and despite the hot rays warming my skin, I shiver. "So much time has passed," I simply state, but my brain is consumed with one simple word...fuck.