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ORIGINAL TIMELINE (APRIL 16, 2003)

Alexis's footsteps echoed softly as she walked, her heart still fluttering with excitement from sneaking around with Quinn. She'd just spent hours with him, sharing laughs, secrets, and stolen moments, and now she was alone, her cheeks warm from the memory. A small smile lingered on her face as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, watching Quinn disappear into the back corridors with a quick, shared glance that spoke volumes.

As she turned a corner, though, the thrill of the evening evaporated in an instant. Val and Brian stood ahead, waiting like predators.
Alexis's heart dropped, and she felt her pulse quicken, her smile fading as she met their judgmental stares. Their faces were twisted with sneers, an ugly delight flickering in their eyes as they eyed her up and down.

"Well, well," Val smirked, crossing her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who decided to crawl out of the gutter."

Brian snickered beside her, his gaze hardening as it settled on Alexis. "No way you were just hanging out with the nerd," he sneered, almost as if the words themselves left a bad taste in his mouth.

Alexis's cheeks flushed red, embarrassment creeping over her. She shifted uncomfortably, clutching her bag tightly, as if it could shield her from their cruel words.

"He's my friend," she mumbled, her voice almost a whisper, trying to keep the tremor out of her tone. Her eyes darted to the floor, trying to avoid their mocking gazes.

Val and Brian exchanged a glance, and then their laughter erupted, loud and cruel, filling the empty mall corridor. Each note felt like a slap, stinging her deeply, and she could feel her chest tightening as shame settled over her like a weight.

"Seriously? We thought you were cool, Alexis," Val said, her tone dripping with contempt as she looked her up and down, like Alexis was something pathetic. "But that's just... lame."

The words cut like knives, each one sinking deep into her. Alexis blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. She'd always been sensitive, and moments like these hurt her more than she could ever admit. She had thought maybe Val and Brian would accept her, would see her as someone worth their time. But their laughter, their disdain-it shattered that hope.

"You're mean!" she choked out, her voice cracking, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Brian's smirk widened, and he leaned in, his voice a low, mocking whisper. "Aw, is little Alexis gonna cry now?" He took a menacing step forward, lifting his hand as if to intimidate her.

Before she could fully process the threat, a shadowy figure loomed behind Brian. The air seemed to still, a chill settling over the corridor, and before anyone could react, a gleam of metal arced through the air. In an instant, a massive axe came down, embedding itself into Brian's skull with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed in all directions, splattering across Alexis's face, warm and sticky.

For a heartbeat, she stood paralyzed, her mind struggling to comprehend the horror unfolding before her. Then, as the reality of the situation dawned, a scream tore from her throat, raw and filled with terror. Val's scream joined hers, both of their voices blending into a haunting, panicked symphony.

Alexis's instincts kicked in, and she turned and bolted, her footsteps echoing wildly as she sprinted down the hallway. Her heart pounded against her ribs, each beat a reminder of the nightmare she was now trapped in. She darted towards Quinn's job, the donut shop where he was supposed to be working. But when she arrived, the small space was empty.

Desperation clawed at her, and she grabbed the metal gate, pulling it down to lock herself inside. Her breathing was ragged, her hands shaking as she clutched the bars, her eyes darting around, searching for any sign of Quinn, any sign of help.

A low, menacing sound filled the air-the scrape of metal against tile. She whipped around, her heart leaping into her throat as she saw the killer approaching, dragging the axe behind him. He moved slowly, deliberately, his gaze locked onto her as if savoring the fear radiating off her.

Val tried to scramble away, but he reached her first. With a cold, merciless shove, he sent her over the railing, her scream echoing through the mall as she plummeted to the floor below. The sickening thud that followed made Alexis's stomach churn, but she had no time to process it. Her own survival instincts screamed at her to move, to hide, to do anything to escape.

She backed up against the counter, pressing herself against it as the killer reached the gate she'd pulled down. He gripped the bars, his knuckles white, and shook it violently.
The metal rattled under his strength, and Alexis's breath hitched, her body trembling with terror.

"What do you want?!" she cried out, her voice barely a whisper above the sound of her own pounding heartbeat.

The killer froze, tilting his head in an almost curious manner. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer, that he was simply a mindless monster with a thirst for blood. But then, with eerie calmness, he reached down and began to lift the gate, the metal groaning in protest.

Panic surged through her, and she dropped to her knees, crawling behind the counter, her fingers scraping against the tile as she tried to find some safe haven. But before she could get far, his hand clamped around her ankle, yanking her backward with a force that sent her sprawling. She kicked and struggled, her nails digging into the floor as
she tried to escape his grip.

"Leave me alone, please!" she sobbed, her voice breaking, desperation filling every syllable.

The killer paused, his grip loosening. She turned, her tear-streaked face looking up at him, confusion mingling with fear. For a fleeting moment, she thought he might let her go, that there was some sliver of mercy within him.

"Why are you doing this?!" she whimpered, her voice barely audible, her body quivering.

The killer tilted his head again, his mask obscuring his face, but something about the way he stood, the way he looked at her-it felt familiar. He hesitated, almost as if he were conflicted, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"I'm sorry, Lexi," he murmured, his voice low and filled with regret. "You weren't supposed to see this."

The nickname hit her like a punch, and her breath hitched. Only one person called her "Lexi" like that. Her mind reeled, her eyes widening as a horrifying suspicion took root.

With trembling hands, she reached up, grabbing the edge of his mask and pulling it off. The sight that greeted her made her blood run cold. It was Quinn. But not the Quinn she knew. His face was older, lined with sorrow and exhaustion, his once-bright eyes now shadowed with a darkness that chilled her to the core.

"Quinn..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath. She reached out, her fingers grazing his cheek, feeling the roughness of stubble and the warmth of his skin. "You're... older..."

He looked down at her, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow. "I didn't want this, Lexi. But you were never meant to be here tonight."

Before she could respond, he raised the axe, his face twisting with pain as he brought it down. The blade sank into her stomach, and agony tore through her body, a white-hot fire that stole her breath. Blood bubbled up in her throat, and she coughed, her vision blurring as the life drained out of her.

"Quinn..." she choked out, her hand falling from his face, her body going limp. Her gaze softened as she looked at him one last time, the confusion and betrayal fading into a haunting sadness. Her eyes fluttered shut, and with a final breath, she was gone.

Future Quinn stood there, his hand shaking as he wiped the blood from his blade. He looked down at her lifeless body, his shoulders sagging as grief and guilt consumed him. This wasn't what he'd wanted. He had come back to fix things, to make sure the past didn't repeat itself. But in the twisted irony of fate, he had become the very thing he swore he'd protect her from.

NEW TIME LINE (EARLIER THAT DAY)

APRIL 16, 2003

The school bell blared, signaling the end of another class, and Alexis pushed through the classroom door with Emmy right by her side. The bustling sounds of students filled the hallway, but Alexis's attention was immediately caught by two voices that were all too familiar.

"Let's go, Nerd! Let's go swimmin'!" Brian's voice boomed over the clamor, laced with mocking enthusiasm.

Alexis rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what this meant. She turned down the hall with Emmy, quickening her pace, and spotted Brian and Ethan dragging a smaller, struggling figure toward the doors leading outside. It didn't take her long to recognize Quinn, their friend, who looked terrified.

"Seriously, again?" Alexis muttered in annoyance, glancing at Emmy, who simply shrugged, almost indifferent to the situation. Alexis shot her a look of exasperation, but before she could say anything more, a girl approached them, looking curious.

"Hey, what's going on?" the girl asked, eyebrows raised as she observed the scene unfolding.

Emmy sighed, barely missing a beat as she replied, "Oh, it's just the seniors doing their stupid tradition. Every year they grab someone and throw them in the river."

Alexis shook her head with a sigh. "Stupid tradition," she echoed, her voice tinged with frustration.

The girl took a longer look at them, her expression changing as if something had just clicked. "Wait... are you Emmy Golden and Alexis Cruz?" she asked, sounding surprised.

Alexis and Emmy exchanged a quick glance. "Yeah. Why?" Alexis replied, her tone cautious.

The girl just shook her head, mumbling, "Nothing," as if dismissing the thought, though her gaze lingered with a strange intensity.

Without thinking twice, Alexis shoved the door open and made her way outside, her eyes locking onto Brian and Ethan as they dragged Quinn toward the edge of the dock. She could see the fear etched on Quinn's face, his usually composed demeanor shattered. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach-she knew Quinn didn't know how to swim.

"Ethan, Brian. Stop! Throw someone else in!" Alexis called out, her voice rising with urgency as she made her way down the dock toward them.

Ethan turned to her, his grin widening. "No can do, Alex!" he shouted back, his tone smug and dismissive.

Quinn struggled, kicking his legs as he twisted in their grip. "Ethan, stop! You know I can't swim!" he yelled, his voice a desperate plea.

But instead of showing any sympathy, Brian and Ethan just laughed, their hands gripping him even tighter. "Hey, you got your floaties on, huh?" Ethan sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. Quinn's face flushed, a mixture of fear and humiliation, as he glanced around at the crowd of students who had gathered, some watching with mild amusement, others chanting.

The chant grew louder, "Toss him in! Toss him in!" and Alexis felt a surge of anger bubble up inside her. She turned to Emmy, her eyes narrowed. "Are you seriously laughing?" she demanded, noticing Emmy's stifled giggles.

Emmy shrugged, trying to appear indifferent but unable to completely hide her amusement. "I mean... it's kind of funny?" she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.

Alexis shot her a glare of disbelief, but turned her focus back to the scene before them. She took a deep breath and took a step forward, hoping to reason with them. "Can you guys stop, please?" she pleaded, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ethan and Brian shared a look, feigning a moment of consideration. Ethan raised his eyebrows in mock seriousness. "Oh, sure, sure," he said, his tone exaggerated. Alexis felt a tiny spark of relief-maybe they were actually going to listen.

But before she could react, Brian stepped forward and, in one swift motion, grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him. "Hey, you wanna go for a swim too, Alex?" he asked with a smirk. His grip was tight, and she could feel the rough calluses of his fingers pressing into her skin.

"Dylan, let me go!" Alexis squealed, squirming and kicking her feet as he lifted her off the ground, throwing her over his shoulder. Her stomach flipped with both fear and frustration. She could see the other students laughing and cheering, some even pulling out their phones, ready to record.

The girl from earlier rushed over, her face a mix of anger and determination. "Hey! Put them down!" she yelled, her voice sharp and commanding.

Dylan glanced at her, momentarily thrown off. His grip on Alexis loosened just enough for her to stop struggling, but he didn't let go completely. Alexis looked up, a wave of gratitude washing over her as she locked eyes with the girl.

Brian, who had been holding onto Quinn, finally let go, but only after he had dangled him precariously over the edge, keeping him from escaping. "Just a joke," Ethan told the girl, flashing a grin that was anything but friendly.

"Yeah, well, it's not funny," she snapped, crossing her arms defiantly. Alexis felt a rush of respect for her-she barely knew this girl, but she was standing up for them without hesitation.

Dylan shifted uncomfortably, still holding onto Alexis, but his bravado was fading. To cover his insecurity, he smirked and, in one quick motion, slapped Alexis's backside, causing her to freeze in shock and disgust. Her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment as she yelled, "Hey!"

The girl stepped forward, her voice fierce. "Don't touch her, man. Let her go, now," she demanded, her eyes blazing with defiance.

Dylan hesitated for a moment before finally throwing Alexis down. She landed on the wooden dock with a painful thud, the sharp ache radiating through her ribs as she grimaced in pain. Ethan turned to the crowd, raising his arms as if addressing an audience. "Hey, you guys think it's funny?" he asked, encouraging them.

The students cheered in response, their laughter echoing over the water. Alexis felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, a mix of humiliation, anger, and frustration welling up inside her. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let them see her cry.

Without warning, the girl stormed forward and shoved Ethan with surprising strength, sending him stumbling backward. The crowd gasped, and a chorus of "Oohs" filled the air as the girl turned back to Alexis, extending her hand to help her up.

Alexis took it gratefully, her hand trembling slightly as she got to her feet. The girl looked at Ethan and smirked. "Now it's kind of funny," she said, and Alexis couldn't help but let out a shaky laugh, flipping both Ethan and Dylan off as she regained her composure.

Dylan, however, seemed unfazed. He winked at Alexis, blowing her a kiss, a smug grin plastered on his face, clearly enjoying her discomfort. Alexis felt a shiver of disgust run down her spine, and she quickly looked away.

"Hey! What's going on here?" The principal's voice cut through the noise, stern and unyielding as he approached the dock. The crowd quickly scattered, students dispersing in all directions, not wanting to get caught. But Quinn, Alexis, and the girl remained.

Alexis immediately walked over to Quinn, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug. She pulled back slightly, looking him over. "You okay?" she asked, her voice soft, concern etched in her eyes.

Quinn nodded, though he still looked a bit shaken. "Yeah... Are you okay?" he asked, glancing at her with a look of worry, his gaze lingering where Dylan had grabbed her.

Alexis shrugged, trying to downplay her discomfort, though she could still feel the lingering ache in her ribs. The girl from earlier observed them with a curious expression, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"Wait... are you guys... dating?" she asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

Alexis and Quinn exchanged a quick, sheepish glance before reaching for each other's hands. Alexis smiled, a hint of shyness creeping into her expression. "Secretly," she mumbled, giving Quinn's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Please don't tell anyone," Quinn added, his tone almost pleading. "I don't want Lexi to get picked on like I do."

The girl nodded, her face softening with understanding. "Don't worry, I won't say anything. You guys are lucky, though. At my school, people would've filmed that whole thing, and you'd be viral on the internet by now."

Alexis and Quinn exchanged puzzled glances, both looking genuinely confused. "What's... the internet?" Alexis asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Are you talking about MySpace?" Quinn chimed in, his brows knitted in confusion.

The girl chuckled softly, realizing how little they knew. "Whatever you call it now," she muttered, brushing off the topic. She paused, her expression turning serious as she looked at the two of them with a newfound intensity.

"If you're really a physics genius," she said, her gaze locking onto Quinn, "and his girlfriend," she added with a nod to Alexis, "I need to tell you two something."

Alexis and Quinn shared a concerned look, sensing that whatever this girl was about to say was much more serious than they could have anticipated.

ASH SPEAKS!

i love quinn and alexis so much 🥹

future quinn >> 2003 quinn ... at least lucy changes the future 🤭 now alexis and quinn can live happily ever after and alexis doesnt die!!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)