June 2040
Kara's POV:
It's staring at me, like literally staring. I shouldn't have done it. Why did I take the stupid book?
I hope to God he doesn't notice, but what if he does? I highly doubt that he writes in a diary every day.
But then again, I shouldn't assume.
I'm tempted to read it. I should read it, or else what the hell was the point in taking it? It's a thick black leather book. It looks somewhat worn, but largely unused. It's probably just filled with gaming or sports stuff.
I should try to return it--ASAP. Like right now.
"Kara!", mom calls from behind the door. "Open up!"
"Here I come", I reply. Oh lord.
I open the door to see her standing with her arms crossed, sporting a disapproving look. She's holding something: a rectangular pink and white box.
Wait.
"Mom, are you serious?", I slap my forehead. She can't be serious
I look around frantically because it could be anywhere around the bag. Maybe when I changed out of my regular clothes, it fell? I don't know."Are you good?", Shawn asks.I guess I look pretty insane, scraping at the inside of my bag like a crazy person."Uh, yeah", I take a deep breath, "fine".Who the hell could have taken it? Or maybe I left it at home? Or misplaced it? No. I checked my bag three times just to be sure. It has to be here.Just as my luck is about to expire, Jack walks up, "Can we talk?""Now's not a good time", I huff, still scraping hopelessly at the bag."But I need to talk to you", he looks me and Shawn up and down, "And you don't look too busy", he reaffirms."Well, I am", I say, frustrated."I just", he runs his hands through his hair."She doesn't want to talk to you", Shawn interjects."I don't remember asking you", Jack inches closer."Alright, alright", I raise my voice, I
Shawn's POV:"Did you really have to hit her?", I ask with my arms crossed. Rochel can get a bad temper, and she's pretty controlling. Now, I don't like to be controlled, but it's hot when she does it.She just grunts in response.
Lacey's POV:Cracking down these radical factions has gotten easier since the beginning of the Reversal. In the beginning, I remember receiving so much backlash. About 40% of the population was on board. 50% resented it, but they were willing to comply. And the last 10% was the minority of radical (mostly men) people trying to win back their misogynistic society. We repressed that immediately. But naturally, as those weeds were plucked, more arose, which is why our loyal "Societal Coordinator" Harry is in charge of burning them. We use "Societal Coordin
"I don't even know. I've never been busted by the police before.""Come inside. We need to create a plan."I plop down on his couch and turn on the tv.
Shawn's POV:What the hell would I want with Tiana? I don't want to be an instrument for her control. I pity anyone who's had to suffer that role. Honestly. Why would Kara want me with her? The whole thing is confusing. I barely know if I have any feelings for Kara--and we've spent a lot more time together. There's something I don't know. Maybe it's their chance to use the quiet kid as a pawn in some game. What if this whole thing was a game? I know who she hangs around. She literally had to force herself to do this with me. I'm fucking stupid for thinking other than the obvious. She probably told them all about our--my--plan. They're all laughing at me, I bet. All these thoughts are making my mellow expression sour by the second. But then I turn to her, with her head rested on my shoulder, and I don't want to believe that all this was just a joke to her. I had never even thought of Kara in that way before she randomly kissed me at the party--then Rochel slap
Kara's POV:"You really need to clean up in here.""Put that down," I slowly remove a glass snowglobe from her grasp. She's literally rearranging my room, and calling her commands suggestions. I know I don't actually have a choice in the matter."I think it's pretty neat, actually."She lifts an eyebrow, "In what world?""Wait, why do I have to clean? It's not like anyone's gonna be in here.""The cookout," she rolls her eyes, "Remember?""Oh, right," I slap my forehead. I almost forgot. Another event where we discuss the success of the New World and stocks. Yay. My parents' friends, whose children also happen to be my friends, come over to eat good food (courtesy of my dad) and listen to music.The idea of this cookout could not be more excruciating right now. Jack's dad will be there. Tiana will be there. Usually Andrew and his parents attend, but who knows where he even is?I wonder if mom knows about
"I-I," I stutter. "How did you even know how to get here? I've literally never told you--""Please," she holds up her phone. Find my iPhone. Who would have guessed? I'm stupid. Well, not necessarily. It wasn't a secret: where I've been. Well, it was today, but on the other days it wasn't. He's just a friend, and hanging out with him should be like my other friends. She shouldn't care."A little stalkerish, mom."She rolls her eyes, "Please. I'm a mother. I have a right to be stalkerish. Did you think I would let you hang out with new people without knowing who they were--or where they live?""Good point, I guess.""What I want to know is why you left the cookout--your favorite event of the summer."Not anymore. "I just felt a little... cluttered."She looks confused. "It's just the same people, in the same place, doing the same thing--every year. The monotony got to me. And Shawn, he's--""A distraction.""Could we maybe
And they lived happily ever after... not. After finding out some screwed up things about their pasts, themselves, and the state of the country, Kara, Shawn, and the gang have more to go through. Kara and Shawn's New New World won't go as easily as planned, and they need to find their way out of a global mess.Will Kara and Shawn's relationship survive in the world where equality reigns?What new obstacles and people will they meet on their journey?What do the new realizations they've made mean for them in the world they've created?Find out in the 2nd book: Chasing Time -- chapters will likely be out on November 27th.Thanks for reading. Please leave a review.
July 2040~Next Week Friday~Kara's POV:Tonight is the night. We will finally go through with our plans, and I don't feel an ounce of guilt.Just because Shawn and I were the only ones to figure out how fucked up this all is, it doesn't mean it's any less fucked.We've been talking a lot this past week--going on little food dates, shopping, any situation where we could hang out together really. I would go grocery shopping with this guy if it meant we could walk around in each other's arms, occasionally staring into the other's eyes and thinking about how much we like each other. I'd seen the sides of him that he usually concealed, and I love being that special person that he could confide in at times.Maybe he was right... I am one of those people? I try not to get too mushy around him, but it's all still going on in my head.To my parents, he's my "friend." They don't know exactly what I do
Shawn gives me a worried expression. "Everything okay?" he whispers.I nod yes.Clearing my throat, I hold out my hand to shake hers, "Hello, we were here yesterday. We've come back to talk to Terra Thompson again," I smile at my young mother. She hasn't even met dad yet. What if I did something to alter her life, and she doesn't meet him? Then I wouldn't have been born... I would cease to exist..."Are you okay? You're looking a bit sick," she says warmly. If only she knew."Fine. Can you point us into her direction?" I respond curtly.She smiles and points to Jack's mom-to-be. "Thank you."We enter and she recognizes us immediately. As she's approaching us, Shawn pulls me aside, "I hope I'm not overwhelming you or anything," he says."Huh?""I mean, we've started this thing a little early. I hope it doesn't seem like I just want to serve myself with all of this. It's still a while before we planned to do this, but if we talk
2024"AAHHH!" I scream.Why the fuck didn't anyone tell me this would be so painful? I grab onto one of the nurses. "Help me!"She stammers, "Ma'am, as I've told you, there's nothing more I can do. You already took an epidural. If I give you any more medicine, your life will be at risk," she says matter of factly.Fuck her. Fuck this. I'm in a random building in the middle of nowhere, pushing a baby through a keyhole. Fuck Harry.Fuck this country. Tears are streaming through my ears and the only support I have is from my assistant--and that's because I threatened his job. I have to give birth in this remote location so that no one knows I've gotten pregnant. Even though technically we've reformed, getting knocked up is not a good look for me as president--the first female president of the United States. No one will know about this--no one."AAHH!" I let out a short shriek."He's coming down," that bitch nurse says lowly.
December 31st, 2020Lacey's POV:It's a cold, crisp morning: a pleasant time for change. The majority of citizens is ready for it, and the rest need to get on board. We are trailblazing today.We started with private loans and donations from supporters for the cause, and now we have government funding. I moved out of that messy dorm and into a modern themed condo in northwest D.C.Terra moved in downstairs with Harry. I can't believe that relationship lasted this long. I thought one would have cut the other loose by now. Instead, everyone has to watch their toxic relationship from the sidelines. One moment, they're in love, talking about their kids' names. The next moment, they hate each other, and he comes running back to me. I wonder if Terra knows where he goes in the middle of the night during their fights. After 3 years, it's still upstairs, in my apartment, where he escapes to. Every time it's: "I'm fucking done with her";
I'm laying in his arms as he massages the back of my hand with his thumb. I could stay in this cuddling position forever. Secretly, he's such a softy. "One of those people", he called me when we went back in time. He is, too. I put my underwear and bra back on because I felt a little awkward. No matter how open we are, I still think I'll be self conscious about my body. Society says we're not supposed to be. "Be confident", my mom reminds me. But it's not that easy. Even before Andrew's party, I questioned wearing that yellow two piece... I was so relieved when Shawn offered me his flannel.Some candles flicker on the bedside table. "You lit candles," I smile.He frowns, rolling his eyes, "What?""You're so romantic," I coo."No," he affirms, "I just happen to like candles."I giggle. "Leave me alone," he hits me on the head with a pillow."Don't be embarrassed to admit that you have a soft side, Shawn. I won't tell anyone," I zip acro
Kara's POV:He opens the door shirtless again, arousing a primal reaction in me. After this agonizing evening, I just want him.So the only reasonable response was to press my lips on his."Mmmph" he groans, grabbing the small of my back, and closing the door behind me.He places his hands on my neck while massaging our tongues together. Jeez.He pulls back for a breath, "What's gotten into you?""Are you really asking questions, or are you going to take me up to your bedroom?""You do not have to tell me twice... ever."He promptly picks me up and we head to his room, just like that first night.He closes the door softly and places me on his bed. His room is surprisingly clean."A clean room? How uncharactaristic of you," I whisper lowly, breathless from our earlier activity."Hey! I like organization, too... sometimes."I roll my eyes."Anyway, back to something more interes
"You know we all go to the same school, right?""Yeah," she sighs, "Well kind of... I don't really remember seeing you until Andrew's party."We've been in the same class for about 7 years."While you were pushing people around in the hallway, I was by one of the lockers you missed during your tirades," I say flatly.She stutters, "We-Well, it's all part of high school. Sometimes people need a little push every now and then."*Every day*She's looking a little annoyed. I need to seem more into her for this to look legit. Then, I need to make it clear that I would rather never see her again."You look really nice.""I know."I'm reaching the end of my patience.Kara's POV:"So, talk.""Right here?""Right here."He shifts in his seat, "I want you to know that I did love you."I scoff. Please."Is that all?" my patience is running thin."N-No. Serious
Jack's POV:Phew."Who was that?""Uh, nobody.""Ready for dinner?""Yep."We're having chinese food. Dad hasn't been cooking lately because of work, so this is our third night ordering out. He should just listen to me for once and take a break.We sit down and dish out our plates. "Dad, I really miss your cooking.""What about all those times you'd want to eat out. You just simply can't be pleased," he chuckles.I laugh, "After a while, I end up wanting the opposite one. I'm indecisive, what can I say?""Indecisive, yes. You still can't seem to pick who to be with: Kara or Jaden."I almost choke on my chicken. What did he just say?"Uhh," I stare into my plate. He knew?"Don't think that you can do much of anything in this town without my knowing, son.""That's an invasion of privacy.""The only thing that surprises me is that Kara never knew. With your traipsin