NO TRACE

She realized that they had overstayed now, Alvah was sitting inside a coffee shop when Spencer and some of his friends passed by. She wanted to call him but just a few steps from where they were was a group of guys who seemed to be waiting for Spencer’s group to come pass by them.

Spencer was with two of his friends while the group of men was about five or six people. They look like they play football too, only from a different team.

As they were nearing, the group of white men started blocking their way.

Alvah stood up and left some cash for her bill and a tip.

Once outside, she came closer to where the two groups were and decided to eavesdrop for a bit.

"Hey, how did those bruises feel? Still not doing anything about what I told you?"

"Spencer, do you know them?" one of Spencer's friend, huge guy with a really good built spoke out.

"They're no one. Come on, let's keep going."

"We're not done." The guy turned aggressive as he pulled Spencer away from his group and pushed him right into the nearest brick wall.

Spencer groaned, feeling the sudden pang of pain against his back.

He seemed too hurt to even say anything.

He simply stood up, patted the dirt in his jeans and wanted to walk past the group.

Yet he was pulled back again, and two other men started hitting him with their fists.

Before they knew it, both groups were already caught up in a huge fight.

Alvah wanted to interfere, but she couldn’t let anyone see her using any of her powers.

She started to whistle loudly so she could gather the attention of other people not too far from where the group were.

Soon, some called out some policemen who started to stop the fight.

Both groups were invited to the police station for questioning.

Alvah could only wish she knew why they were fighting. But she instead followed Spencer and his friends so she could set their bail.

When the three men were released, she stood in the exit of the station, waiting for Spencer to come out.

As soon as he saw her, he bowed his head and shook it.

They ended up inside a noodle house where they helped themselves to the menu.

"What was that?" Alvah started interrogating him.

"It was nothing Miss Alvah." he calmly said.

"That was not nothing. And you look weak. Like someone just punched you unlimited all over your body."

He didn't speak. Instead, he stared out at the huge windowpane of the noodle house.

"Please don't tell Charlie about what happened."

"Why not?"

"She'll be worried."

"But don't you think she has the right to know?"

"She does. But I'd appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to her. Let me tell her what happened."

"What happened exactly? Care to share?"

He sighed as the server was now bringing their food.

"They saw me and Charlie sneaking into the arena the other night. They think it's offensive that I'm dating one of them. So that night when we were having dinner, they were waiting for me, not too far from home. They started punching me like I don't deserve to see tomorrow. They're from our rival team. And they said I can't possibly be dreaming about marrying a woman that's way out of my league."

"That explains the painful look you had the first time they were pushing you against that wall. Why didn't you fight them?"

"There's always a way to win fights Miss Alvah without having to resort to any physical attack. Sadly, it seems that the world now has gone to the extreme of things. But I decline to be a part of the kind of culture that they would want to pass on to their children."

"A noble gesture. But you do know you'll need to fight them sooner than later, right?"

"I understand. But hopefully it doesn't get to that point."

"I don't know if I can't tell her. She needs to know."

"Please don't. I can't have her know about this."

"Well, it’s either you tell her, or I will."

He sighed. "I'll think about it."

"Good."

She walks out of the diner and just as she was about to turn her back away from him, she sees him being served by the beautiful African waitress she had small talks just a while ago. They looked perfect. And she knew they were the ones meant to be together.

She reaches the apartment where they were staying and finds Charlie reading a book about sports.

“Hey, where were you?” she calls out to Alvah.

“Just around the corner.”

“Right. Will you be watching the game later?”

A moment of silence filled the entire house.

“Alvah?”

“I might. How about you? Are you planning on doing what I asked you anytime soon?”

“Well, I am... but, I was thinking maybe I can do it after the season?”

“No. The longer you cling on to him, the worse it will get."

"I understand!" her voice raised a pitch higher than her usual tone, "You don't have to repeat it over and over. It's agitating to listen to what you keep saying okay? I will tell him. I will break up with him so we could move on with our lives!"

She walked away as Alvah stood still amused and yet calm. 

Sooner or later, she knows Charlie will realize what she needs to do. That's how smart she is. 

She walks into her room, took off her robe and faced her mirror. 

With a quick snap of her fingers, images started to appear from her mirror. It was Charlie, walking aimlessly along the road leading towards the arena. 

But before she reaches the arena, she passes by the same noodle house where Alvah and Spencer had a chat. 

Spencer is still insidethe noodle house but this time, he's talking to teh same server that he was talking too when she left. 

Charlie stood still across the street where the noodle house is, her face looking stern. 

"What will you do, Charlie?"

A quick moment pass by with Charlie just standing there. 

And then, she switches direction and walked away from where Spencer is. 

"Where will you go?" 

She continues to navigate the entire city only to be disappointed. Charlie was nowhere to be found. 

She switches her view from a bird's eyeview and shuffled it all over the city, still nothing. 

Charlie just disappeared. Not just in the city but from the entire timeline. 

Could she possibly be time travelling?

She put on her robe once more and got out of her room. 

Perhaps she could catch up with her. 

Did she go back to the present? 

She snapped her fingers twice and was back into to the present. Alah closed her eyes and through that scoured the entire city for Charlie. Still, she could not trace her. 

"Where is she?"

She snapped her fingers twic once again and was back to the 1970's. Still Charlie was nowhere to be found. 

She could not find her. 

In her mind she wondered if Charlie traveled to the future. The one thing she could never do.