Competition Entry #349 by Jaclyn Moriarty

Author:Jaclyn Moriarty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

‘Welcome,’ said Kara’s voice.

Then, disconcertingly, she changed the script. ‘You are about to take your fifth and final journey. Here at the Time Travel Agency™, we trust that you have enjoyed your travels today. Be sure to share your experiences on your favourite social media platforms. Departing in ten, nine, eight . . .’

I straightened my shoulders.

The booth flashed white and skidded sideways.

‘Yes, Babstock,’ I said. ‘It’s me. Surprise!’

It was unfair of me to be snarky with him. He didn’t know this was a loop. Only, I was feeling a little tetchy. I blamed Karathe-receptionist. She hadn’t reminded me to rehydrate and now I was thirsty. (Knowing that this was my own fault rather than Kara’s, only increased my irritation.) But it was more than that.

Your fifth and final journey, she had said.

Last chance, is what she meant.

Last chance to achieve nothing you mean, Kara, I thought spitefully.

Oh, blah. May as well give it one last go.

I stomped up the stairs.

‘Cerulean blue!’ I mouthed along with Mum’s shout, and ‘Candy-apple red!’ with Dad. I rolled my eyes at them, like a proper teenager.

My sister’s room and the crying girl. My brother’s room and the crash! followed by the same old swearing.

Could you not at least vary your curses? I withered at the door.

I turned into the bathroom, waited while Sebastian’s door flew open and his footsteps disappeared down the stairs, then I unhooked the mirror and stepped back into the hall.

Outside my own room again, I hefted the mirror high. Ha-ha hee-hee. Yes, me-of-the-past, chortle away in there. Soon you will have nothing to laugh about for soon that boy will tear your heart to shreds!

Noah continued being funny, and I continued being amused. His voice, my laugh, his voice, my laugh.

Yes, yes, I know this bit.

But then I stopped. I adjusted the mirror slightly so that the image was all Noah’s face.

There! I was right! His eyes had just skittered sideways. He was looking across the room, at my bookshelf. They skittered right back to me so he could be humorous again.

Obligingly, I laughed.

And there! Now his whole head had turned away. I was saying something myself now, at the same time as laughing, and he had turned his head to look out of the window. He swung his head around quickly. Okay, again, there! His eyes were on the light fittings now!

All this was happening in quick, darting flashes, you understand. Only a girl watching very closely from the hallway with a mirror in her arms would have noticed. But to me, such a girl, it was very clear.

Understanding crept up behind me and got a good grip on my throat.

In the room, Noah was leaning in, me-of-the-past was leaning in, and the kiss was about to happen. I turned away just in time. I couldn’t watch again. It would be an intrusion. Let her have her moment, I thought, referring tenderly to the me-of-the-past. This one, single moment of joy in a life that from henceforth will be desperate with tragedy.

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