Recreate

[1]

Past
January 10, 2018

I sigh as I walk through the campus grounds, backpack slung over my shoulder.

All right, Elijah, just get to your first class....then you can go back to your dorm and hide.

Nodding to myself, I rush to my English course. It's all the way across the campus and a pain in the ass to walk to. Once I finally get there, though, I take one of the seats in the middle of the rows. Dropping my backpack, I sigh and take out my laptop.

It sucks coming back here after a long winter break. Of course, going home wasn't the best either. I forgot just how much I didn't belong back home.

"Excuse me," I hear someone say beside me. I look up, startled, and see a rather tall, rather handsome, man. "Is it all right if I sit beside you?"

I nod and move my backpack. "S-Sure..."

The guy smiles at me and sits down, taking out a notebook and pen. I glance to him, but he catches me.

"What? Don't like the classic pen and paper, Tech Boy?"

My face flushing, I scramble to find the right words, but he laughs. "I'm just playing. I just can't type fast enough for this class, honestly. Don't get so flustered..."

"S-Sorry," I finally manage to spit out, adjusting my glasses.

The man shakes his head and smiles. "Don't apologize, uh, I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Elijah...."

"That's a nice name....I'm Markus," he says, putting his hand out for me to shake, so I do just that. His tight grip shakes my hand as I smile profusely.

"I like that name as well...."

"Thanks," Markus says, sitting back in his chair. "What are you studying here, Elijah?"

I sigh, knowing he's going to laugh at me. "I'm studying AI..."

"Oh? That sounds pretty cool....and difficult," he says with a chuckle, but not a mocking kind. "How old are you?"

"15..."

This makes his eyes widen. "What?! You look older!"

I look down in embarrassment. "Oh..."

"No no, I meant that in a good way, ha ha," Markus claims awkwardly. "I meant like....you just seem so mature."

I can tell he's struggling right now, so I change the subject over to him. "Well, what are you studying?"

He smiles. "Chemistry. I've always been really fascinated with chemistry so...yeah."

Before I can comment on anything else, Professor Mintz walks in to start the class, stopping our conversation.

Damn you, Mintz...

○●○

I get to my dorm and groan, dropping my backpack by the door. My roommate won't be back until tomorrow so I get the room to myself all day. Then I have another course this evening...hooray.

I flop onto my bed and sigh. Nuzzling my face into my pillow, I try to think about the English lecture we had today, but all I can think about is Markus. I kept glancing over at him, trying to sneak a look at him. Just thinking about him makes me smile.

Am I really this pathetic? I just met this guy and I'm already swooning over his green eyes and light brown skin....can you really blame me?

○●○

Present
November 1, 2038

I knock on the door to Carl's house and put my hands in my pockets. It's fucking cold outside. It's been a while since I've been over, let alone outside of the house in general. The Chloes convinced- no, literally forced me out of the house today so I wouldn't cancel plans.

I'm about to knock again when the door opens and I see Carl himself at the door, surprising me.

"You're early," he exclaims as I lean down to hug him in his wheelchair.

"Just by a little," I say with a forced smile. We both know I'm anxious to be here, but I can't avoid my only friend for that long.

"Don't worry, I have him in the kitchen right now...I know how you get."

I nod an walk inside, closing the door behind us. "Thank you. Just give me a few minutes and I should be okay. You want to show me what you're painting right now?"

Carl smiles and nods to the door leading into his studio. "As long as you'd like to see it."

"Of course I do."

I take the handles of the chair and push him along in front of me. When we get into the studio, I see him there, gathering glasses and plates. I freeze as Markus looks up and smiles to me.

"Hello, Elijah."

And my heart breaks all over again.