Star Crossed In Time

I quickly go home and walk into a quiet house. I let out a strained smile as I shut the door and go to make me something to eat. When I step into the kitchen, see my forgotten glass of Coke sitting on the counter with melted ice.

I grab the glass and pour out the Coke before getting ice water. Nothing beats filtered ice water! I drink half the glass and walk into the living room to watch TV but when I see the fluffy blanket, I become uneasy. 

I place the glass down on the coffee table and turn the TV on. I just need a distraction... Instantly, the cartoon Bai Lei was watching before, comes on the TV. I quickly turn it off and jump off the couch. I start stretching and awkwardly laughing as I say "I should get some sleep! I couldn't get any real sleep ever since I ran into..."

I clear my throat and walk to my room. I quickly change out of my clothes and into my pajamas but when I turn to my bed, I freeze. I look to the side he slept on with mixed emotions. Don't go there Nova... just don't! 

I sigh and quickly crawl into bed with determination. I'll feel much better after a nap! It's just the lack of sleep that has me feeling so off. I wrap the comforter around me and snuggle into the blankets but my eyes instantly pop back open when I smell him... smell Bai Lei.

I stare at the ceiling with a growing sense of loneliness. Why are you doing this to yourself, Nova? Why?? I shut my eyes and try to block everything out but as I lay in silence, my heart and mind becoming louder. 

I slowly open my eyes as I start thinking about Bai Lei and Zhen. Zhen... is he worried about me? Is he even looking for me? I've never had a family but somehow the fox became just that. Family... and then I just leave him behind... just like everyone else has done to me!

But then there's Bai Lei... what exactly was he to me? My kidnapper? My debt collector? My... friend? Maybe more? I saw the way he looked at me... I heard the sincerity in his words when he asked me to go back with him but I freaked out and ran.  

The image of his back as he steps into the game cube has my chest hurting again. I tightly shut my eyes and try to will myself asleep back after another three minutes, my eyes slowly open again. "Are you really that crazy? Are you serious right now!?" I ask myself in disbelief.

I slowly sit up with a look of despair. I look around my room with a conflicted look as I say "You'd give all this up!? For something unknown??? For the chance of having a family and someone to love!??!" I ask myself again with growing panic.   

"Ha... haha... hahahaha... I'm insane... I must be!" I fling my blanket off and grab my phone. I pull Ted's number up and press the call button. He picks up the call on the third ring "Ello?" He says in his familiar friendly tone. 

I sigh once more as I say "I'm going back... I need you to help me with a few things. Can you do that?" Ted remains quiet for a few seconds before bursting into laughter "I knew it! I called it!! Hahaha!!"

I sigh in irritation causing him to quickly curb his laughter as he says "Just name it! We got your back, you know that." I feel a smile slowly crawl across my face as I begin telling Ted my plans.

I officially quit my job and began packing my things that very day. There's no reason to keep renting a house that I won't be using! Over the next few days, the guys helped me move all my stuff over to a storage facility.

Ted was now in charge of it while I'm gone but the storage has been paid for the next five years. I told him that if I'm not back by then, just to get rid of all of it. I look around my empty house with a nervous smile. I really can't believe I'm doing this...

It had now been a week so the machine was more than ready to be used. I tried to hurry but it isn't easy boxing up your entire life in such a short period of time. I place the keys on the counter and walk out with nervous butterflies.

I look around the surrounding buildings and city traffic as I slowly make my way to the office. Will I miss all this? I smirk, who knows? As I walk into the office, the guys wait for me with large smiles. "I may just join you... a simple life would be nice, right?" Chase says looking to the others.

Ted gives him a mocking look as he says "You wouldn't last a day without your phone and computer." I chuckle at the two but Ted's right, he wouldn't last without them! Ted walks over and hands me a glass vial on the end of a necklace.

"Keep this with you at all times... if something happens, just snap it. We'll keep the defective cube in storage so that we can come check on you from time to time, okay?" My smile grows as I take the necklace. "Thanks, guys..." They all give me a warm smile as I quickly go to the locker room to change.

Once I was back in my white dress, I walk over to the game cube with a nervous smile. I take a deep breath and step in. I can't believe I'm really doing this... "You can still back out you know... you don't have to do this," Ted says giving me a gentle smile. I turn to give him one last smile as I say "I'm not backing out now, let's do this!"