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    Chapter 16

    tab "More homework for your son, Mr. Jacob?" The secretary lowers her glasses at the sight of us, not very happy apparantly, for whatever reason that remains a mystery.
    tab "Yes...uh, no. Actually, it's lunch today. Would you mind tell me what class he's in right now?"
    tab "Uh-huh. Wouldn't want your son to forget his lunch box." Call me crazy, but she seems to say that in a sarcastic way, really seen from any adult, secretary at the least.
    tab "Mrs. Gardner. Room 4-D. Language Arts. Your son's worst..." He flips through a file of papers, and then goes on, "Excuse me, second worst class, though that's hardly believable, seeing the grade is nearly an F."
    tab "Yes, my child is being put on very strict...probation."
    tab "I hope so, because at the rate he's going, he's going to be repeating all his main classes."
    tab "So 4-D...Thanks."
    tab "Oh, don't mention it." Wow. The sarcastic queen here. Tom gives her a weak smile, and quickly grabs my hand, dragging me out of the office and into the next place.
    tab "You forgot what class it was?" I say, looking at Tom squarely in the eye.
    tab "What other reason would I ask that...secretary?"
    tab "I think you misinterpreted my question..."
    tab "Youn wanna stop talking? We do have a girl to save." Yeah, except that's at the end of the week. Just admit you don't want to answer.

    tab "There I am...First hour language arts." As is apparant, we're now standing at the sidelines, spectating some more obnoxious behaviour from Tom the younger. His face buried in his arms...not even bothering to listen to the teacher. It's wonder how he even got a D- in this class.
    tab "Oh my...oh my word." A stupid mistake. Maybe this whole Tom the younger thing has piqued my attention so much that I got careless. Maybe I was too deep in thought about this time traveling thing still. Or maybe I just was stupid.
    tab But it happened. And I'd regret it.
    tab A bump on the back is all I need to know something is not right. Tom is right in front of me. So it meant someone else...which is not good...at all.
    tab Slowly I turn around, and am completely awe struck by what I see. A girl, maybe one year younger than me, tightly tied pony tail drooping down against her back...
    tab "Tim," Tom suddenly says, making me jump. I look up to him, as he goes on, still back facing me,
    tab "We got something. My PAD is reacting to--" I try to stay firm as I interrupt, but it comes out as more of a tentative whisper,
    tab "Hey, uh, Tom...Got a little problem here."
    tab "What?" he says, slowly turning around. Although he hardly needs to wait for a reply as he watches speechlessly, mouth hanging wide open, eyes twitching with fear.

    tab The world stands still in those next few moments. Tom throws me aside, gives me an angry look, and then jumps at the firl, grabbing her roughly by the shoulder. He nods for me to come into the hallway. I do, and he slams the door behind him. He looks back and forth in the hall, and then just reverses everything. Muffler, off. Invisbility, off. And, of course, I follow.
    tab "I'm dreaming..." the girl whispers, trembling in Tom's arms.
    tab "It's not ever a dream when you think it is." She gives a nervous, questioning look, and then whispers,
    tab "Who are you?" to which Tom replies,
    tab "I'm Tom Jacobs. Older. From the future. We're here to rescue someone from your school, four days from now, from her own suicide. That's my blunt and to the point answer. Whether you choose to believe me, well, that's your choice." I just watch as Tom attempts to handle the situation as cool headed as possible. ..
    tab Which isn't very cool headed I can see. With any luck, those time paradox's are just a myth.