Page 71 of Rewrites of the Heart

“That’s it,” he whispered. “Our ticket home.”

He lifted the gun above their heads and as he pulled the trigger, they said, “Beam us home.” Nothing happened.

“I didn’t feel a thing,” she whispered. “Are you sure you pulled the trigger?”

“Yes. I pulled the trigger. Let’s try again.”

She took a deep breath.This has got to work.

“Stop! Are you out of your mind?” Alvin’s voiced boomed and she jumped. She felt tears stream down her cheeks.

“This is piece of sensitive scientific equipment—not a toy.” He grabbed the gun from Blake. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Just trying to get home.” Alex kicked the leg of the table and ran out. Pushing her way through the throng of characters, she got back to their booth and shoved her belongings into her backpack.

She pushed her way through the crowd. She couldn’t leave fast enough.

“Hey, lady,” she heard someone say, “your backpack’s open. You’re going to lose all your books.”

I don’t care. I don’t give a damn.

She found herself on the sidewalk and felt the presence of Blake before she saw him. He snatched the backpack from her, closed it, and swung it over his shoulder. “I’m sorry that didn’t work. I thought it was a sure deal.”

She stopped and looked into his deep chocolate-brown eyes. They were sincerely sad. Tears streamed down her face. “It’s not your fault, honey. I’m just so frustrated. All I want is to get back to the pages of our story already. Is that really too much to ask?”

She paused a beat. “That really did sound like a guaranteed way.”

He wrapped his arm around her small waist. She took a deep breath, whimpered, moved in a little closer, and placed her head on his shoulder.

“Thank you for trying. Let’s just go to JJ’s now. I could use some time away from all those creatures and mutants. I want to lock myself in the bedroom and have a good cry.”

****

When JJ arrived home, she found Alex sulking on the couch. She’s not even studying her psychology, she thought. That’s her favorite class. She sat on the recliner next to the couch.

“Want to talk about it?” JJ asked quietly.

Alex turned to her and took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you tell me Blake and I weren’t the only lost characters in your world? How could you keep that from us? We’re never going home, are we?”

Whoa. Now there was a lot to process.She took a deep breath and asked her to explain what other out-of-place characters she’d discovered.

She wanted to laugh when Alex finished her tale. But as she looked at her character in tears, she realized the scenario was all too real for Alex.

Thankfully, Blake had just bounced into the room. “The pep squad and cheerleaders need us.” He stopped in his tracks when he saw his love in distress. He hurried to her side and wrapped an arm around her.

“What’s wrong, love?”

“That stupid de-particlizer didn’t work,” she sobbed.

JJ decided to take control of the situation. She couldn’t have Alex in a forever-funk. “Listen to me, Alex Zurich. You’re going to that cheerleaders meeting. As long as you’re stuck in this world, you might as well interact with people.”

Either the tone or the advice startled Alex and she immediately stopped sobbing.

“This advice comes from one who has spent too many years avoiding the world.” She gave her character what she hoped was a stern look.

“And in the meantime, I have a theory of my own on how to get you two back to your book.”

Alex’s mood brightened immediately. “You do? What is it?”

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