Everything was dark. It was cold, I felt like I was sleeping on ice. I can’t open my eyes. Where am I? What happened? I don’t remember a thing. I heard a lot of voices; I couldn’t make out any of them. My right leg was throbbing in pain for some reason. I couldn’t open my eyes. The wind blew harshly.

“Her name is Devon Browning.” I heard a girl say. At least I knew I was still me.

“6th grade.” another girl said. But, wait, I’m not in 6th grade anymore... I heard someone walk close to me. I heard a man’s voice.

“Let’s go.” he said. All of a sudden, two people lifted me up, and placed me in something...I felt someone lay something on me, it felt like wool... a blanket perhaps? I still couldn’t open my eyes. I started to move.

“It’s alright Devon...you’ll be fine.” I heard the same girl say again. After a few minutes, the thing I was in came to a stop. I heard a few voices again. I felt someone grab my shirt, and the bottom of my pants, and halt me up. I yelled out in pain, as they lay me on something higher. I started to move again, but not like I was before, this one had wheels. I was in a room now, I could tell, even with my eyes closed, I could see shades of red from the light. Then someone pulled the heavy boots, I was wearing, off. I tried opening my eyes, but the strong lights forced them back shut. I felt two cold hands go down my right leg, I flinched. They were gone.

A little while later, I heard a woman’s voice in the room.

“Well nothing is broken, it’s just badly bruised.” she said.

“Ok, well, I’m just gonna go check on her.” I heard another voice say. What’s going on? Someone walked into the room. It was quiet. I tried opening my eyes again, the light was still to strong, but my eyes started to adjust to them. I tried once more, and they finally stayed open. I blinked hard a couple of times, then started to move my arms. I sat up on, which I soon found out, to be a stretcher. I wasn’t bothered by looking at my surroundings, I concentrated on me. I looked at the sweatshirt I was wearing, it was my karate one, the one I had in 6th grade. But I remembered, how I ripped it, but it was perfectly fine, no rips, no stains, no nothing. I looked over, wanting to see the person who walked in. I didn’t know whether to laugh, or to cry. He walked over to me.

“Is this all you were wearing?” he asked, pinching my sweatshirt. I wanted to knock his hand away.

“They took my pants.” I said. Wait what? Why did I say that? He chuckled.

“I know; they’re over there.” he said pointing to the ground. I looked over, and there they were.

“You’re funny, you’d get along with Mr. Hunt.” he said.

“He’s my...” I was about to say something, but then I mumbled it. “Home room teacher...” I said. Two girls walked in. One had blonde hair, who was tall, she was on the heavy side. The other one was blonde too, she had freckles, and she was shorter, but again, on the heavy side. I slightly recognized them.

“Hey Dev, what’s up.” said the shorter one. I didn’t recognize the voice. I didn’t answer. The taller girl tossed me a bag of M&M’s.

“What happened?” I finally asked. They looked at each other strangely.

“Hello, you almost snapped your leg in half.” the shorter girl said. Wait, I think I know where I am...

“Where am I?” I asked them.

“Mountain Creek.” The man, who I believed was the vampire said. And that’s when I realized…I had gone back in time.

I stared at them in shock. I lay back and rubbed my head. This is NOT happening. I looked over at the two girls again, and my memory came back to me instantly. Chelsea Conti, Rebecca Franco. I was at Mountain Creek Ski Resort, I was in 6th grade, this was the second ski trip. I looked at the person who I once liked...Mr. La Morte. He just stared at me.

“So nothing is broken right?” Chelsea asked. I had to be nice to her, even though the last time I saw her, we weren’t that friendly.

“Nope.” he answered. I looked at the bag of M&M’s on my lap, and tossed it back to her.

“Thanks but...no thanks.” I said.

“We have to get back to the bus.” Rebecca said to Chelsea. She shrugged her shoulders.

“Its fine we can wait for Devon, because the busses will hold up for her.”

“What?” Mr. La Morte asked.

“The busses will wait...” Chelsea was cut off.

“They’ll wait for her, but not for you.” he said. I remember the outcome of this.

“He’s jokin’.” I said softly, but they didn’t hear me.

“But I thought that…” Rebecca started.

“I’m kidding, jeez Chels, can’t you take a joke.” he chuckled.

“Wait what about your stuff.” I thought for a moment. Where did I leave it?

“Umm, my red bag is behind that bench where the rentals are, also my board is there too, ask at the desk, it has a sticker with my name on it.” I said. Well at least I remembered.

“Look, we’ll go get your stuff, and meet you back at the bus.” Chelsea said. I nodded. This was like history all over again. They left. One of the girls I heard before walked in.

“Ok, so we called your parents, and no one was home so I left a message.” She took the small metal fence of the stretcher, and pulled it down, so I could get off. I jumped off, and saw my red bag, sitting next to my pants. Mr. La Morte took, and folded my pants. I remembered how obsessed I got with those pants. I grabbed my bag, and halted it over my shoulder. He turned to me. I was leaning on the wall.

“Some ones dad is coming to pick him up, he’s offering a ride back to the busses.” he said. “Do you want to walk all the way back,” hell no “or, you wanna get dropped off there.”

“Ride.” was the only thing I said. He grabbed the bag off my shoulders, carrying it himself. Thanks...I guess...

We walked over to the car. He put my bag in the middle, leaning his arm on it. Back before I wouldn’t mind, but I would’ve bit his hand if I wanted too.

“What time is it?” I asked. The father looked at his watch.

“8:15.” he said.

“Are you kidding? This means I’m gonna miss the Apprentice.” Mr. La Morte joked. I looked out the window, we were almost near the buses, I could tell. My leg started to throb in pain. I looked up and saw that we were there, Mr. La Morte took my bag, and we both got out of the car. The car drove away. Mr. La Morte took my bag to the side of my bus, and put it in. I walked in, and was thrown over by questions.

“Did you break your leg?”

“Are you ok?”

“What happened?”

“Did you fall off the lift?”

“What took ya?” were the questions asked over, and over. I didn’t understand why they’d asked me if it was broken? I mean, I’m walking on it right? Chelsea wanted me to sit where I guess I was sitting before, but I didn’t feel like walking back, so I just sat in the first empty seat in the front. Dan Kwartler came and sat next to me.

“What are you doing over here?” I asked him.

“Oh, I got in trouble.” he said. “Here.” he said handing me a small brown packet.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Shake it.” he said. I did so, and it started to warm up. I put it on my cheek. It felt great.

“Thanks.” I said handing it back.

“You can keep it.” he said.

“No it’s yours, thanks anyways.” I said, handing it back.

It was a long ride home, millions of thoughts were going through my mind. I was worried about going home...to my family. I was more scared about going to school facing...him again. It’s hard to believe I ever liked him.

But you did.

That was before.

It’s right now.

What?

You can’t change what you liked, or hated in the past.

Why not?

It will change the future.

Is that good or bad?

…Bad.

The next thing I knew, we were back, at Eisenhower Middle School...