I still consider myself lucky to have spent the whole Saturday undisturbed by the irregularities of my unusual trip through time. I was able to settle back down into my old routines, idling away the first half of the weekend in mindless online chatter. I half-expected Karl to pass by my bedroom window or to reappear somewhere in our living room anytime, but thankfully that didn't happen.

When Sunday came, however, reality hit me again. I woke up at 11AM to half a dozen text messages asking me if I was awake yet, and if I was already on my way. 

Huh?

/Sorry, just got up. What's up?

/Are u serious? -_- Get ur butt ovr here! U promised to meet us 2day!

I didn't... wait... was it that dreadful shopping trip? In my original timeline — and it's still awkward to think that there's an original timeline — today seems to be the day I promised to go with a few friends to the mall. We were supposed to be there to buy a few items needed for a school project. But a new bazaar had just opened that day ... and I'm not really too keen on carrying all their shopping bags for the second time around.

Nevertheless, I rushed to the mall as fast as I could, meeting their scowling faces less than half an hour later. They were huddled around a restaurant table, project materials in paper bags squeezed in between them. Looks like they've already taken care of the easy stuff.

"Save sleeping in for summer vacation, will you?", Cath greeted me with arms akimbo. Her freckled face reproached me with a frown. Otherwise, she was a sight to behold, dressed to the nines in a figure-hugging burgundy blouse and tapered blue jeans. Her trademark eight-inch platform boots were also on display, and I had the sudden impulse to stay away from their range.

"Sorry, I for—" My heart suddenly skipped a beat as I cast my eyes around the table. Cath, Jam, and Monique were present. That much I remembered, exactly the way it was six months ago. But today, Hannah was also here. Chuck's sister, student body president, and the only woman in town capable of putting a cat on my tongue. I'm sure as heck she wasn't here when the original version of this day happened.

I took a few seconds to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Hannah really was sitting right there, wearing a plain lilac dress that perfectly complemented her glowing skin. On her head was a white headband, which tamed her rich black tresses. She didn't have any accessories, and neither did she need any. Her almond eyes were already like gems that met mine head on, and I froze in awkward admiration. 

"I meant, I forgot I had to do something important last night, and I had to finish it this morning." Right. Real smooth, Erik.

"You said you just got up." Cath wasn't going to let my lie pass.

"I literally just got up," I said as I motioned for the waiter to bring in the menu. "I've been scrubbing our floor all morning!" Oh, come on! I regretted it as soon as I said it. Everyone stared at me as if I had just gone completely bananas, but hey, at least no one's asking questions anymore.

"Really, now? So, as your punishment for being late, you're going to accompany us to the bazaar later." It was Hannah who spoke up, a teasing smile on her lips. My brain screeched to a full stop. Something's terribly wrong. Why was she the one proposing? It was supposed to be Cath, and yet she and the rest were just sitting there smirking at me. They know full well I can't say no.

The waiter arrived and clicked his pen, and I tried evading Hannah's question by letting him take my order. It wasn't enough, however.

"What?" I asked the tabletop as soon as the waiter left, unable to look at Hannah directly. I can still feel their leering smiles.

"Shopping? Later?" Hannah spoke up again. Her nonchalant tone was unsettling.

"Okay," I answered in a voice that's an octave higher. The incessant pounding in my ears drowned out the muffled giggles that followed. Now I'm not sure which version of today is better or worse.

But just when I thought the day couldn't get more awkward, I heard a loud tap on the restaurant window beside me. I glanced, and came really close to dropping the glass of water I was sipping. It was the boy, grinning at me from the other side, wearing the same ragged outfit he had on since last Friday.

"Hey, isn't that the little orphan kid that hangs around school?" Jam stared at me. "How'd he get here? You know him?"

"Uhm, not really, but he's been bugging me for two days now and I don't know why." At least that wasn't a lie. I tried to shoo him off, and he responded by making a face. I threatened to stand up, and he scooted off. Just what the hell is wrong with him? Was he taunting me for today? Did he have anything to do with this... inconsistency?

I sighed and settled down, just as the waiter brought in our food. That was when I noticed Hannah staring at me.

"So you know him too, huh?" she asked after a few seconds.

"Huh? I can't say I know him. I just met him around the park, and he's been showing up randomly ever since."

"I bumped into him yesterdy." She cradled her chin in her hand as she spoke. She looked up at me, and the fluorescent lights of the restaurant illuminated her charming face in full. "He said some really weird things, too."

"Like?", Monique intoned.

"Like, I should get out of the house more often, and I should hang out with friends some more." My ears piqued as she said it. Was that why she's here? Has that kid been meddling in her affairs, too?

"Erik, don't you think he acts a little too unusual for his age?"

"That face? Oh, heck no."

"But you've heard him speak, right?" She was correct, of course. There was something really crazy about him. For a moment I was sorely tempted to tell Hannah what he did to me last Friday.

"Maybe he's sniffing solvent or something," Cath joined in with an eye roll. Yeah, I wish it were that simple...

The next three hours passed by quickly. With Hannah around, the day wasn't as bad as I remembered from before. We chatted most of the time, attracting jesting glances from the others. Like most chit-chat, this one quickly jumped from one topic to the next. I felt we had grown closer in this one afternoon than in all the other times we spent in school, but maybe that was just me daydreaming.

That night found me on my bed, massaging my fingers that were still sore from carrying the girls' shopping bags. Much of the pain, however, was numbed as I stared at my phone in anticipation. The LED notification blipped once, and I immediately reached out for it. Hannah and I had been chatting for half the night, continuing our afternoon banter. Today was definitely the better version of this day, and it appears I have that brat Karl to thank. Maybe?

Just as I thought that, I heard a whooping call from outside my window. I propped myself up and saw the kid, standing in the middle of the street, waving at me. Pretty much the mood killer, and I had more than half a mind to ignore him. But I got out of bed and went out anyway.

"Hey! Now what?" I was expectng a snide reply, but he just stood there, as if waiting for me to come closer.

But I was still several feet away when he started backing off, moving slowly towards the opposite sidewalk. I followed, and as I came close a strong ray of light illuminated his face directly. He was smiling.

But there was something off with his smile. It was a little too calm, a little too steady. Not mischievous in any way, which was out of character. My steps slowed... and it was too late when I realized how stupid that move was.

That ray of light was too convenient. I realized it as soon as I heard the pained rumbling of a rundown engine, as soon as the smell of diesel exhaust reached my nostrils.

When I looked, a delivery truck was barreling through the street towards me. Its headlights burned through my eyes, but despite that I still remember seeing its rusted and dented bumper threatening to run me over.

As the truck sped, time slowed to a standstill. I tried to move, to jump away, but I was frozen on the spot. I can't even twitch my legs. I can't even raise my arms to protect myself.

At the last moment, my head instinctively turned towards Karl. I looked to him... for help? For an explanation? I don't know.

But my final memory of that night was of his thin, mask-like face carved up into a broad grin.