The Girl and the Time Machine Part 3

The Girl and the Time Machine Part 3

by Moises Bautista

For the next couple of days, I gathered my friends and we began to work. I knew that project was going require a lot of commitment and quite a bit of funding. In total, my friends and I had to spend about a whole month working on this, which meant that I had to constantly commute from Riverside every weekend and any other time I had the opportunity to so that I could work on the machine. For the first weekend, my friends and I went shopping at Home Depot and dozens of other stores to look for the materials needed to bring this project to life. Furthermore, since this was all my idea and my friends were already helping me, I felt obligated to pay for everything out of pocket. Because of this, I also had to pick up longer and extra shifts at my job to help fund for these costs. I ended up buying wood, engineering blueprints, a speaker voice system that would talk to us in the machine, an interactive flat screen, power tools, saws, nails, pipes, spray cans, and the like. With the total cost amounting to half a grand.

In the following weeks, once production begun and as my friends and I worked on the project, I decided to have the process documented via film. The documentary was a video I planned on sending to Les, detailing the entire process of making the machine, from concept to idea, idea to beginning, beginning to finish. The final part of the documentary intended to end with the actual event being recorded and with her reaction included.

November 3 2016.

I checked the date on my phone as my friends and I celebrated us finally finishing the time machine. After 9 hours of working straight that final Saturday, we decided to go eat at the Norms restaurant to which I treated my friends for their hard work and enjoy a night on the town. As we ate, my friends asked when the event would go down to which I told them that I intended to launch the event the following weekend. All I needed was just for Les to say yes to her availability, and I would bring everything to fruition. She just needed to say yes.

She just needed to say yes.

Thus, begins the aria.

For you see, though I was no stranger to doing such eccentricities for her, in the days and weeks to follow after, contacting Les was the knock-out punch. For you see, throughout the entire time my friends and I had built the time machine, I would call Les every now and then to see if she wanted to go out as to not neglect her. We would schedule events but at the last minute, she would always cancel claiming she had projects to do with classmates or other emergencies that popped up. I didn’t mind it since I understood she had her own life but I felt a bit disappointed as I grew to miss her and wanted to see her. I just hoped that even though we could not meet up during those past times, she would eventually come through to see this. I couldn’t tell her that I planned on this so it would have to be a surprise.

However, every time I would call her, Les would still keep on giving the same excuses. I didn’t want to come off as clingy so I began texting her once or twice a week. Sometimes she would take days to respond and eventually, not respond at all. This is why I hesitated when trying calling her on the phone because it only resulted in pain and more waiting. My friends involved with the time machine caught wind of this and through time, they slowly began to drift from the project. They told me that as soon as I was sure of the event happening, they would be there but for now they had to go and take care of their things and couldn’t keep stalling weekend events for this. I told them that it was fine and that I would keep them updated. They texted me every now and then to ask on the status but I couldn’t give them a solid answer. Before I knew it, they stopped asking about it and I was the only one waiting for a response, trying to believe in what seemed to others, a lost cause.

December 23, 2016

I had just gotten home from Christmas shopping with my mother and checked the time. 5 pm. I went to my room, locked the door and flung myself to my bed. I then turned around and stared at my ceiling.

For the past 4 weeks I had been trying to get Les to see the time machine but to no success. I had been trying to set up dates but they would all fall through. I wasn’t really mad at her but I was just disappointed. I began to feel that Les hated me but I didn’t know why. I was wondering what I did wrong. 2017 was a week away and I didn’t want to be dealing with this issue into the next year. I felt that it was insane trying to persist on this for so long but I felt in my heart that this needed to be shown. I wanted to move on from such things but part of me still wanted to fight. To keep going and still hoping that fate would give me the chance. Ultimately, I decided that I really had no more choices or options left but to leave it in the hands of one wiser than I. I decided to make a prayer to God.

I then got off my bed and got on my knees and began to pray silently.

“Lord, if it is your will, please let Les return this call. Please my God, I beg of you. I don’t want to keep feeling this pain and uncertainty. Behold, there are many things I want but your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I intend to call Les right now and you know how I feel about her and what she means to me. Lord, I still want her to see this time machine but it seems fate is not giving me the chance. Lord I pray that if it is your will, to please give me the chance so that I may show her this. But, if it is not your will, then please, don’t let her reply. I have tried and tried and I don’t want to be misled anymore. Let this be the determinate. I just pray that if you do not want her to be a part of my life anymore, please watch over her and protect her wherever she goes and whoever you do want her to be with will be a good man. A man who will love her, comfort her when she needs comforting, be a friend, always try to make her happy and thank you every morning and every night for her. Bringing her closer to you in the process. Forgive me if I forget that your will is greater than any of my dreams. All glory to be you my God. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I pray and thank you. Amen.”

Shortly after, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. After 30 seconds, it took me to voicemail. I then put my phone to charge. Focusing on other things as I waited for her to reply.

 She never did.

Thus, concludes the saga of the time machine. The time machine resided in my backyard for months long after the project ended as a testament to what never was until it was eventually thrown out due to mold and succumbing to natural decay. As for the documentary video, the final shot recorded for it had me being interviewed saying that I would wait for her, no matter how long, for the event to happen and how I couldn’t wait for her to see the final product. To see the smile on her face. Though time has passed and I have done my best to move on, the Ryan in that video seems to be trapped in an endless loop. As the world goes around, the video itself has become a time machine of sorts except stuck at a certain point in time. With a Ryan that will always be waiting to. Waiting to “Wow” the girl of his dreams. Waiting to give a killer show and experience to all his friends. Waiting to see his hard work pay off. Waiting to see his queen happy. Waiting for something that will never come.

April 28 2017.

I crossed off the date off of my calendar and poured three cups of cherry fruit punch and began heading to the living room where my friends, John and James were waiting for me. They were old friends of mine who I went to Highschool with and we went way back. James was wearing a red tracksuit with some black shorts. John wearing a white t shirt with some blue jeans. Both of them sweaty from the walk we had just made from coming up the hill to my apartment. We were in Riverside and we had stopped by my house to pick some things up from my place before heading to L.A.

“Thanks, mate.” James said as I handed him his cup. “So, do you think you will be able to make it the party tonight?”

I sat down “Maybe. I have to finish a school project by tomorrow morning because I am meeting up with someone around 11 and won’t have time to work on it after.” I told them as I drank a sip from my cup of fruit punch.

“Oh okay. For sure.”

“Hey, so who else from PACS is going?” John asked James.

“Supposedly I heard that David, Michelle, Karla and Megan are.” James replied.

I stopped drinking.

“Karla and Megan?” I asked James.

Karla and Megan were two of Les’ closest friends during high school. The three of them were labeled “The three Musketeers”. I knew that if they were going to the event, Les would probably be there as well. I didn’t know how to take this.

“Do you know if Les will be joining them?” I asked as I took another sip of my drink.

“I am not sure. They didn’t say anything about her. Why? What’s up”

“Oh nothing. I was just wondering is all.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” asked John.

“We haven’t spoken in almost five months.” I said. “Since the whole-time machine event and all. It kind of makes me nervous you know? I don’t even know if I should go.”

“Ryan, just relax alright?” James chuckled “You should still go. Everything is going to be fine. Besides, I doubt that Les is going to show up anyways. She hates parties remember. You told us. She doesn’t even like to dance either so what’s the point?”

“True. But you already know my luck, mate.”

All three of us then laughed. After taking one last sip, I went to my room to get my luggage and the three of us began heading towards John’s white Toyota truck which was at the bottom of the hill in front of my apartment. Once I got my stuff in, all three of us then climbed inside the truck and we began heading towards L.A. It was around 1 in the afternoon when we left. The drive took us about 2 hours what with the Saturday traffic so we ended up arriving at my house around 4. I told my James and John that I wanted to go work on this project a bit before the party and they told me that they would come back for me around 8.

Eventually, James and John ended up running late and coming back for me around 9, giving me time to finish my project. The party was going to be a formal wear event so we had to wear suits. Fortunately for me, that was already my style so I had to just wait for James and John to get their clothes from the dry cleaners. I decided to wear a purple blazer with black pants. Coincidentally enough, as I was waiting for them, I got a phone call from a couple of old friends of mine were also attending the same party and told me that they would meet me up at the event. About 5 minutes later, John and James had arrived.

“Let’s go, Boi!” James yelled out of the truck window as I got in.

James wore a navy-blue suit and John wore a pink suit. I found it funny how I hadn’t seen these lads wear suits this nice since prom so it brought back memories. Coincidentally enough, this night, the 29^th of April, was actually the same night all of us had gone to prom the year before. How interesting I found that this event was in a way, sort of repeat, minus Les as my date.

After a 20-minute drive, we had arrived at our destination. It was a giant penthouse with a glass roof. I could see that huge purple and blue lights were shooting out of it. This definitely reminded me of prom I thought.

Since there was no more space in the driveway and all the spots taken by others car on both sides of the street, we had to drive to the end of the block where we did eventually find a space to park. Once we stepped outside, it was really dark but we could still the faintness of the place as it illuminated the night sky with its purple glowing light rays. The three of us then began walking.

I knew that even though John and James told me that only certain friends were going to be there, I couldn’t help but feel in my gut that Les would show up. Though it was very unlikely, I still decided that for my sake, and to ease the anxiety that was creeping up again, I began to pray silently.

“Lord Almighty. You know my heart better than I do and you know what I want. But you know also what I need. You know what the future holds and you know what destiny you have for me. I just pray that whatever thing that you expect to face this night, please give me the strength to do so.”

After about 3 minutes, we finally made it to the party. At the entrance, a couple of my other friends, Dennis and his girlfriend Gigi were waiting for me. I then told James and John that I would catch up with them inside and we split ways for a time.

As soon as I stepped into the place, I could see that it was packed. I looked far and wide for seats but could fine none as every single one was being occupied. Men and women both dressed very elegantly and beautifully. Tons of people were crowding around the food bar as waiters ran back and forth amongst the isles. There was a grand cake in the center of the event along with a DJ and disco ball shimmering and spinning above him and his equipment. Purple and blue concert lights illuminating the room. My friends then led me to a reserved table on the first floor and I sat with them. From where I sat, I could see James and John. I saw that they two were looking for seats but how one of their old high school friends then led them to a table. It turns out that the table that they had landed was actually with a group of old acquaintances from high school, among them being Karla and Megan, keeping my eyes for Les potentially being with them.

 I then talked with Dennis and Gigi for a half hour, catching up and even mentioning how I thought Les may show up to this party, in which they reassured me not to worry as they figured if Les wasn’t with her friends by now then more than likely she wouldn’t be attending. Dennis and Gigi then announced that they had to leave as they had an event to attend to across town. I then hugged both of them and walked them towards the door.

I then made my way back inside and began looking for James and John.

The place was packed and, just as earlier, I could find no seat at all. Fortunately, through the crowd, I managed to find James and saw that right next to him was an empty chair. I then began walking towards it to claim it and sat down.

“What’d I miss?” I asked James.

“The DJ just announced right now that he is opening the dance floor for couples. I asked Karla and Megan to dance with us.”

Just then John scooted over to our side of the table.

“So, Ryan, who are you going to dance with?” John said as he adjusted his tie.

“I don’t know. I think I may just sit here and eat first.”

James then stared at me and smiled as he began to point my left.

“You haven’t noticed the girl next to you.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

I turned and just saw Karen and Megan with their friends. They smiled back at me.

I looked back at James. “I don’t know who you are talking about.”

“No, Ryan. Look.”

I looked again and saw the same people except this time I noticed this one girl who had her back towards me and was sitting right next to me. She had short black hair and she was wearing a pink dress. I couldn’t make out her face though.

“John, who the hell is James talking about?”

John said nothing and just pointed again.

I looked to my left. I saw the girl sitting right next to me. As soon as I did this, The DJ began screaming into the microphone announcing to everyone to get on the dancefloor he had adjusted the lights so a lighting beam shot out in my direction and gave the girl who was sitting in front of me a purple glow to her hair. Out of all the seats at the event, I had to choose this one.

The girl turned around.

Those damn glasses and that damn smile.

Fin