text: [Themes: modern, science fiction]
  
  She says in a stern voice, "So... I heard what happened between you two." Al is still fuming at this point. He lost his reputation for being tough just like how Scott Farkus lost his.
  
  She continues, "So, why did you do it?" It is a rhetorical question. Somehow, my Principal always knows exactly whatever happens at my High School that involves a fight. Sometimes, I wonder if she watches the video-feed from all of the hallways like some sort of spy.
  
  I answer the Principal in a respectful tone (because that is the one she likes the most), "He was terrorizing a girl, so I stopped him."
  
  "No!" stammers Al (who is an idiot at this type of stuff), "He attacked me for no reason." The final nail is in his coffin. I am the student who never gets into fights (that anybody remembers). Al just came back after suspension.
  
  The Principal then tells us, "Scott, you are suspended. Steve, I am giving you a warning. If you see anything bullying happening, get a teacher. Okay."
  
  "Yes, Ma'am."
  
  "You may leave now."
  
  I leave while Al is simply standing dumfounded with his mouth wide open. I was equally as stunned. I look behind myself one last time at the two behind me... I see the girl that Al was terrorizing in the principals' office. She nods at me.
  
  I guess that is how the Principal got her information.
  
  The rest of my time at school is boring because I do not use my time traveling again. This is because my mind will get tired. For example, if I time travel throughout the day for 24 hours, then my mind will feel as iff I have been awake for 24 hours. The feeling really sucks.
  
  Fortunately, the final bell rings. I leave class and walk to my car; however, I stop in my tracks. This is because I hear my name being spoken behind me. I turn around and see the girl who I saved from Al.
  
  "Steve, uh... thanks for doing that... Why did you?" She has blonde hair, is pretty, et cetera. All you need to know, brain, is that she looks quite nice.
  
  > Thought that you needed help.
  I answer her by saying, "I thought that you needed help."
  
  "I did... But, why did you help me? You never before, and nobody stood up to Al before today."
  
  "I suppose I got tired of just standing around."
  
  "Well, thank you, Steve. See you tomorrow."
  
  "Hey, um... What is your name?"
  
  "Cynthia. Everybody calls me Blondy though."
  
  "What would you want me to call you?"
  
  "A friend."
  
  "It's a deal. Are you doing anything on Saturday?"
  
  "Naw, nothing in particular."
  
  "Would you want to... do something?"
  
  "Sure. We'll talk about it tomorrow. I have to go now because I help out Mom after class."
  
  "Okay, bye."
  
  She then leaves. Who is her mother? I guess I will ask her that tomorrow.
  
  I am glad that I now have a friend. I never actually had one before because I... I guess I never was that social of a person. I also never saw the point. I can travel freely through time, but I cannot take anybody with me. Since I travel through time so often, it makes things like friends hard to manage...
  
  But, Cynthia is pretty... Why not?
  
  > drive Home
  I drive home carefully. Even though I turned sixteen a few weeks ago, I am a very proficient driver. My sister always thought it was amazing how I almost master driving in an hour... I actually was driving there for an hour over twenty times. I was exhausted when it was over because human brains are not supposed to be able to take that kind of torture.
  
  Anyway, this old car might spontaneously explode or something one day. It would not surprise me at all considering that it is a Zastava Koral (a Yugo); however, money is tight which means we buy the cheapest car conceivable. At least my sister can drive a Vega... which is also pretty cruddy.
  
  I soon pull into the driveway and walk into our house. I walk in the door without saying that I am home because nobody is here but me. I make myself a turkey sandwich because I am hungry. Afterwards, I watch TV for three hours, go back in time, and then do my homework for four hours. Then, I go to bed.
  
  > wake up in the morning
  I wake up in the morning because that is what people normally do. I head downstairs to get some breakfast when I see my sister. She has her backpack on her back and her car keys in her hand.
  
  I say to her, "Have a nice day at college and at work."
  
  "Thanks bro. I wish..."
  
  Then, she leaves. I am alone again.
  
  My parents... um... are dead. I still visit them every Sunday at their grave, but I never even got to know them. My father died before I was born, and my mother died in childbirth. Technology could not save her... Neither can I. There is nothing I can do. I can do almost anything, but the one thing that I would do anything for... It is impossible. I would trade my time traveling abilities just to talk to them for ten minutes joyfully, but I cannot. I failed.
  
  I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts. I was going to eat breakfast, so I had better do that. After eating oatmeal, I take my backpack with me and start the car... Nope, the engine is not firing up.
  
  I open the hood and start trying to figure out the problem. Even if this takes hours, I probably can time travel so that this takes only a few minutes. About thirty minutes into my endeavor, I hear a car horn honk. I look to see who made the ruckus, and I see my Principal and Cynthia in a car.
  
  For some reason, they pull into my driveway and park next to my car.
  
  The Principal asks, "Do you need a lift?" I actually think I now know what the problem is with my car.
  
  > No, you are fine
  I say, "No, I am fine."
  
  I pull out a wire that seems to be faulty, but it instead begins to spark... Wait. Do I smell gasoline?
  
  Then, my car bursts into flames because it is a Yugo after all. Before I can travel back in time to save myself, I burn to death, and I find this a really embarrassing and painful way to die. I would have much rather fallen of an edge of a cliff or exploded.
  
  At least I learned that I should take care of my cars better. Oh well, you live and learn... unless you die.
  
  Hold on. I am still alive. I am still thinking. Either way, I have to time travel now.
  
  > go back in time just a little bit.
  I nervously back up as I hear the car horn honk. I see my Principal and Cynthia driving towards me, and they pull into my driveway and park next to my car.
  
  The Principal asks, "Do you need a lift?"
  
  I back away from my car just waiting for it to start burning but nothing happens... Was that just a dream?
  
  I say to her, "Sure, I would love to do that." I grab my backpack and quickly get into the car before my Yugo kills me. I have car insurance on it anyway.
  
  The Principal asks me, "So Steve, do you normally have car trouble?"
  
  "Yes... Why are you two running late?"
  
  The Principal continues by saying, "A neighbor needed some help."
  
  "Oh."
  
  Cynthia finally joins the conversation. She has been sitting next to her mother quietly until now. "Are you worried about Al's friends?"
  
  "Um, I never really thought about them."
  
  "Just keep an eye out for them, okay?"
  
  "Yeah."
  
  Her mother adds on, "Just don't start any more fights please. You were always a quiet boy, and I do not want any more uncontrollable people in my school." I try not to laugh and barely prevail. I have fought countless people and pulled thousands of stunts that landed me in her office. She just does not remember any of it.
  
  We drive in relative silence until we reach the school. Only small talk ensued... Well, the Principal also told me that she will make sure I am not punished for being late. Hey, I am apparently on her good side now. I probably should try to keep it this way. I thank both of them for the ride and rush to my first class.
  
  > Later that day
  I am eating a bologna sandwich for lunch; however, it is flat because it was squashed by my math book. I probably should not store it in my backpack... Nor should I eat three day old bologna sandwiches.
  
  The day has flown by because my mind has been engrossed with Al's friends. I have been planning what to do if they appear violent. Well, I am also trying to recover from being almost burnt to death. That kind of pain hurts even after it physically stops.
  
  I hear a yelp... a girl's yelp... Cynthia's yelp.
  
  I turn around and see Cynthia backing away from four of Al's friends. She is clutching her eye and fumbling with something in her pocket. I was about to travel back in time to confront the goons when one of the screams in pain. An orange mist is covering his face.
  
  Then, another wails in a high pitched tone. He also has the orange mist on him.
  
  One of them yell, "Pepper spray!" Thus, they flee... except for the unfortunate two. They are withering on the ground clutching their eyes.
  
  Well, it looks like she took care of them. Should I even go back in time to help her out?
  
  > Yes
  I go back in time by about a minute. Seeing that my friend is still alone, I move to a position where I am closer by her. How should I deal with this? Well, she needs a justifiable reason to pepper spray them, so I suppose I will take the first punch.
  
  Oh, there they are. Wow, they looked furious. Just as they are about to interact with Cynthia, I say in an almost (but not quite) mocking tone, "Hey, how is your day going, boys?" This probably will make them attack me instead...
  
  I see one throw a punch at me; however, I actually manage to dodge it because I slipped to the floor in an attempt to evade it. One of the guys who was going after Cynthia suddenly gets pepper sprayed. The others sort of stupidly stare at their buddy like an incompliant anime drawing, so I trip the guy who was attempted to punch me. After he is on the ground, I pin his arms behind his back.
  
  Cynthia manages to give two others "spicy eyes". I grin as one of the guys screams that in pain. Then, she pepper sprays the goon who I am holding down as well, but that one was mostly just for laughs.
  
  Well, obviously we get called into the Principal's office where she officially scolds us and gives us a warning not do engage in fights anymore. Nonetheless, she unofficially congratulates us. Because my sister was out working tonight, Cynthia invited me out to dinner with her parents, and I accepted. Her father turns out to be a computer programmer.
  
  I actually ended up eating with Cynthia's family quite frequently. Eventually, we would eat with each other. Finally, we became official in the sense that you probably should be able to infer.
  
  > Reminiscing eight years later (Epilogue)
  I never would have expected this to happen all eight years ago. I still was a pretty messed up person back then, but now... I am fine.
  
  I try to sleep, but my mind is too active. Tomorrow is the big day after all.
  
  I roll over in my bed and look at the pictures on my wall. There is Cynthia... Tomorrow is going to be fun. I also see the picture of the guys at the firehouse... Yep, we have not had a casualty for the rescuers or the rescued in years. It is almost as if we could predict whenever a fire would start and where the people are in the building.
  
  Well, I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long... and wonderful night.
  
  My life as a time traveler is remarkably exiting and rewarding.
  
  > Stephanie
  It is a few days later now, and I am lying in bed. It is in the middle of the day, and Cynthia is taking a shower.
  
  "I apologize in advance."
  
  I sit up in bed terrified. There is an intruder in this hotel, but I cannot see her.
  
  "Where are you?!" I say as I jump to my feet.
  
  "I come in piece, dude. You could be a..." I turn around to the sound of her voice, and a girl my age is standing just feet from me.
  
  "How did you get here?"
  
  "Well Steve, let's just say I have your abilities."
  
  "I don't know what you are..." Before I could finish my sentence, she disappears for a moment, then reappears in the same spot.
  
  She replies smugly, "See? It's time travel, though I can go forward as well. It's the only reason why I found you anyway."
  
  "What do you want from me?"
  
  "Nothing. I am just apologizing for ruining your life."
  
  "What are you going to do?!" I prepare to fight and protect my wife.
  
  "No, it is what I have done. I have created multiple timelines by... causing an accident in your early years. Because going to the same place again causes a paradox, I cannot fix it. As a result, I lost track of you for over two and a half decades. When I found you, I was able to retrace your steps to your point of divergence. It was when you were sixteen. I somehow caused you not to talk to Crissy."
  
  I scratch my head. I do not know if I should believe her or not.
  
  I ask, "Why should Crissy matter to me? I have been over her for a while now."
  
  Her face pales as she gasps, "Don't say that about your wife! Uh, I mean... ah whatever. You will not remember this anyway. Just please know that I am going to send you back in time. I'll help you out as much as I can, and I'll make mmm... Crissy help you as well. You'll do great things... if I stop screwing this up."
  
  "I already have a wife."
  
  "She is not the right one. I am going to give you a redo. Talk to Crissy, okay?"
  
  "I don't want to... What is your name anyway?"
  
  "I'm Stephanie. Isn't that funny, Steve? See you soon even if you don't remember me. This time I'll hopefully get it right... Actually, I'll give you a choice. Do you want to remain with your life here or take a risk? You are meant for much greater things than a firefighter, Steve. Please..."
  
  > You'll stay.
  I confidentially say, "I'll stay."
  
  She frowns but states, "Fine. I guess... I'll just look around this world. I suppose this is the real world now. Well, enjoy your life, Steve, even if you do not remember this conversation."
  
  Then, she disappears...
  
  Why am I standing here?
  
  Cynthia turns off the water and soon exits the door. I smile.
  
  She smiles back at me as she asks. "What are you smiling for?"
  
  "I'm just happy. I love you."