Activity

Kit:

My shoes clatter in the thick silence as I sprint towards the light ahead.  Compared to that last challenge, this honestly seems pretty good.  And that last challenge is really the last thing I wanted to remember, so that’s why I’m choosing to focus on our lovely dinner instead.  Specifically, that time Val said my hair looked soft and silky.

I know, I know, she said she didn’t mean anything by it, and of course I’m not going to to mention it again…but it still meant the world to me.  And to be honest, I don’t actually believe her – I mean, did you even see how red she got?  Seriously, it’s making me flush just remembering it.  If I didn’t like pink so much, I’d probably go natural again just for her!  Like, maybe just for a little while.  I love messing with my hair, but I think it’d be worth it to give it a little rest just to see that look on her face again…

Anyways, that’s just one more reason to get through this challenge.  I hate being all alone here, and what better reward than getting to spend the next challenge side by side with my favorite person on the whole planet-

Pain explodes in my head as I ram straight into another person.  I reel back, hand flying to the bruise as I stammer out a hasty apology.  I glance away, tears smarting in my eyes.  That HURT.

The man chuckles.  “Well that was rather nasty.” I nervously glance up at him.  He’s about my height, with tan skin and sleepy eyes like mine.   His inky hair is slicked back, streaked with gray at his temples.  I groan.  Running into a person my own age is bad, but running into an elder?  At least he doesn’t seem angry – in fact, he doesn’t seem to notice me at all.  I watch him curiously as he brushes himself off.  He’s wearing a real smart suit – brown, with tan pinstripes and an intricate brooch on the lapel.  His gold rings flash as he readjusts his luxurious fox fur coat…

Wait…that thing’s looking awfully familiar.

“We have the same coat,” I blurt.  And it’s not just the coat – he’s even got black earrings just like mine!  The man glances up, an ember of recognition igniting his familiar brown eyes.  His face erupts in a dazzling grin as he rushes towards me with open arms.  I recoil as he reaches for my head, fingers furiously ruffling my hair.

“Awww I remember this!”  He laughs as I duck away, eyes sparkling with purest joy.  He pulls back, lips twitching in a slight smirk.   “I really was the cutest kid, wasn’t I?”

“Wait, what?”

The man throws his head back and laughs.  “It’s me!  Or rather, it’s you, Kit.  I’m you, but 20 years older.” He grins and flops against the pillar in an exaggerated pose. “Well, what do you think?  Must be strange seeing your older self – although to be honest, I think I’ve only improved with age.”

Improved?  Wait…is my future self actually saying he’s better than me?  I tilt my head, pretending to size him up (as if I hadn’t already made my verdict.)

“I’ll admit, I like your style.” I curl my lip as he preens under the compliment.  Is that really what I look like?  “I’m not liking the wrinkles though, to be honest.  And you’re kind of young to be going gray.”

Future Kit shoots me a dirty glare. “You think these are bad?”  He sighs. “And to be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the silver either – I mean, who is?” He shrugs, a knowing smirk passing over his face. “Val likes it though, so I can’t really complain.”

Val…likes that?

I’m not sure if it’s sad or comforting knowing Val’s still in my life twenty years from now.  I just wish I knew how – like, are we married or something, or “just” friends?

Who am I kidding though, Val’s never going to be “just” a friend.  She’s special to me, and somehow I think that’s never going to change.  I mean, maybe there’s a chance the exact nature of my feelings for her will change, and maybe someday I’ll love another girl even more than I love her, and maybe someday she really will be just another friend…but that doesn’t mean I’ll love her any less.  She’s more than a just a friend in the same way that she’s more than just a crush, you know?

My eyes wander to Future Kit’s many golden rings.  He’s got so many rings on, it’s kind of impossible to tell if that ring on his left hand is a wedding band or not…

“Annnnd now you’re wishing you could go gray too.”  I glance up to see a knowing smirk pass over Future Kit’s face.

“Not really,” I mutter.  I don’t actually want gray hair, I just want Val to find me as attractive as I find her.

“Ah well,” Future Kit grabs my shoulder. “Any last thoughts, requests…insults perhaps?  It’s about time for you to get going,”

I shift nervously under his grip. “You said Val likes your gray streaks…which implies we’re still close in the future, right?” I scuff my shoe against the slick marble floor, heat rushing to my face.  Just get it over with, ok? “Ummm…yes or no, did we get married or not?”  A mischievous glint flickers in Future Kit’s eyes.

“You sure did,” he chuckles.  “And you know what the best part is?”  I shake my head, only dimly aware of his voice over the furious pounding of my heart.  “She likes you and you didn’t even know it.”

“Wait WHAT?”  My heart leaps as my head clouds with frenzied joy and excitement.  I KNEW IT!  I knew it I knew it I KNEW IT!!!

I beam up at him, but he’s gone.  I’m all alone in the middle of this giant gate, and I guess there’s nothing left to do but pass on to the next challenge – to the rest of the group, and to Val.

I pass through the gate in a daze, heart still thundering in my chest.