Before Maxine was able to walk away, Mary told her, “Tell them to come over and say ‘hi’ to me.”
“Okay,” Maxine said before she walked towards Brandy and Cindy.
Once she stepped up to Brandy and Cindy, she started a casual conversation.
Doug shot in four balls, one after the other, to win the game. When he stepped up to Brandy, Cindy and Maxine, Maxine looked at him before asking, “So where are Richard, Carl and Toby?”
Doug thought for a moment before saying, “I’m not sure, but I think they’ll be here at some point.”
“It’s strange,” Maxine began. “I didn’t know that you three were friends. Of course I knew that you, Brandy, were friends with Cindy and vice versa, but as to how often that I see you three in here, I didn’t think that you two were friends with Doug.”
“We’re friends now,” Brandy said.
Maxine grinned before saying, “That’s good. Well, I’m going back over and sit with Mary. You three should join us.”
“Sure, we’d love to,” Brandy said.
Doug gave Brandy a curious look just before telling Maxine, “We will be there in a second.”
“All right,” Maxine said before turning and walking away.
Doug noticed Devin and Scott joining Mary at the table and when Maxine stepped out of earshot, Doug said, “Brandy, I don’t know those four people.”
“Well, Maxine knows the Doug from this reality,” Brandy said.
“And I think Alex has the right idea too,” Cindy added. “We need to do what the us of this reality would do, and the us of this reality would most likely join them.”
“Okay; fine,” Doug said in a defeated tone. “We’ll join them.”
Doug, Brandy and Cindy put their pool sticks up, and after picking up their drinks from the table they walked towards Maxine’s table. As they stepped up, Maxine said, “Mary; Brandy, Cindy and Doug are joining us.”
While staring forward with a pleasant grin on her face, Mary said, “Doug, it’s been a while since I came in here while you were here.”
As Brandy, Cindy and Doug were taking their seats, Doug said, “Yeah, I guess it has been a while.”
Everyone at the table noticed that Mary’s facial expression had changed from a pleasant one to a perplex one just before Mary asked, “So how have you been?”
“I’ve been good,” Doug said. “How have you been?”
“I’m good, but you’re not as good as you are claiming,” Mary said.
As everyone gave Mary a confused look Doug asked, “Why do you think that?”
“Something about you is different,” Mary said. “I can sense it when you speak. Did something dramatic happen to you recently?”
“No; my life is the same as it has been,” Doug said.
“Now I sense in your voice that you are lying to me,” Mary said. “I thought you learned when we first met that you can’t lie to me.”
“Okay, you’re right,” Doug confessed. “Something has happened to me recently, but it’s not anything that I’m willing to discuss.”
“Fair enough, but whatever you went through, you came out of it as a different person,” Mary said. “So, Brandy; Cindy, how have you two been?”
Brandy and Cindy were slightly scared to even answer and after a slight hesitation, Brandy was the first one to say, “I’m doing okay. My life is basically the same as it has always been.”
Mary showed a curious expression on her face before asking, “Cindy, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing good,” Cindy answered. “Oh and you look good.”
“Something is different about you too, Cindy,” Mary said. “In fact, I sense something different about all three of you, but with varying degrees.”
“Cindy and I along with four others had also gone through the same experience that Doug had gone through, and like Doug said, what we went through is not anything we want to discuss,” Brandy said.
“Again that’s fair,” Mary said. “Out of curiosity, do I know the other four?”
“You might know two of them,” Doug said. “My sister, Alex and a friend of ours named Kenny.”
“Mary doesn’t know Alex and I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting her once,” Maxine said.
Doug gave Maxine a concerned look just before asking, “Can you refresh my memory of what Alex did when you two met?”
Mary showed a curious expression on her face over Doug’s request as Maxine answered, “As I said, I only met Alex once, but the impression I got of her was that she was very opinionated, critical and a bit of a snob.”
“What did Alex do for you to think all of that?” Cindy asked.
“I remember her complaining about the décor of the bar, along with telling me her opinion about people working minimum wage jobs. When I told her that I had a minimum wage job, her response was something like, ‘Oh, I’m sure you’re doing the best you can with what you have. So you shouldn’t feel bad about yourself.’ When she said that, I completely lost my cool.”
“How long ago did you meet Alex?” Brandy asked.
“It was just before Christmas about two years ago,” Maxine said. “I met Doug and Alex at the same time.”
“Alex is not the same person who she was two years ago,” Brandy said. “In fact, she’ll be here in an hour or so, and you’ll see for yourself that Alex is not the same person.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Maxine said.
“I remember Alex saying just before she left the bar that she was never coming back in here again,” Devin said. “So that alone is a change right there.”
“I hate to be like this, but let’s talk about something other than Alex,” Maxine requested.
“So have anyone seen any good movies lately?” Cindy asked. She then as an afterthought looked at Mary and cringed for asking what she did.
At the soccer game, Harvard’s spectators were disappointed when their team lost by a goal after going into overtime. As the players were leaving the field Alex, Trudy, Kenny and Ben walked up to Miles.
Miles saw them and as they stepped up he said, “Hey, I’ll meet you guys at O’Shannon’s as soon as I can. Right now my teammates and I get the joy of listening to the coach telling us what we did wrong.”
“I thought you guys played good,” Alex said. “The other team was just better.”
Miles sarcastically said, “Thanks, Alex. That was just what I wanted to hear.”
“Sorry,” Alex timidly said. “That actually came out wrong.”
Miles gestured in the direction of his teammates while saying, “Well, I better go or the coach will chew my head off for not going in with the others.”
“See you at O’Shannon’s,” Alex said.
“Bye,” Miles said.
“Bye,” Trudy, Kenny and Ben said.
As Miles was walking away, Trudy continued to say, “Well, I want to change clothes before I go anywhere.”
“I actually want to do the same,” Alex said. “Kenny; Ben, we’ll meet you two at O’Shannon’s.”
“All right; let’s go, Ben,” Kenny said. Ben nodded before he and Kenny walked away.
When Alex and Trudy walked into their dorm room, they both changed into nice clothes. Alex again put on her black high-heeled boots.
Fifteen minutes later, Alex and Trudy were walking into the slightly crowded O’Shannon’s behind two couples and another woman. Alex stopped near the entrance and looked over the room. Almost instantly Alex noticed that a person was setting up a karaoke machine in the back corner.
Trudy saw Doug and the others, and as she pointed towards them she said, “Alex, everyone is over there.”
Alex turned to look before saying, “I see them.” She and Trudy then walked towards them.
When Alex and Trudy stepped up to their group, Alex noticed Devin, Scott, Maxine and Mary sitting among her friends. Alex then noticed that Maxine was giving her a harsh stare. She ignored the look and said, “Hi… everyone. Brandy; Cindy and others who
don’t know my roommate, this is Trudy.”
“Hi, everyone,” Trudy said.
Doug was standing up as Maxine said, “Trudy, since I doubt Alex remembers me, I’ll introduce myself and the ones I’m with.” Alex gave Maxine a perplexed look. “My name is Maxine…”
As Maxine was pointing out the others who were in her group, Doug grabbed Alex’s arm before whispering, “We need to talk.”
“Okay, but what’s that woman’s problem?” Alex demanded.
“That’s what I want to talk to you about so come with me,” Doug whispered.
“Fine,” Alex said.
Once Doug and Alex were out of hearing distance from the group Doug said, “Apparently the Alex of this reality had only been to O’Shannon’s once in her life, and that was about two years ago.”
“I know that part. Trudy had already told me that I… or she would frequent a place called Diamonds. Apparently Becky, Trudy and the Alex of this reality were the first three customers through the doorway when Diamonds made its grand opening about two years ago.”
“Well, here’s the part that you might not know. The only time that Alex of this reality was here, she left a bad and lasting impression on Maxine. Maxine was the lady with the problem.”
“Okay, what did Alex do?”
“According to Maxine, she was opinionated, critical and a bit of a snob.”
“Great,” Alex sarcastically said. “So what was Alex opinionated about?”
“Apparently minimum wage jobs are degrading to Alex, and at the time when Alex met Maxine, Maxine worked for minimum wage. Alex made a patronizing comment about it.”
“Well, the comment that Stephen said at Little Bucks makes better sense to me now. Well, we better join the others.”
Before Alex had a chance to walk away, Doug said, “Do me a favor and don’t bring any of this up.”
Alex grinned while saying, “Okay, I won’t. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and since you pulled me away while Maxine was introducing everyone I don’t know who’s who.”
Doug told Alex who was who before walking back towards the table. As Alex and Doug were returning to the table, the waitress was just walking away.
Alex hung her purse on an empty seat next to Trudy and as she was sitting down, Trudy whispered, “Alex, according to Ben and Kenny you drink beer so I ordered you that.”
“Thanks,” Alex whispered back. “That was what I wanted. What did Alex drink though?”
“She did drink beer at times, but her common drink is actually wine coolers,” Trudy whispered.
“So people won’t think that I’m out of character if I drink beer?” Alex questioned.
“Not at all; however, I don’t know how you normally drink your drink, but Alex drinks hers from a glass.”
Before Alex was able to respond Mary said, “Alex, I met everyone at the table, but for you. Tell me a little bit about yourself.”
Alex thought for a second before saying, “I’m Doug’s sister. I’m in pre-med at Harvard, and there’s not really too much more to tell.”
“Perhaps you can tell us what brings you back to O’Shannon’s,” Maxine prompted.
“I’m just meeting my brother and friends here to have a good time,” Alex said.
“The décor of the bar doesn’t bother you?” Maxine asked.
Alex gave Maxine a curious look before asking, “Should it?”
“The last time that I saw you in here, you didn’t like the décor,” Maxine pointed out. “I’m just wondering if you still feel that way.”
Alex looked around for a moment before saying, “O’Shannon’s pub is much like other neighborhood bars, so the décor is okay.”
“So you decided that the décor of this place is okay after visiting other bars,” Maxine said.
Before Alex was able to respond Devin asked, “Maxine, what are you doing?”
“I’m just curious to know if Alex still has the same opinions about things as she did two years ago,” Maxine answered.
“Maxine, I see nothing wrong with the décor of this place,” Alex said.
Mary took hold of Maxine’s arm before saying, “Maxine, you’re purposely trying to bait Alex, and Alex just came here to be with her friends and have fun. Alex doesn’t even remember the talk that you and she had two years ago.”
Alex gave Mary a perplexed look as Maxine asked, “Is that true? You don’t remember the discussion about it?”
“To be honest; no, I don’t remember it,” Alex said.
“I bet you don’t even remember meeting me,” Maxine said.
“I have met a lot of people in my life, and I’ll admit that I can’t remember all of them,” Alex began. “Please forgive me, but you are one of those people who I had met and don’t remember.”
Mary showed a perplex expression on her face as Maxine said, “That’s typical of a snob.”
“Maxine, I’m not going to take offense to that or defend myself,” Alex said.
“That’s because you know it’s true,” Maxine said.
“Maxine, it’s time for us to leave,” Devin said.
“It’s okay,” Alex said. “Maxine is entitled to her opinions, and it’s obvious that Maxine had these strong opinions of me with only meeting me once…”
Mary interrupted Alex by saying, “Alex, I’m not sure what’s going on, but I do know that you have never met Maxine before today. That is also true with Doug.”
“Mary, what are you talking about?” Maxine quickly asked.
“Maxine, you have never met Alex or Doug before,” Mary said.
Alex, Doug, Trudy, Kenny, Brandy, Cindy and Ben looked at Mary as if she was about to tell their secret. Devin, Scott and Maxine looked at Mary as if she had lost her mind just before Maxine said, “Mary, I have never known of you being wrong about anything, but you are wrong about this. I’ve known Doug for a while now.”
“I can’t explain it, but I know what I’m saying is true,” Mary said.
“Are you saying that Doug and Alex are imposters?” Scott asked jokingly.
Marry thought for a second before saying, “No, they’re not imposters, but I also know that Alex and Doug have never met me, Maxine, Devin or Scott before today. That was why I felt Doug as being different to me earlier. I mistook the feeling as a change in his life.”
The waitress was returning with Trudy’s and Alex’s drinks as Devin said, “Mary, what you are saying doesn’t even make sense.”
“I know it doesn’t, but I also know I’m right,” Mary said.
“Mary, I think it’s time for me to take you home,” Maxine said.
“I think it’s time for the four of us to go,” Devin added.
Devin, Maxine and Scott were standing up as the waitress stepped up to the table. Maxine was helping Mary up as the waitress was giving Trudy and Alex their drinks along with an empty glass for each of them.
Before anyone could step away from the table, the waitress asked Devin, “Are you four leaving?”
“We are,” Devin confirmed.
“Well, drive safely,” the waitress said.
“Thank you,” Devin said.
Before Mary was led away, she said, “It was nice meeting everyone.”
“It was interesting in meeting you,” Trudy said.
As Maxine, Mary, Devin and Scott were walking away, the waitress turned towards Doug and his friends before asking, “Does anyone want anything else?”
“We’re good,” everyone responded.
The waitress collected the empty beer bottles and glasses that were left behind and walked away.
When the waitress was out of earshot, Trudy said, “You guys almost got discovered by a blind psychic.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t good,” Brandy said.
“Doug, why didn’t you call and warn me about Mary?” Alex practically demanded to know.
“Since Mary never met the Alex of this reality before, I didn’t think she wo
uld get a feeling of you like she did,” Doug said.
“Well, she did, and it was lucky that Maxine distrusted Mary’s psychic feeling,” Alex said.
“If I run into another psychic I’ll warn you about him or her first,” Doug said.
As Alex was pouring her beer into the glass she said, “Well, hopefully we won’t run into anymore psychics.” Once Alex’s glass was filled a second later, she put the bottle down and took a drink from the glass.
As Alex was putting her glass back down the karaoke DJ announced over the microphone, “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’m Dominic and I’m your karaoke DJ for tonight. There are fifteen songbooks around the room on various tables so pick out the songs you want to sing and bring them to me. Until then I will sing a few songs that I have selected. Oh and I’m not a good singer so the faster you guys and gals bring me your song selections the faster you won’t have to listen to me sing.” Dominic then began his first song.
Trudy tapped Alex on the arm before saying, “You actually have a good singing voice so you should get up and sing.”
Before Alex responded she saw Doug grinning. She instantly gave Doug an inquisitive look before asking, “What?”
Doug smiled before saying, “I’m just thinking about Trudy’s suggestion. I would love to hear you sing. It will be interesting to hear.”
“I will sing,” Alex said with a smirk. She then stood up and looked around for a book. Within seconds she spotted one on an empty table. She walked over to it, picked it up and carried it back to her table. After sitting down, she slowly flipped through the pages for a song.
After searching through a few pages, Alex found a song that she liked and as she was writing it down Miles walked up behind her to peek at what she was writing.
Miles was looking over Alex’s shoulder for a few seconds when Alex looked up and saw who it was. She then grinned before saying, “Oh hi. I see you made it.”
“I’m just glad I made it in time to hear you sing,” Miles said. “Oh and you picked a nice song too.”
A Crossed Reality Page 9
