Mika had planned to visit Claudia allowing Kumiko free to give Kellie a ride home. Happily the four girls said their goodbyes as Kumiko sped towards Kellies house. Arriving with an ear piercing screech Kellie thanked Kumiko for the ride. Kellie watched Kumiko speed away before throwing up in a nearby bush. “Who the hell gave that girl a license,” she groaned. Wiping her mouth Kellie entered her home to see Merlin thoughtfully going through some paperwork.
“Hello Kellie,” he waved still reviewing his notes. “Was wondering where you were, How was your evening?”
“Bad news, drove with Kumiko,” she groaned. “I have no clue how she got her license but she damn near killed me. Do have some good news though.”
Merlin turned from the notes he was studying with a look of interest on his face. “Well share,” he said.
Kellie walked into the kitchen, grabbing a drink before sitting down. Taking a sip to wash the taste of vomit from her mouth she now took a deep breath before continueing. “I made a lot of progress with the girls tonight,” she said taking a another sip. “I found out what happened with Mary and Claudia and we’ll...going to try and get the group back together.”
“Well That is good news,” Merlin stated as he looked his apprentice over. “I’m guessing though their is quite a bit more to the story.” Kellie fidgeted slightly as she looked at the old wizard. “Well yeah their is,” she said sheepishly. “The um girls found out I....um..have a magic ring and came from a different timeline.”
“I see,” Merlin said quietly furrowing his brow. “I think it’s best you start at the beginning.”
Kellie sighed as she relayed everything that happened after she left the house. Slowly, painfully, she told Merlin about Tom Harris’s injuries, the fight between Mary and Claudia, Mary’s father divorcing her mom and dying and how the girls learned of Kellies carefully explained origin. Merlin took the information in stride. Although he was originally concerned that Kellie may have irreparably damaged their presence here he began to see it was done for the greater good. Kellie had thought on her feet, earning the girls trust without giving away more information than she needed too.
“Well,” he said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. “It appears you made a few friends over to your side. Very well done, you had me concerned when you mentioned that the girls knew you’re origin but you navigated that landlines artfully and gained their trust.”
“Thanks,” Kellie smiled. “I do wonder though, why have Mary and Claudia’s families been so drastically changed in this reality? Is my absence here so critical that it would radically change things to this degree.”
“I wouldn’t say it was you per say,” Merlin stated. “Like I said befor time is like a river. What I’m surmising now is that slight changes, like your absence, changed other things in history. It made the Harris family younger for one. What I’m guessing is that originally when Major Harris was on his last deployment he was able to take cover and avoid his injuries that he has now.”
“So how come this time he couldn’t,” Kellie asked.
“In this time line maybe he didn’t see the ambush or maybe the place he hid in last time no longer existed. Small changes in the time stream affect how things turn out. It also explains Mary Elise’s parents. Some small changes in the time stream made it so that instead of a happily married couple they got a divorce, which in turn led to Mr. McKinnons tragic death.”
“Which in turn led to Mary Elsie and Claudia not speaking to eachother,” Kellie said glumly.
Merlin sighed as he placed a reassuring hand on Kellies shoulder. “Yes,” he whispered. “I know you blame yourself for this Kellie but you shouldn’t. Your actions had nothing to do with those tragic events. This is just a different reality from the one you originally belonged in, one where things are slightly different than how they were before.”
Kellie nodded sadly as she turned her gaze towards the street. “Is there anything we can do for either one of them,” Kellie asked. “I know we can’t bring back the dead or even go back and change history but is their someway to help Mr. Harris.”
“Perhaps,” Merlin mused brushing his beard. “I might be able to heal some of his injuries. For now though the best thing you can do is repair Mary and Claudia’s friendship. Something tells me you already have a plan for that.”
“You know me to well,” Kellie smirked. “Which reminds me how didn’t your search go?”
“I’ve made some progress with Samantha,” Merlin grinned. “It appears her mother got a hold of some magical items in another reality. My theory is that that item eventually made its way here. I just need some proof before I can give a definitive answer.”
Kellie nodded as she looked towards the clock. “Works for me,” she said. “Anyway I should freshen up and get some sleep. Good night Merlin, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night Kellie sleep well.”
As Kellie made her way upstairs she smiled. She was inching closer to getting things back to the way they used to be. While she realized things could never be as they once were she now hoped she could atbl ast get her friends back together.