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Chapter Twenty Seven

Meredith Tanner

There has to be a way to get to Lukas's world, right..?

If there's a way for us to communicate from two parallel worlds, there has to be a way get in the other world.

Sitting in class, I pondered to myself quietly. Class wasn't starting anytime soon, but I was here early, as usual. The weekend was honestly just me teaching Lukas about my world and him teaching me about his. I passed time by thinking to myself quietly as others shuffled to their seats. As always, many students didn't dare sit beside me, but I noticed how the braver peers sat just a desk closer to me. It made me feel just a bit better about my presence. Before I could doze off, the eminent clicking of heels broke me out, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Good morning, everyone~!" She greeted brightly.

Unlike a few months ago, less voices responded and less eyes were on her. Even with that, almost two thirds of the school was under her ropes. The others were moreover on Ryan's side, supporting more of him and me.

"Move aside, Barbie doll," I heard Ryan hiss at her. "You're taking up the line of students behind you."

Linda huffed, sitting at her desk and flirting with the jocks beside her. They replied well to her. I rose my head and fist-bumped Ryan as he took a seat beside mine.

"How annoying, huh?" I asked.

Ryan rolled his eyes, glaring at the girl. "She might still be somewhat of a foolish queen, but she'll have to wake up one day and realize her father can't do everything for her."

"No kidding.." I muttered under my breath. Sighing, I looked up and said, "Did you do your homework this time?"

"What do you mean? I always do my homework!"

"Not according to that GPA."

~~~

"Thanks for dropping me home," I said, waving at Ryan. I laughed lightly and added, "I'm so sorry for being such a hassle."

Ryan smiled, an arm hanging out his car window. Almost everyday after school, Ryan would drop me off at home because he was still worried about me just walking home. "No problem, Meredith. I don't mind it at all."

"I'll see you tomorrow at school!" I responded, walking into my house.

"Right back at ya!" I heard him reply.

Closing the door behind me, I leaned against the wall and pulled off my shoes, swinging my backpack upstairs. I walked down to get a snack from the kitchen, only to stop when I found Papa on the couch with Mom lying on top of him, the two of them sleeping. They must've come home early. I walked back upstairs to their room and grabbed their blanket, going back down and pulling it over them. Putting my hands on my hips, I sighed heavily at them, but I couldn't help the small smile lighting up my face.

They really are in love, aren't they?

I'm lucky to be their daughter.

I kissed their foreheads lightly and went upstairs to do my homework, leaving them to sleep in peace.

~~~

"Papa, about the Dream Factory attribute," I began, standing in the doorway. Papa looked up for his desk, where we stood at his office.

He noticed how I hesitated to continue my statement. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I replied. I crossed my arms and stood there awkwardly, looking down at the floor. "I was just wondering if the Dream Factory attribute can somehow shift parallel worlds." Trying not to raise suspicion from him, I quickly added, "I mean, if it can connect to the deaths, can it possibly connect worlds?"

Papa instantly perked up. "Ah, I see. You want to know more about it." He strolled his swivel chair over to a cabinet, opening it. "I'm pretty sure I did a college essay on it before. It's probably in here somewhere, if you want to go looking for it."

"Sure!" I exclaimed excitedly at his suggestion. "Thank you, Papa!"

"You're welcome, dear," he replied, going back to his work.

I shuffled over and opened the cabinet door just a bit wider, seeing the tons of papers in front of me. Let's see.. I'll eliminate recently inserted files from my search and try to go back to his college years. Quickly, I found myself on the floor of the office, with Papa typing on his laptop and music playing in the background as I stared at the papers beside me. College slideshows, projects, presentations... My mind wandered off, only to snap back when I saw an unnamed file. I peered back at Papa, making sure he wasn't looking, and I pulled it open.

My brows furrowed when I saw articles that didn't belong in the specific cases. I was about to tell Papa about his displacement, only to stop when I noticed my father's name on an article. I pulled it out, reading it.

Tristan Tanner Is Alive?!
Written by: Susan McClain

With the current rush of people at the Burj Khalifa, news travelled fast to Alaska. Only two years ago, the infamous Atlas Bomb had been set off by a group of criminals and scientists obsessed with creating a better world. If it hadn't been for two teenagers with shockingly great attributes, the world would have been thrown in chaos. However, all while saving the world, Tristan Tanner has passed away. His partner and friend Cheryl Faun was found crying next to his impaled corpse on the outskirts of Arizona.

   Cheryl Faun was thrown into a hole of depression, something Layla Tanner [Tristan Tanner's mother] said was with her almost her whole life. Toss in the insults she's received for not "protecting Tristan" even with the Music attribute and inaccurate claims that she killed him on purpose, Cheryl was bound to this for the past two years. For so long, she fought against it all, claiming that she actually loved him. Unfortunately, the college student and world heroine was thrown down that rabbit hole so far that just yesterday, she attempted to commit suicide.

   Fortunately for us, Tristan Tanner, almost like he had arisen from the dead, swooped in to save her life for the 100th time!

   That's incredible, and more information will be added once interviews are made!

Instead of an actual printed article, it seemed as if Papa annotated it, adding comments to the side and correcting inaccurate information. I smiled lightly to myself when I saw a picture of my parents' younger selves embracing each other in front of the Burj Khalifa, crowds surrounding them. Mom was crying with a smile on her face, and Papa was hugging her with an equally happy yet dorky grin.

They never really tell me much of what happened in detail. I always heard of them being heroes and saving the world, but they never told me about deaths, and yet, I'm not surprised.

I wish for a love like theirs.