Chapter 2 - What the future held

Once inside, I locked the door and took a deep breath. Hopefully that would put an end to that, but somehow I doubted it. I took my time cleaning up and getting showered before unlocking the main door and heading out the sliding door on the other side, which was rarely used and straight up to my room. A knock came at my door shortly after entering. I opened it to find Meagan, still in her nightgown.

She pushed me back in my room and walked in behind me. She closed the door behind her.

“What the hell was that about?” She asked.

“What?” I asked.

“You know that Chloe needs that sort of firm hand, and you’re trying to bail on her? I thought you wanted us all to have a better future.” Meagan pointed out.

I looked down at the floor. She was right. I was trying to recess into my little corner again, trying to cut off the world. I was being overwhelmed, and I didn’t even know why. I had everything I wanted at this point: Sisters on the same page as me, or nearly there anyway.

I picked up my head and started looking at her again. There she was, my smart little sister. Too smart for her own good, grinning like she had it all figured out.

“So what do I do?” I asked.

“Stop being an asshole for one.” Meagan said.

She gave me a gentle shove, and I wasn’t expecting it. I fell back onto the bed. She jumped on top of me, pinning me by the stomach by sitting on it.

“And for two, start acting like you care.” Meagan said before leaning down and placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.

She leaned back up to her sitting position.

“Or what?” I asked, teasing her.

“Or...” She thought for a moment. “I’m not gonna get off you!” She exclaimed like a little kid.

Sometimes I forgot that she was still an 8-year-old.

I reached up and began tickling her sides, and she squirmed on top of me.

“Josh! Stop, I’m going to pee!” She warned.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop.” I told her, letting her go.

“So, are you gonna go talk to her now?” She asked.

“Yeah, just get out of here, so I can get dressed first.” I said.

She got off me, pulled on what she could and headed out of the room, practically skipping as she left the room. I got up off the bed, cleaned myself back off, and began getting dressed in my workout attire. After getting dressed, I headed down stairs, and found Chloe waiting for me. She was dressed now, in her workout attire, sitting at the table.

“Mas ... I mean, Joshua!” She said.

“Relax, Chloe. I’m ... uh ... sorry for flying off the handle at you like that.” I said. “You didn’t deserve it. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed at this all.” I explained. “I’m not trying to make excuses, though I know I am. I’m trying to say sorry.”

“Now it’s your turn to relax.” Chloe said in a soft voice. “Joshua, you’re only human. I understand that this is all overwhelming. How often does a person get to get a second chance at all of this?”

“You know, you’re right.” I said, letting out a sigh.

“So what are you planning for your future?” She asked.

“My future? Not sure, I mean, I had planned on living the same life as I did the first time around. We were pretty happy.” I said.

“Really? What were you doing for a job?” Chloe asked.

“Computer repair, a bit of 3d modeling, and writing on the side.” I told her.

“Could you do those things now?” Chloe asked.

“Not really. The only computers that can do the modeling now are insanely expensive and tend to be sold to big companies.” I said. “Computers aren’t really mix and match yet, companies tend to be very particular with their parts.” I added in. “As for writing...” I started.

“You can do that with paper and pen.” Chloe explained. “You know it’s almost a perfect opportunity.” She pointed out. “This is your second time around, so much of the schooling should be review for...” She started.

“Unneeded, actually. Everything you learn, whether it’s history, math, social studies ... it’s unneeded for most career paths. Math plays a small part in my career, but most of that is done by the computer itself. I never properly learned to code and retained it. I took a few classes but couldn’t keep it, because if you don’t practice ... same with the piano. I could read the sheet music sure, but playing without hesitation, that’s a whole other thing.” I sighed.

“Really?” She asked.

“And a lot of what I learned was either hands on or learning from books ... If you think about it, our father learns the same way, so it makes sense.” I said. “Elysa out there will learn CNC by a book in the original timeline. She never even got her high school diploma or G.E.D.” I said motioning to Elysa still sitting at the computer, not paying attention to us, but listening to some music she had found on one of the CDS we had.

“Wait, how is that possible?” Chloe asked.

“Oh, a string of bad choices. She still kept down a good job, but not a full high school education.” I said.

“What about me?” Chloe asked.

“You were into ... well, the last time I had spoken to you ... property management. You had gone to college for a business degree, but ... kind of got side tracked.” I told her.

“By what?” She asked.

“Pregnancy; with a guy that you wouldn’t stay with. In fact, all the fathers of your children didn’t stick around.” I pointed out.

“Oh.” She said, shocked at this revelation.

I’m pretty sure that I had just shattered her grand illusion that she was going to get married, have kids, and live with her family in a house with a white picket fence.

“What about the others?” She asked.

I shook my head.

“Not much better off, but I probably am repeating myself here.” I said.