A/N: How frustrating it is when you reach this far and realise you have to return to the beginning to make changes so the story will continue to flow. Note: Always create a new copy for any major changes - in case the previous version is better than the next version.
Also, if you're confused as a reader, well, I'm confused as the writer. This story is out of my control.
Gemini paused as he stared back at Fourth, sitting at the desk. There was something about Fourth's expression that told Gemini something was wrong but it was Fourth who stood and approaching Gemini, asked first, "Are you okay?"
In that moment Fourth words, the way in which he looked at Gemini, and the soft touch of his fingers against his arm tugged at his heart. Gemini didn't realise he was crying until Fourth raised his hand to wipe the tears from his face. A deep sigh fell from Geminis month and he lowered his head against Fourth's shoulder and released weeks of emotional stress in that moment.
Not sure what to make of the situation, Fourth gently rubbed Gemini's back until he slowly raised his head to stare at Fourth.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Fourth asked.
Gemini dropped his eyes, slightly embarrassed by his sudden weakness, then glanced around the bedroom to discover he was in Fourth's room. Fourth moved towards the bed and sitting, indicated for Gemini to join him. Gemini sat beside Fourth, his back stiff and his clenched hands on his lap.
With another glance around the room, Gemini's eyes finally met Fourth's, and he said, "My grandfather is in hospital, unwell. No one knows what's wrong with him."
Fourth watched Gemini nervously clench and unclench his hands together and concerned by Gemini's distress Fourth forced his hand between Gemini's taking one of his hands in his to comfort him. Gemini stared at their hands now together and when he looked back at Fourth, he gave a small smile of reassurance and Gemini closed his eyes as he once more placed his head against Fourth's shoulder.
They sat in silence as Fourth gently stroked his thumb against Gemini's hand before he found the courage to say, "I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather."
"Thank you. There's also a lot of family drama going on and although they tell me not to worry...." Gemini trailed off.
"You're worried." Fourth finished.
Gemini nodded, as he sat back up and let go of Fourth's hands as an awkwardness surrounded them. As the room fell silent again, Fourth held out his hand and said, "I'm Fourth."
Gemini knew who he was but realised they have never formally introduced themselves to each other.
"I'm Gemini." He took Fourths hand and they shook.
Their hands lingered together before Fourth pulled away.
"So... any explanations as to what is happening here?" Fourth asked.
Gemini shrugged. "Time travel. Dimensional portal. Parallel universe."
"And why?" Fourth didn't bother to question Gemini's suggested explanations.
Again Gemini shrugged. "I don't know. You?"
Fourth shook his head. "I don't know."
They fell silent, deep in thought.
"What I know is, you're in my past. If you told me more about yourself I might be able to locate you in my time to prove it's not a parallel universe." Fourth asked.
"If it's not a parallel universe, don't you find it strange I haven't come to find you." Gemini asked.
Fourth dropped his eyes, unable to meet Gemini's. Since finding out someone might have died at the end of the previous school year Fourth had almost convinced himself it had to have been Gemini. It didn't matter most people thought it never happened. The fact Gemini did not exist in Fourth's time and no one knew of him made no sense.
"I do." Fourth agreed, looking back at Gemini, unsure if he should mentioned what he knew. But after a thought, Fourth went on, "Actually, I heard a rumour that there was a student here who died but no one knows what happened or who it happened to."
"Died." Gemini asked.
Fourth nodded. "I've been trying to find out more information but I'm not getting very far."
"Ah." Gemini began to look around the room deep in thought, yet the expression on his face looked even more worried than when he first entered the room.
"Hey." Fourth patted Gemini's leg. "It's okay. I'm sure there's a valid reason why you're not in my time. Maybe that's what I need to find out."
Gemini nodded but thinking about what Fourth said disturbed him more than he wanted to admit. Suddenly, the mystery around grandfathers illness came to mind. If his grandfather were to die, that would create a legitimate reason for why he was no longer at university because although his family had reassured Gemini he wouldn't need to be involved with the business, if grandfather died now, he would still be drawn into it whether he wanted to or not.
There were too many questions on Gemini's mind, that when his focus once more found Fourth watching him, he said, "I need to go back. But I promise, when we meet again, we'll talk more about this."
"You think you might have an answer at your end?" Fourth asked.
Gemini gave a slight shake of his head, "I don't know. But maybe, I might when I see you next."
"What if it's not for a long time?" Fourth asked, the concern in his voice evident.
Gemini took Fourth's hand in his and said, "It's like you said, maybe you need to find out what happened. Can you do that. Find out what happened?"
Fourth vigorously nodded. "I will." He reassured Gemini.
Gemini let go of Fourth's hand and standing, made to the bathroom. At the bathroom sink, Gemini stared at his reflection in the mirror. His face flushed and his eyes puffy, there was definitely something going on and Gemini was convinced Fourth likely held the key. There was no other explanation for the connection they had and the strange set of circumstances happening with his family. But before he met Fourth again, Gemini needed to speak with his grandfather and make him tell Gemini what, if anything, was going on.
Fourth couldn't be sure the moment Gemini entered the bathroom he'd returned to his world as he'd not heard the door shut. Slowly rising, Fourth went to the bathroom door and looking in, found the room empty. A wave of disappointment washed over Fourth, immediately followed by relief. Gemini was alive, at least at this point in their connection.
Determined to understand if the rumour was that, Fourth returned to his desk and made a short list of things he would ask Gemini next time to help him with the truth.
It wasn't until Monday morning on the way to class that Paul said, "I'm sorry I didn't contact you over the weekend."
"That's okay. I thought you might have been angry with me for snapping at you Friday afternoon."
"What! No. I wasn't angry with you. But I should have called you to make sure you were okay." Paul walked with Fourth to class with a heavy heart. It wasn't that he didn't want to contact Fourth but that he had simply not thought of it. Ken had surprised Paul with a weekend away, turning up Saturday morning and convincing him to go with him. During the last two days, their relationship had intensified and Paul had been so focus on their time together that he had forgotten his friend. With this thought, Paul's guilt doubled, knowing he would need to tell Fourth about their relationship soon.
"It's okay. I saw Gemini again." Fourth told him.
Paul pulled Fourth to a stop, his expression surprised, " You did. Finally. What happened? What did he say? Did you tell him about the death?"
Fourth gave a smile at his friends curiosity and told him briefly his conversation with Gemini.
"Do you think maybe it's his grandfather who died and not him. That might make sense given Ken said most people don't recall a death here." Paul asked.
"It's possible, but Gemini said an interesting thing. If he were here why has he not come to see me yet."
"You're right. Something weird is definitely going on." Paul replied, nodding in thought.
At that moment, several young women approached Fourth and Paul, telling them they were from the 'Cute Boys' page and wanted their photos.
Both men were taken by surprise and shyly they both agreed to have their photo taken together.
"Can you make sure you write that we're best friends. No shipping." Paul joked to the girls and they in turn laughed and promised.
After they uploaded the photo and showed both Fourth and Paul the post, Paul had a sudden thought.
"Does the Cute Boy page have photo's from last year's first year students?" Paul asked.
The women nodded, and one asked coyly, "Is there someone you're interest in?"
"Is there a photo of a student by the name of Gemini?" Paul asked.
"Good thinking." Fourth said to Paul, and Paul gave him a big smile.
The woman who posted their photo did a search of their page and immediately came up with a result. "This person?" She said holding up her phone, the photo of two people standing together.
Paul and Fourth leaned in to look at the photo and then they both turned to look at each other. With another glance back at the photo, neither could believe what they were looking at. In the photo, with arms around shoulders, Gemini and Ken stood smiling.
"Ah. Thanks for that." Fourth said awkwardly. "Well, enjoy the rest of your day."
Fourth grabbed Paul's arm and dragged his stunned friend away. When they were away from the other students, Paul turned to Fourth and said, "What the hell. What was that? What is going on?" Paul asked, shock and anger in his voice and before Fourth could say anything, Paul continued, his voice louder and angrier, "Ken knows Gemini. What the hell!"
Paul pulled out his phone and called Ken's number. When it didn't connect, Paul angrily called again.
"Why isn't he answering his phone." Paul demanded.
Fourth couldn't get pass the image in his mind of Gemini and Ken smiling together. It make no sense.
"Come on." Paul said, grabbing Fourth and dragging him through the campus.
When they reach the dormitory, Paul was livid. He'd never been as mad at anything as he was at Ken in that moment. Fourth followed his friend still too stunned to do anything else.
From across the road, Ken stood watching Paul storm into the dormitory, Fourth trailing behind. It pained him to see Paul so upset but what more could he do. He had ensured their weekend away solidified their relationship enough to survive the next few weeks. It was all he could do. The timeline provided by Gemini had been his and no matter how much Ken read and reread it, it didn't help him with his own.
Ken pulled out his phone and called Gemini.
"What do you want me to do now?" Ken asked, both knowing where they were at on the timeline.
"Avoid them." Gemini told him.
"Seriously." Ken asked, the pain in his chest pulled tight at the thought of not seeing Paul.
"It's not the right time. If you change the future I don't know how that will impact the past."
Ken let out a sigh. He knew Gemini was right. "Okay. I'll avoid them but I'm not happy about it."
Ken hung up and looked back towards the dormitory. Until it was all over, Ken would live in the apartment provided by Gemini but avoiding them both on campus; that was going to be difficult.