The evening was settling in, casting a golden hue over the room. Laughter and soft chatter filled the space as Isla and her friends finished decorating. Alice stood near the doorway, observing it all - the carefree joy, the effortless conversations.
She was not only scared but also lost in thoughts. Let alone finding the partner, I need to find a place for the night. She stood for a while and finally got and idea.
She went straight to Isla knowing she can't say no to anyone. "Isla, can i sleep over tonight. My parents went to a business trip, and I can't stay at home all alone."
Isla agreed without a word. Mission accomplished. Now all she had to do was find the partner the old lady told her. She wondered laying on the couch in Isla's room. "Where could she be? Or is it a guy? How am I supposed to find him? I've never talked to a guy ever in my life."
Night passed while Alice didn't even realize she fell asleep thinking. Alice had a clear goal now. She asked Isla if she could give a tour around her school since it was the holidays. She went to the school her mother attended.
Isla asked Alice with a subtle smile. "Do you have a boyfriend"
"No, you would never let me." It slipped from her mouth. "No, i don't" she answered .
"Then, this is a good chance" she said with a smirk on her face.
Alice didn't understand but then it hit her. She could remember her mom saying she was popular at school, but Alice didn't quite believe it.
After a while, two young and handsome boys showed up. Alice thought "Why are they so..."
Isla whispered "Handsome, right?", but then said out loud. "This is my boyfriend, Drake. This is Alice"
Alice said out loud unknowingly "Dad", but then corrected herself. "I mean, handsome"
It was so unexpected. Alice felt cold wind through her neck. "My mom didn't tell me that they dated in high school"
Drake, Alice's dad, said with warm smile. "This is my new friend, James"
James started confidently. "Hey, Alice - pretty name"
Alice felt something pitching her in the stomach, heart racing.
Isla said with interest in her eyes. "Where are we going?"
They went to the nearest restaurant chatting with each other.
Alice went use the bathroom and went outside for some air.
Then, as she was watching the nature, something pressed against her hip - a shape she wasn't expecting.
Alice froze.
Slowly, she reached into the pocket of her dress, fingers brushing against the familiar, cool surface of a phone. Her phone.
Her heartbeat hammered. That wasn't possible. She had traveled back in time. Technology like this shouldn't exist here.
She pulled it out, gripping it tightly, her reflection staring back at her on the dark screen.
She slowly turned it on, and tried calling her mom from that phone while coming out of the bathroom. And that is when she saw James with his phone in his ear.
Alice was shaking out of shock and hardly said "You...? How?"
How can it be true? This is 1984. People can't have these technologies now, can they?