Read 15 Minutes: A YA Time Travel Thriller (Rewind Series) for Free Online

breaks out the forks and plates. Dessert is served.
    “What’d you wish for?” I lick the last of the
ice cream from my spoon.
    “To spend more time with you.” He winks and
strokes my hand. When he stands up, the chair squeaks across the floor.
    Pouting, I watch him pull on his janitor’s
jacket. Dinner break is over fast this time. “Dad—”
    He kisses the top of my head. “It was a great
birthday dinner, Lara. We’ll talk in the morning before school, okay?”
    I force a smile. “Happy birthday.”
    The sadness in his eyes makes him appear older
than he did a few minutes ago. When the door shuts behind him, the apartment
echoes with a hollow boom, leaving me cold. Sparky whines and rubs against my
leg. I lean down to stroke his fur.
    “I’m gonna fix this.
I’m going to fix this for all of us.”
    I take the plates over to the garbage to scrape
clean and find a card Dad has thrown out without opening. Like he does every
year. On the envelope is a fancy return address label with a swirling J on the corner. I consider opening it
to see who it’s from. Instead, I respect his privacy and dump our cake on top
and move on.
    Back in the present, I now wish I had opened
the card. I slam the photo album shut, and my cell phone rings. I fish it out
of my purse. It’s not Donovan, luckily, but Kristine. She was one of my closest
friends, and I’m glad some things haven’t changed.
    “Are you all right?” Her voice is rushed.
    “I’m okay,” I say with as much enthusiasm as I
can muster. “I just got home. I’m tired. News travels fast, I guess.”
    “It does when it lands you in the hospital, Lara! Musta been traumatic. Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Sure as I’m going to be. I’m headed to
bed.   I’ll tell you all about it,
tomorrow.”
    “And any cute doctors you saw, right?” Her
voice chirps into a contagious giggle, and I can’t help but join her. “Maybe
you could call Don to tell him goodnight? He’s really worried. He knows you’re
ducking his calls.”
    I cringe. “Sorry. I … don’t feel up to it right
now. Maybe … you could for me?”
    “What?” You would think I had asked her to
change a tire. “You must want to talk
to him.”
    “I really don’t.” I squeeze my eyes and hope
she won’t make a big stink about it.
    “Okay, okay. But you better tell me tomorrow
what’s going on with you two. Especially if it’s juicy.”
    Smirking, I close my phone and glance down at
the photo album one last time before sliding it under my bed. It bangs into
something.
    Curious,
I strain my arm under the bed until my fingertips swipe at a hard object. I can
barely reach it with my fingertips. If I stretch any further, I fear I will
dislocate my arm, but I extend anyway and finally manage to yank it out. It’s a
small brown chest with a gold belt around the center, but it’s not locked. The
lid swings back, and I see a small book inside. A diary.
    In a flurry, I take it out and flip through the
pages. It’s my handwriting, all right. I turn to the last used page. Only two
days ago.

 
    I bought the
dress I want for the prom. Dad took me and we had a great time. He even sprang
for lunch. It was nice, just being the two of us again. I love having a sister
and brother, but I miss when it was just us. Just the two of us.
    Mom’s always
at work and I’m used to it. I know her work is important or whatever. She can
do what she wants. When she’s home everyone is clamoring for her attention and
I blend in with the friggin wallpaper. Maybe she
regrets me. Maybe I’m a reminder of her ‘big mistake’ with John Crane.
      Donovan gave me the prettiest necklace. I
didn’t realize how he felt about me until I opened that little box. I love him
too, and I can’t wait until prom when we'll really be alone.
    But I can
barely concentrate. The men following me are getting closer and the plan is
shaping up. I hope they don’t suspect what I’m up to. I pray

 
    I scowl at the pages.