A Tale of Two Centuries

Monday. But the clothes, the makeup, the hair, and the nails were all completely my idea.”

“Nails?” Cat asks with a laugh. “I’m almost afraid to look.”

Giddy to show off the extent of my transformation, I wave my To-Teally-Hot-coated fingernails in the air. “Aren’t they delightful? I am painted from head to toe with color.”

“It’s like a rainbow threw up,” she says dryly. She pushes away from the doorframe and walks backward toward her bed, unable to stop gaping at me. Plopping onto the soft mattress, she raises her hand, indicating my wardrobe. “Dare I ask what happened to the strict ban on elbow showing and gentlemen’s trousers?”

I lift a jean-clad leg for inspection and shrug. “I believe I may’ve overreacted upon my first encounter with them. The sensation was just so new and shocking. But that is what I am here for, is it not? To experience life and do things that I cannot in my own time?”

Almost begrudgingly, and blinking repeatedly as if she still cannot make sense of me, she nods.

I’ve avoided telling Cat about finding the second sign, afraid that once I admit it aloud it will make it true. But that’s just it—it is true. And admitting it may help explain what she obviously believes to be my crazy behavior. Joining her on the bed, I fold my legs like one of the delicious pretzel snacks I consumed in her kitchen. The complete freedom modern clothes provides for mobility is definitely a plus. “I found Reyna’s second sign.”

Cat’s sharp intake of breath and wide eyes is her only reaction.

“The soft-rose songstress was a vibrant singer with bright pink hair and a zest for life,” I say. “And watching her captivate an audience—captivate me—well, it woke something inside me, Cat. In the sixteenth century, all I do is live by established rules, follow expectations, and look perfect. I can never simply let go and do what I want. And seeing that girl out there living her life with such joy, it made me wonder if maybe she wasn’t just a marker but also a suggestion. A role model for how I should spend the rest of my journey. When I return home, I won’t be able to dye my hair on a whim, wear trousers, or go shopping unchaperoned with a male who isn’t a relative.” The lyrics to a song from my cousin’s iPhone, another modern convenience I will not have when I return but will miss, plays in my mind. “Just once I wanted to be the girl who says, what the hell?”

Cat’s response is a surprised bark of laughter. “Wow. Okay, note to self: keep Alessandra away from mass media.” Tucking her legs under her, she sits up tall across from me. “Less, I hear what you’re saying. I get it— remember I visited your time two months ago, so I know what it’s like where you’re from. And the clothes do look great, and the hair is…uh, well, fun. But, girl…” She touches my hand. “You scared the ever-loving snot out of me today.”

At the worry shining in her eyes, I lower my lashes.

She’s right. Regardless of how excited I am to be here, and how eager I am to discover all that life can truly hold, there is no excuse for upsetting my loved ones. Running my fingers along the rough texture of denim, remembering the similar dark blue of Austin’s eyes during his admission at the Snack Shoppe, I confess, “I suppose I got swept away with the possibilities of adventure. But it was wrong and selfish of me to cause you concern.”

“Yeah. It was.”

At the blunt words, I look up. Cat flashes me a frazzled grin. “But you know what? I’m not your mama. And really, it’s not that I care what you do; it’s your journey, and you should spend it how you want. But I need to make sure you’re safe while doing it. This world—my world—is totally different from what you’re used to. And I’m not even talking about cars and phones and electricity. You can’t even imagine all the ways you can get in trouble or lost around here.”

I wrinkle my nose. “But Austin was with me the whole time.”

“Yeah,” she says, shoving a section of hair behind her ear. The skin around her eyes and mouth tighten as if she is about to say something unpleasant. This cannot be good. “About that.”

My entire being stiffens, waiting.

Cat waves her open palms in the air. “Don’t get me wrong, if you’re gonna be gallivanting around town, I’d much rather you be with someone you trust than by yourself. And it’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong with Austin.” She pauses, tilting her head back and forth, obviously conflicted about something. She bites the corner of her lip and says, “It’s just that he doesn’t really get where you’re coming from. Or how, er, new all this is for you.”

I get the distinct impression that was not what she had intended to say. Ever since Austin and I started spending time together, she has acted strangely.

“Look, if you’re bored with school and want to be doing something else, I can take a few days off,” she continues. “You’re only going to be here for a short time, anyway, and skipping school is, like, a rite of passage. There are tons of places I’d love to take you.” The flash of excitement in her eyes transforms back to worry and I wonder if she is finally going to reveal what has been bothering her. Her teeth trap her lower lip and release it as she says, “But I’m not sure it’s the best idea to be hanging around with Austin quite so much.”

Time seems to stop for a moment. And the sole thought in my head is that I can’t lose Austin.

Without him, the exciting, passionate side of me that I always knew existed yet refused to let out will vanish. He’s the one who brought it out; he’s the one who gives me the courage to embrace it. But even more than that, the thought of spending the remainder of my time here without all his challenging taunts and devilish smiles causes a crushing heaviness to settle over my chest.

Cat’s gaze sharpens, and I realize I’m rocking back and forth. I loosen my grip around my knees and let them sink back onto the mattress.

Forcing a casual smile, I say, “I promise you, Austin is harmless.”

“Harmless?” Cat says incredulously. “I mean, it’s not like I think the boy’s gonna do bodily damage or anything, but that’s not exactly the description I’d choose. We are talking about the boy who got you—the textbook definition of Renaissance propriety—to break a bazillion rules, dye your hair like an Easter egg, and dress like a quote-unquote courtesan. Though”—she tilts her head—“it does kinda prove what I’m really worried about.” Her eyes pierce into mine, and I hold my breath. “You like him, don’t you?”

Clarity dawns. For Cat, a girl hurt so badly in the past, it makes sense that this would be what terrifies her the most. I rub my hands together and release a breath, pondering her question.

A few days ago, my answer would have been easy: an automatic and resounding no. But that was before my conversation with Austin at the Snack Shoppe.

So how do I feel about him now?

Well, there is no escaping the fact that the boy drives me crazy. That he somehow simultaneously inspires me to want to tear his eyes out and wrap my arms around him. Or that his past brings forth my sympathy, and just one of his smoldering looks ignites a delicious fluttering in my belly. Austin pushes me. He questions me. He makes me laugh. We’re practically strangers—I’ve only known him for a fraction of the time I knew Matteo—but there is still something achingly familiar about him. It is as if his soul calls to my own, almost as if we met in another time.

No. Even though I did not come here wishing to lose my heart, denying my affection for him now would be a lie.

I lift my eyes. Cat gives me a knowing look, and I’m tempted to lie. The last time I thought I felt this way, it turned out quite unfavorably. It would be easy to save myself from the embarrassment I suffered with Matteo and feign indifference—thanks to my unfortunate skill for telling falsehoods of late, my cousin would no doubt believe me. But I can’t, I won’t, mislead her about something like this…not when she is trying so hard to do the same thing with her feelings for Lucas. So I shrug.

“Austin is different than you believe. When it is just the two of us, away from school, he is…” I frown, unable to complete that thought. “Actually, I cannot say he’s sweet. The truth is that he is still incredibly arrogant. Perhaps even more so. Not to mention horribly ill mannered. Half the time I wish to throttle him.”

I frown, realizing I’ve gotten severely off point, and clasp Cat’s knee. “But there is more to him, too. During our time together, I’ve gotten to see the real boy he hides behind that cavalier facade of his, and I am telling you, Cat, Austin’s heart is good.”

As I say the words, a tidal wave of emotion loosens within my chest. I wrap my arms around my waist in an attempt to keep it all inside.

Austin is good—though I doubt even he believes so.