The Time Traveler's Guide to Modern Romance

by Madeline J. Reynolds

  And just like that, Elias was pulled from his trance, his legs sturdy and nimble once more as he chased after the boy. No one called him Eli, not his parents, not his grandfather, not even little Samantha. It showed an odd degree of familiarity for this stranger to assign his own name for Elias. And yet, Elias welcomed it. It was like a secret that the two of them now shared, and you didn’t share a secret with someone you didn’t trust.

  After traversing farther across the school’s campus, they wound up in a strange paved lot of land with the most peculiar objects that Elias had come across yet in this new place and time. They were like large containers of some sort; each seemed to be made of metal, all in different colours, and had windows exposing their contents. They had four wheels—or, what he assumed to be wheels from their shape, though they looked nothing like the sort you’d find on a carriage. Could that be what these were…carriages of the future?

  Tyler took something out of his pocket and almost simultaneously, one of the strange wheeled devices made a loud chirping nose and a set of lamps embedded in its front side illuminated briefly. Elias jumped, but Tyler’s laughter forced him to straighten and calmly adjust his collar, as if he had not just been terrified a moment before.

  “Come on, get in,” Tyler instructed.

  “In? You want me to get inside that thing?”

  Tyler’s eyes rolled behind his spectacles. “I don’t have time for this.” The statement seemed to be aimed more at himself than at Elias. He sauntered over to the metal contraption and opened the door, affirming Elias’s initial conclusion that this was some sort of carriage.

  Elias looked to the strange metal carriage as Tyler climbed in. The idea of getting into it filled him with uncertainty, but he scanned his surroundings and was instantly filled with even more trepidation at the idea of being left behind. He sucked in a breath as shaky legs led him toward the chariot awaiting him.

  As Elias sat down, hesitantly closing the door behind him, he noticed Tyler giving him a quizzical look. “Didn’t they have cars during your time yet?”

  “Cars? American, you’re going to need to start using terms I can actually understand.”

  “Sorry…ugh…” Tyler adjusted his glasses. “I guess they were called automobiles back then? Autos?”

  Automobiles. That did sound a little more familiar. Elias opened his mouth to say as much, but before he could get a word out, Tyler had slipped a small key into a slot and twisted it. There was a low roaring and rumbling sound, and the entire automobile trembled. Without even thinking for a moment about what he was doing, Elias reached over for Tyler’s hand, clutching it.

  The move shocked even him, but Elias continued to hold onto Tyler’s hand. More than being embarrassed, he was curious; would the boy pull away? Would he taunt him for his sudden show of fear?

  Tyler did neither of those things. He turned his eyes to the street ahead of them and the automobile moved forward miraculously, like a boat adrift on a current. Much like a ship, the navigating was manipulated by a steering wheel. Elias thought Tyler would have needed both hands for such a task, but he seemed to manage just fine operating the wheel with his left hand while allowing Elias to squeeze his right hand.

  Elias was endlessly grateful for this, considering that each bump or bend in the road felt like it would lead to his untimely death. After what seemed like an eternity, but was most likely mere minutes, Elias gradually became more and more certain that Tyler had the situation under control and that he would not wind up dead, and so he slipped his hand away and onto his own lap. Either he was imagining things or Tyler had squeezed his hand back, for he felt a slight tug before they were separated.

  They rode on in silence for a little while longer. Elias watched the passing surroundings with wide eyes, his heart still racing with underlying fear and his head throbbing with the ache of things he could not comprehend.

  His concentration was finally broken when Tyler asked, “Do you know how you got here?”

  “No.”

  Tyler nodded. “Well, what’s the last thing you remember?”

  Remember? Remember. It became a command to himself. Urging himself to recall the events leading up to his inexplicable transportation. Remember, for God’s sake.

  “I was in my parents’ home in London…the year was still 1886…and we were arguing. I remember being quite angry.”

  Tyler frowned in sympathy then nodded again, beckoning him to continue.

  “I wanted to get away from them. So I went to my grandfather’s room. I wanted to be alone. And there was…and I…”

  The watch. His grandfather.

  Elias looked out of the corner of his eye to Tyler, who still seemed to be expecting some sort of explanation. He clutched the watch, finger brushing over the engraving. He knew exactly what had brought him here, but this American boy would think him a right nutter if he shared it with him.

  Then again, the whole situation was already so bizarre. He could just as well inform Tyler that he rode on a dragon through time and space with a faerie as his guide and it would sound just as plausible as a magical watch.

  Instead, all he said was, “That’s all I remember.”

  Tyler blew out a breath, tapping on the steering wheel with his fingertips. “Time travel. I feel like I’m in an episode of Doctor Who, or something.”

  “Doctor who?” Elias blinked. “I mean, who is Doctor Who?”

  “Never mind.”

  They continued along the path and the farther they got without any sort of mishap, the more at ease he felt. He’d been previously sitting erect but finally allowed himself to sink into the seat, tentatively leaning his head back. It occurred to him that he shouldn’t be feeling calm. He should be panicking. He should be having a complete breakdown of all his senses. Somehow, someway, he had gone from his grandfather’s bedroom in London to a library in New Jersey, over a hundred years forward in time.

  But he closed his eyes and brought himself back to the moments just before being transported. The pressure…the tension…the anger. He suddenly heard banging against a door, as clearly as if it was happening in that moment, rather than a mere recollection. The stark contrast between his parents yelling at him from the other side of a door and this red-haired boy, whom he didn’t even know, offering to help him in a time when he was vulnerable. Given the choice, he was temporarily happy to remain here, trying to make sense of the bewildering set of circumstances, rather than back in the “comforts” of his home.

  Up until that point his mind had been racing and his senses had been on a razor-thin edge, like an animal being stalked by a predator or a soldier flung into enemy territory. He didn’t know Tyler, didn’t know if he could trust him quite yet, but the boy had been successful in making him calm enough that he could sort through the countless thoughts plaguing him. A creeping curiosity was taking hold. If Elias hadn’t believed Tyler when he told him they were in the twenty-first century, then this automobile was certainly enough to convince him. There were so many compartments and lights and buttons and knobs. Before he had time to question his actions, he reached for the small black knob nearest to him and fiddled with it.

  Instantly, bizarre noises were filling the space and Elias’s heart rate, which he had just managed to coax back down to a human level, was speeding faster than the vehicle they were in. He quickly turned the knob again, hoping it would get the bizarre noises to cease, but it only made matters worse, with a combination of syncopated beats, erratic melodies, and what seemed to be a man or woman wailing at the top of their lungs.

  Tyler shook his head and swatted Elias’s hand away. “Here,” he offered, turning the knob in the reverse direction, transforming the cacophony into something that might have even resembled music one would play on a phonograph. But the sounds elicited were so alien…so mechanical, with an odd echo and resonance to them. If it was indeed music, he could hardly imagine what type of instruments were being played.

  He listened for a bit, and as the singer
continued to scream and wail, he could feel his facial features crumpling as if he had just taken a bite of something bitter. He looked over to his guide, but Tyler did not seem to be experiencing the same feelings of distaste. On the contrary, he looked entirely amused.

  “What is this?” Elias finally brought himself to ask.

  “ACDC.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Tyler smirked. “It’s the name of a band…a musical troupe? They play music, rock music.”

  So it was supposed to be music. Although he wasn’t entirely sure what geology had to do with the situation.

  He wrinkled his nose once more before adding, “It’s entirely atrocious.”

  He had meant for it to be a serious observation, but the minute he said it, Tyler broke out in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Though Elias was not keen to the joke, the sound of Tyler’s laughter warmed him and replaced the sour frown on his face with a smile. Somehow, it felt like he had managed to pass some sort of test, and Tyler’s joy was his prize.

  It was lovely.

  “Fair enough,” Tyler admitted once his laughter had subsided. “I was never really a big fan of theirs, either.”

  For the rest of the ride, Tyler continued pressing buttons that caused the music filling the automobile to change. With each new song, he explained the different type of music that it was; country, rap, pop…it honestly seemed he was rattling off random words. But he would back up his musical knowledge with further information about the particular artist or group who composed the song in question. Elias listened intently, far more captivated by Tyler’s excitement than the information being shared.

  Through a sea of noise, they finally landed on a composition that, while still bizarre, was far more agreeable. The musician, a man by the name of David Bowie, accompanied by a group named Queen, and the song was about being “under pressure,” a situation Elias found all too relatable.

  Elias felt like he’d only just begun to immerse himself in the song, when the automobile came to a stop.

  “We’re here.” Tyler nodded to a brick building with white columns lining the entrance. It was strange; much like the library that they’d previously exited, this building didn’t strike him as particularly futuristic or modern. In fact, it looked like it could easily fit in his part of town back home. But he supposed that was apt for a building that housed the “New Jersey Historical Society of Newark.”

  The calm he had found faded once more as an odd thought struck him: the thought that anything from his home, from his life, would be considered a historical relic in this new place. He reached down for his stomach, suddenly feeling nauseous. This feeling was only amplified when he looked out the car window, realizing he would have to go out there again. Out amidst people he did not understand—who would not understand him. Here in this automobile, he was safe. Here with Tyler.

  He glanced over, hopeful for another moment of safety and peace, but Tyler had already exited the vehicle and was waiting with an expectant look for Elias to do the same. He took a deep breath then turned his attention to the door but was met with the realization that it was equipped with more buttons and levers and knobs, and he wasn’t exactly sure how to free himself. He flashed Tyler a look for help and knocked on the glass separating them. He felt both honored and embarrassed when he came around to open it for him.

  Elias took a step toward the building, but Tyler stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “I know you’ve been through a lot today. You just experienced something that should have been impossible. I can’t even imagine what you must be thinking right now, and I’m sorry. I promise we’ll be here for only a little bit, then we can try to sort things out.”

  More comfort. The calm feeling was back, and once again, Elias was glad he was in the company of Tyler and not his parents. He nodded and said, “Thank you.”

  Tyler nodded as well, then led the way inside. As he followed, Elias watched Tyler’s hand hanging at his side, wishing that he could hold onto it the way he had when the automobile’s engine roared, but he looked around, uncertain if such a thing would be acceptable in mixed company. He kept his hands to himself and marched ahead.

  Chapter Six

  Historically Accurate

  Being late to one of Zoe’s events wasn’t the same as being late to other social functions. For example, being late to a party was considered “fashionable.” It was almost expected. But the lectures, reenactments, and exhibitions she was always bringing Tyler and Oscar to were generally populated by an older crowd, occasionally a few grandchildren, and they tended to prioritize punctuality. Not to mention the fact that most times the crowd was so sparse that if you were late, there was no way to manage sneaking in.

  When Tyler opened the front door, he saw there were only a handful of people scattered at different stations manned by costumed volunteers and wannabee actors and, of course, they all turned their heads to inspect the newcomers. Luckily, only a couple of patrons glared at them.

  Tyler scanned the crowd for his friends, which took all of two seconds. He made a beeline for them, trying to piece together an excuse for why he was so late. Then it struck him that his excuse was walking right behind him.

  Shit. This night had been so mind-boggling, he hadn’t taken the time to think of how he’d explain his new friend to Zoe and Oscar. All he’d known was that he couldn’t leave Eli alone in some strange place, confused and scared.

  A look of relief washed over Oscar’s face, and he smiled as Tyler approached. “Dude, finally! I was worried you were bailing on us.” He nodded to Elias. “Who’s this?”

  “Ah…um, that’s why I’m late, actually. I was on my way to meet you guys when Vice Principal Jeffries stopped me. This is Eli Caldwell. He’s an exchange student from England. Jeffries wanted me to show him around, take him under my wing or something like that. I figured I’d invite him tonight.” He looked at Zoe cautiously. “I hope that’s cool.”

  Zoe looked him up and down then smiled sweetly. “Of course! The more the merrier.” She leaned in so only Tyler would be able to hear her when she added, “He’s cute.”

  Tyler glanced at Eli. He’d been preoccupied with the fact that the guy had traveled through time and space, but he wasn’t blind. Of course he noticed the sharp elegance of the lines in Eli’s face and the way his dark waves framed it perfectly. But he had bigger things to worry about.

  Zoe reached to Eli. “Hi, I’m Zoe.” He shook her hand. “Caldwell…that name sounds so familiar. Is Eli short for anything?”

  “Elias,” he answered promptly.

  “Hmm.” She looked as if she were considering something and then added, “Do you come from a long line of Caldwells?”

  Tyler was about to ask why she was grilling him, but Eli just shrugged and said, “As long as I can recall. As far back as my paternal grandfather, anyway.”

  “Makes sense. Nice cosplay,” she added with an approving wink. Conveniently enough, his time-traveling friend just happened to hail from the period of tonight’s event. Otherwise, Tyler wouldn’t exactly have had an easy explanation for the regal outfit.

  Eli raised a questioning eyebrow and looked to Tyler for an explanation, but Tyler shook his head, hoping that Eli would just play along. Thankfully he took the cue and smiled at her.

  “Zoe, it’s a pleasure.” He examined her for a moment then mumbled, “Interesting.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “It’s peculiar, you have all the grace and elegance of a young woman and yet your hair is styled in the fashion of a gentleman.”

  Tyler wanted to die. Zoe frowned. Oscar also frowned, stepping directly between Zoe and Eli. “Hey, hey, hey, new guy. I know you just got here and you don’t really know the pecking order, but the only people who get to tease Zo-Zo are us.” He pointed a thumb upward, rotating the gesture between himself and Tyler.

  “You’re lucky you started with grace and elegance,” Zoe said, completely ignoring Oscar’s pathetic attempt at defending her hono
r. She turned on her heels and moved to the next station of the exhibit.

  Eli’s pale cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, and his eyes were wide with worry. “I am so incredibly sorry….it was just an observation. I genuinely meant no offense.”

  For a moment, Tyler was worried that Oscar would keep going off on the oblivious English newcomer, but to his surprise, and relief, Oscar started to chuckle. He patted Eli on the shoulder.

  “Hey, don’t worry about her, man. She’ll get over it before the night is done.” Oscar reached out his hand. “My name’s Oscar. Nice to meet you.”

  Oh god. Oh god. Panic shot through Tyler, swift and unnerving. In the short amount of time that he’d spent with Eli so far, he’d learned very little about the guy other than that he was British, from 1886, and was apparently a Bowie fan. But he knew virtually nothing about Eli’s family or upbringing; if he was sheltered or had been raised in a more progressive household. Would he say something racist to Oscar? Tyler wanted to believe he wouldn’t, but given how little tact he had just exhibited with Zoe, there was no way to know for sure.

  Eli just flashed another friendly smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well.”

  Tyler exhaled; his back muscles went from feeling like concrete to feeling like jelly. Oscar simply nodded to the next station where Zoe was standing, her arms folded. “Shall we?”

  The three of them moved to an area that had been roped off around the fireplace and grand piano, which had already been a part of the building’s lobby. Antique furniture was laid out and two of the presenters, a young man and woman both looking like they pulled pieces from the same closet as Eli, stood in front of the crowd with smiles so wide, they looked painful. The small crowd listened on as the duo rattled off details and “fun facts” about their day-to-day lives.

  At one point, the woman sauntered over to the grand piano and looked down at it. Until that point, Tyler hadn’t noticed that each of the legs had been covered with some sort of fabric. “It was common for people in the late 1800s to cover up piano and table legs because they were thought to be too suggestive.”