A Crossed Reality. Gerald Pruett

is an explanation for that,” Alex quickly said. Miles gave her an inquisitive look. “But I can’t tell you what it is.”

      “Why can’t you?” Miles quickly questioned.

      “Miles, I’m going to rejoin my friends, so I’ll talk to you later.”

      Before Alex had the chance to walk away, Miles asked, “Since when have you and your brother been hanging out with those four people?”

      Alex gave Miles a curious look before asking, “Why are you concerned about that?”

      “I’m not concerned about it. It’s just that… I’ve never seen you even talking to any of those four people before. And that one guy I’ve never even seen before.”

      “Most likely you’re referring to Benjamin, and we all do know each other. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to rejoin them.”

      “Alex, why won’t you talk to me?” Miles quickly asked.

      “Because you want to discuss topics that I won’t discuss with you or Trudy,” Alex said before turning. While walking away she said, “Bye, Miles.”

      Miles watched Alex for a second before he turned and went to the lunchroom.

      Trudy and three women were sitting at a table eating when Miles stepped up to the table. When Trudy noticed him stepping up she asked, “What’s up?”

      Miles gestured towards an empty table while asking, “Can we sit at that table over there?”

      Trudy looked at her group and said, “I’ll see everyone later.”

      “See you,” the three said.

      Trudy got up with her food tray and followed Miles to the table. As Trudy and Miles were taking their seats, Trudy asked, “What’s going on?”

      Once Miles was seated, he faced Trudy while saying, “I briefly talked to Alex and she definitely won’t confide in me as to what is going on with her. Whatever is going on with her, I have a feeling that it’s not her memory like you suspect.”

      “Why don’t you think it’s her memory?”

      “When I was talking to Alex, the vibe I picked up from her felt as if I was talking to a complete stranger.”

      Trudy grinned and asked, “You think Alex was replaced by an imposter?”

      “Okay, I know it sounds ridiculous, but when I talked to her within just those few minutes, it just felt as if I wasn’t talking to the same Alex who you and I know. She and Doug are even hanging out with four people who they normally don’t hang out with. Three of them I’ve seen around campus, but I’ve never seen the fourth one before.”

      “Well, I still think that her problem is her memory, and I feel that we both need to confront her about it at the same time.”

      “Alex will just walk away again like she did before.”

      “Then we won’t give her a chance to.”

      “How will we do that?”

      “You and I will wait in my dorm. Alex has to return sometime and when she does we won’t let her leave until she admits that she has a problem.”

      “When do you want us to do this?”

      “We can start now and we will wait all night if we have to.”

      “Trudy, both of us have classes.”

      “I have two classes this afternoon and I’ll skip them if I have to. I want you to skip whatever classes you have.”

      “Well, I have a game at seven that I can’t miss, so I can only stay for a few hours.”

      “Fine; I just hope Alex will return before you have to leave.” Trudy then stood up. “Well, we might as well go wait for her now.” Miles stood up and walked alongside Trudy as they walked away from the table.

       Chapter Five

      In Brandy’s dorm, Brandy was talking on the phone and inquiring about charter planes to Mexico City. Alex, Doug, Kenny, Cindy and Ben were listening to Brandy’s side of the conversation.

      When Brandy hung up, Cindy asked, “So how much for a round-trip charter plane to Mexico City?”

      “It cost six times more money than what I have in the bank,” Brandy said.

      “Where are we going to get the rest of the money?” Cindy asked.

      “All of us will have to get jobs,” Kenny said. “Also the time it takes to earn the money will give Randy the time to come to Harvard; if he’s coming that is.”

      “We don’t even know who’s hiring,” Cindy said.

      “I saw a ‘help wanted’ sign for a waiter or a waitress at Little Bucks,” Alex said. “I can apply for that position.”

      “Do you know anything about waiting tables?” Kenny asked.

       “Actually I do,” Alex said. “I worked as a waiter for four years back in St. Louis.”

      “You can’t put that down on your job application though,” Doug pointed out.

      “I can still fill out the job application,” Alex said.

      “Alex, before you fill out any job applications and go on any interviews, you need to put on some makeup,” Brandy strongly suggested.

      “Fine,” Alex agreed. “I’ll go back to my dorm, see what Alexandra has for nice clothes, put an outfit on and then come back here for you to help me with my makeup.”

      “Alex, put on a dress, and not slacks and a blouse,” Cindy said.

      “I’ll see what Alexandra has,” Alex said. She then turned and walked out.

      Minutes later, as Alex walked into her dorm room, Trudy and Miles got up from their seats and gave her a serious stare.

      Alex, with a confused expression across her face, looked back and forth from Trudy to Miles just before Trudy said, “Good, you’re here.”

      Alex continued to give Trudy a confused look while asking, “What’s going on?”

      “This is an intervention,” Trudy said.

      Alex continued to give Trudy a confused look while asking, “Excuse me?”

      “Alex, you have a memory problem and I’m not going to let you leave this dorm until you admit to it,” Trudy said.

      “Trudy; Miles, I appreciate your concern over my welfare, but there’s nothing wrong with me,” Alex insisted. “And I really don’t have time for this. I’m going to my room, change clothes and leave.”

      “You’re not leaving this dorm, and when you do leave it, it will be to see a doctor about your memory loss,” Trudy said.

      “You think you’ll be able to stop me from leaving?” Alex asked.

      Trudy crossed her arms while saying, “There’s no way that you’ll be able to get passed Miles and me, so you might as well start admitting that you have a problem so you can get help.”

      “I can let out a bloodcurdling scream and when people come to investigate, I’ll leave then.”

      “You would scream?” Miles asked.

      Alex nodded as Trudy said in a convincing tone, “Scream as much and as loud as you want. No one will pay any attention to it. They’ll just think it’s paranoid Betty seeing her shadow again.”

      Alex thought for a brief moment before saying, “I doubt that my scream would sound anything like paranoid Betty.”

      “Alex,