A Crossed Reality. Gerald Pruett

Avery and Mr. Taylor stepped up to the receptionist’s desk, Avery said, “Schedule Mr. Taylor to come back for a follow up visit in two weeks.”

      “Yes, Doctor,” Tiffany said.

      Avery patted Mr. Taylor on the back and said, “I’ll see you in two weeks.”

      “Thanks again, Dr. Larson,” Mr. Taylor said.

      Avery just nodded and as he was about to step away, Tiffany said, “Oh, Dr. Larson, Alexandra called a short time ago.”

      “What did she want?”

      “She really didn’t say, but she was inquiring about a man named Nicholas Christopher O’Brien.” Avery stared at Tiffany as if she was a ghost. “Doctor, are you okay?”

      Avery broke the stare he was giving Tiffany before saying, “Yeah-yeah, I’m fine. Did Alex say why she was asking about Nicholas O’Brien?”

      “She wouldn’t say.”

      Avery pondered over a thought for a moment with a worried expression across his face before he told Tiffany, “Let Mrs. Jones know that I’ll be a few minutes.”

      Tiffany stood up and said, “Yes, Doctor.”

      Avery turned and walked into his office. After sitting down at his desk, he picked up the phone and dialed it.

      At the hospital, Beverly was just about ready to scrub in when her cell phone rang. After looking at the number, she answered, “Hey, Honey, this isn’t a good time to talk. I’m about ready to scrub in for surgery.”

      “Did you tell Alex about Nicholas O’Brien?”

      Beverly said in a confused tone, “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

      “I didn’t get a chance to talk to her, but she just called here and asked Tiffany about him. Beverly, before we got married we agreed not to say anything about Nicholas.”

      “And I didn’t. Honey, I don’t know how Alex heard the name, and I will deal with it later, but right now, there’s a man on a table who needs a surgeon.”

      “All right; goodbye,” Avery said before hanging up. He then stood up and walked out of his office.

      On the road to go find Randy, Alex was reading the diary. Alex had read a few pages before saying, “Guess who Alex of this reality dated.”

      Doug thought for a second before saying, “Myron Bennett.”

      “You can’t be serious. Myron in our reality is a nerd and is in desperate need of help with clearing up his acne.”

      “Who is it then?”

      “Stephen Keith.”

      Doug slightly grinned before questioning, “You dated Harvard’s first string quarterback?”

      “No, the Alex of this reality dated the quarterback. Stephen broke up with Alex on September 15^th and started dating Becky Steward.”

      “I don’t know Becky Steward.”

      “I don’t know her either, but Becky and the Alex of this reality used to be good friends before September 15^th. There is also another woman who I don’t know. Her named is Catherine Weis. She’s a friend to Alex and Becky. Catherine is even remaining a friend to both of them in spite that Alex and Becky are no longer friends.”

      “Interesting; what else did you learn from that?”

      “Not too much, but I’m still reading,” Alex said before flipping to the next page.

      A short time later, Doug parked in front of the house. After Alex and Doug stepped up to the front door, Alex knocked. Seconds later, Alex was stunned to see a ten-year-old girl answering the door.

      “Hi; are you here to see my mom?” the girl asked.

      “I’m sorry,” Alex was the one to say. “I believe I have the wrong house. I was looking for a man named Randy Miller.”

      Before the girl was able to respond, the girl’s mom stepped up behind the girl and asked, “Hi, may I help you?”

      “I’m sorry to trouble you, Ma’am,” Alex said. “My friend Randy Miller was supposed to have moved into this neighborhood just recently, and when he told me the address, I must have gotten it wrong. Again I apologize for troubling you.”

      “If this helps, I did see a moving van and two men three weeks ago two blocks up the street,” the woman said while gesturing in the direction.

      “Thank you for the information,” Doug said. “Bye.”

      The woman and the girl just waved. Alex and Doug waved back before they turned and walked back towards the Jeep.

       Before reaching the Jeep Alex questioned, “Doug, what are we going to do if Randy isn’t attending Harvard?”

      “Randy is the one who had talked you and me into applying to Harvard, so if we’re here then he has to be here.”

      “I hope you’re right,” Alex said as they were approaching the Jeep.

      “Of course I’m right. So do you still want me to drive?”

      “Yeah, I want to read more of the diary.”

      As Alex was opening the passenger’s door, Doug was walking towards the driver’s door.

      Alex and Doug didn’t speak to one another while Alex read the diary. After Doug parked the Jeep in Harvard’s parking lot and turned off the engine Alex looked up. When she saw where she was she put the diary in her purse.

      Just before Alex was able to reach for the door-latch to get out, Doug asked, “So have you learned anything else from that diary?”

      “I have. My roommate’s name is Trudy Appleby. Apparently she and I became best friends after Stephen broke up with me to go out with Becky.”

      “Is that all you learned?”

      “That’s all I learned that I’m willing to share with you. There is a lot of private and personal stuff in here that I don’t want to share.”

      Doug amusingly grinned before saying, “Okay.” He then opened his door to get out. Alex followed suit.

      As Alex and Doug were walking away from the Jeep, Kenny, Brandy and Cindy were approaching them. Alex and Doug watched them with uncertain expressions on their faces.

      Kenny was leading and when he stepped up he stared at Alex while saying, “Doug, we need to talk to you for a minute in private.”

      “What about?” Doug asked.

      “This is a private matter and I don’t want to discuss this in front of your friend,” Kenny said.

      Before Doug was able to respond, Alex blurted out, “Does it have anything to do with reality being changed?”

      Kenny gave Alex a curious look before saying, “That’s right. How do you know about it?”

      “Kenny; Brandy; Cindy, let me introduce you to my twin sister Alexandra.”

      Brandy stared incredulously at Alex while asking, “Alex?”

      Alex grinned before saying, “It’s me. How do you like my makeover?”

      “Doug, what’s going on?” Kenny asked.

      “I’ll give you one hint; Randy Miller,” Doug said.

      “What about him?” Cindy asked.

      “He was working on the idea of traveling into different realities,” Doug said.

      “You can’t be serious,” Brandy said.

      “Brandy, look at me,” Alex said with her arms spread out wide. “This makeover wasn’t my doing.”

      “So