The Time Seekers (The Soul Seekers Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

numbed down. I wanted to make him appreciate how good things were now, here and now. This is what we had fought for, right? We were lucky to be alive, both of us. He wanted to revisit his time, but he couldn’t. I wanted Jesse to be alive, but it could never happen. We both wanted things that were impossible.
    “Ready to go in?” William asked, pulling away. His eyes gazed into mine, and I knew he was bitterly disappointed. Kissing and making love in the present could never replace the idealistic fantasy of his past. And then I thought: He’ll never belong. I’ve brought him here, but he will never fit in, no matter what I do.
    I slid a hand through his hair, through all the greasy Brylcreemed locks, and formulated new plans to help him accept present day. I wouldn’t stop; I would be tough and persistent. He would love 1980, and 1981, and 1982 . . . and all the years beyond.
    I would make him.

Chapter 3
    Monday came around too fast. I bit my tongue all morning while entering data into the TRS-80. Will seemed on edge, sorting out books and checking the new boxes of technical manuals which had come in. I pretended to ignore his old getup of cuffed Levi’s, blazer, button-up flannel shirt and greased hair, and gave a smile when he turned to me. How could I complain about someone so gorgeous? If he wanted to appear straight out of an old LIFE magazine, then so be it. He’d even worn his fedora, which I had stolen and momentarily placed on my head. I tipped it at him, and he cocked a grin.
    His fantasies about going back in time? I had my own opinion on those and would tell him tonight. People couldn’t dream all day, or eat sugar all day, or make love all day, and he couldn’t fantasize about revisiting the past. It was one thing I could never allow. He was here, now, with me. It was okay if he found comfort in his museum-like office now and then. But nothing more.
    I heard a commotion at the desk and glanced up to see a familiar face, but not necessarily a good one. It was the guy everyone referred to as “Weed” in my algebra class. He’d offered some to me once, and I had almost accepted. It would be like old times—Jesse and I in the record store back in Springvale. A night I couldn’t forget.
    “Hey, man! I dig the clothes!” Weed reached across the checkout counter to knock William in the arm with an over-excited fist.
    “Thanks. How may I help you?”
    “I gotta check out this pile of books.” Weed slung an armload onto the counter. “Got a test tomorrow.” He leaned in and added with a whisper, “There’s a party coming up, but we lost our connections. You think you can score us a keg or two, maybe some harder stuff? With that getup you’re wearing, you look really official. I got the dough, but I never pass those stupid ID checks. What do you say?”
    “I say . . . no.” Will grabbed the stack of books and worked on stamping their checkout cards, one by one.
    “Oh, come on! Don’t let me down.”
    William was firm, yet friendly with his refusal. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t get you any liquor. It would be wrong. Why don’t you concentrate on passing these tests of yours instead of figuring out how to get drunk? Don’t waste your youth on cheap thrills.”
    “Because I’ll need to get really drunk after I take these stupid tests. Come on, man, you’re the same age as me. You get how it is.”
    “Yes, I do, unfortunately. I remember well the mistakes of being young. Better watch out, because it’ll end quicker than you think.”
    Weed stood there in disbelief. He looked at me for help, but I lowered the fedora over my eyes and waited for him to grab his books and walk off. When I peered under the brim he was still there, staring. “Hey,” he said, eyes lighting up, “I know you.”
    I vigorously shook my head and mouthed the word “no.” No, you don’t know me. Not in front of Will, that is. Go away.
    Weed frowned, grabbed his books, and left. William came over and knelt down