Eighteen again: ONE

Lexi descended the stairs, enveloped in the warm familiarity of her childhood home. The aroma of freshly baked breakfast, brewing coffee, and sunflowers filled the air, transporting her back to a simpler time.

Her mom busied herself setting the table, while her dad sat engrossed in the morning paper, just as he always did.

Lexi's eyes welled up with tears as she took in the scene. She had never appreciated these quiet moments enough.

Without hesitation, Lexi rushed to her mom, embracing her tightly. Then, she turned to her dad, wrapping her arms around him.

"What's with you today, Lexi?" her mom asked, surprise etched on her face. Lexi had been a rebellious daughter, often clashing with her parents.

"You know I love you, right?" Lexi said, her voice trembling. "I love you both so much."

Her parents exchanged a warm glance. "We love you too, hon, so much," her mom replied.

Lexi's mom handed her a brown pack containing breakfast. "Hurry on, or you'll be late. Rachel is waiting for you outside."

With a final kiss goodbye, Lexi stepped out into the bright morning sunlight.

As Lexi stepped out, she spotted Rachel waiting for her, looking effortlessly cool in a tank top and blue jeans, her dark hair tied in a messy bun.

"Thought you were going to miss school," Rachel said with a grin.

Lexi sprinted towards her, embracing her tightly. "Rachel!"

Rachel's eyes widened in surprise. "What's with you today?" she asked, laughing.

But Lexi couldn't let go. This was her best friend, her confidante, her partner in crime.

"Let go, Lexi, we're late already," Rachel pleaded, trying to pry Lexi's arms off her.

Lexi reluctantly released her grip, holding Rachel at arm's length.

"I just...I'm so glad to see you," Lexi said, her voice trembling.

Rachel's expression softened. "I'm always here for you, Lex. Now, come on! We don't want to miss Mr. Johnson's math test."

As they strolled through the crisp morning air, taking the fifteen minute walk to school, Lexi's voice carried a hint of wistfulness as she said. "I miss you, Chel."

Her eyes on Rachel as if she was trying to capture the moment, to remember how beautiful Rachel had always been.

Rachel's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? You saw me yesterday."

Lexi's gaze drifted off, nostalgia etched on her face. "I meant I missed the eighteen-year-old you."

Rachel's confusion deepened. "What are you saying?"

Lexi's steps slowed, her eyes locking onto Rachel's. She stopped abruptly, taking Rachel's hands in hers.

"I need to tell you something," Lexi said, her voice barely above a whisper, "but promise me you won't freak out."

Rachel's expression transformed from curiosity to amusement. "Did you steal wine from your dad again?"

Lexi raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Really? No." She chuckled, he had forgotten she used to do that.

Rachel's grin faded, replaced by genuine concern. "Alright, so what's it?"

The air seemed to thicken as Lexi hesitated, her eyes searching for the right words.

Lexi's words spilled out in a rush, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I'm from the future or some sort of parallel universe."

Rachel rose a brow, confusion etched on her face. "What the hell are you saying, Lex?"

Lexi's determination grew. "I am thirty-five, we are and we both lived in NYC."

Rachel's expression transformed to nostalgia. "We've always wanted to live there."

Lexi's voice intensified. "Yes, and we actually live there. We are thirty-five, and you are supposed to get married today."

Rachel's eyes sparkled with amusement, but Lexi pressed on.

"We had the bachelorette party yesterday, and I passed out. When I woke up, I found myself here."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Rachel simply stared at Lexi's face.

Then, laughter burst forth from Rachel's lips. " Now is not time for you jokes. Let's go to school, Lex."

She turned and continued their walk to school, leaving Lexi behind.

"I'm serious, Chel," Lexi called after her, desperation creeping into her voice.

Rachel tossed a smile over her shoulder. "Maybe you were dreaming."

Lexi's eyes pleaded for understanding, but Rachel just kept walking.

Lexi's footsteps quickened as she caught up to Rachel. "Why won't you believe me, Chel?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. It was all too vivid to be a dream.

Rachel's grin persisted. "Because you sound silly. It was all a dream, welcome to reality."

Lexi's shoulders slumped, defeat creeping in. "Fine, don't believe me then. I guess I do sound stupid."

Rachel's laughter wrapped around Lexi, warm and reassuring. She took Lexi's hands, her eyes sparkling.

"No matter how stupid you are," Rachel teased, "you're still my best friend."

Lexi's resistance crumbled, replaced by a smile. For a moment, the uncertainty and fear lifted.

As they walked hand in hand, Lexi realized that maybe, just maybe, having Rachel by her side was enough to face whatever reality brought.

But the question lingered: Was this reality or a dream?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As they navigated the bustling hallway, Lexi was struck by the familiarity of it all. The vibrant graffiti on the lockers, the curious glances, and the cliques that dominated the social landscape.

The jocks, confident and boisterous, rated the passing girls with laughter and catcalls. The queen bees, polished and perfect, ruled their domain with an iron fist.

Then there were the nerds, lost in their own world of textbooks and equations. The loners, who preferred solitude to social hierarchy.

And the weirdos, who defied categorization.

Lexi had always been part of the in-between crowd, never quite fitting into any one group.

Rachel, on the other hand, shone like a star, with her stunning looks, toned physique, and effortless style.

Yet, despite their differences, their friendship remained unshakeable.

The bell rang, snapping Lexi back to reality.

Mr. Johnson, their math teacher, began writing equations on the blackboard. Lexi's mind wandered, observing her classmates.

There was Emily, the queen bee, flawlessly taking notes. Next to her, Matt, the star quarterback, struggled to keep up.

Then there was Megan, the bitch, she clearly remembered how she always tried to talk down on her.

Lexi's eyes searched for Jake but he wasn't here.

Her gaze then drifted to Rachel, who looked like she was immersed in the lesson knowing fully well that she was confused.

As Lexi opened her notebook, a scribbled message on the first page caught her eye:

"I'll always be here for you, Lexi."

A surge of gratitude toward Rachel washed over her.

" I expect the class to finish this test in thirty minutes and the classroom erupted into groans.

Lexi's heart sank. Math had never been her strong suit.

Rachel leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, I've got your back."

Lexi smiled. She knew Rachel hated math too but she felt a sense of belonging she thought she'd lost in Rachel's words.

Lexi scribbled notes, struggling to make sense of the equations on the board. Frustration etched on her face, she turned to Rachel, who was intently focused, her pen nibbling at her lip.

Lexi let out a quiet groan. She couldn't believe she was back to struggling with math.

Just then, the classroom door swung open, and a figure strode in, commanding attention.

Mr. Johnson's stern voice broke the silence. "You're late, Jake."

Jake apologized, his deep voice sending a shiver down Lexi's spine. "I'm sorry, sir."

As Jake moved to take his seat, Lexi's gaze locked onto him. Her heart skipped a beat.

Tall, with flawless tan skin that she had always envied and piercing blue eyes, Jake exuded confidence. Lexi's memories came flooding back – laughter, whispers, and stolen glances.

She couldn't tear her eyes away. Jake settled into his seat, oblivious to Lexi's intense stare.

Time stood still as Lexi's eyes remained fixed on Jake, drinking in every detail. The classroom faded into the background, and all that existed was him.

Lexi stared at him, her mind reeling. She had tried to prepare herself, but the sight of him still took her breath away.

Looking at the eighteen year old Jake, she felt emotions she couldn't understand.

Time seemed to warp, and she was transported back to when they were together. The laughter, the tears, the whispers.

Mr. Johnson's voice faded into the background as Lexi's thoughts consumed her. Why was she back here? Was it fate's way of giving her a second chance?

The bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Rachel nudged her. "Earth to Lexi!"

Lexi's cheeks flushed as she snapped back to reality. "What?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "You okay? You spaced out."

Lexi hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just...math."

Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, math sucks."

As they packed up, Lexi's eyes drifted back to Jake. He was chatting with friends, oblivious to her stare.

Lexi swiftly packed up her belongings, her eyes fixed on Jake. Ignoring Rachel's inquiry, she couldn't tell when her feet moved towards Jake, coming to stand in front of him

"Hi Jake," Lexi said, her voice barely above a whisper, ignoring the presence of his friends.

Jake looked up, startled. "Um, hi."

Lexi's emotions overflowed as she whispered, "I've missed you." She immediately flung her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jake's eyes widened in shock as he quickly peeled her off. "Excuse me, who the hell are you?" his tone, sharp and confused.

"Lexi," she replied as she blinked, expecting recognition.

Instead, Jake's expression remained blank. "So? Am I supposed to know you? Is this how you go around hugging random people?"

His harsh tone stung. Lexi took a step back, her face burning.

"We've been in the same class for two years," she pointed out, hoping to spark some memories.

Jake shrugged. "So?"

"We dated."

"What the hell are you saying?"

Lexi's words faltered. Oh God, Jake didn't remember her. They had indeed been classmates, but he hadn't noticed her until weeks later.

Shit!

"Guess we haven't yet." She mumbled.

Lexi's face flushed with embarrassment as she realized her mistake. Jake wasn't supposed to know her yet.

"Glad to see you haven't changed," She blurted, attempting to salvage the situation. She had forgotten how sass he was.

Jake's confusion deepened. "What?"

Lexi's words spilled out in a reckless torrent. "You should, though, or you'd end up divorced and a single father."

Jake's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening as he looked at the petite girl in front of him. "Are you drunk?"

Lexi opened her mouth to retort, but Rachel intervened, swooping in to drag her away.

"I'm sorry about her," Rachel apologized, pulling Lexi out of the classroom.

As they stepped into the hallway, Rachel turned to Lexi, concern etched on her face. "What was that you just did?"

Lexi shook her head, mortification washing over her. She had blown her it, and Jake now thought she was crazy. It was her second chance and she was already screwing it up.