Tony's frown deepened. "How do you know this?"
"Because this is old history for me," I explained. "This is all set to happen at two am Iraqi time. If this does occur, then please believe me and meet me at the gate tomorrow evening at seven. I won't be able to get in because you guys will be on lockdown."
Tony crossed his arms, his eyes dark. He schooled his face into a mask I couldn't read. I prayed silently that he would believe me. This was my last chance. If this didn't convince him, then nothing would.
"I really want you to believe me." My throat constricted and I looked down at the ground. I was still shaking. "I don't want you to die again. I don't think I could bear it a second time."
I felt his hands on my shoulders. They were warm on my skin, and I felt a small surge of hope. He still cared enough about me to touch me, despite the fact that I sounded like a lunatic.
I cleared my throat and looked up. Panic was welling up in the pit of my stomach. I needed to give him time to think, and I knew if I stayed I would start to cry. "So, August second: Iraq invades Kuwait triggering Operation Desert Shield. You'll go to guard a Kuwaiti VIP, and you won't come home."
I stepped back, trying to smile through the tears I could feel piling up in my throat. I couldn't let my emotions escape me this time. I didn't want him to remember me in hysterics. I needed him to remember the facts.
"Seven o'clock at the gate," I repeated and turned to run to the door. My fingers grasped the cold metal handle when I thought of something. "Oh, and I just remembered. You like baseball. A rookie on the Yankees will hit his tenth home run tomorrow. I remember you writing that to me in a letter. It was some sort of record."
I turned the knob and bolted out the door. Despite the heat, I ran all the way to the gate, trying to escape the fear that he wasn't going to believe me. I darted out the gate, waving to the guard and prayed that tomorrow, Tony would meet me here and I wouldn't be left waiting at the gate forever.
Chapter 13
August 2, 1990
For the second time
The rental car hummed softly along the pavement as I drove back to the base. The numbers 6:38 glowed green on the dash. I knew I had plenty of time, but I still hurried. I had sat in the hotel room for most of the day, watching the news unfold on the TV. It was strange to see it happening again and to know how it would turn out. I was torn between leaving the hotel early and sitting and waiting by the gate, or leaving so that I would arrive precisely at seven. Either way I was going to be anxious. I finally decided to just wait at the gate.
I turned onto the road leading to the gate. I put on a pair of hot pink Ray-Ban sunglasses, the sun still shining mercilessly down on the state of Texas. I felt silly wearing the '90s fashions and dressing like I was going to a dance party. Unfortunately, all the clothes I had were what was in style.
A Janet Jackson song ended, and a news report came over the radio. The announcer updated the world on the situation occurring in Kuwait. The poor announcer could barely say the names correctly. If only they knew how common the names of Saddam Hussein, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and so many others would become.
I pulled the car up to a waiting area near the gate. I was fifteen minutes early, but as I pulled up I could see Tony leaning against the wall in the shade. He was already there. Waiting. That had to be a good sign, right?
I took a deep breath as he walked toward the car. I unlocked it and felt the summer heat fight the air conditioner as he slid into the passenger seat and took off his hat. My mouth was dry and my tongue sticky. The butterflies in my stomach were doing a circus act.
"You're early," I said, grateful my voice didn't crack with nervousness.
"How did you know what was going to happen?" Tony asked. His brown eyes searched my face, trying to figure out if I was crazy or really from the future.
"I told you," I answered gently. "I've been to the future."
He scrubbed his short dark hair with his hand, letting out a deep breath. I knew I had rattled him and I felt badly about it, but I hoped that he would understand. I hoped that he believed me. That this was enough to convince him. I prayed I had done enough to save him.
"There's no way you could have known the things you told me," he said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than me. "The invasion... hell, just the name of the operation is top secret right now. I'm not even really supposed to know it, but you just say it like it's common knowledge."
"Where—or rather when I'm from, it is." I chewed on my lip before I put my hand on his. "I made a wish in a fountain. I wished that I could come back and save you. Stop you from going. The Fountain granted my wish and sent me back to warn you."
His hand went through his hair again. I didn't envy his position. He had to decide to do something crazy. Something that would forever change both our worlds. To be honest, I was a little afraid of what was going to happen myself.
"Please don't go. I don't want to lose you again." My throat tightened at the words, as if it was trying to keep my heart from escaping out my mouth.
He paused, closing his eyes as he came to decision. My stomach was threatening to be sick. This was it.
Tony put his hand to my chin, tipping my face up to meet his eyes. He smiled, his eyes soft and comforting. "I believe you, Ladybug. It's kind of scary, but I believe you."
All the air in my lungs rushed out in a breath I didn't even know I was holding. A weight lifted from my shoulders and tears welled in my eyes from sheer relief. He believed me. And he called me Ladybug.
"What do we do now?" he asked. He smiled and wiped the tears from my cheek.
"We're about two and a half hours from the Mexico border. We run," I said simply. I couldn't have kept the smile off my face if someone had paid me. He believed me. We were going to be together.
Tony took a deep, shaky breath and twisted his hat in his hands. "That means I'll have to leave Dean and Matt. I'll be considered a deserter. Can't I just go with them and just not go to work that day? Be sick or something?"
I shook my head sadly. "No. The Fountain said that if you step foot in that country, your fate is sealed. You have to leave them."
He closed his eyes, debate clearly raging in his mind. I hoped my position was winning. "I hate the idea of leaving them."
"But you'll be alive," I countered gently. He opened his eyes as if the argument in his head was finally decided.
"And I'll be with you." He smiled and touched my cheek again. His brows tightened and he glanced out the window toward the base. "Will they be okay without me? I mean, if I'm not there, what's going to happen to them?"