"You're looking beautiful, honey," Nick told Freyja as she stood in front of the mirror. It was her birthday and people were about to arrive for the party.

"Thanks," she said with a smile. She was wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress with glittery high-healed shoes. Her glossy black hair was worn in loose curls and her face was flawless even without very much make-up- thanks to the cosmetics she had brought with her from the future.

The doorbell rang and Freyja went to answer it. "Hi Grace, glad you come!".

Grace handed her a present. "Hope you like it!".

Soon, more people had arrived. The stereo was playing loudly and guests were happily helping themselves to the food she had prepared.

Despite all the birthday wishes, Freyja was not happy. There were four days to go until the accident. She was frantically racking her brains for ideas to stop Nick going. But she hadn't come up with anything yet.

"What's the matter?".

Freyja spun around to see her friend Deb looking at her in concern.

"Nothing...".

"Something's the matter, you can tell me," Deb said, leading Freyja into the back yard where it was quieter.

Freyja looked at her friend's kind face. Could she trust Deb with the truth? She was so desperate for ideas of how to stop Nick going, she nodded her head. "Yeah, something is up,".

They went upstairs and sat in the bedroom where no-one could hear them.

"This must be something major," Deb said. "So tell me what's the matter,".

"I'm nineteen today, so what year was I born in?" Freyja quizzed Deb.

Deb looked puzzled. "1981, I guess...".

"No, I was born in 2081,".

"That's not possible," Deb said, confused.

"I'm from the future," Freyja confessed. "My great-grandfather made a time-travel capsule and I came here...".

"That's crazy!" Deb laughed. "You're kidding me, right?".

"No, this is the truth! You know that story I wrote about Earth in the future? That's the Earth I know it as. I came back in time to stop it getting that bad. And to save Nick,".

"Huh?".

"Watch this," Freyja said, getting a video tape out of the cupboard and putting it into the VCR. She had some of her grandmothers' TV programmes on video tapes and had brought them with her to 2000.

Deb watched the tape- it showed news programmes which had not been filmed yet, including coverage of Nick's accident.

"Oh my God!" Deb exclaimed.

"Is that good enough proof?" Freyja asked. She showed her friend other items she had brought with her, including newspapers and magazines not yet printed.

Deb nodded. "Yes, I believe you. I can't believe Nick is going to die! How are you going to stop it?".

"That's what I want to ask you about. I can't think of anything. I've asked him to change the date of the TV show, I've brought him a plane ticket... nothing worked,".

"Maybe you should tell him," Deb said slowly. "It might be the only way,".

"I don't know... he'll think I'm crazy, he won't believe me,".

"He will if you show him this proof,".

"I don't know...".

At that moment, the door opened and Nick appeared. "There you are!" he laughed. "I wondered where you had gotten to,".

"We're coming back to the party now," Freyja said, kicking the video tapes and other evidence under the bed quickly.

At the end of the party, Freyja opened the door for Deb. "Good luck," Deb told her. "I hope you manage to stop him in time,".

"Thanks, I hope so too...".

Two days later, Deb called over while Nick was out. "Have you thought of anything yet?" she asked.

"No, I might just have to tell him the truth,".

"That might be the best idea. So, tell me more about the future,".

"We can go for a visit if you like, I have my time capsule here,".

Debs' eyes lit up. "Cool!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Freyja set up the capsule as the got inside it. She tapped in the date and location and they were soon in 2100, back in Freyja's house-block.

"Wow!" Deb cried as they walked around the room. She looked at all the new technology with wide eyes.

"Outside is not as cool," Freyja said sadly, as they got to the window. The sky was a murky gray and all that surrounded them were tall buildings. No trees, no grass... it was ugly.

"I see what you mean now," Deb said quietly. "Gosh, this is awful,".

Soon they went back to 2000. "I'd better go now, I have a drama class to get to," Deb said as they walked outside to her car. "Thanks for letting me see the future,".

"No problem, see you soon,".

Deb drove away, leaving Freyja standing alone on the sidewalk. "What can I do?" she muttered to herself.

Nick arrived back from a business meeting with the band later that afternoon. "Is the TV programme still on?" Freyja asked as soon as he got inside the house. "Was it rescheduled or anything like that?".

"No, why would it be?" Nick looked at her suspiciously, wondering why she kept on about it.

"Oh, OK..." she looked down to avoid his gaze. "How about going out tonight?". She might as well make the most of being with him...

"Sure, how about going to a club or something?".

"I'd rather it was just you and I," Freyja said.

"OK, maybe we could have a picnic on the beach when it gets dark,".

Freyja smiled, that sounded romantic. "That would be cool,".

A tear slipped down her face as she went into the kitchen to prepare the food.

She had been so sure she would be able to stop Nick going, but now she felt she had failed.

>>>>>

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