A/N: It's not a race, you don't have write an entire story in one weekend or two. But three is acceptable. (It will be the editing that will takes months)
It wasn't until Monday morning in class that it was brought to Gemini's attention, by Ken, his limited edition keyring was missing.
"You lost your limit edition keyring. I told you not flaunt it on your bag. I'm not surprised someone's taken it." Ken said.
"It wasn't taken." Gemini replied. "I dropped it in the room."
"The room. What room?" Ken asked.
"Fourth's room." Gemini told him.
"Fourth's room? Who is Fourth?" Ken asked.
"The name of the man whose been visiting my room." Gemini casually mentioned.
"Hang on. So the 'ghost' has a name." Ken asked.
"He's not a ghost but one year from the future." Gemini replied.
Ken folded his arms over his chest as he took in Gemini's words before sitting upright and placing his hands on his hips, said. "Hang on. One year in the future. One year! Does that even make sense. In four months, it will be the school new year. Who ever that person is will be moving into your room. What happened to you?"
"Good questions. I have no idea." Gemini replied.
"So, even if we wanted to find out who he is and why this is happening, we have to wait until the beginning of the new school year to find out."
"Mmm. It would seem that way." Gemini replied. All those thoughts were already on his mind and with the situation with grandfather still concerning, Gemini struggled to make any sense of what was going on.
"Man, this is so messed up. Are you sure it's not all in your head." Ken turned and placed a concerned hand on Gemini's shoulder.
Gemini gave an irritated look, and responded, "It's not in my head. He's definitely a real person."
"I think I need to change my degree to a science subject." Ken said.
"Like you would be smart enough to figure this out." Gemini told him.
"Ow. I'm smart enough. But not for this. Should we ask someone who's smarter?" Ken suggested.
"And get confirmed I really am crazy, no thank you. Let's see where this goes. There has to be an explanation. I'm convinced our paths are tied but I don't know why yet."
"Ohhh. Next level parallel universe relationship." Ken joked.
"Shut it." Gemini told him refusing to admit the thought had crossed his mind.
As lunch time approached, Gemini left Ken and met his mother in the carpark. The restaurant his mother chose was elegant and one of his mother's favourite places to eat.
"I saw your grandfather this morning. He's in good spirits." Mother informed Gemini after they had ordered their meals.
"That's good to hear. Have you spoken to the doctors. Did they say what's wrong with grandfather?"
"They haven't been able to pinpoint the issue but it's to do with his stomach. They've changed his diet and cut out all sweets."
"Ah. No more cookies for him then." Gemini asked.
"No. Which reminds me, I have some in the car for you. But it might be the last batch now that father can't eat them anymore."
Gemini nodded. He was yet to enjoy any of the cookies provided but he wasn't going to tell his mother that.
"Have you spoken to your father lately?" Mother asked as their meals were served.
"I haven't. With everything going on with grandfather and studying, I've been preoccupied."
"When you're at the main house next, see him. Since grandfather was admitted he's not had a lot to do."
"Does he need to take up a new hobby?" Gemini joked.
"I hope not. I've tried to convince him several times to go back to work but he loves being the househusband apparently. But I swear if he comes home with one more animal, we're starting a pet shop."
Gemini laughed.
"Are you disappointed you don't have any siblings?" Mother asked, her tone suddenly serious, her expression forlorn, taking Gemini by surprise.
"What! No. I'm grateful for you and father and growing up with Jan and Jamie has always been enough."
"I sometime think your father would have liked more children." Mother said sadly.
"You have me. What more could you want." Gemini tried to lighten the mood.
"We have you." Mother leaned forward and squeezed Gemini's cheek. "A blessing is what you are. Not a day goes by were we aren't all grateful to have you in our lives."
"Thank you, mother." Gemini said, slightly blushing.
After their meal, and back at the dormitory, Mother reassured Gemini. "Focus on your studies. Nothing is going to change in the immediate future and if and when things occur that involve you, your aunt and I will be with you to make sure everything goes smoothly."
"Thank you, mother." Gemini said, leaning over to hug his mother goodbye.
When Gemini joined Ken in their next class, Gemini offered Ken the cookies his mother had given him.
"Ah. No. Thank you. Those are the nastiest cookies I've ever tasted. I can't believe they are you and your grandfathers favourite." Ken declined with an expression of destain.
"More for me then." Gemini said, placing another cookie in his mouth, faced Ken and ate it with his mouth open to tease him.
Ken screwed his face up and pushed Gemini away, and this caught the attention of their lecturer, calling them both out for disturbing the class. When asked to explain, Ken didn't hesitate to complain about Gemini teasing him by eating in class. The lecturer, reminding Gemini about eating in class, came over and confiscating the cookies, threw them in the bin as an example to the rest of the students.
Gemini growled at Ken, "See what you did."
Ken snickered at the situation and Gemini refused to speak to him for the rest of the day.
It was mid week and Fourth stood in front of his door. With phone in hand he'd considered calling Paul but he didn't want his friend to have to be there every time Fourth wanted to enter his room.
"It's alright. If it's not my room I'll turn around and walk out. Simple."
Fourth's pep talk to himself worked, as he unlocked the bedroom door and slowly peaked inside. The room was quiet and as he opened the door a little further to check the desk, the sound of someone vomiting in the bathroom immediately caught his attention. Without thinking, Fourth entered the room and entered the bathroom. There, Gemini sat on the cold tiled floor face hanging over the toilet bowl, as he gagged and vomited again.
Fourth dropped his bag by the desk and closed the bedroom door before reentering the bathroom. As he knelt beside Gemini, he placed a hand around his shoulder and asked, "Are you okay. What can I do to help?"
Gemini slowly lifted his head to look at Fourth, and taking a hand from the toilet bowl, reached out to grab Fourth's shirt.
"You are here." Gemini murmured.
Fourth nodded, then replied, "Mmm. I'm here."
"Medicine." Gemini murmured, as the hand gripping Fourth's shirt fell.
Fourth rose and back in the bedroom, went to the cupboard and found the medicine kit in exactly the same place Fourth kept his. Fourth returned to the bathroom and crouching beside Gemini again, found the anti-vomiting medication, the same he'd used with Paul. Fourth poured the liquid in the medicine cup and helping Gemini to raise his head held it to his lips, as Gemini swallowed.
"Water." Gemini asked, he face screwed up in distaste.
Fourth found a glass on the bathroom sink, and filling it with water, once more assisted Gemini. Water fell around Gemini's mouth as Fourth did his best to get as much in his mouth as possible. When he lowered the glass, Gemini wiped his mouth with his arm.
Fourth gently rubbed Gemini's back, as he remained hunched over the toilet bowl. They stayed this way for several minutes before Gemini finally said, "Help me up."
Fourth placed the glass at his feet in the sink and taking Gemini under the arms, attempted to lift his sturdy frame. It was an effort but together they managed to get Gemini up and out of the bathroom.
"Bed." Gemini asked and Fourth guided him over. Taking hold of the bed covers, Fourth threw them back and gently lowered Gemini down on his side. Replacing the covers over Gemini, he lay in a ball, shaking.
"Should I call a doctor?" Fourth asked, kneeling down beside the bed.
"No. There's been a bug going around. My turn to get it. You should go, in case you get it too."
Fourth gave a nod and considered leaving but he remembered when Paul had been ill.
"Let me wipe you down before I go." Fourth said going to stand.
"No." Gemini said, reaching out and grabbing Fourth's pants.
Fourth glanced down, surprised by his actions, when Gemini said, "If you walk through the door frame you'll return to your world."
"Ah." Fourth realised Gemini was right.
Fourth kneeled once more and gently reached out and moved the damp hair from Gemini's face.
"Can you stay a little longer." Gemini quietly asked. His eyes remained closed and his breathing laboured. Gemini knew he was being selfish and he should let Fourth leave but with everything going on in his life, he needed someone to be with him while he was unable to care for himself.
Fourth ran his hands over his thighs, his concern for Gemini mounting. It was still early evening and Fourth wasn't needed anywhere. He could stay a little longer.
"Okay." Fourth replied quietly and slowly getting up, sat at the head of the bed next to Gemini.
Hesitantly, Fourth's hand hovered over Gemini's head before he slowly lowered his hand to caress Gemini's hair from his face. Gemini turned his face to be nestled against Fourth side. Fourth's hand paused before he lowered it once more and began rubbing Gemini's back. He would wait until Gemini was asleep and then leave.
Gemini's nose twitched from the odd odour beneath him. As he slowly woke, he realised he was nestled against someone. He wasn't alone. With eyes still closed, Gemini thought back at the evening before and suddenly recalled Fourth being there to help him. Carefully, Gemini slowly lifted his head to stare at the person beside him. With his arm wrapped around Gemini's shoulder, Fourth slept peacefully against the head of the bed. Gemini swallowed, unsure how they'd come to be in this situation. As he attempted to move, Fourth too moved and then their eyes met.
Fourth blinked as he woke, then pulling his arm out from beneath Gemini, said, "How are you feeling this morning?"
Gemini sat up, giving Fourth room to stand. "Better. Thank you for helping last night."
"That's okay. It was lucky I entered your room and not mine." Fourth stood looking anywhere but at Gemini as awkwardness began to fill the room.
"Then, if you're better. I should get going." Fourth said, turning to leave.
At the entrance of the bedroom, Fourth retrieved his bag and reaching inside pulled out the keyring. "This is yours?"
Gemini nodded. "Mmm. Limited Edition."
Fourth nodded and placed the keyring on the table. "Then... until next time." Fourth said, unable to meet Gemini's eyes, as embarrassment grew.
The moment the door closed, Gemini rose and open the door. The empty corridor confirmed what he already knew.
The fact Fourth never knew when he would enter Gemini's room had now become the most frustrating thing to come out of the experience. For the next week, every time he entered his bedroom he hoped he would see Gemini and know he was okay. But it never happened, and as he entered the next week, Fourth's concerns continued to grow.
In class mid week, Fourth stared absentmindedly across the room. When Paul waved his hand in front of Fourth's face and he didn't respond, Paul banged his hand on the table.
Fourth jumped, and turning he glared at Paul, and said, "What was that for?"
"You were miles away. What were you thinking?" Paul asked.
"Nothing." Fourth replied, packing up his bag.
"Are you still scared about your room." Paul teased.
"Shut it." Fourth growled.
"You haven't said about any thing else happening. Has it stopped?" Paul asked.
The lecture room was now deserted and Fourth paused as he zipped his bag up.
"Actually, it happened again." Fourth told his friend.
"Seriously, what happened?" Paul asked.
Fourth briefly went over the details of the events almost two week prior.
"Wait, you spent the entire night in his room."
Fourth nodded. "Mmm."
Paul sat in thought, then raising his fingers as he pointed out the facts. "His name is Gemini. He's a year in the past. He shares the same room as you. Wait!" Paul suddenly stopped counting and turned to Fourth. "If he's in the same room as you, then why isn't he in that room this year?"
"Maybe he moved out." Fourth guessed.
"Maybe the weirdness of the room forced him to leave." Paul added.
Both fell silent and Fourth considered Paul's explanation. Did Gemini really move out because of him. Was that the reason he had not reentered the room again, because Gemini was no longer living there.
"You know what, there's a way to find out." Paul suggested.
"How?" Fourth sat up, interested in his answer.
"We can ask the management of the building about the former occupant of your room. They'll be able to tell us, at least, if he moved out and maybe when."
It was a great idea, and as his smile broadened, Fourth grabbed his bag and left the room with Paul in tow.