Before I could even give my sudden realization a thought, the same doorway from earlier popped up in front of me, casting its familiar golden glow. Without further ado, I stepped from the table and dived into the entryway.

I found myself standing in the middle of a bustling school hallway, students filing in and out of classrooms while talking to themselves. For a second I thought I was in the present time but as I looked closer to the teenagers passing through me, I noticed the unusual choice of outfits they were wearing. Most of them wore flashy retro clothes and weird hairstyles, basically something that I'd think was inappropriate. The most odd thing that I also saw was. . . they seemed to not have any smartphones with them, which got me by surprise.

I mean, I usually see people walking around with phones in their hands nowadays. I guess I got into a time when that, and wearing sensible clothes, wasn't a thing yet.

Walking around, the students suddenly parted along the hallway, making way for a black-haired boy holding a bunch of books to pass by. There wasn't anything wrong with him, except probably for his emo look. As he strode past, several girls began whispering among themselves, giggling and sometimes pointing fingers behind his back.

"Is that the principal's son?" one girl asked.

Another girl near her nodded. "Yeah, not what I expected. He looks like a total weirdo."

"True," another one said. "I heard he transferred from some rich-only school."

"Well, I heard he was homeschooled until he came here."

"That explains the look. Too bad, I'd probably think he was hot if it weren't for that."

Ugh. I hate gossipers. They're the worst and like making things worse.

The new kid seemed to overhear the conversation and quickened his pace, hugging his books tighter to his chest.

A moment later, a boy in varsity jacket stood in front of the emo kid, blocking his path. The jock crossed his arms over his chest while the emo only looked down on his books.

"Excuse me," the kid mumbled. He tried stepping on the side but the bulky boy stopped him with his arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" the jock asked. "Look up, nerd. I'm talking to you!"

He slowly perked up, his lips pressed to a thin line.

"That's more like it," the bully said, smirking. "Now, give me your lunch money."

I rolled my eyes. If it wasn't the most shocking thing I've ever heard the whole day.

"Hey, Miller!" an auburn-haired girl standing near the girls gossiping earlier shouted. "Give me a favor and leave the kid alone!"

"Shut up, Bishop!" Miller yelled back. "Don't be a hero and just mind your own business!"

While all this happened, the boy had already sneaked his way from the bully, the girl called Miller. But he didn't get far when Miller pulled him by his hair, making the boy wince in pain.

"You think you can just run away and get over with it?" Miller growled. "If you want to live, give me your money!"

The nameless boy shook his head. "I don't have money with me."

"You think I've never heard that lie before?" The jock gripped him on his collar. At this point, everyone in the hallway was all eyes and ears on them both making a scene. "I said give me your money!"

"If. . . If you're asking for it, then how did you even get in this school in the first place?" the emo said, a small smile creeping up his lips. "You should've just went on the streets to beg for some extra change."

A wave of laughter erupted among the students, murmurs about Miller mixing along with the commotion. The bully's grasp on the black-haired boy loosened, his cheeks turning red like a tomato. His eyes flashed with anger and he swung a fist on the boy's jaw, sending him down the floor. The hallway fell silent as they stared in shock at the sudden turn of events.

Miller stomped towards the kid and began punching him harder than before. Gasps filled the air but no one dared to move a muscle to help the kid out.

Except for the auburn-haired girl.

The girl who was called Bishop pushed her way along the crowd to reach the two boys. When she got there, she shoved Miller back and slapped him on the cheek. The crowd roared. Gritting his teeth, Miller advanced once more but Bishop kicked him in the groin which made him kneel down in pain.

"I told you to leave him alone, you a-hole!" Bishop turned her heel to the punched boy and sat beside him. "Hey, you okay?"

The emo kid, who got his lip and his left eye busted, slowly nodded.

She stood and helped him stand, pulling him up. "Come on, let's get you to the clinic."

"H-Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Miller limped to them, grimacing.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Step aside, idiot. I don't want to deal with you anymore."

She and the boy moved around Miller, earning a growl from him. When the two weren't looking, the bully pushed them from behind, making them trip and fall.

Before he could even make another move, the audience that were watching the whole time suddenly scrambled away as an adult female who was probably a teacher walked towards the three students, her face flushed in anger.

"What in the world is going on here?" the teacher exclaimed.

The three of them froze in their spots.

"I want you all in detention! Now!"

The scene warped like a kaleidoscope in front of me, making me dizzy for a second. It didn't take long for me to realize I was now standing in the middle of a classroom. Two familiar people, the boy Miller and the girl Bishop, occupied two of the front desks, sitting at the far sides of the room with arms crossed. The door opened and the black-haired boy and the teacher from earlier entered, the boy holding an ice pack on his face. He walked to a desk behind Bishop's and sat silently.

The lady teacher gazed at the three with a frown. "You'll be here in this room for three hours. I don't want to hear talking or any other noise of some sort. I don't want you to make another scene. Is that clear?"

Bishop and the injured kid both nodded while Miller let out a huff.

"Good," she said. "I'll be on the other room so if you do something, anything at all, I will know."

She put her hand on the doorknob and swung the door shut behind her. Moments passed and the three students remained quiet to themselves. It felt pretty awkward as I stood there, watching and waiting for something to happen.

And something did. Miller pushed himself from his desk, his seat creating a irritating dragging noise as he did so.

"This is boring," he said as he stood up. "I'ma leave you losers out of here."

Bishop also stood. "What? Y-You can't just leave! Miss Beverly will barge in and kill us!"

Miller scoffed. "Yeah right. I just made a loud noise, and we're talking right now. She's clearly not in the other classroom like she said she was so we're free to go."

He continued to the door but she stood in front of him with her arms spread wide, blocking his way.

"I don't think so." The red head glowered at him. "It's your fault you got us in trouble in the first place, and I won't let you do that again. Benjamin."

My eyes widened. The bully is Uncle Ben? But how? Was he in some sort of a phase?

"Well, it's your fault you're here," teenage Ben retorted. "You just had to step in and act like the goody-two-shoes like you've always been. And what has that gotten you into so far, Gabriela? In detention."

Wait, Mom? That explains why she looks a bit familiar. She looked just like the picture Demetrius showed me, but less mature.

Gabriela clenched her fist. "Don't make me punch you in the face, I swear, or. . ."

"Or what?" Ben taunted. "Do you want to get in trouble again, huh? Come on! Punch me, little girl."

Fuming, Gabriela launched her fist but was stopped by the kid's hand before it could land on Ben.

"Stop fighting!" the boy yelled. Ben and Gabriela stared at him in surprise.

Gabriela frowned. "What are you doing, kid? Did you get hit that hard to save this idiot's face?"

The kid took a step back. "First of all, the name's Deme— um. . . Dmitri. Second, will you please listen to me?" Ben was about to open his mouth when Dmitri glared at him. "That applies to you too."

Ben harrumphed.

"I want the both of you to make it up right now," he said. "No more bullying and no more fighting."

"Are you kidding me?" Gabriela said, exasperated. "I'm not the one to blame! He's the one you're supposed to tell that!"

Ben rolled his eyes, an action I've never seen him do before. "As if! You can't order me like you're the boss of me or whatever."

Dmitri crossed his arms. "Technically, I am."

Okay. . . This is getting interesting. . .

Gabriela put her hands on her hips. "If you think being the principal's son makes you more superior than us, then you're wrong, kid."

"For once I might have to agree with you," Ben said. "I won't listen to a self-entitled brat."

Dmitri sighed. "Fine. Whether you don't believe me or not, my only intention of resolving this conflict between you is to make sure this school is a safe place for everyone who comes here. I've been watching every single thing that happens in this institution, and I've definitely noticed how you two are some of the major sources of dissonance that occur inside the campus grounds." He turned his gaze to Ben. "You and some of your basketball teammates have been responsible for most incidences of bullying and harassment. I want you to stop."

"Ha!" Gabriela stuck out her tongue at Ben. "In your face, a—"

Dmitri looked at Gabriela. "Don't get me started with you. Even if you mean well, the aggressive attitude that you use to solve conflicts does not help much at all. If anything, it escalates them and further turns them into long-time grudges."

The girl grumbled gibberish under her breath.

"So what do you suggest we do, principal?" Ben mocked.

"Well, for a start, I want you to agree that you will stop doing anything that might cause any bad incidences," Dmitri said. "It might not look like a lot, but it helps the school become a little better for everyone."

"I'm fine with that arrangement," Gabriela said. "As long as this je— I mean, guy does the same."

Ben snorted. "Whatever. But what happens if we don't?"

Dmitri shrugged. "I hope you just comply so it does not come to that point."

He patted them on their shoulders before walking out of the room like nothing happened. Ben and Gabriela stared at each other for a second before laughing their heads off.

"Can you really believe that guy?" Ben said between laughs. "He said he was the principal, and he doesn't even look a day over fifteen."

Gabriela slapped her knee. "Yeah, right. And I'm the queen of the world!"

They continued laughing, mocking Dmitri and the things he just told them. I shook my head in disappointment as I watched them.

Teenagers. I can't believe these people will become responsible adults one day.

Anyway, I wonder why I got in this memory. Does it have something to do with my mom and Uncle Ben? Or maybe it is about something else. . .

Now that I think of it, how did Demetrius become a teenager all of a sudden? Hm. Considering that he was using his powers all along to live longer, I guess he could also use his powers to look younger.

I walked to the door of the room, and just like I expected, the door replaced itself with the illuminating one from earlier. Turning my head around, I took one last look at Demetrius's odd memory before stepping into the door.