Page 26 of You've Found Oliver

“It’s perfect the way it is,” he says.

People appear to check out his presentation. I step aside to let him do his thing. It’s nice seeing him light up from each question. It’s obvious how much he cares about his work. I can’t help but be a little inspired by this. Maybe I should find something of my own to be passionate about.

The event goes on for another hour. Then he packs up and we leave together.

Ben’s poster won an award for best visual design.

We’re going to celebrate with burgers. I tell the waitress it’s Ben’s birthday to get us a free slice of cake.

We share a basket of mozzarella sticks as a woman sings a Kelly Clarkson song in the back of the restaurant.

“I didn’t know this place had karaoke,” Ben says.

“Do you want to sing something?”

“I might not have it in me after today.”

“But you did great,” I assure him.

“I still can’t believe you came.” Ben leans forward, taking me in from across the table. “I was planning to have a frozen dinner alone tonight.”

“I borrowed my mom’s car. She doesn’t need it until the morning.” I fold my arms on the table. “Or, technically, in six months. I guess that’s true for my assignment that’s due, too. Wouldn’t that be nice if things stayed that way?”

“Would you actually like that?”

“Of course I would. I mean, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m not as sure,” he answers. “If anything, I’d want to take a glimpse into the future. A lot can change in six months. Wouldn’t you rather know where your life is headed?”

To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it. I’m not surprised Ben has though. He’s always thinking about his future. He reminds me a lot of Julie in that way, always trying to be ten steps ahead. Meanwhile, there are days I just want everything to pause for a moment.

“I wonder why I can only visit your timeline,” I say.

“Yeah. I’ve thought about that, too.”

Maybe there’s no point in overthinking all this.

After we finish our food, Ben says there’s another place he wants to show me.

Thankfully, I don’t have to make the last bus tonight.

It must have rained while we were inside.

The lights from the city reflect off the sidewalks.

I’m not sure where he’s leading me at first. Then the concrete tracks of the monorail appear overhead.

It was created for the World’s Fair in the early sixties.

Ben stops to buy two tickets as we make our way up to the platform.

A bridge extends as the monorail’s lights appear.

It’s like stepping into a relic of the past, looking into an old vision of the future.

It’s a slow ride through downtown, but the glass windows offer stunning views of the city. Eventually, we arrive at Seattle Center. There’s a beautiful garden of glass sculptures that makes us feel like we’re on another planet. The Space Needle shines like a spacecraft overhead.

We walk past the International Fountain, watching kids chasing each other around it. Ben leads me up the curved path toward Kerry Park. The lights from Seattle stretch across the sky before us. You can see the Ferris wheel glowing over Pier 57.

I lean against the railing, taking it all in. “The view is amazing ,” I say. “I hope you don’t take all your boys here.”

“Only you so far,” he promises.

“Good.”

The sky is especially clear tonight. There are plenty of things to see even without a telescope.

According to Ben, certain constellations are more visible at different seasons and depend on where you are in the world.

For instance, in the Northern Hemisphere, Orion is most visible in the winter.

Meanwhile, Ursa Major can be seen year-round because it rotates around the North Star.

You can never miss that big spoon in the sky here in Washington.

“How come we don’t see a lot of meteor showers?”

“They depend on the Earth’s orbit,” Ben explains. “We need to be passing through certain parts of the universe where there’s debris left from comets. That’s how we always know when to expect them.”

I’ve always thought they were completely random.

My brain hurts thinking about the vastness of the universe itself.

I think back to Ben’s research project. The idea that two giant black holes are dancing billions of light years away from us is unfathomable.

“I have a question about something you said earlier. What does it mean to alter the fabric of space-time?”

“That’s a tough question,” he admits, taking his time to answer.

“Have you seen Interstellar ? It’s one of my favorite movies.

When the characters travel near a black hole, time works differently.

An hour for them equals seven years on Earth.

That’s because the gravitational forces are so strong, they stretch time itself.

Now think about that on a cosmic scale, spreading throughout the universe.

Theoretically, if you bend time enough, it should wrap back on itself.

A black hole acts like a time machine in that way.

Of course, it’s just one of a million theories out there. ”

“Any theories that might explain us?” I ask.

“Not that I know of.”

A gust of cold air rolls up the hill, blowing leaves around us. I cross my arms and say, “Looks like we both forgot our jackets this time. Guess it’s still spring in my head.”

“It’s spring in mine, too.” Ben smiles at me.

“That’s another reason I’d want to be six months ahead.

I could skip the winter that’s coming.” He stares to the side, thinking about something.

“I’m actually submitting my fellowship application soon.

You mentioned looking me up before, right? I was wondering if I got in.”

“I don’t remember reading about that.”

Ben nods. “Maybe it’s better not to know. I like some surprise in my life.”

“Like how I showed up tonight?”

“Exactly.”

We smile at each other again. I stare out at the view, taking in the lights from below us. But Ben is still looking at me. “I know I already said this, but I’m really glad you came to see me.” He runs a hand through my hair. “I wish we could do this all the time.”

“Me too,” I say.

“I also wish there was a way I could surprise you .”

It’s hard not to think about. “I don’t know why it works this way. There are things I wish I could show you. Like this dance next weekend. It would be fun if there was a way you could come. Dress up in a tie, which I see you’re accustomed to.”

Ben frowns a little. “You should still go, you know?”

“I don’t want to go alone.”

“Then take someone with you,” he suggests. “I don’t want you missing out on things because of me.”

“You want me to take someone else?”

“I’m only saying you could if you really wanted to.”

“Is that what you want?”

He thinks about it. “No, but I would understand if you did.”

I put my arms around him. “I wouldn’t want to go with anyone else. Besides, tickets are probably sold out anyway.”

Ben pulls me closer to him. His eyes shimmer in the light. “I just don’t want either of us to get hurt. What if something happens and we can’t see each other again?”

I think about this a lot, too. It’s unfair that we had to meet this way. Separated by space and time. Close, but only for a moment.

“I’ll fly into a black hole to find you.”

Something shoots across the sky, casting a blue light over us. Then Ben leans forward to kiss me. I close my eyes as the rest of the city blinks around us.