12 Hours

I looked down at the robot and sighed.

" It's probably gonna take an hour to do this," I said.

" Well it depends on the system, we don't know how it's set up," said Bryson.

" So how much time would it take if it's a simple set up?" I asked as I looked at Bryson.

Bryson looked up at me then looked at the robot.

" Definitely less than an hour, but I can't give you a specific time," he said.

" So what if it's complex?" I asked.

He stopped and looked at me.

" Do you really want to hear the answer?" he asked.

I got quiet. The anxiety in my heart started to fade away, we might actually live. We could actually save the world and go back to how things were. When we first got here, I was excited to finish this mission and continue a life without Bryson, now I don't think I want to imagine a life with him.

" Hey Brown, you alright?"

" Hey Brown, you alright?"

" HEY BROWN YOU ALRIGHT?" he said.

I looked at Bryson and rapidly.

"You totally zoned out," he said.

" Yeah, I'm fine, just thinking," I said.

I sat down next to Bryson and watched him tinker with the robot. I figured since everyone knew about jumpstarting, I should learn.

" What were you thinking about?" he asked while working on the robot.

" I don't want to go back to how things were," I said.

He looked up at me and stopped working.

" You mean our regular lives?" he asked.

I nodded my head.

" Yeah, a life, where I had no friends and guys didn't like me."

He pressed his lips together and started to work again.

" Sounds depressing," he said.

" It was. Sometimes I think about how maybe I don't want to go back," I said.

" You want to stay in a world where we are constantly fighting for our lives?" he asked.

No, I wanna be in a world with you idiot.

" You know what, nevermind," I said.

Bryson shrugged his shoulders and continued to work on the robot. Bryson telling me that he wants to kiss me and that he actually likes me makes me sad every time I think about returning home. I most likely won't see him for the rest of my life, and that life would be a heck of a lot more depressing than my old life.

" You mind getting me something to unscrew this?" Bryson asked.

" Yeah sure," I replied.

I walked over to a table that had pieces of scrap metal. Luckily I found a thin pointed piece of metal that would surely fit into the small screw head.

" I found this thin, pointy metal thing," I said.

Bryson smiled and took the metal scrap from my hand.

" Ooh, this is perfect! Thanks, Alex," he said.

I smiled and put my hands on my hips hero style.

" All in a day's work of being Alex," I said.

" More like all in five hours and some change worth of work," he said.

I shook my head and sat down beside him.

" It sounds cooler if you say day's work," I said.

" But it makes more sense if you say five hours and some change," he argued.

I rolled my eyes at that boy. Now he wants to bring his " what makes sense" attitude when I wanna joke around. Marvelous.

" Just work on the dumb robot," I said.

" This robot is not dumb, this robot is the key to our escape!" he said.

I raised my hands and leaned back.

" Sorry, I didn't know the robot was your best friend." I sassed.

He stopped working on the robot and turned his head towards me.

" I see what's going on here," he said.

" Nothing's going on," I said.

" So you can correct me whenever you want, but when I do it you throw a hissy fit," "And you call me sensitive," he said.

" No one's throwing a hissy fit but you," I said.

" You're just like every other girl," he said.

I paused and glared at him.

" E-every other g-girl?" I said.

I hate it with every bone in my body when people compare me to those plastic, barbie doll, popular girls that rule the school. First of all, I don't get my rich mom to get me a boob job that makes your boobs automatically pushed up. People wonder how come pretty high school girls can wear tank tops without a bra and have perky boobs? Because they have more money than I can imagine so they can get a freaking boob job, that's why!

" I am not like every other girl thank you very much," I said.

" Sure....even though I'm pretty sure every other girl throws pointless temper tantrums," he said.

" You wouldn't even know what a real girl is like," I with attitude.

" What do you mean by that?" he snarked.

" You've only ever been with fake, plastic--," I said.

" What I said was supposed to be a joke, but obviously someone can't take jokes," he interrupted.

" Your jokes are not jokes," I said.

" I guess I won't use my hardcore jokes on you anymore," he said.

" Or maybe you don't joke at all," I said.

" Whatever makes you happy," he added.

Bryson finally finished unscrewing the back of the robot. When he opened it, it smelled like a brand new car.

" It's got that crisp new car smell," said Bryson.

" So," I said.

" So what?" he asked.

" So is it complex or not?" I asked.

" Oh yeah, right," he said.

Bryson started to look through the wires, but there was something odd about them. One, they were all green. Two the wires didn't look like regular wires. They looked sort of transparent and more flexible, like boiled noodles.

" How come the inside looks like that?" I asked.

" Because the inside of the tubes is filled with something. They aren't like the wires we have," he said.

" Then what's inside them?" I asked.

" It looks like their energy fluid and electricity," he said.

" Electricity?" I said.

" It's running through these wires except it had no cover, it's just straight-up electricity running through here along with the fluid," he said.

" Gosh, how high tech are these robots?" I said.

" So how are we supposed to start it up?" I asked.

" Well at the bottom of this robot there are two wires that look like they have been pre-cut," he said.

Bryson reached down and grabbed the two wires to show me what he was talking about.

" We have to create electricity and transfer it to these wires," he said.

" So is this how you jumpstart a car?" I asked.

" Mmm it's pretty similar to it," he said.

" So how are we supposed to create energy?" I asked.

" Well usually, we would get some jumper cables, but we are 8 years into the future and this place and zero helpful things lying around," he said.

" Great, just when we were starting to reach the top, we reach rock bottom," I said.

" No, not necessarily, we just gotta put our thinking caps on," he said.

Bryson actually acted out putting his thinking cap on. He grabbed it, put it on his head, buckled it then flipped the switch on the right side of his head.

" Really?" I said.

" C'mon, what are you waiting on? Put yours on too," he said.

" Mine is inside my head," I said.

" I said thinking cap, not your brain. Want me to put it on for you?" he asked.

" I'm fine thank you," I said.

" Put. It. On." he said sternly.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

" Ok fine," I said.

I acted out me putting my thinking cap on. I grabbed it, placed it on my head, buckled it, then flipped the switch on the right side of my head.

" That wasn't so hard now was it?" he asked.

I shot him an evil look.

" Someone needs to put on their happy cap," he said.

" Shut up," I said.

" Hey, no need for that language," he mumbled.

Bryson sounded just like my little sister. Except she talked about how her dolls were having arguments. She always had a big imagination.

" Is your thinking cap working yet?" I asked.

" You obviously don't know how thinking caps work," he said.

" You're about to see how my fist works if you don't figure out how to jumpstart the robot without jumper cables," I said.

He sighed.

" Fine, but I need your help with this though," he said.

" Ok, what do you need help with?" I asked.

" What things or objects can create electricity?" he asked.

" Metal objects, like a penny, but you would need batteries to make it work," I said.

" Maybe I can find some spare change in my bag," he said.

" But you would still need batteries and wires," I said.

" We can problem-solve," he said.

Bryson got up and walked over to the entrance door because that's where our bags were lying. He searched through his bag, fortunately, he found a penny, and then pulled out a flashlight.

He looked back at me with the penny and flashlight in his hand.

" Flashlights have wires in them right?" he asked.

" Yeah, why?" I asked.

" Well this flashlight has batteries," he said.

" Ok well, we still need wires," I said.

" Well why do you think I asked if flashlights had wires?" he asked.

Bryson got up and walked back over to me.

" You're actually going to take the wires out of the flashlight?" I asked.

" Well obviously, you said we needed a coin, wires, and batteries." He sat down the flashlight and the penny. "I have all those," he said.

He looked at me then at the materials.

" So how do we put it together, you know to make it work?" he asked.

" We need to tape the batteries together," I said.

" We don't have any tape," he said.

" Do we have a rubber band?" I asked.

" Now that we might have," he said.

Bryson went back over to his bag and pulled out a light brown rubber band.

" Ok, I found a rubber band. What do we do next?" he asked.

" Tie them together," I said.

Bryson got the rubber band and wrapped it around the batters four times.

" Now what?" he said as he looked at me.

" We need to find something sharp," I said.

" You didn't say anything about a sharp object before...." he said.

I walked over to the table with the pieces of metal and searched for a sharp piece of metal to cut the wires with. We needed three pieces of wire, and there was only one long piece. We needed to cut the long piece into three small pieces. Luckily I found a small, sharp, piece of scrap metal to cut them with. When I turned around Bryson had his gun out pointed at me. My eyes got big and I stepped back into the table.

" What in the world are you doing?!" I asked.

" The real question is, what are you doing?" he said.

" Getting a sharp object to cut the wires with, now back to you. What are you doing?" I said.

" Oh, that's what that's for?" he said.

Oh my gosh, he actually thought I was going to kill him with this small metal object.

" If I wanted to kill you, Bryson, I would have done it by now," I said.

Bryson put his gun down and sighed.

" I'm an idiot," he said.

" Obviously. I can't believe you were willing to kill me because I had a small, I repeat a small, sharp, metal object in my hand." I said as I waved the scrap in the air.

" I'm just defensive," he said.

" Or dumb," I said.

" Just give me the piece of metal," he said.

" No way Jose, you might kill me with this, I'll cut the wires," I said.

Bryson's jaw dropped and he folded his arms.

" Seriously? You don't trust me now?" he said.

" Apparently you didn't trust me because you thought I was going to kill you with this," I said holding up the piece of metal.

" Fine scaredy pants, cut them," he said.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to him.

" I think you wear scaredy pants better than I do," I said.

Bryson rolled his eyes and sat next to the dead robot and pouted. I grabbed the long piece of wire and laid it on the ground. I put my fingers where I would cut it to make three individual pieces, then I cut it where each my fingers were placed to cut it at.

" You do it yet?" Bryson asked.

" I'm done cutting it, but I'm not done with the whole thing," I replied.

Bryson moaned and continued to pout.

I grabbed the three pieces of wire that I cut up and attached two pieces to the batteries and the other would be connected to the wires in the robot.

" Ok, it's finished," I said.

" Thank god, it took you forever," he complained.

I looked at him and narrowed my eyes.

" I'm pretty sure it took me less than ten minutes," I said.

Bryson moved closer to me and looked at the device I created.

" That thing is supposed to create electricity?" he asked.

" Yes," I said.

" No way. This piece of science crap is not going to jumpstart that big robot," he said.

I stood up and looked down at him.

" Yes, it will," I argued.

Bryson sighed and got up.

" I hate to break it to you, but that is not going to anything but light up a lightbulb," he said.

I rolled my eyes.

" Whatever, just watch. I'm going to jumpstart that robot." I said.

" Oh my gosh!" he said.

I jumped and looked at him.

" What?" I said.

" You said jumpstart! You actually know what it means. I'm so proud of you!" he said excitedly.

I sighed and put my hand on my forehead.

" You little......" I said.

" Kids grow up so fast," he said wiping under his eyes.

I moved the device closer to the robot and grabbed the two wires that were already cut.

" You mind helping me with this?" I asked.

" Sure." Bryson moaned.

I looked at him and folded my arms.

" What's your problem?" I asked.

" Nothing okay? Am I not allowed to be tired, geez," he said.

" Yes, but you're not gonna have an attitude with me when I'm trying to help," I said.

" Why do you always do this?" he asked.

" Do what?"

" You explain yourself in a way that makes someone want to respond back in a sassy or rude way, and they know you're not trying to be rude, it's just how you say it," he said.

" Oh, I can't help that I respond in a mature but provoking way," I said.

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

" Ok well what did you need help with?" he asked.

" I need you to hold the batteries and wires, but hold them like highish lowish," I said as I pointed at the device.

" In the middle?" he asked.

" Yeah, hold it there because we need a good electric flow," I said.

Bryson got down on his knees.

" Will this like electrocute me?" he asked.

" It could, but not likely," I said.

" I don't want to take any chances," he said.

" What chances would you be taking?" I asked.

" Holding this death ray of electrocution," he said.

" Stop being a baby and man up," I said.

" I can find something that can hold this up, problem solved," Bryson said.

" There was and is no problem Bryson, you're the only problem right now," I said.

" How am I the problem? I am not filled with electricity," he said.

" Actually your body does have electricity in it, and you are the problem," I said.

" Oh my god.....I can kill people with electric powers?!" he asked.

Oh my god, he acts like he was just born.

" No Bryson, no you can't kill anyone with powers!" I said.

" Then how do you explain when people shock each other?" he asked.

" It's the movement of electrons," I said.

" English please," he said.

" It's like when people move to different states, each body is a state and the electrons are people. They move from one body to another." I said.

" Whoa! So we all have secret powers?!" he asked.

I sighed and looked down.

" No! We don't have powers, Bryson." I said.

" Isn't electricity considered power?" he asked as he put his hand on his chin.

" Technically yes, but in the way, you're talking about no," I said.

" Well either way power is power," he said.

" Can you just hold it please?" I said as I had my hand on my forehead.

" Yeah, sure. Maybe I can absorb some energy," he said.

" And die," I mumbled.

" What did you say?" he asked.

" Nothing." said.

" No, say what you just said," he said.

" I didn't say anything Bryson," I said.

" I'm not slow Alex, I heard you say something, so just say it," he said.

" You're hearing things Bryson, you should get your hearing checked," I said.

" What, no I'm not! You're just too scared to say what you said," he argued.

I rolled my eyes.

" Sure," I said.

" I refuse to hold this unless you tell me what you said," he said.

He put the device down on the ground and crossed his arms and gave me an angered look.

" Seriously Bryson?" I asked.

" Does I look like I'm playing games?" he asked.

" No, you look dumb," I said.

Bryson stood up and he hovered his foot over the device and looked up at me.

" Don't you dare," I said.

" Say I won't do it," he said.

" Bryson, you're taking this way to far," I said.

" I'm taking this too far?!" he said.

I looked down at the device then at him.

" That is literally our only way out of here! Are you seriously going to step on it?" I said.

" Maybe," Bryson said.

I looked at Bryson and he actually looked angry. I was just joking around, but Bryson took it seriously. I guess joking about someone dying is too far, but I figured since Bryson had joked around with me, I could too. Guess his reaction answered my question. He looked like he was actually going to step on the device, so I had to get to it before he could slam his foot down on it. I looked at him then looked at the device then I ran towards him and dived down to where the device was and put my hand under his foot, and moved the device from under his foot with my other hand. Bryson slammed his foot down just as I expected. I knew I had to act fast in order for him to have a late reaction. Of course, after Bryson slammed his foot down he realized my hand was under his foot and he looked down at my red hand in shock.

" Alex!" he yelled.

He put his hands over his mouth and gasped.

" Why would you do that?" he asked.

" I wasn't going to let your stupidity ruin our only chance to get out of here," I said.

" So you thought me breaking your hand was a better idea?" he asked.

" I think if I were choosing my life or a broken hand, I would choose my hand," I said.

Bryson moaned and put his hands on his head then started to pace back and forth.

" Great.....I broke your hand." he sighed.

" At least we can still get out of here," I said.

" This is not ok Alex!" he yelled.

" You're right, I'm definitely mad at you," I said.

" I would be mad at me too," he said.

When he stepped on my foot, I couldn't feel his foot slam down on my bones and break them because I was too worried about saving the device. But after I realized my hand was broken, I could start feeling the pain. It's like my body made me relive the moment of my bones breaking mentally. I could feel my bones snap inside my flesh, and I could feel my hand starting to swell up. I started to squeeze my wrist so some of the pain would go away, but that didn't really help at all.

" Alex, are you alright?" he asked.

I sighed and grasped onto my hand.

" No, but I'll be fine," I said.

" No you won't," he said.

" Bryson, our main focus is to get out of here before your watch beeps again to tell us we're running out of time," I said.

" Your hand is broken because of me! I created a whole new problem for us to worry about," he said.

" You did create a problem, but we won't worry about it, I will," I said.

I need to find something to wrap my hand with.

"AGH." I moaned.

" Alex..." Bryson said,

Bryson walked over to me, grabbed my hand and rubbed the top of it softly.

" I'm so sorry," he said rubbing my hand gently.

Bryson rubbing my hand actually took the pain away, well...not all of it. His hand felt like a pillow on my broken hand. It was comforting.

" Keep doing that," I said.

" Doing what?" he asked.

" Rubbing my hand."

" Why?" he asked.

Bryson stopped rubbing my hand a scooted away from me. As soon as his hand left my skin, the pain came back like a wave crashing onto the shore.

" Mmm." I moaned.

Bryson looked at me sadly and scooted back towards me. I was squeezing my wrist hoping the pain would go away just a little, then Bryson put his hand back on mine and all the pain went away. I don't think it was the movement of Bryon's hand that took the pain away, I think it was Bryson himself. He looked up at me and gazed into my eyes.

" Does it feel any better?" he asked.

" Y-yeah, we can work on the robot now," I said.

Bryson carefully took his hand off mine and picked up the electrical device and looked at me.

" If you can't do it because of your hand, then I will," he said.

" Well, actually I need you to hook it up because you need two hands for that," I said.

" You sure about that?" he asked.

" It's a simple job Bryson, I'm not asking you to do anything I couldn't," I said.

" There is a big difference between us, I never knew you could even create something like this, yet you did," he said.

" I didn't even know what jumpstart meant, yet you did," I said.

" I don't know smart people stuff, yet you do," he said.

" It doesn't matter if we have differences, it matters if we get out of here. Can you please do this." I said.

Bryson sighed then nodded his head. He got on his knees and grabbed the two wires.

" Ok, so you're going to hold the device while I connect the robot's wires to the device's wires?" he asked.

" Yeah," I replied.

" So I just hook the right wire to the left--"

" And the left wire to the right, yes," I said.

" I was going to say that until you interrupted me," he said.

I walked over to the robot and picked up the device off the ground with my right hand. Bryson had one wire in one hand and another wire in his other hand. I handed him the left wire, then handed him the right wire.

" Ok Bryson, you got this," I said.

" What if this doesn't work?" he asked.

" We don't have time for what if's Bryson," I said.

" Right, I-I just don't wanna mess this up," he said.

" Don't overthink it," I said.

" What's not to overthink?!" he said.

" Breath Bryson, breath," I said calmly.

Bryson nodded his head and took a big breath in and a long breath out.

" I can do this, I can do this," he whispered to himself.

" I don't mean to be nudgy-pushy but hurry up," I said.

" You're being very nudgy-pushy right now," he said.

" And you're being very slow right now, hurry up.....no pressure," I said.

Bryson rolled his eyes and looked down at his hands. He sighed then attached the right wire to the robot's left wire, then the left wire to the right wire. I could feel the heat from the electricity going through the wires.

" Nothing is happening," he said.

" Give it some time," I said.

" Time? We don't have time," he said.

" Patience," I said calmly.

Bryson and looked at the robot waiting for it to flicker or show some sign that it was working. But we waited, and waited and waited, but the longer we waited, our hope slowly faded away.

" It was worth a try." Bryson sighed.

" Yeah, I guess you were right. Fate is fate, you can't change it." I said.

Just as Bryson was about to let go of the wires and I about to drop the device, we suddenly heard a buzz. But the buzz didn't come from Bryson's watch.

" Was that?" Bryson asked.

" I think it was," I said.

" Did it actually work?" he asked.

" I mean you heard what I heard," I said.

The robot had our full attention, we waited for the robot to make another sound.

" Is it on?" Bryson asked.

" I'm not sure," I said.

Bryson leaned over the robot to see if he could see anything flickering inside.

" Did you see anything?" I asked.

" Nothing," he said.

Then out of nowhere the robot's wires lit up bright green and the energy source started to pump through the wires.

" Oh my gosh!" Bryson said in shock.

" We can actually escape!" I shouted.

Bryson put his hands on his head and looked at the ceiling then screamed.

" Thank god!" he shouted.

I actually started to tear up, I had never been so happy in my life. I could hear the energy inside of the robot. Then the robot made the buzzing noise again.

" It made that buzzing noise again," I said.

"Actually it wasn't the robot.....it was my watch. We have six hours left," he said.