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xandriagreat · 7 months ago

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Fate Be Changed

Chapter 2: Different Journeys On The Same Path

First chapter | Last chapter | Next chapter

Author’s note: Again, just to let you all know, the story takes place in the early 2000s. So it’s different from now (2024). Also this chapter will be in different POVs (mostly Diane’s), but the next chapter will be in Herbert's, Moe's and Webs’ POVs

Notice/warnings: food/eating, sleepy, passing out, running away

▪▪▪

17 Years later

2000, June 10th.

A now 23 year old Diane was now a college student, Senior year living alone in an apartment that she had paid herself for the last three years.

She just got back from night job and cram night school. She began taking off her shoes and getting undressed, getting cleaned up, got into her pajamas and checked her apron and purse to see how much money she had and went into her room, going to her savings drawer where she separated her savings. One for rent and food. The other is her chance to get into her Future undergraduate school; Howard University for political science, with her submission for acceptance already prepared in place and ready.

“Tips were hard but every penny counts.” she reminded herself. Then she looked at the calendar and saw that graduation was in a week. ‘And one more week until graduation.’ Diane thought after looking at the calendar. She got a pen and drew a little picture of a graduation cap and a pin on the graduation date.

But then she'd look at the portrait of inspiration she made herself, with her parents and family.

Including one of them, hope the photos of her grandparents and great-grandma that was given to her years ago

"Don't worry guys." she said, did give a kiss with her finger on each of the portraits "I will make you all proud."

Then Diane slowly walked over to her bed and plopped onto the bed with a lot of books of her studies scattered around it, giving herself a quick snooze.

Then her digital alarm went off.

Diane groaned loudly as she woke up and then she used her foot to turn off her alarm.

Diane slowly got up, yawning loudly as she stretched. She looked at the calendar, saw it was a weekend. So, no school for her today and just a full day of work.

Then she got her pajamas off, only her undergarments on as she looked at her closet.

"Good night, Planned Parenthood receptionist. Good morning, waitress at Coles." Daine said as she opened her closet.

She found her uniform for her day restaurant and put it on.

She began getting some toast, a banana, and an already made milk coffee container to go for breakfast before rushing her way to the bus stop where was heading to work.

She looked around the city of Los Angeles through her window while waiting for her stop. She began listening to some music from her walkman and read a magazine, normally glancing up to see her stop.

The city has changed a lot.

Some buildings got bigger, some places were taken down to build new ones, but it was the same LA to her.

A man tried to talk to her before the bus got to her stop. She began getting off before he could ask.

Diane rushed over to Coles and started to work.

She was one of the best hard workers, trying to give out as much as she can despite having a not-so-great chef as a boss.

◇■

Near the city's market, there was a person walking by a stand of Mr. Marmalade, a short man with well kept hair and fine clothing.

“Ah, hello.” Marmalade calling out to the person, smiling.

“Oh, hey.” The person said, looking at him.

Marmalade offered a seat in front of the stand and the person sitting down.

"I see that you need some guidance." Marmalade said in a kind look and sweet voice.

The person was surprised by that and said, “Well yeah, I'm new to the area. I came from Idaho and I'm not used to the climate here or know anyone there… I really want to meet people but… I’m nervous.”

Marmalade hummed softly and nodded. “I have something for that.” he said, getting out of his seat and getting something out of a box.

Marmalade took a potion from the box and set it on the table. “This will help you.”

He gave it to the person and the person drank it after giving him a few dollars. The person thanked him before leaving.

Marmalade smiled sinfully as he hid to see the results while his stand faded away when no one was looking.

The person's memories started changing when the person came by.

Then some dust on another person's memory as well when the person walks by them.

Before the two people walked farther, they collapsed onto the ground, causing a panic.

‘It worked.' Marmalade thought as he exited the market, putting the money in his pocket when he saw them both collapsed.

Marmalade noticed Ruby, who was now grown up, getting out of a shop with a new paper in her hands as she went to a bench, waiting for her ride, which was Pam.

Marmalade walked over to her. “Excuse me, young lady.” he called out, getting her attention.

"Hey, I'm just waiting for a friend to pick me up." Ruby said, looking at him.

Marmalade hummed and nodded. “I see but I noticed that you have a newspaper. I was wondering if I could see the headline, if you don’t mind.” he said, pointing at the newspaper.

Ruby nodded and handed him the newspaper. “The headline is interesting.” the young woman said as Marmalade took it.

'The rich son of Vinnie Wolf missing'

Vincent Wolf, the owner of the well known Vinnie Motor shop, reported that his son, Mason ‘Moe’ Wolf, is missing.

Police are already looking for the young man and Vincent is offering $1000 for whoever finds him.

Vincent’s whereabouts of his son is still a mystery and Mason has been gone for a month after the engagement announcement and introduction of the debutante daughter of the oil tycoon, Mary O’Cross.

As of this moment, there's no signs of Mason yet.

“That is interesting.” Marmalade hummed and handed the paper back to Ruby.

The young woman nodded and took the paper back from the short man.

Then there was now a honk from a car driving up to the curb, it was Pam.

“Nice talking with you.” Ruby said, getting up and going over to the car to get in when the car stopped.

Marmalade nodded as he went to an alleyway and then his shadow appeared on the wall when he was out of sight.

Taking the money out and checking it, Marmalade couldn’t help but think about the newspaper.

“We should let the others know that we might get a new soul soon. Maybe two or more, if we’re lucky.” Marmalade said to his shadow, a dark smile on his face.

◇

Around downtown, at the train station, a young man with tan skin just got off a train with another man and a woman, and all of them were in jackets.

The young man had just put on sunglasses and the other man noticed.

“Moe, it’s ok. You don’t need to wear them.” the other man said, about to get the sunglasses off of Moe.

Moe put a hand over the hand and said, “You don’t know if it got to the news, Herbert. If they see us, they'll report us!”

"Well we might need to wear something in order to blend in before we meet up with a couple of my friends from here, just in case" the woman said, looking at both of them.

The two men nodded.

Luckily they packed their bags before leaving.

Of course they noticed some people walking out of the station.

"We should get into the crowd." The woman said, pointing at the crowd. “Also, we need change.”

"Good idea, Webs." Moe said, getting out a disguise that he packed just in case.

He went to the restroom to change with Herbert.

Moe got changed into a white dress shirt, matching white suit jacket and pants, bucking his belt, and put on his new gray socks and brown dress shoes for the thrift shop from

Herbert got on a Hawaii shirt, tan khaki pants, and a bucket hat.

They meet up Webs after changing.

Webs got a black hoodie from her backpack and she put it on with the hood up.

They all got some sunglasses to hide in the crowd as the three left the train station with their bags, unaware not that someone was following them.

◇

Pam and Ruby picked up Emily Lou at the Hogwild penthouse.

Emily Lou came out and walked over to them.

“Hey, Emily!” they both said, waving at Emily Lou.

“Hey Pam! Hey Ruby!” Emily Lou said, waving back as she got to the car and got inside.

They began talking about the news of the newspaper as they went to Cole’s.

◇

Diane went outside to give some orders and get some dirty dishes when a woman bumped into her.

“Oh! I am so sorry!” the woman said in worry.

"No, no, it's fine." Diane reassured the woman, looking at her.

Diane didn’t know what she was feeling but it was different.

They began touching hands for a moment as they looked at each other.

“Um… Webs?” a man called out to the woman.

That made both women jump and they step away from each other.

Diane looked to see two men, who might be the woman’s friends. One of the men was holding a fast food bag while the other had a duffle bag.

Diane got herself back on track by shaking her head, rolling her eyes and she went back inside as the woman went walking with the two men.

Diane began doing more work and getting more orders.

"Order up!" one of the chefs called out as Diane got the plates.

"- Another coffee here!" a patertin ordered as Diane walked by.

“Coming right up.” she told the patertin as she continued to go to the kitchen to put the dishes in the tub and get the next meal.

As Diane walks and gives out the meals and refills the cup of coffee for the patertin, she notices her two friends came in.

"Hey, Diane!" Called Joy, a tan-skinned goth with a black t-shirt and black ripped jeans, black hair with purple highlights on her short hair. With Joy was Rhonda, a short woman with blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail, black t-shirt with a white smiley face on it.

"Hey, Joy! Hey Rhodona!" Diane said, waving at them.

The two went to a table as Diane went to them.

"How's work going?" Joy asked as Diane got to them.

“It’s good.” Diane answered, smiling.

“That’s good.” Joy hummed softly, nodding a bit.

"Hey, we wanted to ask you something. It's going to be one week until graduation. We were thinking of a trip to Las Vegas, you know, to end our college era. You want to come?" Rhonda asked, knowing sometimes to be the quiet type.

"Come on, Diane. You could use a little hard. You deserve a break every once in a while like the last couple years." Joy added with a chuckle.

Diane sighed softly as she did her work. "I would love to, but no thanks. Besides I’m gonna…” Diane said but stopped when she noticed a messy kid. “You need a napkin, sweetheart?” she asked as she handed a napkin to the kid before she continued explaining as she served. “I’m gonna work a double shift tonight…” Then she saw a woman with her third Bloody Mary coffee. “Here you are, That's enough Bloody Mary for you and here's your Belgian Waffles."

Then Diane went to her friends. “You know, so I…” Diane started as she went back to the two young women.

"‘So, you can save for your Future political career.’ I know, I know.” Joy interrupted, sighing. “Girl! All you ever do is work and study to the extreme like that Alexander Hamilton guy!"

Rhonda punches Joy in the shoulder, making the goth exclaim in pain, while Diane frowns sadly at them.

"Order up!" one of the chefs shouted.

"Maybe next time." Diane said to her two friends, a sad smile on her face.

“Ok.” Rhonda said, nodding as Diane left their table to get other orders and dishes.

Diane went to the kitchen area, gave out the orders that she wrote down to the chefs, and then started to get some food for the waiting customers.

“Were you talking about your dream issues again?” one of the chefs asked as Diane filled up a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, where I get a chance to study how to be a good politician in DC." Diane said, looking at the chef with a deadpan look and noticing that the eggs were burning. "Also, Arron, your eggs are burning.”

Chef Arron started to laugh as he took care of the eggs and flipped them to cook evenly. “You are NEVER gonna get enough for that big opportunity.”

“I’m getting close.” Diane said, getting the meals on her serving tray.

“Yeah? How close?” Aaron asked, a smug look on his face.

Diane, not wanting to tell him, gave him a glare and asked with sass, “Where are my pancakes?”

Arron laughed more as he gave her the plate of pancakes. “Your chances of getting that place is as if pigs could fly!” he laughed as Diane rolled her eyes and went to serve the meals.

◇

Ruby, Emily Lou, and Pam got to the restaurant.

Ruby and Pam were the firsts to go inside while Emily fixed her makeup.

"Good morning, Diane!' Pam and Ruby said as they went to the same table as Joy and Rhonda were.

"Good morning, girls!" Diane exclaimed, waving at them as she went to them with a few plates.

“Congratulations on getting your helicopter license, Pam." Diane said, walking over with a plate.

“Caught me completely by surprise … for the fifth year in a row. Guess all these practices have finally paid off." Pam said, " Now, how about I celebrate with-”

“Beignets? Got a fresh batch just waiting for you.” Diane said, putting a plate of beignets. Then she raise a finger to her lips and whispers, “Shush, don't tell my boss”

Diane had been a bit of a rule breaker since high school and college, but with good intentions

Pam nodded and the young women at the table laughed softly.

“Thank you, you read my mind.” Pam said, smiling at Diane, who was about to get back to the kitchen.

◇

Then the front door swung open and in came Emily Lou in big and loud fashion and personality. “OH DIA!” Emily Lou shouted loudly, which made everyone in the restaurant jump and look at her.

Emily Lou ignored the staring eyes on her as she ran to Diane and spun her a bit. “Dia! Dia! Did ya hear the news?” she asked excitedly as she went to the others and sat down in her seat.

“Hey, Emily, what is it?” Diane asked, shaking her head to make the room stop spinning for a bit.

"Did you get the news?" Ruby asked, getting a newspaper out.

Diane went to Helen, one of the other waitresses, and asked, “Hey, could you take care of my tables for me, please?”

Helen looked at her and nodded. “Sure.”

Diane smiled and got another two plates of beignets before talking over to her friends.

"Didn't have a chance to read it this morning." Joy said, shaking her head. “I was up all night trying to finish my poetry for the poetry club and study for my final science exam before graduating. That’s also why I’m having some black coffee this morning”

Rhonda shook her head too. “I was up practicing my wrestling skills for my wrestling club.” she said before going quiet and grabbing a beignet.

"I had my night job and was at my night class." Diane said when she got to the table. “So, I had a very long night and didn’t get a lot of sleep.”

“Aw… I feel sorry for you.” Ruby said, sounding sad.

“Don't worry. It'll all be worth it soon And all my efforts are finally gonna pay off.” Diane said as she placed the two plates down on the table before grabbing an empty seat. "So, what's the big deal on the news today?"

Emily Lou and Pam looked at Ruby as she pulled out a newspaper and put it on the table.

All of the young women at the table looked at it.

“Mason Wolf, son of The owner of Vinnie Motor shop; Vincent Wolf, is missing.” Ruby said, pointing at the headline on paper.

"Oh?" Diane asked, tilting her head a bit while she fixed her uniform a bit before fixing her curly hair in the tight bun.

“Yeah. Oh! And also, there’s a big money count for whoever finds him.” Ruby said with a chuckle, taking a beignet from a plate.

"Really?!" Joy asked excitedly and laughed, also getting a beignet. "That's probably begging to find him!"

Rhodda nodded with a big smile, already eating one of the beignets.

Diane rolled her eyes in disappointment. "That man probably ran away from his problems." she said sarcastically, shaking her head in disappointment. “Like what is his problem anyway?”

"That's the thing. No one knows why he ran away." Pam said after eating the beignets from the first plate.

"Well actually, it said there's no reason or whereabouts of that man or why he ran away." Ruby corrected, pointing at the paper again and looking at it. "Just says that he ran away, police are looking for him, there’s even the 1000 dollar reward for anyone who found him, and the engagement-"

"What?" Diane asked, get the newspaper off the table to quickly read and look at it.

It does mention the things that Ruby said. It also shows a picture of Vincent on the left and a black silhouette of his son on the right with a question mark on it.

Diane took in a breath and calmed down. "But for now we should stay focused on what is important, which is our future." Diane said, putting the paper down on the table.

“Like you going into government and me planning to be a cop, for a couple of examples,.” Ruby said, smiling softly.

"Oh! And let’s not forget, focusing on the party coming up tonight." Emily Lou said. "Which only the university students can come to. It could be like big pot luck."

The other young women cheered, except for Diane.

Diane looked at Emily Lou in a deadpan look. “Emily…” she started, crossing her arms across her chest. “I’m working a double shift tonight. So, that means I won’t be able to go tonight-”

Diane was cut off by Emily Lou shoving a beignet in her mouth. As Diane chewed it, Emily Lou got some money out of her purse.

“What’s this?” Diane asked after chewing, pointing at the money.

“It’s money. It’s for you. Here.” Emily Lou said, smiling softly at her as she handed it to her. “Would this cover the meal, the potluck, and big tip?”

Diane's eyes lid up in excitement as she took the money and looked at it. She began to feel excited because the money was enough to achieve her goals.

“This is it!” Diane exclaimed happily. "Washington and politics, here I come!"

The young women cheered excitedly while everyone looked at them, including chef Arron, who was in shock.

◇■

Little did Diane know that Marmalade was in the restaurant hearing the whole thing, making him smile with his shadow.

“Oh, yes… Looks like we have a possible soul or work partner.” Marmalade whispered to his shadow.

Then his shadow went back being a shadow as a waitress walked over to him.

“Hello, sir.” the waitress said with a tired smile.

“Hello.” Marmalade said, smiled at the waitress before ordering some food.

◇

Diane was walking out after her shift was done. She went to the docks to see a place that she planned to have after studying at DC. She was looking at the abandoned place as she arrived in front of the place.

Then she jumped when she heard two voices from behind her.

"Looks like Ms. President or Ms. Senator is getting a head start where they campaign for a building." one voice said.

“Or Ms. Governor. Depending on which she goes into.” the other said.

Diane turned around to see both of her parents. “Mom. Dad.” she said, smiling at them.

Her parents had changed a bit over the years, with them now being around 42 years old. They had a couple of wrinkles, their hair started showing its age with a few white and gray streaks (After many years of hard work). Margaret's hair had grown a little but was tied in a braid, only reaching to her shoulders. Owen, who recently had gotten bone cancer and is trying treatment to get better, was in a wheelchair.

Apparently age may sometimes look kind to them.

Diane walked over to them and hugged them.

"Just came to see our little girl on break from work for today." Margaret said during the hug.

Diane smiled softly at them. “Can you believe it?” she asked, looking at her parents and the building.

"Yeah, imagine living like this as a politician after years of hard work." Owen said, looking at the building.

By then the owner of the building came up and saw the family.

“Oh hello! Are you here about the building?” the owner asked, walking over to them. “Let me guess, the previous owner's family?”

Diane and her parents looked over as the owner said, “Just remind you. This quite collects dust over the years no one has nobody ever bought it, But hopefully the buyers will come. But it would be quite helpful to get this place cleaned up.”

The family looked at each other before looking at the owner, knowing the place used to be in their family.

Dinae nodded. “Yes. Could we go inside, please?”

The owner lets out a sigh and begins sending a timer.

“You got 15 minutes, I got some buyers about to come and check out this place today.” the owner said to them, unlocking the door.

The family nodded as Diane opened the door to reveal an old dusty looking place, almost similar to the White House.

Diane laughs as she runs in, her mind imaging where things will be, while her parents slowly follow her in.

“Just look at this place!” Diane exclaimed excitedly. “Don’t you just want to cry?”

“Yes…” both parents said, a bit of worriedness and sadness in their voices as they went over to her.

"I could remind you that your maternal grandparents, my parents, once owned the place before their deaths." Margaret said, looking at the old place.

“I remember.” Diane said, smiling softly at her and nodding. Diane began pointing and imagining new and exciting pieces to the place and walking around the place.

"I’m sure, this place is gonna be just wonderful." Margaret said with a smile before sighing sadly. "But it’s a shame you’re working so hard.”

Diane looked at her parents. “But how could I stop now when I’m so close and also helping you two with the medical expenses? I have to make sure that all of the hard work means something.” she said, power in her voice.

"Diane!” Owen exclaimed, power in his voice that made Diane go quiet as she looked at him.

“Our family may not get the ambition we had but we have something better. We have love.” Owen said, holding his daughter’s hand. “And that’s all we want for you, sweetheart.”

Diane nodded in understanding and sighed softly. "Look, I understand that you're worried about me, but I just need to work my way… I’m almost there." Diane said to comfort her parents. Then she smiled softly and added with a chuckle, “Plus… I don't have time for romance, anyways.”

Her parents started to chuckle. “How long are we talking about?” both parents asked.

Diane shrugged again and all the three started to laugh.

They looked around for a bit before they left the place, closing the doors and letting the owner know that they were done looking around.