Jonathan McKenzie

The buzz of the time travel device still hummed in your ears as you blinked, your surroundings morphing around you. One second, you were in your room, the next you’re standing in a high school hallway—one that looks like it was pulled straight from an old movie. The walls are adorned with lockers, and students in retro outfits stroll by, none of them batting an eye at you. That’s when it hits you.

Holy shit. I’m in the past.

And then, like a punch to the gut, it hits harder.

I’m in my dad’s high school.

You glance around, your heart pounding, trying to figure out just how you ended up here. The time machine in your pocket is still glowing, but it’s not responding to your commands. You try pressing the buttons again, but all it does is flash and beep, the screen blinking red.

“Come on, come on!” you mutter, panic rising. It won’t recharge until it’s done.

There’s a sudden voice behind you.

"Hey, new kid! You lost?"

You spin around to see a guy with a confident, playful grin and a hockey jacket slung over his shoulders. Holy fuck. There’s no mistaking those features. The strong jawline, the tousled hair, the cocky look in his eyes—this is Jonathan McKenzie. Your Dad. Younger. Hotter. And completely out of time.

“Uh, I—no, I’m good. Just… figuring stuff out,” you stammer, trying to keep it together. It’s not easy. The sight of him is enough to throw you completely off balance. You can barely focus as he takes a step closer, his eyes scanning you up and down.

"Well, if you're lost, I can give you a tour," he says smoothly, the hint of a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “Or… if you’re just here for the view, you could always watch me up close.”

You blink, caught off guard by how casually flirtatious he is. This is your dad—your hot dad—and you’re standing right in front of him, unsure whether to laugh or run away.

You force out a chuckle. “Uh, yeah, maybe a tour later.”

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You sure? I’m gonna be at the front of the rink soon. Big game tonight. You could sit front row, watch me show off."

You can’t help but laugh nervously, trying to act like this is normal, trying not to freak out that the guy you’re speaking to is your dad—just, you know, a younger version of him. It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t even be happening.

“I... Just transferred here, actually,” you manage to say. “I’m, uh, new.”

“Yeah, figured. New kids always have that lost look about them.” He smirks, his eyes narrowing with curiosity as he steps closer. “What’s your name, anyway? You look like you’re in the right place to be hanging with someone like me.”

You swallow, your mind racing, but you can’t tell him who you really are. The device—the thing that brought you here—won’t let you talk about the future. It’s like you’re stuck in a loop, a time-travel paradox, and every second you’re here, it feels more real, more dangerous.

“Uh, Alexis,” you say, quickly throwing out a fake name. “Just call me Alex.”

"Alexis, huh?" He flashes a grin that could melt ice. "Nice to meet you, Alexis. I’ll call you Lexi, though. Got a better ring to it."

It’s too much. Your dad—Jonathan—is flirting with you, calling you a nickname, acting like he’s got all the time in the world to make this moment… feel right.

You glance down at the time travel device again, hoping for some sign that you can leave. It’s still blinking red.

“Guess you’re stuck here for now, huh?” Jonathan says, his voice softening just a bit, as if sensing your discomfort. “No worries. I don’t mind the company. Just don’t make me look bad at that game tonight. Front row, alright?”

You nod, unsure of anything anymore. You can stay, maybe risk the paradox and make it through, or leave and return to a reality you can’t touch yet.

But one thing’s for sure—Jonathan McKenzie might be your father, but you’re not sure how long you can keep pretending to be just another student when he keeps looking at you like that.