Chapter Text
There was a familiar flash of light outside the windows in the front yard. Kevin didn’t pay it much mind because well, who cares? Bill glanced up momentarily before going back to flipping through the family’s box of records. But Eli shot up, “Portal!” he blurted out, scrambling for the door. He managed to run into it before he got it open, then flew out. The portal was closing by the time he made it to the yard, but something was left on the ground where it had been. A box. Eli slowed down, knocking himself over and landing by it, “Thank god,” he mumbled, catching his breath.
Bill appeared at the door a moment later, curiously peering out. Kevin behind him a beat later. They both seemed a little concerned at the sudden behaviour. Seriously, what crazy person had their mom let into their house? “What’s that?” asked Bill.
“Package.”
“Yeah.” Kevin rolled his eyes, “But what’s in it?”
“Package stuff…” sighed Eli, bringing it into the house, “Well, let’s see.” He dropped the box on the kitchen table and opened it. “My bag!” He pulled out a camo messenger bag. There were a few patches on it for movies yet to be made, Eli ran his fingers over them and tossed the bag onto his shoulder. “Let's see.. jeans.. band tees… special envelope.. who packed this?”
“So this is stuff from um… your.. country?” asked Bill. Eli nodded in response, rummaging through the box. “It has writing on the side,” continued Bill.
“What!?” Eli turned the box quickly, almost spilling some of the contents. He spoke aloud as he read, “Here's some stuff for your current predicament.. Sorry you're stranded in shit-face America.. Please don't cause too much havoc or die. Signed O, June 15… NINETEEN SEVENTY-FOUR.” He groaned and pushed the box away slightly, slumping onto the table.
“What?” Kevin raised a brow.
Eli shook his head and sat up straight, of course that message meant nothing to them. That was the date, these two didn't get sent back fifty years this morning. This all but confirmed his suspicions on the date.. “Nothing. Who cares.. let's just see how much they spared for me, better be a good amount.” He messily tore the envelope and dumped the contents on the table. Bill's jaw dropped as Eli counted out the cash, “Four, five, seven, ten, eleven…” a moment of silence as he mouthed numbers, “Only five thousand? What am I, made of money? How much do they think I have in my wallet? Seriously!”
“Five thousand!?” blurted out Bill.
“They're obviously fake,” scoffed Kevin, knocking his brother on the back of the head and reaching to pick up an 100. Interjected by a, Hey! from Eli. Kevin inspected it, even held it up to the light and turned it all around. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he was looking alright. Eli folded the rest of the cash and shoved it into a large wallet that was in his bag.
—
Eli wasn't exactly sure how he got caught up in this mess, he only considered it lucky that Bill was at home and not with them. Surrounded by both sets of Kevin's friends, he was beginning to become nervous. There were the two band geeks, he couldn't tell if the taller one was a gross girl or just a dude. Then the older ones, they were just plain stupid. He looked over at Kevin and sighed. He seemed like an alright guy, so what was with these guys? But who was he to judge, he made friends with all different crazy types. And it wasn't entering the liquor store Eli was afraid of, but people.
“Alright so,” Eli pushed the group and spun around, he held his hands up in a ‘halt’ motion. “You all just.. stay.”
One of the older teens, buck teeth and long blond hair, pushed Kevin forward, “You gotta go with her!”
“I'm a guy.”
“Oh. You.. are?”
Eli shot a glare at the guy, then Kevin, “Come on.” He grumbled. He stomped into the store with Kevin trailing behind him, clearly uncertain about their plan. When they made it to the isle of beer, he crossed his arms and waited. Kevin fiddled with his hands for a moment before speaking.
“Um.. What do I get?”
Eli looked up at him with a raised brow, “Well, what do you want? Pick something.” Kevin wasn't sure what to do. He has drank before, but it's not like he bought drinks all the time. If he wanted beer or weed, he usually just got it from his friends. His hand hovered in front of him as he scanned the different packs. “Kevin?” asked Eli, uncrossing his arms and cocking his head, “What do you like to drink?”
Kevin turned slightly red with embarrassment, grabbing the biggest pack and spitting out, “This- This one. Is the one I like.”
Eli nodded slowly, not quite convinced. He strolled over to the next isle and ripped a bottle of bourbon off the shelf before making it to the line. A couple minutes of Kevin's nervous fidgeting later, they set their stuff down and the clerk eyed them both up. “You got an I.D.?” Asked the clerk, an older man, with a snarky tone.
“Hell no!” Laughed Eli, as he dug in his pocket, “How much does shit cost in this decade.. uh..” He pulled out $200 and slid it across the counter, “But it's not like you have a camera system in this dump.”
The clerk glared at Eli, who didn't waver, then Kevin who jumped a little. He snatched up the money and nodded towards the door, “Don't you come back here you punks.”
Kevin's friends were hooting and hollering when the two came out. They were both surprised that had actually worked. For Eli, money usually works.. but he's never hung around the 70’s before. Maybe people were totally prudes! He doubted it.