Max and Chelsea felt the world spin around them as the time machine whirred to life. It was a strange sensation, like being wrapped in a blanket of warm, tingling energy. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing in a bustling city street. The air was crisp, filled with the sounds of honking cars and chatter. Snowflakes fell gently from the sky, blanketing the ground in a soft white glow.

"Where are we?" Chelsea asked, clutching the bracelet on her wrist.
Max glanced around, his breath visible in the cold air. "I think we’re four years in the past. Look at the decorations—everything feels just a bit different."

The two children took in their surroundings. A large department store stood before them, its windows adorned with festive holiday decorations. Shoppers bustled in and out, arms laden with brightly wrapped packages. A Salvation Army bell ringer stood near the entrance, cheerfully greeting passersby.

Suddenly, a boy about their age caught their attention. He was sitting on the curb, bundled in a too-thin coat. His face was smudged with dirt, and his eyes darted nervously around the street. This was Jeremy.

"That’s him," Max said, pointing.
Chelsea nodded, her heart aching at the sight of the lonely boy. "We need to talk to him."
They approached cautiously, not wanting to startle him. Jeremy glanced up as they neared, his expression wary.
"Hi," Chelsea said softly. "I’m Chelsea, and this is Max. Are you okay?"
Jeremy scowled. "What do you care?"
Max crouched down to his level. "We care because we know how hard it can be to feel alone, especially during Christmas."
Jeremy glared at them. "You don’t know anything about me. Just leave me alone."
Chelsea sat beside him on the curb, brushing snow off her coat. "We’re not here to bother you. We just thought you might like some company."
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing," Max replied. "We’re just here to spend time with you."
Jeremy scoffed. "That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Who goes out looking for some random kid to spend time with?"

Max and Chelsea exchanged a glance. They could see this wasn’t going to be easy, but they refused to give up.
"We thought you might want some hot cocoa," Chelsea said, pulling a thermos from her bag. She unscrewed the lid and offered him a cup. "It’s warm."
Jeremy eyed it suspiciously. "Why? Did you spit in it or something?"
Chelsea’s cheeks flushed, but she kept her voice steady. "No, of course not."
Jeremy snatched the cup and took a cautious sip. "It’s okay, I guess," he muttered.

They sat in silence for a while, watching shoppers pass by. Jeremy didn’t say much, and every attempt to engage him in conversation was met with a grunt or a sarcastic remark. Max and Chelsea tried not to let it discourage them.

"You know," Max said after a while, "there’s a park nearby with ice skating. Ever tried it?"
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Why would I want to do that?"
"Because it’s fun," Chelsea said, smiling. "Come on, we’ll all go together."
Jeremy stood abruptly. "I’m not some charity case, okay? You can’t just show up and act like everything’s fine. You don’t know me."
Max stepped back, startled by the outburst. "We’re not trying to make you feel bad. We just thought—"
"You thought wrong!" Jeremy snapped. He shoved the cup back into Chelsea’s hands and stormed off.

Chelsea sighed, watching him disappear into the crowd. "This is harder than I thought."
"We can’t give up," Max said firmly. "He’s hurting, and he’s not going to trust us right away. We have to keep trying."

The two of them followed Jeremy at a distance, careful not to make him feel cornered. They found him sitting in the park on a frozen bench, watching other kids skate on the pond. His face was hard, but there was a flicker of longing in his eyes.

Chelsea approached slowly, holding out a small candy cane. "For you. No strings attached."
Jeremy glared at her. "What is it with you and giving me stuff? I don’t need your pity."
"It’s not pity," Chelsea said. "It’s just a candy cane."
He hesitated, then took it reluctantly. "Fine. But don’t think this means I like you or anything."

Max sat down on the other side of him. "We’re not here to make you like us. We just want you to know you’re not alone."
Jeremy stared at the candy cane, his expression softening just a fraction. "Why do you even care?"
"Because everyone deserves kindness," Chelsea said simply. "Even if they don’t believe it yet."

Jeremy didn’t respond, but he didn’t get up and leave either. Max and Chelsea took that as a small victory. They spent the rest of the afternoon sitting with him, talking about little things. Jeremy’s walls didn’t crumble, but they cracked just enough to let a tiny bit of light in.

As the sky darkened and the stars began to twinkle, Chelsea stood and stretched. "Same time tomorrow?"
Jeremy frowned. "You’re coming back?"
"Of course," Max said with a grin. "We’re not giving up that easily."

Jeremy rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. As they walked away, Chelsea glanced over her shoulder and saw him still sitting on the bench, the candy cane clutched in his hand. For the first time, she felt like they might actually be making progress.