Opposite of Always

Once again, Jack finds himself sitting on the stairs at the party where he meets Kate. He figures this must be happening because he didn’t do whatever he was supposed to do, at least not satisfactorily. If he has another chance to make things better, though, he will try.

This time, Jack plans to get enough money to pay for the sickle cell specialist Kate spoke of. He decides to gamble on the March Madness college basketball tournament since he already knows the outcome. He stands to win a lot because the championship winner is Mandrake University, the underdog team that almost didn’t make the tournament at all.

On the drive home from Whittier after the college visit, Jack makes a pointed effort to demonstrate his friendship and support to Jillian, unlike in past timelines. Specifically, he asks about how she’s coping with her father having left. When Jack gets home, he sells all his collectibles online and his car, earning enough money to place a sizable bet on Mandrake.