I'll be here forever

chapter 16

I didn't know where we were or where we were going, but I drove on. Street signs blurred and sped by. I wasn't sure how long it had been, either, because the clock didn't make any sense to me. The numbers twisted themselves into strange shapes, and I gave up trying to make any sense of it.

Percy stayed sound asleep, and I found my eyes drifting over to see him. I really didn't know why he stayed with me. He had the good looks of a god, an actor, a singer, something. And when he was humming along to the radio earlier, I'd caught a glimpse of how nice his voice was. Perfectly pitched, strangely melodic. One day in New York City and he'd be drowning in record deals. He had to know that.

Then again, maybe he felt the same way I did. Maybe whenever he looked over at me his chest constricted and his stomach tied itself up in knots.

Yeah, probably not.

I couldn't make sense of it. Of him, of our situation. Amnesia is only caused by head and brain injuries, excessive use of certain drugs and alcohol, extremely traumatic events, or conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. None seemed to apply to us waking up in a field next to each other. None seemed to explain how I knew a little too much about Greek mythology, and everything else for that matter. None seemed to explain how Percy surfed out of the Chik-Fil-A and was able to stay completely dry.

It didn't make sense, and it bothered me.

And most times, memories caused by amnesia came back slowly, but they did come back. I hadn't realized any new, or old, memories. It was the same. I couldn't remember my name, my age, my birthday.

You know your name. Your name is Daisy.

Yeah. It is.

I smiled as I thought about it, Percy's face on that first day. How matter-of-factly he pointed out the flower in my hair, naming me after it.

I was a little glad that I hadn't been in time to name Percy, because the name on the tip of my tongue was Luke. But now that I thought about it, the feelings surrounding that name confused me. When I thought of Luke, I thought of being loved, being cared about, wide smiles and blushing. But it slowly evolved into the feeling of betrayal. Horrible, awful betrayal, and the feeling like I'd never be okay again, and finally sadness, grief.

I didn't want to associate that with Percy.

When the empousa had first said his name, I hadn't realized it, but the way I felt about his name was complicated too. There was irritation, but playful irritation, lighthearted bickering, being loved, and pain. But it was bearable pain; something I'd endure any day just to be with him. The feeling of being loved was much stronger and it blocked out the pain, a warm feeling that felt as if someone had lit a match inside of me.

I didn't really understand it, but I knew I cared about him. The twisting walls inside my mind had let me see it for just a moment, a flicker of how I felt about Percy, and I decided that it was amazing, like nothing I'd ever felt before. I'd give anything to feel that way forever.

I was lost in my thoughts when Percy jerked forward suddenly, gasping. I startled and the car swerved slightly. My heart jumped out of my chest, pounding.

Percy placed a fist on his forehead and breathed heavily, leaning forward over the seat, his elbows on his thighs, his seatbelt trying to pull him back and failing.

"What the hell?" I asked him, more concerned that angry.

He didn't answer, just stayed there for a second, which worried me.

I pulled over to the side of the road quickly, parking on the side with a jolt forward. Cars passed us like we'd never even existed at all.

"Percy," I said, trying to get his attention. He didn't answer or move.

"Percy!" I said again, louder now, and he jumped upward, reaching for his back pocket. He whipped around, like he was looking for a monster.

"What the hell was that?" I asked him, and his gaze came back around to meet mine. He looked terrified.

"Um," he said, running his hand through his hair, almost subconsciously, like it was a habit.

"Percy," I said again. I was worried. The only other time I'd seen him act this way was when he thought I'd been taken by something, when I first used the hat.

He blinked, his lips parting, and he laughed a little, breathlessly.

"Nothing. Nothing, it's... fine," he shook his head, rubbing his forehead. Then he looked out the window.

"Why'd we stop?" he asked, his breathing still a little heavier than normal.

"Because you're freaking me out. What the hell just happened?"

He blinked again, "Nothing."

I looked at him incredulously, my mouth opening slightly and closing again in confusion. Was he seriously not going to tell me?

"Obviously something just happened, because you flipped out."

"Nothing happened, Daisy. It was just a dream."

Like always, my heart fluttered a little bit when he said my name. I scolded it.

"It didn't look like 'just a dream'."

"Can you please just drop it?" Percy snapped, before he winced, instantly regretting it.

"No, I can't just drop it! You scared the shit out of me," my voice raised, a little hurt.

"Daisy, please," his voice dropped down to a whisper. I don't think I'd ever seen him like this. He looked scared, of what, I didn't know. But the look on his face made me pause.

I hesitated. Obviously something had terrified him, and whatever it was would probably terrify me too.

"Fine," I huffed in annoyance, before pulling the car back out onto the highway.