Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 25

As the girls move over to Shu's bed to help Carter, Garroth joins Aaron in the kitchen. He pulls a Poopsi from the fridge and leans up against the island counter. Aaron glances over at him and watches as he gently shakes his head and his ears and tail pop out.

Garroth stares at Carter as the girls pull a privacy screen away from the wall and drag it around the end of the bed. His eyes dart to Aph and he blushes as he sees her staring back at him. He quickly looks away and turns to Aaron. "So Aaron, do you trust that Carter guy?"

Aaron sighs as he places a slice of bread on the heated skillet, counts to 5, places a slice of cheese on the bread, counts to 2, places a slice of ham on the cheese, counts to 2 again, places a second slice of cheese on the ham, counts to 2 yet again and then tops it with the second slice of bread. After counting to 2 he grabs his spatula slides it under the first slice of bread and flips the sandwich over onto the second slice of bread and counts to 5. When he's done he lifts the sandwich off the skillet and transfers it to a warming plate on the back right burner of the stove.

While repeating the process 23 more times he shakes his head at Garroth's question, "Not really but there isn't anything I can do about it. He has a dozen or more eyes on him so I doubt he'll try anything."

Garroth nods, "What about Gene?"

Aaron frowns, "What about Gene?"

Garroth's eyes widen, "He threatened to take Aph away from you! Aren't you worried?"

Aaron sighs again, "You forget I can't remember her or our relationship. I remember Shu but we were best friends and that was it. If she decides she wants to be with him who am I to stand in her way."

Garroth raises the Poopsi to his lips and freezes half way, "But Gene was such an ass to her, to all of us in high school. He told us he changed but his attitude lately tells me something different."

Aaron glances at Garroth, "What do you mean? What'd he do?"

Garroth takes a sip of his drink, "Well, he bullied Aph for starters. He ran a stupid gang called the Shadow Nights back then and they use to tag everything they could with their stupid logo. He blackmailed Aph trying to get her to join them, made her skip school a couple of times and tried to steal a kiss from her. He even started calling her Kitty. He only stopped because you stood up for her. You know, she remembers you even if you don't remember her. I guess I shouldn't worry because she'll never give up on you."

Aaron opens his mouth to ask about the blackmail when the privacy screen is pulled away and pushed back up against the wall. He turns to look and is surprised by what he sees.

Shu looks much better, more comfortable than she did before. Instead of the plain white hospital gown they have her in a fitted purple tank dress that stops at her knees. Her hair is brushed away from her face and French-braided down her back and her fingernails and toenails are painted a sparkly purple. Her bedding has been changed out from the plain white to soft lavender and her blankets are folded down toward the end of the bed.

Aaron barely registers Carter pushing the old bedding into a large hamper and then carrying what is clearly her catheter and bag to the small bathroom to be emptied. As their eyes meet a soft blush spreads across her cheeks and she looks down at her hands.

Katelyn and Melissa giggle as they watch him stare at her. Melissa breaks the silence as she crosses over to the sink and begins to wash her hands. "So Aaron, is lunch ready?"

Aaron blinks a couple of times and then looks at her, "Uh yeah, it's ready."

He pulls down 6 plates, 6 bowls, and 6 glasses from one of the cabinets and places them on the island counter while Melissa pulls out 6 spoons and the milk from the fridge. He quickly puts his and Shu's sandwiches on two plates, fills 2 bowls full of soup and then sets them on the counter off to the side of the stove while he grabs a couple of the spoons, a fork, a butter knife and fills 2 glasses with milk.

He cuts his sandwiches into triangles and then cuts Shu's into several small squares so it's easier for her to try picking them up. Crossing over to Shu he pulls her tray across the bed and lowers it so she doesn't have to lift her hand as high and as he glances up at her she gives him a soft smile making him blush.

When he has her food transferred to her tray he brings his food over and places it on the small side table and then lowers himself into his chair. Setting his plate on his lap he starts to lift a piece of his sandwich and freezes with it half-way in his mouth as his eyes connect with Shu.

The look on her face is anything but amused. "What's wrong Shu?"

She glances at the bowl of soup and then back at him, "Really F.C.?"

The corner of his mouth twitches and he struggles to keep a straight face, "What?"

Her own mouth twitches a couple of times as she tries really hard to keep from laughing, "I'm not a cannibal F.C.!"

Aaron chuckles, "We'll see. Now try your sandwiches."