Until She Was Gone

Chapter 5 | meet again

Present

 I didn't know what was happening. 

I knew for sure the man before me was the guy I had an unhealthy crush on in middle school. He was the only guy who had such dark blue eyes. My hands shook as I was on the verge of falling to my knees. He didn't bother me another glance, but why would he? He didn't even know who I was. He didn't even know that this girl here has had an obsession with him previously. 

So there he was, looking so much hotter, athletic, and enchanting than before. When he had left in the middle of high school, I thought I'd never see him again. Even if I had been miserable for a whole week, it was good for me. Now he lounged in a party across from me. This wasn't happening. But it was.

The things that happened afterward felt like a fever dream. Rebecca introduced us to the group  since I could never, and they introduced themselves as well. Most of them were juniors and sophomores but one was a freshman. I didn't pay attention to the names. How could I?

It turned out that Rebecca was best friends with a girl called Isabelle from the group, so she had a straight way to them all. Isabelle was gorgeous, and when I say that I mean, stunningly gorgeous. Dark tan skin and hair a shade lighter than my black color. Her eyes were a striking chocolate color. She also looked awfully familiar to me. But I brushed that thought aside. Brady was looking at me. His perfect eyebrows narrowed at me and I could tell he was trying to see the type of girl I was. He probably expected me to say something. I said nothing. I didn't even introduce myself. I had the sudden urge to leave.

After a while though, my uneasiness calmed a level down. I told myself again and again that I was over him. And it had to stay that way. I did not want to repeat those feelings again. Never again. Rebecca was feverishly talking with Isabelle. Again, I had that feeling I'd seen her before. Abruptly, she saw me staring at her and I turned away, my cheeks starting to redden. Before I knew it, she was in front of me with a smile on her face,

" Hey. Sylvia right? Rebecca introduced you since you weren't saying anything." She raised her eyebrow and looked towards Brady. My cheeks reddened even more.

" He usually has that effect on people at first. It'll go away, maybe? I dunno? At least with me it did. " she seemed to have that bubbly attitude but not annoyingly bubbly. I smiled back at her, still unsure of what to say. But she seemed to have a lot already to say,

" By the way, have I seen you before? Cause you seem familiar but I don't know? Maybe I'm just so entranced with you, I can't get that feeling away...." She winked, and I laughed.

" I think I've seen you too," I told her. " You're not the only one feeling that." I said with a small smirk. She laughed as well. The lights around us illuminated her face. 

But then she suddenly stopped and gaped at me. Her chocolate eyes widened. I wondered if I had said something wrong. She gasped and loud enough for Rebecca to shuffle over to us.

" I was right! I do know you! We were in the same elementary school and middle school. Oh my god. You were in..umm, Yes, Mrs. Jemma's class. In 5th grade? Yeah, in 5th grade." I gaped at her as well. We both stared at each other.

" Izzy?" I said quietly. She nodded.

Izzy. She was Izzy. I had changed less since middle, so she must have recognized me first. Oh my gods, there were 2 people from the same school I had gone to here. My eyes flickered towards Brady again. Izzy gasped again,

" Oh my gosh. And Brady and Austin were there too. And they're here too. That's just sooo cool. That's why you were staring at him! Because you recognized him. " she exclaimed.

" Wait a second, Austin? You mean Brady's um, twin brother?" I said, astonished, " He's here too?" Izzy nodded vigorously.

" They wanted to be in the same college, they've been together in every school. Why not here?" she said, " I didn't think you'd remember them though." My blush couldn't deepen more, but if it could, it just did. 

" I think everyone would" I muttered, but she didn't hear. The music started again louder. Isabelle had to shout,

" Now, since I know you, its time for them to know you." 

 I gaped at her again. All that time, Rebecca stared at our exchange like we were both crazy people. Despacito started playing. And Izzy began dragging me towards Brady Ashford.