Forgotten Memories

Chapter 24: Liking Shadow Man

-Aria-

"Hey, you!" I yell when I see Alex. I giggle once I notice that I was too loud. Suddenly, I realize Dante's here. "Hey buddy!"

Dante smiles, which only makes me giggle even more. Huh. Now I want an Olaf.

"I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!" I burst out, and Alex stares at me.

"Aria, I heard they gave you pain meds," he says with a smirk. I gasp. "Oh my gosh, they did! What if they poisoned me?"

He cracks up, and I start giggling again. "I'm gonna get gummy bears," Dante says happily, and skips out of the room. "Why are we laughing?" I ask suddenly, which only makes him crack up harder. "You're delirious."

I frown. "I am not delicious, you cannibal. You don't even know how to flirt. You don't tell someone they're delicious, 'cause they're not food or something. I'd eat them if they were," I babble.

"I said delirious!" he says between laughs. "And I wasn't flirting."

"Cause you wouldn't know how to," I say smugly. He gasps, feigning hurt. "What? I'm awesome at flirting. There's just no one worthy of flirting with," he says airily, waving his hand.

"What about me?" I whine, and giggle again. Sheesh, my stomach hurts from laughing now. It's so rude, interrupting me like that. I'll feed it later though.

Alex looks at me warily. "You want me to flirt with you?"

I shrug and smile. "I'm pretty sure you need the practice, because you don't look boyfriend material, even if you are my boyfriend. Well, fake boyfriend."

He smacks my arm and I wince. Dang, that hurts. "Sorry! Oh gosh, I forgot. I'm so stupid," he rushes out.

"It's okay," I reply forcefully.

"I really don't know how to treat girls, do I?"

"That's why you need practice! I'm the best girl you'll ever meet, so I'd be good for flirting," I mutter. "Besides, you're stuck with me for quite a while until I get home. You are taking me home, right?"

He hesitates, then genuinely smiles. "I am. I will, I mean. I promise," he finishes with a grin. "You should rest."

"Okay," I reply with a yawn, and a few seconds later I fall asleep.

••••••••••

The cold shadow guy from my dreams is back.

"Hi again," he says. Like last time, he's in the shadows. Seems repetitive, but hats the only thing I can use to describe him right now.

But I'm not kidding, that voice. . . I know I've heard it before, besides in my other dream.

"Hey Shadow Man," I mumble.

I hear his laughter. "Nice name. It suits me."

I roll my eyes. "Why do I keep dreaming about you?"

He laughs. "Because you can't stop thinking of me," he says smugly.

"Are you someone I know?"

"Yeah."

"Who?" I ask.

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

I can practically hear him scowl. "I'm trying to protect you. I care about you more than I should. Someone should have my place, but it's not his fault he's not here with you. If you actually found out that I care this much about you, you'd freak out."