Forgotten

Chapter 9

*Theo's POV*

The condo building on 6th street.

That's where the pawn shop owner said the key is from. Those are some of the most expensive in the city and without this key there's no way I'd have ever found Farah. At least not for a very long time, I do always find what I'm looking for. The longer I wait for the bus the more impatient I begin to grow. What if she's not actually there? What if they don't let me in to find her? She'd better be there. Hell why do I even care she's just another girl.

But somehow I know she's not. Farah's different, she's real. Every other girl I've met wants my money, but Farah? She has money and wants none of it. She practically lived on the freaking street. None of these thoughts are doing anything to dim my frustration with her for leaving though. I don't know if she's looked in a mirror, or actually listened to the doctor but she's in no shape to protect herself from what's after her and she has to let someone help. Whether she wants it or not she's getting help and this time she won't lose me so easily.

When the bus arrives I get on and wait till it hits 5th and Main before getting off. I walk the rest of the way until I hit 6th and reach the condo building. It's huge and the complete opposite of where she was living before. I walk into the lobby and head to the desk to find her. There's a stuck-up guy in a suit working who looks as if he's never smiled in his life.

"Could you tell me where to find Farah Isaacs?"

"No." BS

"No? And why is that?"

"Sir, we have no Farah Isaacs living here." The look on his face gives me the impression that it was immensely painful to even call me sir.

"She came today, she hasn't been living here."

"I'm sorry but she doesn't live here." He just stares at me as if to dismiss me before an older man rests his hand on my shoulder.

"Farah Isaacs you said?"

"Yes sir, that's correct." He's looking at me with this smug expression that suggests he knows something that I don't.

"You must be Theo, quicker than I expected you to show up. Probably that damn technology your generation depends on but this'll work." Well I was right, he certainly knows something.

"You know Farah?"

"Only since she was a baby. Come on lets go son."

I follow him over to the elevator and get in. He hits the button for the top floor and we begin the ascent.

"You were right Theo, she came in today. Haven't seen her in months, I was worried someone had finally caught up with her. Just like her father in a lot of ways."

"That's why I'm trying to find her again, she needs help."

"Oh I know, I know. Why else do you think I'd bring you up here. She's going to be angry at the both of us, although you'll get the brunt of her anger."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Here we are. Her father owned this whole floor so once you get off the elevator you're in. I for one have to keep working and unfortunately won't be here to help you out." The little glint in his eye as he speaks tells me he's really enjoying this, he's setting me up.

"Okay well thank you for getting me in."

"Oh no problem, no problem. Now go on and get out of here." With that said he opens the doors and I step out. He immediately closes the doors and I hear the elevator start to descend. Then I hear Farah.

"Gerald? Is that you? Forget something already?" Gerald must be the old man.

"No Farah, it's me. It's Theo." Silence. Complete silence. I walk in the direction I heard her voice and find her standing in the middle of what looks like her own private library.

"Farah?" She still hasn't turned to face me.

"You weren't supposed to find me."

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*Farah's POV*

"You weren't supposed to find me." As the words come out of my mouth a thousand thoughts are running through my mind.

How can he be here? Even if he found the key in the book how did he track it so fast?

"Farah come on, turn around." I feel his hands on my shoulders as he slowly turns me to face him.

"You're not supposed to be here Theo. You weren't supposed to find me."

"Well I did."

"No. Go. Forget you were here, that you saw me. Forget that you ever met me. Just leave." Even though I say the words without faltering I can feel the pain of being alone again making its way back.

"What the hell Farah, you need help. You need someone to protect you. You can't just tell me to walk away and leave you stranded. You're hurt." His volume begins to rise as he speaks. Soon we'll both be yelling, something I really despise.

"Please, just go okay? Just listen. I don't need help." I don't deserve his help.

"You're getting my help whether you want it or not because we both know that you need it." Something inside just snaps when I hear the finality in his voice and I feel myself lose control.

"I'm not your damn charity case! I'll be fine. I want to do this alone." I can hear the volume of my voice rising as words continue to tumble out of my mouth unfiltered. "I've done just fine on my own. I don't need help!" I feel the first tear begin to make its way down my cheek. "I don't want help!" More volume, more tears, but I can't stop. "I need to be left alone. Need to be don't you get that?! I don't need your help, and even if I did I don't deserve it!"I hear my voice crack at the end and I'm crying harder than I have in years as all the memories come flooding back; the love, the happiness, the taunts, the truth.

Before I can protest Theo picks me up and carries me to the couch. I continue to cry, to feel more than I've let myself in years, and as he holds me I slowly calm until I drift off to sleep. Something I seem to being doing often these days with him.