A Part of My Memory

Elliot

Once I finished the dishes, I headed upstairs, intending to go straight to my room to grab my stuff but paused in my tracks when I heard chatter coming from Zara's room. Her door was left slightly ajar, so it wouldn't be hard to listen in. I told myself I wasn't going to, that there was no need to eavesdrop like Harley always did, and yet I found myself walking towards the door.

"Maybe," Zara said to something Harley had said.

"So are you good at giving advice?" Harley asked Zara.

"Umm, depends," Zara told her. "What's up?"

"So I have a friend," Harley began, "Let's call him Ed. Ed has a girlfriend, Jill, but he doesn't have a strong connection with his girlfriend. Like, they're not compatible but he's too blind to notice. But Ed has a friend, we'll call this friend Zoe. Zoe and Ed have a clear strong connection, and I think Zoe likes Ed and Ed likes Zoe but he isn't making a move because he's still with Jill," she told Zara then sighed. "Isn't Ed just the dumbest person on this planet?"

It wasn't hard to read into the meaning of what Harley was saying, considering the fact that she was using the first letter of our names to name the characters. I just hoped Zara didn't pick up on it too.

"No, I don't think Ed is the dumbest person on this planet. Maybe he's just confused?" Zara considered. "Give it time, he'll figure out how he feels for the two, and he'll make a decision based on his feelings."

Harley nodded, "I sure hope so."

Zara suddenly grinned and laughed softly, and I caught myself staring at the curve of her lips as she smiled. "Harley, how dumb do you think I am on a scale of 1 to 10?"

Harley blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question, "umm, 4?"

"Then did you really think I wouldn't pick up on what you were saying?" She asked her. "If I am right and Ed is who I think he is then I think he'd better stay with Jill."

"I don't think so," Harley disagreed, shaking her head. "I know you're probably concerned about the whole incest thing but you guys are second cousins, you're not closely related."

"We're still related."

"Barely," Harley mumbled. "For all you know, you might not be related at all."

"But we are."

"And if you weren't?" Harley prodded. "If you weren't related, would you still want Ed to be with Jill?"

Zara opened her mouth and then closed it again. Her brows furrowed and she looked to the side, deep in thought. Watching her, I felt expectant. I didn't know why, or what I wanted to hear her say, but I felt expectant, waiting for her answer just as Harley was.

"I don't know," she finally said, and I questioned the disappointment I felt.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just don't. Plus, Elliot loves Jess," Zara said, using our real names. "So it doesn't matter what I feel."

"But what if he didn't love her?"

"But he does," Zara stated. "And it would still be weird."

"Weird how?"

"If you weren't related to Elliot, would you be interested in him?" Zara questioned.

"Gross! No!" Harley gagged.

Zara smiled again, "see? It would still be weird."

"Yeah but—"

"Hush now, Harley," Zara cut her off. "Can we not talk about something else? Such as someone you have feelings for."

Harley slowly pouted her lips, "what makes you think I have feelings for anyone?"