Elliana X Jason

Nineteen, A Really, Really Fake Thing

Alex's features held a look of concern. "What's up?"

"I... I don't know. I thought emotions carried through without memories, you know? I thought I still felt exactly like the old Jason felt."

"And you don't?"

"No... no. Because I was being rude and selfish, and I didn't even know. And now... because when the smoke comes it brings back parts of the old Jason. And it brought back, I think... his compassion, or something? Because now I know that I was being rude and selfish, you know?"

Alex stared at him for a second. "Not really, no. And uh, what smoke?"

Jason sighed. "A while ago, when I was with Elliana, I felt this smoke in my lungs. When it left, I had a memory. Then, again just now, I felt that same smoke, and it... I don't know. It just hit me in that moment. How cruel I've been."

"You weren't that bad." Alex said.

"I guess. But the boy was right. I was making everything about me. I should go help Rebecca, see if she's feeling okay."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Ian said, appearing behind Alex. "She says she wants to be alone right now."

"Alright, then. I'll go check on that other girl." Jason said.

"Elliana?" Alex asked.

"No."

"Emily?"

"Um... maybe?"

Ian and Alex shared a confused look.

"Could you guys maybe explain who everyone is, or something, please?" Jason asked.

Ian nodded. "So I'm guessing that you met Elliana. And you know the three of us. Over there, with the dark hair, that's Emily. Then the boy over there is Cole. The girl at the tree is Ryan." He said.

Jason nodded, then made her way over to the tree. Emily was having a conversation with Elliana, so Ryan was alone, resting by the tree.

"Hi." She muttered when he came over.

"Hey. You feeling okay?" He asked.

She looked away from him. "I'm fine. A-O-K. No need to worry about me."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"Somehow, I don't believe you." Jason noted.

Ryan looked him right in the eyes. "Fine. My shoulder is really stinging, I can't move anything and everything feels numb, but somehow it also hurts so bad you wouldn't believe. I'm really dizzy and super nauseous, although I'm not really in the mood to throw up. My head is pounding too. I'm also feeling really angry at everyone and everything, especially you because you did this to me. This is probably the worst day of my life, because you literally bit me, I got stabbed, and then I got knocked into a tree and almost died. And I'm really sick of acting all lighthearted and funny, when really I'm in extreme pain."

Jason just stared at her.

"Are you happy? Is that what you wanted to hear?" Ryan asked.

Jason still didn't reply.

"Thought so." She muttered with an eye roll.

"I... I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. I shouldn't have said that."

"Why not? You were just telling me the truth."

Ryan took her turn to not reply.

"I'm sorry." Jason repeated.