I've Got A Story To Tell

Chapter 6; Growing Pains

‘What the hell was that?!’ Kandace spat once they managed to settle down. Emey shrugged nonchalantly and took a huge bite out of her sandwich. Rin sat next to her, twirling her fingers uncomfortably. Kandace stood in front of Emey and began interrogating her.

‘Well? Explain,’ she snarled. Natalie grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away.

‘Now, wait a second-‘

‘Okay, I’ll tell you,’ Rin said, crossing her legs and signalling the girls to sit down. ‘But first, let me introduce myself. I am Marina Kagani, but most people call me Rin. Believe it or not, I am Japanese, not only by nationality, but by blood. That boy that you saw, that was Leon, or Len. He’s my twin brother. I was Emey’s neighbour for about six years before we moved in 2008. We’ve been best friends since we were four.’

‘She used to go to our primary school,’ said Mitchie, grabbing a cookie from Emey’s lunch. Rin nodded.

‘I’ve also known Mitchie here for about three of those years. Anyway, back to Len.

Len is sort of – no, really – obsessed with martial arts and contact sports. He took lessons in Taekwondo, Karate, Boxing, Fencing, whatever. Back in elementary school, Emey didn’t know how to deal with people very well. So whenever we would go to the public park, there would be this group of boys who would call her names. She’d try to beat them up, and it would never turn out well. So she asked Len to teach her how to fight. Due to the fact that she was naturally strong, it didn’t take her long to get the hang of it.

When we were about ten, Emey and Len had an argument – the topic was something so trivial, I can’t even remember it. And the argument ended in a physical fight, which Emey won by breaking Len’s arm.’

The girls looked warily at Emey, who seemed unfazed by the comment. Rin sighed and continued.

‘Ever since then, Len never really got along with her, and vice versa. Capiche?’

‘Did you really do that, Emey?’ Natalie said, not entirely convinced. Emey shrugged in response.

‘He was an asshole and he deserved it,’ she replied, making Natalie sigh in defeat.

‘Well then,’ Natalie stood up, shooting her hand out at Rin, who grabbed it willingly. Natalie pulled the girl up, and vigorously shook her hand. ‘Welcome to the club! I’m Natalie, and this,’ she pointed to the girls behind her, ‘is Kandace, Mars, and, well, you already know Mitchie and Emey.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ Rin said flashing her signature smile. ‘Unlike Emey and Len, let’s get along from now on.’

Natalie nodded and grinned.

Maybe they new people weren’t so bad after all.

Oz’s eyes followed Alice as she paced back and forth angrily. Len somehow found interest in the ground.

‘Ugh, so she freaking remembers you and Rin,’ she snarled at Len, ‘but I’m just so fucking unimportant that I can be forgotten?!’

‘Now Alice,’ Oz said calmly, in attempt to cool her off, ‘it’s not her fault and you know that.’

‘What’s not who’s fault?’ another voice asked. Oz turned around and smiled at Ben, who looked tired and bored as usual.

‘We just met with Emey,’ he replied. ‘Alice went on and attacked her for her memory loss.’

‘Don’t go saying that around Ben!’ Alice hissed, her face red from embarrassment. Ben just looked at her blankly.

‘That’s just Alice,’ he sighed and looked around. ‘Where’s Rin?’

‘With Emey. It seems that she can only remember Rin and Len,’ Oz responded.

‘Seriously?’

‘Yeah, and she still hates me,’ Len whispered, his eyes still glued to the ground, long blond bangs covering his eyes.

‘Huh,’ Ben said to himself. He looked at Oz. ‘Do you think she only forgot what happened that summer?’

‘It’s possible,’ Oz shrugged back. ‘After all, amnesia almost always occurs due to an extremely shocking experience. That whole summer was pretty freaky.’

‘Getting shot in the head and surviving is even freakier,’ Alice shuddered.

‘I still don’t understand how that happened,’ Ben sighed.

‘How she survived the shot?’ Alice asked.

‘Yeah.’

‘Well, weren’t you shot in the head a few times?’ she grimaced. Ben thought for a bit.

‘Yes, I was, but I still remember everything.’

‘True,’ Oz decided, ‘but maybe the fact that it was unexpected made her lose it? I mean, every time you were shot, you expected it and were prepared. She was sort of caught off guard by the whole situation.’

Ben didn’t reply.

The bell rang and it was time to get to the next period. Ben pivoted on his heel and gave the group a wave.

‘See you after school,’ he called out. The others nodded and walked off to their next class.