Lethe Vita

Chapter 15

He had memorized her visage.

He had lain there night after night, morning after morning, in the air mattress beside her bed and captured a mental image of her. The birthmark beside her eye that became more prominent when her eyes were closed. The flyaway strands of her untamed bedhead. The pursing of her lips as she dreamt. The way her stomach jiggled as she tossed, hips synched with the movement.

Her hands; he had memorized those most of all. Every line. The curve of her fingers. The way they fit into his.

Dylan realized, as he stood there surrounded by blondes and brunettes, that he had memorized only her.

The brunette who somehow managed to capture the attention of every room she stood in, even when she barely knew the people inside it.

"So you're Kelly," said Brenda. "You changed your hair."

"Still Donna," said Donna, attempting and failing to conceal her hurt. "This one's Kel," she added, pulling Kelly by the hand.

"Hi Bren," said Kelly softly.

"Hello," said Brenda. "I've heard quite a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope," said Kelly.

"It depended on who I asked," said Brenda. "Steve especially raved about you."

Steve aimed a wink in Kelly's direction, who responded with a wave to Steve.

"Had to throw in my ten cents, of course," said Valerie, scrutinizing Kelly. "More like a whole dollar. Or a hundred. A hundred reasons why I told Bren this was a bad idea. But did she listen to me?"

"Valerie," said Kelly.

"Kelly," said Val. "Missed me?"

"Not really."

"Feeling's mutual, Kel."

"I'd really like to hug you," Donna told Brenda. "It's been so long. But I -" she halted, "I probably shouldn't, right?"

"I can be hugged," said Brenda. "But only by a few."

"I see," said Donna disappointedly.

"If it helps, Don, I can't get a hug out of her yet, either," said Steve.

"Steve gives the best hugs," said Donna as she walked over to receive a bear hug. "God, I missed you."

"Missed you too, Don." Steve kissed the top of her head as Clare watched them with a smile. "You dump Noah yet?" he asked.

"I didn't know you were waiting for me to," said Donna.

"Look, I don't mind the guy, but I do think you deserve better."

"Can we not talk about him?" asked David, eyeing Val.

"Shit," said Steve. "Yeah. Let's not. Donna, you remember Clare, right? Used to be a little more redhead, super close with her father, likes to dump guys on a beach directly after graduation..."

"Can you take Steve back with you?" asked Clare whilst embracing Donna.

"He'd kick me if I tried," said Donna.

"I'd never kick a woman," said Steve. "Unless it was kinky kicking."

"What's kinky kicking?" asked Donna.

"Something that only exists in Steve's head," said David. "And maybe in Val's," he added.

Dylan's stare flew about the room, bouncing from person to person as it repeatedly went back to Brenda.

One of his exes, one of his hookups, and two of his best friends in the world all stood there, yet she held priority in his eyeline.

Kelly looked Brenda over.