Don't Forget Me

Chapter 17

"What in the Sam Hill is that kid driving? Looks like a monster truck," my dad says, looking out the front window at Carter Grayson's pickup truck pulling into the driveway. Good Lord, and he's still got his gigantic and offensive Confederate flag hanging off the back. Not that Confederate flags are particularly hard to find around here, but most people don't have flagpole-sized ones billowing from their mode of transportation. It looks even bigger than I remember. I absolutely should've insisted on just driving myself, but it's too late now.

"See, I could be going on a date with that guy instead of Oliver," I say, standing up next to Dad.

"At least he would then have the balls to pick you up himself and shake my hand."

"Dad, he doesn't even know you want to meet him. We'd already agreed to just meet there," I tell him, rolling my eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry that I don't trust some guy I've never met to not break my daughter's heart."

"Your dad's just having trouble letting his little girl go on her first date," my mom says from behind me. Then she turns me around and wraps me in a hug. "But if you want to leave early, just text and I can come get you, and no crazy rides, okay? Just take it easy." She gently touches my head before letting me go. It's been almost two weeks since I woke up in the hospital. My stitches haven't quite dissolved yet, but I can tell they're really close.

"Got it. See you guys tonight," I say before heading out the door.

"Text me when you get there!" my mom shouts while I barely manage to yank myself up into the backseat of Carter's truck.

"Hey, bitch," Hannah greets me as Carter turns around to look at me.

"Hi, my name's Carter," he says over a lower lip full of dip.

"Yeah, I know, we've been in school together since preschool, Carter," I reply, squinting at him.

"I told you. She just can't remember the last two years, dummy," Hannah says, slapping her hand into his chest.

"Oh, word. Okay. 'Sup, Roseanne."

Something tells me this is going to be a long ride.

"You ready?" Hannah asks, smiling back at me and shimmying her shoulders. I laugh and throw my hands up in the air. I guess so.

"Kind of cute that the only two Chinese kids in Wyatt are dating each other,"

Carter says, his blue eyes finding me in the rearview.

"I'm Korean," I tell him, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

"Same thing." He shrugs and then turns his country music up.

Definitely going to be a long ride.

.........

Venturing out to the county fair on opening night is a little bit like being caught in the middle of the Black Friday stampede at Walmart. Except people aren't after flat-screen TVs or the newest PlayStation. They're just after a shred of excitement, since the fair is pretty much the only novelty that goes on within a thirty-mile radius of Wyatt. It's the event of the year, and tonight, everyone and their cousin are here and on the move.

I've barely stepped past the chain link fence and already I've seen about thirty kids from my high school. Some who are currently attending, and others who just couldn't escape Wyatt's gravitational pull.

I guess I fall into that category now too.

"He said he'd meet us by the...," I start to say, but I turn around to find Hannah and Carter standing in line at the ticket counter with their backs to me, his hand planted firmly around her ass and his lips on hers. I guess I'll have to meet Oliver alone. I roll my eyes and leave them behind me, weaving through the rivers of people until I find the Ferris wheel exactly where it always is, right between the Roundup and the Gee Wizz, which actually looks a lot smaller than it used to.