Found (New Earth Saga)

Ch. 56

***River POV*** 

"We assure you Mr. and Mrs. Reed, River's safety is absolutely our priority. The safety of every student at Wendleton High School is of the utmost priority here," Principal Howard spoke as I watched Thomas's calloused hands clenched into fist as he released a heavy breath. Since Trent's wedding ended with the update about Eric waking from his coma things had been in a word, tense. Jacob's dad had taken control after receiving as much information on Eric's latest updates, calling his lawyers, a public affairs specialist, and a private investigator he'd hired. Mr. Mangello explained to me and the Reed's that we had to prepare for Eric to break the truth about who'd taken him, and his interactions with me, however that truth had yet to break.

Although Eric was awake from his coma, he had suffered from memory loss- some sort of short term amnesia. According to Eric and everyone on the news, he had no recollection of being missing. Eric apparently couldn't even remember meeting me. He didn't remember the first day of school, or him and Parisa breaking up. Eric's last memory was starting preseason soccer practice right before the school year started. This reality left me with incredibly mixed emotions.

Part of me was relieved. I was secretly celebrating that Eric had been hurt enough that he's suffering memory loss. What was wrong with me? I shouldn't be applauding him being hurt all because of me. I couldn't help it though. Eric losing his memory meant that everyone didn't have to know I was a liar. Everyone didn't have to know that I'd withheld information about run-ins with a convicted murderer... the very murderer who raised me. There's that saying "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,". Was this saying truthful about Kerry and I?

The other part of me was of course waiting for the shoe to drop. How did this all seem to work out so perfectly, that Eric had lived, and couldn't reveal the lies I'd weaved? Things never fit perfectly for me. I am by definition a magnet for bad luck. I was beyond ready to wake up and find out that Eric was faking it, and did remember it all. For now, though, we had to go by the information we had.

Not only was Eric awake, alert, and healthy, but his parents had taken legal action to get him enrolled into Wendleton High once again. The school board and city reviewed the case and Eric's medical files and ultimately ruled that yes, Eric's expulsion would be lifted since he has no recollection of the "incident" - referring to him beating me up in the restroom (which didn't actually happen). So now I sat in the human chair attop Principal Howard's desk as he spoke to Thomas, Blue and I about Eric's return to school.

"To say I am disappointed in this decision would be an understatement," Thomas replied to Principal Howard, his anger clear from his rough tone. It was still alarming to see Thomas this frustrated- and all because of me. He knows Eric didn't actually hurt me that day, and still he was fiercely protective as if it had all been real. Was he just pretending? Lying?

"We have made advancements in security on school grounds, including enhanced cameras, and extended hours of our parapros. Eric was horrified to hear about the events, and has agreed to respect River's space, and stay away from her. One step out of line and we'll take action swiftly," Principal Howard vowed.

Once Blue and Thomas left I found myself back on the electric scooter that was the bane of my existence. I hadn't been to school in a week using the cut on my foot as an excuse, and honestly waiting for all the news about Eric to die down. Jacob and Parisa had brought me my school work, and Jacob even hung out one night after school. We had to stay at the kitchen table so we hadn't gotten to kiss since the wedding, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't wanted to.

Now returning to school, I was faced with multiple situations. The Eric sitch, the Jacob sitch, and potentially the Issac sitch. Issac hadn't spoken to me since our fight once I'd told him the truth about how I'd gotten those bruises from him. With the radio silence I guess I just assumed he'd be mad at me forever. If Issac wanted to make up with me wouldn't he have called or texted? I guess I can't blame him, but still, it stung. Even though I had- whatever this thing was with Jacob.