Caught In The Way You Got Me (Book One)

You're Such a Pretty Thing To Be Running From

Brendon:

Davey and I race through opposite ends of the city, asking everyone if they've seen a silver haired girl that looked lost. Why isn't she answering? I hope to God she's not passed out in the street. Dizzy spells are a part of concussions aren't they? We shouldn't have left her alone. I'm so fucking selfish. I see a group of homeless men and figure it's worth a try. Davey called them her guardian angels. If anyone's seen her it could be one of them.

"Excuse me, have you guys seen Asteria?"

"Who are you, pretty boy?" One asks. I let out a sigh. I don't have time for this.

"I'm her boyfriend," I spit out. I realize for a second that I actually want that to be true.

"Is she mad at you? What did you do?" More like guard dogs...

"No! It's nothing like that! She's just not at her apartment and she won't answer the phone! We're a little worried."

"Oh yeah! She can't remember nothin'! She was trying to find a memory. I think she was going to her friend's apartment! She went down the way she usually goes when she walks over there!"

"Thank you! Thank you so much! Really!" I dial Davey's number hoping he answers.

"Did you find her?!" He shouts into the phone.

"Did you check your apartment?!"

"Why the fuck would she be there?"

"Did you check your apartment!" I shout into the phone, louder than before.

"Fuck! Okay! Seventh and Yale! That's the corner my building is at!"

"Yeah I remember!" I hang up and rush to the building. I park sloppily and he gets there at the same time that I do. He punches in his code and we're both sweating and out of breath. He mutters "please be there" the entire way up the elevator. When we get to his number he throws the door open. We both stand in the doorway and stare at a frightened Asteria, her phone in hand and her eyes wide.

"You are dead!" Davey screams as he rushes to grab her. She backs into the wall and I try to pull him back. "You're holding your phone! Do you have any idea how many times we've called you?! Didn't you think that maybe you should answer it?!"

"Davey calm down. Yelling at her won't help." I come in between them, knowing I wouldn't stand a chance in a fight against him but he's making me nervous.

"I'm sorry! I forgot it was on silent and I've just been here-"

"Oh what, your amnesia extends to earlier the same day now?! Huh?!" Davey yells but something is different about Asteria and he isn't letting himself see that.

"Asteria...how did you get here?" I ask her while Davey paces the apartment and tried to calm down.

"Um...I walked..." Davey freezes where he's standing.

"You walked?" I ask her with a giant smile.

"Yeah! I found this sweater in my closet and when I put it on it smelled like Davey. And I remembered he made me hot chocolate in it. And it was at his apartment. So I...I walked here. I'm so sorry for not checking my phone... I was cleaning and I thought it would help- and it did! And I just...lost track of time."

"Asteria! I made you hot chocolate three weeks ago!" Davey shouts.

"Yeah I remember!"

"You remember!" Davey and I both shout and jump at the same time. I pull her in and I'm so happy I want to kiss her. So I do...but it's a different kiss this time. The other ones I was hungry for something...and with this kiss...I just want her to know I care about her. She's surprised at first, but after a moment she starts kissing back, sweetly kneading her lips against mine. I pull away, smiling at her. She smiles back and we both let out a small laugh before we start again. Everything about her kisses are loving and gentle. Were they always this way? Was I just too focused on other things to realize it?

I hear Davey leave and go into another room. I cup her face gently with both hands and she smiles in between small kisses and then sighs into longer ones, gently sucking my lips. She kisses my cheeks and then goes back to my lips, then my chin, then my lips again. I kiss the tip of her nose and then pull away. I know what I want. I take both of her hands in mine and she looks at me nervously.

"Is everything okay Brendon?" She asks softly. She studies my face, hoping for clues.

"Yeah, Asteria...I just... There's something I have to do..."