The Forgotten

You Keep Telling Yourself That

A/N: This video belongs to Deborah Lv. Victoria Justice and Elizabeth Gillies own the song.

Until lunch, everything is pretty good. The teachers seem slightly dismayed that I know the answers. I'm beginning to get the impression that Raven wasn't the greatest student.

I steered away from the creepy girl from this morning and the muscular guy. I didn't know who either of them was, and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to know who they were in the first place.

Whenever Shain passed me in the hall, she would mouth the word Lance. I would grin, but wonder how they had never been caught. Then again, they might have. Although I'd bet my last dollar, or, actually, Mr. Bristill's, that no adult in this school would have the guts to give the President's daughter detention. Maybe her best friend; I doubt it though.

At lunch, Shain and I go through the line together. I am surprised when she promptly dumps her meal into the garbage, except the vanilla cupcake. She does eye it suspiciously as she sets it down on a napkin. When we sit down at a table, I immediately dig in, savoring every bite. As I said earlier, the food at the Forgotten Compound fit the bare requirements for nutritious food.

Shain stares at me, flabbergasted. I look up from the mashed potatoes.

"What?" I ask. Another person takes a seat beside us. I gaze at them. I recognize him as the red haired guy from the gymnasium. He appears just as incredulous as Shain. "Seriously? What?"

"You're actually eating the cafeteria food?" the red haired man asks shockingly.

"Obviously," I retort, shoveling in another bite. They continue to stare. "Okay, tell me what's going on?"

What I really wanted to ask was who are you and how do I know you? That wouldn't bode well though.

Shain explains, "Um...the cafeteria food has always sucked."

"Oh..." I rack my brain for a spin. "The doctors told me to keep my blood sugar and nutrients up. This food might be crap, but it's healthy." I make a face. "And it is crap." Identical grins spread across their faces. The red haired guy puts his arm about me.

"That's the Raven, I know," he says. Then he kisses me on the lips. I push him away.

"What are you doing?" I hiss. He looks startled, even nervous. He glances at Shain.

"Raven?" she asks, also looking weary, "what's wrong?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Why do you look so scared?" I reply. Shain turns to the boy.

"Jess," Shain says, "Raven doesn't remember the party." He looks relieved. I look from one to the other.

"And what happened at this party?" I less ask than demand.

"We made out," Jess tells me. "We had broken up, but we got back together." Shain nods.

"So, what?" I press, crossing my arms and legs. "I don't remember whatever you did to win me back. We're still broken up." I think I handled this situation alright. I won't have to be kissing a complete stranger. I don't have to be friendly with him, or fake nostalgia. I can be cold and snarky, which is, if I do say so myself, one of my talents.

"Please," Jess says, "just try to for--"

"No," I state firmly. "I'll forgive you when I think you deserve it."

I look around the cafeteria. Knowing Raven, she found a rebound immediately after breaking up with Jess. I need to find out who that is and set things straight with them too. Being friends with Shain is one thing; it's easy to pretend. I can't fake attraction. Not when I'm repulsed, that is.