Gone Forever (Adam Gontier #2)

Chapter 13

Adam's POV - THE NEXT MORNING

"Okay, Adam, calm yourself," Lara tells me, placing her hand on my forearm and tracing her finger over the lyric tattooed into the skin in black, cursive ink. I take in a breath, looking at her. "He didn't mean anything by it. I spoke to him. You know how when you're off on something, you forget, and then later on you remember again? That's what it is. He told me, Adam. He didn't mean anything by it, I swear he didn't."

"Then why'd he go running like that?" I ask her, trying to stop myself from lashing out at her. Control it, Adam. Control the anger.

"Because he was scared you'd beat him shitless again," she argues back at me, frustration beginning to play on her face. "Sometimes remembering shit isn't always what people want to hear, and he likely knew you wouldn't like it."

"Did he really tell you all of that in such a short time, LC?" I ask her suspiciously, taking in a sharp shot of breath as she shakes her head. Is she lying to me?

"I remember things from the Josie night, Adam. I've applied my knowledge to the situation. You know rather than jumping blindly into wild accusations." She raises her eyebrows at me, and as I realise what she'd just said, I forget about what we had previously been talking about.

"What do you mean, you remember that?" I ask her, and she looks at me, biting her lip before flinching as she remembers the injury, sustained from bleeding by a few stitches. "Lara?"

"I remember a lot that happened. I remember going backstage. I remember you and the guys talking to some backstagers. I remember you showing up. I remember him glaring at me from the crowd when we were on stage. I remember the emotion in his voice when he blamed you - wrongly. I remember all the-" Her voice cracks as she looks down at the memorable scars on her dead arm. "All the blood. But none of that compares to the last thing I remember. Just before I blacked out. Do you remember, Adam?" I frown, wracking my mind for some even small memory. "Do you remember what you said to me?" I bite my lip, trying to remember but being unable to think of anything.

She reaches out and takes my hand. "You told me you loved me, Adam. And for some crazy, fucked-up reason it was that phrase that kept me alive, against all odds. Because I wanted to say it back, and I couldn't exactly say that if I was dead, could I?"

"Lara, why are you telling me this now?" I ask, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of confusion.

"Because it's proof. You're not angry at me for suddenly remembering things you thought I didn't know. So why are you angry at Barry? He was drunk at the time; no-one was hurt other than him. So I don't see why you're still punishing him. Let it go, Adam. Forget about it," she tells me, weak signs of exasperation showing in her voice.

Looking across the room at Barry's sleeping body, I sigh, releasing all my anger. "Okay, LC," I mutter, pulling her face towards me and kissing her gently, feeling her soft hand run across my cheek. Pulling away, I smile at her. "Sorry for being scary."

"It's okay, Adam," she tells me, grinning back. "Just think rationally next time, okay?" I nod at her, briefly closing my eyes. "Now let's give the boys their wake-up call."

*5 HOURS LATER*

Jason sits down beside me and grins near hysterically. I roll my eyes at him. "I don't see what you're finding so funny. I'm gonna get back at you for that."

"It was pretty funny, Adam, you've gotta remember that much," he replies, and I glare at him, crossing my arms over my chest before I look back out of the window as the other vehicles pass us by on the bus. I'd forgotten how many lines you get into on the road when you're in such a large vehicle.