Unforgotten

Chapter 3 (part 2)

He gazed up at me before saying anything, as if mentally preparing himself. Then it all just spilled out.

"Okay, two months ago we were in Colorado Springs, running from some very bad people. We had almost made it back to my car when you tripped and fell into a valley. I reached over and tried to catch you...,"he cringed "but I was too late. As you fell, a helicopter that was following us caught you - which explains your lack of physical injuries. It was at that time that I also got captured. We were taken to some building far away and put into different rooms.

"A man attempted to inject me with this serum stuff to erase my memory but I managed to escape and went to go find you. When I did I tried to fight them off but.." He trailed off, looking down at the grass.

"I was stabbed in the side and I collapsed.. I-I couldn't get to you before they took you out of the room," he was holding back tears " I tried to save you but I couldn't. I was useless.." He looked away as tears rolled down his cheeks.

I couldn't stand to see him this way.

"I escaped the building and called your mom to tell her what happened. She drove down and took me to the hospital. When I got released 2 weeks later, your mom asked me to stay away from you. But..once I heard you were back, I couldn't not come see you."

The questions, once again piled out before I could stop.

"What were we running from?? Why did my mom ask you to leave? You seriously got stabbed?!? What do mean 'erase' our memories? Riley, what are you not telling me?"

He looked at me with a more pained look than before. I wanted to know. I had to know what he was hiding.

"Avery, your mom was only trying to protect you. She felt having me around would've made things harder for you. And yes..I did get stabbed."

He lifted his shirt and revealed a 3 inch scar going across his rib cage.

I couldn't breathe.

"Oh my god!" I looked at his face apologetically. "Ri, please tell me. You got hurt trying to save me from being like this, "I gesture to myself indicating my current state of being, "obviously you care an awful lot about me. Will you please..please tell me?" I took his hands in mine only to notice he was shaking.

"I don't know, A. I promised your mom."

Before I could respond some random kids walked up to us.

"Yo what up! Y'all ditching too?" Said the oldest looking one.

"We got some drugs on us. Wanna hit?" asked the second one.

I looked at Riley, scared.

"Nah man we good. We just talking. Do you mind getting high somewhere else?"

"Yeah dude. Sure thing. Have fun 'talking'." He put air quotes around the word as if implying something but I didn't care.

"That was weird." I whispered once they were out of hearing distance.

"Yeah, but it's over now."

There was an awkward silence and we both contemplated whether or not to continue our conversation. Riley is obviously hurting and as much as I didn't wanna hurt him more - I had to know.

But before I could say anything he broke the ice.

"Avery, I feel that you should know but I can't risk your mom finding out I told you and her never letting me see you again.." He paused.

"I understand that but this is my life and I need to know if there is a way to reverse what happened. Riley you've been stabbed and permanently scarred and yet your still risking your reputation for me. I promise I won't tell and I promise to keep that promise. It's a double promise, please." I pleaded hoping for the best.

He sat there without saying anything or even moving - he kinda reminded me of those robots from that movie I, Robot. After an eternity of silence, he finally spoke up.

"Okay, only because you're my best friend and it kills me to see you like this. It has to do with your dad."

I was stunned. There was no way.

"My DAD?!? What does this have to do with my dad? Did he do this to me? Why? Wha-what does my father have to do with this?! I haven't seen him - "

"In five years, I know. I also know that that time frame is wrong."

I opened my mouth to respond but then my phone rang. I pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. I froze.

"It's my mom. What do I do?"

"Just answer it. Maybe it's not as bad as we think. "

I took the call. Then exhaled.

"Hey mom."

"What do you think you're doing?! Huh, skipping school just to hang out with Riley! Have you lost your mind. Get home NOW!" She yelled through the phone then hung up.

Riley took my hand.

"Is everything okay? What'd she say?"

"She found out and wants me home."

He exhaled before he said anything.

"Okay. Let's go"

I hesitate.

"Uh, actually I think I should go alone."

I didn't know if I should tell him that mom knew I was with him and that it pissed her off more or not.

"But what if something happens to you. I don't feel okay with you walking home alone. What if you get lost? Or if someone tries to hurt you? I'm sorry but I refuse to leave you."

He is so cute when he's like this.
Focus on the task at hand Avery and not how deep the green his eyes goes right now.

I snapped back into reality.

"Riley please," I paused "I promise I will be okay and I will call you as soon as she gets done yelling at me."

He still wasn't satisfied. He exhaled.

"Okay, okay. I'll let you go, but can you at least text me while you are walking so I know you're safe?" He pleaded with his eyes.

"Of course."

He stood up and extended his hand to help me then pulled me into a hug. I know he was worried and I expected that but I just felt that there was something so much more. He started to walk back in the direction of the school.

There's something else. There has to be. He doesn't look at me as just his best friend...could we have been more? Do I want to be more right now? Is that why I feel so safe around him? Should I ask? No. No, that's stupid. Its just in my head. There's nothing else. I'm just overestimating. There isn't anything more to us.

I watched him leave.

Even I didn't believe that..