The Veiled Love {Wattys 2016}

CHAPTER 7 - MEETING JAMES

CHAPTER 7

MEETING JAMES

MIA COLLINS

After 2 months

Today I'm in my best outfit. I'm wearing my crop top and a high waist pencil skirt. I wear my pencil heels and rush out of my house. It is two months since I last met James. Today, he is officially coming back to school to resume his studies. The two months was really hard for me without James. Emma and Adam missed him too. But more than anyone else, his gang of friends was upset. They tried to keep in touch with James but his parents had shooed them away whenever they came to his place. It was only me whom his parents let because I managed to take him to the hospital on the day of his accident. It was only once that I met him in his house after the day he was discharged from the hospital.

James was on his bed sleeping. I didn't want to disturb him so I just sat there silently on a bedside chair and watched him. He had his forehead covered in white cloth and his legs and hands with mild injuries. The thought that James lost his memories haunted me for a long time ever since I heard it from the nurses' gossips. His almond eyes remained shut for a long time and his body moved only to breath. I left the place after an hour and thought to never go back. I didn't like to visit James because he was a patient. I didn't like to see him suffer. I made up my mind that the next time I visit his place would be when he's perfectly alright. Today, finally after two months of rest James is coming back to school like a complete man with most of his memories restored.

Emma comes with her car and I hop inside.

"Mia, don't be too emotional when he's there. Okay?" She asks and I nod my head. 

Even now the thought that James' car crashed Brenna's is such a horrible disaster. Lucky girl, she got through the accident. It was only her arm that was fractured while James had his head injured. If James had left the party a few minutes before or after, he wouldn't have come across this drunken Brenna who drove her Audi. I got to know that Brenna was of the same age as all of us and that she was studying in Alameda School. Poor James though not a rash driver, had faced this mighty disaster.

"Adam said that James has already come." Emma interrupts my thoughts and I look at her surprised.

"What? But-"

"We're late. Adam said that he remembers us. He asked for you and me when he met Adam." She informs.

"What? I'm so happy that he remembers us!" I exclaim.

"But he has forgotten many others. He has forgotten most of the teachers." She says with a sad voice and gape at her. 

By the time I could react, we reached school. We are late than usual. We rush to the cafeteria and find many people surrounding a table. I almost run towards the table. I can hear a familiar voice and no one needs to tell me that it's James'. I manage to get myself through the small space between the two boys and stand straight in front of the table.

I can see Adam opposite to me and all the members of James' gang on the other sides. I think I am standing right behind James. I can see James' back. He is in his black shirt and is busy answering the questions that the other people are asking. "How are you feeling?", "Are you okay?", "Do you remember me?" and so many more queries. I just stand there without any idea.

"Mia!" Adam calls me and I look at him. This makes James know that I was there and he asks Adam, 

"Where?" Adam immediately points in my direction and James turns around.