USWNT - High School

Chapter 23

~Time jump: 2 weeks~

**

Kelley's POV

"Kelley, you ready?" Melody yelled from the door downstairs, having let herself in. After only knowing her for 2 weeks, we've gotten pretty close. Having a common loved one in utter confusion can do that to people.

"I'm ready." I smiled, as I ran down the stairs. The last couple weeks had been an emotional rollercoaster from the second Carli told me Hope was coming home for me that day of the accident, to today when she's actually coming home. Melody has agreed to stay with Hope here so she can eventually get back to school and stay connected with familiar places and faces. Not that anything is really familiar to her yet. It hurts when you look at the person you love with all this affection, and they look back at you like a stranger.

I'm no longer a stranger to Hope though, I've been there every single day for the past weeks. She recognizes me now, which means her short term memory isn't damaged. Her long term on the other hand, she still only remembers the accident that happened almost ten years ago. The rest of her memory seems to be coming back in slow motion, and the doctors have faith she'll gain full memory at some point.

She seems to be struggling the most with faces, recognizing people in general. She remembers the people she grew up with, like her sister, but people like me and even Carli is nowhere in her memory at this point.

She is well physically and mentally, and she also knows now that the accident she remembers is not what happened. She knows about her father's passing, and her mothers absent. Melody still haven't told me much about that, those conversations was left between the two.

Hope knows Carli and I are her friends, along with Ashlyn and the others of course, but she doesn't know anything further than that.
She doesn't know we were in love.

**

We drove to the hospital in silence, both Melody and I being excited and nervous about having Hope home. Carli had a test today that she couldn't miss, so it was just the two of us. I didn't mind spending time with Melody. She reminded me of Hope, even though they were very much different. At least she looked like her, and it gave some kind of comfort.

"Ready for the big day?" Doctor Scott met us at the door to the hospital, being helpful as always. He had been a lifesaver for us over these past weeks. He really has taken a personal attachment to Hope's case, being with her everyday to help her develop. Even from the first day when he let us in on the confidential information he's been great.

"As ready as we can get." Melody smiled nervously, giving me a comforting pat on the back. I think she was more nervous than what she was letting on to. She's had to take care of Hope from a young age and I think she feels like she let her down. Their lives kinda just separated and something tells me Melody never truly forgave herself for that.

The doctor followed us in and gave us some helpful advice on how to help Hope adjust. She had been somewhat sheltered here at the hospital, and chances were exposing her to the outside world in a larger degree would trigger her memory. It was just hard to tell how much and when and why.

"Good morning, Hope. You ready to go home?" The doctor smiled as the opened the door to Hope's room, and she eagerly turned around on the bed. She was fully dressed with hair up in a tight ponytail. It was very Hope of her.

"Sure. Would be more exited if I remembered where it is and how it looks like though." She joked, and we all let out a nervous laugh.
I think neither of us really knows how to respond to Hope's memory jokes, and there's a lot of them. She seems to find some comfort in the joking, and I'm sure that's good. It's just strange for us surrounding her.

"Looking good today, Kelley." Did I mention the way she flirts with me, and has no clue that we had a thing at all? Well, it's weird. There's something in her that is still attracted to me though, and I guess that's good. But I can't respond because that just feels wrong. Like I'm somehow taking advantage of the situation kinda. I mean this Hope doesn't seem to be as reluctant to admit her feelings or to even give us a try, but then again she doesn't know why her old self did in the first place.

"You too, Hope." I smiled genuine, but with a little bit of sadness. I think she notices how every time she compliments me, there's happiness filled with something else. I can't seem to be complete happy about them until I know she remembers everything.

"What are we waiting for, you should get going." Mr. Scott broke the staring competition and I broke the gaze from Hope. We all started gathering the last belongings in the room, and got ready to leave the room.

"Thank you, doctor. For everything." Melody politely shook the doctor's hand, and he took it with both of his and a smile.
"I'm glad I get to see you girls leave here with a smile. It's going to be okay." He spoke, as he turned to me as well and shook my hand.

"Hope." He said as he opened his arms to give the remaining girl a hug. Hope smiled, as she gladly accepted it. I could see her smile over the man's shoulder, and I know she truly appreciated his help. He's become one of the few she recognize and remember.

"Now you don't forget about me, okay?" Doctor Scott joked, and the smile on Hope's face sent chills down my spine. I think she really liked that he wasn't afraid to joke with her on that, that he didn't treat her like some fragile case like the rest of us probably did.
"You know I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best." Hope joked back, picking up her bag as they walked out the door.

**

"This is it." Melody stopped the car and opened her car door. Hope looked up at the house in front of her, clearly not remembering it. I had kinda hoped she would, like this would trigger something, but so far nothing.

"Home sweet home." I heard Hope mumble, as she tried her best to stay positive. I know she knew I had hoped she would recognize it, so she tried to cover it up. I appreciated that she tried for me, but it didn't change the fact that she didn't remember.

"Shit. I'm so sorry-" Melody started talking, as she looked up from her phone and right at me. "Looks like I have to pick up some stuff at Ethan's, will you be okay here alone for a while?" She looked at me with begging eyes. From what I've learned about Melody over the weeks, Ethan is her newly ex boyfriend, and she stayed with him before Hope came back to see her. He's being somewhat of an ass at the moment apparently, not that I know why.

"Sure, I'll might need Kelley to show me around in my own house though." Hope pulled another joke, looking over at me with a smile. Melody hinted that I didn't have to say yes if I didn't want to, but I still felt like I had to not matter if I didn't want to or not.

"We'll take it from here, just call me when you're on your way back." I smiled to Melody, seeing her relieved facial expression.
"Thank you, you're the best." She said, as she quickly unloaded the car and got back in.

Hope and I alone again in her house, this was for sure not how I imagined this moment to be, but I'll take it. Here goes nothing.