Twisted Minds

Chapter 7

Bryn Daunt's POV

That night, after dinner with Uncle Logan, I call Kelli.
"He said I love you first today!" I squeak in excitement and I hear Kelli gasp.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Oh my gosh, Bryn that's great."
"Mm hm." I reply, my mind drifting back to the events of this afternoon.
"How was the afternoon with him?" Kelli asks.
"Great, we baked a lemon cake, per his request-"
"Josh wanted to bake?"
"Yeah, we were grocery shopping for mom and I mentioned my love for lemon cake. He then insisted on buying it and baking it today."
"Aw, that's cute," Kelli coos.
"Yeah."
"Anything else?"
"We...um..."
"Dauntless, what happened?" Kelli asks, her protective mama bear voice echoing across the phone.
"We may have...had a make out session." I answer shyly.
"Oh Bryn, that's nothing to be shy about." Kel says, brushing it off.
"Maybe not for you," I counter. "You remember your first kisses." Awkward silence fills the phone line.
"Dauntless, that wasn't what I meant-"
"It's fine Kel." I reply, cutting her off. "I'm adjusting." The one thing I don't tell her as her quiet sigh comes across the line was that, I had several memory flashes while I was kissing Josh. Memories of a tall, olive skinned boy with brown hair and striking blue eyes.
"Sorry Bryn, I really am." Kelli says again, repeating her apology.
"It's alright Kelli; like I said, I'm adjusting."
"I've got to go Bryn. Mom is calling me to help out with stuff around the house."
"Alright, talk to you at school tomorrow Kelli."
"Bye." With that, my friend hangs up.

Uncle Logan walks into the living room a moment later and sits on the couch.
"Hey kiddo."
"Hey Uncle Logan." I reply, sliding my phone into my back pocket.
"How are you doing?"
"Not bad, school is going pretty well." He nods, his gaze flickering to my shoulder.
"Injuries healing well?"
"Pretty well, sometimes things still hurt but I'm getting there."
"And how's Joshua?" Uncle Logan eyes me, as though he overheard my conversation with Kelli.
"Um...good," I gulp. "He's doing good, excited for football season to start."
"I'll bet." He replies, not taking his intense gaze off me. I begin to squirm, unable to meet his eyes. "You two doing well?" I nod, unsure where this topic might lead to. "That's good. Having fun?" My jaw drops.
"Uncle Logan! I can't believe you think thay I-"
"Well, little missy," he intergects. "I was a teenage boy once too. I know what goes through their mind."
"But I would never-" The look he gives me stops me mid-sentence. "Can we please change the subject?" I ask, sending him a hopeful look, because I am beginning to feel very awkward. Chuckling a little, my uncle nods.
"How's your head feel kiddo?" He asks, but I know the real question is hidden between his words.
"It's doing ok, I've started to remember a few things-not in great detail. But I'll get there."
"Of course you will sweetie." Uncle Logan leans over and kisses my head.
"Bryn, will you come play Dutch Blitz with me please?" Isaac asks, walking into the living room. "Uncle Logan already agreed." Chuckling a little, I nod.
"Sure Isaac. Where's it set up?"
"The kitchen table." He replies, turning in his heel and returning from where he came. Getting to my feet, my uncle and I follow Isaac into the kitchen to play a card game that will start an irreversible battle.

*************

The next morning, my friends walk with me to my gym class. On our way, we pass Josh's  group of friends and pause for a moment.
"Hey y'all." I greet them, smiling. Brendan returns the smile.
"Good morning Bryn. How are you?"
"Pretty good, how about you?"
"Good. Hey Bryn, this is Wesley Andrews, Richard Grahm, Chad Collins and Seth Boone." I figure that he is trying to make me feel normal again-like he did yesterday by introducing me.
"Nice to meet you guys. This is Kelli Bright, Taylor Hunt, Rebecca Whittaker and Zane."
"What? No last name intro for me Dauntless? How rude of you." Zane comments, placing his hand over his heart. I squint my eyes as I reply to his comment by sticking out my tongue.
My group begins to engage in casual conversation with Josh's friends while my attention is fixed on Brendan.
"So how was the cake?" He asks smirking at me.
"Delicious. My parents were lucky to get a piece." I reply while Brendan chuckles.
"Who knew Josh could bake eh?"
"Not me. However, you need to be PRETTY talented to destroy a cake from a box." We both chuckle as our conversation continues regarding poor baking skills and fail baking attempts. Then I notice that Josh still hasn't joined the group.
"Brendan, where's Josh?" He smiles and shrugs.
"You know, I'm not really sure." I cock my head to the side, staring at him. For some reason, suspicion creeps into my mind.
"You're sure?" I ask while watching the grin on his face spread ear to ear. That's when someone wraps their arms around my waist from behind and draws me close to them.
"Hey Dauntless." A husky voice whispers in my ear, sending tingles down my back. I relax, leaning back into the strong arms that envelope me.
"Hi Josh," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. After enjoying being in his embrace for a long moment, I turn to look at him. The mutual conversations between our friends does down as they turn to watch us. "So where have you been all morning? It's like you dropped me off and vanished." He smiles gently and I feel as though he is going to reply with some cocky comment like "miss me?" or something.
"Had to pick something up."
"What was it?" I ask, glancing back to Brendan to see if his expression will give me any clues. It doesn't, because that stupid wide grin is still plastered on his face. As I turn back around Josh pulls something out from behind his back. I gasp and clasp my hands over my mouth in delighted surprise. In Josh's hand is a single royal blue rose. Cautiously, I take it and lift it to my nose, inhaling the sweet scent.
"Josh, it's beautiful. Thank you."
"You're welcome Bryn."
"But what makes today so special?" I inquire, finally able to take my eyes off the dainty rose in my hands. Slowly, Josh walks closer to me and places a hand on mine.
"Today is the two month anniversary since you woke up and I told you that we were a couple." Smiling, I hear my girl friends 'aww'-ing in the background. He kisses my cheek and the lovely spell that surrounds me shatters as the warning bell rings for class to being. People begin to scatter and say quick goodbyes while I continue to look at the rose, unsure what to do with it.
"I'll take it back to your house for you." Josh offers, reading my thoughts.
"You sure?"
"Yep." With that, he takes the rose from my hands and walks away, leaning me to hurry to gym class.