Forgotten

Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

Gasping, I stare at Callen as the moon bathes both of us in a soft silvery light. For just a moment, time stands completely still. He looks equally perplexed as to why I would be out tromping around in the dark woods at night.

Alone.

Except, well... I hadn't been alone.

And whoever I'd been with had covered my eyes with gentle hands. Had pulled me so close to his body that I could hear the steady rhythmic thumping of his heart. I could feel his warmth as he wrapped himself carefully, protectively around me. And then he'd kissed the side of my face...

Almost absently my hand rises to stroke my cheek as if I can still feel the warm slide of his breath across my skin.

Feeling suddenly confused, I shake my head to clear it of all these strange images as my eyes hold Callen's blue ones. And that's when it hits me. Really hits me. Like a quick jab to the gut.

It wasn't Callen.

It wasn't his arms folded around me. It wasn't his lips caressing the side of my face. It wasn't Callen who'd stirred such an unexpected feeling of completeness within me. Dizziness rolls through me like a thick black wave trying to suck me under. I lock my knees praying that I won't collapse.

But if it wasn't Callen, then who was it?

The question burrows quickly through my brain leaving only silence in its wake. The slight weight of my cell phone in my pocket reminds me of the text messages. It was Callen's number that popped up. I know it was.

But... it couldn't have been Callen who texted me... could it?

As I speak, I try masking the slight trembling that's seeping its way into my words. "Hi... did you just get here?"

"Yeah, I wanted to stop by and see you before heading home." He gives me a small smile before his eyes quickly scan the woods behind me. Does he somehow know what just happened? Can he tell that only moments ago, someone else had been holding me in his arms, kissing the side of my face? Is this some weird game or practical joke he's playing on me?

And so it's carefully that I ask, "Did you text me earlier?"

Shaking his head, his brows draw together. "No, I still can't find my phone." Then he shrugs his broad shoulders. "Probably left it at home this morning."

Nodding, I force my lips to slide upwards. I've known Callen my whole life, I honestly can't see him playing some kind of joke on me. Not something like this. And if I'm right, then Callen didn't leave his phone at home this morning. Someone must have taken it. Is it possible that whoever was with me only moments ago stole Callen's phone for the sole purpose of luring me out to the woods tonight?

A sliver of fear slides through me at the thought.

My brain is quickly trying to process all this information when my dad finally asks, "So what were you doing out there anyway? It's kind of late to be walking around in the woods."

The lie slips out of my mouth before I can stop it. "I was just trying to get some ideas for my art project." I'm not sure why I'm keeping this to myself, for all I know the person who did this could be psychotic. But, for some reason, I don't think so. He never once tried to hurt me. Quite the opposite. Whoever it was stirred something unexplainable within me. Something more than what I feel when I'm with Callen. Which makes absolutely no sense at all.

My father nods seemingly unsurprised by my answer. "Well, next time just let us know where you're going. We thought you were up in your room. When your mother found it empty, we were worried, kiddo."