Reflections of the Past

Chapter three

I was told I’d be making a new friend today and I can’t wait. What will this new friend be like? I was  hoping it would be a girl that could play in the dollhouse with me. But mommy told me my new friend will be a boy! Yuck... but at least I’ll have someone to go to the swings with. That could be fun. Mommy plays sometimes but she has grown up things to do as well. I wish I got to see her more.

I look towards her now as she drives the car in the seat next to mine. The sun’s too bright so I can’t really make out her face but I can tell she’s smiling. She’s always smiling. I like her smiles and I love telling her jokes to make her laugh.

The car starts to slow down as we near a large building.

Mommy walks around the front of the car to open the door for me but my eyes are glued to the large sign on top of the building. I just turned seven and I can read the big grown up words now too..but this one is a little hard to make out.

F-O-S-T-E-R …hmm…I wonder what that means. The next word is easy. It says ‘care’. I’ve read that one in class too so I know I’m right!

Chapter three:

 The following Sunday brought with it the start of classes and Cass couldn't be more excited for her first day. She woke up with the sound of an alarm ringing in her ears and found herself wondering--not for the first time this week--why Alex had seemed so familiar but at last, it seemed her brain had an answer.

It was his eyes. They were the exact shade, shape and size of Leanne's. Even the sparkle was just the same. They were so similar, in fact, that it seemed impossible for them to not be related somehow.

In the next five minutes, Cass had called Leanne four times, sent her six texts and emailed her twice all to no avail. Her virtual absence fed Cass’s panic. For as long as the two had known each other, Leanne had always been available. She responded on the first ring…maybe the second if she was busy but this phenomenon of unanswered requests had never happened before. 

Cass didn’t realize how or when but she found herself sitting at the edge of her bed, clutching her head. She was furious. With everything. At Leanne for remaining so calm when she asked Cass about Alex even though (clearly) the two had to know each other and then going AWOL when Cass needed her the most. At Alex for leaving her with cryptic warnings that kept her awake half the night wondering. But mostly, at herself for forgetting it all in the first place!

That morning Cass cried for the loss of her memories for the very first time and later, as she strode into the Psychology 101 Lecture Hall, she was determined it would be the last.

She sighed as she looked around the completely empty room. The first one there, Cass realized that it would be at least a half hour before the place filled up.

What are you worried about? Haven't years of being a social outcast made you adept at amusing yourself?

She nodded to herself at the thought and pulled out a book she'd brought with her--Pride and Prejudice. Her favorite. She was rereading it for the hundredth time and had just as she reached the part where Mr. Bennet tells his wife that he actually did meet Mr. Bingley, when she heard a soft snicker over her shoulder.

Startled, she let the book fall from her hands. She whipped around in her seat, her hand clutching her chest and found a boy leaning over in his chair...he'd been reading over her shoulder.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You almost gave me a heart attack!" She shrieked at the (admittedly handsome) stranger, her heart still banging against her chest.