Remember Me

17

Basically, here's the order of things.

Reece pulled Hess, and Hess pulled Hunter. Hunter pulled me, and I pulled Reece. Eli pulled Dylan and Dylan pulled Stacey, Stacey pulled Jordan. Jordan pulled Eli.

And voila, we all have new gifts.

"Hunter, what the fuck?" I ask as I open my presents.

Yeah, presents. Plural.

Inside the bag was AirPods, about seven face masks, a gift card for Starbucks and Christmas socks.

He got me AirPods. What the hell? Of course, I thanked him a million times.

I'm not one of those people that says "I can't accept this" or "you shouldn't have." If someone gets me a bomb ass gift, there's only one thing to do: accept it.

"I think I win best present!" Hunter announces.

"Woah, woah," Stacey says, taking the things out of Jordan's hands without permission. "I think we all know who gave the best gift."

Jordan snatches the Beats headphones and Gucci belt. "In case you thought you could take these from me, you're not," he says, sounding threatening.

She rolls his eyes and sighs. "Yeah, I know."

I laughed and looked around the room. Everyone looked happy, all of us sharing the gifts we got.

Hess clutched the perfume, face masks, and sweater she got from Reece in front of her heart. My smile faltered. My eyes drifted to Reece, who was already coming towards me.

"Sorry I couldn't get you much, I'm kind of broke," I say to him, sheepishly smiling.

He laughed and shook his head. "It's fine. Why'd you get it?"

I shrug. "I've never seen you wear a light color before. You don't have to wear it if it's not your style. Just thought it might come in handy."

He smiles at me, and my stomach swirls. "Thanks."

I suddenly remember how, on the way home from work that one time, I asked him what boys wanted. I said cologne, and then I said I can't, because my person already smelled good.

Remembering that, my eyes widen and I look away. My eyes suddenly click with Hess's as she's staring right at me and Reece.

I stand up and yell, "I'm hungry." As a few of them agree with me, I awkwardly walk towards the kitchen, not daring to look back at Reece.

—

Monday. Do I even have to explain how much I want to leave? I think it is implied.

Reece wore the white sweatshirt to school. I was happy.

We walk through the doors of the school next to him, having an AirPod in my ear. Not to flaunt them, but yeah, I just got AirPods.

"Of course you're wearing them," Reece rolled his eyes at me.

I scoffed. "You're also wearing what you got. So is Hess."

"I was just seeing how good I'd look."

His tone was calm and composed, like he didn't even mean to make my heart beat faster. "You're not all that," I lie, slapping his arm.

My whole body heats up as he bends down and whispers right next to my ear, "At least I smell good."

I choked.

—

I didn't even realize Reece had stayed next to me the whole day until he wasn't there. I knew it was because he thought Laila would try to get me back. I'm not scared of her, so it's fine.