Unforgettable (OLD COPY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 12

The cool, stainless steel bench is hard and unforgiving as I restlessly bounce my foot in the CVS that is a stone's throw away from Salem State University, which is where Mrs. Nox's office is. After giving the pharmacist my prescription to fill, I've been subjected to the painful wait in this place, which is surprisingly too busy today.

I dig my fingers into the edge of the bench and tap one of my fingers as an older man suddenly takes a seat next to me, the bench creaking under the sudden pressure of a new occupant. I can feel his eyes on me as I breathe lightly and resist the urge to shrink away.

I was here first, I think silently to myself as I glare at an empty bench across from me.

The man coughs then, a horrible, phlegm-y sound that makes my skin crawl as I reluctantly get up and walk over to an aisle filled with vitamins. I peruse over them, the pharmacy counter still off to the side and in my line of sight if I were to turn around.

They'll call you over soon and then you can go back to your dorm room, I remind myself as I lace and unlace my fingers.

"Kara," a voice suddenly calls out from behind me and I startle at the intrusion.

I glance over my shoulder to search for the owner, but their voice has already tipped them off. I spot Officer Marshall standing nearby with a shopping basket hanging on one arm. She's wearing a brightly colored t-shirt with a NASA logo printed across it under a leather jacket and a set of sunglasses sit perched on top of her head as she lifts a hand in greeting. Her hair is down and the ends are curled slightly as she reaches up and sweeps some of her hair behind her ear.

She looks the same as she always has but different at the same time. Something has changed but I can't put my finger on it as it must be subtle.

"Diana," I dart a glance over at the pharmacy counter, hoping against all else that they won't announce me anytime soon as I walk over to her.

She smiles as I approach, her lips splitting into an easy grin though I can't help but feel that it's trained. I wonder then if she knows about the incident at the swim meet and I'm puzzled as to why she wasn't there to investigate.

"How have you been?" I venture cautiously.

"I'm good, I've been on vacation for the past month since I've been meaning to take time off," she replies as her hands cross and she traces a silver band on her ring finger.

"You got married?"

"Engaged," she elaborates as her smile loses its mechanical movement and becomes a real one. "You remember Doctor Edwards? He proposed last month."

I nod as I reflect on the kind man who had insisted I call him Garret, but the fact that he had been examining me after I had almost been strangled to death makes me shudder. The movement doesn't make it past Diana unnoticed as her lips press into a flat line and I brace myself for the possibility of her questioning my mental health.

"It's been a while since we've last spoken, how have you been?" she asks, her eyes ticking back and forth as she studies me.

I don't know how to answer at first as I resist the urge to fidget with the bandages on my right hand, the cotton wrapping becoming unbearably itchy as I take a calming breath.

"I've been okay," I fib, the lie catching on my teeth as it sticks there and I fear that Diana will notice.

I hadn't meant to stop texting her, it had just happened, like how the few friends I had made at Greenwood had stopped messaging me when the shock from what they had dubbed 'the Hallewell Massacre' had worn off and I became old news.

I just hadn't noticed that it's been nearly a year since I had last sent a message to Diana and an overwhelming sense of sadness and shame washes over me.

"Garret would like to see you again, do you want to meet for dinner?" she offers suddenly and I realize then that I've been staring at a shelf of Tylenol just beyond her.

"Uh, sure," I say quickly as the pharmacy counter behind me becomes ever-present in my mind.

I need to hurry this up in case they call my name.

"I'll text you, do you still have the same number?"

"Same number, my phone hasn't changed," I confirm for her.

"Maybe we could head out Friday night? There's a nice restaurant near the derby wharf, Longboards-."

"That sounds great," I tell her before she can finish, "I'll see you there around six maybe."

She gives me a strange look then, one that is full of suspicion before she nods at last, "See you then," she agrees and turns away as she walks off.

I slump with relief as guilt prickles through me, guilt at practically chasing her off but relief that I can maybe mend our friendship. I stand up straighter after a moment and take a calming breath as I start to walk over to one of the empty benches.

"Kara Zen?" a woman at the counter calls out suddenly.

I wince and hurry over to the counter as she gives me a hesitant smile. She passes me the white paper bag with my pills in them, along with a couple of sheets of paper with instructions on dosage.

"Do you have any questions?" she inquires as I hurriedly shake my head, the temptation of heading back to my dorm room so close yet so far away.

"No, thank you," I say as I pay and leave the store with my prescription in tow, the pharmacist watching me leave with a puzzled expression on her face when I dare to glance over my shoulder at her.