Did you Forget?

Brayden

"Where are we going exactly?" The cab driver asked again.

I had been telling him to turn randomly for the past half hour, trying to decide where to go. He must think I'm crazy but I didn't really care. 

"The next right," I mumbled.

"That will take us back to where we started ma'am." The diver stated. "Do you have any idea where you are going?"

"I'm just thinking." I grumble under my breath.

"Would you like to think out side of the car? Instead of letting you think, I could actually be doing my job and helping people." He started to raise his voice a bit. Not loud enough to be yelling but not quiet enough to be talking.

"Could you bring me to the bus station?" I whispered.

"Oh, of course! Lets just go back to where we were ten minutes ago." He grumbled and turned around.

As soon as he pulled into the station, I threw some money at him and got the heck out of that cab. I walked to the window to buy tickets and scanned the times and places I could go. A name caught my eye and I knew it was my next destination. Simi Valley. My home. Or, my old home.

"Could I help you miss?" The boy in the window asked. He did a little hair flip and smiled flirtly at me.

Ew! He was such a perv! He was at least older than twenty! .......Oh...wait....I am twenty.....

"Um yes, can I get a ticket for the five AM ride to Simi Valley?"

"Sure thing!  Wait! Aren't you Darla Brooks?" He gasped.

"Please, call me Ariel, but yeah, I am." I smirked.

"Wow! What are you doing out at two AM and taking a public bus?" He asked me curiously.

I just shrugged and took the ticket he had printed out for me. I began to walk away when I heard him shout from behind me.

"Wait!" He called. "You have three hours until the bus comes! Where are you going to go?"

I thought for a moment. I honestly didn't know. I just stared at him blankly.

"My shift ends in a few minutes, if you wait I could treat you to some coffee?" He asked.

I smiled at his kindness. Usually I wouldn't go out with a stranger but he is the first person who has noticed me and talked to me like I wasn't some freak who lost their mind.....even though I was.

"Yes? No?" He laughed and I realised I was still staring at him, smiling like an idiot.

"Sure," I finally nodded.

So that's what I did. I waited for about ten minutes until he came rushing out and someone else took his place in the window. He had replaced his work uniform with a sporty jacket and his smile was still plastered on his face. 

"So you ready to go? Its actually just a short walk from here." He pointed down the street a little ways.

I nodded and we walked down the streets quietly. There was a slight drizzle but other than that, there was nothing going on at this time. Only a few cars passed. I crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling quite exposed. I realised I was still in the dress and my chest was almost spilling out the top. I felt insecure.

"Would you like my coat?" He asked as he shed it off.

"Im fine, really." I tried to convince him but he was already putting it over my shoulders.

I murmmered a thanks and continued to walk. We went on for another few minutes before we turned into a small building. The smell of coffee filled my noes instantly. There was no one inside except one lady who looked half asleep on the cash register.

She quickly looked up startled. "Welcome to the twenty-four hour coffee house. Can I help you?" She grumbled, slowly standing up.

"Yes, I will have a large double-double with cream please and...." He pointed to me.

"A hot chocolate please," I blushed.

The lady went to work and the man looked at me funny. "Hot cocoa? Really?" He laughed.

"I'm not a fan of coffee!" I defended myself.

"But you did a commercial for that one coffee company!" He claimed.

"Oh." Was all I could say. In the life time that I remember, I have NEVER liked coffee. Or tea as a matter-of-fact.

The lady handed us our drinks and we sat down at a table by a window. The moon light spilled in and I sipped away at the chocolaty goodness.

"So you know my name, but I don't think I had caught yours," I explained.

"Oh, I'm Brayden." He said as he flipped his hair to the side again.

"Nice to meet you," I smiled.

"You too. So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you going to Simi Valley? I mean, all the magazines have said you've been in the hospital because of an accident, was that fake?" He asked.

I thought for a moment. Could I trust him? Can I tell him what happened?

"Well, I'm going to Simi Valley because that is where I grew up. And Its true. I was in the hospital but I'm better now. But I'm trying to hide from the paparazzi, so don't tell anyone," I pretended to zip my lips shut.

He did the same and threw away the key. We both bursted into laughter. We continued to talk small talk until it was 4:30 and we quickly rushed out. We ran laughing, all the way back to the bus station where my bus was already boarding. 

"Well, have fun in Simi Velley. When or if you come back, we should do this again." He smiled and flipped his hair once more.

"Deal. Here, put your number in this," I held out my phone.

He took it and typed for a minute before pulling out his own phone. "Now you do the same," he smiled and passed me both phones. 

I looked at them both for a moment. I didn't know my own phone number. "Um," I picked nervously and the case of my phone. It suddenly popped off and on the inside of the case, there was numbers written down. Was it my number or someone Else's?

I took a guess and assumed it was mine and typed it into his phone. "There you go," I laughed as I picked up the case of my phone off the ground.

"Thanks, I'll text you some time," he smiled.

I nodded and held back a smile. It felt wrong to have this kind of talk with a stranger that was older than me......but not really. It seemed awkward though. I was never this kind of girl. Everyone usually hides from me and avoids me in the halls. Even though that was a long time ago. This is to confusing now....

A gust of wind came and his hair blow out of his eyes and I got the first real look at his eyes. They were bright blue. When the wind calmed down, his brown hair covered most of them again.

"Wow, you have really bright eyes! Why do you cover them with your hair?" I asked.

"Oh, I have the same eyes as my dad." He looked at the ground sadly.

"So?"  I asked again.

"He died two years ago and I don't like to look into mirrors and see him looking back." He explained quietly.

"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry!!" I felt guilty now.

"Its fine. Now you should probably get on your bus."

I nodded and got onto the smelly bus. I took a seat in the back and looked out the window. Brayden was still out side and he waved to me with a smile on his lips. He pointed down at his shoulder. Confused, I looked down at my own and saw that I was still wearing his jacket. I blushed and got up to go back and give it to him but the bus started driving.

I pulled out my phone and quickly tried to text him -I guess I'll have to see you again and return you coat! Talk to you again soon!

I smiled to myself and closed my eyes. Soon I'd be able to put the pieces together. Soon life will make sense again.

Soon.... I thought as I dosed off.