Forget Me Not

Chapter 3: Without You

Late for the first time in years, Doug sprang from his bed. Chad, complete in his usual pale blue Auradon crest vest and khaki pants, looked over to his roommate.

"I was wondering when you'd get up," the tourney player said, combing his blond curls back.

Doug groaned in annoyance and got out of bed to rush to get dressed.

As seniors, most students didn't have a full schedule anymore. But as the overachiever Doug was, he filled his schedule with three electives and four college-level courses. With a full schedule including band, the interscholastic decathlon team and his tutoring, he normally would have gotten a head start to his day nearly 3 hours ago as it was already 9 am.

Fifty eight minutes late to Introductory to Finance, Doug just barely made it to the classroom with two minutes left to spare. The entire class of nineteen students turned to the door, the instructor also looking to see who walked in.

"Mr. White, I hope you have an excuse," the man said. The instructor wasn't a full-time teacher at Auradon Prep, instead he came in for one period a day. He wasn't usually aware of the happenings around the school, so this was a regular thing when students would come in late.

Because ther rest of the class and presumably the entire school had either heard about or watched the accident, Doug hadn't planned to explain his out of character behavior. As he went up to the front, pure humiliation cycling through his blood as he tried to think of a way to explain his tardiness. The students began to pack up their things, watching the clock. The bell rang and they stood up, racing to the door, but were stopped by the instructor.

"Nobody will leave until Mr. White gives an answer."

Doug sighed, as he was sure the class was annoyed. "Yesterday, my girlfriend fell during a cheer stunt and is now suffering from a traumatic injury. I haven't been in my right mind after watching her fall, so I overslept."

The instructor bit his tongue, clearly regretting the fact that he even asked and made Doug explain. His face went sour and he gestured for everyone to leave. "I imagine that is a very troublesome situation. You are all dismissed."

The students, including Doug left in a heartbeat, down the halls to their next course. He followed most of the crowd down the main hall, but veered away to the stairs and up to the third floor. Second period he had 'History of the Isle' which was by far his favorite class since he normally shared it with Evie.

Walking into the classroom, he took a seat in the fourth row behind a number of students. He avoided his visual spot in the second row off in the corner, where Evie usually sat with him. Besides organic chemistry which he also shared with Evie, this class was the one where he felt the most at ease. Since she grew up on the Isle, Evie enjoyed contributing to the discussions and the class found it more interesting that reading the textbook. Glancing at Evie's desk, another student took it, an ill feeling overcoming himself.

It wasn't as if her name was written on it, but he didn't like the idea of someone else sitting there. It took a moment for Doug to snap out of his thoughts—his thoughts that he barely recognized.

Once the bell rang, the instructor began to take attendance. Reading one of the last names on the list, the instructor gave the class a sad smile and continued on. Finishing the list, the instructor cleared her throat.

"I want to address the elephant in the room," she began. "One of our classmates is not here today. If you are feeling worried about Evie and would like to talk to someone, the school counselor is always available. Doug?"

Looking to meet the instructor's eyes, Doug's own eyes widened. "Would you like to say anything as you are a very close friend of Evie's?"

He shook his head and glanced away. "No."

"Okay. We'll start the lesson off then. Turn your Auradon History textbooks to page 408. We'll begin with the type of magic used to construct the Island and gather the banished population,"

Much to his own displeasure, the rest of the day was just like his morning. Being asked about Evie was like watching her fall over and over again. At the end of the day, unable to take anymore of the insensitivity, he sat at a picnic table alone, hoping no one would bother him.

With a tap to his shoulder, Doug turned around, a scowl on his face. Carlos put his hands up in innocence. "Easy dude!"

"Sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me. I thought you hated me," he said, gesturing to the salt-n-pepper haired boy.

"That's Mal. I can't blame you. The past is past. Being mad at you is useless. And you need a friend. Anyway, I assume you're annoyed by the questions, huh?"

Carlos took a seat across from him on the bench and took a banana from the side of his backpack.

"Yes, and it's getting a little annoying. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but it just replays in my head everytime someone asks. And my emotions are acting up. I guess it's the stress," Doug explained. Carlos nodded his head, swallowing his first piece of banana.

"Yep, Have you decided whether or not to go to the counselor? Ben suggested that we all should go, but most of all you, Jane and Audrey since you three watched it all play out," he said, waving to Jay and Mal who walked toward him. Mal made no attempt to say a word to her best friend's boyfriend, who seemed a little down. Despite her own slight concern for him, she sat with her back to him.

"Hey," Jay said as Doug simply smiled. The table proceeded to go quiet, Doug starting to pack up his things to avoid the awkward arrangement. "Um, I'll see you later guys. I planned to go see... her," he said as the two boys gave him a thumbs up, Mal still silent. As he began to turn around, Mal turned her body around to face the other VKs.

"Who does he think he is?" Doug heard from a short distance. "First family day, now this. I won't deny that Doug's a great guy, he's just not for Evie. When she wakes up, I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to forget him."

Doug glanced back, a headache developing. It seemed like everything was out of his control. Jay and Carlos didn't say much in support of her harsh words to Doug's relief. He understood where Mal was coming from, but couldn't he just catch a break?