Reminisce With Me

Chapter 26: Tailgating

"Engaged? You're fifteen, how is this even possible?"

Helen laughed through her tears. "Yes, seven years ago I was."

I was pacing back and forth, trying to wrap my head around the fact that Noel and Helen may not have their happy ending. "Helen, you have to see him. You might regret it if you don't."

She sighed, leaning back against the chair. "I can't believe he's alive."

"I know. Aiden and I thought he was gone too. Everything about that day was horrible," I found myself saying, remembering the mission so vividly. 

"He really meant a lot to you, didn't he."

I glanced over at her. "Who?"

"Aiden."

I pursed my lips together, nervously pulling a strand of hair behind my ear. "It doesn't matter. Let's go see Noel. I know where he's staying."

I reached my hand out and she took it without hesitation. I led her towards the staircase, but Aiden, Julian and Bridgett lingered near the railings. 

"Helen, you are not going with her," Bridgett said and I shot her an annoyed look. "You hear me?"

Julian kept his gaze on the ground, avoiding my presence. 

Yes, it hurt.

"Helen is old enough to make her own decisions," I said to Bridgett.

"Was I talking to you," she snapped.

I sighed. "It doesn't matter, because either way, you are going to make some room for us to walk down."

I didn't know where my courage and "sass" came from, but I was not complaining.

I walked towards them, but Aiden's glare stopped me in my tracks. "Noel is dead. I don't trust you with Helen."

"No, he's not, dead," I said back to him. "Are you really threatened by a seventeen-year-old, Aiden? Get out of the way."

I tried to brush past him, but he blocked my way. He looked down at me, but I stood my ground. What Aiden didn't know was that he did not intimidate me. He used to call me the "girl who speaks her mind." The reason I was able to speak to Aiden with such confidence was because that was the type of relationship we had. I knew him.

"I am not letting a stranger come into my house and manipulate my family."

I could no longer keep my composure. My headache continued to claw at my temples and the dehydration made it difficult to even breathe. "Aiden, I can't make you remember me. Trust me, my life would be a lot easier if I could, but I just can't. I don't like how I feel around you. I feel weak and that is not the person I am. I care about Helen and I won't ever hurt her. But, you're hurting her right now by not letting her see Noel. You know how much she loved him."

Aiden was not expecting me to say this to him. Neither was I, to be honest. He continued to look at me and I took hold of Helen's arm and pushed past him. His fingers brushed mine, sending a familiar shiver run up my arms. I glanced back at Julian as we descended the stairs. He watched me and I couldn't help but whisper, "I'm sorry," to him. 

***

"Are you sure you have no problem with me driving?" I asked Helen for the tenth time.

"As long you don't scratch it," she reminded me and I laughed under my breath.

"I can't make any promises on that." I held the steering wheel to the Mercedes tightly. I turned onto a street that had trees on both sides of the road. The trees casted shadows along the sidewalk, the morning sun peeking through the branches.