hey loves. here's another update. thank you for reading so far💜

•••  

Holy.

Fucking.

Shit.

"C-Clark?" I stuttered again. 

This was unexpected. I wasn't prepared to meet him like this. Deep down I had almost concluded that he had mysteriously vanished from my life, and here was, in the flesh, standing in front of me.

And he had . . . changed.

My mouth went dry as I tried to think of what else to say. I didn't know if my lack of words was because Clark had attained a defined and sculpted jawline, or the way he no longer had midnight black hair that was straight with bangs that always seemed to cover his left eye. Instead, his hair was trimmed at the sides and curled at the top which created the impression of a Mohawk. What made his hair look more awesome was the copper blonde dye that highlighted his Mohawk.

I didn't know if my lack of words was because of the sudden broad chest and wide shoulders that Clark had hidden under the leather jacket he was currently adorned in. He clearly had undergone a growth spurt.

And his eyes . . . his eyes were bluer than I recalled. There was a feathery ring of gray in his pupils, something I had never noticed before.

As I gazed into them, my heart fluttered as a sense of nostalgia washed over me. Those eyes made me remember the promise we had made. Our vow of being best friends, no matter what.

Clark raised his trimmed eyebrow at me and gave me the most confused look ever. It was as though he was surprised at the sight of me.

"Whoa, what a shock! Not caked in makeup today, huh."

I snapped my gaze to the guy standing next to Clark. The guy who had called me Blondie.

I was about to give him a piece of my mind when he shouldered his way past me and opened the door and Clark followed closely behind without even glancing at me. Once they were in, I vividly heard the guy tell Clark. "Man, she's so dumb."

"Tell me about it," replied Clark.

My eyes bulged. What the actual hell?

"Okay, first of all," I entered the class after them. "That was very rude of you, mister. I don't remember who you are but you seem like a really stuck up asshole, pushing me like that."

The class had gone silent and I was vaguely aware of all the stares. That didn't stop me from continuing though.

"Saying 'excuse me' would've been nice," I inched closer to him. I took note of his wavy obsidian Mohawk. He had the same hairstyle as Clark. And his stormy gray eyes gazed back at me with disbelief in them.

"But I guess you're not nice, are you?" I shook my head before straying my eyes to Clark. He held the strap of his backpack and posed as though he was bored, but there was an amused smile on his lips.

"And you Clark," I stammered. "I can't believe you."

I hated myself for stammering. My voice shook at the most inappropriate time.

"Is there a problem here?"

Jac was suddenly beside me and he was staring at me with concern. "Baby, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I whispered just as Jac placed his arm on my shoulder and guided me away.

As we walked between a row of desks, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious because of the stares. I didn't remember ever getting this much attention.

Jac kept leading me until we got to an empty seat at the back corner.

"This is my seat?"

He nodded. "Listen, babe, if that Ashton guy bothers you again, just give me the word and I'll deal with him."

Ashton. So that was the douche's name. My eyes searched to where he had seated and I spotted him, next to Clark, chatting animatedly as though nothing had happened. And he emulated an aura of boisterousness and recklessness, judging by how he was using wild gestures and laughing loudly. Ugh, the nerve.

"——okay with that?" Jac was asking.

"Huh?" I started. Dang, I wasn't even paying attention. "I didn't get that, sorry."

"I was wondering if I could take you out tonight?"

Oh lord. "Uhm—"

"Sorry I'm late, class. Settle down." An orotund voice sounded from the door, and I let out a small sigh of relief, glad that I could avoid Jac's question. For now.

He shot me a small smile before going to his seat, and Valerie came to sit on the empty desk beside me. She faced me with a mischievous smirk and she was about to say something when the teacher interrupted.

"I said settle down, now!" He almost yelled and the class was silent. "Get your feet off the desk, Kyle."

The teacher was incredibly young. He echoed the physique of some guy who had just graduated from college.

A note landed on my desk. Valerie had thrown it.

'He's Mr. Sabbini. Also our guidance and counseling teacher. You should pay him a visit cuz of your condition.'

I stare at her and she gives me a wink. There was something unnerving about that wink.

"Alright, any announcements? Complaints? Compliments?" Mr. Sabbini asked as he sat down behind his desk and whipped out a newspaper out of nowhere before placing both of his feet on top of the desk.

A girl in the middle shot her hand up in the air.

"Yes, Harshiv."

She stood up. I studied her and saw that she had grown fat, like, really fat as compared to when she was skinny in freshman year. Her obsidian black hair was in a neat French plait. The only thing that really didn't change was the floral blouses she always wore. She had one on and it was pink with blue and purple floral swirls.

"I'd like to let you know that there will be a fundraising for the children's home that the Wicca club will be visiting this Saturday," she said. "There will be a kissing booth in the Rec Hall, so all are welcome."

She sat down.

"How come it's not a banging booth?"

"Ashton!" Mr. Sabbini yelled. "Watch your words, please."

The class, nevertheless, found Ashton's words hilarious. I rolled my eyes.

"Hey," Valerie whispered. "Do you think I should tell the class about your amnesia? So that they know before they assume you're still . . . you?"

"What?" My blood ran cold and I hissed. "No! Valerie, don't do that. Do you know how people will take advantage of the fact that I'm amnesic?"

"Relax, Dee," she said. "Besides, it's better if people know beforehand so they can help you with your duties."

"Duties? What duties?"

Valerie craned her neck to see if anyone, especially Mr. Sabbini, was gazing in our direction. "I mean, your role as the organizer for the Autumn Pep Rally, and you do know you should be judging the freshman auditions for cheer leading, don't you?"

"What?!"

"Miss Jones." Mr. Sabbini called.

My head snapped up and everyone's eyes were on me. Crap, that was way louder than intended.

"I see you're back from the hospital. Welcome."

"Th-thankyou sir," I said.

Everyone giggled and heat crept up my neck. What did I do wrong?

"It's Mr. Sabbini, in case you forgot," he said. "Anything interesting that you and Valerie want to share with the rest of us?"

"No, sir—I mean, Mr. Sabbini."

"Actually," Valerie perked up. "There is something I need to inform everyone."

Holy crap.

"Valerie, don't!" I hissed under my breath, but she pretended not to hear me. I even glared at her but she totally ignored me.

My heart beat faster as I saw her standing and walking to the front of the class.

Oh no. She was going to do it. She was going to sell me out in front of everybody, and she was going to make a show out of it.

Valerie stood in front of everyone in her signature model pose before clearing her throat. "So, as you all know, Dee was involved in a terrible accident not more than two weeks ago and has been in the hospital for the whole while. But now she's here so let's all welcome her back."

People clapped as they turned in their seats to look at me and oh god this was so embarrassing. I hid my face in my palms.

"But she's lost her memory," said Valerie in a casual honeyed voice, as if she was talking about the weather.

Gasps and murmurs were all around me and I could feel the stares burning through me. Audible whispers were heard and they entailed different comments.

This was going to be tragic.

"Silence!" Mr. Sabbini's voice boomed. "Let her finish."

"Oh, Dee still remembers most of us," she said, answering the heavy unasked question that lingered in the air. "She's just lost three years of her memories."

People's exclamations and surprised murmurs went a notch higher. They still stared.

Yep. A freak. That was most definitely what they thought about me at the moment.

"So, whatever encounters you had with Dee, let's all treat her as delicately as we could and remind her of things if she looks a little . . . lost."

I couldn't handle this any longer. I raised my head and was about to stand up and walk out when Valerie kept talking.

"On that note, since Dee is unfortunately amnesic, I will be taking over the Autumn Pep Rally and heading the freshman cheer leading auditions."

My jaw dropped. Was this her plan all along?

"So all of Dee's responsibilities will be handed over to me, and there will be changes, of course," she laughed in that annoying tinkly way of hers, and my insides churned with resentment. "Let's try not to burden her at this delicate time, please. Thank you."

Valerie catwalked back to her seat and I glared at her.

"You've been planning to do that all along," I asked her, "haven't you?"

She had the audacity to appear shocked. "Dee, I was only —"

"Don't call me that!" I stood up angrily. "It's Redding! My name is Redding and not Dee!"

"Miss Jones!" Mr. Sabbini stood up. "Please sit down —"

"Mr. Sabbini, can I talk to you?" I asked as I took my handbag and began walking towards the door. "Outside?"

"Miss Jones, I will not allow you to interrupt this class —"

"Please, Mr. Sabbini," my voice shook a bit, and I could feel my eyes getting hot and wet. "Please."

A moment of silence passed. I hated too much attention, and now I was in the middle of it. I didn't dare stare at my fellow classmates, afraid to see what expression they wore on their faces. Instead, I focused solely on Mr. Sabbini.

"Please," I pleaded again. If he was truly a counselor — hoping Valerie had not lied in her note — I really needed someone to talk to in this vast school, because I was feeling angry, sad, scared, disappointed. All these emotions confused me.

Mr. Sabbini sighed before getting off his desk, and at the same time, the door opened behind me.

It was Dylan.

Our gazes met and I looked away first.

"Late again, Hamilton," commented Mr. Sabbini. "You know the drill. Detention."

Mr. Sabbini passed Dylan without a glance and walked out. I followed him out but Dylan grabbed my wrist.

"Are you okay?" He whispered to me.

"I'm fine," I removed my hand from his grip. "I told you to stay away from me."

I walked out, closing the door behind me and found Mr. Sabbini waiting.

"Alright, Jones," he said. "This better be worth it."

"You're—you're the guidance and counseling teacher?"

He chuckled. "Well, obviously. Why else would you want to talk to . . ." he trailed off. Realization dawned on him. "You don't remember me, huh."

I nodded.

"I'm sorry for the accident," he said. "How're you feeling?"

"I, uh, I was supposed to give you some documents about my current state but I left them all at the administration," I said.

"I'm listening," his tone changed to one of concern.

And so I told him what had happened ever since I woke up from the hospital, and the thoughts that had run through my mind, and the changes that I had encountered and was not prepared.

Basically, I experienced logorrhea in front of him. Even my confusing emotions, I admitted them, including my skepticism about everyone.

I confessed to Mr. Sabbini how I had just realized that my life was one big mess up.

And I had no idea how to make things right with my screwed up life.

•••

question: do you think valerie had planned that announcement or was she doing it to help redding?

till next chapter

—Marj💋