Remember Me

Chapter 27

Too soon, my alarm is going off and it’s Monday. I groan as I get up and throw on a pair of ripped black jeans, a black spaghetti tank top, my black leather jacket, and a pair of boots. I put on my makeup and decide to curl my hair and let it fall in dark beachy waves, something I’m usually too lazy to do since I have so much hair and it can take so long. I check my black eyeliner and smoky eyes one last time and can’t help but admire how good it brings out my ice blue eyes and makes them pop. 

I grab my skull messenger bag and throw it over my shoulder before heading downstairs. My mom does a double-take and breaks out into a huge smile when she sees me. I smile back at her before wrapping her in a short hug before turning to leave. 

“Wait, Natalie, it’s actually a good thing you dressed up and put so much effort into your appearance today. Not to mention it’s really nice to see,” she calls out, stopping me in my tracks.  

I turn back to face her with a confused expression on my face. “Why?” 

“I was thinking that if you were up for it, you could ditch first period and we could go get your license so you can start driving your new car.” 

“I’m down for that,” I tell her, breaking into a huge smile and grabbing her arm to drag her to her car.  

She grabs her purse and keys as I pull her out the door. She gets into the car, giggling and happy that I’m actually in a good mood. When we get to the office, the line takes a lot longer than my mom must have anticipated. We end up stopping to grab something small to eat and getting back home when it’s almost time for English. I’m surprised but I actually think my picture turned out good. 

When we arrive home, I jump out of her car, my keys in hand and ready to rush to school so I can hopefully turn the project papers in on time. When I get into my car and get it started, I notice my mom trying to get my attention out of the corner of my eye and roll my window down. 

“I had a great time with you today, Natalie. We should spend more days like this,” she tells me, a new light in her eyes that looks so much like my own. 

I nod and smile, not willing to ruin the light that’s finally starting to show in her again because of me. “For sure,” I tell her before backing out and rushing to school. 

I park in the first spot I see, grab my bag, and take off running. I reach the classroom just as the bell rings to start class. I glance around, looking for Colton, only to find someone else already sitting beside him. What happened to spending all available time with your spouse? I quickly go straight to the back where I usually sit and where the only available seat at a table is left and sit down, throwing my things to the floor. I wince as the room is filled with the piercing screams of babies. A part of me can’t help but feel bad that Colton had to deal with that all weekend but, a bigger part of me is so f*****g thankful that I didn’t have to. Babies and I don’t really mix. I’m not sure we ever will. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone lean back in their chair and hear an all too familiar low, dark chuckle. And suddenly, I’m all too aware that I’m not alone at this table like usual. 

I fix my gaze ahead of me and notice Riley glancing back at me, frowning with questions in his eyes. I pretend I don’t notice and pull out my notebook to focus my attention on drawing. Soon, I find myself completely zoned out and in my own world. Mindlessly immersed in my drawing. Until I’m abruptly pulled out of it by Mr. Cooper's insistent voice. I snap my head up to see him looking at me expectantly along with just about the rest of the class. 

“The papers, Nat,” Colton whispers to me and my mind registers what’s going on. 

I’ve never been more thankful for being pale and never being much of a blusher. I fumble with my bag for a second before grabbing the papers. “Right. I have those,” I rush out, walking up to him and handing him the papers. 

“And the journal entry?” 

I hand it to him silently and try to pretend anxiety isn’t rising up inside of me at the feel of all the eyes on me as I walk back to my seat. 

“Thank you, Natalie. Please try to stay tuned into class.” 

I roll my eyes and manage to keep my face stony. I close my notebook with a huff and watch the clock slowly tick by.  

“Okay, it’s a new week. You’re arranged marriages are over. Now’s the time to decide who you’re going to be married to this week for your chosen ones.” 

Great. How did I not realize this project could only get worse when I was going to be expected to choose someone when I have no one. I glance over at Riley and see him doing the same. Maybe he doesn’t completely hate me yet and I can work with someone I don’t hate and can tolerate. Everyone quickly gets up and finds their way to their partners and begins sitting with them. I stay sitting, watching everyone and feeling even more alone. 

I set my jaw, determination settling in my mind as I start to stand up and see Riley walking towards me, smiling when he realizes I was about to do the same thing. But then a girl comes up to him, effectively stopping him in his tracks and making all determination leave my body. My lips part and I think about saying something as he looks over her head at me, his brows knitted together and his eyes displaying his every thought like an open book to me. 

He wants to be my partner and he’s struggling to come up with some way to get out of her cornering him without hurting her feelings. But I can also see defeat starting to show the more she rambled about whatever she was saying as she looked up at him with bright, hopeful eyes. I find myself slumping back down into my chair and try not to feel hopeless, humiliated, and disappointed. I don’t know why I ever thought I could get away with him being my partner. I hear a chair scrape next to me and see leather jacket arms fold themselves on the table.  

I close my eyes for a second and take a deep breath, wishing I could be anywhere but here right now or at least go back to last week when I at least had someone I knew to work with. When I open my eyes, I see Colton glancing at me, before I finally let myself glance next to me for the first time since I’ve been here and see grey eyes already fixed on me in a piercing and taunting way. I turn my head and finally meet his eyes only to be met with a smirk to match his gaze.