Remember Me

Chapter 32

I end up driving to a popular coffee shop and order a small coffee, then sit myself at the first available table I can find. After I had arrived here, I had looked for the assignment paper only to realize that Ashford had taken it from me at some point without my knowledge. How does he even do that? Before I know it, I’m checking my phone and seeing that school has been out for almost twenty minutes.  

I start gathering my stuff so that I can try to be out of here before anyone from school gets here. I shouldn’t have come here. This is one of the main hangout spots for high school teenagers. I grab my coffee that’s now cold and start to head to the door with my head ducked down. People are filing in through one door while I exit through the second.  

I walk straight to my car and hear a crowd of people on the way, continuing to keep my head down and hoping with everything in me that no one recognizes me. I’m about to pull out of the parking lot when I’m forced to slam on my breaks because of Riley walking in front of me and coming to my window. I let my window down and continue to look straight ahead, avoiding his apologetic gaze.  

“Can we talk?” he asks me quietly.  

“I don’t have anyone to talk to,” I reply coldly.  

“Yes, you do. I’m sorry. I should have never said that or let my temper get away from me.” 

“Where was that temper when you were supposedly trying to get away from that girl?” 

“I never snap like that. I’m still surprised with myself. You’re the first person to get to me like that.” 

“You hurt me,” I tell him, a tear slipping down my cheek and betraying me. 

He notices and brushes it away with his finger. “I know. This is killing me. Please, can we just talk? I can grovel at your feet the whole time while you yell at me,” he begs, a hopeful and small smile on his face.  

I sit quietly and stare straight ahead. I contemplate what I should do and feel my fingers move to unlock my door. When he hears the door unlock, his bright smile makes an appearance on his face as he runs around to get in. I continue staring straight ahead as I drive to the beach. The ride there is filled with silence. When we arrive, I park in a grassy area on the side of the road.  

I take my converses off and throw them to the floorboard of my car and start walking toward the water. Riley falls into step beside me still silent. I sit down with my knees up to my chest and my arms cross over each other on top of them. I watch the water for a moment and then the clouds off in the distance. The sand beneath my feet is warm and smooth as I dig my toes into it and bite my lip before finally looking over at Riley.  

“I’m sorry,” I whisper to him.  

“No, I’m sorry,” he says, vigorously shaking his head at me.  

“I shouldn’t have been so harsh.” 

“I pushed you.” 

 We fall back into silence as I look down at the sand covering my toes and listen to the seagulls flying above us. I see him fidget with hesitation out of the corner of my eye before moving closer to me.  

“Why did you ditch?” he asks me.  

“I suddenly wasn’t in the mood for school anymore,” I tell him, chuckling darkly.  

“I really could have used you in gym.” I raise an eyebrow at him in question. “Andrea took your absence as an opportunity to try hanging out with me and ask me out before leaving.” 

I smile, not at all surprised and just picturing the scene in my head. The more I picture it the more it amuses me and makes me giggle. Riley nudges at my shoulder in response.  

“She was going to find a way to do it. The girl is obsessed with you. I’m sure you two will have a great time,” I tell him, still letting a giggle escape here and there.  

“I told her I’m in love with someone else,” he tells me, his voice serious. 

“Right. Your mystery girl. At least you’re loyal,” I shrug. “Besides, I hear girls don’t take too kindly to the guy they’re interested in being in love with someone else.” 

“I wouldn’t imagine they do,” he says, laughing and looking up at the sky. “At least it’s over with and I got away unscathed. She looked pretty upset and her eyes got all red but she didn’t try to stick around much longer. I'm just relieved it's over with."

“You know with everything you’ve told me about yourself and with how much of an open book you are, you still never answered my question about this girl or told me about her.” 

His eyes survey my face before he shakes his head and laughs. “I’ll have to do that someday.” 

“Something big must have happened,” I note out loud.

“I guess you can say that in some ways.” 

I stay quiet and decide to give up for now. Of all people, I know what it’s like to not be ready to talk about something. And if Riley isn’t ready to tell me right now after all that he’s already told me, there must be a good reason.  

“Are you doing okay with that Connor guy and the project?” he asks me, making everything from the parking lot come back to the forefront of my mind along with the devil himself. 

“Yeah, I’ve got it handled. You know me,” I answer, cutting off my awkward chuckle by biting my bottom lip. Then I remember what Colton had said. “Hey, you haven’t happened to hear or learn anything about him, have you?” 

He shrugs and pointedly looks away, inadvertently letting me know that he had heard something. “Not much.” 

“You’ve heard enough for you to react like that. Spit it out.” 

He rubs a hand through his hair anxiously. “It’s nothing, Nat. I’m sure he’s cool.” 

Gotta leave it to Riley to always be the optimist and nice guy, forever giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. “Yeah, I’m sure,” I sarcastically reply.  

“Is he not?” 

“Yeah, the coolest,” I rush out. “What have you heard?” 

“Just different things. You know how ridiculous gossip can be at school,” he says, waving my question off again. “Why are you so interested? Do you like him?” 

“No, of course not. Don’t be stupid,” I answer, my voice sounding way too defensive to my own ears.  

Thankfully, it seems to have only sounded that way to myself since Riley doesn’t appear to notice. Don’t say things you can’t even make yourself believe. Ashford’s words ring through my mind. What the hell is that even supposed to mean? I roll my eyes internally and bring myself back to the present. I look at the sky and sigh, realizing it’s getting close to sunset. I stand up and brush myself off. Riley stands up, looks at his phone at the time, and grimaces.  

“I was supposed to meet Chelsea ten minutes ago,” he tells me, grabbing my hand and leading us back to my car. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. “My partner,” he answers my unspoken question.  

I nod and put my shoes back on after we’ve reached my car. I get in and begin the drive back to the coffee shop so he can get his car. My mind is going a thousand miles an hour and my stomach twists with part anxiety and part excitement when I realize what I need to do. I focus my attention on just getting to the coffee shop as much as I can, attempting to calm my mind and body down.