The Forgotten Love - Kaila Watts (ebook reader browser TXT) 📗

and they comforted me until the beginning of first block. When I came in, he sat down next to me and gave me a sorry look. I didn’t give him anything but a glance at my tears. He left me alone the rest of the period.

I made it to lunch okay. I didn’t cry anymore, but I didn’t pay any attention either. When we went to lunch, I sat down at the table without eating anything. I sat there about ten minutes, listening to Ange talk to Shelly. Jewl was sitting with Taylin today.
Suddenly, somebody tapped my shoulder. I looked behind me to find the student councilor Mrs. Brady, behind me. “Come with me a minute, Cam.”

I followed Mrs. Brady into the counseling office, and there, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Devorak. “Cam!” exclaimed Mrs. Devorak as I walked in. She rushed up and gave me a big hug. “Oh, dear! We are so sorry!” There were tears in her eyes.
I was confused. “What’s this about?” I asked. “And why do you guys remember me?”
“Oh, Cam honey, that’s what we wanted to talk to you about!” said Mrs. Devorak. “You see, Taylin came home yesterday and mentioned something about a girl named Cam. We knew right away it was you, sweetie. But, oh dear. Taylin will probably never remember, hon.”
I simply stood confused, being supported by Mrs. Devorak. “Dear,” she said. “You remember the day we left?” I nodded. “Oh, of course you do. But, on our way to our new house. We were crossing an intersection and…and…” Mrs. Devorak collapsed into tears.
“A car hit us while we were crossing the intersection. It hit the backseat. And, Taylin lost his memories due to head injuries,” Mr. Devorak finished.

I stood for a moment, feeling completely stupid and useless. Then, I collapsed on the floor and cried. I cried and cried. I sobbed and hiccupped, and they finally had to take me to the nurse to be put to sleep.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and suddenly, Taylin was behind me. I turned to face him, but he was drifting away from me. I began chasing after him, but he simply floated away faster. I ran and ran but couldn’t catch up.

I woke up, and Mr. and Mrs. Devorak were still there. It was almost time for school to end. They said I could wait in the office for the bell if I wanted, but I said I wanted to go back to class. Even though it wasn’t what I did. I stood and waited by Taylin’s locker.

Finally, the school bell rang, and the kids poured from their classes. I stood and waited, and finally after five minutes, Taylin came. I stood right in front of his locker.

“Oh, hey,” he said, standing back a little bit.
“You don’t remember anything?” I said. He looked confused. I didn’t care. “Not even the day you moved away? That day, when you ran out your front door and right into me. And we tumbled across the lawn. You helped me up, and we hugged each other! And then… then, you told me, something I will never, ever forget.”

Taylin looked curious. He leaned in a little and said, “What did I say?”

“You said you loved me, Taylin. That’s what you said,” I replied. “I just wanted to let you know.”
I smiled with tears in my eyes, and began to walk away. But, Taylin grabbed my arm and spun me around. He held me firmly by the shoulders, and he said, “ Cam… I said it… I did say it… Cam, I remember!”

I stood there for a second, just thinking. My mind was ablaze with thought, and yet, there were two words echoing around in the crazy emptiness. “I remember!”
And then, I couldn’t stay standing. I fell to the ground and cried.

Taylin knelt down in front of me and looked in my eyes. “You were the one who’d play soccer with me. You’re the one who always asked if I could spend the night. You’re the one who’d sleep in the barn. You’re the one who’d ride bikes with me, and chase crows with me, and help me hide my face when we watched those scary movies with your dad.” I nodded at every accusation. “And… Cam, you’re still the one I love.”
Gently, ever so gently, as if he was afraid to break me, he lifted his hands to my face, and held me there staring into his green, cat-like eyes. And then, he kissed me. Everyone says that a perfect kiss feels like heaven. I’ll tell you what, in my personal opinion, it’s better.

***************************** *****************************

Well, Taylin broke up with Jewl the next day. He said he wanted to call her that night, but realized that he hadn’t gotten her number. And, Jewl was heartbroken at first, and just about started crying. But, after the two of us explained what had happened (without including the kiss), she was calm for a minute, then she exploded into tears. I think she was probably even worse than Taylin’s mom when we rushed to the guidance office and told them what happened!

Jewl apologized over and over. The after the first time she said “I’m sorry!” she jumped and tackled me, knocking me onto the floor, and wetting my t-shirt with five minutes of tears.
But, it was worth it, because Jewl, with her face still wet from crying, was escorted to class by none other than Billy Curr. She told me at the end of the day that he had moved in with his Grandfather over the summer, and had stopped his vulgar behavior. He was even dressing more appropriately, which I had noticed.

Next week is my first dance, the fall dance. Jewl is really worked up about it, she’s really hoping that Billy is going to ask her. I’m asking myself why he wouldn’t!

But, I’m not really worried, like most of the girls are, about finding a date. It’s not like I have someone I know is going to ask me, but I’m not worried because I’m probably not going. I haven’t told anybody though, so I’m kinda worried about how they’re going to react.

I decided to tell Taylin first, even though I had no idea why. We were playing soccer in his backyard after school one day when I started saying, “So, um, you’ve heard about the dance by now right?”
He looked a little surprised, but replied, “Yeah, of course, it’s all people talk about now.”
“Oh, well,” I said, stammering a little, “I, uh, I don’t think I’m gonna go.”

Taylin tripped as he was about to kick the ball into the goal, doing a total Charlie Brown. As surprised as I was, I had to laugh. Taylin barley ever tripped up in soccer.

“Are you serious?!” he exclaimed as I was helping him up. I was so startled I almost dropped him back on the ground, but I nodded. “Well, why not? Is it because you couldn’t find a date or something?” He looked really serious all of a sudden.
“No,” I said. “That’s not why, I just felt like, after all the drama and stuff…” I paused. He knew what I was talking about. “I just felt like it would be a little bit chaotic, you know?”

Taylin nodded. “Yeah, I get what you’re saying,” he replied. “It’s just…” He looked down at his feet for a minute, which wasn’t really away from me, I’m so short. He glanced around kind of like he was nervous. “You know, I was thinking the same thing. That it would be bad to rush back into our relationship and stuff. But, I was wondering yesterday, if you had wanted to go to the dance, if you’d want to go with me.” His face looked like fire.
“Are… are you asking me to go with you?” I questioned slowly.
“Well, it’s only if you want to!” he jerked up to look at me. “I’m not trying to force it on you or anything! I was just wondering if you’d have been comfortable going with me.” He looked all serious again.
“Well, were you planning on going?” I asked.
“Sort of,” he said. “Mom’s got me this tux thing that’s hanging in my closet.”
“Oh!” I replied. He was totally planning on going… I thought.
“But, yeah it’s not that big a deal. I can just ask her to return it for me.”
“Well, if you were planning on going, it’s not like I’ve… you know made other plans or anything…” Now my face felt like fire.

“Do you want to go with me?” he asked.
We stared at each other for a few minutes, until I finally said, “You know what Taylin?”
“What?” he asked.
“I’ve got a dress my mom picked out for me when I was little to wear to my prom. But, it fits now. You want to see it?
“I would, but. Can I see it on the night of the dance?” he asked. He was starting to get a little upset with me for not answering him directly.
“Well…” I said.
“Cam! Come on! Will you go with me or not?”
I laughed. “Sure!” Imprint

Publication Date: 08-26-2010

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