The halls were full, but it felt like everyone was watching me.
Because they were.
Because I was marching straight up to Damien in front of everyone.
He turned around, surprised. "Ava?"
I threw my phone at his chest.
The video still open.
His face. Serena's lips.
His expression dropped. "Wait—Ava, I didn't kiss her—she kissed me. I pulled away—"
"You didn't move fast enough."
My voice cracked.
"I told you things," I said, louder now. "I trusted you. And now I'm just another girl on your list?"
"Don't say that," he pleaded. "You know me."
"Do I?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Because right now, I don't know anything."
People started gathering.
Rylan stood frozen at the lockers. Ezra looked like he wanted to punch a wall.
And Damien?
He just stared at me like I had just shattered his heart.
But mine had already shattered first.
"I'm done, Damien."
And I walked away.
---
(Later That Day)
The rain had started pouring, and I was walking down the steps when my phone slipped.
I turned to grab it.
I didn't see the wet floor sign.
One wrong step.
My foot slipped.
I screamed.
Everything went black.
---
(Next Morning – Hospital Room)
I blinked. My head hurt.
Where... was I?
A nurse smiled gently. "Good morning, Ava. Don't worry. You're safe now. You had a nasty fall yesterday."
I looked at her confused.
Fall?
"What day is it?" I croaked.
"July 28th," she replied.
I blinked.
That didn't make sense.
"I thought… it was March?"
The nurse's face shifted.
She turned to the doctor standing behind her.
He looked at me gently. "Ava… you've lost about four months of memory. It's called retrograde amnesia. But we'll help you recover slowly."
Four months?
Four months gone?
"Is my mom here?" I asked.
The nurse nodded. "Yes. And… there's a boy too. Outside the room. He says he's your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" I asked slowly.
My heart beat faster.
"What's his name?"
The nurse checked her clipboard. "Damien."
I frowned.
"…Who's Damien?"
---