Not the Same

Long Lost but Not Forgotten

Connor’s POV

            We all sat in Shelby’s car, completely dumbstruck. Why’d the car break down? Finally, Ricky got out to check and see if he could figure out what was wrong. Hopefully, he can figure it out and we can get out of here. However, Ricky couldn’t find anything wrong. “I have no idea what’s wrong,” Ricky says.

            “Let’s go ask Pascal and see if he can help us,” Cat asks. “Maybe he can help.”

            “Good idea,” Shelby says.

            Shelby gets out and walks over to Pascal’s house and knocks on the door. Shortly after, Pascal opens the door. I couldn’t hear what they was saying, only just a faint murmur. Pascaln then walks back in and comes out with a pair of keys. “What’s he doing,” I ask with my head out the window.

            “He’s going to give us a lift to Andrea and I’s place,” Shelby answered.

            Pascal walks over to his garage and opens the garage door to reveal several different vehicles. Gabe approaches the front door from the inside of the house and closes it. We gather in Pascal’s green Toyota.

            “What about my car,” Shelby asks.

            “Don’t worry about it,” Pascal says. “I’ll have my mechanic look at it.”

            “Thanks,” Shelby says.

            The drive to Shelby and Andrea’s place was rather quick and silent. As we pull up to their place, I see that they had a beautiful home. It was surrounded by different types of flowers from roses to tulips to lilacs. The roof was a dark blue and the walls were yellow. We exit Pascal’s Toyota and thank him for the ride home. “Shelby, your vehicle will be repaired and returned to you in a couple days,” Pascal said.

            “Thank you for the help,” Shelby says.

            Pascal drives back to his house and we head to ours. Shelby unlocks the front door and we walk inside. The first thing we see are Kian and Doug passed out on the couch snoring. They must be in a pretty deep sleep. Andrea comes out of nearby room and hugs Shelby. “Welcome home,” Andrea says followed by a quick kiss on Shelby’s lips. “How was the ride to Gabe’s dad’s place?”

            “Aside from my vehicle breaking down, great,” Shelby jokes.

            “What,” Andrea says. “What happened?”

            “I don’t know,” Shelby said. “If it wasn’t for Gabe’s dad, Pascal, we would be screwed. Anyway, welcome to our fine humble abode.”

            “How’s Kian and Doug,” I ask.

            “Fine,” Andrea says. “I didn’t have a chance to show them to their rooms because they passed out as soon as they sat on the couch.”

            “Where is Kian’s room,” Ricky asks.

            “Upstairs, the first door on your right,” Andrea says.

            Ricky walks up to Kian and picks him up, bridal style and carries him to the stairs. “Kian has a big day tomorrow,” Ricky says. “He’s going to need all the sleep he can get.”

            “What’s tomorrow,” Joey asks.

            “He’ll be going to his house to go through everything,” Ricky says. “He’s going to need all the strength he can get.”

            Ricky then ascends the stairs with Kian in his arms. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Ricky. He’s always been so caring, gentle, and loving. Watching him carry Kian made me extremely jealous. I wished I was the one in Ricky’s arms; Him cradling me in his big strong arms. “Ricky is so kind to Kian,” Shelby says, snapping me out of my daze. “They’re such a cute couple.”

            “But, we’re cuter,” Andrea says as she hugs Shelby from behind.

            “Joey, can you carry Doug up to his room,” Cat says. “I would, but he’s just a little too heavy.”

            “Sure,” Joey says. “Where’s his room?”

            “Upstairs, second door on the left,” Shelby says.

            Joey walks over to Doug and tries to pick him up. “Connor, can you help me carry him,” Joey says. “He’s heavier than what he looks.”

            “Okay,” I say.

            I walk over to Joey and Doug. Joey puts his arms under Doug’s armpits while I picked up his legs. “Man, you’re right,” I say. “He is heavier than what he looks.”

            We carry him up the stairs and to his room with Cat right behind us. We place him gently on the bed and Cat sits down beside him. We then leave the room with me behind Joey. When I got out of the room, Joey was already at the stairs. I follow him, but quickly jump back before passing the next upcoming door when I hear Ricky talking in Kian’s room. I slowly and quietly peeked my head into Kian’s room and see Ricky sitting beside Kian while he is sleeping, running his fingers through Kian’s hair. “You saved us all,” Ricky said. “If it wasn’t for you we’d all be dead. You look so peaceful right now. You’ve went through so much and yet you have kept such an optimistic and happy attitude towards everything. You and Connor was so supportive when I had amnesia, you two never gave up on me. You two helped me remember everything. That was great, but it made things difficult. It made me come to a cross in the roads. I realized after hanging with Connor that I had feelings for him before I had my amnesia, but I had feelings for you too. I considered being with Connor, but I knew he didn’t have the same feelings for me that I had for him. However, with you I loved you too and you loved me.”

            After Ricky said that, I turn away from the door and lean up against the wall beside the door. Ricky remembered that he had feelings for me. If I had told him when we were alone; maybe things would’ve turned out differently, but it’s too late. He’s made his choice and  now I’ll be haunted by the two words ‘if only’. I will just have to grin and bear it and hopefully in time this pain of losing him will fade.

            Tears form in my eyes thinking this and then I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see Cat with a sympathetic face. She walks me back to Doug’s room and hugs me. I hug back tightly and start to quietly sob into her shoulder.