Forgotten

Chapter fourteen

"The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators."

¬Edward Gibbon

Ashlyn

Ashlyn snuck into her house through the back door hoping to avoid her dad, instead, she ran into her mom who was finishing up dinner in the kitchen.

"Mom, hi."

"Hey darling, we weren't expecting you back today," she replied without looking up from the pot of fried rice she was turning.

"Well, it seemed I overstayed my welcome," Ashlyn murmured.

"Why would you think that, Bao? I'm sure you know the Wallaces' love you as if you were their daughter," her mom said, gesturing for Ashlyn to sit at the kitchen island. "And your hair! What did you do?"

"Ha! Maybe that's cause I'm keeping this stupid secret for them," she spat out in frustration, forcing the wave of oncoming tears down her throat. "I just bleached some strands... no biggie. And that's not important right now."

"Baozhai. They've cared about you before the whole memory loss thing," her mom sat across her and gave her a stern look, "I'm upset you would ever think that sort of thing."

Ashlyn let out a dry laugh, "If your best friend told you that you weren't her best friend anymore and kicked you out of her house, how would you feel?"

Her mother stared at her speechless. The smell of burning rice filled the air and she rushed towards the stove, forgetting to reply her daughter.

"Right. That's what I thought, mom." Ashlyn stood up and headed for the back door, "don't wait up for me, I might be back late."

"Baozhai," her mother called after her but she was already out the door.

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Ring. Ring. Rinnggg.

"Come on, Raf, pick up the damn phone." Ashlyn huddled on the park bench, slightly illuminated by the street lights. She watched the empty streets with disdain; all her memories of the town involved Abby who was the last person she wanted to think about.

"Hey, this is Rafael. You know what to do. Beeepppp."

Ashlyn refused to cry. She wouldn't give Abby that power nor satisfaction to know that she had affected her. "Hey, Raf. Call me back when you get this, please. I'm in need of some company right now... uh, I'm at the park if you're looking for me. Alright... see you soon... hopefully."

Her ring tone filled the night air starling her. She looked excitedly at it but was disappointed when she saw John's name lighting up the screen. She immediately pressed the end call button; wanting to leave the line open in case Rafael decided to call her back.

Ashlyn decided to wait for 30 mins for feedback from him before she would head home. She stared at the sky as different thoughts ran through her head; she chose to focus on only the positive thoughts. Stress causes wrinkles, she reminded herself any time a negative thought flew into her mind. As the half-hour reached its mark she was suddenly enclosed in darkness as a hand covered her face.

"Rafael?" she squeaked out.

The only reply she got was a kiss on her cheek. As the hands left her face she turned to find Raf grinning at her. "Hey, baby."

"Dork," she said, hitting him as he came around to sit beside her. "I wasn't sure if you were going to come."

"Why wouldn't I come, though?" he laughed, much to Ashlyn's annoyance.