Forgotten

Chapter 3

I can’t believe he is laughing at me. I shouldn’t have let him get to me like that.

“Where to princess?” I glared at him, but decided not to snap at him again. It’s just not worth it.

“You can just drop me at the nearest hotel. I’ll get a taxi from there.” He leaned against his bike and stared at me. Clearly he isn’t in any hurry to leave.

“Afraid to tell me where you live, princess.” I had to bite my tongue because if I say one wrong thing I met just be out of a lift. He was being really cocky though smiling at me like he was apart of some kind of inside joke.

“Stop calling me princess.” I told him as it was starting to really bother me that he thought I was just some prissy spoiled brat. That is the one thing that I’ve tried really hard not to be. I never want to be like my father and Lyssa.

“I will when you stop acting like one.” Where have I acted like one, seriously. I’ve been trying to be nothing but nice to this guy and he has been making it exceptionally hard.

“Look going to a hotel in the shuttle was my original plan, from there I’ll take a taxi home. Can we go now…Please.” The longer we argue about this the later I will get home and that cute smile of his won’t distract me. I can’t believe he is smiling because he thinks he is getting to me. I’m not that easy to rile up.

“We’ll go when you give me your address.” I’m starting to think that he is dense.

“Look if you think that me being late will be bad, then you should imagine how bad it will be when I show up on a bike. That would be the ultimate ammunition for my step mother. She’ll run to my father faster than the world record on running.” he looked at me for a couple of seconds before getting on the bike. I’ve never been on a bike before, I never thought that I would get on one. I put on the helmet, I struggled with the buckle as you kind of do it blind it’s not like you can see under your chin. I felt his warm hand on my arm. My head shot up as I looked at him. He pulled me closer to him where he took my hand of the buckle so that he could do it. When his hands touched mine, my heart started to beat faster. I kept on looking at him, watching every inch of his face. Looking for some indicator that our closeness was effecting him too. As he finished he looked up and saw me watching him. We stood there for a few seconds just looking into each others eyes.

“Come on get on princess, we don’t want the evil step mother to get you.” What was I thinking…cute…more like arrogant. I got on the bike and sat as far from him as possible, but as he lift the bike of the stand I grabbed onto his side from the sudden shift. I blushed at the sudden contact. I heard him chuckle so I started to remove my hands, but he grabbed onto them. He pulled me closer and made hands fold over his middle. My breasts were flush against his back. This felt way to intimate. I felt as his back muscles went stiff. We were frozen like that, not one of us having the guts to say anything. He then exhaled.

“Sorry if my top feels wet to the touch, a selfish brat made me spill all my coffee on myself.” He started to laugh at me. He then pulled away, I couldn’t help, but think how unsafe it was for him to be driving without a helmet, especially on this road. It’s a mountain pass with a lot of unexpected turns and twists. You never know wen a car will be swerving around the next corner. Every where you took it is trees. I’ve wondered before how many dead body must be laying amoungst the dense trees. It’s a very morbid thought, but it’s the perfect dumping ground. I guess I was thinking all these silly things because I needed a distraction. His warm body against mine was really distracting, with the cold wind slicing past us the warmth of our bodies felt comforting. My body snuggled against his strong chest, melting into him and before I knew it it was like we were moving together. My body didn’t feel as stiff anymore. I felt comfortable with him, even while being on a death machine. The turns were swift as we leaned together into them, we were zooming through the pass. It’s was so exciting. The more I thought about the stranger in front of me the more I saw his kindness. Not everyone would have stop what they were doing and have offered me a ride. I almost found myself wishing I had given him my address, just so that I could make this moment stretch out, but before I knew it we were at the hotel. It was a lot faster than the shuttle would have been. We even made up our lost time from all the bickering. He parked near the hotel and kicked out the bike’s stand as I got off. He pulled me closer this time by my middle I saw him watching my reaction as I had been watching his before. He unbuckled the helmet and pulled it off my head for me. We just stood there. I was waiting for him to say anything. There was clearly some chemistry between us. I couldn’t have made it all up. I wanted and waited for him to ask my number or even just my name, but all we did was standing there awkwardly in silence. A cab pulled up ahead of us and I knew I had to grab it before someone else did.

“Thank you for everything.” I said smiling and stepping away from him. I was hoping once again that he stops me, but he never did. I got in the cab and gave him my address before I turned around and looked behind me, but he was already gone. It felt strange, like it never happened, he had just disappeared. The day had definitely taken a turn for the strange. The taxi drive didn’t take so long, but it would have been faster if I stayed on the bike. I can’t believe I’m not going to see him again. I hated him when we first met, but somehow he had grown on me. It happened in the small details I guess. Now I can’t stop thinking about him. His snotty comments, his light touches and the way my body brushed against his as we speed through town. I don’t even know his name. There is no way for me to find him. The taxi finally pulled up at my house. I got up and walked with a slight limp up the drive way. I opened the door and walked inside.

“Where have you been!” I can’t deal with her right now.

“What do you you do, wait here for me to come in so that you can attack.” I asked her as I started to walk past her to the kitchen. I need to ice my ankle before it swells up more. It’s the last thing I need. I don’t want to go limping down the school halls.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me young lady! I want answers!” She said as she started to follow me to the kitchen. I really wanted to get ride of her.

“Is that what my father says when you walk away from him?” I said pointing out their big age gap, letting her know just how ridiculous it was. I know she is only after his money. I’ll never understand gold diggers. Yes you get money, but you still need to be with this person and sleep with them no matter how old or how ugly they are. Not that my father is really that old or ugly. Lyssa lucked out with my father. I opened the fridge and took out an ice pack. I sat down on a chair and put it on my ankle. Lyssa was just standing there staring at me. She probably couldn’t believe I snapped back at her. We heard the front door opening, which means my father got him. Lyssa immediately burst into tears. Of course. She is fake so why not have fake tears. As soon as my father walked into the kitchen she ran into his arms and cried on his chest. He frowned at me over her shoulder.

“Honey I’m so glad you are home. She has been so awful to me! She basically told me that I’m a gold digger. She is always so rude to me when you aren’t around. I just can’t take it anymore. It breaks my heart that she rejects me like this.” Que the dramatics. How can a person be so fake. She should have honestly considered a career in acting.

"That's not what happened. She is lying. I was down at the docks doing a review. On my way to the shuttle I tripped and fell. My laptop broke and I hurt my ankle. I then missed the shuttle ans had to wait for a taxi. You can ask the guard, he'll tell you a taxi dropped me at the gate. She was waiting for me. As soon as I came in she was on my case about being late. I just wanted to ice my foot when she started calling me young lady so I simply told her she is a young lady too." I explained to my father. I hate how I need to explain my every move to them.

"She is lying!" Lyssa said up at my father with tears streaming down her face.

"How can she be lying when her ankle is really swollen." My father defended me. It was strange. It's been so long since he took my side.

"She was probably out there drinking with her friends. She must have had one to many and fell over. Her elbows is scraped and her shirt ruined. A person doesn't trip backwards and land on their elbows!" She would honestly try anything.

"I wasn't with friends, Liara had a tutor session this afternoon. You can smell my breath, I didn't have any alcohol. I can even show you my receipt or you can call te restaurant." I spoke louder with every word my frustration finally bubbling over.

"That's enough Alysson. I believe you. Just calm down." I couldn't believe he actually believed me.

"She was up to no good! Why do you never believe me! I'm just trying to her mother! I just worry about her! How is she supposed to respect me if you don't!" Lyssa yelled at my father before storming off. He followed behind her. What a turn for the books. I quickly made myselfs some tea before sitting down again with the ice on my ankle. I sat their in the kitchen sipping at the tea in the silence. It wasn't long before my father came back. He poured himself some scotch and drank it down in one go.

"Why can't the two of you just get along?" He asked me looking tired. I tried in the beginning, but the fact remains that she dislikes me for some reason she haa never likes me. She didn't even try. He just sighed not even waiting for my answer.

"You are grounded." I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't even do anything.

"Why? I didn't even come in that late? I was still home before you?" I wanted answers. If this is just to make her happy then screw it.

"You were being rude to Lyssa and you know it." Of course he is just trying to please her. This is ridiculous.

"I wouldn't be rude if she just left me alone, but everyday she looka for something to nag me about and to complain to you about." He needs to see that she is overbearing.

"She only cares about you and maybe try harder then she wouldn't be able to find fault." That's what he took from this that I'm imperfect and if I tried bwing perfect she wouldn't be able to pick at my faults. He is blind to all of hers, but mine seem ro be on display for them.

"You can only go to school and come straight home for the rest of the week." It's already the end of Tuesday. I'm going to lie to my father, something I rarely do.

"I have booked reviews for the entire week; you wouldn't want me to neglect those agreements." My father believes strongly in doing what you have promised. Except for always being there for me. That promise he constantly breaks.

"Fine you can go and do your reviews." One down and one to go.

"And it's the beach trip this weekend. Remember I asked you about it awhile back?" He won't remember because I didn't mention it I only thought of it this afternoon, but he wouldn't have remembered anyway. The things I tell him is never important enough to remember.

"Right, other than that you are grounded. No TV and no social media. Your phone should be switched off and put away as soon as you get home. You can give it to Lyssa so she can monitor that you aren't using it." This isn't a new punishment and I've developed a work around for it. I have a spare phone that doesn’t work. It’s not charged. I give that one with my phone cover to Lyssa. She always charges it and tries switching it on to snoop on it, but it is password protected. My thumb is the only thing that will unlock it.

"Okay no problem. Goodnight." I said getting up and going to my room taking the ice pack with me. I'm going to the beach this weekend I can't have a bum ankle.

I got up earlier than usual and took a long shower. I let my hair dry while I got my uniform ready for school. I then put on some light make up and curled the ends of my ponytail before getting dressed. I took out my back up phone and put it in my blazers inside pocket. I then went down for breakfast which was amusing. Lyssa was giving my father the silent treatment and he was earnestly trying to get her attention, This is another ploy of hers. She’ll forgive him after he spends money on her. Last time it was new earrings. We’ll see what it turns out to be this time. I put in my earphone in half way through the breakfast and all the way to school. I had a mission today. I took no time at all in finding Liara. I only saw her brown ponytail sticking out from her locker.

“Hey hey!” I said leaning against the locker next to her hugging my books to my chest. She closed the locker and looked at me frowning. She is use to me complaining in the morning, but today I am in a good mood.

“So I want us to go down to the beach this weekend and have some fun. We can swim, play volley ball and have a pick nick. We haven’t done anything like that in a while. I think it will help us unwind a bit. I already got permission from my dad. Do you think you can get some of the usual crowd to come and join us?” I was way to excited about this, it actually felt like I was bubbling and was about to bubble over.

“That really does sound like a great plan. I really need to rewind. All the extra work I’ve been putting in along with my tutor session is really getting me down. It feels like I’m drowning in it all. I’ll spread the news that we are partying on the beach this weekend and see who else is interested. I bet it will be a bunch of people. It might just go on till late.” She was just as excited as I was I didn’t know what to do with the energy that was bubbling inside me when we sat down in history and it got quiet. My energy seemed to drift to my perfectly rude stranger. I need to find him. I can’t just daydream about him and not see him again. I wonder if he wants to see me again and if he is thinking about me in this moment as I am thinking about him. I’m so afraid I made up all the chemistry in my head. It would be a very big let down if I found him and he didn’t feel the same or worse he didn’t even remember me. Now that would be so embarrassing. Maybe if I find him I can invite him to the beach with us. It will be fun to be on the beach with our friends and future friends this weekend. When lunch came around we could finally sit down and have a conversation. It sucks sitting so far from her in the classes.

“Did you want to go and do a review this afternoon? I don’t have any other plans.”

“Actually I do. I met this guy yesterday. He is a complete jerk, but he had managed to grow on me. I wanted to go and see if I can find him down at the docks.” I told her. She wanted more information so I ended up telling her everything that had happened the previous day.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even ask his name or his number. You know it isn’t all on the guy anymore and now you are just going to hope you run into him again? If you do find him I hope this is your fairy tale because you need one and no other prince charming has caught your eyes.”

“Maybe it’s because he isn’t a prince charming.”