7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 15: Jake

Lee’s POV

    “I can’t believe I am in the states!” I squealed as I pulled Eva closer to me in a sideways hug, walking toward the limo.

     A week had come and went, the meeting with the new company went off without a hitch even though I didn’t get to attend it, due to Eva getting food poison or something. We had spent the week reorganizing all the meetings for the company so that we could make this trip and I had to also rearrange everything for Mandy’s deliveries and designs because she demanded to come with us. I also had spent some time in training the others with things that evidently, I knew but they didn’t, and I found it funny how much Eva and I had many of the same techniques.

     All in all, it was Scott, Theo, Mandy, Eva, me, Lance, Lane and five other security detail that had traveled to the states to help the Light Company. I had a bad feeling about the trip, but I didn’t let it discourage my mood, for the first time that I knew of I was traveling and that thought alone was enough to push the bad away.

      In a week, Eva and I had grown closer than even Mandy and I had in seven years. She spent a lot of time with her phone, but I figured she was just talking to her husband, he was going to meet us while we were here, and she was going to introduce us. I think I knew about everything about her because she was an open book and told it all. I held her many nights while she cried talking about her friend she lost, it struck a nerve, and I couldn’t help but want to be there for her. I talked to her in private about maybe coming back to the states with her when she returned home, I didn’t know why but I couldn’t find the heart to tell Scott, Theo, and Mandy that I would rather go with her than stay in Paris. I just crossed my fingers it would be a while before she left.

       “Ladies, you will be my personal detail while we are here. So, wherever I go, you are to be with me.” Arthur informed us as we set off on our journey through the city in the huge limo. “Did Scott go over the plan with you ladies?” We both nodded and he laughed. “Good, now Mildred will not be traveling with us, it will just be the three of us, and my driver of course. Tonight, we will spend in the motel, and tomorrow morning we will be going to the company’s facility they need help with. After that I have some old friends, I want to see and then of course we have the company welcome party we have been invited to, so we will have to go shopping to find you girls something suitable to wear.”

       I was silent as the car traveled and I watched the buildings pass by as they towered over us. I probably looked like one of those little kids with my jaw on the ground, my nose smashed to the window and my hands on each side of my face, but I didn’t care.

      “Mr. Marlette?” Eva spoke up just as we made it out of the city.

      “Please, child, call me Arthur.” He laughed.

     She giggled, “Very well then Arthur.” She cleared her throat, and smiled over at me. “Do you mind if we get off just up ahead at the small diner, I promise we will be not long behind you, but I haven’t been to that place in forever and well Lee here needs to experience new things in life.” She stated as she squeezed my hand.

      “That’s fine, just don’t be out too late, and please let me know when you make it in. I will have your bags delivered to your rooms.” He gave us a wink and pressed on a button next to his seat, intercom I assumed because of the staticky sound coming through the speakers. “Norm, please pull over and let the girls out.”

     “Yes sir.” The speaker chirped and in a second the limo came to a stop.

     “Thanks Arthur!” Eva sung as she grabbed my hand and pulled me out into a parking lot. “I promise I will take care of her.” She shut the door and we watched as the limo pulled out and left us standing in the parking lot of a small diner.

       I turned around slowly and stopped dead in my tracks, there stood a tall, buff-built boy with amber eyes and curly brown hair. He was smiling like the cat that just ate the bird and before I thought about it, I ran and wrapped my arms around his neck, he didn’t even flinch as he wrapped his arms around me and gave me a good ole fashion bear hug. “Jake!” I squealed before I even realized what was really going on.

      I froze and quickly untangled myself, before running backwards and nearly knocking Eva over. I tried to get past her, and she placed her arms around me holding me in place as I watched the man, I just hugged place his hands in the air. “Easy there, no harm, I promise. Lee, right?”

      I quickly pulled myself from Eva’s embrace and straightened myself up, I would have to think about what just happened but for now I was going to play it off. “Yea, sorry about that. I guess hearing Eva talk about you so much I thought like I knew you.” I waved toward the diner, “Um, let’s eat.” I didn’t wait for them to reply as I walked past them and toward the door.

     We took our seats in the outdoor seating and I sat across from Jake while Eva sat next to him. We ordered our food, and I ate silently watching the two of them interact, they spoke to each other just with their eyes and it fascinated me, it was like I watched the whole conversation just from one glance. Like Eva I felt immediately connected with him, he seemed like a genuinely nice person, more like the brother type. There was a connection, but I didn’t know how or why I felt that way.

      After I was done eating, I decided it was time to bite the bullet so to speak, I cleared my throat and they both looked at me. “So, I am just going to say it and you both can think I am crazy later.” I raised a brow and they both laughed but gave me their attention. “Why do I know you?” I waved a hand at Eva, “I know about you, sure, but let’s face it, I have never saw your picture, I have never met you, however I know that you like to run, you used to like to escape to trees after school while you waited for the bus to get away from everyone, and you like to play football. And I know that she hasn’t described you, so can you help me out here, because really my mind is about to meltdown.”

     He raised his hand for the check and flashed a genuine smile at me, “Don’t know.” He chirped and I felt my head ready to explode. “But who knows, maybe in another life we knew each other.”

    “We better get going Lee, Arthur will be worried.” Eva chimed in as she hurried Jake to stand and moved around the table grabbing my hand. “Let’s go.” She smiled as she pulled me to my feet.

    I wasn’t done with the conversation, but I decided to let it slide for the time being, I was sure that I would see him again and the next time I would be sure to push the issue. I walked outside ahead of them so they could say their goodbyes and I could let my head rest.

     Standing outside on the curb waiting for the taxi, I thought I was alone until I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder. I looked up to see a good-looking raven-haired boy smiling down at me. I squinted my eyes and it dawned on me, “You!” I probably should have been scared and trying to run away, but like before I didn’t feel any form of danger from him.

     He winked at me, “Yep, me. But my friends call me Luscious.”

     I nodded, “I know.”

     I slapped my hands across my mouth and looked at him wide eyed, I really needed to rest, how did I know that was his name? A smile spread across his face, and he winked again, “We are getting somewhere, but for now princess, time for me to go.” He turned around and sprinted off into the shadows.

      I felt like a statue blinking after him with my arm halfway extended where I had tried to catch him. What is happening to me? Why do I know these people? Who am I? What next? Am I dreaming? Eva, wait did I know her from before too, I didn’t see her at the tests until her name was called so there was no way to recognize her like I did Jake and Luscious, but why didn’t I know his name in the pavilion, or did I and didn’t want to admit it?

       “Lee you, okay?” Eva asked softly from my side, and I just looked over at her.

       Studying her features, every line, every scar, every freckle I realized there, I did know her, I didn’t know how, but I knew her, just like I knew Jake and Luscious. A sickening feeling washed over me, I suddenly felt like everything was some sort of sick joke that was being played on me, I swallowed the sickening feeling and took several deep breaths. “Yea, I’m good. Let’s get to the hotel, I need to rest.”

     The taxi pulled up and Eva opened the door, “You sure?”

     I waved her off as I slid into the taxi and she climbed in beside me with a worried look, “I am fine Eva. I just need some rest, jet lag I guess.” I shrugged.

      The taxi ride to the hotel was silent, I stared out the window at the passing scene but let my mind wonder back to the events of the evening. I tried to focus on memories, memories that would tell me how I knew them all, but I was drawing a blank. I couldn’t find a flash or anything with them in it, it was just something I knew and something I knew apparently better than I even knew who I was.

      Taking a deep breath as we pulled in front of the hotel, I made a promise to myself. A promise I would die before I broke it. Come what may; good, bad, pretty, ugly; who ever I was, who ever I knew, whatever life I lived; I knew my answers were close and I was going to get them all before I went back to Paris, no matter how long it took me. And no one, I meant absolutely no one would stop me.