Unexpected Connection

CHAPTER 15

    "Lily!!"

    "Lily!!"

I can hear Ian and Eli call my name before everything goes dark.

Ahh! My head hurts. I try and open my eyes but I am too tired. I drift off again. 

    "What is wrong with our daughter, Doctor?" 

    "It's been three days now since she became unconscious?"

I can hear my parents talking but I still feel too tired to open my eyes. 

    "You have to wake up Lily, I cannot live without you" I can hear Asher beside me.

    "He's right Lily, please wake up" that's Eli.

It isn't until I am conscious to movement beside me that I realize I had drifted off again. 

    "I am sorry Lily. For not believing you or trusting you more. For saying you are not different. I am sorry" I hear someone beside me apologize. "I am also sorry for what happened before you went down. It is true I already knew you before we met but I also already liked you before we met. I didn't date you because of Eli or to get revenge, I did because I am in love with you. I am really sorry for deceiving you" the person concludes. I can feel the person hold my hand and  squeeze the hand.

    "Lily can you hear me?" the person asks and I squeeze in return. "You can hear me, let me get the doctor" the person says and leaves the room. In a matter of minutes, the doctor is checking me.

    "Can you hear me Lily?" I hear doctor Carpenter ask me. I nod my head. My eyes get open and a light is being shaken in front of me. I am finally able to keep my eyes open and see my surrounding. I am at the hospital, go figure Liliana, Of course you are. The doctors and nurse have left after doing what doctors and nurse do. I can't find who was talking to me earlier, I hope to meet the person.

A few minutes later, my mum and dad rush into the room, "Lily" mum calls and squeezes me into a hug.

    "You had us so scared" Dad says and I smile at him.

    "We were so worried, you were out cold for a week, Lily" mum says.

    "The doctor says you probably fainted due to stress and you had concussion from the fall" Dad tells me.

    "Lily" Asher says running into the room. I smile at him. "I thought you were going to die" he adds and I laugh.

    "You cannot get rid of me that easily" I tell him.

    "Lily" Eli says walking into the room. I give him a small wave.

    "Hey" I greet.

    "I am sorry about what happened before you fainted, I shouldn't have said what I said" Eli says. What is he talking about?

    "Lily" a third person calls walking into the room. That's the person apologizing to me earlier. He's cute.

    "Who's your cute friend?" I ask Asher, "He's handsome" I say and wink at him.

    "Lily" Asher says. Everyone is staring at me.

    "That's Ian, love" Mum says looking worried.

    "Nice to meet you Ian" I say to the boy with eyes that mirror mine.

    "So, do you have a girlfriend Ian?" I ask flirting with him. He looks worried, sad even.

    "Lily" he calls me, tears gleaming in his eyes. 

    "Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

    "Are you joking Lily?" Eli asks.

    "You don't remember me?" Ian asks.

    "Am I supposed to know you?" I ask and I can see his heart break on his face.

    "Stop it Lily, that's Ian, your boyfriend" Asher says.

    "Ooh, I am lucky" I say with a smile. My parents look at each other and leave the room, a while later, I am undergoing some more test.

    "Do you know me?" the doctor asks.

    "Doctor Carpenter" I answer with a smile.

    "Good, do you know everybody in the room" he asks.

    "Yes, except him" I say pointing at Ian. "I would like to know him though" I say winking at Ian, he gives me a small smile.

    "What's the last thing you remember?" the Doctor asks.

    "Let's see, our Christmas Party" I answer. My mother gasps, my dad had to hold her. "What's wrong?" I ask. 

    "You just finished a school year, Lily, you are on summer break" Doctor Carpenter says and I start hyperventilating. 

    "Six months?" I ask.

    "Yes" Asher answers and I start laughing.

    "Oh my gosh, you are serious?" I ask and they all nod. 

    "Why is this happening?" my mum asks the doctor 

    "The faint and or concussion could have caused it" he answers.

    "What now, what about treatment" my dad asks.

    "Her memories should come back on their own, other than that, she is healthy" the doctor answers.

    "What if they don't come back?" I ask.

    "You can make new memories" Doctor Carpenter answers with a assuring smile.

My parents follow the doctor out while Asher and Eli stay with me. Ian is standing in front of me trying to process the whole situation, I wonder how he must be feeling being the only one I don't remember. Asher looks at Ian and I and excuses himself from the room dragging Eli out with him.

    "Hey" I say to Ian, he looks at me and smiles.

    "Hi bunny" he says walking to me.

    "Bunny?" I ask smiling.

    "Oh sorry, Lily" he says.

    "No it's fine. I like it" I tell him and he smiles. He seats down beside me. "I am sorry, for not remembering you" I tell him.

    "It's fine, just get better" he tells me holding my hand. I smile at him. I am just meeting him but I feel so comfortable with him. My brain might have forgiven him but my heart didn't.

    "What if  don't remember you" I ask looking away.

    "Then I'd just have to make new memories with you" he says and my heart melts. "This doesn't change how I feel about you" he adds.

    "I heard your apology from earlier, what did you do?" I ask and he looks away. "You don't have to tell me" I add.

    "Well, I do want to tell you before you remember and become upset again. It is because of it that you fainted and all this happened" he tells me.

    "You don't have to tell me, you seem really sorry and I accept your apology. Beside I don't remember so what would be the point of telling me" I tell him. "Instead tell me about me and you".

He smiles and brings his phone from his pocket, he shows me pictures of him and myself. I look so happy. 

    "I seem happy with you, were we happy?" I ask.

    "Yes until I messed up" he says. 

    "How did you mess up?" I ask.

    "It led to my apology" he tells me. Okay now I am interested.

    "Okay, tell me" I say sitting up. As he's about to talk, my parents walk in and Ian leaves the room but not before kissing my forehead.

***

I have left the hospital a week now and everything is still the same. I was shocked when Asher told me that Ian moved into my favorite house and like always, I keep checking the house everyday. I remember the first time I went out unto the balcony, I saw the notepad of the things I wrote to Ian, I don't remember writing them. I even notice the pictures of Matt I have on my picture board, pictures I took but don't remember. In every picture I am in with Ian, I look so happy. I wish I remember. I haven't seen Ian since I came home, I think he's having a hard time processing the fact that I don't remember our time together. I wish I remembered him. 

I am lying in bed when I hear someone on my balcony, I grab my bat and walk out to the balcony, "What the heck, Ian. What are you doing here" I shout. He smiles at me. "What?" I ask dropping the bat.

    "You did the same thing with the bat and all the first time I came up this way" he says.

    "Good to know I am consistent" I say with a smile. "What are you doing here?" I ask. 

    "Well, I want to take you somewhere" he says and shoves me inside to get dressed. I guess this is happening and I don't have a choice. I change into a black short and black tank top with my boots and jacket before stepping back out to meet Ian. 

    "Hey" he says. 

    "I'm good to go" I tell him and go down the slide. He grabs my hand and takes me down the path to his house. 

    "You showed me this path" he tells me still holding my hand.

    "I must have really trusted you" I tell him. 

    "I would hope so, you are my girl" he says and I smile. 

We get to his house and takes me inside. 

    "Why are we here?" I ask when we get inside. 

    "I want to show you something first before we go out" he tells me and leads me to a room. The room is dark when I step in. 

    "It's empty" I say to him. He switches on the light and my mouth drops. I look around the room. It's not empty at all. 

There are pictures of Ian and I framed all over the wall, there are also moving pictures going round the room being displayed from a projector. Wow, it's perfect. The tears start streaming from my eyes. It's beautiful. No one has ever done something like this for me before. It's amazing. 

    "This is why I haven't been around. I just want to show you how happy we were, how in love we were" he says. I don't know why but I hate that he's using past tense. 

    "Do you think we'd be able to be happy again?" I ask him. 

    "I am happy with you no matter what happens" he tells me wiping my tears with his thumb.

    "I'm sorry I forgot you" I say to him. 

    "It's not your fault. If anything it's mine for stressing you out" he says, his palm still on my cheek. 

I spent a while going though each picture, Ian tells me every single thing about each day. It makes me happy that he remembers every memory even if I cannot. I smile at him, he's eyes are smiling whenever he tells me about a memory. I find myself being happy and smiling. I put my hand on his cheeks, "You are so cute" I tell him and he laughs. 

    "At least your memory loss did not affect your taste in men" he says and I laugh. I am consistent. 

We are about to leave the room when I see a picture at the very last corner of the room, Ian's eyes follow my line of sight, "No" he says and makes a move for the picture. I run towards it too but Ian is faster than I am, he gets there before me and removes the picture from the wall raising it above his head. 

    "Come on, let me see" I tell him but he refuses running out the room. "Please" I say and jump on his back. He still holds the picture at arms length away from me and walks to the living room before dropping me on a couch. I sit on a couch and pout.

    "I'm not showing you" he tells me still holding the picture above his head. 

    "What if it makes me remember" I ask pouting. 

    "Not gonna fool me" he says and smiles. "I'd just have to make new memories with you like we are now" he adds. I want to see that picture. I run to him and climb him, wrapping my legs round his waist. Out of reflex, he holds unto my back with one hand. 

    "Let me see" I say to him still stretching to get the picture. We both fall over on the big, long couch and start laughing. I land on Ian, my hand on his chest, his hand still on my lower back. We stop laughing when we realize how close we are to each other, we stay there staring at each other. 

    "I miss you" he says tucking my hair behind my ear. I lick my lips. I want to kiss him. He technically is my boyfriend and who knows it might make me remember. It's a long shot, I know but I'm going to do it. 

I bend my head closer to his and his eyes avert to my lips, I bite them before crashing my lips on his. I am telling you, fireworks went off. I have never felt like this before. I can feel his heart beat under my palm, it's beating rapidly. I quickly stop kissing him and get off of him. 

    "I'm sorry" I tell him. What was I thinking? 

    "It's fine" he says and I stretch my hand to pull him up. 

    "Where were you taking me?" I ask him when he's on his feet to distract from the fact that I kissed him. Instead of answering he pulls me to him and his lips crash on mine. I immediately return the kiss. It feels like my heart misses him.

    "What's wrong bunny" Ian says wiping the tears from my cheek. "Why are you crying?". I put my hand to my eyes, I am actually crying. But why?

    "I don't know?" I tell him.

    "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that" he says brushing the back of his neck. 

    "It's fine" I tell him putting my hand on his chest. I can feel his heart beat slow down.

    "I think we should take it easy" Ian tells me.

    "Oh" I say looking away. I shouldn't have kissed him. He put his finger on my chin making me look up at him.

    "What I am saying is this, I don't want to rush you. I am not going anywhere so you can get to know me all over again" He tells me before kissing my nose. He closes his eyes and places his forehead on mine, "I love you Liliana Grant" he says. 

    "I love you too Ian Grant" I automatically say. Where did that come from. 

    "You remember my surname" he says smiling, his forehead still on mine. I don't even his surname.

    "Do I ever tell you I love your eyes?" I ask him and he laughs.

    "All the time" he answers and he kisses my forehead. 

    "What now?" I ask Ian.

    "Well, we can stay in while I tell you everything about the school year you missed" Ian says. 

    "Let's have midnight breakfast while you tell me" I say to him. I walk to his kitchen and bring out the pancake mix and pan. Ian mixes it while I make coffee for us. I look around and see Ian is smiling, looking at me.

    "What is it" I ask leaning against the counter.

    "It doesn't seem like you lost your memory at all, you know where everything is" he says and that's when I actually realize it. 

    "I feel at home that's all" I tell him smiling. I stretch up to bring the coffee mug but it's a bit far. I stand on my tip toes to get it but still can't reach. Ian reaches from behind me and gets the cups handing it to me. 

    "There you go" he says before kissing my neck. I smile at him.

    "You know what? We should change the position of your mugs so I can get to it" I tell him turning around to face him. He smiles at me. "What is it?" I ask.

    "I love you that's all" he says with a shrug. I laugh and start making the coffee while he starts frying the pancake. I bring out the blue berries from the fridge and pour it into the pancake bowl.

    "Makes it better" I tell Ian before putting one in his mouth. He licks my finger. "Eww Ian" I say and he laughs.

    "You are sweet" he says.

    "And you are corny" I tell him. 

When he's done frying, I add syrup to our pancake and join him on the island. I am drinking iced coffee while he is having a latte. 

    "This is so good" I tell him moaning at the deliciousness in my mouth.

    "Asher taught me the recipe" he tells me.

    "It's amazing, did you make this for me before" I ask him then put syrup filled blueberry pancake in my mouth. He smiles and wipes the syrup from the side of my mouth then licks it.

    "I didn't, Asher just taught me" Ian says. "I wanted to learn it for you" he adds. 

I peck his cheeks, "Thank you". After eating, Ian and I clear the kitchen and wash the dishes. Ian is drying the plates when I walk quietly and go look at the picture he didn't want me to see. It's a picture of me sleeping in class. I look so peaceful and I wonder why he didn't want me to see it.

    "Why did you not want to show me this?" I ask and Ian groans when he sees the picture in my hand. "I think I look good in it" I tell him. He walks to me.

    "Uh.. I took that on the first day of the school year. I didn't want you to think I was a creep or something" he tells me.

    "Well, I thought you were a creep the first day I met you and saw you with the binoculars" I tell him laughing. His head snaps up to look at me.

    "What did you just say?" he asks.

    "I said I knew you were a creep like me the first day I met you...." I trail. I actually remember the first day I met him. It's just that moment I remember but I still remember. Ian's face breaks into a smile.

    "I think I am going to spend every living moment with you till, maybe you would remember more" he tells me and I laugh.

    "Don't be a creep" I say and peck his cheeks.

    "I should take you home" he tells me walking me to the door.

    "You said you wanted to take me somewhere" I tell him as we walk towards the woods.

    "Another time" he says placing his hand on my shoulders.

I wave at him from my balcony as he walks back the way we came. I open the balcony door and walk into my room, the lights are out. I walk to my closet and change to my pajamas, good thing it's summer break. 

    "Well Well Well" Asher says switching on the lamp beside him.

    "What the heck Ash" I shout holding my chest.

    "Oh sorry" Ash says with concern.

    "I could have died" I tell him and he smiles.

    "You are fine then" he says and lays on my bed.

    "What are you doing here?" I ask him joining him in bed.

    "Came in to check up on but you were not in bed" he tells me.

    "I was at-"

    "Ian, I know. You are always at Ian's" he says smiling. "I can't believe that even with amnesia, you still like him" he adds and I shrug. 

    "What can I say, my brain might have forgotten but my heart didn't" I tell him.

    "That means you like him right?" Ash asks and I nod.

    "It doesn't make sense, I know but I really like him" I tell Asher.

    "It makes sense, you guys fell in love at first sight the first time" Asher tells me smiling. "I am happy he is here for you" he adds hugging me.

    "Thank you".

    "I need to tell you something" Ash begins.

    "What is it?" I ask, he sounds serious.

    "It's about Eli" Asher says.

    "Is something wrong with him?" I ask.

    "No, not really but-" Asher stops talking.

    "But what?" I ask curiosity killing me.

    "He told you he likes you" Asher says and I start laughing. "Lily" Ash says and hear the seriousness in his voice.

    "Oh".

    "Yeah but I just think he told you that to get you away from Ian" Asher tells me. 

    "He doesn't like Ian?" I ask.

    "I think there is some bad blood between them but I don't know what is" Asher answers. I wonder why they do not like each other, they are part of the important people in my life. I'd have to ask them about it.

***

It's the next day and I am all dressed up for the day, I don't know what the day has to offer but I am ready. I go downstairs to have breakfast with my family and  am surprised to see Ian and Eli.

    "Morning" I greet walking in. "What is going on, why are you all here" I ask.

    "Honey, they usually have dinner with us" Dad says kissing my forehead.

    "Oh sorry" I say sitting beside Ian. He smiles at me and I return it.

    "I am happy you guys are getting to know each other again" Mum says smiling at Ian and I.

    "Well, he cannot get rid of me that easily" I say.

    "I wouldn't dream of getting rid of you" Ian whispers to me. I look over at Eli and he is looking at Ian and I in a weird way. What is wrong?  I mouth to Eli but he gives me a fake smile and shakes his head.

    "We have something to tell you both" Mum says holding Dad's hand.

    "Are you sending us away?" I ask.

    "What, no. Where did that come from?" Asher asks.

    "Well mum and dad are holding hands just like they did when they sent us off to stay with our cousins for that school year" I answer Ash.

    "That is so true" Ash says looking at their hands. "Are you sending us off again" he asks.

    "You can't , we are adults now" I say folding my hand.

    "Yeah, we would move out if you do" Ash says.

    "We are not sending you anywhere" Dad says sighing. 

    "We called you all to tell you that we agree with Ian" Mum says.

    "With what?" I ask.

    "Ian suggest you all go for a trip for your entire summer break for a change of serene and we agree" Dad says. I look over at Ian and he is smiling. 

    "Yes, Ian asked us for permission" Mum adds.

    "You didn't tell me" I tell Ian.

    "I wanted to make sure your parents agreed first" Ian says.

    "Is Eli coming too?" I ask smiling at him. 

    "That's up to him" Mum says. "Anyways, make decisions and let us know" she adds before she and dad excuse themselves and go to work.

    "So are you coming?" I ask Eli. Eli glares at us when Ian puts his hand over my shoulders. I involuntarily lean into him.

    "Are you two together again?" Eli asks instead ignoring my question.

    "We were never apart" Ian answers. "We had a disagreement just like every couple does".

    "Don't you like Ian and I together?" I ask.

    "If he make you happy then what can I do?" Eli says smiling but I know he is lying. I refuse to go into it now with him so I let it go. 

    "So trip, you in?" Asher asks and Eli nods.

    "Woah, we are going on a trip!"