CHAPTER TWO__FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
1343 Words
Asher was still staring at the message.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER HER, DO YOU?
He read it again.
Nothing.
He read it a third time, then locked his phone and rubbed his face.
Who the hell was this person?
More importantly, why did they keep talking as if Asher had forgotten something important?
“Asher?”
He quickly looked up.
Jace was watching him from the other side of the desk.
“What's wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
Jace raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing? You've been staring at that phone since the teacher started talking.”
“I'm fine.”
“Okay.”
Jace paused.
Then he leaned closer.
“You're obviously not fine, but okay.”
Asher ignored him.
His eyes moved toward Evelina.
She was sitting quietly, writing something in her notebook.
She looked completely normal.
Too normal.
That bothered him.
If the messages were true, Evelina had supposedly died seven years ago. Yet here she was, sitting only a few meters away from him, calmly taking notes like there was nothing strange about any of this.
Asher looked at her again.
She suddenly stopped writing.
Slowly, she raised her head.
Their eyes met.
She looked away almost immediately.
Asher's stomach tightened.
She knew something.
He was sure of it.
The bell rang, breaking the silence.
Everyone immediately started packing up.
Jace stood.
“Cafeteria?”
“In a minute.”
Jace looked at him suspiciously.
“Don't tell me you're staying here because of the new girl.”
“Just go.”
Jace grinned.
“Ah. I see.”
“Jace.”
“I'm going.”
He left laughing.
Asher waited.
One student after another left the classroom until only a few people remained.
Then Evelina stood.
She gathered her books and turned toward the door.
“Evelina.”
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned around.
“Why do you keep looking at me?”
Asher leaned back in his chair.
“Why do you keep noticing?”
“Because you're not subtle.”
That almost made him laugh.
Almost.
Instead, he studied her face.
There was something familiar about her.
Not just her eyes.
Something he couldn't put into words.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Why?”
“You've been staring at me since this morning.”
“So you noticed.”
“Obviously.”
She said it casually, but her fingers tightened around the books in her arms.
Asher noticed.
“Have we met before?”
Evelina went still.
It was barely a second.
But he saw it.
Her expression changed before she quickly looked away.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“You hesitated.”
“I was thinking.”
“About what?”
She sighed.
“Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Annoying.”
Asher smiled.
“Only when I'm interested in something.”
“Then find something else to be interested in.”
She turned toward the door.
Asher reached into his pocket.
“Evelina.”
She stopped again.
He unlocked his phone and held out the photograph.
“Look at this.”
She turned.
The moment her eyes landed on the screen, the color drained from her face.
She stepped closer.
“Where did you get that?”
Asher sat up.
“So you know it?”
Her eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
“Where did you get it?”
“Someone sent it to me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know. Some random number.”
She looked at him.
For the first time, Asher saw genuine fear in her expression.
“Delete it.”
He stared at her.
“Why?”
“Just delete it.”
“Why should I?”
“Because you shouldn't have it.”
Her voice was quieter now.
Asher frowned.
“You're acting weird.”
“I'm not.”
“You definitely are.”
Evelina looked toward the hallway.
Then back at him.
“Some things are better left alone.”
Asher's expression hardened.
“Like what happened seven years ago?”
Evelina froze.
This time, there was no hiding it.
Something passed through her eyes.
Fear.
Pain.
Recognition.
Asher stood.
“You know what happened.”
Evelina didn't answer.
“Don't you?”
She slowly looked at him.
“Who told you?”
“Answer me.”
“Who told you?”
“I asked you first.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Evelina whispered,
“You really don't remember?”
Asher's eyebrows pulled together.
“Remember what?”
Her lips parted.
Nothing came out.
She looked as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't bring herself to do it.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“Evelina!”
She turned.
A girl was standing outside.
“Come.”
Evelina didn't move.
The girl frowned.
“Now.”
Evelina looked back at Asher.
For one second, he thought she was finally going to tell him everything.
Instead, she picked up her books and walked away.
Asher watched her disappear down the hallway.
“What the hell was that?”
“Exactly.”
A voice came from behind him.
Asher nearly jumped out of his seat.
“Jesus, Jace!”
Jace was standing behind him.
“When did you come back?”
“I didn't go far.”
“You were listening?”
“Not really.”
Jace paused.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
Asher rolled his eyes.
“Forget it.”
Jace's eyes dropped to the phone in Asher's hand.
“What did she see?”
Asher's expression changed.
“How do you know she saw anything?”
Jace went quiet.
Asher stared at him.
“Jace.”
“Bro…”
“No. Don't ‘bro’ me.”
Asher stepped closer.
“What's going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something.”
Jace looked away.
That was enough.
Asher's voice lowered.
“You know something about her.”
“Leave it alone.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm telling you to.”
Asher gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Since when do you tell me what to do?”
Jace didn't answer.
The joking expression he usually wore was gone.
For the first time that day, Asher wasn't looking at his best friend as the guy who always had a joke ready.
He was looking at someone who was hiding something.
“Jace,” he said quietly. “What happened seven years ago?”
Jace stared at him.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he sighed.
“Something happened to you.”
Asher's face went blank.
“What?”
“Seven years ago.”
“What happened?”
Jace looked toward the classroom door.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“After school.”
“No.”
Asher shook his head.
“You're telling me now.”
“Can you just wait?”
“Jace.”
“Damn it!”
Jace ran a hand through his hair.
“Fine.”
He looked at Asher.
“But there's something you need to promise me.”
Asher crossed his arms.
“What?”
“Don't ask Evelina about it.”
Asher stared at him.
“Why?”
Jace hesitated.
Then he looked straight into Asher's eyes.
“Because if she knows you're starting to remember…”
He stopped.
Asher felt a cold sensation run down his spine.
“Remember what?”
Jace looked away.
For once, he didn't have a joke.
He swallowed.
“That's the thing, Asher.”
He paused.
“You're not supposed to remember anything.”
Asher said nothing.
Jace walked away.
His footsteps slowly disappeared down the hallway.
Asher remained where he was, staring at the door.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
A new message appeared.
DON'T TRUST JACE.
Asher's face went pale.
Before he could respond, another message appeared.
HE WAS THERE THAT NIGHT.
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