Chapter 14: "What We Remember"
1746 Words
Erika felt as if her head were splitting open, like a hammer had cracked her skull in two. Her eyes fluttered open, immediately assaulted by the soft but steady thudding of footsteps downstairs, the clang of kitchen utensils, voices rising in hushed but frantic tones. What time was it? How long had she been asleep?
She tried to lift herself but froze when she felt a heavy weight against her—an arm draped casually over her bare waist. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned her head and found herself staring at Alex’s sleeping face, his features soft, peaceful, and terrifyingly close. Her gaze dropped to where their bodies tangled beneath the blanket, to the unmistakable warmth of skin against skin.
Oh my God.
She wanted to scream, but panic seized her vocal cords. The footsteps downstairs grew louder. Her parents were back. Her parents are here.
Without thinking, she shoved Alex’s arm off her and shook him urgently. “Alex. Alex, wake up!” she whispered through gritted teeth, panic laced in every word.
“Mmm…” he groaned, then wrapped his arm more tightly around her waist like she was his personal pillow. “Five more minutes…”
“Alex!” she hissed, pushing against his chest. “This is not a dream, you i***t. Wake up! Now!”
His eyes blinked open, bleary and unfocused. And then, slowly, he registered their position—his eyes widened, and he sat up, the blanket falling slightly to reveal more bare skin than Erika wanted to see again so soon.
“What the hell—” he muttered, raking his fingers through his hair. “Oh. Right.”
“Right? Right?!” Erika scrambled for the blanket, pulling it around her like armor. “What happened last night?”
Bits and pieces danced through her pounding skull like ghosts. The dancing. The club. The alcohol. The confrontation with Lance. Alex… bringing her home. His strong arms carrying her. The bath. The kiss… and then another kiss…
“Oh my God,” she breathed, covering her face with her hands. “Why do I remember that? I shouldn’t remember any of that!”
A loud bang! interrupted her spiraling thoughts. The bedroom door slammed open.
“DIOS MIO!” shrieked her grandmother, her voice piercing enough to make both of them jump. Her face was a mask of horror and drama, her hand flying to her chest like she was seconds away from fainting.
Erika wished the earth would open up and swallow her whole. Or, at the very least, turn her into an ant so she could scurry away unnoticed.
“Erika! What have you done?!” her grandmother cried, stepping back into the hallway to call for reinforcements. Erika heard her father’s voice echoing from below like a death knell.
“You two better have a damn good explanation when you come out!”
Erika clutched her pounding head. Her thoughts refused to organize themselves. Nothing made sense. Her body didn’t ache—at least not in a way that suggested they’d… gone all the way. There were no red stains. No bruises. Nothing that confirmed the worst. And yet—
I remember… crying out in ecstasy before everything faded to black. Her face flushed scarlet. That memory alone made her want to fling herself out the window. What am I supposed to say? That I passed out from pleasure and woke up naked with my best friend?
God, what a mess.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Alex walked out, fully dressed. She nearly cried in relief when she saw he wasn’t as disheveled as she felt.
“Pepper,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “You really don’t remember anything?”
She couldn’t meet his gaze. “Bits and pieces,” she muttered, trying to hide the heat crawling up her neck. Her lips still tingled. Her skin remembered his touch even if her mind refused to piece it together fully. “Why did I say such bold things to you? I kissed you. God, I kissed you for real.”
She buried her face in her hands again.
“I liked it,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with something soft—almost reverent.
She froze. Her pulse spiked. What are you doing, Alex?
“Why can’t you look at me?” he asked. “Are you… ashamed of me?”
“No!” she said too quickly, then faltered. “I’m just… I’m overwhelmed, okay? We were naked, Alex! Naked! How am I supposed to feel?”
“We were naked,” he agreed, lips twitching with something resembling a smirk. “But nothing happened, Pepper. I swear.”
Her eyes snapped to his. Nothing happened? Her stomach twisted. Was that disappointment? Or relief? She didn’t know anymore.
“Really? You’re just gonna pretend that all those kisses meant nothing?” she asked, voice cracking.
“I’m not pretending anything,” he replied. “But you said you don’t remember. So I’m trying to spare you.”
She hated that he was being so gentle when she was losing her mind. She hated that she couldn’t stop thinking about the way he touched her, the heat in his gaze, the way her name sounded when he whispered it like a promise.
And most of all, she hated that even now, she wanted him to kiss her again.
“I just don’t want things to change between us,” he said, stepping closer. “I don’t want you to avoid me. I don’t want you to stop looking at me.”
Her heart squeezed. Don’t say things like that, Alex. Don’t give me hope unless you mean it.
“How can you be worrying about that right now?” she deflected. “Do you understand what’s about to happen? We’re both dead. My parents are downstairs probably sharpening knives.”
Alex gave her a half-smile, brushing her hair from her cheek. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”
“And if we’re not?” she asked, breath trembling.
“Then we face the consequences together,” he said simply. “If it comes down to it… I’ll take responsibility.”
She blinked. “Responsibility? What does that even mean?”
He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know. Whatever your parents demand. Even if it’s…”
“Marriage?” she choked out, staring at him.
His gaze didn’t waver. “Yeah.”
She couldn’t breathe.
“But don’t look at me like that,” he added quickly. “I’m not saying we have to get married. I’m just saying… I’ll stand by you, whatever happens. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her heart leapt. She wanted to throw herself into his arms. But instead, she whispered, “That’s not something you say lightly, Alex.”
“I’m not saying it lightly,” he replied. “I mean it.”
She turned away before he could see the emotion flooding her face. Her mind raced. If they got engaged, her parents couldn’t send Alex away. Uncle Jordan wouldn’t be able to take him from her.
This could change everything.
“We’ll tell them nothing happened,” Alex said.
“They won’t believe that,” she said, nearly laughing. “We were found naked in bed, Alex.”
“Then we tell the truth,” he said. “Or whatever version that won’t get me murdered.”
“You’re not helping,” she muttered.
He chuckled and pinched her nose, making her yelp. “Stop chewing your lips, or I might not be able to stop myself.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
He leaned in, eyes glinting. “One of these days… I’m going to help you remember everything. Step by step.”
Her heart nearly stopped. “Tell me now,” she breathed.
He paused for only a moment before he kissed her—softly, then deeply. Her toes curled. Her hands clutched the blanket, her body melting into his. She forgot the panic. Forgot the house. Forgot the world. All she could feel was him.
A knock shattered the moment.
“Come out now, you two!”
They broke apart, breathless. He smiled, brushing his thumb over her lips. “Do you remember now?”
Her cheeks burned. She pushed his hand away. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He laughed, then squeezed her hand. “We’ve got this, Pepper.”
“I’ll go first,” she said, trying to sound confident even as her legs threatened to give out beneath her.
When they descended the stairs, the tension in the room could’ve sliced through glass. Her father stood at the bottom like a military general. Her mother wrung her hands, eyes wide and teary. Her grandparents sat off to the side, whispering to each other like co-conspirators in some ridiculous telenovela.
Alex stood beside her, tall and unflinching.
Erika watched him, admiration flaring in her chest. He didn’t waver even when her father’s voice boomed, even when her mother gasped, even when accusations flew like daggers.
“We were drinking,” Alex said calmly. “She was upset. I brought her home. She threw up so we had to take off our clothes but nothing happened.”
“You expect us to believe that?!” her father barked.
“Yes,” Alex said firmly. “Because it’s the truth.”
Erika swallowed. Her fingers trembled at her sides. She couldn’t speak. Not yet. Not while her father glared at Alex like he wanted to punch him straight into next week.
Then came the question.
“Erika, speak up. Did something happen or not?”
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her head dipped. She couldn’t look at anyone.
“Pepper,” Alex said gently. “Tell them.”
But still, she remained silent.
“I see,” her father said coldly. “You, young man, bring your parents here. Tonight.”
Erika looked up. Alex’s face was pale, jaw clenched tight. His expression was unreadable, but in his eyes—she saw it.
Betrayal.
She wanted to scream. I’m not using you, Alex. I’m trying to save us. But no sound left her lips.
As he walked away, his back stiff with hurt, she stood frozen, heart cracking. She would explain later. She had to.
But deep down, she feared it might already be too late.
- Writer
