Amemoria

Chapter 2: You Found Me

Somehow, when he said we'd be seeing each other a lot, something inside me stirred. I felt strangely nervous, and I couldn't understand why.

He was Zae's guy-or at least, that was what I assumed. So why did the thought of seeing him more often make my heart act this way?

It was as if an invisible force were pulling me toward him, something I couldn't explain no matter how hard I tried.

What is wrong with me?

I shook the thought away. Whatever this was, I needed to ignore it. Stevan was just a guy I'd met today. Nothing more.

Besides, there was something about him that bothered me more than it should have. He looked so familiar, yet I couldn't remember where I'd seen him before. It was frustrating, like trying to recall a dream that slipped away the moment I woke up.

I forced myself to stop thinking about it and returned to the present.

I had more important things to focus on than a boy I barely knew.

I forced a small smile. "Apparently. Let's just hope you're good at planning events."

Stevan chuckled. "I'll try not to disappoint you."

"Good. Because I have very high expectations."

"Should I be worried?"

"Very."

For the first time since he'd walked into the office, I felt a little more at ease. He seemed easy enough to talk to, which was a relief. If I was going to spend the next few weeks planning an entire event with him, the least I could hope for was that we got along.

Ms. Barbara handed me a folder filled with preliminary information about the freshman ball and asked us to begin discussing the arrangements.

I opened it, grateful to have something to focus on besides the boy sitting across from me.

"So," I began, flipping through the pages, "have you helped organize an event like this before?"

"Not exactly."

I looked up. "That's reassuring."

He laughed. "I said not exactly. I've helped with a few things before."

"Then I'll take your word for it."

"You don't trust me?"

"I've known you for approximately five minutes, Stevan."

"Fair enough."

I returned my attention to the folder, but I could still feel his gaze on me.

"What?" I asked without looking up.

"Nothing."

I raised my eyes.

He was smiling faintly, but there was something about his expression that I couldn't quite understand. It wasn't the look of someone meeting a stranger for the first time.

It was almost as if he was remembering something.

And for a moment, I wondered whether he was.

After our brief discussion, I left Ms. Barbara's office and hurried to my remaining classes. Unfortunately, I still had a mountain of schoolwork to get through, and the freshman ball wasn't going to organize itself.

Oh, s**t. I still have to brainstorm the theme and finalize the date with Stevan so we can send out the invitations.

But how was I supposed to contact him? I obviously didn't want to ask for his number. That would be awkward, considering we'd barely spoken for more than a few minutes. Besides, I didn't even know which college building he usually stayed in.

Then, an idea struck me.

Zae!

I'd just ask her to pass along a message. Simple enough.

I pulled out my phone and called her, explaining that I needed Stevan to meet me at the café just outside campus at seven-thirty that evening.

"Please tell me he'll agree," I muttered after ending the call.

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.

Zae: He said yes. See you later!

Perfect.

Now, all I had to do was finish my report and head to the café.

I glanced at my notes, trying my best to focus, but my mind kept wandering back to the freshman ball. There were still so many things to discuss with Stevan, and I needed to get everything sorted out as soon as possible.

By the time our professor finally dismissed us, I was exhausted.

I packed my things and checked my phone.

7:45 PM.

My eyes widened.

"Oh, s**t!"

I had completely lost track of time. I was supposed to meet Stevan at the café at seven-thirty, and it would take me at least fifteen minutes to get there on foot.

Great. Just great.

My first meeting with my assigned partner outside school, and I'm already making a terrible impression.

I hurried out of the classroom, practically running down the hallway.

Please tell me he hasn't left yet.

When I finally arrived at the café, I was breathless. I scanned the tables until I spotted Stevan sitting near the window, his drink resting in front of him.

He was still there.

Relief washed over me as I approached the table, trying to catch my breath.

"You're late," he said.

"I noticed."

He turned toward me, and something in his expression changed. For a moment, he simply stared at me, as though he couldn't quite believe I was standing in front of him.

Then he pulled out the chair across from him.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

I frowned as I sat down. "Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who's late."

He shook his head. "Nothing. Forget it."

I studied his face. There was something strange about the way he looked at me, something I couldn't put into words.

"You look like you're about to cry," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

He let out a weak laugh and looked away. "I'm not."

"Liar."

His smile trembled.

For some reason, my chest tightened. I didn't understand why seeing him like that made me feel as though I had done something wrong. I barely knew this guy. So why did I suddenly want to reach across the table and make whatever was hurting him disappear?

Before I could think better of it, I reached for his hand.

"You found me," I whispered.

The words slipped out before I even realized what I'd said.

Stevan went completely still.

I stared at him, suddenly confused. Why had I said that? It felt like a sentence I'd spoken a hundred times before, a promise buried somewhere deep inside me.

His fingers curled slightly around mine.

For a moment, he looked at me as though he were seeing someone he had spent years searching for.

His eyes glistened.

"Yeah, Ava," he whispered. "I found you." I froze for a second.

His words lingered between us, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. I stared at him, trying to understand why those three words made my heart feel so strange.

Then I gave him an awkward, confused smile and slowly pulled my hand away.

"Right," I murmured, clearing my throat. "Anyway, we should probably talk about the freshman ball."

Stevan blinked, almost as if he had just returned to the present. Then he nodded, a faint smile returning to his face.

"Sure."

I opened my folder and began explaining the ideas I'd been thinking about since Ms. Barbara assigned us to work together.

"I want the theme to be perfect. Something elegant and timeless, like gold. Not too flashy, but still beautiful enough to make the freshmen feel like they're attending something special. Maybe we could use golden fairy lights, white flowers, and simple decorations that make the whole venue look magical."

"Sounds good," he said.

I paused and looked at him.

"That's it?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're just agreeing with everything I say."

"Because your ideas are good."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You can't possibly think every single one of my ideas is good."

"Why not?"

"Because that's not how brainstorming works, Stevan. You're supposed to contribute something, too."

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Okay, then. I think gold and white would look better than using too many colors. We could add a few crystal decorations to make the venue look more elegant without going overboard."

I stared at him for a moment.

"Actually, that's not bad."

"Not bad?" He placed a hand over his chest, pretending to be offended. "I was hoping for at least a little more appreciation."

"Don't push it."

He laughed, and despite myself, I smiled.

Still, something bothered me. I looked down at my notes, tapping my pen against the page.

"Are you sure these ideas are good? I mean, you're agreeing with me so much that I'm starting to doubt whether they're actually any good."

His laughter faded into a softer smile.

"Ava, I wouldn't agree with you if I didn't mean it."

I glanced at him.

"And if I thought something wouldn't work, I'd tell you," he added. "You don't have to doubt yourself just because I'm not arguing with you."

For some reason, his words made me quiet.

I wasn't used to people reassuring me without making me feel like I was being unreasonable. Yet there was something familiar about the way he said it, as though he'd comforted me like this before.

I shook the thought away before it could take hold.

"Fine," I said, returning to my notes. "But from now on, I expect actual opinions from you, not just endless agreement."

He smiled.

"Deal, Miss President."

"And stop calling me that."

"What should I call you, then?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out immediately.

He watched me with an amused expression.

"Thought so, Ace "

I looked up sharply.

"Ace?"

For the briefest moment, his smile faltered.

Then he picked up his drink as if nothing had happened.

"Just a nickname."

I studied him, suspicious all over again.

There was definitely something strange about this boy.

And I was beginning to think that planning the freshman ball with him would be the least complicated part of getting to know him.

We spent the next several minutes finalizing a few details for the event before finally wrapping up our meeting. I gathered my things, ready to leave, when Stevan suddenly spoke.

"Ava, wait."

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow as he reached for his phone.

"Can I have your number?"

I frowned. "Why?"

"So I can contact you directly about the freshman ball." He smiled, looking far too pleased with himself. "It's more convenient to message you than to keep using Zae as a messenger, don't you think?"

I hesitated for a moment before giving him my number.

"Fine. But only message me about the ball."

"Of course, Miss Perfect."

I rolled my eyes. "Good night, Stevan."

"Good night, Ava."

I gave him one last smile before leaving the café. Through the window, I watched him walk toward his car. A moment later, he was gone, leaving me alone with the thoughts I had been trying so hard to ignore.

I shook my head and pulled out my phone, calling Jade before heading toward the bus stop.

"Hey, where are you?" I asked when she answered.

"Just finishing up. Why?"

"Let's go home together. I'll wait for you at the bus stop."

"Okay. Give me a few minutes."

I ended the call and slipped my phone into my bag. Since Jade and I lived in the same neighborhood, going home together had practically become a routine.

I stood at the bus stop, watching the occasional cars pass by as the evening breeze brushed against my skin.

Then, without warning, a sharp pain pierced through my head.

I winced, pressing a hand against my temple.

What was that?

Before I could make sense of it, a high-pitched ringing filled my ears. It grew louder by the second, drowning out the sounds of traffic and the voices around me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to steady myself.

But the pain only worsened.

Something flickered through my mind-a feeling, a fragment, something just beyond my reach.

Then everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was the blinding white light above me.

I blinked several times, disoriented. The steady beeping beside me was unfamiliar, and the sharp scent of antiseptic filled my nose.

I tried to sit up, but my head throbbed in protest.

Where was I?

I turned my head slowly, taking in the white walls, the bedside monitor, and the IV attached to my arm.

A hospital.

Why was I in a hospital?