Chapter 55

MELANIE.

THE WEIGHT ON MY CHEST REFUSED TO GO AWAY.

Just when you think you've experienced all the kinds of pain there are and nothing can surprise you, the universe throws something new your way.

It just goes to show that you should never underestimate the ability of life to bitch slap you. Somehow, it all came back to Cadell. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't feel this way. I wouldn't even be here. If I'd ever had any doubts about my revenge plan, they were erased in that moment.

I stared at Blaine as he kept looking at me with that blank expression, desperate for him to recall even a tidbit about me. When he'd first asked who I was I thought he was pulling some kind of sick joke, but it quickly became clear that he wasn't going to suddenly smile and pull me in for a hug.

I don't even know which hurt worse, that he'd forgotten me or that I was the only one who he'd forgotten. It was a toxic thought, but one I couldn't help having. He interrupted my thinking by clearing his throat and giving me another one of those polite smiles I was quickly growing to hate.

“Um, excuse me miss.. Sorry what's your name?” he asked, driving the knife further into my chest.

“It's Melanie” I replied with a polite smile of my own.

He tilted his head to his side as he tested out the name, narrowing his eyes as if trying to puzzle something out “It’s the weirdest thing.

I feel like I know you but at the same time it feels like you're a stranger” he finally said “Pardon me if I come off as presumptuous, but what were we before...?” he asked.

I was about to answer then I paused with my mouth halfway open, realizing I didn't have a ready answer.

What were we? He'd liked me, and I liked him too, but we'd just been going with the flow and seeing where it led, not anything official. I noticed both he and Jordan were watching me intently so I spoke up “We were...really good friends. The best. We used to go to work together and everything” I said, fighting hard to keep any quivers out of my voice.

Jordan let out a small sound but when I looked over at him he was staring in another direction.

“There was a slight pause when you said that. We were more than friends, weren't we?” Blaine asked, his shrewd gaze still focused on me.

When I didn't answer- for lack of what to say, I swear- a wide grin broke out on his face “Yes” he whisper yelled with a small fist bump. My thoughts were now running along the lines of ‘What is going on? Why is he suddenly so happy’ when he slapped Jordan on the arm and said “I told you I'd get a super beautiful girlfriend before you did.”

Oh. Oh no. No no no. I opened my mouth again to correct him but Jordan silenced me with his eyes as he replied Blaine “You did, and I believe I replied that you were more likely to anyway.” Anxiety took the forefront of my emotions now. I couldn't lie to Blaine, especially about something like this, especially when he was this impressionable, like a baby.

When Blaine looked at me again, there was a lot more than just polite interest in his eyes. He looked almost sorrowful, even. He gestured for me to come closer and I did so tentatively. When I reached his bedside he pulled me down and wrapped me in a hug.

It was warm and familiar but also jarringly strange at the same time; instead of the chocolate musk I was used to inhaling whenever we hugged there was only the smell of industrial detergent and hospital. I hugged him back as my eyes met with Jordan's green ones over Blaine's shoulder and I raised a brow.

He understood what I'd implied and gave a slight shake of his head, communicating that this wasn't the time and we'd talk about it later. Or at least that's what I think he meant.

Blaine pulled back and looked me in the eyes as he brushed back a lock of my hair.

“I’m really sorry I forgot you. If we're together I feel like I should be cherishing our memories but instead I let them get wiped out” he said with a small frown on his face. Great, another brick of guilt to add to the stack I was already carrying. I'd made him feel like he was less than perfect, which he wasn't.

I placed my hands on his shoulders “Look, whatever happened isn't your fault. You shouldn't blame yourself” I said. The movement of my arms made my sleeves slip back and Blaine's eyes caught a line of stitches.

“What’s that?” he asked and I swallowed. I'd worn long sleeves to prevent him from seeing my numerous stitches in the event that he woke up so as not to distress him. It seemed like a lot was going wrong today.

“It’s nothing” I answered, fixing the offending sleeve back into place. He gently but firmly grabbed my arm and carefully pushed my sleeve up all the way to my forearm, revealing the lines of stitches along my arm. He sucked in a breath and tensed and I kicked myself mentally for making him worry about me when he had enough on his plate as if it was.

He took my other arm and did the same thing “Oh Melanie. What happened to you?” he asked on a heavy sigh. Before I could reply his gaze whipped up to meet mine.

“Wait. You were there too?” I nodded “What actually happened?”

I moistened my lips and looked at Jordan but he wasn't looking at us. I took it for consent and answered.

“We...We went on a date that night then, as we were walking down to get dessert, we were ambushed and kidnapped. Some guy wanted Jordan to give him half of Sunset and he figured he would do that if he took us. We were in there for about three days, you were electrocuted and I was tortured before Jordan got us out” I summarized, leaving out the part where I'd stabbed our kidnapper until he looked like a colander with the dagger he'd passed to me.

When I finished, he said nothing. Still holding my hands, he leaned down and placed soft kisses beside all the stitches he could reach. My skin tingled and the butterflies in my stomach stirred. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. It must have been difficult for you” Blaine said.

I was about to shrug and say something about how it wasn't my first time but then I realised that if he'd forgotten about me then he'd forgotten all about my past too.

All he knew about me was that I worked with him and I was his ‘girlfriend.’

This was getting too much for me. I pulled my arms back gently and stood up as I shook my sleeves back into place.

They both looked at me and I made sure to keep the turmoil out of my face “Uh. I need to go ask the doctor some questions. I'll be back in a bit.” With that I escaped from the room and walked quickly until I found a visitors lounge.

I opened the door and after making sure nobody was inside I stepped in and closed it behind me before sliding to the floor and covering my face.