Jessie Grace's POV

Winter again... almost a year since Ashton and I became Ashton and I. That seemed crazy; how was I already a sophmore?

It was Saturday night. Ashton was supposed to be on his way over, but he was running late. Really, really late. And without any explanation at all.

I tried calling him one more time, but I got the same respone. "Hey, this is Ashton Cane. Can't take your call- leave a message!"

"Ugh!" I sighed, throwing the phone on the sofa. Popcorn was all set out, a movie on the TV, my family gone.... the one night Ashton bails on me, I'm all prepared? Really?!

But then again, he never bailed on me like that. Ever. So of course, me being the impulsive Jessie Grace I am, I walk down to his house. The cold whipped against my face, and snow sprinkled on my nose. Christmas lights lit my way, but I could've done it with my eyes closed.

As I arrived, I saw Mrs. Cane screaming at Riley and Aidan to get in the car. Mr. Cane was beeping the horn like crazy.

"Riley?" I screamed over the horn. "Where's Ashton?" Her face turned white as a ghost when she saw it was me.

"Oh, Jessie-"

"Riley, let's go!" Mr. Cane said.

"Just come with us, Jessie. He'll need you." Mrs. Cane said, shoving me in the backseat beside Riley.

I don't think Mr. Cane lifted his foot off the accelerator the entire drive. Everyone was silent, so I avoided the billions of questions swirling around my mind. Something terrible had happened, I could sense that much, but of what nature, and how it involved Ashton I wasn't sure. Not when we pulled into the hospital parking lot, not when we rushed through the front doors to the front desk, not when we were escorted to his room. Not until the doctor told us exactly what happened.

"He's unconscious for now, but he should be waking up shortly if his surgery goes to plan. The car's impact his on the left hand side, the driver's side, resulting in him getting a concussion, broken leg, and a large gash on his side. We think he has s few broken ribs as well."

I still hadn't processed anything when Riley ushered me into the room where Ashton had just woken up. He smiled as his mom ran over to him, and as his dad sat down next to him. Once they left the room, and it was just us, his face turned into a confused one. 

"I'm really sorry," He said, clearing his throat. "But, do I know you?"

The world stopped when Ashton said that. Does he know me? Of course he knows me! I'm his girlfriend. His words replayed in my mind, each time like a bullet to the heart. Tears poured out of my eyes. 

"It's me, Ashton!" I sobbed. "It's- it's Jessie..." 

"Are we related?" Ashton's eyes studied me the way he studied his soccer playbook. Analytically and business-like. Non-passionate. 

"I'm your girlfriend, Ashton!" I ran to his bedside, sitting next to him. "We've been dating for almost a year. If you don't remember me, I'll- I'll make you remember."

Ashton slowly moved away from me, looking slightly disturbed. "LIsten, I don't know who you are, so until I do... why don't we stop whatever we had?"

Riley had to drag me out. She gave Ashton a look that was reciprocated by Ashton's 'pang-of-guilt' face. I couldn't stop crying.  Blackness started to shade my vision, and before I knew it, I was splattered across the floor.

"How does he know all of you, but not me?" I cried. It had been an hour since I'd blacked out.

"I don't know, Jessie," Riley said, her voice cutting into mine. "But it's not his fault." 

I grabbed my jacket, zipping it up, and I headed for the elevator. "I'm going home, RIley... don't call." 

I had to force myself into that elevator, force myself away from him. I could've made him remember me, I  was sure of it. But he ended everything before I had the chance. There goes my perfect year, my perfect boyfriend, my perfect me. Just when things went right for me, he swooped in and ruined it. 

Sure, it's not his fault. Sure, it's the amnesia's fault. Percy remebered Annabeth when he forgot everything else. Ashton wasn't that good. He forgot me when he remembered everything else. 

"Are you okay?" Karrie asked me when I walked through the front door. Concern spread across her face. She hastily put down her phone and rushed to me, wrapping me in a hug before she even knew what had happened. 

"Ashton-" She didn't let me talk until I'd had a bowl of ice cream and a bottle of Coke, showered, and taken a run. It really did feel better, taking a run, releasing the endorphins, but when I ran by Ashton's dark, empty house, I started crying again. I let myself walk home, fingers frozen. Ashton should've been next to me, the way he had last time, the very first time. 

"Do you feel any better?" Karrie asked. I shook my head. "Well, let it all out."

So I told her. Every detail of every scene that had played out. She listened, not speaking at all, because Karrie always listened, even if she didn't want to. 

She reached for my hand halfway through, squeezing it. By the end, tears had formed in my eyes, and I was all choked up. 

"I'm so, so sorry Jessie," She said, hugging me one last time.

"Thanks," I smiled weakly, but her sorry wasn't what I needed. I needed Ashton's.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys... So, this chapter made me tear up because JASHTON. Or whatever you want to call them. Either way, they were adorable for the year we spent with them!!

I'll make this brief:

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: Should Jessie and Ashton get back together? If so, how?

XO

~PercyAnnabeth20owl