The past week had been amazing, now that Ro had her memory back. It was as if even though I’d had her back physically, she hadn't really come back to me until her memories had come back. Now, when I looked at her, that knowing glint was in her eyes once again. We were back to normal. I could communicate with her with a simple glance, even over video chat, and she could now actually remember all of our inside jokes and secret code words we’d made up over the years. She still had a few odd gaps in her memory- she couldn’t remember our twelfth birthday party, or the time when Mom had been really sick with a cold and we had mixed a bunch of different types of tea together and called it our ‘special remedy’- but at least she had most of it.

“Ro, you’re barely even paying attention to me,” I complained as I watched her walk back and forth across her room at the Thomas’s house. “I have been basically just lying in bed for three weeks and the least you could do is act as if you actually care about what it is I’m saying.”

She flopped down onto her bed in front of the laptop that she had borrowed from Mrs. Thomas to call me on.

“Yes, my wonderful twin brother? You have my undivided attention,” she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

I rolled my eyes at her. “Mom and Dad want you to call them. They feel like you have barely spoken to them in days.”

“What? I call them every single day at four. I talked to them earlier this afternoon,” she defended.

“They say that the four o’clock call doesn’t count. They want to have a real conversation with you, and not just hear about how you’re doing through me,” I explained.

Ro let out a laugh. “Well fine, but it isn’t going to be tonight. I have somewhere to be.”

“Oh yeah, it’s the end of the week. You have that Welcoming Fair thing, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. Braum asked me to go over early to help out with the set up as well,” Ro told me.

“And I assume that Ket, Cris and Josey are meeting you there?” I guessed.

Ro shrugged. “I’m not really sure, to be honest. Things have been kind of awkward for the past week, and no one will even tell me why. Josey has been strangely quiet, whereas Cris just talks and talks and talks all throughout lunch as if she’s afraid of what will happen if there’s a lull in conversation. Ket just sits there smirking as if he knows exactly what is going on, but refuses to interject.”

“Oh. . . well, what about that Jackson guy? Do you think he’ll be there? If he is, then maybe you just shouldn’t go,” I suggested.

“I’ll be fine,” she reassured me. “Besides, I’ll have Ket and Braum there. They’ll watch out for me.”

“Okay, if you say so. . .” I trailed off.

“Anyways, I should go, because I still have to get ready.”

“Alright, go have fun, Kiddo. I’ll just chill here, like always. I’m healing fast, though. I’ll be back in a month,” I reassured her.

Ro rolled her eyes. “The doctors said three to six months, not two.”

“I’ll be home in a month,” I repeated firmly. “By the way, have you noticed the date?”

“Yeah, I know, tomorrow is the 23rd. . . we’re going to be 18,” she wiggled her eyebrows.

“Are you doing anything to celebrate?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. It’s not like I’m going to demand that the Thomas’s do something to celebrate my birthday. That would be rude. Maybe I’ll just see if Cris, Josey and Ket want to hang out.”

“Well, they should throw you a huge party. You’re worth it and they are lucky to have you in their presence,” I insisted with a grin.

“Okay, whatever you say. For now, though, I really need to go. Love you,” she smiled.

“Love you too,” I replied. 

*-*-*

“Kendra?” I called out after ending the video chat with Reed.

I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen. I could see Kendra sitting on the couch in the living room, Jarod beside her. Jarod had been around a lot more lately, ever since taking on the new shift with more regular hours. He and Ket had even gone out for ‘guys night’ on Wednesday. Ket expected Jarod to make up for years of neglect, and Jarod was willing to do just that. He wanted so badly to be a good father that Ket could start looking up to once more.

“Kendra?’ I called softly as I walked into the living room.

“Ro! Jarod and I were just talking about you. I understand that it’s your birthday tomorrow? Well, we were thinking that the family could all go out for dinner to celebrate. You can think about where you want to go tonight, and then let us know tomorrow. Sound good?” Kendra questioned.

I blushed. “Oh, you really don’t have to do anything. . .”

“We insist,” Kendra interrupted with the wave of her hand. “But, sorry, were you going to ask something when you first came in?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I can’t figure out what to wear to the fair tonight. I was hoping you could help me?”

Kendra grinned. “Of course!”

She jumped off of the couch, gave Jarod a quick kiss on the forehead, and then grabbed my hand and rushed me out of the room. I nearly tripped as she ran me up the stairs, but I just laughed at her enthusiasm. She rushed me past Ket’s room and to my surprise, the faint sound of the piano leaked out under the door. I shouldn’t have been surprised, as I already knew that Ket played, but it still seemed so strange to me.

“So, I’m thinking that we go with those cute black jeggings we bought you and that purple off the shoulder shirt. What do you think?” Kendra suggested.

“I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking you!” I laughed.

She nodded. “Good point. Well, find both those items and then go put them on. What time do you have to leave?”

I shrugged. “Braum is coming to pick me up.”

Kendra was silent for a moment. “Ro. . . are you and Officer Mills seeing each other?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Um, no, we’re not. He’s just a really good friend who helped me through a rough time.”

“Oh okay. I mean, I’m not saying that there would be anything wrong if you were seeing Braum. You’re almost eighteen and old enough to make those decisions- as long as your parents are okay with it, of course- but I just. . . well, you may want to make sure that Braum knows that that’s all you are.”

I blinked. “You think he thinks there’s something else going on?”

Kendra gave me a small, apologetic smile. “I just think that you should make absolutely sure that you’re both on the same page.”

I bit my lip. “I’m sure he knows we’re just friends. . . Anyway, I’m going to go try this on.”

I rushed out of the room and towards the bathroom. I probably could have just stayed and changed in my room, but I felt the need to get out for a minute. I’d never even considered the fact that Braum might think that what we had was more than friendship. I’d always seen him as the strong, goofy cop and the idea of him possibly liking me seemed crazy. I was just some forgetful kid. I closed the bathroom door and quickly began changing. I could still faintly hear whatever Ket was playing in his room. I didn’t recognize the song at all, but whatever it was was beautiful. 

“Ro, Braum is here!” I heard Jarod call.

I sighed, quickly checked how I looked in the mirror, and then exited the bathroom. 

“You look wonderful,” Kendra, who was waiting outside the bathroom, commented.

“Thank you,” I grinned.

I turned and headed down the stairs, Ket’s beautiful music fading as I went. Braum was waiting at the front door in full uniform. 

“Hey, Ro,” he greeted with a smile. 

“Hey, Braum. Let’s go set up a fair, yeah?” I replied.

He nodded. “Good idea. See you later, Dr. Thomas.”

Jarod gave him a nod and me a smile as Braum and I left. Braum led me out to the car and even held my door open for me. 

“Thanks,” I smiled.

“So Ro,” Braum began as he slid into the car beside me. “It’s your birthday tomorrow.”

I nodded. “I know. I do have my memory back now, remember?”

He grinned and rolled his eyes. “I know that. What I’m wondering is if you have any plans? I was thinking we could hang out.”

I smiled. “Well, I think that the Thomas’s and I are going out for dinner, and I should probably try to spend some time video chatting my family, but other than that, I should be free at some point tomorrow.”

He raised an eyebrow, letting out a laugh. “I’m so glad you’re considering fitting me into your busy schedule. I feel honoured.”

“Yeah, well, what can I say: I’m popular,” I joked.

“So, eighteen, huh? You’re going to finally be an adult, Kid.”

I laughed. “You’re, what, 21? You’re not that much older than me and you can’t call me ‘kid’.”

“Actually,” Braum corrected. “I’m 22.”

“Still.”

Braum smiled. “Well, I apologize.”

He pulled the car into the school parking lot. Already, there were fair booths and games set up all over the football field. People ran back and forth carrying boxes, wheeling barbecues over to the food stand and bringing decorations for people to spice up their booths with.

“Oh my god, this is crazy,” I commented as I stepped out of the car and shut the door behind me.

“Just a little,” Braum laughed. “Alright, we’re headed to the security tent.”

I tried to keep up with Braum as he weaved his way through the maze that was the fair. It seemed that everyone was shouting, each person trying to overpower the next so that they could be heard, causing the whole fair to be raucous and loud already. The security tent had men dressed in uniform coming in and out in a steady stream, all obviously already knowing where they were headed. 

“Braum! Ro!” 

I grinned. “Bellmont! How are you?”

He stood at the door to the tent, smiling. 

“I’m doing well. It’s great to see you. I hear you have your memories back,” he commented.

I nodded. “I do. Well, most of them.”

“That’s amazing,” Bellmont exclaimed. “Dr. Thomas is incredible.”

“Actually, Dr. Thomas wasn’t the one who got the memories back for me, but, he is an incredible man for taking me in and dealing with me for the past two months.”

Bellmont let out a laugh. “I can’t see you being too much trouble.”

“Well, thanks, I think,” I replied.

Braum grabbed my hand and pulled me into the tent.

“We should probably go check in,” he said to Bellmont and I.

“Wait,” Bellmont called. “You may not want to go in ye-”

As soon as Braum pulled me into the tent, I wished he hadn’t. A woman stood in the centre of the room with a red face and a clipboard clenched in her hands. Most of the officers who were standing around were around the same age as Braum and almost all of them seemed to be laughing at the woman.

“And who are you?” the woman asked upon spotting Braum and I.

“Officer Mills,” Braum introduced, while at the same time I said, “Ro Gessman.”

“You are perfect! Will you work the kissing booth?” she questioned.

Braum and I looked at each other. 

“Which one of us?” Braum asked.

“Both of you, of course. We can’t just have a guy, or just have a girl,” the woman replied.

“Ma’am, with all do respect, I’m an officer of the law, and it would be completely inappropriate for me to be running a kissing booth,” Braum said sternly.

“What are you talking about? As far as I see it, you’re a young, good looking man in a uniform, and you’re going to make us a lot of money through that booth. I mean- Ro, was it- back me up here. You’d pay to kiss him, right? He’s hot!”

I bit my lip and averted my eyes from Braum, trying to look anywhere but at him. “I, well, I-”

“Oh, I’d definitely pay to kiss him. Go for it Braum. It sounds like so much fun,” Bellmont cut in sarcastically, sparing me from having to answer.

“Great! You’ll do it then,” the woman stated. 

Then, she grabbed my hand and turned on her heel. “Follow me to the booth.”

I gave Braum a panicked look as the woman dragged me from the tent. He just shrugged before following. The woman weaved us through the crowd, chattering away.

“My name is Samantha and I will be your supervisor. If you have any problems throughout the night, you will come to me. I trust that if you have any serious problems- as you are an officer of the law, Officer Mills- you will be able to deal with them. Now, here’s your booth. You will stay at the booth until eight. At eight you will be allowed a half hour break. Make sure you put the ‘back at eight thirty’ sign on the counter of the booth before leaving. You will arrive back at the booth no later than eight thirty. You will then work until ten when the fair closes. You will clean up your booth, and then you will be allowed to go home. We have a separate team who will be taking down the rides and booths and cleaning the field, so you don’t have to worry about doing that.”

Braum and I exchanged a glance. The kissing booth was covered in gaudy, sparkly decorations. Two uncomfortable looking plastic chairs sat behind the counter, and a cash box sat on top.

“Well, have fun, kids. It’s one dollar per kiss.”

Then, she turned on her heel and walked away.

“Gee, and here I thought I was worth at least ten dollars. . .” Braum grumbled.

“I fell like a prostitute,” I commented.

Braum choked on a laugh and gave me an incredulous look.

I blushed. “Was that my out loud voice? Sorry.”

“Well, let’s get set up, I guess.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

*-*-*

My hands flew across the keys of the piano as I practised the song I had spent the past week writing for Ro. Josey had gotten upset by talking about Cris and had decided he needed more food- as if he hadn’t already eaten enough. I had poured all of my pent up feelings into the piece; how sorry I was for hating her at first, how grateful I was that she had tried so hard to fix things between me and how I felt every time I saw her. Most of all, though, the song was about how scared I was that now that she had her memories of her old life back, that she would forget about the one she had built here; that she would forget me.

My plan was to give her the song for her birthday. I was going to go to the fair, hang out with her if I could, ask her to come with Josey, Cris and I to get ice cream afterwards- as was our tradition- and then play the song for her at midnight when it was finally officially her birthday.

I ran my hands through my hair once I finished playing, and let out a sigh. I just wasn’t really sure what I was going to do once I played the song for her, or what it even meant that I had written it for her in the first place.

“Yo, Ket.”

I jumped at turned to look at Josey. He now had a bowl of ice cream in his hand that was already almost empty.

“You ready to go?” Josey questioned.

I nodded. “Yeah. I assume Cris is meeting us there.”

Josey sighed, looking nervous. “Yeah, she is.”

“Okay, let’s go. Try not to be too awkward around Cris, and if you get a chance, try talking to her about it. You can’t avoid it forever. Also- as she is my best friend, I have to say this- if you break her heart, I’ll break your neck, but if she breaks yours, know that I’m here for you, man.”

“That was both scary and kind. Classic Ket. Let’s go.”