Chapter SIXTEEN

I was in the guest bedroom later that evening, laying in bed, when my phone buzzed. I had reset some passwords and gotten into some of my accounts, and then spent some time scrolling through photos of people I didn't recognize. I saw my sister, Paige - her Instagram name was Paige_Wallace123. So original. There were photos of her and a cute guy who looked a bit older than her. There was one of her showing off her belly, which definitely held a growing baby.

The buzz was a DM in Instagram, from Tess_the_queen.

OMG Elena, I'm seriously in shock. I mean Its been three days since I talked to you, but that is basically forever. I hope you're feeling better. Your mom said you're staying there a few more days and that you lost parts of your memory in the accident? DM me back or text if you want. My number is 555-9855 if you need it. Love you babe.

The message made me feel strange - that was my best friend was out there, missing me. I hadn't even thought of her once. I didn't know her. I could sort of remember texting someone the night of the wedding, when I was sitting with my feet in the water. When I clicked through into her profile and scrolled through her photos, something happened. The first few were half of her face. Nothing. And then a few of a dog. And then there a group of girls. I realized I was in one of the photos, a girls arms wrapped around my neck. Her. Tess. My best friend. Something about her was familiar, which I knew was a good sign. But I didn't know things about her, like her favourite song or movie, or her last name. If she had a boyfriend or any siblings. I wanted to know these things about her.

Hey. Yes, um, I don't remember anything from before Sunday. So that's weird. I'm hoping things start coming back soon. Can you tell me some things about you? It might help. I might be back on Friday, we will see.  Xoxo Elena.

Just as I hit send, there was a knock on the bedroom door.

I didn't say anything, so the knocking started again. I wanted whoever it was to think I was asleep, but then I remembered that my dad and Jenna had gone to bed early. I knew who it was.

"Yeah?" I finally called out.

The door opened slowly. Mateo poked his head in and my heart beat picked up, as if on cue.

"Hey," he said, his voice quiet.

I knew that my dad's bedroom was on the other side of the house.

"Oh, hi," I answered, pulling up the blanket around my body.

"I didn't know if you were... going to bed, or..."

"Yeah," I said right away. "I guess."

"I was just in my old room, next door... and I was like, about to climb in bed and just check out my phone for a bit-"

"Yeah," I nodded, trying to remain calm. "I was just doing that, too. I got my passwords reset, so I got on Instagram..."

He stepped into the room, shutting the door mostly behind him. My heart starting pounding.

"Oh, that's good. So..." he said, eyeing me carefully.

"I actually had a DM from my, like, best friend. So, I asked her to tell me some stuff that might help me remember, you know?" I explained.

Mateo walked closer to my bed. "Oh, wow. That's great. I hope it helps..."

"It's so crazy. I saw all these photos of my sister. She looks just like my dad. But I just see a girl. She's pregnant."

"Oh, right. You told me that," Mateo answered, nodding.

"I did?"

"Uh, yeah. So, Satuday night... you came to my apartment, after the rehearsal dinner..." He sounded like he didn't want to tell me this. I had no memory of being at his apartment. "We were drinking, and you were sort of telling us about your mom and your sister -"

"Us?" I asked, confused.

"Me and Thatcher. He's my... friend."

Thatcher. That was why that name sounded familiar.

"Okay, so, what did I tell you?" I asked him, wanting more information.

"Oh. It's not really... I don't know if I should..." Now he really looked like he didn't want to tell me.

"Mateo, tell me. Please," I begged, sitting up a bit.

He nodded, sitting on the edge of my bed now. "You said that you and your sister hadn't been talking, all summer. Your mom was obsessing over her and her baby shower and you felt left out, so you were mostly staying at your friend's-"

"Tess?" I interrupted.

"Yeah."

I sighed, keeping my eyes on him. "I didn't know my relationship with my mom and sister was... so fucked up," I admitted.

Mateo looked like he knew he'd made a mistake. "Oh, uh, you were just venting, you know."

"Yeah..."

"Elena, I'm sorry," he finally said, moving closer again. Not too close.

"No, don't be. You're helping me figure this all out. Sort of." I smiled at him.

"Can I... tell you something?" he asked, not looking away.

"Yeah, of course."

"I know this is fucked up... but I like that you remember me." He looked embarrassed as soon as he said it.

"I like that, too," I told him. "We're friends, right?"

I could see the color drain from his face. "Uh, yeah, we are."

I burst out laughing. "Okay, sure."

"What?"

"Mateo, I remember the night of the wedding. I remember laying in the sand with you. I remember telling you to go home in the morning, even though I wanted to you..."

He took in a quick breath. "What?"

"Hug me, longer. Be with me. I thought going back to my dad's house that morning was doing the right thing, and then -" I told him, feeling overwhelmed suddenly.

"I didn't know that you remembered all of that," he admitted. "I thought I was totally over here feeling these things for you... and you were..."

"I'm scared," I said instead of agreeing with him. He moved closer, and then grabbed my hand. He linked his fingers into mine, that same way he did when we were on the beach. "I remember the wedding, somewhat. I remember being with you after that. And the morning. But everything else before that is... it's like there's nothing... before you."

Mateo looked scared too, then, and I wasn't sure why. But he smiled and squeezed my hand, and it made me feel better. I was just glad he was there, even though I didn't know what tomorrow would hold.