Chapter 21

After a whole day of making out, messing around, staying in pjs, or half naked, we finally went back downstairs to find some dinner. It felt like days since we'd had breakfast together, and yet also like the day had passed in a blink of an eye. 

   I had just put a frozen pizza in the oven when the doorbell rang. I was in underwear a t-shirt, that was Mateo's. He was in sweatpants only. We looked at each other quickly.

   "I'll see who it is," he said, crossing the room.

   I nodded, then set the timer for the pizza before running upstairs to put on some pants. I brushed my messy hair and pulled on some leggings before going back down, slowly.

   At first, I didn't hear anything. But once I was back in the kitchen, I heard voices.

   "Uh, yeah. We just started some food..." Mateo was saying. "Why didn't you text?"

   "Dude, I did. A few times. Plus, your mom said we were welcome anytime this week," a voice replied.

   "Yeah. I know," Mateo answered.

   I stepped into the living room, seeing who was there with Mateo. A small, red haired girl who looked around my age. She smiled at me. A short guy with glasses and dark, sort of shaggy hair. He looked familiar.

   "Hey, Elena," the guy said, seeing me. Mateo turned towards me. "Sorry to hear about the accident. That's crazy."

   "Thatch, she doesn't remember you," Mateo said quickly. "I mean, she doesn't remember much from before Monday."

   "Yeah, that's crazy," the girl said.

   "Yeah," I agreed, but then had a sudden sharp pain in my head, behind my eyes. I shut them, taking in a breath.

   "I found some beers," Thatcher said, coming back from the kitchen. Where was I?

   I took one from him, chugging it back quickly. I was already drunk, but drinking more seemed like a good idea. I was dizzy, so I fell back onto the couch, laughing.

   "You okay?" Thatcher asked me, drinking his beer.

   "Yeaaaah. I'm goooood," I answered. I felt really good.

   But why was I drunk, with Thatcher? Where was Mateo?

   "You're really pretty, Elena," he said, his voice slurred. "Like, really, really pretty."

   "Thanks," I said, laughing again.

   I was drinking another beer. Where did that come from? And then we were kissing.

   Oh my God. That was a memory. I'd been drinking with Thatcher. But when, and where? He had a girlfriend, I knew that. What was happening?

   "You okay, Elena?" Mateo asked me now, looking worried.

   "Uh, yeah," I said quickly. "Just a bit of a headache."

   I turned and went back into the kitchen, breathing heavy. Did Mateo know what I had done with Thatcher? He hadn't said anything about that.

   I checked on the pizza. My stomach growled but I also felt like throwing up. Now, I had to tell Mateo that my memory was coming back. When the timer beeped, I put on the oven mitt and pulled out the pizza, just as Mateo came into the kitchen.

   "Hey." His voice was calm.

   I wished I was calm. I was not, at all. "Hi."

   "I can get some drinks... I think there's beer in the garage-"

   "Yeah, okay," I nodded.

   "Hey... are you okay with my friends here?" he asked, looking at me funny now.

   "Why wouldn't I be?" I asked.

   "You're acting weird."

   "My head hurts and I'm hungry," I said plainly, turning away from him.

   He hesitated, but then said, "Okay."

   When the pizza cooled down, I sliced it up and brought it out to the living room on a big plate. There, the three of them were drinking beers, sitting on the couches, talking. My heading was pounding now, as I placed the plate on the coffee table and picked up a piece. I sat beside Mateo, but not close.

   "That smell amazing," Thatcher said to me, reaching for a piece.

   I smiled and then ate the piece in my hand. Before it was done, I had to shut my eyes again, as another sharp pain hit. If getting my memories back was this painful, I didn't want them.

   "How'd you sleep?" Mateo asked, from the kitchen.

   We were in his apartment? I was at the door, trying to leave. I'd just put on my shoes. 

  "Oh, fine," I told him. He felt like a stranger.

   But it wasn't fine. I'd woken up in Thatcher's bed, in my underwear.

  "See you later?" Mateo asked, smiling at me.

   I  nodded and turned away, to get out of there.

  "Elena, you want to go lay down or something?" Mateo asked me, now. I must have been spacing out.

  I opened my eyes again, seeing that he was close to me. His hand was on my leg. I looked and saw that Thatcher was watching this. Georgia, his girlfriend, was looking at her phone.

  "I'm fine," I told Mateo, shaking my head.

  He leaned in closer to whisper, "It's okay, you can go rest."

  "No," I said, annoyed. "I'm okay."

  Now that I knew that memories were coming back, I was afraid of them. I didn't want to be alone. I didn't know what else I might find out.

   The four of us sat there, though I was quiet the whole time, for another hour. Thatcher was loud and obnoxious and the fact that he'd slept with me and cheated on his girlfriend disgusted me. He was totally acting like nothing had happened. I wasn't even sure that Mateo knew, which made it worse.

   Thatcher and Mateo both had a couple more beers. Georgia had just had the one. I watched them interact and sat back, a bit uncomfortable. My head still hurt and I didn't exactly fit in. They talked about a car show that they were going to that weekend, and a camping trip the following week. The three of them were friends. They'd known each other forever. I was just this girl who had lost her memory, who needed a babysitter. Mateo sat close, often smiling at me or touching me slightly. I finally decided I did want to go lay down, as my head was not getting any better and Thatcher was getting louder.

   "I'm actually going to go lay down, take an Advil..." I said, standing up. I forced a smile across the room at Thatcher and Georgia.

   Mateo stood up immediately, putting an arm around me. "I'll come up soon, okay?" he whispered.

  "What the hell is going on between you two?" Thatcher yelled suddenly. I could tell he was drunk. I'd seen him drunk before.

  I stepped away from Mateo, but it wasn't enough. I just wanted to go upstairs.

  "Thatch..." Mateo glared at him.

  "Dude, she's like your sister -" Thatcher went on.

  I stepped back again. Mateo stepped closer to Thatcher. Georgia looked uncomfortable.

  "Really, Thatcher? Really?" Mateo yelled. He was angry.

  "It's weird, bro." Thatcher laughed, but I saw Georgia shake her head. Mateo lunged forward again.

  "She's not my sister. You know we just met," he yelled. He was staring down his friend like he wanted to hurt him.

  "Your parents are married, dude," Thatcher went on. "I was wondering why you offered to say here all week, but know I get it-"

  "Thatch, you should go before I say something you won't like," Mateo snapped. He was threatened him.

  "Oh? Like what?" Thatcher stood up.

  I spun around and left the room, but I heard Mateo yell, "Go!"