Best. Date. Ever.
The moonlight was bright and illuminated the forest around them as Scarlet sat down on the soft blanket and took the sandwich Gabriel handed her. He sat beside her, both of them facing the glorious moon.
Scarlet took a bite. “Mmm. Peanut butter and jelly. My favorite.”
Gabriel smiled and took a bite of his own sandwich.
The purple forest was happily quiet but for the soft ripples of water hitting the shore and the hidden crickets.
“So.” Gabriel swallowed. “Tell me something real.”
Scarlet swallowed as well. “Something real?”
He nodded with a crooked smile. “Tell me something that’s not empty. Something honest and Scarlet-specific.”
“I’m guessing my favorite color probably won’t suffice?” Scarlet raised a teasing eyebrow.
“Nope. It has to be meaningful.” Gabriel’s eyes sparkled. “And besides, you’re favorite color is blue.”
“Lucky guess.” Scarlet smiled. “Okay…something meaningful….”
Should she just go for it and tell him everything? Give him the whole I’m-a-weirdo-amnesiac story?
She trusted him, she felt safe around him, and he seemed mature enough to handle it.
Probably.
Gabriel looked at her pleasantly, waiting.
Scarlet cleared her throat. “Well. I have amnesia.”
There. She’d thrown it out there.
There was no going back. He was either going to sit and listen to her story, or run away from her screaming.
Oh man, I hope he doesn’t run away. Mostly because I have no idea how to get out of these woods and it’s now nighttime and I will for sure be eaten by a bear if I’m left out here alone.
“Amnesia?” He still looked pleasant.
Scarlet nodded. “Yup. I can’t remember anything prior to two years ago.”
“Huh. And how’s that going?”
Scarlet thought about it. “Better. At first it was really confusing and frightening. But now…well, now I’ve kinda just accepted that I might not ever recover my memories.”
Genuine sympathy came across his face. “That seems…unfair.”
Scarlet nodded again, then shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m okay with it now. At first I was scared. Then I was angry. And then I was just plain curious. I wanted to remember who I was, you know?”
He stopped eating and looked at her intensely, his eyes searching hers. He cleared his throat. “Who are you now?”
Scarlet chewed and swallowed another bite. “What do you mean?”
Gabriel twitched his lips. “Who you were is never as important as who you are. So…who are you?” He smiled.
Scarlet tucked in a smile and bit her lip, thinking about it. “I’m…Scarlet Jacobs. I get good grades and blend in with the crowd. I have a crazy best friend who makes me laugh and doesn’t let me sulk—ever. I have an unnatural fear of bears,” Scarlet smiled at him, “and no fashion sense whatsoever. But I’m surprisingly good at making coffee.”
Scarlet paused, looking up at the moon. She shrugged. “Sometimes I feel out of place when other kids talk about their childhoods, but I’m not bitter. I’m just…different. I’m lucky, though, because I have Laura, who loves me, and a lot people live their whole life without being loved, you know?” She looked back at Gabriel, whose sweet eyes were fixed on her.
He nodded. “You are very loved, indeed.” A slow smile spread across his face, showing off his dimples. “I like you, Scarlet Jacobs, just the way you are. Life isn’t about the past, it’s about the future. Life is about looking forward. Our pasts,” he shrugged, “are just that: history. The past doesn’t define us, you know?”
Scarlet nodded, her eyes locked on his.
“Your life will be beautiful,” he continued. “With or without your memories, your life will be incredible.”
And just like that, Gabriel Archer won over her heart.
Scarlet slanted her eyes at the handsome boy beside her. “Thanks for not freaking out.”
“About what?”
“My amnesia. I figured you’d run away screaming once I told you.”
“Who me?” Gabriel shook his head with a teasing smile. “Never. And besides, if I ran away, who would protect you from the bears?”
Scarlet tried not to smile as she nudged him. “Shut up.”
Gabriel scooted closer and took her hand in his as they both looked back up at the moon while they ate their sandwiches.
Fireflies lit up the night like flickering stars and gentle water rocked against the lakeshore.
Scarlet couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy.
Suddenly, her past was history.
And her future looked bright.
12
Three nights later, Scarlet tossed in her bed, lost in a dream.
She and Gabriel were in a field and he was gently swinging her around as he sang—loudly and off key.
Scarlet was laughing hysterically and demanding to be put down.
“No. Not until you agree to dance with me and sing at the top of your lungs.” Gabriel broke into song again.
She could barely speak through her laughter. “I can’t sing. I sing like a duck.”
“A duck?” He swung her around again. “Ducks don’t sing. They quack.”
Still laughing, Scarlet said, “Exactly.”
“Very well.” Gabriel kept her in his big arms and started waltzing with mock seriousness. “We shall quack, then.”
He proceeded to swing her around, her long hair sailing in the wind, while he quacked.
“Quack, quack. Quack, quack.” Gabriel’s duck imitation was spot-on.
Scarlet was laughing so hard her stomach and cheeks began to hurt. “Stop quacking.”
“Not until you dance with me.”
“Fine, fine.” Scarlet controlled her laughter for a moment. “Just put me down.”
Gabriel looked at her closely, pressing his nose to hers as he spoke. “If I put you down, you’ll dance with me?”
Scarlet smiled. “Only if you quit quacking.”
He smiled broadly. “Very well.” He set her on her feet and eyed her carefully.
Scarlet burst into laughter and took off running. “But first you have to catch me….”
And off she ran, laughing until tears fell down her cheeks, with Gabriel right at her heels.
Quacking away.
Scarlet woke up with a start.
What the…?
With a smile, she shook her head. The dream had seemed so real. As if it had actually happened.
She laughed to herself as she turned on her side.
Gabriel quacking?
What a silly dream.
She shook her head again and snuggled back into sleep, a smile still on her face.
13
The rest of the summer flew by for Scarlet. She spent most of her days with either Heather or Gabriel—sometimes both—swimming, going to movies, and savoring as much summer sun as possible.
She and Gabriel went on several more dates and got along perfectly. They laughed, they talked, they had fun. It was wonderful.
Heather still held reservations about Gabriel, but Scarlet wasn’t worried.
Sure, there was something in the back of her mind nagging her about him.
But there was also something in the back of her mind telling her Gabriel was safe.
Something told her he was good.
And she chose to listen to the pro-Gabriel side of her head, and snub the suspicious side.
Because Scarlet and Gabriel clicked.
They fit together like puzzle pieces, like they were made for one another.
Gabriel was amazing. In every conversation they had it was like he knew her.
Everything about their relationship was easy and carefree and Scarlet couldn’t think of a more perfect guy for her.
Summer eventually came to a close, however, and Scarlet had to say goodbye to lazy summer afternoons and hello to
a whole new world of homework.
Senior year.
School began and Scarlet felt like her life was finally falling into place; she was finally beginning to take on an identity of her own.
No more amnesia girl. No more mystery girl.
She was becoming Scarlet Jacobs: normal high school student with a quirky best friend and a hot boyfriend.
A hot boyfriend the whole school seemed to adore.
To say Gabriel made a splash on the first day of school was an understatement. Everywhere he went, girls followed him with their eyes, if not with their bodies.
Even weeks into the first semester they still ogled him, whispered about him, and batted lashes at him shamelessly.
Scarlet wasn’t jealous, per se. But she wasn’t thrilled about her boyfriend’s fan club either.
Mostly because she was almost certain there was an I-Hate-Scarlet-Jacobs club meeting after school on Thursdays, plotting her demise so they could contend for the affections of her boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
The word made Scarlet smile.
She was crazy about Gabriel.
Not just because his eyes made her melt and he smelled good, but because she could be herself around him. He made her feel perfect just the way she was, broken memory and all.
Scarlet made her way to into the hall after second period and spied Gabriel leaning against her locker, flashing a smile that broke hearts and stole souls.
She smiled back. “Good morning.” She reached him and stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, pushing away from the lockers. He glanced down at her shoes and examined them.
He did that a lot.
“You’re staring at my shoes again,” Scarlet teased.
Gabriel looked up at her with a smile. “Sorry. It’s just…interesting. You really don’t remember where you saw that symbol?”
Scarlet shrugged. “Nope. It just sorta…came to me.”
“Huh,” Gabriel said. His thoughts seemed far away for a moment before he looked at her with a sweet smile.
“What?”
He cocked his head for moment, still smiling. “Do you know you bite your lip when you’re nervous? It’s adorable. I love it.”
Scarlet stopped biting her lip and smiled.
Gabriel continued, “You know what else I love? Your smile. And your pretty face. And everything about you.”
Heart melting now.
Scarlet pressed her lips together and tried not to blush.
She was the luckiest girl in the world.
She looked at Gabriel from beneath her lashes. “Well, I love your dimples. And the sound of your voice.” A voice that still sang to her soul and soothed her lost memories. “You make me feel…precious.”
“You are precious.” He looked at her seriously and leaned down to kiss her—
“Ugh! Gag me!” Heather parted their bodies as she moved in between them to get into her locker. “You two are disgusting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally sweet and adorable, but could you turn it down a notch? Those of us who are not in love are puking in the hallways.”
Scarlet looked at her best friend. “And good morning to you, too.”
Heather, wearing a flattering green top and long dangly earrings, slammed her locker closed. “There is nothing ‘good’ about today.”
Heather had been a little grouchy for the past few weeks. She and a guy named Ryan had indulged in a summer fling that ended in tears, curse words and an expensive shoe being thrown from the window of Ryan’s car while they drove together down the freeway.
Apparently, if you make Heather mad enough, she’ll take off her shoe and throw it at you. It was just bad luck that she had terrible aim and Ryan’s car window happened to be rolled down when she chucked her high heel at him.
Heather’s shoe had fallen victim to the passing traffic. Which is why you should never throw shoes at anyone while in a moving vehicle.
Scarlet made a frowny face. “Are you okay?”
Heather sighed, looked at Scarlet and said, “Yeah, I’m just really sad. About my shoe.”
She pouted her bottom lip as Scarlet nodded in mock understanding.
Heather looked Scarlet up and down for the first time that day. “The brown shirt, Scarlet? Wow. I know you’ve already snagged the most delicious thing to ever walk this earth—” Heather shot Gabriel a smile, “but you’ve still gotta try to look like you care. No brown. I repeat, no brown. Brown looks like death on you.”
Scarlet smiled tightly. “Aw, I feel so pretty now.”
Heather’s phone buzzed. “Oh! Gotta go! This is Ryan.” She disappeared around the corner.
Scarlet and Gabriel turned back to each other. “So,” Scarlet began, “I was thinking maybe you could come over after school tomorrow and watch some bad reality TV with me.”
He smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
“Good. And hopefully, Laura will be there this time so you can meet her. She’s been so busy traveling for work lately.”
“Sure thing. See you at lunch,” he said, before kissing her cheek and disappearing around the corner.
Scarlet sighed as she entered third period.
Her boyfriend was dreamy.
At lunch, Heather and Scarlet sat talking while Gabriel was held up in the lunch line.
Heather took a bite of yogurt. “Angie Woods told me she saw Gabriel last night, talking to some creepy guy at Freemont Park.”
Scarlet wrinkled her brow. “Really? He was at the park? At night?”
Heather nodded. “Sounds like the behavior of someone who’s got something to hide, doesn’t it? Someone in the mob maybe?” She implored Scarlet with her eyes.
Like Scarlet was going to jump aboard her crazy train of Gabriel’s-A-Mobster simply because Angie Woods said she saw him somewhere.
“No, it’s just…strange. That’s all,” Scarlet said. “Was Angie sure it was him?”
“Yeah, she said he and the creepy guy argued about something before Gabriel left.”
Scarlet frowned. “That’s weird.”
“I bet it has something to do with Gabriel’s ‘vague’ family business. Why else would he meet another dude at a park in the middle of the night?”
“Heather,” Scarlet sighed, “would you leave him alone? I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for last night.”
Like….
Scarlet couldn’t think of anything, but she was certain Gabriel had good reason to be at the park.
Almost certain.
“Let’s ask him, shall we?” Heather raised a brow as Gabriel freed himself from the lunch line and sat down at their table.
Scarlet smiled at Gabriel. “Hey, did you—“
“So, Gabriel,” Heather interrupted, throwing Scarlet a let-me-handle-this look. “What did you do last night?”
“Rescued kittens. Saved the world. The usual.”
Heather gave a fake laugh. “You’re hilarious. But really,” she leaned in to him, “what did you do?”
Gabriel chewed and swallowed a bite of his sandwich while he thought. “I went home after school. Looked for the TV control for an hour. Watched TV. Had pizza for dinner. Brushed my tee—“
“Did you go to the park?” Heather asked impatiently.
Gabriel smiled at her curiously. “No. Did you go to the park?”
Scarlet touched Gabriel’s arm. “You didn’t go to Freemont park last night?”
Please don’t lie. Please don’t lie.
Gabriel shook his head as he took another bite. “No. Why?”
Scarlet and Heather exchanged a look.
“No reason,” Heather said, smiling cheerily. “Just curious.” She went back to eating her yogurt without looking at Scarlet.
Gabriel wouldn’t lie to her…would he?
Angie Woods must have seen someone else. Or maybe she was lying.
Yeah, that was probably it. Angie was lying.
The little bell
sounded in Scarlet’s head again as she examined her boyfriend. Even though they’d spent a lot of time together these last few months, she didn’t know him as well as she’d like to.
But still.
Gabriel had nothing to hide.
Right?
14
Gripping his longbow, Tristan pulled back and let another arrow fly. The arrow was barely airborne before he retrieved, drew back, and released a second one.
Both hit the bull’s-eye, mere centimeters from one another.
Arrow after arrow, Tristan shot at the target board he’d nailed to a tall tree in the distance.
He was angry. He was frustrated.
And he was scared out of his mind.
Nothing was working. Over the past few weeks, he’d tried endless weapons, numerous tactics. But still, nothing.
Scarlet was going to die.
Because of him.
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Nate hadn’t found any weapons yet, so Tristan had been trying everything imaginable in the meantime.
Without success.
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Gabriel exited the cabin and stood in silence off to the side.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Double bull’s-eye.
Tristan refused to look at his brother. He didn’t want to talk about it…the curse, the future.
But, apparently, Gabriel did. “So, no luck yet?”
Like luck had anything to do with it.
Tristan didn’t answer. He lined another arrow against his bow and let loose.
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Gabriel fisted and flexed his hands. “I think we need to go back to square one, Tristan. Start over.”
Tristan let another arrow fly before answering, “Square one? You mean find the fountain of youth? The fountain we’ve been looking for for years? The fountain we can’t find? Yes, let’s get right on that.”
Gabriel raised a brow. “Would you rather let her die?”
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Tristan’s heart started hammering. He didn’t want to talk about this.
“Listen.” Gabriel moved toward Tristan. “Since your murder plan isn’t panning out, we need to rethink our options. So, how about this.” He clasped his hands together. “I’ll stay here with Scarlet and you can go back to Florida and search for the fountain. Again.”