Page 11 of Written In Flesh

“We’ll see what you say once we get to your surprise.”

My brow lifts, and I pin him with a severe look. “I don’t like surprises, Az.”

“I know.” He chuckles and gently elbows me in the side until I laugh. “I think you’ll like this one, though.”

“Doubtful,” I mutter, but let him lead us anyway. I’m so used to taking the turn for the hospital that when we turn in the opposite direction, I have no clue as to where we are. The city block is lit up with fluorescent lights, music plays from some bars and clubs, and people mill around the sidewalks, some still in their beachwear and some dressed up for a night out dancing. We’re far enough in the city that you can’t smell the ocean; instead, it’s perfumed with the smell of different foods and tropical drinks with an earthy twist. My eyes, ears, all my senses can’t take it in fast enough. I also can’t believe this has been around the corner from where I’m living, and I never noticed.

“Okay, keep an open mind, S. We’re here!” Azriel steps up to a neon yellow painted door, and the mural on the wall around it shows different images of roller blades.

“What the hell?” I glance in horror from him to the door. “Roller skating?”

Azriel smirks, and his eyebrows jump up and down. “Yup. It’s going to be epic. 90s and early 00s ballads, the smell of cherry ICEEs, and disco lights.”

“This is what you call living it up?” I scoff and start to question my choice of friends.

Azriel slides his arm around my shoulder and uses his other hand to open the door, ushering me inside. “Trust me, girl. This is what you need to start living again.”

He brings me over to the guy running the main desk, who looks like he could be an extra from Dazed and Confused, but with a balding spot on the back of his head. We pick up our skates, and then Azriel brings me over to a bench. A girl skates up to us, wearing a cute pair of black booty shorts and a striped red tank top. Her colorful hair is piled on top of her head, and she smiles at us.

“Can I get you something to drink or eat?”

She’s cute, and I can tell Azriel thinks so too when he flashes her his charming smile. “I’ll just take a water, doll. How about you, S?”

She glances at me, and her bubbly smile is contagious. I glance at Az and smirk. “A cherry ICEE.”

She jots down our order, then skates off. The place isn’t too packed, but there are several groups on the floor skating already. Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” is playing right now, and the lights are low, with only the disco ball’s glitter lighting up the floor. I can’t remember if I’ve roller-skated in the past year. In fact, I don’t think I have been since fourth grade when Nathan Pierce crashed into me, and I ended up spraining my wrist. This might not bode well for me this time around. Sensing my turmoil, Azriel takes my arm and guides me to the floor. It takes a few minutes to get my bearings, and we get passed by other skaters more than once going around the circle, but eventually, I remember how to glide.

A breeze blows through my hair, and I laugh at Azriel as he spins and does tricks on the floor. By the time the place is packed and Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag” is playing, I’ve got my stride, and I feel like I’m living. My cheeks hurt from smiling, and not once have I thought about the past or of anything outside of the beach town I’m living in. A place I could easily turn into home. I can learn to let go of the East Coast and really settle down here, finally let myself plant roots.

“Did you see that couple? They looked like they were Olympic figure skaters with that stuff. She was over his head,” I giggle, slurping the rest of my cherry ICEE while Azriel walks me home. I didn’t mean to stay out this late, but we ended up closing down the roller rink. The four hours flew by, and I was thankful that I had at least remembered to text my aunt and let her know I would be out late. Even though I am eighteen, I know she worries since I’m still new to the city, and with my memory issues.

“They did.” Azriel laughs. “They’re there weekly. I bet it’s their date night.”

“Well, good for them for keeping the romance alive.” I shrug, and we laugh again, talking about the trio of ladies wearing the grandma wigs celebrating a thirtieth birthday.

Soon, the apartment complex comes into view, and I turn again to Az. “Thanks for tonight. I really needed that.”

He gives me his lopsided smile and brushes my hair off my face. “Anything for my best friend.”

“You mean it?” I jump at his side, my hands grabbing his arm. “Besties?”

He laughs, the sound deep and comforting. “You’re crazy, girl. Let’s get you home.”

Azriel walks me the rest of the way to my house while I tell him about my epiphany for the day. It’s freeing to finally get the thoughts off my chest and my decision to not keep hunting for my memories. I also tell him that tomorrow morning I’m going to tell my aunt that I plan to enroll at the community college this fall and start taking some photography classes.

“I’m proud of you, Skully,” Azriel says, his violet eyes shining so bright at me. It sounds strange, but I can feel his pride rolling off of him in waves. He pulls me into him, giving me a brief hug. The gesture is over before I even comprehend what just happened. Other than it felt nice. Before I can thank him again and say goodnight, the outside light of the building pops on, and Aunt Loreli comes charging down the steps.

“Get inside, Skallan! Now!”

My eyes widen in surprise, ready to defend myself. I texted her, it’s not like she can be mad when I don’t even have a curfew. Except as she gets closer, I start to see that it’s not anger flashing in her eyes, but fear.

“Loreli…” I hold my hand out to her, glancing back at Azriel with worry. Except he doesn’t look shocked, in fact, he looks expectant.

“Go inside,” she tells me again, her chest heaving. I watch as she fights to maintain eye contact and not look over my shoulder.

My gaze slides behind me. “Az, I’m sorry about this. Aunt Lore, what’s going on? He’s my friend.”

Her green eyes move frantically from me to Azriel. “You can see him?”