Page 26 of Written In Flesh

“I never believed the rumors. I didn’t for one second think that you’d hurt yourself, especially not because of Madden Danvers.”

My fingertips run over my bottom lip. I can feel my magic tingle along the sensitive skin while contemplating my next words. “I’ve thought about it a million times. My brain just refuses to move past the barrier that it’s created. No matter what anyone says, I won’t know if they’re telling the truth. I don’t have the memories, you know?”

She tilts her head, understanding pulling her features. “How about I don’t fill in the gaps. How about I show you? And if you have questions, I’ll only tell you facts.”

“How will I know you aren’t lying?” I ask and see her lips frown. I can feel the ripple of disappointment in her before it slides away, and she offers me a small smile.

“Since you don’t remember, I’ll tell you. We have a no-lying pact. You can sense if I’m lying, and I can with you, too. Our first week, we made it after an incident—”

“Lie. It wasn’t the first week,” I correct, my palm prickled when she said the first week.

Baylee’s smile grows bigger. “It was during the fall festival. It was the only way we were going to make it through the haunted house.”

I don’t remember, but I also don’t feel the weird sensation on my palm again either. Feeling somewhat free to explore this new information, I nod eagerly at her phone. “Show me.”

Baylee taps on the screen, and I move to sit next to her. She flicks through her apps until she pulls up her social media, and dozens of images flood the screen. “I just have to scroll back to high school now. So weird.”

We both laugh, and I playfully shove her arm. Eventually, she lands back almost two years ago, and the first image I see is of the huge, monstrosity of a high school. I do remember always passing by River Falls High when I lived in North Shore. The day my aunt told me I was going to go there, that my father requested it, I felt hollow. The school is filled with rich kids and kids with magic and abilities just like me. The outside is gothic, almost scary, with its dark, stained-glass windows, stone siding, and iron gates. The next picture flipped is of Baylee and me. Only I don’t recognize the girl staring at the camera. Her lips are pulled tight in a smile. Her eyes are dull and almost pinched. The school’s standard uniform is a short plaid skirt with a white button-up and a solid navy blazer. Her hair is partly down, curled, and a giant white bow is tied in the back. What really kills me is the four-inch heels that look like they cost more than our rent.

“I don’t recognize this,” I mutter under my breath, feeling Baylee’s eyes on me.

Her fingers swipe the screen, and another image surfaces. My body is tucked under Madden’s arm, while he glares at the camera. Next to him is an attractive man with unruly light brown hair, eyes that appear to be an icy green, and tan skin. His arms are crossed over his chest, and the carefree smile he wears doesn’t look practiced. Next to him is a thin, tall, blonde girl with bright blue eyes. She looks nervous, and while she is smiling at the camera, her gaze is off to the side.

“I only recognize Madden from the hospital.”

Baylee blows out air and points to the guy next to Madden. “This is Aero St. James. He’s also a reaper. And the girl is Lily Ridgemont. She’s also a reaper and may have some witch’s blood in her. They have been best friends with Madden since elementary school. Anyway, they are part of the fearsome four. The guys are on the swim team together. They’re best friends. Well, they were until you appeared anyway.”

My gaze swings to hers, and my lips part. “What?”

She laughs and swipes to the next image. Once again, it’s me and her making goofy faces, hanging up a sign for a school dance, but this time there’s another figure lurking in the background. Another gorgeous man with white blonde hair, messy with that just-rolled-out-of-bed look. I can’t see the color of his eyes, but they look dark, heated. And he’s watching us with almost a scowl on his lips. “And that is Killian Alden. He was Madden’s best friend. It was always those three guys and Lily since they were little. They were tight. When you got there that year, the dynamics shifted.”

My heart races in my chest, and an uncomfortable flush creeps over my skin. “How?”

My voice is almost silent, but she hears me anyway. Baylee drops her phone to her lap, flipping past more images. Her, me. Madden and me. A group shot of all six of us. “You didn’t really tell me much about what was happening between you and Madden. In private, it was like you both couldn’t stay away from each other, but when it was a group, things always happened, and someone’s feelings were hurt. Sometimes you’d hang out with just Killian. As far as I could tell, it looked innocent, but Madden would get upset. Rumor has it that he and Killian barely speak anymore. Lily was scared of you, so she tended to stay away, which made Madden and Aero upset.”

“Scared of me? Seriously?” I scoff and flip back to the image of the six of us.

Baylee nods her head. “She’s quiet and tends to be kind of a loner. The guys brought her out of her shell and would invite her to places, then spend the whole time protecting her.”

“Was I a bitch to her?” A frown pulls at my lips, once again remembering Madden’s words in detail.

“I don’t think you were a bitch to her. You weren’t exactly fluffy and friendly. Honestly, I think she’s just too shy, and your personality was too bold for her. You were the new girl, but you put yourself out there, jumped right into meeting people. You didn’t back down to anyone. Plus, you’re gorgeous. The guys tended to gravitate toward you.” Baylee shrugs her shoulders before pocketing her phone.

We sit in silence for a few seconds while the information wraps around my brain, my magic warming my veins and testing the truth in her words. Nothing about what Baylee told me feels familiar or strikes a memory. Part of my fear in returning is having the memories flood back, but now I wonder if they ever really will. Before I get a chance to talk, Aunt Loreli calls from downstairs that our food is here.

At dinner, Baylee fills us in on other happenings in River Falls, then I tell her about my life here. “Do you plan to stay at your dad’s when you go back?”

My lip curls, and I fight the urge not to roll my eyes. “No. Thankfully I don’t have to. I wasn’t planning to attend, so there’s only open student housing in the Freshman dorms.”

Baylee’s brow lifts. “My roommate was thinking of moving in with her boyfriend, but didn’t want to stick me with the lease on my own. Would you want to live with me? It’s an on-campus duplex. The girls on the other side are super nice. Human, but nice. It’s not as glamorous—”

“I’ll take it!” I jump in, cutting her off. Aunt Loreli laughs and swipes her mouth with a napkin.

“Oh, your dad is going to have so much fun with you. First the dorms and now an off campus place.”

I grin at her and Baylee. “He can make me come back, but he can’t make me want to be there. I’ll play along while I’m figuring things out, but once I graduate, I’m gone.”

Baylee bounces in her seat, her fingers flying over the keyboard on her screen. “Mandi is down for the move. She’s telling her boyfriend and will move out this weekend. When you get there, the room will be yours. Rent is paid for through this month already, too.”