“How does Blair know this?”
I let out a huff and rub my temples. “You’re asking the wrong amnesia patient. I have no freaking clue what’s going on. Only that my mom must have told me at some point before the crash. I must’ve told Blair, then all the shit with the accident happened. My mom figured since my slate is wiped clean, she just wouldn’t tell me again, and enlisted Blair to help her.”
People that say that talking through your problems helps, a problem shared is a problem halved and all that rubbish. I call that bullshit; a problem shared is a problem doubled. Jackson sits slack-jawed with an entirely vacant stare. Telling him hasn’t made me feel better in the slightest. Now I just feel sorry that I’ve caused the unease that’s descended on the room.
“Dude…fuck!”
“Your words of wisdom are truly inspiring. You know, if college doesn’t work out, you could get a gig as a motivational speaker.” I’m trying to add humor to the situation. It’s not working.
“Sorry, I just don’t know what to say. Have you confronted your mom or dad?”
“Mom’s flying back today. She wants to talk.”
He hisses air through his teeth and gives me a pity glare.
“This really sucks, Ethan. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, what’s one more thing to deal with, right? Amnesia, a paralyzed father at death’s door, a lying girlfriend, and a fake mom. All I need now is a long lost sibling somewhere that I’ve unsuspectingly slept with, and I can go on Jerry Springer.”
His mouth lifts at the corner as he suppresses his amusement.
“Gross.”
“It would be just my luck right now.”
“So, what happened with Blair? Are you guys okay? Still speaking? Dating?”
“I dunno, Jackson.”
I drop my head into my hands and begin massaging my temples with my fingers again. Why won't this headache let up?
“I kind of kicked her out, as soon as she told me.”
“You didn’t make her explain?” he asks, disbelieving. I cringe a little and shake my head no. The movement makes me dizzy. The pills seem to be kicking in, and I feel tired.
“I couldn’t take anymore lies.”
“How do you know she would lie to you?”
His voice sounds like an echo from really far away. I squeeze my eyes a couple of time to fight the weird lights buzzing in my peripheral vision. Then I watch his face appear in front of mine. His mouth’s moving, but it’s in slow motion and there are no words coming out.
I frown.
Blink.
My eyes are heavy.
Darkness.
“HE’S GOING TO be pissed when he comes around and realizes that I’m here.” I run my hand through Ethan’s hair, and pull the blanket a little higher over his lax position on the couch.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take the heat. I didn’t know who else to call,” Jackson says rubbing his neck and stretching.
“Um…the ambulance?” I deadpan.
“Yeah, and we both know he’d have taken that real well! He only took three pills from what I could get out of him before he passed out completely,” he says rattling the packet millimeters from my face.
“The directions say that they’ll make you drowsy. He just needs to sleep them off.”
“Okay, are you sure he only took three?”
He sighs and opens the little white box showing me that there are only three missing from the foil blister packet.
“I guess we should just wait then.”
“Yup,” he answers with a hint off sass behind the word.
“Jackson, have I done something to make you pissed? What’s with the attitude?”
He looks at me like I’m an idiot, and I’m even more confused.
“He told me,” he says with a glare. I raise my palms, jut my head out and widen my eyes, indicating that I’m still no wiser.
“About you lying to him about his mom!”
And there’s the clarity I needed. My shoulders drop, and I remove my glasses before rubbing at the bridge of my nose and replacing them. Jackson is watching me intently, no doubt waiting for me to defend my actions.
“You don’t know all of it. So please don’t judge me.”
“He’s totally cut up. I know that much.”
“I know.”
“You need to fix this, Blair. I’ve never seen him so happy as when he’s with you. You have to make things right.”
If he only knew how much I wish that I could. I’d do anything to take away his pain.
“I’ll try,” I lament, brushing past him to refill Ethan’s glass for when he wakes. Jackson reaches out and takes a hold of the top of my arm, halting me in my tracks. I jerk backward and glare at his hand gripping me.
“Not good enough. Don’t just try; make it happen.”
I nod and pull myself free. I don’t know what I’m going to say to him when he wakes. But I’m not leaving so easily this time.