Masquerade (Masquerade #1) (3 page)

“Baby, I’m not going to last long. You feel so damn good. Can you come for me?”

As soon as he asks, I throw my head back, screaming his name. I hear him groan, and then he falls on top of me with his breathing heavy.

We lie there catching our breaths, and I rub his back. “That was . . . great.”

He looks up at me and kisses me quickly on my lips. “Baby, that was more than great. You felt so damn good.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask, blushing.

“More than you will ever know.” He kisses the top of my head. “I have something for you.”

“Really? What is it?”

He hands be a ring box. I open it up to see a charm. It’s a mask, but a masculine one. “It is my mask,” he tells me.

“I love it.” I reach over, grabbing his face, kissing him deeply.

“Damn. I will buy you more stuff for that reaction.”

We both get up, get dressed, and go back to the movie we started watching. From that day forth, we can’t keep our hands off of each other. Although the first time was fast, he made up for it many times after.

                            Chapter Three

Our summer has come to a close, and we have both planned on going to Georgia State in Atlanta. I can’t wait. We have spent some great days and nights together. It couldn’t have been any better. Something has felt off the last couple of weeks though.

I would ask if he was okay, and all I would get was that his dad was on his ass, but he would never go into detail. I hated seeing him like this. I hated more that he wouldn’t let me in on what was going on. We had actually gotten into a big fight the night before I was to go to my friend’s house.

“Please tell me what is going on with you.”

“Nothing, Julia. Leave it alone.”

“Dammit. I can’t. Why won’t you let me in?”

“Because it’s none of your fucking business.”

“Really? It’s none of my business when it involves you being an asshole towards me. Please just tell me what the fuck your problem is.”

He sighs loudly. “I am not an asshole. I am not telling you shit because it doesn’t fucking matter. Leave. Me. Alone.”

“Fine. I will. Now fucking leave.”

He storms out of the house, and I don’t talk to him the rest of the night. I text him several times while I am at Shelly’s, but I never receive anything back.

I have just gotten home from swimming. I pull in the driveway and walk over to see if Jason is at home. I walk up to the house and knock on the door several times.

I hear the doorknob rattle, and it swings open. “Hey, Julia.”

I look behind her to see a few boxes lined up and down the hallway. “Hi, Mrs. Colton. Is Jason here?”

“Sweetie, he has left. He went with his dad out of the country for a while. I am sending the rest of his things to him soon,” she says as she points at the boxes.

“What?”

“He didn’t tell you? I figured he would. You two seemed like such good friends.”

I start walking backwards away from the door. “Mrs. Colton, are you sure he is gone?”

“Yes, sweetie, his plane left last night about 11:00. I don’t know why they insisted on leaving so late,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.

Tears well up in my eyes. “Thanks.”

I take off running and jump back into my car. I start it, throw it in reverse, and haul ass out of the driveway. I don’t know where I am going, but I can’t stay here. I have been in the car for four hours now, and that is when I notice I’m coming into Atlanta.

I Google his address, so I can find out where he went for real. He wouldn’t just leave me. I turn my navigation on and start following the directions it tells me. Before I know it, I’m turning into a driveway, making my way down the path of it. I see a huge house come into view.

I park my car and jump out to run to the door. I ring the doorbell and wait. Finally, I hear someone come towards the door. “Can I help you?”

“Yes. I am looking for Jason.”

“He’s not here. He left the country with his dad for a while.”

I feel tears about to fall. “Do you know why?”

“He has been planning this trip for a year. Did he not tell you? And by the way, who are you?”

“I am Julia, and no, he never told me this.” I can’t seem to control my shaking.

She shrugs her shoulders. “Well then, I guess there was a reason. Now, if you will excuse me, but I need to be going.”

She slams the door, and tears rush down my face. Why the hell didn’t he tell me he was leaving? He is gone.

A Year and A Half Later

“Sweetie, come in here. She is awake.”

My eyes flutter open as I hear a woman speaking to someone else. I open them again then close them repeatedly because the intensity of the lights on my eyes are causing spots. I deliberately open and close them again several times before it gets easier to see.

I look around to see my mother and my dad holding a child. I know they are my parents, but whose child is that? I look around to see machines hooked up to me, and that is when I realize I am in a hospital.

“What happened? Why am I here? Who is that little girl?” My voice is horse.

My dad looks up to my mother. “I will go and get the doctor.” He walks out of the door with the little girl.

I look up at my mother, and she says, “We will discuss that after the doctor sees you.” Leaning down, she hugs me, crying. “I am so happy to see those beautiful green eyes again.”

The doctor comes in the door with my dad in tow and the girl cradled in his arms.

The doctor looks at the machines then turns to me, pulling out a flashlight from his pocket. He looks me in each eye with it blinding me again.

“You are looking good. It’s nice to see you awake. How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. I think. Can someone tell me what happened?”

The doctor steps back and looks down at me. “You were in a gruesome car wreck. When you first came in, we had our doubts that you would live. Thank goodness you pulled through. I am going to go and let the nurses know you are up and maybe bring you some water?”

“Please, my mouth is really dry, and I am starved. Can I eat?”

Chuckling, the doctor says, “Let’s see how you handle the water first, but I think we may be able to get you something light to eat. Do you remember who you are or your age? Tell me the last few things you remember.”

I try to think back. “I remember being a child of course. I don’t remember how I wound up here. I’m not sure on how old I am either. I’m thinking I’m sixteen, right?” I look up at my parents. “I’m feeling overwhelmed. I know you are my parents and have apparently had a baby.”

He nods his head. “Well, you are actually eighteen, and it looks like you only will have so many memories of the time before. Your parents can show you pictures to jog your memory, but it may never come completely back. Other than that, you look really good, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of all of this. You still need rest though.”

I nod my head, and he says, “I will be back later. I will let your family explain the details.” He turns on his heel and makes his exit.

I look up and wait for an explanation. My mother clears her throat and starts. “Sweetie, you were in a car wreck. You were speeding down a street not too far from the house when you swerved to miss a dog and wrapped your car around a tree. We were so worried about you.”

“How long have I been here?”

My mom looks back at my dad, and he steps forward. “You have been here for a year and a half. You have been in a coma.”

I shake my head back and forth, not believing it has been that long. I can’t remember the car wreck, or why I would have been driving so carelessly.

“Was there a reason I was driving that way, or did I always drive like an idiot?”

My mom sits beside me and grabs my hand. “You were upset with us. We had gotten into an argument about something so petty that now I wish we never would have said anything to you.”

“What was the fight about?”

“Nothing important. Just you being a normal teenager, wanting to go somewhere and we said no,” she says with a wiry smile.

“Okay, but who is that?” I point my finger towards the little girl asleep in my dad’s arms.

“That’s your sister, Lucy. You don’t remember her or remember me being pregnant with her, I should say. You were in a coma during the time of delivery.”

I look at her and discover that she looks like me a little. “No, I don’t, but she is pretty. She looks like me a little.”

Snickering, my mom says, “Yeah she does.”

“How old is she?”

“She is nine months old,” she says with the cheesiest grin on her face.

I watch her sleep and can’t believe I have a sister. It also feels so weird not to remember certain things.

The nurse comes in with a pitcher of water and some plastic cups in her hand. She sits them down on the table and pours me a glass. She pops a straw in, bringing it to me. I take it from her and drink a big gulp. It feels so welcomed going down my throat.

“I have put you an order in for some food. I know you’re hungry, and from the way you drank that water, you will be just fine,” she says with a genuine smile. “I will bring it in as soon as it gets here.”

“Thank you.”

She walks out, and I lean my head back, thinking about the things I just found out. I open my eyes to realize I fell asleep. You would think after being in a coma I wouldn’t be so tired, but I am.

I look around to see my food has arrived, so my mother brings it to me. The rest of the day we talk about things that I do remember and smile at each other a lot.

Chapter Four

It has been a long journey, but one that has defined me into the person I am. I have to stay in the hospital for another two months, and I also have to do therapy to help build up my muscles in my legs again. My left leg was broken, and it healed, so the cast was removed during the time I was in the coma. I hate doing the therapy. It hurts so badly, but I push myself to get back to the way I used to be. No pain, no gain, right?

I am finally released from the hospital and sent home with crutches to help me walk, although, I think I am doing pretty well by myself. I will have to continue with therapy twice a week until I am one hundred percent.

The first night I am home is weird. I remember being a child, but half of my teenage years are gone. I have posters on my wall but have no idea who One Direction or Britney Spears are, or why I even liked them. My parents apparently hadn’t changed anything in my room.

My mom fixed supper that night for us all to eat at the table like a family. My mom and dad talked a lot that night at dinner. They seemed really animated and happy. It is a nice sight. I look around and sometimes have
déjà vu moments.

Once we are done eating, I am worn out. I make my way back to my room to change and get ready for bed. Once I am settled in the bed, I hear a knock on my door.

“Come in.”

My mother comes in and sets down on my bed. “Hey, sweetie, you okay?”

I nod my head.

“Good. We have therapy in the morning, so I will take you.”

“Okay. Thanks for being here.”

She answers me with tears in her eyes. “I will never leave you. Although, as soon as you get well, maybe we can consider colleges again.”

I look at her and wink. “You got it.”

She kisses the top of my head. “Goodnight. I love you.”

“Goodnight. I love you too.”

After six months of strenuous therapy, I am walking on my own, and it feels liberating. Now that I am able to do things for myself again, my parents and I sat down and talked about colleges. I had apparently applied and had been accepted to a couple of them but wasn’t sure it still stood.

I make a call to Armstrong Atlantic State University, which was apparently my first choice, to see if I needed to reapply or if the offer is still on the table. I talk to a nice woman who explains to me that I will indeed have to reapply, but if I had been accepted, I would be accepted again. The reason behind reapplying was mainly for dorm room assignments.

I reapply, and sure enough, I get accepted for the fall term starting in August. I only have two months before I will be on a new adventure.

I have spent most of the summer getting acquainted with my little sister. I look at her and see so much of me. She has the same color eyes as I do, the same color hair, and the same smile. She is gorgeous. I hate that before I know it, I will be leaving her to go off and start a new life.

My mom takes the summer off to spend with “her girls.” She has been my rock since being out of the hospital. We run errands together, go to the beach, and relax. She has helped me remember some things, but I’m still in the dark on the parts that seem important.

One day we are at the grocery store, and I walk off to get some milk when I hear some girl yelling my name. I keep walking till she finally comes up to me, engulfing me in a hug. I don’t hug her back because, shit, I don’t know who the hell this girl is.

She pulls back from me. “Julia, you look different. How have you been?”

I look her up and down, trying anything to remember who this girl may be. “I’m good, but who are you?”

She starts grinning. “Funny, Julia.”

“No, really, who are you? Did we go to school together or grow up together? I really have no clue who you are.”

She looks like I just killed her cat. “What’s wrong with you? It’s me, Jamie. We went to high school together.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Sorry, it doesn’t ring any bells.”

Before I can say anything else, my mother walks up and says, “Hey, Jamie. How are you doing?”

Now she really looks confused. “I’m good. What’s going on? Julia says she doesn’t know who I am.”

My mother grabs her hand. “Sweetie, I need to explain, but I thought you had heard. Anyways, Julia got in a really bad accident and lost some of her memory. She only remembers bits and pieces.”

Jamie’s other hand flies to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

I look her in the eyes and politely smile at her. “I’m great now. I am so sorry I don’t remember who you are. It’s very frustrating. I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings.”

She answers with a grin forming on her lips. “It’s okay. I just hate that I never heard about it. I am glad to know you’re okay.”

I keep staring at Jamie when I start to remember something. I‘m in a pool yelling something at her and laughing. She gets up from laying out by the pool and starts walking towards a group of people hanging out by a tiki hut. I don’t recognize any of their faces. I can’t figure out where this is coming from, and it must be written on my face because I hear my mom talking, pulling me out of my trance.

“So, Jamie, are you in school?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m home for the weekend but headed back Sunday.”

“That’s great to hear, sweetie. Julia starts this August. Her dad and I couldn’t be prouder. Now I hate to run, but we need to get going.”

Jamie hugs me one more time. “If you ever want to talk, just give me a shout. Again, I am so sorry about everything.”

She lets go of me, and I just wave bye to her.

On the ride home, my mom keeps asking me if I am okay, and I keep reassuring her that I am fine. It was just weird for that memory to be so vivid. It was like I was living in that moment but still not sure where I was or what exactly was going on.

The summer flies by, and before I know it, I am standing in my dorm with all my stuff still in boxes and needing to be put up. I’m so excited about this adventure of a new me and making new memories I wouldn’t forget.

A girl with long brown hair that frames her face, hazel eyes, pouty lips, and olive skin walks into the room. “Hi,” she says, extending her hand. “I am Mindy Ray, your roommate.”

Grinning, I extend my hand to shake hers. “Hey. I am Julia Falls. I hope we get to know each other really well. I am just so excited to be here. It’s been a while since I have been in school.” I notice her just staring at me, and that is when I realize I am rambling. “I’m so sorry. I’m rambling.”

She snickers and lets go of the hand I am still holding. “It’s really okay. Are you a bit nervous?”

I put my head down and walk to my side of the room. “Yes. Like I said, it has been a while since I have been in school and on my own.”

“Don’t worry. I will be here for you, but right now, I need to make sure my schedule has been fixed,” she says with a wink.

“Thanks, good. I’m going to need all the help I can get,” I say, grinning. “I’m going to finish putting up my stuff.”

She turns and leaves the room while I start picking up empty boxes and putting them in a pile so that I can see what exactly I have left. There are only two boxes remaining, so I decide to plow my way through them to get rid of all the boxes at one time.

As soon as I sit the picture of my family down on my nightstand, I look up, proud that I’m done. I start gathering unsuccessfully. It is difficult, but I am finally able to gather them all up in order to take them to the dumpster.
I manage, but my view is completely obstructed while I am walking.

Fortunately, I make it out the door of the dorm and down the hall to the exit of the building. I lean my head around to see what direction I need to take to make my way to the dumpster. All I have to do is walk straight ahead, and I will be able to get rid all of these boxes.

As soon as I put one foot in front of the other, I run into something or someone and drop all of the seven boxes I am carrying. I look up to see a body that happens to look like a guy’s with a box on the top of his head.

I pull it off in a hurry, leaning down, and toss it with the other boxes on the ground. “I am so sorry. Are you okay?”

Hearing a throaty laugh, I peek up to see some of the prettiest brown eyes looking up at me. Then I see a gorgeous, beaming smile coming from this man. “Yeah, I am okay. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Just a little bit embarrassed and clumsy it appears.”

“Embarrassment looks good on you with the red tint in your cheeks, and as far as being clumsy, you were carrying several boxes. Do you need any help?”

I feel the redness take over my face even more. “No, I don’t want to take any of your time away from you.”

A smirk visits his lips. “I could watch that red face all day so that is not time being taken away from me. Let me help you.”

“If you insist.” I lean down to start picking up boxes when he grabs them all.

“Lead the way. By the way, my name is Alan Greer. May I ask what Red’s name is?”

I chuckle. “Red huh? It’s Julia Falls.”

“Julia. That fits you, but I like Red better. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

We get to the dumpster, and he throws the boxes in all at once. He turns to me. “You need help with anymore?”

I tap my finger to my mouth. “You know, I do have a few more that need to be thrown out.”

Smiling, he bends at the waist and swings his arm out. “Lead the way, Red.”

Laughing, I start walking to the dorm. When we make it into the room, he grabs the last of the few boxes left, and we walk back out to discard them.

“Thanks for the help.”

I start walking off when I hear, “Red?”

I stop and turn around. “Yes.”

“How about this Friday we go out?”

“Hmm, let me think about it.”  I stand there and look up like I am trying to make my decision. I look back at him, slowly smiling. “Sounds good to me.”

He shakes his head with a grin. “I will pick you up at 7:00.”

“Okay.” I turn and hurry back into my room where I throw myself on the bed with a huge smile on my face. I can’t believe I have been here a few hours, already met an attractive man, and have a date.

Later that night, Mindy and I go out to a local pizza shop close by to eat. She keeps eyeing me. “Did something happen you haven’t told me about?”

“Why you ask?”

“Seriously? You have been smiling like a lovesick puppy. What’s up?”

I feel my smile getting wider, which I honestly, I don’t know how it could get any wider. “I met a guy today.”

She slams her hand down on the table. “What the hell? You are just now telling me? What’s his name? What does he look like? Is he hot?”

I wait until she is done. “And I thought
I
rambled,” I say, smirking. “I ran into him when I was taking boxes to the dumpster. I mean, literally ran into him. So I dropped them all, and he offered to help. After we were done with all the boxes, he asked me out,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.

“Looks? What does he look like?” she asks, shaking her head.

Throwing my head back I let out a hearty laugh. I finally look at her, and she is giving me a look that says, “You better tell me or I am going to beat the shit out of you.”