CHAPTER SEVEN

~Tamara Rose

My phone lit up for the seventh time with a text from Dylan.

I furrowed my eyebrows, sighing when I saw it was in all caps. We had been having a very heated argument ever since last night, when I texted him that I was staying over a friend's house.

I didn't want Dylan to know that I knew about his horrible act, so I had to act like I was still a clueless idiot suffering from amnesia, still in love with him and unaware of his horrible lie.

My memories were coming back to me a lot faster now. I remembered the pain of Dylan's rejection and how I wandered the forest after being banished, eventually being found by Mark's gang. I remembered living in this house after they accepted me as one of their own and asked me to join their pack. I remembered all the pranks Lizzie and I played on the boys (mostly me, though). I remembered how I had just started to forgive Dylan and start a relationship with him when Jason had kidnapped me. There were still a few fuzzy moments, but, basically, the giant missing chunk of my memory was back.

Unfortunately, Dylan didn't know this. So he thought his innocent little Tamara Rose was just being difficult.

I unlocked my phone and scrolled over our recent conversation, sighing.

Dylan: Where r u??

TR: I'm staying over a friend's.

Dylan: WHO??
Dylan: You remember a friend???
Dylan: Which friend? Where does she live?
Dylan: It IS a SHE right???

TR: Yeah, it's Lizzie.

Dylan: ...You remember Lizzie?

I scowled at that part. The bastard was probably worried I remembered Mark and the gang, too, and that his little lie was going to fall apart.

He had no idea.

TR: Yeah I kinda remember Lizzie. Not really the guys tho. And I'm staying at her place, not with the guys. So don't worry.

All lies. Then again, he had been lying to me since the moment I'd woken up from my coma, so...

Fair is fair.

Dylan: Are you sure you're going to be alright staying alone with Lizzie?

TR: I'll be fine.

Dylan: If you're sure...call me in the morning, ok?

TR: K.

Dylan: I love you.

I gritted my teeth

TR: I love you, too.

"FUCK!" I threw my phone across the room. It landed against the wall, smacking it forcefully before slipping onto the ground. I caught a glimpse of a cracked screen.

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I slid down my bed, bringing my hands up to cover my mouth. I started sobbing uncontrollably.

I had loved Dylan. Everything had finally started to get better. Sure, Jason had kidnapped me, but I had survived.

When I had woken up from my coma, not remembering Dylan's rejection, he had probably realized that reminding me of it would just put me through all that pain again.

But SO WHAT?

Pain or no pain, his rejection and banishment were both huge parts of my life. They led to my meeting Mark and the gang, some of the most amazing people to ever exist. They led to my return to Sierra County as a reformed, badass wolf--as opposed to the pathetic pushover I once was. They led to Dylan and I reworking our relationship--after countless fights, no doubt, but we worked it out eventually, didn't we? We finally accepted each other. Maybe we had an unpleasant history, but: We. Worked. It. Out. We were in a good place.

So why did he have to screw everything up?

WHY?

I threw my pillow, so hard it bursted open when it hit the wall. Feathers exploded around me, floating down in a thick flurry of white.

My bedroom door creaked open a crack. Jordan stood there, looking anxious.

"Tamara Rose, are you okay? You're making a lot of noise."

I sighed, flopping onto my back with my arms and legs spread wide, like a starfish.

"Why aren't you calling me Rosie?" I asked, ignoring his question.

Jordan opened the door wider, exposing his full body. He stared at me with an expression full of shock and hope. "R...Rosie? We only used to call you that back when..."

I sat up, smiling slightly. "Yeah, Jord. I know. I remember."

It was quiet for a split second before Jordan let out a loud cheer.

"WHOOP!" He took a running start and leaped onto my bed, enveloping me into a giant hug.

I chuckled against his chest, the sound muffled. Josh suddenly joined the group hug, appearing out of nowhere as he jumped onto my back. I was crushed in between the two of them as they hugged me from both the front and back.

"YOU FINALLY REMEMBER!" Josh yelled happily.

"Mmph," I mumbled in response.

Eric was laughing, his wheelchair at the edge of his bed. It kept him safe and sound from the horrible human sandwich predicament I was currently being forced into.

When Jordan and Josh finally let go of me, I glared at Eric. "Where's my hug?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Can't exactly walk over there, Rosie."

I grinned at the familiar nickname. "I know, you idiot. So roll on over here!" I opened my arms wide. Eric shook his head, but rolled over in his chair anyways, bringing it close to my bed until his legs touched the edge. I leaned over and buried my face into the crook of his shoulder, wrapping my arms around my best friend's shoulders.

"I missed you," I sniffed, a single tear rolling down my cheek.

Eric's voice was quiet when he responded, his hands soft and warm as he pressed them against my back.

"I missed you, too, Rosie. I missed you, too," he whispered.

~*~

~Eric

I watched Tamara Rose jump onto the kitchen counter, waving the Fudgesicle in her hand mockingly. She giggled wildly.

Jordan suddenly skidded into the kitchen doorway, panting. His eyes narrowed when he saw his ice cream in a certain brunette's hand.

"Rose, I am giving you one chance," he warned. "One. Chance. Give it to me right now."

"Hmm." She pretended to think about it, bringing the Fudgesicle to her mouth, the way someone would tap their finger to their chin if they were deep in thought.

Abruptly, she licked it.

Jordan's eyes widened. "YOU ARE DEAD, TAMARA ROSE CATHERINE!"

"Ooh, full name," I teased.

She rolled her eyes at me, winking before grinning and jumping off the counter. She darted out of the kitchen, Jordan dashing behind her quickly.

"It's almost like nothing's changed," Josh chuckled. The two of us were sitting at the kitchen table. Mark and Lizzie had gone out recently to go grocery shopping.

"Yeah," I sighed. Pausing, I added, "But let's not forget that I'm a cripple now."

Josh's eyes widened. "I-I--"

I laughed. "Man, it was a joke."

My friend made a face. "Not funny, Eric. I thought you were seriously offended."

"Nah. Takes a lot to rile me up," I said, smiling.

Josh suddenly got a smug look on his face. "I noticed. Speaking of getting riled up...who's the lucky girl?"

I blinked at him, bewildered. "What?"

He scoffed. "Don't play dumb with me. You think I haven't been noticing the way you've been going around in a daze lately? All the stupid smiles you suddenly get when you go off into some daydream? Who you dreaming about, Eric?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I felt my heart sink into my stomach.

Shit.

In an attempt to save face, I smirked. "Please. I don't like anyone."

Josh shook his head. "Deniaaal," he sang.

"Ok, fine, you got me," I admitted casually, shrugging.

Josh's eyes narrowed. I could see his confusion at my quick surrender. "Really?"

I nodded, still acting as if we were discussing the weather. "Yup. I have a crush. A pretty major one, too. Had for a while now."

He still looked suspicious, expecting a punch line. "Okay...well, then, who do you like?"

"I like..."

He leaned forward in anticipation.

"...Tamara Rose."

"Jerk." He scowled at my joke, punching my arm. I grinned.

On the inside, though, I was having a meltdown.

I hadn't been joking.

~*~

A/N:

SO MUCH IS GOING ON IN THIS STORY NOW.

UGH.

Anyways, BOMBSHELL!! Haha; a lot of you guys were shipping Eric and Rose anyways, but I know some of you will flip at this.

I MEAN, HE BASICALLY CONFESSED HIS UNDYING LOVE FOR HER.

I'm so tired, please ignore me.

Furthermore, Tamara got her memory back!! Yay!! (Haha, Dylan doesn't know what's coming to him!)

Also, comment!! :))

:)