Kaidan looked around the apartment. It was huge and brand new. Ever since the town burned down residence have been scrambling to rebuild. Unfortunately every precious memory had burned with the fire. The only thing he could remember, besides the name of the town, was that he was a teacher at the local high school. He smiled a little. This place seemed so foreign and yet so recognizable.
"Where do you want this?" came a familiar voice. The man was tall, lean and muscular. His hair was short and brown. Kaidan thought his eyes was a beautiful shade of blue. The man looked at him then removed a hand from the box he was holding to wave it in front of Kaidan's face. "Hellooooo?" Kaidan jarred from his thoughts and shook his head.
"Over there." He replied pointing to the island facing the balcony doors. The man walked over to the island and carefully placed the box on its surface. "Uh, thank you again for helping me Mr. . ."
"Shepard. John Shepard. My friends call me Mark or Shep." The man, John, responded. "It's no big deal. I like helping people new to this town." Kaidan went to the hallway and brought in another box.
"I'm not new. I've lived here for most of my life, I think." Kaidan straightened up and followed John out into the hallway to get the rest of the boxes.
"You think? You're not sure?" he asked quite curious.
"I don't remember much. Just being surrounded by flames then something heavy hitting me in the head. I woke up the next day in a hospital in the neighboring city. Said I was lucky." Kaidan cringed at the sound of his own voice. It was sad and lonely.
"I see," was the only response John could give. "That fire was years ago. Why did you wait so long to come back?"
The question took Kaidan by surprise. "I. . . I don't want to talk about it. Painful memories and such." Luckily John wasn't in a hurry to know Kaidan's past. Kaidan and John moved the rest of the boxes into Kaidan's new apartment in silence. John said his goodbyes and left Kaidan to his box sorting. Slowly Kaidan started putting things away. He started in the kitchen, putting dishes in the cupboards and towels and dish rags in the drawers.
Next was the bathroom. He began with his toothbrush and toothpaste, putting them in the medicine cabinet. Next was the towels and washrags, stacking them neatly on the shelves of the bathroom closet then shutting the door. By the time he was done the sun was setting, coloring his kitchen and living room a reddish orange hue. He sat down on one of stools his mom had given him. He was exhausted as well as hungry.
He decided after much debate to head to the local diner. He had seen it when he first arrived. If he remembered correctly it was in the same place as the old one. In between the shoe store and the sports store. He got his keys and went down stairs.
He smiled when he reached the diner. They built it exactly like the old one same checkerboard tile pattern, same red stools and booths, same juke box. Even the name of the diner was the same, Apollos. He entered the diner and took a seat next to the window. Soon a waitress he recognized came up to him.
"What can I get for you?" She asked. Her smile complimented her blue eyes perfectly as well as her short dark hair. Then her smile grew, her eyes widened. By god she recognized him. "Let me guess steak sandwich with extra onions and green peppers with fries and a Canadian lager?"
"Yes, please. Oh, could you bring me some A-1 sauce please?" Kaidan asked
"Of course, Kaidan. Anything for you." The waitress walked away. She recognized him and he knew it. Hell she knew his name. He tried his hardest to remember hers. It was just really difficult. He remembered going to high school with her. She transferred from Therum. He remembered sitting behind her in class, talking about how her mother wanted to destroy them all along with the principal. He couldn't remember her name though.
Finally the woman arrived with his food. "Here you go! I had James throw in some extra fries for you." Kaidan had to look at her name tag. He didn't want to but he had to.
"Thanks Liara." He said. Liara smiled.
"No problem Kaidan." She replied. Then she turned and walked away. Liara. Liara T'soni. It hit him like a ton of bricks. She worked with him at the high school as a history teacher before the fire. Why was she waitressing? The ting-ding of a bell and a chorus of 'Hey's pulled him harshly from his thoughts. He looked in the direction they came from. Sitting at the counter was John and a heavily tattooed woman. The cook came out from the kitchen to talk to them and Liara joined them.
"Don't look now but I think the new guy is checking you out." James said.
"New guy? What new guy?" Jack asked she turned her head to look behind John.
"Not you, you halfwit." James whispered. "I think he's got his eyes locked on Shepard." Shepard turned around and saw a staring Kaidan. He smiled and waved at him. In return he got a blush, a small smile and a wave back.
"He's not new. At least I don't think." Shepard stated.
"Of course he's not new. That's Kaidan Alenko." Jack retorted. With that the conversation paused. John and James looked at Jack with wide eyes. Liara nodded in silent agreement.
"Wait if that's Kaidan, then how come he didn't remember me?" Shepard asked clearly shocked.
"He remembered me." Liara countered. Shepard let his mouth hang, as did James. Shepard looked back at Kaidan for a brief second before he heard Jack repeat herself.
"I'm sorry. What?" He asked. Jack's face contorted in anger.
"I said 'Close your mouth please Michael. You are not a cod fish.'" Liara, James and Shepard looked at her for a moment before erupting in a chorus of laughter.