I REMEMBER YOU

She never forgave them. Five years later, and they hadn't spoken, hadn't interacted at all. Even if there had been a point, she changed her phone number, and eventually moved, and he had no way to contact her.

And finally, there was a purpose. His retromutagen had been perfected, and he'd even tinkered with it enough to turn himself and his brothers into full humans, so they'd blend in more easily.

So they could have normal lives.

It's in the process of creating those lives that their paths cross again.

She's trying to do some last minute cramming for her French exam this morning, and he's just received a text message, and so neither sees the others before their inevitable collision.

She bends to pick up her book while he mumbles, "Sorry," and it's that voice that catches her attention. A voice that feels familiar, but, not having heard it in years, she can't place.

"Hi," she says cautiously, wondering what's compelling her to stop, rather than continue on her day.

"Hey," he replies. Seeing her confused expression, he adds, "Remember me?"

She feels like she should nod, but, being unsure, she freezes and says nothing.

He sighs. "I remember you- walking away."

And that jogs her memory, because who else had she left without a second glance? Who else had she ignored for probably too long? Who else had she never given a second chance?

She had never looked back, even though she wanted to sometimes. She'd always figured it'd be for the best. She couldn't face them knowing what they'd done to her dad. Losing her mom, and her dad, she would've been on her own, except that her older sister, Maireinn, took a year off school to stay with her until she could go to college.

She's sorry. But she won't admit it to anyone, because that would ruin everything she's worked for. It would crack her hardened heart and allow her to realize that it wasn't their fault, but it was her fault she didn't let them explain. That's where the guilt and pain would come in, eating her away until she was just a shell of the person she'd once been.

He turns to leave, and she chases after him, wanting to question his new appearance, to ask about his family, to say anything to keep him from deserting her like she'd done to him.

But he's still faster, and a smoke bomb appears, and then he's gone, out of her life AGAIN, and sitting on the ground when the smoke clears is a bottle labeled RM. There's a note that reads, "I perfected the retromutagen three years ago. Have your dad drink it, and I guarantee he'll be back to normal. Just like you always wanted."

Her eyes start to well up with tears. Had she stayed with them, had she helped, she could've had her dad back years ago. And she wouldn't have lost her four best friends.

She heads to her exam, hoping if she concentrates hard enough on not bombing it, she can forget them again. Let them slip out of her heart again, only appearing in her mind on rare occasions.

But all she can think, as she stares at Question Number One, is yeah, I remember you.

Maybe their paths will cross again, and maybe next time they'll intertwine for a while, but not today. Probably not in the near future, either.

But now, she realizes, she understands what he's been through, to some extent. Because finally, she can remember him, walking away.

And that hurts more than anything.

Sorry this is such crap, guys. I got bored in school yesterday and wrote it, so I figured I may as well upload it. And if any of you are wondering (probably none of you are), I am planning on updating both Red Haze and Raphael's Kunoichi- if you haven't read those, check them out! My computer broke and I lost all my files on the two of them, so I've had to start all over. But since I got access to a computer, I decided to spew some stuff out, so you know I'm not, like, dead or something. Have a great day And remember to review!