Fade Away My Memories Chapter 25

Yusei: awesome she talks again!

Lise: but my voice sounds weird…

ME: happens sometimes, like when you get air bubbles in your throat and then your voice comes out higher!

Yusei: … I think that's helium…

Lise: now that would be funny

ME: definitely! Okay here's the next chapter! (Don't own 5Ds)

/

"I was worried sick! I waited up all night for God's sake!" Mom ranted as she wheeled into the house before us. Good thing it was Saturday.

"Well sleeping outside on a tree was… um… interesting…" Yusei commented dryly. I could hear him stretching out and cracking his back behind me.

I smiled. A real smile and it felt good. Yusei was right; Ray wouldn't want me to be sad. Don't wallow, move on and get better at everything you try.

"Sorry Mom…" I said hoarsely. I blinked as Mom stared at me from the kitchen table. Yusei smiled as he sat down too. "Wow, I sound like Darth Vader!" I put my hand in front of my mouth and exaggerated the rasp in my unused throat. "Mom, I am your daughter!"

Mom rolled her eyes and shook her head but she was smiling from ear to ear. Yusei fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard. It was good to see him so happy. He deserved it.

"I guess you just needed some help?"

I nodded. "A little, thanks, and I'm sorry for worrying you guys… I should probably phone the others…"

"Get your voice working again," Mom agreed.

I went up to my room and flopped on the squishy mattress. I loved my bed. It was my first relationship… I kid, I kid… Anyway, I found my phone and dialed Fish's number.

She picked up on the first ring. "Oh my God, no way! Wait, this isn't a stupid prank call is it? Who has Liz's phone?"

"Nobody but me," I cursed silently. My voice was probably unconvincing. I sounded like a dying lawn mower.

"Liz, it's really you! I'd hug you but… it's hard over the phone."

I smiled. Fish would never change. I needed that. She was a good friend. Akiza was supportive too. I needed to call her next.

"Wait is that Liz?! Really?"

Speak of the devil, Akiza's voice filtered through my cell phone. I didn't care what she was doing with Fish; I just cared that she was there too.

"Yep, it's me."

"Wait… just to make sure it's really Liz…"

"Oh good idea!" Akiza agreed. I rolled my eyes and waited. "What year were we in when Fish flooded all the girls bathrooms?"

"It's a trick question," I replied, grinning. "Fish flooded the bathrooms every year we were in grade school."

"Correct!"

"It's her!"

"So…what's up? Is everything okay?" I could practically see Akiza's brown eyes widening slightly with concern.

"Well not entirely. I don't think I'll ever be happy about Ray, but I gotta keep going don't I? Live because Ray didn't get to keep going."

"Okay… Good for you. Do you need us to come over with ice cream?"

I laughed. "No, no ice cream. I think I just wanna-"

"Forget that!" Fish blurted. I heard a "hey!" on the other end and a small scuffle. Fish was obviously taking the phone back… "We're calling everyone else and coming over to celebrate! We're celebrating Ray's life and going out on our own Life adventures!"

"But wait Fish don't-" Dial tone… She hung up on me… I rolled my eyes and canceled the call.

"That was fast," Mom remarked when I rejoined them downstairs.

"Fish is calling the others and apparently we're having a party here tonight," I told her sheepishly.

Instead of getting mad she seemed to actually consider it. "Well that might be fun. Not a bad idea at all. A party sounds like fun."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, just get to bed at a decent hour all right? Oh, and shower beforehand. You're probably sticky with tree sap." Mom kept rambling on as she debated whether she should make something or not. She started to get breakfast ready beforehand though.

"You wanna shower first?" I asked Yusei, sitting across from him. "You're probably sappier."

"Ha ha," he smiled and rolled his eyes. "Doesn't matter to me."

"Kay…" I didn't move. I fidgeted nervously with a hangnail I'd just noticed I had on my left thumb underneath the table. How do I phrase this? "Thanks…um…for coming…and staying with me…"

Yusei looked seriously at my face, serious, but then softened. "You know, it's okay. We're only humans… and really dumb ones sometimes. Just… it's okay to hurt…" He blushed a light pink. "I don't remember where I was going with this…"

"I got the message," I assured him, closing my eyes and smiling widely. "Now I have to take a shower so if you'll excuse me." I quickly scooted up the stairs, feeling better than I had in a long time.

/

It wasn't cold enough outside anymore for my breath to steam. I admit I was glad it was warming up for summer, but that also reminded me about my deadline. I had until the end of September, but I was still starting to feel more and more panicked and alarmed. I wasn't even sure if Lise just liked me or if she…well ya know… Just to add another thing to the list of things I'm confused about and kinda suck happens to be my nightmares. Lise is seeing them too, not all of them, but I can tell when we've shared a dream because in the dreams we're drawn to each other. Kinda like magnets, but we don't see each other despite the fact that we can reach out and find the other's hand. When I reach out and nothing folds between my fingertips and squeezes my hand, then I know the dream is meant for me and only me. I'm running out of options and I'm scared to death of the consequences at the end of the road.

Fish walks out the front door and I can tell it's her instantly even though she's at least a foot shorter than me because of her fish hat. Crow loves that hat, and I admit it's looks good on Fish, but then again she's my friend… sort of… Fish and I have a very weird relationship.

Anyway, she climbs up the ladder and sits next to me on the roof. "Hey stalker."

I roll my eyes. "I have a name, Fish."

"A name that has no significance to me," she retorts. She cracks open a can of coke and takes a long drink. She usually insults me more than this; she must be thinking. "Yusei, you're gonna take Liz away aren't you?"

I stare at Fish. What does that mean? "What?"

"You love her and… I've had visions and seen things… Liz doesn't know… They look like a different life… the visions feel real, like something that's supposed to happen but didn't."

"And so you think I'm gonna take Lise away to this other place you see in your visions?"

Fish was so distracted she didn't bother to ask how I knew about her Oracle of the Sea powers without her ever telling me. "Well sort of… I just… I want Liz to be happy, and of this other world is where things are supposed to be and she's happy and everyone else is than I guess I am too."

Now I was really confused. "Fish, why did you really come up here?"

Fish frowned angrily and elbowed me, hard. "The point is, whatever happens, no matter what, Liz is one of my best friends and you better make her happy or I'll kill you. Capiche?"

I laughed. Good old Fish. "I read you loud and clear."

"Good, now go back to whatever freaky weirdo boys like you do," she said indifferently and descended the ladder back to the ground.

I figured I wasn't really doing anything on the roof so I might as well rejoin the others. But if Ritsu tried to get me to dance again, I was going right back outside.

I climbed down and nearly ran into Mayoko when she opened the door. "Ow…" I muttered quietly when one of her wheels banged into my shin.

"Oh sorry Yusei! I was just going to get the mail. I completely forgot it with everything going on today!" she chirped happily and rolled down the ramp into the dark for the mailbox.

I smiled and slipped back indoors. Even if my situation wasn't going to be good, I was glad about who I was surrounded by.

Lise's music blared throughout the house. I managed to avoid people long enough to sit down on the couch to figure out what song was playing.

For the way you changed my plans…

For being the perfect distraction

For the way

You took the idea that I had of everything that I wanted to have

And made me see there was something missing

Oh yeah…

For the ending of my first begin…

And for the rare and unexpected friend…

For the way

You're something that I never choose

But at the same time something I don't wanna lose

And never wanna be without ever again

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

So when you were here

I had no idea

You're the best thing I never knew I needed

Now it's so clear

I need you here always…

I'd never heard the song before, but I liked it. Wouldn't be my favorite but it wasn't bad.

"Hey, cold huh?" Lise's voice said from behind me. I stiffened and shivered as she pressed something that was definitely freezing to the back of my neck. "Have a coke."

I rolled my eyes and took the coke she passed over my shoulder. "I really hate it when you do that…"

She shrugged and dropped down next to me, sipping from her own coke. I couldn't say how, but I could feel my face heating up and my nerves relaxing just a little. Somehow Lise has that effect on me; comfort and discomfort.

"So what song are we listening to?"

"Never Knew I Needed by Ne-Yo. It's pretty and not his usual music. Plus I liked the movie it was in…"

"Ah, so it's your choice?"

Lise turned pink as I opened my coke. "It IS my IPod."

"Good point."

"Turn the music down! Turn it down!" Mayoko shouted when she'd wheeled back in.

Rodriquez shot her a confused look but did as she said. The chatter died down and I stared as Mayoko stopped in front of Lise, waving a very large envelope at her.

Lise stared at the envelope and took it with shaking hands. It was very quiet now. The return address was from a college in America.

"You open it," Lise thrust the envelope into Akiza. She had unfortunately inched herself closest to Lise, besides me.

"You sure?"

Lise nodded.

"Okay…" Akiza quickly slit the envelope open, pulling out a lot of stuff. She peered quickly at the very first paper. "Liz…"

"What?"

"We are proud to accept you into Carnegie Mellon University-"

"YES!" Lise screamed, bouncing off the couch and hugging Akiza tightly. The silence was broken. There was a huge cheer and Rodriguez turned the music back on.

"You're in!" Mayoko cried, hugging her daughter.

I smiled, happy, but it was only a matter of time before Lise found me to talk about our debt. I'd need to be prepared…

"Yay you!" Fish cheered squeezing Akiza and Lise, when I'd come back downstairs unnoticed. I decided to blend by the kitchen counter and keep an eye on them. "And I forgot to mention over the phone, Akiza and I are set to go to college too! We've gotta call and text a bunch!"

"Promise," Akiza said and Lise nodded her agreement.

I sipped my coke innocently until I noticed Lise approach from the corner of my eye. "Come to gloat?"

"Well…actually yeah. You know what this means right," Lise was smirking.

I raised an eyebrow, playing dumb. "Nope, enlighten me please."

"I won the bet! You have to do whatever I want."

"Actually," I replied pleasantly. "I think you'll find that I won the bet…" I pulled my acceptance letter out of my back pocket and handed it to her.

Her eye went wide and she snatched it out of my hands. Lise's eyes skimmed furiously over the information and especially, I noticed, the date. I knew the exact moment she found it.

"No way…" she breathed disbelievingly. "I lost…"

"Yep, so YOU have to do what I want." I was so loving this. Every single second of it. "On the bright side you did get into the college of your dreams."

Lise shot me a dirty look and shoved the letter at me. I took it back and pretended to consider my options; she crossed her arms and tapped her foot, waiting.

"So whattaya want? Something expensive? Something stupid and ridiculous?"

"Nope…actually I know exactly what I want."

"What's going on guys?" Akiza asked, curious.

"We made a bet and Lise lost so she has to do what I want," I explained patiently.

"Does that include-"

"NO," Lise interrupted. "Just get on with it wouldja?"

"Sure. What I want is for you to go on a date with me."

"What a great idea!" Akiza grinned, but I wasn't looking at her.

Lise's reaction was priceless. Her eyes went as wide as a planet and her mouth fell open. Then her face turned into a variety of shades of pink and red. I could practically see the gears in her head changing from emotion to emotion. It was spectacular.

"What? No, no, I can't!" she finally said.

"Why not?" Akiza demanded, hands on hips.

"You lost, and we shook on it," I reminded her.

"I-I know… I just um… well I… I've never… I've never been on a date before…" Lise admitted, twisting her hair and staring at the floor. Her cheeks were flushed and had settled on a bright pink color.

"It wouldn't be a formal date," I said. "It'd just be you and me going out on a nice day and uh… you know… having fun?" Great, now my face was feeling hot!

"Okay…um…yeah…" Lise took a deep breath. "Fine… I'll go on a date with…you…"

"You will?!"

"But ONLY because of the bet. That's it!"

I couldn't stop smiling now. "Works for me."

Akiza squealed excitedly. "This is so amazing! Can I pick out what you'll wear?"

"Um sure?" Lise said. "But no dresses kay?"

"Oh no problem! I can make you look cute without one! I can also make sure Fish doesn't stalk you on the date," Akiza winked and skipped away to tell Mayoko.

"Hey Lizzie!" Ritsu glomped onto Lise. "Congrats!"

"Thanks."

"Here Liz, you need to sing Ray's favorite song kay?" Ritsu instructed, handing Lise a microphone. "Roddie's gonna play the guitar behindja!"

Ritsu pointed to Rodriquez tuning up a guitar in the TV room.

"I didn't know he could play," I said.

"Oh yeah, Roddie can play the guitar and he can dance. He plays acoustic best," Ritsu told me, her brow furrowed with pride.

Lise sighed. "All right, but only for Ray, okay?"

"Sure thing!" Ritsu gave Lise a thumbs up.

"Ready when you are Roddie," Lise said determinedly.

Rodriguez nodded and started strumming. I recognized the tune but only vaguely.

"It's The a Team by Ed Sheeran," Ritsu said solemnly. She wiped at her face, concealing tears. "It was Ray's favorite. He said it really spoke to him. Ray was always like that…"

"Yeah…" I agreed, listening intently to the lyrics as Lise began.

White lips, pale face

Breathing in snowflakes

Burnt lungs, sour taste

Light's gone, day's end

Struggling to pay rent

Long nights, strange men

And they say

She's in the class A Team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems

Slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And the scream

The worst things in life come free to us

Coz we're just under the upper hand

And go mad for a couple grams

And she don't wanna go outside tonight

And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

Angels to fly

Ripped gloved, raincoat

Tried to swim and stay afloat

Cry house, wet clothes

Loose change, bank notes

Weary-eyed, dry throat

Call girl, no phone

And they say

She's in the class A team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems

Slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

Cuz we're just under the upper hand

And go md for a couple grams

And she don't wanna go outside tonight

And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

An angel will die

Covered in white

Closed eye

And hoping for a better life

This time, we'll fade out tonight

Straight down the line

And they say

She'd in the class A team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems

Slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

And we're all under the upper hand

And go mad for a couple grams

And we don't wanna go outside tonight

And in a pipe we fly to the motherland

Or sell love to another man

Its too cold outside

For angels to fly

Angels to fly

To fly, to fly

Angels to fly, to fly

Angels to die…

"For Ray…" Lise whispered into the mike when she and Rodriguez had finished. "For Ray…"