I'm so sorry it took so long for this update! With all the crazyness of Thanksgiving (or as I like to call it, the Turkey Day of Doom) I didn't get a chance to write until Saturday. This chapter's a long one so I hope it makes up for the wait. Enjoy!
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"Wasn't the Garden Festival wonderful?" Marta gushed as the trio sipped coffee at the breakfast table.
"Yep," James agreed as he read the morning newspaper. On the front page was a picture of Balamb Garden and above it in huge black letters were the words "GARDEN FESTIVAL IS HUGE SUCCESS."
"Did you enjoy yourself Angelica?" Marta asked.
"Yes," Angelica answered, "I had a lot of fun." In fact, she had been thinking about the man in the gray trench coat since last night. She hadn't been able to get him off her min and had even had a dream about him. Strangely, she remembered the entire dream except what he looked like.
After breakfast, Angelica said goodbye to her surrogate parents and left the house to go to work. As she made her way to Raine's Pub, her eyes wandered over to the blue towering shape that was Balamb Garden. The Garden would be leaving today at 5:30pm and Angelica hoped she would have time to see Selphie Tilmitt before their departure. She was also hoping to see the man in the gray trench coat again before he and the rest of the Garden returned to Balamb.
Angelica reached the Pub and walked in. Pete was standing behind the bar and smiled as she entered.
"Angie, how ya doing?" he greeted, "did you catch the Garden Festival last right?"
"Yes," Angelica replied, "did you?"
"Are you kidding?" Pete chuckled, "I was waiting outside the Garden at 5:45. Hey, how'd you like the band?"
"They were boring," Lili interjected as she came out of the kitchen.
"You went?" Pete inquired.
"Xu made me," Lili told him, "Speaking of Xu," she turned to Angelica, "she came by yesterday but you were already gone. She said she'd come by again today before she leaves."
A sudden idea struck Angelica. "Lili, does your sister know Selphie Tilmitt, the director of the Garden Festival?"
"I think so," Lili replied, "why?"
"Do you think she could set up a meeting between me and Miss Tilmitt?" Angelica asked eagerly.
"I could ask her when she comes in," Lili offered.
"Thank you!" Angelica exclaimed, "I would appreciate it so much!"
"No problem," Lili smiled at the energetic blonde.
"Heads up guys," Pete said as he stared out the window, "here comes the morning rush."
Angelica grabbed her apron, put it on quickly and got to work.
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"Let's go into Winhill for breakfast this morning," Seifer suggested as the posse walked down the dorm hallway, "I've had enough cafeteria food to last me a lifetime."
"I agree ya know," Raijin nodded.
"What about you Fu?" Seifer asked, "Are you coming too?"
"YES."
The trio left the dorm hallway and began the walk around the Garden towards the front gate. As they passed the infirmary, Seifer spotted Xu heading towards the elevator.
"Xu!" he called. The brunette stopped and turned in the direction that they were approaching from. A frown encased her lips as she saw who had called to her.
"What do you want Almasy?" Xu questioned suspiciously.
"Me, Raijin and Fujin were on our way into Winhill to get breakfast," Seifer started.
"You're not inviting me along are you?" Xu interrupted.
"As much as you'd like that, no," Seifer told her. Xu glared as Seifer continued. "I wanted to ask you where you're sister works and if she's a good cook."
"She works at Raine's Pub," Xu answered, "and yes, she's a good cook."
"All right. Thanks Xu." Seifer waved as the older woman got into the elevator and disappeared behind the doors. Seifer and his friends continued out of the Garden and into the town of Winhill.
"Now, which building is the Pub?" Seifer questioned as he stood in the middle of the cobblestone plaza and looked around at the unmarked buildings.
"Maybe you should've asked Xu for directions, ya know," Raijin suggested. He yelped in pain as Fujin's foot slammed into his shin.
"IDIOT."
"Ow, Fu," Raijin whined, "You don't have to be so rough ya know."
"SHUT UP."
"Guys, focus," Seifer ordered, "we're trying to find the Pub remember?"
The two friends nodded and began looking around. After a few moments, Seifer felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Fujin pointing a pale finger towards a building on the left side of the town where two men and a woman had just emerged.
"PUB."
"Good work, Fu," Seifer praised, "come on, let's go."
The posse made their way to the Pub and entered to the jingling of bells.
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Angelica picked up the plates off the table that Mr. and Mrs. Curtis and Mr. Linney had just vacated. Her back was to the door but when she heard the bells on the door jingle, she spun around with a smile on her face and the plates still in her hands.
"I'll be right with…" The words died on her lips as she saw who had just entered the Pub. It was the man in the gray trench coat and his two friends. They were talking when they entered but turned their attention to her when they heard her voice. The blonde man's eyes fell on her and he stopped dead in his tracks, as did the other two. As they stared at each other across the Pub, Angelica realized that his eyes were green and were the same emerald pools she had seen in so many of her dreams. Before she could stop it, a name slipped out of her lips.
"Seifer."
"Quistis?" the blonde man questioned, his eyes wide. Without warning, he rushed towards her. She instinctively took a step back and hit the table. The blonde man stopped in front of her and stared at her intently, his eyes full of surprise and relief.
"Quistis, is it really you?" he whispered, "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Angelica started.
"Hey!" Pete called loudly but the blonde man ignored him. He grabbed the dishes away from Angelica and sat them aside. Angelica stared up at him, not sure what to do. The blonde man grabbed her hands and she tried to pull away but he didn't seem to notice.
"Hyne, I thought you were dead," he told her and his eyes filled with tears. He blinked them away quickly. "Why didn't you come back to the Garden?" Suddenly the relief in his eyes was replaced with suspicion and he narrowed the green orbs at her. "Quisty, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Leave her alone!" Angelica looked over and saw that Pete was standing next to them. His face was red and he looked angry. "Get away from her!"
The blonde man turned towards the burly bartender and glared. "Back off old man."
"Get out of here right now!" Pete ordered, "or I'll call the police!"
The blonde man turned to Angelica. "What's wrong Quistis? Why are you acting like you're afraid of me?"
"Come on Seifer," the dark man urged while prying the blonde man's hands off of Angelica's, "Let's go, ya know."
"GO," the silver haired woman agreed, "NOW." She began helping the other man drag the frustrated blonde out of the Pub.
"Let go of me dammit!" he shouted, "What the Hell are you doing?!"
His friends drug him to the front and disappeared out the door. Once they were gone, Angelica took a trembling breath and looked over at Pete. Her entire body was shaking violently.
"Are you okay Angie?" Lili came rushing out of the kitchen.
"I…I think so," Angelica stammered.
"Who was that guy?" Pete asked, "do you know him?"
"No," Angelica replied, "I mean, I think so." She sighed in frustration. "I don't know."
"I've never seen him around here before," Pete commented, "Do you think he's from the Garden?"
"Probably," Lili agreed, "They all had weapons. I'll give my sister a call and tell her about what happened. I'm sure she can get someone to take care of it." Lili picked up the phone behind the bar and dialed. After a brief conversation in which she described the blonde man, his friends and what had happened, she hung up and turned back to the bartender and the frightened waitress.
"Xu said that judging by the description I gave her, the man was Seifer Almasy," Lili informed, "she says he's a pain in the ass and will make sure he's taken care of."
"Seifer?" Pete repeated, "isn't that what you called him when he walked in?"
Angelica nodded slowly. "Maybe I do know him."
"I think you should take the rest of the day off," Pete suggested, "I know that guy scared you."
"Yeah," Angelica agreed, "I think you're right." She slipped off her apron and grabbed her sweater.
"I'll check and make sure that guy is gone," Lili offered. She ran to the front of the Pub and looked out the window. The blonde man and his friends were nowhere to be seen. "Coast is clear."
Angelica and Pete walked to the front door where Lili held it open. "We'll stay here and watch until you get inside the house," Pete assured.
"Thank you," Angelica said and left the Pub. She walked quickly across the plaza, more for Pete and Lili than for herself. She had the distinct feeling that the blonde man, Seifer, wouldn't have hurt her. Once she reached the Ericson's front door, she turned and waved towards the Pub to let them know she was safe, then entered the house.
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Raijin and Fujin drug Seifer out of the Pub and back towards the far end of Winhill. They were almost back to the Garden when Seifer stopped struggling. They instinctively loosened their grips.
"What is wrong with you?" Seifer raged, "Why did you drag me out of there? That was Quistis!"
"Something's wrong ya know," Raijin told him, "I don't think she remembers us, ya know."
"What do you mean?" Seifer asked.
"AMNESIA," Fujin offered.
"Amnesia?" Seifer repeated in confusion, "You think Quistis has amnesia?"
"It makes sense, ya know," Raijin said, "why else would she act like she didn't know you, ya know? It's a proven fact that severe trauma can cause amnesia, ya know." His two companions stared at him questioningly, wondering where the sudden intelligent thought had come from. "What?"
"NOTHING."
"I think you're right," Seifer agreed after a few moments of deliberation, "we need to get back to the Garden and tell the others. They'll figure out what to do."
Seifer took off at a run towards the Garden. Raijin and Fujin looked at each other questioningly and hurried to catch up.
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"Angelica, what are you doing home so early?" Marta questioned as she stepped into the entryway.
"Pete told me he didn't need me today," she lied and petted Tank's head.
"Are you all right dear?" Marta asked after seeing Angelica's pale complexion.
"I'm fine," Angelica assured, "Um, if it's all right with you, I'd like to take a walk on the beach for a while."
"Of course that's fine," Marta smiled, "why don't you take Tank with you, just in case?"
"Okay," Angelica agreed, "I'll be back in a little while. Come on Tank." She and the dog left the house and made their way down to the beach.
Once she reached the sandy shore, Angelica let her mind wander to her encounter with Seifer Almasy this morning. Does he know who I am? she thought, He acted like he did but he kept calling me Quistis. Did he mistake me for someone else? If that's the case, why did I call him by name? No, he must know me. Maybe my name isn't really Angelica.
"This is all so confusing!" Angelica shouted. Tank looked up at her questioningly. Angelica smiled and scratched his ears. "Don't mind me, I'm just having a bad day." As if understanding her, Tank's lips curved back into a doggy smile and they continued down the beach.
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The posse burst into the Garden with determined looks on their faces and headed straight towards the elevator. Many of the students who saw the posse made a point to get out of their way and the ones who were unfortunate enough to get in their way weren't there for long. They reached the elevator and pressed the button to call it from the other floors. They waited impatiently for the elevator and when it finally arrived, the doors slid open to reveal Xu. She smiled sinisterly at Seifer when she saw him.
"Seifer Almasy," she grinned, "just the man I was looking for."
"I don't have time for your shit right now Xu," Seifer told her as they crowded into the elevator. He pushed the button for the third floor.
"What business do you have on the third floor?" the brunette asked, knowing no one could have relayed her message yet.
"I need to talk to Squall," Seifer replied, "it's important."
"What a coincidence," Xu said, "Squall needs to talk to you as well."
Seifer shot a glance over at Xu but turned back forward as the elevator doors opened to reveal the third floor lobby. He hurried out of the elevator car and towards Squall's office. He barged in quickly, leaving the stunned secretary shouting after him. The blue-eyed commander looked up from the paperwork on his desk when he heard the older man enter.
"Seifer," Squall greeted, "I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"I need to talk to you," Seifer began.
Squall held up his hand to cut him off. "First, I want to talk to you about a report I got today from a local pub." Before Seifer could respond, Squall continued. "Xu's sister called and told her a man was harassing a waitress in their pub and the description fit you perfectly. What were you doing?"
"If you'll just shut up for a second, I'll tell you!" Seifer shouted, "the waitress that I was 'harassing' is Quistis!"
Squall stared at him blankly. "What?"
"Quistis is alive!" Seifer exclaimed, "She's working at that Pub!"
"Seifer," Squall started and a sympathetic look filled his slate colored eyes, "I know how hard it was for you to accept Quisty's death, but you have to let her go."
"You think I'm making this up?" Seifer demanded in disbelief, "that I imagined it?" Squall didn't answer. "If you don't believe me, fine. Ask Fujin and Raijin. They saw her too."
Squall sighed and pushed the intercom on his desk. "Adia?"
"Yes Mr. Leonhart?" The secretary's voice floated through the speaker.
"Are Raijin Denko and Fujin Kaze out there?" Squall inquired.
"Yes sir."
"Send them in please."
"Yes sir."
The office door opened and the remaining members of the posse entered. They each stood next to Seifer, one on each side. They saluted Squall briskly, something Seifer never did.
"At ease," Squall told them and they relaxed. "Seifer tells me that he saw someone in a pub today. Do you know who it was?"
"It was Quistis, ya know," Raijin answered.
"AFFIRMATIVE," Fujin agreed, "QUISTIS."
Squall sighed again. "Okay. If this was actually Quistis you saw, why is she here? Why did Xu's sister say you were harassing her?"
"I wasn't harassing her," Seifer insisted, "I was surprised to see her and I might've come on a little strong."
"Why didn't she come back with you?" Squall questioned.
"These two dragged me out before I could talk to her." Seifer jerked a thumb towards his two comrades.
"Wait." Squall held up his hands. "Let me get this straight. You saw Quistis in a pub in Winhill. You talked to her, then upset her. Fujin and Raijin drug you back here. Meanwhile, Xu gets a call from her sister saying that you were harassing a waitress in the pub she works at. Why, during all of these events, didn't Quistis straighten it all out and tell Xu's sister that she knows you?"
"Fujin and Raijin were under the impression that she didn't remember me," Seifer told him, "I was so happy to see her that my mind wasn't registering her reaction."
"She didn't remember you?" Squall repeated skeptically, "Why wouldn't she remember you?"
"AMNESIA," Fujin stated, obviously annoyed by the commander's thick headedness.
Squall was silent for a moment, trying to let all of the information sink in. Finally, his ice blue eyes fell on Seifer. "Are you absolutely sure that the woman you saw was Quistis? Because I don't want the Garden to get the reputation of some sentimental institute where the commander goes from town to town questioning every blonde woman he comes across in hopes of finding a dead instructor."
"I swear to you, that was Quistis I saw in the Pub," Seifer said, "no one else could ever be that beautiful."
"All right," Squall nodded. He pushed the intercom button on his desk. "Adia?"
"Yes Mr. Leonhart?"
"Do an all call for Rinoa Heartilly, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht and Cammi Jinzyle. Have them report to my office immediately. If Xu is out there, have her come in too. Also, call Headmaster and Headmistress Kramer and tell them I need to speak with them as soon as possible. Tell the it's important."
"Yes sir."
Squall looked back up at the green-eyed SeeD. "You'd better be right."
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The bells on the door jingled and Pete looked up. He smiled as he saw Xu enter with two other people. The man he recognized as Commander Squall Leonhart and the woman was his girlfriend, Rinoa Heartilly.
"Hey Xu," he greeted, "what can I do for you?"
"Hello Pete," Xu smiled. She turned to her companions. "Guys, this is Pete Collier. He owns this Pub." She pointed at Squall. "This is Commander Squall Leonhart…"
Pete wiped his hands on a bar towel and came around the bar. He extended his hand. "It's an honor to meet you Mr. Leonhart. I knew your mother, she was a wonderful woman." The commander nodded as the two men shook hands.
"And this is Rinoa Heartilly," Xu continued and pointed at Rinoa.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Heartilly." Pete shook her hand.
The raven-haired woman smiled warmly. "Pleased to meet you."
"We're here to discuss the problem you encountered with one of our SeeDs this morning," Xu finished, "Is Lili still here? I'd like to get her input on this also."
"Sure." Pete turned back to the kitchen. "Lili! Xu's here and she wants to talk to you!"
A second later, the dark-haired cook emerged from the back. "Hey Xu, what's up?"
"This is Commander Squall Leonhart and this is Rinoa Heartilly," Xu introduced, "Guys, this is my sister Lili." They all shook hands. "We're here to talk to you about Seifer Almasy."
"That jerk who was harassing Angie this morning?" Lili questioned, "I hope you punish him good, he scared the Hell out of poor Angelica."
"Let's have a seat," Pete suggested. Since the bar was empty, the five of them sat around a nearby table.
"So," Lili started after they had all taken a seat, "What did you want to know about this morning?"
"First, why don't you tell everyone exactly what you told me on the phone," Xu answered. Lili nodded and relayed the events from earlier in the day.
"Where is Angelica now?" Squall questioned. He was eager to see if the woman was Quistis and didn't want to waste any more time in the Pub.
"Pete sent her home," Lili replied, "Why?"
"We'd like to question her also," Rinoa told them, "to get her side of the story and see if she wants to press charges against Seifer. Can you tell us where she lives?"
"Sure." It was Pete who answered this time. "She lives right across the plaza with the Ericsons."
"With the Ericsons?" Squall repeated, "Doesn't she live with her family?"
"She doesn't have any family in Winhill," Pete informed, "the Ericsons found her washed up on the beach about a month ago and they took her in."
"Why did she wash up on the beach?" Rinoa interrogated, "What happened to her? Why didn't she got back to her family?" A gentle hand on her arm stopped the sorceress' questions. She looked up at Squall and smiled sheepishly. In front of her, Pete and Lili were staring at her in confusion and surprise.
"She doesn't know what happened to her," Lili informed, "she can't remember. She has amnesia. Her entire memory is gone."
"Thank you," Squall said and quickly stood up, "We appreciate your cooperation."
"N…no problem," Pete stuttered as the three SeeDs got ready to leave.
"She lives at the Ericsons house," Xu repeated, "right across the plaza?"
"Yes," Lili confirmed as she stood also, "it's the house right there with the flower garden out front." She pointed out the window to the house. "It says 'the Ericsons' by the door."
"Thank you," Squall said again and the three SeeDs left the bar. They joined the group of Seifer, Fujin, Raijin, Zell, Cammi, Selphie, Irvine and Matron Edea outside. They all looked at Squall, Rinoa and Xu anxiously.
"Well?" Seifer urged, "What did you find out?"
"The waitress' name is Angelica," Rinoa informed and she saw their faces fall, "she washed up on the beach about a month ago and was taken in by a family called the Ericsons. She has complete amnesia."
Around her, eight pairs of eyes lit up. "What're we waiting for? Let's go get out Quisty back!" Irvine shouted. The others agreed and the group started across the plaza towards the Ericsons. Squall led the group and was the one who knocked on the door. It was opened by an elderly woman with gray eyes and white hair. She smiled at Squall.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Yes," Squall told her, "my name is Commander Squall Leonhart…"
"Raine's boy?" the woman cut him off, "Oh my Hyne look at you! You're all grown up! Won't you come in?"
"Thank you," Squall said, a little uncomfortable that everyone in this town seemed to know who he was, "I came by to talk to you about Angelica."
"Angelica?" the woman's face took on an expression of worry, "Oh no. Did something happen to her?"
"No," Squall assured and the woman's worry turned to relief, "I need to talk to you about…well, it's complicated. May my friends come in as well?"
The woman looked past the brunette man and saw a sea of faces crowded around her door. "Of course! How rude of me! I didn't even see them! Come in, come in!" She ushered the crowd into her house and led them into the living room. "My name is Marta Ericson," she told them, "let me get us some coffee and then I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know."
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Angelica walked up to the house with Tank beside her. She felt better after her barefoot walk on the beach and had pushed the puzzling questions of the man in the gray trench coat out of her mind. When they got to the door, Tank suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. He then lowered his head and began to whine.
"What's wrong with you?" Angelica questioned and opened the door. The golden retriever shot into the house the second the door was opened and disappeared into the living room. Angelica closed the door behind her. We must have company, she thought. She quickly put on her shoes that she had been carrying and headed towards the living room. She got to the doorway and saw the room was full of people. All of their eyes were on her as she stood there.
She smiled warmly as her eyes made their way over the guests. "Hello, I'm Angelica." The group in the living room remained silent and her smile faltered. It disappeared completely when she saw who was sitting in the chair across from the couch, flanked by his ever-present companions.
"You!" Angelica cried and pointed an accusing finger, "What are you doing here? How did you find out where I live? Did you follow me?"
"Angelica."
The blonde woman turned her head and looked down at Marta, who was sitting on a chair brought in from the kitchen.
"Angelica, sit down." Marta motioned to an empty chair next to her that also belonged to the kitchen set. Angelica took the seat that was offered to her and gazed around the room. In the chair across from the couch sat the man in the gray trench coat, Seifer. His two friends, the pale woman and the dark man, stood on either side of the chair. On the loveseat next to the couch sat a small, dark haired woman who Angelica recognized as Edea Kramer, Balamb Garden's Headmistress. Next to her sat another dark haired woman clad in blue. She was Rinoa Heartilly, the woman who had performed in the talent show with her dog Angelo. Next to Miss Heartilly sat the brunette man she had pictured when Pete and the customer at the bar had mentioned Squall Leonhart. On the couch sat a petite brunette in a yellow sundress that Angelica recognized as Selphie Tilmitt, director and host of the Garden Festival. Next to Miss Tilmitt was the auburn haired cowboy who had sat next to Seifer at the Festival. Next to the cowboy was the brunette judge with the braid, Cammi Jinzyle and next to her sat the blonde man with the spiky hair and huge tattoo on the left side of his face. Next to the couch on another kitchen chair sat a woman with shoulder length brown hair in a SeeD uniform that Angelica didn't recognize. Next to that woman sat Marta and next to Marta she sat, staring around the room in confusion.
"W…what's going on?" Angelica stammered.
"These people are from the Garden," Marta explained, "They want to ask you a few questions about your past."
"My past?" Angelica questioned, "but I don't remember anything."
"They know," Marta assured, "I told them."
Angelica detected a hint of despair in the older woman's voice and she didn't like it. She grabbed Marta's hand and squeezed it gently. She was beginning to get angry at these guest whom she knew yet didn't. Her eyes were cerulean fire as she looked around the room. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Quistis, there's no reason to get upset," Cammi started.
"My name is not Quistis!" Angelica shouted, "My name is Angelica!"
"No, it's not," Marta whispered.
The fire left her eyes and she stared down at Marta, dumbstruck. "What?"
"You're name isn't Angelica," she told her, "You're…" The older woman trailed off and looked across the room at Edea pleadingly. Edea nodded.
"You're name is Quistis," Edea began, "Quistis Angelica Trepe. You are an Instructor at Balamb Garden."
Angelica stared at the raven-haired woman across from her. She opened her mouth several times to speak but closed it again as the words refused to spill from her lips. Finally, she asked the question that had been haunting her since she had awakened in the bedroom here at the Ericsons. "What happened to me?"
"You fell."
Angelica's gaze shifted to the chair where Seifer sat. He had his eyes on the floor but brought them up slowly. Green eyes locked with blue, making Angelica feel as if they were the only two people in the room.
"The Garden was attacked," Seifer continued, "we were all in the Quad awaiting further orders when that bastard Kaiser Deling and his troops entered." Emerald fire flared in his eyes and he said the name like it was poison on his tongue. "He hit Rinoa with an Ultima spell. You and Selphie went to make sure she was okay and Selphie tried to cast Full Cure but Deling hit her with Holy. The rest of us were fighting the soldiers and I saw him walking towards you. I tried to get to him but it was too late. You tried to cast Shockwave Pulsar but he cast a Flare spell on you before you could. You were so close to the balcony that the impact of the spell sent you over the railing. I tried to get to you but by the time I made it to the balcony, you were already gone."
Angelica felt tears running down her cheeks as Seifer finished his story. He looked heartbroken by just having to relive the memory and she had a sudden realization. "It's you," she breathed, "you gave me this." She held up her left hand and showed him the diamond engagement ring.
A smile illuminated Seifer's face. "Yeah, I did."
She smiled back. It all made sense now, why she had dreamt about him, why she had been so fixated on him at the Garden Festival, why she said his name when she first woke up and why she had called him by name when he had entered the Pub this morning. He was the one. The man she was to be married to. Suddenly, the smile left her face.
"I'm sorry," Angelica apologized, "I…I don't remember."
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To everyone out there who was mad at me, I hope this makes up for my earlier transgressions. ^_^