III
After school I go to the Dot for my daily cup of coffee and homework look over. I see how much I have, estimate how long it will take, and call Sean to set up plans for that night.
Just as I hang up the phone, Jay walks into the Dot.
"Hi." I wave.
He waves back, but goes to sit in the back of the Dot. He sits with a scraggly middle-aged man who is in a desperate need of a shave. They seem to exchange a few harsh words and then they just glare at each other until the waiter comes over.
I can't hear what they're saying because they're speaking in low voices but I can tell they're fighting by the looks on their faces.
When I finish my cup of coffee I decide to wait for Jay to leave and then I'll follow him out.
As soon as he eats his last fry he gets up and leaves without saying good-bye to the man.
I follow him out.
"Hey!" I yell after him. He slows down, but doesn't stop.
So I catch up, "Hey."
"Hey." he nods.
"Who were you eating with?" I asked. I know I'm nosy, but too bad.
"My father." Jay grunts.
All I know is that is not David's father. Mr. Granger had gentle ocean blue-green eyes. He always wore a smile. His nose was long and straight, unlike the guy inside who's nose was short and crooked. That was definitely not David's father.
"Oh." I state simply, "So, are you busy now? Maybe we can go hang out and get to know each other."
"Sure." He agrees and we walk to the ravine.
"So…" he says after we sit at a picnic table.
"You ask something first. I already know a lot about you." I say.
"Okay, you said you have a boyfriend?" he asks.
"Yeah, Sean." I inform him.
"Do you love him?" he asks.
I shrug, "I guess so."
"Does he know that?"
I shrug again, "Probably." And then I add, "Not."
He smiles a little, "Have you ever loved anyone before?"
I nod.
"Who?"
I'm so tempted to say "you" but I know that would seem weird.
So I ask, "David?"
He looks at me, confused, "Huh?"
And then it all comes together.
When David disappeared that summer, he was taken. Kidnapped. And brainwashed. He doesn't remember anything before he was taken. Except for me. But that still leaves the questions: Where are his real parents? And why was he taken in the first place?