ECHKO

This wasn't good. I sighed as I tossed my phone on the bed. Just my luck it's dead. I looked around my hotel room. Front desk told me earlier that I had another night here.

I apparently paid cash.

I cringed at the look on her face. They must think I'm crazy for not remembering.

But last I remember I was on the plane with Diego. About to land on an Island.

I groaned as I tried to remember. There was a sudden storm.

But how did I end up here five years later…

I grabbed the only item I had, a backpack.

I dumped everything on the bed. Not much to go on but I saw the cash. I had more than enough. A check caught my attention.

Signed Rourke. Who was that? I read the memo line, "For everything I did."

A chill ran up my spine. This was getting creepy.

I opened a small pocket. Out came a charger and a ring.

Yes I can charge my phone. Immediately plugging it in to the nearest outlet.

I smiled as I watched the battery icon appear.

I went back to the ring. A simple band made from wire. Woven together to make it thick. In the middle was a beautiful sapphire. I put it back in my bag.

I noticed a handmade map but looking closely I couldn't tell where it was for.

I wonder how Diego has been. Maybe we stopped being friends after college. Did I even finish school?

I went back down and paid for tomorrow night as well. Maybe that number isn't good anymore. For all I know Diego could've gotten a new number.

It was getting a little dark so I decided tomorrow I'll try calling again.

I was a little worried. I didn't know anything of the past five years. No parents. Back then all I had was Diego's friendship. I just hope he's the same nice guy. I'll figure it out after I sleep.

But something woke me up early in the morning. I grumbled as I tossed and turned before looking at the clock.

3am.

Why on earth am I up? But I knew my phone would be ready so I unplugged and turned it on.

Once it was on it kept pinging with notifications. So many texts and calls from Diego. I skimmed through the texts. Basically said the same stuff.

Where was I?

Am I okay?

Please call me ASAP

Each sounding more urgent than the last.

I decided to call.

"Hello? Echko?" Diego sounded sleepy and I cringed at waking him.

"I'm sorry to call so early." I whispered into the phone.

"NO don't be sorry." He suddenly sounded wide awake, "I'm so glad to hear from you."

I could hear the relief in his voice.

"Diego what's going on? Last I recall we were headed to the Island." I was still whispering. I was afraid he would tell me I got in the wrong crowd. Was I in the cartel or something? Explains the cash and check.

"Where are you? I'll go get you." He now sounded urgent.

Was I in trouble? Were people after me?

"Diego please tell me what's going on." I'm on the verge of breaking down.

"Echko you've been missing for five years. Last I saw you were on the Island."

I stopped breathing. I went missing on the Island?

"Please tell me where you are. I'll go get you."

I grabbed the Hotel card and read him the address.

"Dang it that's another state in the opposite direction. I think Sean and Michelle are about to fly out from there. I'll call them."

He hung up on me and I looked confused. Did that mean Michelle and Sean from college? Diego became their friend. I felt heat rush to my face. Diego's just brushing me off on someone. I didn't know them that well.

Diego: Answer that

Not a second later an unknown number was calling. I answered on the third ring.

"Finally girl. Sean is going to pick you up and I managed to get you a ticket on the same plane. But it takes off in two hours. With traffic please be ready when he gets there."

"Michelle?" I question.

"Echko I can't wait to see you. Diego told us what's going on. I know you don't remember us but we are your friends. Please just trust us on this."

"Are you taking me to Diego?" I asked but still getting up. I really didn't have much to gather.

"Yes. I know this all might seem scary but a lot of people miss you. Everyone wants to see you. Text me your room number and I'll let Sean know."

We said goodbye and I immediately texted her. Who is everyone that she is talking about. Suddenly in my missing time I became friends with Sean and Michelle. The stuck up popular kids. Captain of the football team and head cheerleader.

I mean Sean was nice to me from that little exchange on the plane but Michelle was rude. How did we become friends…

It was maybe half an hour later I heard the knock.

I opened after seeing it was Sean through the peephole.

He grinned, "I can't believe it's you."

I stepped back to let him in.

"Yeah. Hey thanks for taking me to Diego. He could've just told me and I could've booked later. He didn't have to ask you guys to do this."

I grabbed my bag.

"I also have enough to pay you back. I can pay you when we land."

With no response I turned back to him and noticed he froze.

"So it's true." He looked sad, "Echko we are friends. You don't owe me anything."

I nodded slowly and followed him out of the room.

The car ride was a little silent which made it awkward because Sean was fidgeting in his seat.

"So we became friends on the island?" I asked. I might as well get some answers.

He nodded, "We went through a lot together on the island. We all became friends."

I found it hard to believe we would all become friends during that little vacation.

"Diego says I got lost on the island five years ago."

He nodded, "You did. The question is, were you on the Island all five years? And what happened to your memory."

He chuckled humorously, "This is just typical Island poking at us. A few of us thought we'd never see you again. Now here you are and you don't remember anything."

"It's not fair." He muttered.

I didn't know how to reply to that. So I stayed silent.

When we met up with Michelle she pulled me into a hug.

"Babe she doesn't remember, give her space." Sean said as he turned in our luggage.

She smiled sadly, "I know. I'm getting you prepared for the others. Who will engulf you in hugs and tears."

"I thought I was just going to see Diego."

They shared a look between each other.

"Yeah but all of us that were on the Island are meeting up later today." I looked at her questioningly, "You see today marks five years since we left the Island."

"Five years since we've seen you." Sean said as we made are way to the waiting area.

"Yeah we meet up at least once a year. I mean some of us still see others often but this is when we all come together." She smiled, "Sean we should probably check our phones."

He chuckled, "We had to put it on silent because we are getting bombarded. All asking how you are." He told me.

"Jake is calling me." Sean said more into his phone than us.

Michelle threw me a worried glance.

"Hey man.. Yeah she's right here." He sighed, "It's true… No we got a hotel room. It has a pull out bed so she can stay with us." He nodded as he listened to this Jake.

Wasn't he the pilot? We became friends with that Lazy dude!

"I don't think that's wise. Obviously it's a lot for her to take in right now… Nothing I say will stop you anyway. Yeah we are expected to land-"

I tuned him out as they announced we can board.

"Look I got to go. I'll call you when we land." Sean hung up the phone and gave me a tight smile.

"What is it?" Michelle asked him as we got in line.

"Jake insists on picking us up. He said he wants to drop us off at the hotel and take Echko to his place for the night."

My heart started pumping. I'm being passed from person to person. I started shaking my head furiously.

"This is crazy." I say as we sit down.

"I just want to see Diego. I don't know you guys and I don't know this Jake. I'll even get a room at the same hotel you guys are at."

Sean nodded like he expected no other reaction from me, "That's what I told him. He'll at least want to see you. From what he told me Diego is driving towards his house. Apparently a few others are as well."

Michelle propped her little pillow behind her, "Makes sense. We should get some rest."

I nodded but honestly I was dreading getting off this plane. Sure I want to remember but surrounded by people I didn't know wasn't what I wanted right off the bat.

Sean said people on the plane. Does that include his mean best friend Craig? Or how about the Silent girl in the back?

I didn't get any sleep and before you know it we were waiting for our luggage to pass us on the strip.

"There's mine!" Michelle pointed and Sean went to grab it.

I had only a backpack so it was my carry on. I stood by waiting.

"Yeah we are at gate C" Sean said to Jake over the phone.

I followed Sean out the door.

"Wasn't Jake the pilot?" I asked Michelle.

She gave me a sad look and nodded, "He was. You don't remember but you guys became best friends."

"Michelle!" Sean hissed at her.

I looked between them weirdly. What was that about?

I remember Jake as the lazy guy with his feet propped up on the plane he was supposed to be flying. And to top it off he called me Princess. Like I was some sort of Damsel.

What I'm being told is getting harder and harder to believe. I supposedly became best friends with that dude.

"There he is." Sean pointed him out.