I turned to look where Sean was pointing. He looked almost the same as I remember but his hair was now trimmed. Not as shaggy as I remembered but a nice clean cut.

What I really noticed was how he was just staring at me.

"It's really you." He said as we got closer.

Another guy came from around the car. "I couldn't let him drive so I came along. Here put your luggage in the trunk."

"Hey Mike long time no see." Sean said as he went to the trunk.

Michelle got in the back. I went to follow her but Jake just stood there sort of blocking me.

"It's true isn't it Princess."

I didn't know what to say.

"We can all talk to her when we get together in the morning. Right now let's get to bed. It's been eventful for Echko." Sean said as he and Mike started getting in the car.

Jake starts cursing and I take a small step back. This guy has some anger problems.

He froze when he noticed my little scared look.

"I'm sorry about that. Please I'm just upset is all. We have so much to talk about Princess." He smiled at me and held the door open.

I got in slowly.

"Hey Echko I'm Mike." The driver introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you Mike." I pleasantly replied.

He wasn't someone on the plane. For once someone who didn't know me.

I turned to Michelle who sat in the middle, "So there will also be people I've never met before?" I asked and nodded towards Mike.

She shook her head, "We met Mike on the Island. He's Jakes best friend."

I'm so tired of this. I looked away and wasn't long before we pulled up to the hotel.

When I got out it got awkward because I was being stared at.

"What." Kind of exasperated from all this.

"Are you staying with us?" Michelle asked, "Later on we can go to Jakes. By that time Diego will be there."

Jake stepped forward, "Come with me. Diego can't be that far out. Maybe another two hours. I know Estela is about to be there."

"Estela?" I asked.

Jake groaned, "Sorry she's the girl with the scar."

Oh yeah the silent girl in the back.

I was getting a headache from all of this. Right now I'm surrounded by people I don't know in a town I don't know. Who somehow knew me but I don't know them.

"I'm going to get my own room tonight." I said slowly at the crestfallen look from Jake.

He nodded, "I understand, let me pay for it." He started reaching for his wallet.

I brought my hands up. "Oh no that's fine! I have plenty of cash."

That made them all freeze.

Michelle stepped closer, "Do you know how you got plenty of cash?"

I shook my head, "I just found cash in my backpack. A lot and even a check. I guess I should cash that soon."

Jake got a serious tone, "A check from who? Is there a date on it?"

"A guy named Rourke. Am I friends with him too?"

"Hell no princess!" Jake hollered as he made a move to me.

"Enough!" Sean yelled, "We will have time later with everyone when we meet up later. Echko wants her own room I say go for it."

Jake looked at me and slowly stepped closer to me, "I know you don't remember me but I remember everything about you." He gently grasped my hands, "I was so worried about you all these years. Bear with me as I try to accept that you're really back. That I won't lose you again."

He gripped my hands and I looked in his eyes. I saw sadness but also hope. His eyes looked shiny with unshed tears.

"Princess I missed you so much. I need to know you're safe. So if you stay here then I will as well but I do have a spare bedroom at home. You can see Diego as soon as he gets here."

I just kept looking at him.

"Please Princess. Trust me." He whispered softly.

That's what people were asking me to do. Trust strangers. But for some reason my heart was crying for this man who lost a friend. A best friend apparently.

"Okay." I mumbled.

He grinned and grabbed my backpack putting it back in the car.

I turned to Michelle and Sean who were smiling at me.

"Thank you guys for getting me here."

Michelle pulled me in a hug, "This isn't goodbye silly. Well you better not disappear again."

I hugged her back. She was nice this whole trip. Definitely different from what I remembered.

I got in the car and waved goodbye.

"Do you guys mind if I call Diego?" I asked from the back.

"Of course not." Mike replied.

Jake at that time jumped into the backseat.

"Jake. Give her space." Mike warned.

Jake just smiled at me and buckled in.

I smiled nervously at him, "I heard we were best friends."

"Is that what those two told you?" He laughed.

He looked good laughing.

"They are correct I guess."

"Jake" Mike bit out again.

I ignored whatever was going on and called Diego.

"Hey Echko. Where are you?"

"I'm with Jake and Mike going to Jakes house." I told him.

"That's great I'm on my way to Jakes, maybe another hour or two."

I smiled at that, "Awesome. Doesn't matter if I'm asleep please see me. I miss you and all of this is crazy."

He sighed, "I don't know how you must feel but it's probably a lot to take in. Just know that I trust these people. So if you don't trust them then trust me."

I sighed, "If you say so Diego."

He chuckled, "I gotta go but please try to get some rest. It's going to be a long day."

When I hung up I was met with silence in the car. I sighed and tried to get comfortable. Hard in fact when I leaned against the door but it wasn't long before exhaustion took over

What felt like an hour was actually only twenty-five minutes.

"Wake up Princess. We're here."

I pried my eyes open. Instead of the hard door I was leaning against something more comfortable. Hard but firm.

I turned my head and looked up into Jakes eyes. Sometime during the ride he moved over to the middle seat and cradled me in his arms.

"Jake" I mumbled.

"That's my name beautiful." He whispered on the top of my head.

More awake now I whispered back, "We're more than best friends aren't we?"

He froze for a second before squeezing me tight.

A knock on the window made us jump apart.

"C'mon you two. Estela just got here."

I looked and there was Mike right outside with who I can assume is Estela standing behind him.

The silent girl in the back. I don't think I ever exchanged words with her on the plane.

Jake helped me out and I swung my backpack on.

"Have you eaten recently Echko? I could scramble some eggs." Mike asked as Jake led us to the door.

Estela silently following behind me. So far she just stared at me.

"Yeah I could eat. I don't remember what I ate last…" I trailed off.

"Well Thank Goodness the MASTER CHEF has arrived!" a voice boomed from somewhere behind us.

Jake cringed, "Chef I do have neighbors sleeping."

Either Raj didn't care or didn't hear. But as I walked in I saw him carrying a lot of grocery bags.

"Estela could you maybe help?" He asked sounding a little hopeless.

She sighed and went to him.

"I can show you were your room is." Jake gestured for me to follow.

Stepping in it was quite spacious. A queen bed was in the center.

"Mike and some of the others will crash here time to time."

I don't know why he wanted to explain that but I just nodded, "It's beautiful. Thank you."

He pointed to the door, "But you should join us. Raj really is a master chef. Just don't admit it to him because he gets a big head."

I laughed and set my backpack down, "Sure. I really am hungry."

When Raj saw me he grinned and rushed to me, "Echko!" He pulled me into a big hug and swung me around. "I missed you so much!"

When he set me down I felt a little dizzy and Jake was right there to help steady me.

"Thanks for that." I chuckled. Maybe I wasn't so hungry anymore.

At my response he looked sad now and shared a glance with Jake.

In a moment that happened in a flash, Estela charged me and threw a right hook. Before she could hit Jake blocked her.

"What the hell!" Jake pushed her away.

Estela gained her balance from the push and made the motion of dusting herself off, "Something doesn't seem right. We remembered after a certain amount of time. So why does she still not remember?" She turned to look at me, "Unless this is all a rouse."

"We don't know if it was the flower that was used on her or not." Mike offered when it stayed silent.

My stomach growled loudly, interrupting whatever was going on in here.

Raj laughed, "Honorary guest what do you want for breakfast."

I chuckled nervously, "Eggs will be just fine. Maybe some bacon?"

"Got it. Sit down and relax." He pointed to the dining room.

I slowly walked and avoided Estela who just kept staring at me.

Jake pulled out a chair for me and sat next to me when I sat down.

"Well-" Estela started.

Jake cut her off, "Now's not the time. She shuts down if you question her."

She raised an eyebrow at that.

"Because we're strangers. She just wants Diego."

"And why are you talking for her?" Estela questions while looking in.

I take in a deep breath and stare back, "I understand you're trying to make sense. I am too. I wish I could make sense of all of this. I don't know anything. But what I do know." I take in a breath again, "What is a fact is that I don't know you. But yet apparently I'm supposed to know all of you. I just want to remember and I believe maybe it's going to take all of us to put together the pieces. So I'm asking if you could help me try to do just that."

She stared at me for a while before a small smile appeared. "You always helped me given the chance so I'm here for you. I won't be so intense. I'm just worried you are some ulterior way the Island is attacking us or something."

"Wow I've never heard you talk so much Estela." Jake states.

"I just don't want us to get our hopes up. Especially you."

The silence was awkward. I don't fully know what Jake and I were but I knew it was more than friends. Which made me sad. If we were lovers- which I'm thinking that's it- then this must be really hard for him.

"Hey guys!" Diego called from the doorway where he let himself in.

I scrambled up and ran to him. I grasped him in a hug and he returned ten fold.

I couldn't stop myself from crying, "I'm so glad to see you!"

He laughed, "I missed you so much!"

We hugged for awhile before finally I pulled away. He stared at me like he couldn't really believe I was there in front of him.

"I really can't believe you're here." He whispered.

I smiled and pulled him into a hug again.

"Hey I know you don't remember being friends with her but she's super nervous to see you."

I looked at him questioningly.

"Who are you talking about?" Mike asked.

"I found her staring at the door." Diego chuckled.

"Hey I wasn't just 'staring at the door".

I looked past Diego at a woman with bright red hair pouting at what was said about her.

When she noticed me looking she froze and stared back. She started taking small steps towards me.

I don't know what it was but the closer she got the more I felt a tug. A tug pulling on me towards her. I tried stepping back but Jake was right behind me with a concerned look.

Quinn. I remember her briefly from our small interaction. When Quinn got close enough I felt intense pain in my temple.

"AAAHH!" I screamed as I grasped my head, squeezing like I could stop it the pain.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED!