Fun fact: This story is mainly inspired by the movie Remember Sunday, it's about a man who has short-term memory loss and wakes up every morning to fall in love with the same woman.
Word count: 2,348
Chapter 2
"One Step Closer"
"Good morning, future me! I hope you're ready for some breakfast. All you have to do is walk out the door, down the stairs and to the right. Then say hello to Aunt Judy and Uncle Ron! And Sam, of course. He's gonna show you his new car, he got that in April. And remember to say hi to Mojo! It should be August fourteenth. Last day of summer!
"Uncle Ron began to fix his path in the backyard again, so keep in mind to walk on it. Not the grass. Ron gets a little sensitive when you step on his grass. Oh, and make sure Judy doesn't put that jeweled necklace on Mojo again…Creeps me out. Sam claims to have the newest Camaro model, a Chevy. And he even has a friend. Actually, Judy and Ron says that he has more than just one new friend. Like…How?
"Well, you've stopped living with your previous guardian, Ms. Lillian, though I'm sure you don't remember her…She was nice, as my previous selves have told me. From now on, you live with your family, the Witwickys. Keep in mind though, you've only been here for a couple of days. They aren't exactly used to you now living here, and I'm sure you aren't used to living here either.
"Oh, and if you're wondering…You got involved in a freak accident in Mission City couple months ago…Mom and Dad are… gone. But you lived, except you have amnesia and developed short-term memory loss, so you can't make new memories. Just keep that in mind.
"Alright, well, I guess it's time to get out of bed. Don't forget to record another entry so you can remind yourself tomorrow of everything that's happened, or supposed to happen. Also, remember to transfer the recordings onto your laptop, don't want to run out of space, now do we? Good luck with your day, future me! Remind Aunt Judy to get your haircut."
The recording ended with a giggle and a click. Ree unplugged and set the pen recorder onto the bed next to her, along with the laptop she has, and stood, raising her arms over her head, she stretched.
"Mornin', lil' lady," a man said, slightly spinning back and forth on her swivel chair, "Th' name's Jazz. I'm in your head, and have been f'r a few months."
Ree nodded, "Hello, Jazz," she glanced over to him, "I thought I told you to stop introducing yourself? You're the only thing I rememeber, you should know that."
"Jus' makin' sure, baby girl."
She opened her drawer and pulled out a pair of grey leggings and a black sweater dress with a cowl neck. She slipped on the sweater and wrapped the string around her waist and tied it on the side in a small bow, having some extra string hang out.
Ree looked up and stared into the mirror that sat on the wall. The girl in the reflection was no taller than five feet, and was at least sixteen years of age. She had olive eyes and brown hair, looking just like the boy in the unframed photo that sat right next to her mirror. "Sam" was scribbled onto the blank corner of the picture. Ree looked back to herself and stared at how underweight she looked, it was extremely subtle. Nonetheless, she hated it immediately, self-confidence going straight down the drain.
"Nah, lil' lady, c'mon. You're beautiful."
Grabbing the brush off the dresser, Ree watched in the mirror as she brushed her thick hair that just made it past her shoulders. No matter what she did to her hair, it would always be splayed out in a series of curls, it was the same for Sam.
The girl let out a deep sigh, examining herself in the mirror one last time before she placed her glasses on her nose and grabbed her pen recorder, slipped it into her sweater's pocket and walked out her bedroom door. Ree walked down the stairs, Jazz following, and looked to her right, seeing a red headed woman in the kitchen area, preparing her breakfast. She turned and smiled, eyes lighting up, "Ree, sweetheart! Good morning! What would you like to eat, dear?"
The girl nodded and slipped into a stool, frowning, "Anything's fine…Except-"
"Yes, yes. I know, you're a vegetarian. Pancakes for you because I already made them," Aunt Judy grabbed a spatula and flopped the two pancakes onto the plate, she set it in front of Ree with a stick of butter, a fork and a knife. The girl dug in, ignoring the little Chihuahua at her feet, begging for a piece of pancake.
The sixteen-year-old was staring at a picture frame hung on the kitchen wall next to other photos. It was a picture of her and two adults, a woman and a man. They looked familiar, yet unfamiliar. The woman was a blonde, with blue eyes. The man looked just like Uncle Ron, just a little more physically fit. Ree in the photo looked younger, maybe eleven or twelve years old.
"Those 're ya parents."
She doesn't remember this.
"I'm gonna go help Ron, you eat. Dishes go into the sink, butter in the fridge," Judy placed a hand on Ree's back before walking out the backdoor, leaving the sixteen-year-old alone.
The front door opened and an almost seventeen-year-old boy bursts in, another teen was following behind him. Ree remembered him in the picture, it was Sam. The boy next to him however, neon blue eyes, blonde hair with a black streak, yellow and black clothing, she's never seen.
His eyes were so blue, you could rival them with a Siamese cat.
He wore black sweatpants, a yellow tee and a black hoodie. Along with yellow and black Adidas sneakers. He flicked his head to the right, his messy hair moving back out of his eyes.
"Oh, Ree!" Sam said, smiling. He turned to his friend, "I'd like you to meet Brian. Though, because of his style choice…He's called Bee."
I don't like people… Jazz wouldn't have any of it, "Aw, c'mon, dun be like tha'."
How many times have I been introduced? Ree sent strained smile, "Like…Bumblebee?"
"Yeah," the sixteen-year-old laughed, then greeted Mojo, who kept barking from his feet. He stood again and gestured to Ree, "Bee, this is Ree, my cousin."
First time, it seems.
Brian, or Bee, looked to be around Sam's age. Ree couldn't tell, he was either a year older or a year younger than Sam. Most likely a year older. But never mind that, he's kinda cute.
The spirit next to her playfully "punched" her shoulder, "I'm right here, y'know."
Ree stood from the stool and placed the dishes into the sink, then opened the fridge door and placed the stick of butter in its correct place. She ducked back out of the fridge and looked to Sam, "So, about that Camaro of yours…?"
Sam immediately jumped up and smiled, "Yeah! Yeah! Come on, you have to see it!"
He gestured her to follow and she did, slipping on her black leather ankle boots on the way out the door. She gratefully smiled at Bee for holding the door open for her, and he returned a real smile, unlike hers.
Has Sam been doing this everyday?
Ree examined the muscle car that sat in the driveway. It was yellow with black racing stripes. The Chevy logo on the front was blacked out with red lining. She ran a hand over the hood, her fingers skimming over it, "What's with you and bees?"
"Huh?"
"This car looks like a bee, and so does your friend," she gestured to the blonde boy without looking, still examining the Camaro. She muttered, "What's next? Bumblebee boxers?"
Bee from behind snorted. Sam heard and caught on, he rolled his eyes and sarcastically said, "Haha, very funny Ree."
"Anyway, I like it."
The two seemed to light up at her words, much to her confusion as to why they take so much pride in Sam's Camaro. Ree shook her head, beginning to walk back inside the house, men and their vehicles… The brunette opened the door and hopped into the house, letting the screen door swing shut with a heavy thud and a click, Jazz slipped into the house before the door closed. The sixteen-year-old moved through the house to the back, opening the door she poked her head out, gaining the attention of both her uncle and aunt.
"What's up, sweetie?" Aunt Judy says, stopping her work on her garden, specifically her prized roses.
Ree shifted around on her feet, still leaning out of the door. She recalled what the message said this morning from her pen recorder, "Wasn't I supposed to get a haircut today?"
The red head stood abruptly, seeming to remember, she frantically wiped her hands off on her jeans and rushed inside, "Let me get ready, we can leave whenever you are!"
The girl backed up as Judy rushed past her and into the house, frantically making her way up the stairs to get dressed in proper clothes. Ree looked to Uncle Ron, who had continued his work on the almost-finished path. He was on his knees and patting down a slab of stone on the ground, making it stay. Ron leaned back and wiped the sweat off his forehead and furrowed his eyebrows as a way to block the sunlight, his eyes met Ree. He sighed and grabbed another slab, "You know, kiddo. You've been wanting a car for some time now," Ron paused to take a breath and to wipe more sweat off his forehead, "If you do all your work and not miss school, I can take you somewhere to get a car."
"Dad, I'm begging you, do not take Ree to that sad excuse for a dealership where I bought Be- my car," Sam said, gesturing with his hands. He stepped into the backyard and walked across it.
"Watch this," Jazz crossed his arms and watched the scene with an amused gaze next to Ree.
Ron looked up, "Ay, ay, ay! Watch the grass. I made a path, so my grass wouldn't get ruined," The two began arguing and it was ended when Ron motioned with his hands, "Move onto the path."
And Sam did. Bee followed behind him, though he was on the path the whole time. The two teens walked inside, Sam giving his little cousin a pat on the shoulder before entering the house. They slipped past Judy, who was coming out. She looked to Ree, "All ready to go?"
Her response was a curt nod.
Ree looked to Jazz as she walked to the car, he was dressed differently. It was more chill; a white tank top and blue jeans. He still wore his blue visor. His outfit continuously changed, varieties of clothes were worn but seemed to revolve around the same laidback style.
"Oh, we have to go school shopping! Are you all good on outfits?" Ree nodded, but Judy continued to ramble, "Maybe we should go to Kohl's or Burlington. Macy's? No, no. Old Navy."
The girl climbed into the passenger seat of the sedan and sighed, "Aunt Judy, I'm good on clothes. I don't need anymore," she glanced out the window to see Sam's Camaro as they drove out of the driveway, "As for school supplies, I could use a couple note books, college ruled. And another jo-"
"Journal. Right, right," Judy drove down the street, "To the barber we go!"
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~ o Castle of Shards o ~
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"Alright," the woman said, turning the chair, "Here's your new haircut!"
Ree stared in the mirror at her comparatively shorter hair. The way it was styled complimented her wild hair. She ran a hand to get used to the feeling. Jazz had his arms crossed over his chest and nodded, "I like it."
The sixteen-year-old glanced to him before setting her eyes back onto herself. She loved her hair compared to her formerly shoulder length style.
Judy paid and helped her out of the hair cuttery. They walked down the plaza, towards an Office Depot, the perfect place for school supplies.
The two women walked into the store, doors opening for them automatically and closing, Jazz just barely slipping through. He glanced to the door behind him and huffed, "Damn, those 're gettin' faster."Ree and Judy walked around the store for a few minutes, not long later, separating to look for their own necessities. The brown haired girl continued her way down the notebook aisle, Fivestar and Stellar spiral books lined the shelves.
Her hand picked out a five subject Stellar notebook, which came with a ruler and sticky note bookmarks. She smiled at the other useful utilities inside, perfect.
Ree closed the book, checked the price, and, content with what she grabbed, (a couple single subject spiral notebooks, the five subject one and a composition notebook) she began walking back to where she last saw Aunt Judy.
Jazz growled from behind her, and before Ree had time to react to what was in front of her, she collided with someone.
"Still dumb, I see, eh?" He sneered. The sixteen-year-old stepped back and glared at the boy that just insulted her. He leaned over her, "Remember me?"
He grinned and mocked her, teasing about her memory loss that he somehow knew about. Who is this jerk? He sighed, smiling while shaking his head, "Consider yourself lucky that you don't remember each day. But I'll be sure to make it a living hell for you. I guarantee it."
