''Who are you?''
He honestly looks shocked and surprise. Maybe I do know him really well after all.
''Cat.'' I wonder why he calls me that. ''Please, tell me you're messing with me.''
I shake my head and he closes his eyes, pained.
''Do I know you?'' I ask, honestly curious.
He smiles weakly. ''Yea, you do.''
''Where do I know you from?''
I see him swallow and shake his head.
''Look, I'm going to go tell the doctors you're up, they'll probably want to check up on you.''
He goes to leave, but I stop him. ''Wait, what's your name?''
His hand is on the doorknob and the door is open when he turns to look at me.
''It's Charlie Conway.''
I smile at him. ''It's nice to meet you Charlie.''
He nods his head once, before disappearing out my door.
Charlie walks into the waiting room and sees the doctor talking to two people, who were obviously Julie's parents.
''We don't know when exactly she'll wake up.'' the doctor was saying.
''Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Gaffney?'' Charlie asks, walking over to them.
They turn to look at him. ''Hi, my name is Charlie Conway, I'm on the hockey team with Julie. She just woke up, actually, if you wanted to see her.''
''Oh, thank god.'' cries Mrs. Gaffney in relief.
''I have to warn you though, she didn't know who I was...it was like she lost her memory.''
''Temporary memory loss is quite common with head injures.'' the doctor finally says.
''Temporary?'' repeats Charlie, hopefully.
''We'll have to do a few tests to make sure.''
''Can we go see her doctor?'' Julie's mom begs.
''Right this way.''
The doctor leads her back the way Charlie came. Julie's dad turns to Charlie.
''I'm Sam, and that was Lisa, my wife. Thank you for letting us know how Julie is.''
He shakes Charlie's hand, and Charlie grins.
''No sweat sir. All I ask, is that you keep us up-to-date on how she's doing.''
Sam nods. ''You bet kid, just give me a number to call.''
Charlie walks over to the desk and asks to borrow pen and a piece of paper. He writes down his dorm phone number and hands it to Sam. ''Thank you, sir.''
''No sweat, Charlie.''
Charlie watches as Sam runs after his wife. He sighs, knowing now it's time to tell the Ducks.
''She didn't remember you?'' asks Connie.
Charlie shakes his head.
''Well, what does the doctor think?'' Luis asks.
''He says temporary memory lost is common with head injuries, and they'll have to do a few tests to make sure.'' Charlie explains.
''Do you think she remembers any of us?'' Connie whispers.
Guy wraps an arm around her, and kisses the top of her head.
''Well, I think we should head back to the dorms. There's nothing more we can do here.'' Charlie says.
The Ducks nod and one by one, leave the waiting room.
My door opens and three more people walk in. One of them must be my doctor because, unlike that one boy, I think his name was Charlie, I know who they are.
''Mom, Dad.'' I say.
My mother smiles and runs to my side. She takes my hand and smiles down at me.
''How do you feel sweetie?'' she asks.
I shrug my shoulders. The doctor walks over and smiles too.
''Just a few questions. Can you tell me your name?'' he asks.
My name? Is he serious, of course I can tell him my name, it's my name! Isn't he supposed to have it written down anyway? I mean, really!
''Julie Gaffney.'' I reply.
''Where do you live?''
Very inquisitive doctor, shouldn't he know all of this already?
''Bangor Maine.'' I tell him.
I see him exchange a worried look with my parents.
''What year is it, Julie?'' he asks.
"1994?'' I ask, finally unsure of one of my answers. If it was 1994, I'd be 12, and somehow, I just didn't feel twelve.
The doctor nods as if confirming some thought. He asks my parents to step outside. My mother smiles at me once more before she leave, but I can't get rid of this feeling of dread.
''What's wrong doctor?'' demands Lisa, the moment the door closes behind her. ''She can't remember her teammates, the year, the fact that she lives in Minnesota.''
''I'm not sure, but it seems Julie has forgotten the last two years. It may be amnesia.''
Lisa lets out a small cry, clinging to Sam for support.
''Will she ever get her memory back?'' he asks.
''It's hard to say at this point. Let's just try to stay optimistic.'' says the doctor.
Sam sighs and gently pries Lisa off. He kisses her cheek and turns to go.
''Where are you going?'' Lisa demands.
''To make a phone call.''
The Ducks are scattered around Charlie and Adam's dorm room. They are all quiet, each one stares at the phone.
''If she couldn't remember you, then it's possible she won't remember us.'' murmurs Connie, looking at Charlie.
''The doctor said temporary.'' Charlie reminds her.
The phone rings and Charlie answers it.
''Mr. Gaffney? Really? When will they start the tests? Ok, maybe a few of us will come down, try to jog her memory? We can try sir. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.'' he hangs up.
''Well?'' asks Adam.
''The doctor said that she might have amnesia. She can't remember the last two years.'' Charlie explains.
''That's when she met us.'' Guy says.
''They're going to be starting tests later. I figure a few of us can go see her, just to be there. Try and help her to remember.''
''I'm going.'' announces Connie, as she stands up.
''Me too.'' Guy says standing up as well.
Dean and Fulton exchange a look before agreeing to come with.
Charlie, Adam, Connie, Guy and the Bash Brothers all enter the hospital. They take an elevator to the fourth floor and look for Julie's parents in the waiting room.
Sam looks up as Charlie marches over, with the others trailing behind.
''Can we see her?'' he asks.
''Yes, but one at a time, please. The doctors feel all of you at once could be too much.'' says Sam.
''So, who's going first?'' asks Charlie.
I'm watching TV as my door opens again, and it's someone unfamiliar. She's tall, with long brown hair. She smiles at me.
''Hello.'' she says.
''Hi.''
She sits in the chair by my bed.
''I'm supposed to know you, right?''
She nods her head and I feel guilty.
''I'm sorry, but I don't.'' I say.
''That's ok, they warned my ahead of time, so I'm not gonna freak out on you.'' she says.
I smile at her. ''So, would you like to introduce yourself?''
''Sorry, names Connie Moreau. We're best friends, by the way, and roommates.''
She holds out her hand, and I take it, shaking it.
''You do know about school, right?'' she asks.
''About me getting accepted to Eden Hall because of my hockey talents? Yea, I think so.'' I joke.
She laughs. ''See, I knew you were faking this whole amnesia thing.''
''Not really, my parents told me. Sorry.''
''It's fine. Just remember, best friends, lifelong pals. No matter what any one else tries to tell you, I am your best friend.''
I laugh and nod my head. ''Best friend is Connie. Got it.''
''Good. I have to go, they're only letting us in one at a time and visiting hours are all most over. Bye Julie, I'll come back tomorrow.''
She leaves and I prepare myself for my other friends, who I know I won't remember.
Connie walks into the waiting room and into Guy's arm.
''I can't believe she doesn't remember me.''
''She doesn't remember any of us, Cons.'' Charlie says.
''I know, but it's just so...''
''I know.'' Adam murmurs.
''Who's gonna go next, we should hurry.'' Charlie says.
My door opens again, and this time a boy walks in, who I don't recognize. Of course.
''Hi Julie, my name is Guy Germaine.'' he says.
''Hi Guy, it's nice to meet you.''
He sits down in the chair and smiles at me. ''So, how do I know you?''
''We're friends. I"m also Connie's boyfriend.'' he says.
''Connie, my best friend?'' I ask.
''Yea, let me guess, she drilled that into your mind?''
I laugh. ''Yea.''
''Well, that's Connie for you.'' he says.
He lights up when he talks about her, and I can see how much he really loves her.
''Well Julie, it was nice meeting you, but other people want to see you to.''
I say goodbye and he leaves. I wish I had asked how many more were after him and if that Charlie was here too...
Two more boys walk in. They are both big and strong looking, but both smile at me with similar looks of mischief.
''I thought it was one at a time?'' I ask.
''Yea, but what the doctors don't know, won't hurt them.'' one of them says.
''Or get us in trouble.'' says the other.
The first one laughs and smiles at me. ''Hey Cat, I'm Dean Portman.''
''I'm Fulton Reed.''
''It's nice to meet you both. Not to be rude, but...why do we hang out?''
They both laugh and I join in, glad I didn't offend them.
''We're the Bash Brothers, and you're our Bash Sister.'' Dean says, as if that explains it all.
''You try and keep us in line and you're the only one allowed to.'' Fulton explains. ''We kinda adopted you as our sister.''
''Oh. That's cool, I always wanted siblings.''
Dean grins at me. ''So tell the truth Cat, you're just trying to get out of that test in math we have next week, aren't' you?''
I gasp in mock surprise. ''How did you know?''
They both laugh and then they too say they should go, so others can come see me.
''How many more?'' I ask, before they can leave.
''Just two. Why, are you tired of us already?'' kids Dean.
''No, just tired.''
''We can tell Adam and Charlie to leave.'' Fulton says, concerned.
Charlie? ''No, it's fine, tell them to come in.'' I say.
The next one to come in isn't Charlie, so it must be Adam.
''Hi Julie, I'm Adam Banks.''
He he, I'm really good at this.
''Hi Adam, it's nice to meet you.'' I says.
He smiles at me and sits down on the chair. ''Fulton said you were tired, so I won't stay long.''
''I just want to know why we hung out.'' I tell him.
''Ouch.''
''Sorry, it's just that-''
''Julie, I was kidding. We hung out because we're friends. Good friends. I'm not your best friend, Connie and Charlie fight over that role.''
We both laugh.
''So we were close?'' I ask.
''Yea, we knew each other pretty well.'' he grins at me.
''I'm glad. You seem like someone I'd want to know.'' I say.
I yawn and he stands up. ''I'll tell Charlie to leave. You need your rest.''
''No, it's fine. I'd like to see him, please.'' I say.
Adam bids me goodbye and leaves.
Charlie enters and grins at me, and once again my stomach flutters.
''Hey Jules, how ya feeling?'' he asks.
''Why do you call me that?'' I ask.
''Jules? Well, it's your nickname. Your more popular nickname anyway. Your other one is Cat.'' he tells me.
''Why? Do I like cats, because I don't remember liking cats.''
''No, it's because, when your in the net, you're like a cat. It's hard to explain.'' he says.
''So, who are you to me?'' I ask.
''I'm your best friend.'' he says.
''I thought that was Connie's role?''
''Nah, Connie has deluded herself into thinking that. It's me, it's always been me. I know, everything about you.'' he says.
I smile, suddenly feeling more comfortable. Then, I yawned.
''You're tired, I should go.'' he stands up, ready to leave.
''No, stay. Just until I fall asleep.'' I beg.
He sits back down and smiles at me. ''Ok.''
I lay back and immediately begin to feel drowsy.
''I'm glad you're ok Jules. Don't know what we would have done without you.'' I hear him say.
He thinks I'm asleep, so he walks over to the bed and I feel him press is lips onto my forehead.
The thing I hear him say is, ''Don't know what I would have done without you.''
Then, I'm asleep.
AN-So, did you like it? I tried to make this one long, to make up for the first one!