14.

*Katelyn*

I began to remember everything, bit by bit. When he mentioned my attendance at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, I remembered stone walls and secret passageways that I would disappear inside. I remembered my friends and my roommates, Leah, Alicia, and Laura. I remembered late nights studying for COW tests and tea during Culture and Assimilation. I remembered P&E workouts and I even began to remember Mr. Solomon's class, even though I never had before. And I could practically smell the freshly mown grass and waffles that wafted up the stairs on Monday mornings. Gallagher Academy had been my home away from home.

Joe told me about Leah and I remembered her well; her deep eyes that always seemed curious and her thin hair and pale skin. I remembered all of the times that she had stayed up talking with me and studying with me, and how she had always been my partner on group assignments. I remembered that her bed was the one directly across from me and Alicia's bed was the one right beside me. I could remember Leah talking to me about Mr. Solomon in some secret passageway, away from eavesdroppers. I remembered the concerned look that she had given me and her warnings to be careful.

When Joe mentioned our first kiss, I had a flashback to that moment, feeling all of the emotions that I had been feeling that day. I could practically feel his lips on mine that first time, taste their sweetness. I could smell his cologne and fell the fabric of the white shirt he'd been wearing that day. I remembered how his arms had wrapped around me and how mine had wrapped around him. I remembered that I'd been happy in that moment. My mind had screamed at me that I was doing the right thing. That it was right to feel something for him.

I remembered my first time with him, which had been after a rough moment involving Grant, a guy my age that I could vaguely remember as a cocky, sort of good looking boy assassin. I remembered taping Joe's hand and then telling him that I loved him and hearing him say it in return. Those words coming from his lips… They had sounded so amazing to me in that moment. I remembered his promise to be gentle and I remembered that he had kept that promise well. His whispered words from that night filled my ears and I could practically feel his hands moving down my body, smooth and steady. I remembered that one moment when we had finally become one.

And then he told me about our little fight and I could remember that, too. I remembered going to talk to Grant and then deciding that I was going to go talk to Joe. Joe had been the one person that had broken through all of my barriers and shown me that it was okay to be myself. That it was okay to feel emotions.

I remembered offering myself to him that last night, finally offering everything that I had. And I remembered that night in vivid detail; every look, every kiss, every touch. I remembered how exhausted my body had been afterwards, each time, but I could also remember how rewarding it had felt. How he filled me and made me feel whole. Like a part of me had been missing until he'd come along. I could feel my love for him all over again; the love that was so strong that it could knock the breath out of me unexpectedly.

"It was Rider," I whispered softly when he'd finished telling me. Outside, the sun was high in the sky. He had talked for nearly three hours. "I remember now. Rider showed up with my parents…" I looked at him to find him watching me. "But I don't remember much else…"

"He didn't want us together," Joe said and leaned back in the chair. "He wanted you for himself. So your father – who agreed with him – made you take a memory modifier."

"Made me?" I questioned.

Joe shrugged. "More or less. He threatened to make our lives miserable if you defied him. And you decided to be noble and protect me, so… Here we are."

"Why can I remember now?"

He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. "Your father said something about the possibility of memories being triggered. I guess they just were when I told you everything."

I nodded slowly and sighed as I stood up, stretching my muscles that had grown sore form sitting too long. My knee popped and I winced slightly. "So, Rider broke us apart… He's so horrible. And he's a member of this Circle organization? I've never heard of them."

"That's strange," Joe admitted. "Because they wanted you not too long ago."

"I'll keep an eye out," I muttered as I went to the window and looked outside, watching the people on the sidewalks below. They had no idea that my life had been shaken up. Theirs were going on as normal. Lucky.

"Katelyn, are you okay?"

The concern in his voice sounded so familiar and it warmed my heart. "I don't know. I just found out that the guy that I'm engaged to broke up my last relationship in which I was in love with you and… I just don't know. I'm…confused."

"I understand."

I let out a small breath. "Joe?"

"Yeah?" I could see his reflection in the window, blurry, but still there. He was standing a few feet behind me, hands in his pockets and looking ready to take on the world.

I turned around so that I could see him better; this man that I had loved. This man that I felt like I was beginning to love again. "I don't…" I paused and took a breath. "I don't feel like doing surveillance today. I'm so tired…"

He nodded. "You should lie down. If you don't feel like going back to your room, you can stay here."

I looked at the inviting bed and nodded. And then, I looked back up into his bright green eyes and whispered, "Will you stay with me?"

And he nodded, giving me a tender smile and holding out his arms to me.