"Wanna do something this weekend?" Ben asked Rocky, placing himself between the space separating the front seats.

"Sure. What?" Asked Rocky.

"Umm, actually, I thought… Oh, nevermind." Emily turned her attention out of the window.

"No. What?"

"Nevermind." She shook her head.

Rocky glanced away from the road when seeing an approaching traffic light turn yellow. "Emily, please?" The car slowed then stopped.

"I just thought that it would be nice if you and I spent the weekend together. We could go on a date and reconnect." She blushed. "Ya know, since the accident. I don't know.. Our relationship feels disconnected somehow."

Ben looked from Emily to Rocky. "I know when I'm a third-wheel. Have fun you two. We'll hang out some other time, Rock'."

"Ok." He smiled at his girlfriend. "It's a date or dates, then."

"Great." She smiled with such an ease that Rocky was left distracted.

A car horn took care of that. The person behind him left no room for apologies, just a demand for action. Rocky waved an apologetic hand out the window then pressed down on the gas. Games sure are easier. Nobody cares if you stall. Although, with games, you just get hit. Not a better alternative to getting chewed-out by a car horn.

Emily seemed to be experiencing the same traumatic thought as he was. They both looked glass-eyed as the trip finally paused at Ben's house. The sound of a car horn. Loud. Crude. Cutting through the kindness of their delighted conversation about dating anticipation. It was embedded in his mind. No voices saying that they're alright but had a scare. No, I'm hurt and going to the hospital. Just a loud obnoxious horn. Haaaaaaaaaaa! Like a cruel laugh.

For Emily, the shout was brief. A pained shout before the pain in her head silenced the machine's whaling. Then she awoke in a hospital. Alone without being alone. She had people with her, but she did not know who they were for a moment. Thankfully, she does know now.

"Wanna stop for a shake or something?" Rocky asked.

"Umm, y-yeah. Yeah. Thanks."

He shook his head. There was no need to thank him. He waved to Ben, who waved at him from the front door of his home. The car rolled back out of the driveway, and Rocky took them to main street to the local Smooth Grooves for smoothies.

A few peers from school saw the pair enter. Their mouths began moving a mile a minute. They knew about the accident by now, and the amnesia but haven't been able to find a way to speak to Emily about it. Now seemed as good a time as any. Cheryl and Courtney Danson, along with Julia Stafford, went over to the table after Rocky found one for them to sit, then he departed for the counter to order.

"Emily?" Courtney greeted without greeting. "Hey, it's been a while."

She and her twin sister haven't had classes with Emily this semester. Despite being acquainted, it's awkward just to approach someone and start firing off comments and questions.

"Hey.. you guys.." Her expression looked blank.

"Courtney," she points to her sister. "Cheryl, and you might or might remember her, but this is Julia."

Emily looked at the raven haired girl, searching her face and eyes but seeing nothing she looked back to the speaker. "Hi."

"Are you feeling OK? We heard about the accident but didn't know how to approach you."

"You could just approach, everybody else does." The amnesiac replied.

"Good! So, how are you?" She sat at the table in one of the three empty seats. The others followed her example.

It looked like a trio enamored by a storyteller who's about to deliver a really good one. A tale of action, adventure, gripping romance, and a little mystery.

"I'm good."

"Are you hurting? How's your memory?" Cheryl asked.

Emily smiled when she and her sister cocked their heads at the same time but inwardly towards each other. It caused their brunette and blonde ponytails to meld together like theater curtains with someone lost trying to find their way out.

"I was hurt a bit, mostly a headache and a bruised face and forehead. But, I've since been fine." Her eyes kept glancing at the silent girl, Julia, at her right. "Mostly trying to figure things and people out."

"Do you remember us at all?" Cheryl asked. "We were on the softball team together in middle school.."

"Nnno, I don't remember softball. But, I do remember your faces, your names just escaped me."

Cheryl seemed visibly relieved by that.

"So… What… Are your memories going to come back, or have you just forgotten a lot of stuff permanently?" Asked the previously silent Julia.

"It's coming back little by little." Her gaze then went over their heads. She smiled instantly. "Rocky, these guys are joining us?" She wondered rather than informed.

"Nope. We were just checking up on you." The trio got up. "Good to see you, Rocky." Courtney said, offering him her seat.

"Hi, Samuel." Julia smiled then lowered her gaze and walked quickly away after Courtney.

"We should hangout sometime." Cheryl suggested before following after her sister and her friend.

Rocky lowered their drinks to the table. "One cherry chocolate, and one deliciously cooling apple mint."

"You're sick." Emily said, reaching for the cherry chocolate.

"Hey, don't yuck my yum. You like grits, so.."

Emily laughed. "Real mature, Douglas."

He teased her back with a smug retort. "It is. Try it now. You might change your mind." He shoved his drink over to her.

She grimaced. What even was apple mint? Giving it a passable sip through Rocky's straw, she nodded. "Mmm."

"See." He took back his drink.

"Yeah, that was an intone of trying not to gag, not an, "Mmm "." She grabbed her drink after he mock grabbed it and tipped it over the table. "Too late to change your mind. You ordered that." She drank hers.

Rocky scoffed before going to a sip. He suddenly felt a blush approaching. Emily drank from his straw. He'd already used his straw. And he's using it again after her. That's an indirect kiss. He swallowed his sip, and busied himself stirring it until his emotions simmered so he wouldn't choke from the butterflies dancing mad in his chest to the point of laughter.

"Real cherries are so good." She commented. "I thought they'd use maraschinos."

"Those aren't real?"

"When have you ever seen a cherry that's neon red?" Her brow rose.

Rocky couldn't say that he has.

"I mean, it's a real cherry, but it's got a lot done to it."

The ninja thought about how much Emily used to love those. She'd always get extra when they have sundaes, and her last birthday cake had two per slice decorating the top. With new Emily it's fake food.

"Rocky… Do you like me?"

"Yeah. I like you a lot." He answered with enthusiasm. "Do you like me?"

"Sure."

He sensed something more, but didn't dare investigate. Why push for something that might just be paranoia? They talked about their weekend plans, school, and homework.

"Do you know what happened between me and that girl over there?" She asked when a moment of silence fell upon them.

Rocky looked over his shoulder. "You mean Julia?"

"Yeah. She seemed kinda standoffish towards me." She looked at her drink, watching the chocolate bits sink down as she poked her straw into it over and over. "I thought I might be imagining things, but, I don't know."

"Sorry, but, I don't know what exactly it is that you two started disliking each other about." He replied. "She stayed over at your place one day and the next day at school, you said you can't stand her."

"Oh."

"Do you" and he sounded like someone learning new words as he spoke trying to be careful with what he says. He doesn't want to upset her. "Should I ask?"

"No!"

That surprised him. It could be something petty that's easily forgiven. But, then again, maybe not. "Maybe your diary has the answer."

"Maybe..." She finished her drink. "We should get home. I wanna get my homework out of the way."

"Yeah." He hurried down the remaining liquid in his cup.

"Bye, Em'!" Shouted Courtney when seeing them about to leave. "Let's talk later."

Emily smiled and nodded. She has no intention of doing any such thing. Holding hands with Rocky, she walked out with him. Let the room know that no one would take him away.