Scarlet opened her eyes and her lips parted.
She stood at the edge of a large lake, surrounded by the majestic trees of the forest swaying peacefully in the twilight sky. And on the horizon was the enormous Harvest Moon, hung low in the sky and glowing a rusty orange as it shone its soft light across the smooth surface of the lake.
It looked unreal.
“Do you like it?” Gabriel stood beside her, taking it in.
“It’s…breathtaking.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Gabriel smile. “Surprise.”
The first stars of night began to peek out from the purple sky above as Scarlet said, “Totally worth the mosquito bites.”
Gabriel softly laughed. “Okay, now time for dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yep. Well, it’s really more like a picnic since, you know, we can’t get pizza delivered out here.” Gabriel swung his backpack off and unzipped it. He pulled out a large blanket, sandwiches, and bottled water. He spread the blanket out on the dry shore of the lake, smoothed out the wrinkles and motioned to Scarlet. “Dinner is served.”
Scarlet smiled widely. A picnic under the stars, against the giant moon, at the edge of a serene lake?
Best. Date. Ever.
The moonlight was bright and illuminated the forest around them as Scarlet sat down on the soft blanket and took the sandwich Gabriel handed her. He sat beside her, both of them facing the glorious moon.
Scarlet took a bite. “Mmm. Peanut butter and jelly. My favorite.”
Gabriel smiled and took a bite of his own sandwich.
The purple forest was happily quiet but for the soft ripples of water hitting the shore and the hidden crickets.
“So.” Gabriel swallowed. “Tell me something real.”
Scarlet swallowed as well. “Something real?”
He nodded with a crooked smile. “Tell me something that’s not empty. Something honest and Scarlet-specific.”
“I’m guessing my favorite color probably won’t suffice?” Scarlet raised a teasing eyebrow.
“Nope. It has to be meaningful.” Gabriel’s eyes sparkled. “And besides, you’re favorite color is blue.”
“Lucky guess.” Scarlet smiled. “Okay…something meaningful….”
Should she just go for it and tell him everything? Give him the whole I’m-a-weirdo-amnesiac story?
She trusted him, she felt safe around him, and he seemed mature enough to handle it.
Probably.
Gabriel looked at her pleasantly, waiting.
Scarlet cleared her throat. “Well. I have amnesia.”
There. She’d thrown it out there.
There was no going back. He was either going to sit and listen to her story, or run away from her screaming.
Oh man, I hope he doesn’t run away. Mostly because I have no idea how to get out of these woods and it’s now nighttime and I will for sure be eaten by a bear if I’m left out here alone.
“Amnesia?” He still looked pleasant.
Scarlet nodded. “Yup. I can’t remember anything prior to two years ago.”
“Huh. And how’s that going?”
Scarlet thought about it. “Better. At first it was really confusing and frightening. But now…well, now I’ve kinda just accepted that I might not ever recover my memories.”
Genuine sympathy came across his face. “That seems…unfair.”
Scarlet nodded again, then shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m okay with it now. At first I was scared. Then I was angry. And then I was just plain curious. I wanted to remember who I was, you know?”
He stopped eating and looked at her intensely, his eyes searching hers. He cleared his throat. “Who are you now?”
Scarlet chewed and swallowed another bite. “What do you mean?”
Gabriel twitched his lips. “Who you were is never as important as who you are. So…who are you?” He smiled.
Scarlet tucked in a smile and bit her lip, thinking about it. “I’m…Scarlet Jacobs. I get good grades and blend in with the crowd. I have a crazy best friend who makes me laugh and doesn’t let me sulk—ever. I have an unnatural fear of bears,” Scarlet smiled at him, “and no fashion sense whatsoever. But I’m surprisingly good at making coffee.”
Scarlet paused, looking up at the moon. She shrugged. “Sometimes I feel out of place when other kids talk about their childhoods, but I’m not bitter. I’m just…different. I’m lucky, though, because I have Laura, who loves me, and a lot people live their whole life without being loved, you know?” She looked back at Gabriel, whose sweet eyes were fixed on her.
He nodded. “You are very loved, indeed.” A slow smile spread across his face, showing off his dimples. “I like you, Scarlet Jacobs, just the way you are. Life isn’t about the past, it’s about the future. Life is about looking forward. Our pasts,” he shrugged, “are just that: history. The past doesn’t define us, you know?”
Scarlet nodded, her eyes locked on his.
“Your life will be beautiful,” he continued. “With or without your memories, your life will be incredible.”
And just like that, Gabriel Archer won over her heart.
Scarlet slanted her eyes at the handsome boy beside her. “Thanks for not freaking out.”
“About what?”
“My amnesia. I figured you’d run away screaming once I told you.”
“Who me?” Gabriel shook his head with a teasing smile. “Never. And besides, if I ran away, who would protect you from the bears?”
Scarlet tried not to smile as she nudged him. “Shut up.”
Gabriel scooted closer and took her hand in his as they both looked back up at the moon while they ate their sandwiches.
Fireflies lit up the night like flickering stars and gentle water rocked against the lakeshore.
Scarlet couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy.
Suddenly, her past was history.
And her future looked bright.
12
Three nights later, Scarlet tossed in her bed, lost in a dream.
She and Gabriel were in a field and he was gently swinging her around as he sang—loudly and off key.
Scarlet was laughing hysterically and demanding to be put down.
“No. Not until you agree to dance with me and sing at the top of your lungs.” Gabriel broke into song again.
She could barely speak through her laughter. “I can’t sing. I sing like a duck.”
“A duck?” He swung her around again. “Ducks don’t sing. They quack.”
Still laughing, Scarlet said, “Exactly.”
“Very well.” Gabriel kept her in his big arms and started waltzing with mock seriousness. “We shall quack, then.”
He proceeded to swing her around, her long hair sailing in the wind, while he quacked.
“Quack, quack. Quack, quack.” Gabriel’s duck imitation was spot-on.
Scarlet was laughing so hard her stomach and cheeks began to hurt. “Stop quacking.”
“Not until you dance with me.”
“Fine, fine.” Scarlet controlled her laughter for a moment. “Just put me down.”
Gabriel looked at her closely, pressing his nose to hers as he spoke. “If I put you down, you’ll dance with me?”
Scarlet smiled. “Only if you quit quacking.”
He smiled broadly. “Very well.” He set her on her feet and eyed her carefully.
Scarlet burst into laughter and took off running. “But first you have to catch me….”