Remember, Remember

Bobby stepped out of his house and put his hands into the pockets of his jacket. Now that fall had come, the morning seemed to be very windy and the autumn leaves had made their way off the tree and onto his car. He sighed and brushed the leaves off the hood of his car, took out his keys, and got inside to head off to school. The weekend was over and now he was going to have another uneventful day at the start of another uneventful week. He wondered why high school was not what he expected when he was little. Before, he expected high school to contain parties, adventures, and all kinds of fun. The reality was that it was all work and barely any sleep. Sure, he participated in the clubs and events, but there weren't really things that made him feel like he actually did anything. However, that didn't keep him from thinking positive. Even though it was hard. Who knows? Maybe today would be different.

Please let something happen today, he thought.

Jessie grinned once she set out to school, her excitement building. When she had been younger, she used to live here and spend most of her time with her best friend, Bobby. When she was 12, though, she had to move away. Now that she was back, she was determined to get back to where she had left off. Running a hand through her hair, she stretched her arms out in front of her, her bangles dangling around her wrist. She twisted her wrist for just a moment, just to hear the noise. At least it eased whatever nervousness that she held within her.

I wonder if Bobby even goes to this school, she wondered as she approached the building and went to the office to pick up her schedule.

Since he left earlier than he usually did, Bobby killed some time by grabbing coffee to warm himself up. It wasn't freezing outside, but he still needed to get used to the cooler weather. Finally, he arrived at the school. He got out of his car and grabbed his books while he held his cup of coffee in the other hand. He headed to his locker and put his books inside and looked down at his watch. The bell was going to ring in fifteen minutes and there was still a little bit of time to waste before he had to go to class. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Bobby leaned against his locker and observed the people around him. Some people were chatting while others were copying each other's homework. Still the typical school day.

Jessie ran a hand through her hair after she got her schedule and walked out of the office, looking around. Finally, she looked down at her schedule to find her locker number and combination, quickly memorizing the combination before she searched for the locker. It was best to be aware of where her locker was, after all. Or, at least, she supposed that was what was best. Maybe it wasn't. Her brain was beginning to hurt from all the contradictions. Grumbling to herself, she sighed softly, soon finding the locker and walking to it, twisting the combination in to try to open it.

Bobby then noticed a girl with long, wavy brown hair looking down at a small piece of paper. He knew quite a lot of people and he believed he's never seen this girl before. The way she kept her eyes on that small paper and how she was looking up every few seconds implied that she was new and was looking for something. The girl stopped a few lockers down from Bobby's and started turning the dial.

For some reason, he thought of talking to her. He took a step forward, but hesitated. Should he talk to her?

Jessie bit down on her lower lip once she got the locker open. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed quietly. Maybe Bobby didn't go to this school. She felt crazy for begging to go to this school when she wasn't even sure that Bobby attended here. Sighing softly, she shook her head.

Oh well, she thought as she began emptying out what she wouldn't need for a while, No reason to let it bother me yet.

All Bobby could do was shake his head and wonder why he would hesitate. He's quite social and could talk to anybody in this whole school. Why would she be any different? She's only a girl. She was pretty, even.

Okay, yes, she was pretty. But that wasn't the reason why he wanted to talk to her. He liked meeting new people and if this girl really was new, she didn't know anyone in the school. He decided he'll be the first person she'll know.

Bobby walked up to her and leaned against the locker next to hers. "Hey, are you new?"

Jessie blinked upon hearing the voice and closed her locker, wondering if it was her who was being spoken to. She supposed she probably was, but figured that she would be rude if she didn't make sure. She turned to look at the owner of the voice and blinked a few times.

She'd recognize those eyes anywhere. How could she possibly not recognize him when she had known him most of her life? But, then again, maybe he had forgotten about her. Even if they had been best friends, it was possible for her to be forgotten.

"Kind of," she muttered before running a hand through her hair. "I used to live here, but I moved away when I turned twelve, having to leave my best friend." Silently, she hoped that it would spark something in him that would let her know whether he remembered her or not.

"Oh, really?" he smiled. "Well, welcome back. I'm sure you'll find your best friend again. They've gotta be somewhere in this school."

So the girl was kind of new in a way. If she moved away at twelve, she didn't go to high school here and a lot could change in six years. Even if she had lived here, she was new to him and he'd like to make a new friend.

The girl kept staring at him, probably shy around new people. That gave Bobby the cue to introduce himself.

"I'm Bobby," he held out a hand for her to shake.

Jessie sighed quietly to herself upon realizing that he obviously didn't remember her. Placing her hand in his, she shook it before quickly returning her hand to her side and running her hand through her hair.

"Jessie," she introduced quietly before running a hand through her hair and leaning back against her locker. "And, I know you, Bobby."

She quickly pushed herself off her locker and faced him completely for a moment. "You're the best friend that I left." She gave a small shrug before hearing the warning bell. Not wanting to make things even more awkward than she probably already had, she moved past him. Maybe she'd find some way to jog his memory later.

She walked away, leaving him speechless for a moment. Bobby turned around to go after her, but the bell had rung and there were many students moving about in the hallways getting to class. He saw the back of her head for a brief moment and called out to her.

"Wait!" he yelled. People bumped into him and got in his way while he tried his best not to lose her. He even called out her name. "Jessie!"

Before he knew it, he lost her in the crowd and she was gone. Bobby just stood there and the words she had said were still echoing in his head.

Jessie knew him. He was her best friend. He tried his best to remember her. What kind of person could forget their best friend? He sighed and hung his head. He had to talk to her again. He wanted to know more.

Bobby started walking again, Jessie still on his mind.

Jessie frowned to herself as she walked, easily dodging quite a few people. How had he forgotten her so easily? And, to think that she had been so excited to see her best friend after all this time.

She was a fool.

Sighing, she made her way to her first class, having gotten lost quite a few times. But once she found it, she walked straight it and sat down in an empty seat, resting her head on the desk. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to go home. She wanted to do anything and be anywhere except be stuck here at a school with a best friend who didn't remember her.

It hurt to think that she wasn't even important enough to him for him to remember her.

Bobby didn't feel like going to class at all, especially after what just happened. He took his time to get to first period, taking slow steps until he was near the bathrooms. School was definitely not his priority right now, so he went inside and sat in one of the stalls.

He was getting a headache for thinking too much. Trying to remember something was harder than he thought. Not only did he hate the headache he was having, he also hated himself for being a complete idiot. How could he forget Jessie? She said he was her best friend and a best friend wouldn't forget so easily like that. Her eyes were so hurt when she told him and he wanted to hit himself for being so oblivious their past.

He got up from the stall and went over to the sink to splash water in his face. Already, he was ten minutes late and he knew he had to go to class. During break or after school was when he would talk to Jessie.

Bobby walked the halls again and reached his class and opened the door. Everyone turned their heads to him and the teacher shook her head in disapproval. But he didn't pay attention to the teacher's look. He kept looking at the group of students before him. He was looking at one face, who looked at him with big brown eyes.

It was her.

When Jessie had noticed that Bobby had caught her looking at him, she quickly turned away. How stupid was she to actually expect him to remember her? Was it really too big of an expectation? Sighing quietly, she shook her head, ridding herself of these negative thoughts. Why should she care? He had forgotten her; she may as well just forget him. Right?

Wrong, apparently.

No matter how much she wished that she had forgotten him, she simply couldn't ignore the fact that they had once been best friends. The best of friends, even. A quiet sigh left her lips at the thought.

It doesn't matter, she told herself.

Now, normally, she wouldn't lie. Not even to herself. But, this seemed like a major time when she just had to lie to herself. And that had been the only lie that she could tell herself. The only problem was that she couldn't even force herself to believe it.

"Any excuse why you're late, Mr. Velasco?"

Bobby didn't even face the teacher because he still kept his eyes on Jessie. She had looked away once his eyes met hers and he knew she had every right to. "I'm sorry I'm late. I just got distracted by…something."

More like someone, he said to himself.

Of all the classes, she ended up in the same one as him and this was the only thing he could focus on. He went toward the back and sat in his desk, which was diagonal from where Jessie was sitting. Her head was still turned the other way and she hadn't moved since he first walked in.

He really hoped she'd eventually turn around to face him, so they can finally talk. If not, then he'd just have to get her to turn around himself.

Jessie gave a heavy sigh as she focused her attention forward on the teacher. Even that was better than letting her mind get too caught up in Bobby.

Not surprising, though, she couldn't focus on the lecture the teacher had begun. Too many questions were unanswered.

How could he have just forgotten her when they had been so close? Or, was it just her who thought they had been that close and perhaps Bobby had just wanted somebody to spend time with? Was she really that insignificant?

Another sigh left her lips as she propped her elbows on the desk, resting her head in her hands, her head beginning to hurt.

She absolutely hated this.

There was no point in waiting for Jessie to face him because the teacher had already started the lecture. Also, Jessie hated him at the moment. It was up to him to get her attention and he knew what he was going to do. He opened up his notebook, tore out a piece of paper, and took a pencil out of his backpack. On the paper he wrote:

Can you please turn around? I wanna talk to you.

It wasn't the best message, but all he needed was her attention. He folded the note into a small square and tossed it when the teacher wasn't looking. She was close enough for it to reach her and the paper managed to land on her desk. Now all he had to do was wait.

Jessie blinked when she took notice of the piece of paper and looked down at it. Her brows furrowed together in confusion before she picked it up and slowly, cautiously opening it, as to not attract attention from the teacher.

When she saw what was written inside, she frowned slightly, re-reading it several times to make sure she hadn't misread the note, making sure to register the words clearly. A soft sigh soon left her lips.

What the hell? she thought, Might as well.

It wasn't like she had anything better to do. Besides, she was curious about why he suddenly wanted to talk to her. It confused the hell out of her, to say the least.

With a sigh, she turned around to face him, arching an eyebrow expectantly. "What?" she asked in a soft whisper.

"Look, I didn't mean to make you upset," he whispered back. "There seems to be a lot of questions we have for each other."

He stopped for a quick second when the teacher looked in his direction and then continued when he was no longer being watched. "I'm sorry that I don't remember. But if we are best friends, I-"

"I hope you're paying attention, Bobby," the teacher said sternly. "You said you were late because you were distracted and you seem to be right now. Please be respectful and stop talking."

Dammit, he frowned. He sighed and faced forward to look as if he was listening. However, this didn't stop him from whispering one last thing.

"Meet me at your locker during lunch."