Play me a memory
*****
Everything was slowly getting back to normal. Well, as normal as things could get. I had developed a new routine where I would visit Daniel everyday after school for as long as I could before going home to re-watch everything Elliot had given me, hoping it would trigger some sort of memory. It hadn't. But something had changed. I had started getting fuzzy visions. Everything was dark but my mind would spiral for a few seconds before it passed. Things everyone would say were suddenly feeling so familiar. Call it deja vu.
"How we doing on this bright, happy morning?" Jacob asked throwing his arm around my shoulders leading me to my locker.
"Absolutely brilliant, what about yourself?" I replied as I spotted the girls with Elliot. Elliot grinned as he saw me approach, greeting me with a kiss to the forehead, replacing Jacobs arm with his own.
"Any plans for tonight?" Sira asked looking between us.
"Not that I know of" Alyssa shrugged leaning against Jacob. I looked up at them guilty.
"I'm going to see Daniel and then I have an upload scheduled" I sighed. "It just need to be recorded, it shouldn't take long at all." I quickly added.
"That's fine. We'll pop round to yours and then we'll take it from there?" Jacob asked looking at Elliot who gave him a curt nod before we went our separate ways. When lunch rolled around everyone was around settled at our usual table.
"What's wrong?" I asked taking a seat noticing the sudden stop in whispers.
"Nothing" Sira smiled continuing to play with her food. Side eyes were passed between the group before Jacob finally opened his mouth.
"There was once a man named Dave" confusion contoured my face as he finished his sentence.
"Who found a hooker in a cave" Alyssa added staring me. I looked between them as if they were crazy. Maybe I was the crazy one.
"She was ugly as shit" Elliot laughed lowly adding on.
"Missing one tit" Sira finished staring at me. Not just her, the entire table fell silent staring at me. I replayed their words in my head before the words stumbled out of my mouth.
"But think of all the money he saved" Elliot broke out into a grin pulling me closer.
"What the hell was that?" I questioned. "and why on Earth do I know that?". Elliot let out a loud laugh laying a kiss into my hair.
"It's something Jacob came up with a while ago. We just wanted to test the waters and see if you'd remember your line" Elliot explained. I smiled up at him. I did remember. I sighed leaning my head against Elliot's chest. I was no longer worried about my memories, they would all come back little by little.
"I researched this all. I could literally wake up one day and have all my memories back or it could take months" I said looking between them all.
"Let's hope it's not the latter" Elliot groaned making me laugh. Lunch slipped by and so did the rest of the day. Next thing I knew I was walking through the familiar hospital doors.
"Hey, Jessica" a nurse smiled at me kindly with a knowing glint in her eyes. I greeted her back confused at her excited expression. I ignored it walking to Daniel pushing open the door, only to freeze in my tracks.
"Not you again" Daniel said as he sat against his bed. My hands flew to my mouth as tears automatically burned my eyes.
"You're awake" I whispered behind my hand walking closer to him.
"Ofcourse I am, wasn't planning on sleeping my life away" he replied opening up his arms. I didn't miss a beat running into his arms making him groan.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry" I said pulling away but he didn't let go and instead pulled me closer.
"I missed you so much" I cried into his chest hugging him as tight as I could without hurting him. I never thought I'd hug him again.
"I missed you too, Jess. I could hear everything, you know" He said pulling away.
"You could?" I asked. Daniel nodded smiling at me.
"How long have you been awake? Why didn't I know?" I moved to sit by him.
"I told them not to tell you. A lil' surprise and that?" he winked at me. I shuffled back a little to give him some space.
"Do you...have you...do you remember?" I asked hoping he wasn't in the same situation as me.
"I haven't forgot anything if that's what you're asking" he replied taking my hand into his with a light squeeze. "In a way this is good. You're aware of it now. That's good. It means your memories can come back anytime now" I smiled at his words pulling him in for another hug. I sat with him for another hour before bidding goodbye. The doctor said Daniel was doing very well and he was to be kept under observation and if all was well he'd be home very soon.
"Daniel's awake" I yelled as soon as I walked through doors launching myself into Elliot's arm.
"He is? That's great, baby" Elliot held onto to me lifting me up, carrying me into the living room.
"Someone's happy" Sira laughed.
"When's he allowed to be home?" Jacob asked as I took a seat beside him.
"I'm not sure yet, but hopefully soon" I said crossing my fingers. We made small talk for a few minutes before I came to the topic at hand.
"I need your help" I finally said.
"With?" Alyssa said readjusting her head on Jacob's lap.
"I need to upload another cover" I started before looking at Elliot "but I want to do it with Elliot. He's so talented and everyone needs to see that" I took Elliot's hand in my own. "Will you sing with me?" I asked. Elliot looked around for a few seconds.
"Are you sure? I'm really not that good of a singer" he replied.
"Oh shut up. You're amazing. He'll do it. How can we help though?" Sira asked sitting up.
"I need a camera crew" I laughed. Everyone quickly agreed to help and I rushed upstairs with Elliot.
"You've heard turn back time?" Elliot nodded at my question. I smiled. We quickly went through our lines and we finally began to record. I wasn't one to constantly practice my videos wanting perfection. I preferred raw memories and footage. It took us 15 minutes to record the song on our own and another 20 to set up and film.
I always knew Elliot was a great singer but I hadn't realised just how good he was. Harmonizing with him had me feeling like my stomach was doing backflips. We all made out way back upstairs as I uploaded the contents onto my laptop beginning to edit. Forty minutes had passed before I finally shut my laptop.
"And done" I sighed sinking back into the sofa. I closed my eyes for a few seconds rewinding the day in my head.
'any flavour you want, I promise'
My eyes flew up as I pushed myself off the sofa. I blinked back the cloudy thoughts before looking at Elliot. Those were Elliot's words.
"You okay?" Elliot asked taking my hand into his. I gave him a smile.
"Yeah, I'll be right back." I said getting up running to my room. I don't know what those words meant but it was definitely Elliot. I walked to my bathroom washing my face with cold water.
'How could I ever say no to ice-cream'
I pulled away looking at myself through the mirror. Snippets. That's all I was getting. Elliot and I were standing in a carpark; Sira, Alyssa, Jacob and Daniel were in the far corner. Was this the day of my accident? Was this the last conversation I had with Elliot. I smiled at the memory before turning around skipping downstairs.
"What's going on?" Elliot asked when he saw the grin lighting up my face. Elliot was sat on a single seat sofa, so I squeezed onto the arm next to him. He didn't hesitate wrapping his arm around my waist pulling me onto his lap.
"What's the plan then? What do we wanna do?" Jacob asked when I didn't answer Elliot's question.
"Hmm, I was feeling some ice-cream" I said looking down at Elliot. I wrapped an arm around his neck running my hand through his hair, looking at the others.
"Ooooh, I don't mind some ice-cream" Sira said standing up.
"Poppy's parlour?" Alyssa said pushing herself off Jacob.
"Race you to the car" Jacob laughed pushing past Alyssa and Sira who chased after him.
"That's our que" Elliot said making a move to get up but I pushed against him holding him down. I shifted in his lap throwing a leg on either side of his thighs, straddling him. Elliot's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Wh-" I cut him off pulling him forward laying my lips on his softly. It was only meant to be a peck, but as soon as Elliot's hands ran up my thighs, wrapping one arm around my waist, the other grabbing onto my hair, I knew it wasn't meant to be a peck any more. Elliot titled my head to deepen the kiss, pulling me closer to him.
"You owe me ice-cream" I said pulling back to catch some air, when I felt something hard against my thigh.
"All this for ice-cream?" he laughed. "Babe, I'll give you anything if this is what I get in return" I continued pulling me into a kiss again.
"You're already overdue" I laughed pulling.
"Eh?" Elliot's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I laughed enjoying his confusion. I cleared my throat dramatically before continuing, locking my arms around his neck.
"I was promised ice-cream many months ago, Elliot" I pouted playfully. "You're lacking" I flicked his nose.
"Wait...you remember?" Elliot's face lit up, I quickly shook my head shutting him down.
"Only some of it" I replied. I pulled him forward by his shirt so my mouth was resting against his ear.
"I want chocolate" I whispered laying a small kiss under his ear before pushing away from him.
"See you outside" I waved over my shoulder, holding back my laugh as I heard Elliot groan.
"Where's Elliot?" Jacob asked as I jumped into the backseat.
"He'll be right here. He needed to make a trip to the toilet." I replied noticing Sira giving me a slight shake of the head.
"What?" I asked looking at her. She smiled at me pulling me closer.
"Next time, don't forget to sort your lipstick out" she laughed running her fingers along my lips cleaning the smudges. I blushed red as they all burst out laughing. Elliot made his way out of the front door a few seconds later, opening up the door taking his seat next to me.
Elliot shuffled in his seat next to me, before pulling me closer. I looked at the other trio other were engaged in a conversation before turning back to Elliot.
"As much as I love that you remember, you just started a game that I know you're going to lose." he smirked resting his hand on my thigh.
"I don't know what you're on about" I blinked at him innocently. He pulled me closer resting his mouth near my ear.
"Oh you will baby, just you wait and watch" he whispered nipping at my earlobe before placing a kiss in the same area I had kissed him.
"Ew, get a room" Sira groaned from next to me.
"Sorry" I blushed swatting at Elliot's hand who just bellowed out a laugh. I guess I would have to watch and see.