"She's waking up! She's waking up!" Jared's voice sounded panicked.
"You don't have to repeat it, I got it the first time." And that was Laurel.
Slowly I opened my eyes. The view was definitely different than when I passed out.
Someone had carried me to my room. All of my friends, Laurel and Fuller were in the room. They all shared a look of relief.
I sat up and rubbed the back of my head.
"Fuller, can you pass me that bag," I pointed to the one holding my pills.
"I'm going to call Aaron." Laurel went for the phone.
"No!"
"Why the hell not?!"
"Because he's got a lot in his mind right now. I want him with a clear head and beign careful."
That's reasonable enough, in my opinion.
"If I tell him you fainted, he'll be here in a blink!" she waved the phone for emphasis.
"Exactly! I don't want him rushing over here when I'm perfectly fine. He's busy, I want him with his head on the game. Those people need him." Trying to eason with Laurel proved to be harder than I expected.
It was like that time when we argued about who wore a certain dress better. I insisted it was her because of her body complexion, on me it looked plain. But no, she wouldn't have that, even though I was complimenting her.
Wait a minute...
"You fainted! You need him too! Maybe I should fake to be in labor, that'll get him here fast. No one should have let him go, anyway." Laurel sighed dramatically.
"Regan said not to call him." Greg snatched the phone from Laurel's hand. "And I agree with her."
I remembered that small, shot talk with him about my social status. How I had money before becoming Mrs. Scarlatti.
As I lookd over my friends I could easily remember situations, conversations, events, however anyone could name it. I remembered.
The time when Jared teased Aaron who in turn got sort of possessive and jealous at the dining table. The little looks he sent me just to piss my husband off.
How talking to Elliot was as easy as talking to a brother, or at least that's what I think it would feel like. I wouldn't really know, being an only child and all. I could easily remember his jokes and familiarity.
The times Alice had no filter between her brain and mouth, blurting out what she thought without stopping to see if it was offensive, out of place or not.
Leah's maturity, her thoughtfulness, and the sudden joke that made you grin widely for several minutes. Her shyness, insecurities and the little encourashment I gave her at the camp.
And of course, Greg's intelligence, smartasss comments, carefree persona.
Not to forget the sexual tension between Greg and Leah, Alice and Jared. How they seemed to go on a pace slower than a turtle's.
"And now she's done it. She's insane. Why are you grinning like a fool?" Laurel's none too gentle and low tone got my attention.
"Something good came out of this." I just couldn't hold back the laughter. I guess the pressure and stress weren't so bad if it had gotten me here.
"I'm telling you, insane." Laurel shook her head.
"Nearly giving us a heart attack is not soemthign I'll consider good." Alice was staring at me with a worried look. Mirroring the rest of the people inside the room. I think Fuller even called Rita to bring me tea.
"Well, looking at you guys and not having a blank canvas in my head is good enough for me." I came to the conclusion that the bed was too comfortable to get out of. So I laid down. My head felt as if it wanted to take a jog away from my neck, but I tried to ignore it.
"Does that mean you remember everything?" there was hope in Elliot's voice.
"Yes. I think. Kind of." Was my reassuring response, to which Elliot scowled at.
"Either you remember or you don't. If you don't and you got all of our hopes up, I'm throwing this," he took the phone Greg held away, "at you. I don't care if Aaron ends up killing me."
Now it was my turn to scowl. "Why do you guys think Aaron is going to commit murder everytime I feel off?"
They all, even Fuller, gave me an are-you-serious look. Okay they had a point, but Aaron wasn't all anger and seriousness. I knew that now and now that I really think about it...
"Oh God." My heart started racing and I felt all the blood drain from my face. He told me not to do it. Even though our relationship had considerably changed and he said those rules were stupid, he still had said it.
"I wasn't serious. He's not going to kill me, just hit me or something, but he wont go to jail for it." Elliot tried to comfort me.
"He was joking, Regan." Leah looked at me with confusion and worry, concern and the sort.
How did this happen? How could I have fallen for Aaron in the course of a week and not in the two months we've been together? Perhaps it was now that I remember that I realized I'd loved him all along. But that seems wrong. I cared for him, I really did, but I didn't love him. It wasn't until he started being himself around me that I started having feelings, real feelings, for him.
"Regan?" Someone said but I couldn't look up.
"Ma'am, drink this. It'll make you feel better." Fuller placed a cup of tea on my hands. I took a sip just to calm everyone down. I didn't want them to think I was paralyzed or something.
Jesus Christ. What is Aaron going to say? Could he love me too? He'd shown he cared for me in more ways than one. But caring and loving were two different things.
We're married for God's sake. It's not like he'll kick me out for confessing my undying love for him. Okay, Laurel's dramatic skills are rubbing off.
"I'm in love. I'm in love with Aaron. I love him." It all sounded so foreign. It was all hitting me at once. "Oh." I let out a shaky breath.
"Well of course you are. You wouldn't have married him otherwise." Jared frowned at me.
Right, they didn't know it was an arranged marriage. But Laurel knew. She knew and she was looking at me without any emotion in her face. Fuller was grinning like I've never seen him before.
I suddenly felt the urge to scream. To yell that I loved my husband. The urge to call Aaron and tell him, but I'd really like to see his face when I said those three words he didn't want me to voice at the beginning. But when he got home, it's the first thing I'm saying.
"Regan, are you okay?" Leah's concerned voice made my head snap at her direction. I think I'm freaking everyone out with my moods and actions.
"Fine. Perfectly fine." I grinned, and okay that didn't help my situation.
"Are you sure you took the right pills?" Jared went to search through my bag, checking what each bottle was for. I think he was making sure I hadn't accidentally taken something that made me trippy.
"I am. It's just a lot to take in. Aaron's risking his life if he goes inside that building, which has me really worried. I just remembered everything that shouldn't had been forgotten all at once. Then I," came to the realization that I fell in love with Aaron and can't wait to see hs expression when I tell him so. "I'm just overwhelmed."
"That's understandable. But I still think those pills make you act strange." Greg went next to Jared to try and figure out what my pills were for. I rolled my eyes and wanted to snatch the bag back but decided it was better for them to do their thing, that way they'll never bother me about being high off some of those.
"Seeing as you're going to be stubborn and just keep making a fool of yourself, I'm going to my room and sleep this all off. Don't bother me. At all. If I'm hungry I'll come out. That was for you Fuller, I don't want Cindy with a tray knocking at my door." She pointed at our blushing butler.
"As you wish miss." He did his little bow and Laurel stormed off.
"She's...quite something." Alice murmured. "Anyways, I'm glad you remember us. It was a bit awkward making jokes and brining things up when you and no idea what we were talking about. But now that won't be a problem. I'm telling myself that Leah's timeline and our stories helped you a bit because it took us hours to make. Even if they didn't please never let me know."
I chuckled and sat up, with my back to the headboard.
"I'm really sorry things went this way. I would've liked if they were smoother but, well. Do you guys want to eat?" as I asked I looked at Fuller to make sure food was actually ready.
"Emil finished the roast beef, ma'am." He informed me and I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow. Then my stomach growled and my face heated.
"Are you sure you should be getting out of bed?" Elliot came to my side quickly as I started getting off the bed. It was comfortable and I wanted to just lay down until sleep took over me, but I also had some manners left.
"You guys came to help and eat. You already helped and it'll be a shame to turn down Emil's food. The man is a God in the kitchen." I slipped on my sandals and stood up straight with a big grin on my face to assure them I wasn't about to double over and imprint the floor on my face.
"We'll stay then." Leah grinned and the rest of the guys nodded their heads in agreement.
"I'll let Rita know." Fuller did his signature bow and left the room ahead of us.
"It must be really fun to have people doing things for you all the time." Alice sighed as we walked down the stairs.
It made me frown. I never really thought about it. It was all I knew. Of course I also tried to do some domestic things, if they ended in disaster it wasn't my fault. But since I married Aaron, I haven't bothered much with it.
And it's not like I leave my clothes all over and wait for the maids to clean after me. I liked feeling useful, even if it was with small things. So I shrugged it off.
"It's all I've ever known. But its not like I have them picking things as I walk." We settled at the dinning table. Everything was set and we waited for our food to be server.
"Like right now, we would have to get up to bring everything to the table and serve ourselves. But you, you can just sit, relax and wait to be served." Alice explained. It made me feel strange. I know she didn't mean anything bad with it, but it made me feel different.
Before anyone could comment, Rita and Cindy came in with the food. Serving us.
"Should we add a place for Mr. Scarlatti?" Cindy asked as Rita disappeared into the kitchen.
"I'm not sure how soon he'll be back. I'll let you know."
"Anything else I can bring you?"
I looked at the guys who shook their heads. "Everytings fine. Thanks Cindy."
She excused herself and we all ate mostly in silence. Small talk and jokes were thrown every once in a while but otherwise it was comfortable silence.
They where genuenly good friends and didn't held back with their comments. I enjoyed their company too much.
"Do you guys want to watch a movie?" I asked when they informed they weren't leaving until Aaron arrived. It didn't matter when I told them I was going to be fine, they simply made themselves at home. It all made me grin and I couldn't help but compare them to Angela. This bunch were true friends.
"Yes! Oh this is going to be fun!" Jared grinned wickedly, winking at Greg who had a wolfish grin on him. Those two were trouble. I loved it.
"The movie room is down that hall. Last door, no turns, it's a deadend. The door should be open. There's a bunch of movies somewhere there or just search for one on Netflix or something." They all nodded like first graders in understanding. "I'll grab us something to drink."
"Popcorn?" the hopeful look on Leah's face nearly had me laughing.
"Of course."
"I'll help." Elliot stayed behind.
The fact that any of them could still eat was impressive.
Elliot and I walked into the kitchen.
"Would you like me to prepare you something?" Emil asked once he noticed our presense.
"No. We're just making popcorn and grabbing a drink."
Emil didn't protest after one look. I mean, its just popcorn.
I grabbed a tray and set glasses on it to fill, together with a big bowl for popcorn. Elliot did the same with his tray.
"Ma'am, this arrived for you." Fuller came into the kitchen with a squared, white envelope looking thing.
I said my thanks and opened it. It was adressessed to Aaron & Regan Scarlatti. So Laurel wasn't invited. It made me frown. Angela knew she was living with us. That was just plain rude.
It was the invitation Angela had promised to send. Apparently the big event is this weekend and at their mansion as she so modestly stated. The dress code was also very clearly addressed. It was at six in the evening and all the other information was clearly placed.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes. Just a party invitation."
"I'd never seen anyone look so annoyed and exhausted about getting invited to a party." Elliot frowned down at me.
"It's a different sort of party. Not going to be fun."
"You can always say, no thanks."
"I don't think I can." I sighed. "Lets get going before they start without us."
It was when we were walking through the living room that Aaron came in. He looked worse than how he left. Dirty clothes, ripped, bloody, small cuts here and there, hair a mess, eyes tired. I set down the tray on the nearest table and ran to him.
"Oh, are you okay? Tell me you're not hurt. Please." I was running my hands all over him, checking for injuries like before. He grabbed my hands and kissed each.
"I'm not hurt." He sighed as he hugged him. It didn't matter, I don't care if I also end up dirty and bloody, he was here. Safe. "I'm okay. Everything is okay."
I pulled back enough to place my hands on each side of his face and look him dead in the eyes. I debated what to tell him first. 'Hey, I remember!' or 'Hey, I'm pretty much over heels for you.' But I didn't have time to think as I was being kissed breathless. The kiss was so passionate, rushed, hungry and needy. It was as if hadn't seen me for ages and wanted to keep me here with him.
When we both needed the sweet oxygen, we pulled back. His forehead rested gently on mine and I simply blurted out what came to mind in just that moment.
"I love you!"