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“Are you trying to kill me? I thought you’d left,” she said, hitting ‘Save’. As much as she used it, I was surprised that button still worked; she was a bit paranoid about losing her work, if you ask me.

  “Do you hear that sound?” I asked, hitting ‘Pause’ on her phone.

  She tilted her head. “What does it sound like?” she asked.

  “A guitar.”

  She raised her eyebrows, and a grin slowly spread across her face. “Interesting,” she said, looking me over. “You look nice.”

  “You seriously don’t hear that?”

  She shook her head slowly no. “Seriously…I thought you left. Madison walked in a few minutes ago,” Kara said, stretching.

  “What?! Where is she – did you really think I wouldn’t say goodbye?”

  “I’m not used to keeping up with a seventeen-year-old – you were probably going down one set of stairs as she was coming up. Go look for her - you know she’s not shy,” Kara said, nodding for me to go.

  She was right: Madison always made herself comfortable, no matter where she was . I was sure that was what Bianca didn’t like about her. I smirked, thinking maybe if I just stayed close to Madison, I wouldn’t have to worry about Bianca – that she’d get the hint.

  I figured if Kara was right, she had to be in my room. I looked for the sound as I went after her, but it continued to be elusive.

  I found Madison lying across my bed, holding my phone. We were dressed almost exactly alike except she was wearing a long sleeve fitted flannel that had a hood already on it. Her long, dark brown hair was braided to the side; she’d either dyed a strand of her hair purple or had an extension in it. Madison had always been a little bit bigger than me, but she was still small; at times, I thought it was just her personality that made her seem bigger.

  “Hey,” I said to get her attention.

  She finished what she was doing on my phone before looking up at me. “Whoa, you look hot.”

  “What are you doing on my phone? “ I asked, brushing off her comment.

  “Apparently having a BFF war with Bianca – this girl is just ridiculous,” she said in a disgusted tone.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head .“What did she do?” I asked.

  “Your phone was going crazy. I just texted: ‘ its Madison I’m not sure where Charlie is I have her phone’. She asked what we were up to, and I told her we’re on our way out, and she said: ‘sounds like Charlie is having fun without me’ with a sad face.” Madison looked over me carefully as if she were trying to gauge my mood.

  I groaned as I sat next to her on my bed. I knew Bianca was either with Britain or would complain to him that I was going out – which would make my argument about needing to stay out of trouble mute.

  “Kara said he sent a phone here – I told you this wasn’t going to be easy.”

  “Did you?” I said, looking at her with pleading eyes. “What’s not going to be easy?”

  Madison shook her head from side to side as what could only be anger consumed her emerald green eyes. “It’s not going to matter until you get your memory back,” she mumbled.

  “What did I forget, Madison?” I asked in a flat tone.

  She didn’t answer me; she only leaned forward and buried her face in her hands.

  “Madison,” I pleaded.

  She looked up from her hands and glanced to her side at me. “Charlie, I’m not going to tell you right now…I think if I do, I’ll be hurting you.”

  “How?” I asked in a shaky voice as my heart started to race.

  “I don’t know everything…you’ve kept things from me over the past few months, and…and I’m scared if I tell you what I know, you’ll never remember what you were hiding…and if you don’t remember, then we’ll never figure this out.”

  “So what are we going to do - just wait for these drugs to wear off? I’m going insane – I can’t wait that long.”

  She reached her arm around me. “No, I’m just going to put you back into your life…I can see the emotions you’re fighting…you’re coming back around – slowly, but I still feel you coming back.”

  “I looked through your sketch book – what did I tell you about that birthmark?”

  Her eyes grew wide. “Did I get it right? Is that what it looks like?”

  I nodded.

  She leaned back and grabbed her book, then turned to the sketch, pulled out her phone, and took a picture of it.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to get someone to help us figure out what it means.”

  “It’s a birthmark – how could it mean something?”

  She didn’t answer as she sent a text out. Once she pushed her phone into her bag, she looked at me.

  “Do you know if Britain has one?” she asked.

  “Not on his neck.”

  “Anywhere else?”

  My face blushed. “How would I know that?”

  She sighed. “I hope you don’t…that could only make all of this worse.”

  “I don’t,” I said, looking away from her.

  Just as I felt hopelessness consume me, the soft sound of the guitar grew louder. I looked to my side at her. “Do you hear that sound?” I whispered, pointing in mid-air at the sound of the guitar.

  She sat up slowly and held my stare as a serious expression came across her face. “Tell me what it sounds like,” she said quietly.

  I furrowed my eyebrows, “A guitar – is that bad? I’m crazy, aren’t I?”

  She shook her head. “A guitar is good,” she said under her breath as she stood.

  “You don’t hear it?”

  “Charlie – we all have our vices – guitar isn’t mine – remember?” she said, nodding to her sketch book.

  “I guess I should get one,” I mumbled as I stood and grabbed my hoodie.

  Madison reached in her bag and pulled out an energy drink, then downed the whole thing in a few gulps.

  “Tired?” I asked, almost amused.

  She shook her head. “It’s been a long afternoon, and it could be a long night. Do you want one?”

  “No, slow down on those; you’re annoying when you get hyper,” I teased as I reached for my bag.

  “Yeah, well, I may be annoying - but I’m alert, and one of us needs to be right now.”

  I reached for my phones and tucked them in my bag before I pulled it across me. “Are you ready?” I asked.

  An intense expression filled her face as she reached in her bag and pulled out another energy drink.

  “Madison, seriously – I’m not in the mood for you to be hyper.”

  She rolled her eyes at me as we walked to the stairs.

  Walking down the stairs, I hesitated at every doorway, trying to find the sound again while ignoring the curious looks from Madison.

  Kara must have found the thought I’d pulled her out of because she was typing just as fast. I waved my hand in front of her face to get her attention, and she stopped and hit ‘Save’ before looking up at me.

  “You found her. Good,” Kara said, smiling at Madison.

  “What time do I have to be back?” I asked.

  Kara seemed surprised by my question. She pursed her lips. “What time were you thinking?” she asked, looking behind me at Madison.

  Madison slowly moved her head from side to side. ”Hard to say...”

  “Well...I guess just let me know if you plan to go anywhere else afterwards,” Kara said, looking at Madison.

  I looked at her like she was insane – what kind of curfew was that?

  “I think you get in an ‘F’ in the category of supervision. Mom’s housekeeper would give me ten minutes to go to the bodega – can I have a curfew, please?”

  “I think she gets an ‘A’,” Madison said, pulling my arm to the back door.

  “Thank you, Madison,” Kara said as we closed the door.

  I hesitated on the steps – the guitar sound was gone…it was almost silent – I say almost because I wasn’t sure if I was hearing
faint whispers or the wind just outside the garage. I stared at the driveway and watched as the shadows of the trees swayed gently across the pavement. I took in a breath and told myself right now it was only the wind.

  “Curfew?” Madison said, looking over her shoulder at me.

  “I’m just not assuming anything; I don’t want to get in trouble.”

  “Too late,” Madison said under her breath.

  “Are you driving?” I asked, knowing that if the shadows attacked again, I’d not only have to worry about my life – but hers as well.

  “You’re the one with the new car,” she said, walking to my passenger door.

  I took a deep breath and told myself that I could do this – they were quiet – I had my music – I was safe. “How far is it?” I asked as I pulled my headphones out and put them in before unlocking the doors.

  “Maybe forty-five minutes. You’ve been there before – remember, it’s outside - a stage, screens behind the bands,” she said, climbing in the passenger seat.

  I slid in the driver’s seat and looked boldly into her eyes. “I don’t.”

  She sighed. “That way,” she said shortly as she pointed to the right.

  As I backed out and pulled forward, I gripped the steering wheel . I focused on my favorite song, which was still playing on repeat, and refused to let the darkness take shape around me.

  She must have told me to turn down a hundred different roads; I was sure I’d never remember how I got to where we were going.

  “So…you have no memory of ever driving down these roads?” she asked as she told me to turn again.

  “No – I’m too tired to play this game; quit asking me if I remember, and just tell me.”

  She pulled another energy drink out of her bag and handed it to me. I shook my head to tell her no. “How many of those can you possibly have in your bag?!”

  “Enough,” she said, opening it and taking a sip. She started to shake her legs up and down.

  “Your heart is going to explode,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  She didn’t argue with me; she just stared out the window and moved her lips silently. I assumed she was singing along with a song that was stuck in her head. She may have loved to sketch, but she also had the same fascination for music that I had. I loved the sound, and she adored the lyrics.

  “Turn where those cars are turning,” she said, sitting up in her seat.

  I followed the cars down a gravel driveway, then across a grassy area. I guess it was too much to ask to have the cars park in some manner that made sense; it looked like people just decided to stop and park anywhere they chose. I weaved through cars and parked my bug off to the right of the stage. I knew I’d be able to see from here if I sat on my hood. There was already a band on stage, and I could hear them perfectly from here.

  Once I parked, I reached for my phones; I thought I felt them vibrate when we were driving.

  “Are you not getting out?” Madison asked.

  “I’ll sit on the hood if I want to see better. Go ahead; you don’t have to keep up with me,” I said, smiling slightly and hoping I’d been direct enough with her. I wasn’t planning on mingling with anyone.

  “Alright…,“ she said quietly as she climbed out. “I’m going to check on something – I’ll be right back.”

  I nodded, knowing that whatever she was doing and whoever she was talking to, I wanted no part of it. I looked down at my phone; I had no signal out here, but I could still read the last texts. Bianca’s said: ‘I hope you have fun I’ll be there in day or so can’t wait to see what kind of fun we can get in to.’ I shook my head, furious that they were following me here. I texted back: ‘you’ll have more fun in Cancun’. I knew she wouldn’t get it until I got a signal again, but at least it was sent. I pulled out Britain’s phone; he’d texted twice since I last looked. The first one said: ‘I think you have your nights and days backwards text when you get your second wind.’ The next one said: ‘looks like you struck a jealous cord with Bianca.’ I hesitated, trying to think of what to say back; when nothing came to me, I shoved my phone in my bag.

  I looked up and noticed that a new band had begun to play. I turned down the song that was playing in my headphones and listened through my open window. I could hear a nervous anxiety in the lead vocalist, but his audience was forgiving as they screamed and danced to the music. By the time he reached the chorus, his anxieties were gone and he took over the stage he was on. It always made me smile when I witnessed someone take ownership of their talent. They played their set, then three more bands played. I liked what I heard and made a mental note to find their music.

  Madison came back to my car all alone. She was literally dancing as she walked – I guess all the caffeine in her system was starting to take effect. I got out and slid on my hood, careful not to let my boots make a mark. Madison crawled up beside me.

  “Having fun?” I asked half-heartedly.

  “Not yet,” she said, lying against my windshield

  “What were you doing?”

  “Looking for backup – it’s kinda exhausting being around you.”

  “What are you talking about – you need energy drinks to be around me?” I said in an amused tone.

  She didn’t answer me. She sat up and looked at the stage. We both clapped as the band that was playing finished their set and left the stage.

  “I think we should go closer for the next band,” she said, sliding down off the hood.

  “I like this spot,” I said, refusing to move. “Who’s playing anyway?”

  “They don’t really have a name – the lead singer’s name is…Draven.”

  My eyes grew wide as I looked at her in utter shock – could there be two? Was the Draven I saw today about to sing? My heart started to race, and my ears began to burn. I pulled my hood up and tried to find a calm expression, but it was useless.

  “Know the name?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

  “No – yeah – I saw him earlier, if that’s the same guy – I think my mom knows his dad.”

  “Same one – Draven Michaels.”

  “Do you remember him from when we were little?” I asked as I tried to find the air to breathe – he wasn’t even on stage, and I couldn’t control myself. Why did he do that to me?

  “I don’t think my memory is the one that should be in question,” she answered, looking anxiously at the stage.

  I followed her stare. The lights were out, but the screen behind the stage was white and was blinking on and off rapidly. Throughout almost all of the other bands, the crowd had lingered by their cars or were having conversations over the music. They still moved to the music and cheered, making them a good crowd to perform in front of - but to say the least, their attention was divided. As if on cue, everyone in the field and the cars around us moved to the stage. The crowd, including Madison, screamed as the shadowed images of Draven and his band came to the stage. My heart pounded against my chest as I studied his perfect silhouette holding a guitar and adjusting his mic. He was just too perfect; the stage enhanced every part of his tall, lean body.

  Chapter 6

  The screen behind the band turned black, then a dim spotlight illuminated Draven’s guitar; it looked like it was suspended in thin air. As he began to play, the crowd roared and my heart stopped; it was my song, the one I’d grown dependent on. The drums, and then the lead and base guitars erupted, and the stage was lit with a bright light. I tried to piece it all together – everyone saying I knew him – this song – at that instant, I couldn’t even remember where I found that song in the first place. I was completely captivated by the moment I was in.

  I could see his twin, Aden, beside him. As he took over the lead guitar, I edged forward on the hood, wanting to hear Draven’s voice more clearly over the roar of the crowd.

  His tone was simply hypnotic. As it reached me, it felt like a wave of pure energy soared through every part of my body. It dulled the tense adrenaline that seemed to have control over me. Ea
ch note made me feel more and more one with the sound; it was like I was a part of everything. When he sang the lyrics ‘My soul intertwined with the divine…an angel I wish were mine,’ it was almost more than my body could take.

  “Is it clear now?” Madison screamed over the music.

  I shook my head, now completely star struck – who could ever forget that this perfect person existed?

  She looped her arm though mine and pulled me off my hood and toward the bed of a truck that was next to us; the people who owned the truck had rushed to the stage with everyone else. The entire crowd was rocking in perfect rhythm with the music. As Madison pulled me up, my eyes shot to center the stage – and I was almost certain Draven looked me in the eye. Madison put her arm around me and rocked us along with the crowd. I couldn’t believe how alive I felt listening to them play; it was as if I didn’t have a fear in the world.

  Everyone on stage embraced their presence as they performed; it was as if each member of the band was connected. I normally try to give my attention to every part of a band, but every time I looked away from Draven, I found a reason to study him again. I was starting to doubt that he’d looked me in the eye before. I could see that he connected so well with his audience that each of us felt like he was singing to us alone.

  When my song ended, he didn’t stop to talk to his audience; they just began their next song. I recognized this song, too, but I didn’t know from where.

  Sure that I was hidden in this dark crowd, I moved freely to the music, something I’d normally only do when I was alone. The band played into the next song without pause. When it was over, Draven simply said, “Thank you,” then stepped back into the darkness. The crowd screamed for them to come back, but they never did. When the owners of the truck came back, we jumped down. A lot of people were starting to leave now.

  “Is it over?” I asked Madison when we got back to my car.

  “Just a break. Most people just came to see that band; the bands that played before have another set.”

  I knew that would take hours, and I was ready to go. “I’m not gonna make it through another set; I told you I was tired before we came.”

  “Yeah, and I told you to take a nap – besides, I want you meet some people. Come on,” she said, waving her arm for me to follow.