by L. J. Swartz
Vance has been gone for two hours. I don't want to believe it, but I'm starting to wonder if she won. Declan and Rian went out for a bit. I pick up my phone dialing Vance's number. He picks up. "Hey where are you," I ask before he can say anything. "He's with me, Sadie. I don't know what he told you, but he changed his mind," Brittany tells me then hangs up. I know something's not right. I call Declan. "Hey Sade," he answers. "Something's wrong. Vance isn't back yet so, I called his phone. Brittany answered," I tell him. "Fuck," he hisses into the phone. "I'll head over to his place," Declan says. "Where is it? I'm coming too," I ask. "I'll find him," Declan tells me. "Declan please," I beg. He tells me the address then hangs up. I grab my keys locking the door behind me. I get to his place about 5 minutes later. Declan and Rian aren't here yet. I can't wait. I get out and walk to the door resting my ear to it. It's creepy quiet. I dial Declan, and put my phone in my back pocket. I open the door slowly peaking in. I don't see or hear anyone. I walk in being as quiet as I can. I walk back a hall. The first door is open. It's a bathroom. The second door is half open. I see Brittany walk by. I walk up to it and peak in. What I see makes me sick. Vance is laying across his bed in nothing, but his boxers. Brittany is walking around the room in lingerie. I look to Vance's face. Oh my god this is not what I think. He looks pale. "Vance I told you not to leave me," she says sitting on the bed next to him. "People are gonna talk about us for years. No one will forget the girl who killed the famous actor Vance Matthews then herself because she loved him too much," she says making me want to puke. I don't think as I step into the room. "What the fuck are you doing," I bark at her. She looks to me with an evil smile on her face. "Oh Sadie you couldn't just leave us alone could you. This is all your fault. All you had to do was marry David. I could handle being second best. I can't handle you taking him," she says standing from the bed. Now that I'm in the room. I can see the bed is covered in blood. "Oh god Brittany what did you do to him," I ask looking to him for any sighs of life. His face is pale, but I think he's still breathing. "We need to get him an ambulance," I say loudly hoping Declan answered my call and is listening. I take a couple steps closer trying to see where the blood's coming from. "Stay the fuck back," Brittany barks. It's gotta be his head. She must have hit him with something. Judging by the amount of blood he's going to bleed to death. "Brittany please let me help him. You know you don't really want to kill him," I say calmly. She smiles saying, "Of course I do. If he's alive, he'll leave me for you." I look to him. I hear movement in the living room. Thank god Declan's here. "Brittany please let me help Vance," I ask trying to cover up the noise. "What the fuck Brittany?" I spin around. Makayla's standing in the doorway. "He was gonna dump me for her," Brittany tells her. Makayla smiles at me saying, "This is so much better than we could have planned for." I don't have a clue what's going on, but I need to get an ambulance here for Vance. I slide my phone from my pocket as Makayla says, "Instead of making it look like a break in. We can say Sadie went crazy and hit him and that you had a struggle with her and saved his life." Brittany's face lights up. I hit what I hope is 911. Brittany grabs for me. I spin away from her getting closer to Vance. "You're not gonna get away with this," I bark. Makayla pulls out a gun saying, "I think we are." Brittany walks to me grabbing my arms holding them behind me then yells, "Shoot her." Makayla huffs saying, "I can't shoot her with my gun, dummy." I don't know what to do. If they kill me, Vance will surely die. "Please don't do this. We need to get an ambulance here for Vance," I plead with them. "Oh shut up," Makayla barks stepping closer to me as she says, "You've done nothing, but fuck things up for me. I was supposed to be with Vance. I could have had an amazing career with him by my side then YOU come along fucking it up," she tells me pressing the gun to my head. I can't breath. We're both gonna die. "I thought Vance was supposed to be me with," Brittany says quietly more to herself. She's obviously lost it. Maybe I can get her to help me. "Makayla what if I hadn't come back would you have taken him from Brittany," I ask. I feel Brittany tense up behind me. Makayla gets a devious smile on her face saying, "Good try. Of course I wouldn't. Brittany's my friend," she says in her sugary sweet voice. I hear something in the living room. "What was that," Makayla asks. She puts the gun back in her purse as Declan appears in the door way. Thank god. Brittany holds onto me tighter and yells, "Get the gun back out." Makayla doesn't move. "Declan gun purse," I tell him nodding at Makayla. He yanks her purse from her arm. I jerk my arms from Brittany then crawl onto the bed next to Vance. I check for a pulse. He has one but it's weak. "We need an ambu," I start. Declan cuts me off saying, "On it's way." He walks to Brittany grabbing her by her arm. Makayla takes off running. I look back to Vance. "Babe you gotta hang in there. I love you," I say next to his ear. "What did you do," Declan asks Brittany as he walks over getting a good look at Liam. She spits at him. He points at her saying, "I would watch it hunny. I'm sure Sadie will back me up if I decide to smack you around a bit." I hear sirens coming. "They're almost here babe," I tell Vance touching his face. A few minutes later I hear people come in the door yelling, "Hello." "In here," Declan yells. Two paramedics come in taking a quick assessment of the situation then come to the bed asking me what happened as they look Vance over. I tell them all I know. They try asking Brittany questions, but she refuses to say anything. There's a huge gash on the back of Vance's head. They bandage him up quickly then load him onto a gurney. I take his hand holding on tightly as they wheel him out to the ambulance. The put him in. "Ma'am are you coming," one of them asks. I don't say a word. I just jump up in taking Vance's hand again. "How bad is it," I ask. "Looks like he was hit with something pretty hefty. We won't know much until we get him to the hospital," he explains. As we pull out the cops pull in. Vance flinches. I look to the paramedic. He saw it too. He mumbles something. "Oh thank god, babe," I say as relief floods my body. His eyes open slowly. I gasp then lean forward kissing me quickly saying, "I'm so glad your ok." He has a weird look on his face as he looks around. "Mr. Matthews, do you know what happened to you," the paramedic asks. He shakes his head no. I look to the paramedic to see if that's a good thing or a bad thing. "Can you tell me your first name please," he asks. "Vance," he tells him. My heart picks up. That's good. "Ok Vance do you know who this is," he asks resting his hand on my shoulder. Vance shakes his head no. My heart sinks to my toes. He doesn't remember me. Does that mean he won't remember loving me? I finally get him back. Now because of that crazy bitch, he doesn't even know who I am. We pull up in front of the hospital. "Ok ma'am we need to take him to get looked at," the paramedic tells me. I let go of Vance's hand. He looks at me like he's trying to remember me. "Your beautiful," he whispers. Tears spring to my eyes as I say, "Thank you." The paramedics lower him from the ambulance. I jump down following them in. "You'll have to wait here," the paramedic tells me as they push Vance through swinging doors. I go sit on a chair in a waiting area dropping my head into my hands. I couldn't stop the tears if I wanted to. How can he not remember me?
"Sadie," I hear someone say next to me. I look to Rian. When did she get here? How long have I been sitting here? "Have you heard anything yet," she asks. I shake my head no asking, "Where's Declan?" She grabs my hand. "He went to see if he could see Vance since he's family and all," she explains. I shake my head in understanding. "Sadie, he's gonna be ok. You got to him in time," she says trying to reassure me. "I know. He was talking and stuff in the ambulance on the way here," I tell her dryly. "Then why the fuck do you look like someone stole your cookie," she asks sarcastically. I meet her gaze holding it for a minute then tell her, "He didn't know who I was." She holds my gaze for a minute then looks to the floor then back up at me. "He has to," she says disbelievingly. I shrug and shake my head as tears spring to my eyes. "It was probably just from the blow to the head. When we see him again, he will remember you Sadie. You've been all he could talk about for the last 6 months," she says like she just doesn't understand how he could forget me. I'm right there with her. It all sounds good, but what if he never r
emembers me or the love we share. "Hey ladies," Declan says getting our attention. "We can go see him now," he tells us. I stand asking, "Have you seen him yet?" He shakes his head no saying, "I figured he'd rather see you." I shake my head sitting back down dropping my head into my hands. "Sadie what the hell are you doing. He's gonna be freaking out if we don't get in there," he barks. "HEY DOESN'T REMEBER ME," I yell loudly. I feel Declan kneel in front of me. "What are you talking about," he asks hesitantly. I tilt my head up meeting his gaze. "In the ambulance, he woke up. They asked him his name and who I was. He didn't know me Dec." He shakes his head as he stands taking my head pulling me with him. "It was temporary Sade. You'll see," he says leading me through the swinging doors to a desk. "We're here for Vance Matthews," he tells a nurse standing at a copy machine. She turns to us smiling. She walks to the desk and types something on a computer. "He's in room 886," she says looking up at us. Declan nods then pulls me down the hallway. I watch the room numbers go by. I glance over my shoulder. Rian's right behind us looking a bit worried. Declan stops outside the door of room 886. "Ready," he asks. I nod. He leads me into the room. Vance is laying back with his eyes closed. He has gauze wrapped around his head. He looks gorgeous. "Hey bro," Declan says quietly. Vance's eyes open slowly. A smile creeps to his lips as he looks to me and Declan. Rian steps up next to the bed. He gives her a funny look then looks to Declan saying, "Hey." Declan lets go of my hand. I take a deep breath. Vance looks to me saying, "Hey beautiful." My heart rate picks up. He remembers me. "So you remember her," Declan asks happily. Vance huffs saying, "Of course I do. How could I forget a face like that." I take a deep breath then look to Rian smiling. She has a huge grin on her face. "You road in the ambulance with me right," he asks. I look to him searching his face. Oh god, he meant he remembers me from the ambulance not that he remembers me as his girlfriend. "Yes I did," I tell him holding his gaze. "Do you remember anything else about me," I ask hesitantly. He smiles saying, "You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. I feel like I should know more, maybe," he says more like a question. Tears spring to my eyes. "Do you remember me," Rian asks. He gives her a funny look then shakes his head no. She looks to Declan. "She's my wife man, Rian," he says hopeful. Vance looks back to Rian then down to her hand asking, "Wow, really? That's great man you finally got away from Brittany then?" Declan looks to me then Rian then to Vance saying, "Yeah man I did." I feel a bit faint. I sit on the end of the bed my legs are too weak to hold me any longer. I look to the floor as tears form in my eyes. "Hey beautiful why so glum," Vance asks in his playful way. I look to him trying to smile as I shake my head. "Did they find Jenna yet," Vance asks looking at Declan. Declan shakes his head no saying, "Hey man we'll be right back ok?" Vance nods watching us as Declan leads us from the room. He walks down the hall a bit then turns to us. "I think he lost the last year," he tells us looking to me. I hold his gaze asking, "How do you know?" He looks to Rian then to me saying, "It was about a year ago now that Jenna got really bad over Megan and took off. We spent weeks looking for her so her family could get her into rehab. We never did find her. We don't actually even know if she's still alive," he explains. I look to Rian. She gives me a weak smile saying, "Well at least your not the only one he forgot." I huff then look back to Declan. "We need to talk to a doctor and find out if this is permanent," I say trying to sound hopeful. "On it," he says then walks back to toward the nurses station. "Come on," Rian says taking my hand leading me back to Vance's room. He smiles at us as we enter. "So you're my sister huh," he asks Rian. She smiles saying, "Yeah as of a few days ago. I'm pregnant actually." His smile gets bigger as he says, "No shit. I get to be an uncle huh?" She nods smiling at him. "How long have you two known each other," he asks. "Uh about 8 months or so," she tells him. He holds her gaze a minute then looks to me with a funny look then back to her. I squeeze her hand tightly. He's figuring it out. He realizes he's missing time. "So um have we met before now," he asks slowly. Rian looks to me then back to Vance nodding. He licks his lips then looks to the bed. His eyes shoot up locking with mine. He hold my gaze asking, "I assume you're not just some nurse who rode with me in the ambulance." I shake my head no. "Are you my wife," he asks. I shake my head no. He hold my gaze a minute so I tell him, "I'm your girlfriend." His eyes go wide as he asks, "You're my girlfriend?" I shrug saying, "I was yeah." I try to keep the hurt from my voice. It doesn't work. "You were," he asks confused. I shake my head saying, "I am, uh, but if you don't remember me, I'd say that makes it a was." He looks at me, REALLY looks at me like he's trying hard to remember me. He looks away then huffs saying, "I'm sorry." I let go of Rian's hand walking to him taking his. Heat shoots through me. He looks to our hands then to my face. I smile at him. At least we still have the heat. He looks back down sliding his fingers between mine asking, "How did we meet?" Tears spring to my eyes as I say, "On a movie set. I was your hair stylist." He chuckles asking, "Really?" I shake my head. He looks at me as he makes circles on my hand with his thumb. "You let me stay with you after I left my abusive boyfriend," I tell him searching his face. He tenses a bit as he lets that sink in. "How long have we been together," he asks pulling me to sit next to him. I can't help but feel relieved that he's not just pushing me away. "Uh we've only been back together a day or so," I tell him hesitantly. He gives me a questioning look. "It's a long story Vance," I explain. He looks around then says, "I think we have time." I look to Rian. She shrugs saying, "Maybe it'll help." I look to Vance asking, "Are you sure?" He nods then smiles as he leans back getting comfy. "Wait what's your name," he asks looking a bit ashamed. I chuckle as I tell him, "Sadie." He smiles saying, "You look like a Sadie." He pulls me closer pulling my hand into both of his. "Vance if this is too weird," I say trying to pull my hand away. He holds on tighter saying, "You know what it's not. It's comforting unless it bothers you?" I shake my head no saying, "I love touching you. You know..." I trail off. He doesn't know that. "I'm sorry I don't remember you, us, but I want to Sadie," he says taking my breath away. He's the same Vance. Maybe we can get through this. Maybe we can start over if he can't remember me. I tell him more details about how we met. I am just getting to the part where we spilt when Declan walks back in. He looks to us and smiles. "Well I talked to the doctor," he says looking to each of us. "And," Rian asks impatiently. "He doesn't know if it'll be permanent or not," he tells us. I look to Vance. "How much time am I missing," he asks holding my gaze. I look to Declan. "What's the last memory you have," Declan asks. He closes his eyes for a minute saying nothing. I squeeze his hand tightly. He opens his eyes saying, "It's been 6 months since Megan.....uh died," he says. Declan nods. "I just got asked to read over a script for some low budget movie," he says looking to Declan. Rian and I both look to Declan. "It's a year later man," he tells him. I look to Vance. He nods then looks out the window. "Did they ever find Jenna," he asks staring straight ahead. "No," Declan answers. He looks to me then smiles. "So I do the movie I assume. That's how we met," he asks. I nod. He looks to Rian. "How and when do you fit into all of this," he asks nonchalantly. She smiles telling him, "I actually met Declan through you. I worked on the movie as well as the make up artist. Sadie and I lived together. You brought Declan over after he and Brittany broke it off." He nods then looks to me asking, "So what happened to land me here?" I look to Declan for help. "The doctor says the more we tell him. The better the chances are he'll remember," he tells me. I nod then look to Vance. "Ok here we go. You ready for this," I ask. He smiles squeezing my hand saying, "Lay it on me gorgeous."
It's been two days. Vance gets to come home today. After telling him everything we can about the time he's missing he decided to keep living his life as planned. We're bringing him to my place to stay with us. Declan and Rian basically moved in. The movie he was working on replaced him since he doesn't remember he was working on it anyway. Victor has been crazy with worry calling me every day asking if he remembers anything yet. It's kind of annoying that Vance remembers him but not me. I can tell he's trying, but it'
s still awkward for us. I've been spending as much time as I can with him at the hospital. I told him if he gets overwhelmed or feels like he just wants me to leave him alone to tell he. He hasn't yet. In fact, he asked me to pick him up from the hospital. I'm getting dressed right now to go get him. He texted me a few minutes ago saying that they are going to do one last test on him. If he passes, he'll be released. I put on the outfit I was wearing the day we met. The doctor said anything we can do to spark a memory will help. I walk into the kitchen. "Wow, I remember that outfit," Rian says tearing up a bit. I give her a funny look. "Sorry it's my damn hormones," he says wiping her eyes. "It's ok babe," I tell her grabbing my keys off the counter. "Good luck," she calls out as I walk to the door. "Thanks," I yell as I close the door behind me. I get to my car and take a deep breath. I feel so nervous. What if he sees me in this outfit and still doesn't remember anything. I feel like this is going to be a make it or break it deal. I pull from my driveway heading toward the hospital. I listen to the radio singing along to try and calm my nerves. My hands are shaking as I pull into a parking spot at the hospital. I immediately climb from the car. If I sit there too long I worry I'll never walk through those doors. I'm scared out of my mind right now. We can always move forward, start a new, but I want him to remember all we've gone through to be together. I walk down the hall. The sound of my heels against the hard floor echoes through my ears. I walk pass the nurses station. A nurse I've seen a few times gives me a thumbs up. I smile at her as I continue on to Vance's room. I stop outside the door and take a deep breath. I step through the door and almost pass out. Vance is standing next to the bed in a black v neck t shirt, dark denim jeans, and his black boots. We lock eyes saying nothing. I feel the overwhelming need to touch him. I'm pleading in my head for him to remember something, anything. He opens his mouth. I'm breathing heavily as he says, "You look incredible." He walks to me. My knees feels weak. He's so beautiful. The gauze is gone from around his head. He stops in front of me searching my face. "I see you in this outfit in a parking lot," he asks hesitantly. I burst into tears throwing my arms around his neck as I whisper, "Yes." He pulls me to him holding me close. He's coming back to me. My Vance is coming back to me. Someone clears their throat behind us. I turn to see a nurse smiling at us. "Vance all your tests came back good. You're free to go," she tells him. I look to him. He smiles touching my face asking, "You sure you wanna take me home with you?" I don't even think about what I'm doing as I lean forward kissing him. The second our lips touch I realize it may have been to soon. I start to pull away when he parts his lips slipping his tongue into my mouth. I can't help it. I moan loudly stepping closer as he kisses me slowly. The emotion I feel from him is exactly like before. He may not remember everything about us, but he sure feels it. I slide my hand to his face kissing him back with everything in me. When we finally pull away I remember the nurse was in the room with us. I glance over my shoulder. She's gone. Not that it would have stopped me if she had been standing there watching. I look up into his beautiful green eyes. He holds my gaze asking, "We're fucking great in bed aren't we?" I chuckle saying, "Oh god babe, it's way beyond great." He groans then closes his eyes briefly before saying, "I think maybe you'll need to show me. For memories sake and all." He opens his eyes as I slap his chest saying, "You're bad." He chuckles saying, "Who me?" I close my eyes facing the floor. "I feel maybe we've said that before," he says slowly. I look up into his eyes shaking my head. I don't want to get too excited, but he's remembering.