Helena checked the time on her phone. She had been unable to find her Irish phone after the accident and ended up buying a new one. It didn’t matter how hard she tried recalling what took place on that night three months ago, nothing came to mind. Her parents assured her that such a traumatic event was best left forgotten, but her curiosity kept growing like a weed. If she was in a car accident, why weren’t any of her bones broken? She closed her eyes, recalling the first time she awoke in the hospital.
The bright fluorescent light made her squint, burning her eyes. She tried lifting her head, but it felt as heavy as a mountain. Instead, she rolled it to one side.
Richard sat at her bedside in a plastic chair. His forehead rested against the crisp, white sheets as he clutched her hand. His complexion seemed abnormally pale like he hadn’t slept in days. More grey hair populated his head than she remembered. Since she was in a hospital, she guessed she had caused some of it to lose its dark shade.
Helena shifted, making him sit up with immediacy. His gaze darted to her face and panic occupied his eyes.
“Thank God, you woke up,” he croaked in an underused voice. He cleared his throat, and she could see his eyes watering with unshed tears. Even now, his evident exhaustion became visible to her in the form of dark circles. New wrinkles had formed above his brow. “How are you feeling?”
“Where’s Mum?” She moved her head to the other side. The separation curtain prevented her from seeing the rest of the room. “What happened?”
Richard’s hold on her hand intensified. “She’s resting at a hotel. You were in a car accident. We came as soon as we heard.”
She swept her memory for an accident or a car. When nothing came to mind, her head started to ache. Lifting her hand to her forehead took more energy than it should have. She set it back down. “How’s the baby? She shouldn’t stress.”
“She’s okay.” Tears escaped him, and he wiped them away. “We’re all doing better now that you’re awake.”
His words confused her further. She was too tired to press him for details, so she accepted his explanation and drifted off to sleep.
Walking out of the campus building, the hairs on the back of her neck rose. An uncomfortable feeling that someone was watching her made her pause mid-stride. She glanced over her shoulder. A large group of students left their lecture. One of the girls had a dyed red bob that caught Helena’s attention. The students headed towards the staircase while chatting about the upcoming party.
Helena shook her head. “Great, I’m becoming paranoid, too.”
In the open car park, she found Richard’s white SUV with ease. She ran up to it and knocked on the glass window. The door unlocked, allowing her to climb inside.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?” Richard asked.
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Britney, on the other hand, believes that some cute guy in class might be interested in me.”
He shot her a nervous smile. “Do you know him?”
“I haven’t even seen the guy. I think it’s just in Brit’s head,” she replied, securing her seatbelt.
“Okay, but don’t tell your mother. You know how she gets when you start talking about guys.”
Helena nodded and stared out of the window without needing to further their conversation. When they drove past tall buildings, she stole glances at his reflection in her window. Her step-father seemed to be brooding over something.
“Richard…”
After a long minute, he blinked and smiled. “Yes?”
“Why don’t you or Mum talk about what happened on that day?”
His shoulders tensed. “What can we tell you? We weren’t there.”
As much as she wanted to believe him, every cell in her being told her he was lying. The tell-tale tapping of his index finger against the steering wheel only enhanced her suspicion.
“Was the person who hit me caught?”
Richard sucked in a long breath. His haunted eyes never left the road. “Let’s not talk about that. We live here now. Everything is fine. So, forget about the past and live a happy life.” Sporting a hopeful smile, he added, “Agreed?”
He pulled to a stop at the traffic lights, and she undid her seatbelt. “I’m going to walk the rest of the way.”
“Don’t be silly. We’re about an hour’s walk from home.”
“Then it will be good exercise,” she replied, getting out of the car. She waved goodbye and started walking along the footpath.
He rolled down the window with a scowl. “Helena, please get in the car.”
Ignoring him, she rummaged through her bag and fished out her headphones. She connected them to her phone and turned on the first song on her playlist. After five minutes, Richard finally drove off. In a new place where she was supposed to forget everything, why were her parents so worried about her whereabouts and safety? Doubts wouldn’t stop forming as she ran the scenarios after the hospital through her mind for the billionth time. Her parents were never worried about her being near cars or roads. Their main concern was her location at all times. It didn’t make sense to her. And, if they weren’t there, why did everything they said seem like a lie?
A light tap on her shoulder drew her out of her dream-like state. She yanked her left earphone out and lifted her face to find a handsome man with shoulder-length dark brown hair towering over her. Her heart constricted painfully when she focused on the snake tattoo around his neck.
A dull headache started to cause her discomfort, so she rubbed her sweaty forehead with the back of her hand. “Can I help you?”
His intense stare unnerved her. She thought she saw a flash of pity fleeting through his black eyes.
“Yes,” he said with a strong European accent. “I am looking for a good place to eat. Would you happen to have any suggestions?”
Helena blew out a breath. His tall frame and a menacing tattoo peeking out from under his tight black shirt should have frightened her. Somehow, calm washed over her instead. She naturally smiled at him. “If you keep walking down this road, there’s a nice Greek restaurant. It’s pink with tacky white pillars on the outside but the food’s awesome. I’m heading that way anyway if you want to come along.”
“That would be great. Thank you.” He returned her smile with one of his own.
Having strolled for the first five minutes in awkward silence, he offered her his hand in the form of a handshake. “I’m Ben. I am currently on holiday here to find a friend of mine.”
Helena nodded, shaking his calloused hand. “I’m Helena. It’s a great place if you like the sunshine. If not, then you’re doomed to get a tan.” She turned her arms in front of her, assessing her sunburnt flesh. “Or become a red lobster like me.”
He snorted, covering his laughter with his hand. “You haven’t changed.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”
“No, it’s my mistake. I was thinking aloud.” He ran his hand through his dark locks. “I used to have a good friend like you in England. She had a similar sense of humour and saved me from making a couple of mistakes I would have regretted for the rest of my life.”
“She sounds like a really good friend.”
“She’s someone I came to admire after a lot of misunderstandings.” He stopped and pointed to the two-storey pink and white building on their right. “Is this the place you were talking about?”
She adjusted the bag strap on her shoulder. “Yeah. Get the lamb chops here if you’re not a vegetarian. You won’t regret it.”
“Will do.” He inclined his head. “Hopefully, we’ll see each other again.”
She beamed at him. “Yeah. I hope you’ll find your friend soon.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will.”
Helena unlocked the front door, and her mother zeroed in on her like a vulture in a desert. Sasha gripped Helena’s wrist and dragged her into the living room.
“What were you thinking, leaving Richard’s car like that? What if something happened to you again?”
Lifting her hands in defence, Helena knocked her mother’s hand away. “I got here just fine. Stop worrying about me.”
“Stop worrying? You almost died!”
Helena winced. She knew her mother’s panic wasn’t unfounded, but this was driving a great wedge between them. Her shoulders quivered with unspoken truths about the situation. The longer she held on, the more annoyed she became with the freak show her life had become after the damn incident.
“Don’t look at me like that, Helena. Stop putting yourself in needless danger. What are we supposed to do if you die?”
Those words broke the cap of her bottled up emotions. “I’ll die faster if I remain here with you guys!” She didn’t wait for her mother’s response and ran out of the room. Bumping into Richard outside the door, she lowered her face to hide her tears. She knew she shouldn’t have said anything, yet she could no longer contain the pain within.
Helena ran to her bedroom. Once she locked the door, she tossed her bag on the floor and collapsed on her bed. Although faint, she could hear Richard trying to calm her mother with soothing words.
She rolled over. Burying her face in the pillow, she let out her frustration with a muffled scream. So many things were missing from her memories. The doctors had said they didn’t know what caused her memory loss because she hadn’t hurt her head. They also didn’t know if her memories for the past year would come back.
Why a whole year? Why not only the accident?
When she checked the time, it was a little after nine in the evening. Her stomach rumbled. She ignored it and called her friend.
“Hey, what’s up?” Britney’s cheerful voice pounded against Helena’s sensitive eardrums, causing her headache from crying to come back.
Helena groaned. “Can you talk quietly?”
“Did something happen?”
“I’m contemplating running away and joining a circus.”
Britney giggled. “I’d love to see you walk a tightrope.”
“You never know, I might be good at it.” The more she talked to her friend, the better she felt, allowing the tension in her body to slip away. Helena slid off her bed and looked out of her window. For a second, she thought she saw movement in the shadows across the street. She shook her head. It had to be her imagination playing tricks on her.
“Did you fall asleep on me?” Britney asked.
“No. Sorry. I got distracted. What were you saying?”
“The party’s tomorrow. I’ve talked with my mom, and she’s fine with giving you an alibi when we go out. So, if your mom calls, we’ll be in bed by ten, tucked in like the good girls we are supposed to be.” She let out a snort. “I feel like a naughty teen.”
“You’re nineteen,” Helena corrected her.
“Good point. It means I can keep being a bad girl for another four months.”
They both laughed, and Helena hung up the call after they said their goodbyes. Leaving her room, she waded into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Richard joined her. His concerned expression started to get on her nerves.
“We need to talk about your behaviour,” he said, crossing his arms.
She raised a brow. “Really, Richard? You want to do this now?”
“The way you spoke to your mother was uncalled for. You should apologise in the morning when she wakes up.” He let his arms fall to his sides. “She cares about you. You’re her only daughter.”
“I won’t be in a month, and I’m old enough to take care of myself.”
The haunted look in his eyes returned. “You will always be a child to her. Instead of running off and seeking trouble, just stay here. All we want to do is—”
“—trap me here and keep me on a shelf like a doll,” she finished for him. Helena slammed her glass down and the water splashed the counter. “I want you guys to stop treating me like I’m a two-year-old. At twenty, I’m pretty sure I can go out and come back at any time I want, drink alcohol, pay taxes, and make mistakes.” She balled her hands at her sides. “Isn’t that what life is about? Learning from your mistakes?”
“It is. If it wasn’t for your accident…”
“No. Stop. I don’t want to hear it. Tomorrow, I’m going to sleep over at Britney’s,” she announced and fled the kitchen.
The next day, neither of her parents tried talking to her, which she found to be a blessing. She grabbed a backpack and stuffed it full of spare clothes and toiletries for staying over at her friend’s house. Leaving the overflowing bag by the door, she changed into her washed out blue jeans and a tank top. She passed by the living room and mumbled her goodbye before leaving.
As expected, Britney was parked out front. Her friend had many great qualities, one of which was punctuality.
“Are you ready to have some fun?” Britney asked with a mischievous grin.
“Oh, I’m ready to get drunk enough to forget my troubles.”
Britney reached over and unlocked the car door for her. “Then hop on the fun train. Let’s get changed at my place, so we can be in the spotlight for once.”
“Looks like you’re determined to get a boyfriend.”
Her friend grinned as Helena climbed in and put her seatbelt on. “Always. I mean, who wouldn’t want a nice, loving guy to bring me flowers, worship me on a daily basis, and cuddle on the weekends?”
“You could get a teddy bear instead…” Helena offered.
“Dummy, a teddy bear has no wallet.”
Helena shook her head. “It’s no wonder you’re the class rep. You drive a hard bargain.”
“Thanks.” Britney grinned and sped towards her home.
An hour later, as the sun set, Britney threw multiple colourful dressed at Helena from her walk-in wardrobe. Once she emptied half of her things, she emerged holding two pairs of heels. “Start with the red dress. Guys like red.”
“I don’t know if I want to attract male attention tonight. Maybe I can be your wingman?”
Britney waved her comment away. “The red one.”
Helena squeezed into the scarlet cocktail dress that looked a lot like a massive blood stain. Her head started to ache the longer she looked at it. Her fingers traced the area over her heart. Sweat formed on her forehead, and she quickly undid the zip on her side.
“Why are you taking it off?” Britney demanded. “It looked great on you!”
“I can’t wear it. Let’s try something else.”
Her friend said nothing and handed her a dark green sun dress. This time, everything was fine. Helena did a twirl, and Britney gave her thumbs up.
“What are you going to wear to the party?” Helena asked.
Britney winked and pulled out a black halter dress from the pile. She stripped to her lacy underwear and put it on. The material wrapped around her slender waistline like a glove. She finished her look with a practised Halloween makeup application to make her look like a cat and then tortured Helena with the same treatment.
“It’s done!” Britney squealed. “If at least one hot guy doesn’t try to get into my pants tonight, I will be very disappointed.”
“That’s how you measure success?”
She folded her arms over her ample chest. “I’m pretty sure ninety percent of guys our age only think about sex. The other ten are playing video games and talking to digital girlfriends.”
Helena snorted. “Fair enough.”
Britney draped her arm over Helena’s shoulder, pulling them together in front of the full-length mirror. “Should we sing Too Sexy For My Shirt?”
“Let’s just get to the party,” Helena replied, trying to contain her laughter. “I’m afraid your sexiness may be too much for the human race.”
Britney swatted her shoulder playfully. “Watch and learn, baby. We’ll be the stars tonight!”
Contrary to Britney’s earlier belief, they were outdone by almost every girl at the party with their short nurse outfits and almost non-existent mini-skirts to match their oversexed Devil costumes. Helena covered her ears to keep
the constant offending words of the rapping singer from entering her head while they sat on the barstools in the kitchen. The kitchen island was full of plastic cups and different kinds of alcohol. To get rid of her misery, she contemplated taking a swig from the scotch bottle but thought better of it. At the end of the day, she had no idea whether the drinks were spiked before they got here.
Britney nudged her with her elbow. “Cute guy alert, three o’clock.”
Helena wiggled her brows. “Are you going to talk to him?”
“Why can’t he talk to me? Is there some unspoken rule that a woman has to go first?”
“No, but if you keep sitting in this kitchen with me, I’m sure he’ll find someone who is dancing and enjoying the night.”
Britney pouted. “What should I say?”
Straightening in her seat, Helena assessed her nervous friend. “Don’t tell me the class representative slash beauty queen is nervous to talk to a mere mortal man…”
“Okay! Okay…I get the point. I’ll”—she heaved a breath—“go talk to him.”
Helena nodded and reached for a plastic cup. She poured some cola in and watched her friend edging closer to the guy in a baseball cap with the logo of the local football team. He was cute, but the blonde hair put her off for some reason. She scanned the crowd of cramped dancers in the living room as she rose from her seat. There were a lot of people from their college here and only a few faces she recognised from her lectures. She decided against sparking up a conversation and headed out back to the pool where the party was in full-swing. Wading past the initial swarm of swaying and nattering classmates, she managed to find a free lounge chair.
She propped her legs up, thinking she was an outsider looking in. Their smiles, laughter, and excitement didn’t bring her any joy. She couldn’t relate to them any more than a cat could relate to a mouse.
“Are you here by yourself?” a familiar voice asked.
Her head whipped to one side. Ben—the tourist—stood with his hands shoved in his pockets. He smiled warmly at her and took the free seat next to her. The khaki shorts he wore revealed his muscular calves. On his left leg, a long scar stretched from his ankle to his knee. She winced. That must have hurt.
Cherished: A Perri & Hans Spin-off Novella (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 4.5) Page 10