I pulled into the driveway of my mother’s house just as the clock on my dashboard flashed six o’clock. I sighed as I turned off the car and made my way up the walkway; I know that I have walked this walkway a million times but it still felt awkward, foreign. I knew I shouldn’t be coming home here but right now, it was the only place I could remember. I jingled my keys in my fingers as I took the few steps up the porch and sighed again as I stuck my key into the lock.

The door opened with a creak and I barely made it a foot in the door when I heard my mother’s frantic footsteps and worried voice.

“Oh my God Rori, where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick!” she nearly shouted and I watched her glance over my body – as if she were looking for a missing limb or something – as I kicked my shoes off and closed the door.

“I’m fine Ma,” I said flatly and rolled my eyes.

“Aurora Rose, don’t you dare roll your eyes at me when I have a perfectly acceptable reason to have been worried. Now where were you?” she said sternly and I resisited the urge to roll my eyes again at her use of my full name.

I shrugged lamely. “I was just out driving around.”

I didn’t want to tell her that I was going to the beach because then she would know where it was that I went to when I needed to get away from her. You don’t tell Lex Luther where your Fortress of Solitude is.

“Honey, do you really think that’s the best idea right now? To just drive around?” she said in a soothingly condescending voice.

“Ma, I am perfectly capable of operating a vehicle. It’s been almost a week since I was out of the hospital and the accident wasn’t even my fault. If you were so worried about me driving again then you shouldn’t have helped me get my new car. I’m not a child anymore.” I said agitatedly – the lack of sleep and the overbearingness of my mother was starting to take a toll.

“I know that sweetie, I just worry about you is all,” she mumbled and I almost felt bad for snapping at her.

I sighed. “Its fine Ma, just, I’m sorry. I lost track of time and was just trying to remember my life.” I frowned as I leaned against the counter in the kitchen.

“It’s alright sweetie, I’m sorry too I just wish you would have texted me or something,” she sighed. “Did you at least remember some things?”

Tony suddenly popped into my head and for some reason, I knew that I shouldn’t tell my mother that I saw him. I thought back to the promise I made him and stood up of the counter and started walking to my room, rolling my eyes again when I heard my mother following me.

“I don’t know Ma, I told you, I get some memories every now and then but I wouldn’t exactly say I remember things.” I muttered as I pushed my bedroom door open – that was still decorated by my teenage self, aqua colored walls and all.

“Oh, well at least you’re starting to remember some things,” she said, completely ignoring my half ass explanation I just gave her. “Do you want to look through some more photo albums?” she asked, excitement in her voice and I swear she was more excited to remember the past than I was.

“No, no more photo albums!” I said quickly, raising my voice.

“Oh, okay,” she mumbled and frowned.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Ma, I just need a break, please? I just want to shower and then try and get some sleep, okay?”

“Alright honey, we can try later.” She smiled. “Are you hungry or anything, do you want me to make you something to eat while you’re in the shower?”

I smiled before shaking my head. “No, that’s fine Mom, I’m not that hungry and I don’t want to eat right before I sleep.”

“Okay, well I’ll be in my study, grading some papers, just call me if you need me.” she smiled again and then left my room, closing the door – though not all the way which made me groan quietly – and I sat down on my bed, unplugging my phone from the charger I had left it on.

I searched my contacts and came across the one I was looking for and I couldn’t help but smile as I opened up a new message.

To Han Solo: hey just letting you know I made it home. Would have texted sooner but mom ambushed me at the door :/

From Han Solo: that’s ok. thanks for telling me sorry about your mom

To Han Solo: eh I’ll manage but yeah I’m going to take a shower and then try and get some sleep so I’ll text you later maybe?

From Han Solo: ok good you looked pretty exhausted no offense :P

To Han Solo: yeah I haven’t really been sleeping well that’s why I’m always going to the beach :(

From Han Solo: when you’re falling asleep try turning on Pandora and listen to Pierce the Veil radio. It might help you :)

To Han Solo: I’ll try that thanks. Goodnight Tony

From Han Solo: it’s technically morning but goodnight Rori ;)

I laughed softly at his response and reread his text again. Something about the name Pierce the Veil sounded really familiar and I could feel the wheels in my head trying to turn but all I was starting to remember was that thinking too hard gave me a headache so I sighed and got up from my bed, grabbing some clothes and a towel before I headed for the bathroom.

I stripped down and turned the water on before I glanced at myself in the mirror. I grimaced as I saw all the cuts and bruises across my body. Most of them were already in the healing process but I still had a few gnarly looking ones that just looked angry and those hurt like a bitch. I pushed my bangs to the side and frowned at the large bruise on the side of my forehead – the cause of all my problems and the reason for all my pain, in the literal and figurative way, and I sighed once again before I stepped into the warm shower, wincing at the sting of the water hitting my wounds but I tried my best to ignore them and as I started lathering the shampoo in my hair I was lost in an old, but recent memory.

I closed my eyes as I let the water rain down on me, enjoying the way the hot steam seemed to help clear my head. I jumped slightly when I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me, pulling my back and I relaxed as I leaned back into his chest. He kissed my neck before he nuzzled his nose against my shoulder.

“Please don’t be mad at me Rori,” he pleaded softly, once again kissing my neck as his arms tightened around me.

I sighed. “I’m not mad at you Tone, we just won’t have an August wedding, it’s not that big of a deal.” I shrugged in his arms.

“I’m sorry; I tried to get them to switch the dates around, even the guys tried to help but it just wouldn’t work out.” He said as he pushed me forward slightly so he could get under the spray of the water.

“Tony, really, its fine, we’ll just have to wait until you get back from tour. I’ve waited this long I can wait a little bit longer.” I said with a small smile.

“What if we didn’t wait?” he asked suddenly.

“What?” I asked confused, turning around in his arms so that I could face him.

He was smiling. “What if we didn’t wait until after tour, what if we got married before I left?” he asked with a hopeful tone in his voice.

“What?” I repeated with a small, shocked laugh. “Tony, you’re leaving for tour in two months, how are we supposed to plan a wedding in two months?”

He shrugged, still smiling. “We don’t need some huge ceremony, I don’t care if we get married in my mom’s living room, all I know is that I want to marry you Rori Hayes. You might be willing to wait but I’m not. I want to leave for tour knowing that I will get to come home to my wife.” He said, grinning as he enunciated the new title.

“You’re crazy,” I said with a small laugh, staring up at him with shock.

“Marry me Rori,” he said simply, still grinning like a little kid on Christmas morning. “Say you’ll be mine forever.”

“I’ll always be yours Tony,” I said, leaning up and placing my lips on his. “Always.”

And with that one word and those far from innocent kisses, he had his answer.

I dropped the shampoo bottle from my shaking hands, making it hit the bottom of the tub with a thud and I took in a deep breath, trying to push back the tears. I bent down and picked it up and I hurriedly finished taking my shower as my head throbbed painfully, this latest memory causing me more pain than any of the other ones.

I got out of the shower and quickly got dressed, not caring that I was still soaking wet and I wrapped my hair up in the towel as I grabbed my dirty clothes and made my way back into my room. I threw my clothes over to the hamper, not caring that they missed the opening completely and were now scattered on the floor. I walked over to the bed and picked up my phone again as I took a seat. I swiped through my apps until I found what I was looking for, the calendar.

I opened it and skipped over this month, not seeing anything highlighted and I didn’t stop until I reached August 6th, noticing a little blue box in the corner. I clicked on it opened up and I read the words in the event title.

Tony leaves for tour :(

I closed the app and looked at today’s date: June 14th. My mind was racing and I started to pant as I stared down at my phone. According to the memory I just had in the shower, I was supposed to be getting married sometime in the next month and I didn’t even remember the man I was in love with. I had promised him always but I don’t even know who he is; I don’t even know who I am. The tears were streaming down my face as I closed the calendar and I took in a deep breath, trying to calm myself and I saw the little app with the letter P on my home page and I clicked on that.

I kept taking deep breaths as I waited for Pandora to open. I didn’t even have to go to the search bar once it loaded because it was already starting to play a song from the station called Pierce the Veil. I once again ignored the tug at my brain as I read that name again – somehow knowing that it was important – and laid down on my bed, pulling the comforters up around me as I tried to listen to the song that was playing, and I was actually surprised when I found my lips moving along to the words even though I didn’t remember actually having heard this song before.

The lyrics were hauntingly beautiful and I couldn’t help but get lost in the music, in the words. I closed my eyes and just focused on the song, blocking out everything else I could and just leaned back, taking a deep breath in and out and for the first time since that night I woke up in the hospital, not knowing a damn thing about what was going on, I was able to fall asleep with nothing but the sound of Vic’s voice echoing in my ears.

I was so lost in the song, in the music, in the way that I was slowly and peacefully drifting off to sleep, that I didn’t even realize at that moment that I finally remembered something. I knew the name of the person who was singing that song.

Notes

so sorry if this chapter is kind of fillerish but I promise the next chapter will be a little more exciting...well, hopefully lol

and for those who were wondering, the song that Rori falls asleep to is "The Balcony Scene" it actually started playing as I started writing that part so I decided to include it, hence the chapter name as well

So what are your guys thoughts? please don't be a silent reader! What's your opinion on Rori's mom and her latest memory? What about the fact that she remembered Vic's name? leave me your thoughts and predictions!! <3