Chapter 18

AMBER'S POV
I could have sworn the man I saw in the back seat of the car I almost hit was Jay Harley but I decided against it. It could highly be paranoia, I most definitely was seeing the man everywhere and that was an extremely bad sign. If I was going to attend the reunion, I had to get my wits together.
Mel was sitting in the living room as I walked into the house carrying the bags that contained our breakfast and coffee most definitely. She had the tv on but she was looking at her phone and tears were rolling down her eyes.
The moment she saw me, she quickly wiped the tears off her face and replaced it with a broad smile as she welcomed me.
"Hi mama, how did your outing go?" She was making an attempt to strike up a conversation so I wouldn't enquire about what was going on with her. I complied nonetheless,
"You wouldn't believe who I ran at Alfred's" I started up a conversation I was sure she would rather listen to. She eagerly responded,
"Jay Harley?" I frowned slightly,
"Why would you think I ran into Jay?"
"Cause he's in town and it wouldn't be a coincidence if you guys run into each other"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Isn't it obvious? I bet he must be looking for you all over town. You know he likes you right?"
I looked at Mel like she was a clown that had said a silly joke so she would get paid nonetheless. Jay Harley liked me? It was too absurd to even believe. What was wrong with Mel?
"Don't give me that look, Amber. Jay Harley had liked you very since we were freshmen in high school" Mel said matter of factly and I felt my feet give way to me.
I sat down, took a deep breath and answered Mel, "You must be pulling my leg, Mel. I'm not really in the mood for jokes, I have alot on my mind" Mel gave me a look that said she wasn't joking but I wasn't interested in the conversation anymore.
I could remember the basketball team after prom party like it had happened the previous night. Mel had persuaded me to accompany her to the party and I had complied after so many pleas. My mum wasn't really a fan of parties and she hated me keeping late nights but it was prom and prom was supposed to be the best night in every high school teenager's life and so I got permission and we went to the party.
Daniel Fletcher had organized the party at his uncle's place and Jay Harley was in charge of the whole operation. The cheerleaders were given a separate invite and as the captain of the cheerleaders, Melissa thought it wouldn't sit right with everyone if I didn't attend.
"I'm not joking, Amber. Jay had had a crush on you since I could remember" Mel continued and I lashed out without thinking,
"I do not care what Jay Harley thinks about me, okay?! I have concerns than whatever the spoilt, womanizing, ex basketball captain thinks about a mother of three..li..ke..me" I choked on the last words and broke down in tears. Whatever Jay Harley had thought about me didn't matter to me anymore, it was all in the past. My children were my present and it was going to stay that way.
JAY'S POV
Daniel had a broad smile on like he and worn the lottery as Noah pulled over into the garage of his uncle's house. I looked the place over and memories started flooding in.
Two days to prom, Daniel had suggested we hold an after prom party, courtesy of the basketball team so everyone could come over, drink and possibly get laid. I wasn't really a party person but whatever Daniel wanted to do was going to be fun and I agreed.
"I had the exact same look on my face when I drove here after the carnival. What's up man?" Daniel enclosed me in a hug as I walked up to him standing on the porch. It was very hard to forget such a great party, it was the party of the decade back then and if everything went according to plan, the reunion was going to be the new party of the new decade.
"I'm cool, bro. How's the fam?" I made an attempt to mimic Daniel but failed woefully earning myself a laugh instead.
"The fam is alright, hot shot" he said amidst laughter. Daniel Fletcher was an entirely different specimen from every single person I had ever met in my life and that was one of the reasons we remained friends long after highschool.
"The party was lit as hell, yunno" Daniel commented offhandedly but I got the drift. The basketball team after prom party was the talk of the town for months after it held. I couldn't really point out what people were fussing about though, maybe it was because I couldn't remember majority of the night.
Daniel looked at me and I knew what he was going to say even before he said it, "But you don't have much memories from that night cause you were wasted" I rolled my eyes and je laughed again. I think Daniel's favorite thing to do aside clubbing and sleeping around was teasing me.
"But do you remember what happened when you left with Amber Swift?" The look of confusion in my face urged him to go on,
"You were both very drunk and before I could go fetch Mel, I couldn't find the both of you until the next morning" Daniel shook his head but nothing was coming to mind.
"I left the party with Amber Swift that night? Why didn't you say anything all these years?"
"You told me you wanted to leave all the memories of Oxford Oaks back in Los Angeles and that was exactly what I did. I just followed your wishes, hot shot" I had gone somewhere with Amber the night of that party? Why didn't I remember anything?