Loxley's POV...

Amnesia is no joke. It causes memory loss, confusion and the inability to recognise familiar faces or places. So, technically this will be my first day of school...all over again, only this time I'm entering my third year of college. Time flies when you don't remember any of it!

If I can make it through my first class without anyone noticing me, or having a seizure, or any other embarrassing episode, it will be a win in my book.

I haven't had a seizure in exactly thirty-one days, since the doctor upped my meds, but with my luck, I'll have one today and then I won't have any trouble making friends, everyone will know me after watching me tweak out on the floor during the first week of classes.

Intellectually, I'm all there. Besides not having any memory of my life before my car accident; cognitively, I'm sound so there's no reason why I shouldn't finish college my doctor says. Ha, no reason my ass! I can name about a hundred reasons. There's only one reason why I should...Liam.

I need to finish college, get my degree and a job so I can support myself and take care of my brother and hopefully help support him through the rest of his college years too. We're both starting this semester together at UCLA. Liam a freshman and myself a junior. Thankfully I was able to take online college courses during my recovery, so I'm not too far behind. Surprisingly, academics come natural to me even with amnesia.

In a perfect world, I'd be driving to class today, or better yet, living on campus, maybe playing a sport or music. Apparently, I was good at both. That's not possible now after my car accident and my world is far from perfect, but I'm intelligent and that part of me makes up for my physical disadvantages.

Since I'm not allowed to drive, I rely on Liam to drop me off at the campus in the morning for my classes and drive us home when he's done his. I should be the one taking care of him, but since our mother accepted a new job across country a few months ago, after Liam turned 18, the poor kid is stuck taking care of me. I need to change things around here, that's why finishing my degree is so important. It's time for me to figure out how to live in the real world with this new mind and body.

"Are you sure you're, ok? Maybe you should try for next semester," Liam says to me on our drive to campus. "I..I..I'll b..be fine," I tell him. I don't want him worrying about me. If I stay away from everyone and stay quiet, everything will be fine.

"You're shaking more than usual, will you be able to walk across the quad without any help? You can take more time off, I can take a gap year next year and get a job."

"N..n..n..not hap..pp.pen..ing, it's m..my tt..urn to d..do th..this for y..you." Fuck! That takes up so much energy just trying to say one damn sentence. He's taken care of me ever since I woke up from my coma, I not knowing who I was, or who he was, yet he stayed by my side through everything. I owe him this.

Our mother, whom I also have no memory of prior, wasn't very motherly to us the last few years, in my opinion. I guess she raised us on her own without our father ever in the picture, and she probably did her best like most single mothers try to do. But, as soon as Liam turned legal age to care for himself, she didn't hesitate leaving us here. I don't know what to think of it all. It's not like I can remember my life with her in it anyway. Leaving Liam though doesn't seem like something a mother should do. I feel like it's my fault she left us. The multiple disabilities I have now since my crash may have been too much for her. Who wants to care for a 21 year old with these issues anyway. She sure didn't, hardly even tried. Liam, for whatever reason is happier now that she's gone, causing me more confusion, though I don't ask why because him happy is all that matters.

For some reason, Liam never blames me for her leaving, nor do my handicaps bother him. He was there when I woke up and he's supported me through every physical therapy session, every seizure, everything. He's my brother and he's proven he loves me. Whether I remember us growing up together or not, I love him too. And our mom, I guess shows us her love by paying our rent and utilities every month for us, so it's better than nothing.

We pull into the campus parking lot and Liam looks at me. He has the same dark hair that I have, except his eyes are a darker shade of blue. We could pass as twins except for the fact that he's stockier than I am. I lost a lot of muscle tone, especially the left side of my body, but I've been working hard to get it back and hoping I'll be normal again some day.

He shifts the car into park and I watch him run his fingers through his hair. He's worried for me, I know. "If anything happens or you need anything today, call me right away...Promise me!" He demands.

"I w...will."

Thankfully, I'm having a good morning. My body's cooperating and I only need to walk about 100 yards to reach the mathematics building. Most every day I rely on my cane or a crutch, but there's no fucking way I'm using either here. My goal is to keep a low profile.

I pull my hood over my head and hide my hands in my pocket, which is probably not a good idea in case I trip or something. But Liam's right, my left hand is shaking more than usual and that's not something I want anyone else to notice.

UCLA is huge and there's a lot of space to walk around without anyone bumping into me, at least I can be happy about that. Keep your head low and your eyes towards the ground, Lox. I can do this, slow and steady.

Walking to class wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, entering the classroom is a different story. Apparently, not bringing my cane was a bad idea because my leg decides to act up, making me limp even more and causing everyone to stare. I hide my practically useless left arm in my sweatshirt pocket so they don't stare at that too. I was told people stare because they're curious. Doesn't make it any less uncomfortable.

I sink my head even lower once I spot an empty seat and slowly move my legs towards that direction, praying no one touches me and nothing causes me to trip.

The whispers get louder once I reach my desk. The only person not saying anything is the beautiful green-eyed girl whom I'm about to sit in front of. I don't think she got a good look at me when I walked into the room, she seems oblivious that I'm even here like she's staring off into space while the girl next to her continues yapping in her ear. Maybe it's better that way. She's spacey yet stunning and those eyes have the lightest green hues I've ever seen. As soon as she blinks, I hide my face because I'm the last person I'd want her to notice.

As soon I sit down, a warm inviting scent of apple pie fills my nostrils and makes me smile. Something about it is familiar and comforting. Whatever's inviting this warm feeling directly propels from the gorgeous girl sitting behind me. This is going to be a long class.

"That's Loxley Madden, he's in one of my other classes. He's hot as hell, too bad there's something seriously wrong with him. I give him credit though for attempting this whole college thing." The red head next to the green-eyed one says. She's real nice...not. Who says something like that?

"What do you mean? This is a course for juniors, so he's made it this far," the beautiful girl responds to her friend.

"Somehow he's a junior, probably did most of his classes online. He looks like he can barely walk," her friend continues to point out all my embarrassing qualities. Thankfully she's interrupted by our professor, although the damage has been done and the beautiful green-eyed girl will probably assume I'm some sort of dummy.

I try and keep busy by completing the work assigned to us. Everyone else is working together to solve the problems while I keep to myself. I can hear the red head speaking, but I haven't heard the green-eyed girl respond in a while. Her voice was the only thing making this class bearable so far, I have a feeling that she's been watching me this whole time.

"I hear he's mute." I wish her friend would mind her own business.

"I'm sure he can hear though." She finally responds.

Wait, what? I lift my head in surprise and my first instinct is to turn towards her direction. Did the green-eyed girl just defend me? She sounded annoyed with her friend, as she should be. Her friend hasn't a clue what she's talking about, no one here does.

Just when I'm about to look towards my defender, her brunette friend begins joking around with her about her lack of problem solving. I knew she was watching me, I could feel her stare boring through the back of my head. It's why she hasn't gotten much of her own work done.

I crawl further into my hoodie, deciding not to turn around and risking any more of my self-confidence. I'm here to study and eventually graduate and that's it.

As soon as our professor dismisses us, I become anxious all over again. If I sit here and wait for everyone to leave first, I won't have to worry about making any kind of fool of myself. I can take my time packing and making sure my leg cooperates before I try walking anywhere.

"Hey? You look familiar?" Is he talking to me?

Fuck!

Some guy's walking towards me, I see him from the corner of my eye. He's on some kind of mission to talk to me, although I have no clue who he is. So, I try to ignore him and continue packing my bag. Until the guy is standing next to me.

"I didn't know you were back," he says as he fist bumps me in my shoulder. The book I had in my hand goes flying and my left leg gives out from under me. The only leverage I have is to grab my desk and pray I don't fall on my face in front of this asshole.

"Shit, man! What happened to you? Aren't you..." He studies me for a minute, notices the AFO on my lower leg and the way my left arm suddenly tenses up against my chest. He has a weird expression, like I've deceived him or something.

"Never mind, I thought you were someone else," he decides to say. "But hey, you're new here and you should come to the soccer house tonight. We have a party after every home game." What is with this guy?

It takes all my strength to regain my composure, and to refrain from punching him in the face. All I can do is glare at him, and he still has the audacity to invite me to the soccer house party.

"I heard you'll be there, right Greya?" He smirks just before he exits the room.

Greya?

The emerald beauty is standing in front of me with my book in her hand. Shit! She saw all that and now she's trying to what? Help me? I was just humiliated and she's standing here, holding the book out to me while her glossy gaze is fixed on my face.

Time's standing still as I follow her captivating eyes while she explores mine. I probably look in shock, but so does she, until her long fingers brush over her full pink lips reminding her to close her jaw. Her beautiful orbs  well up with tears and she blinks a few times trying to keep them at bay. Her cheeks are flushed against her abnormally pale skin. She certainly wasn't this pale when I walked into this class. She's staring at me like she's seen a ghost and somehow I've done something to make her teary eyed. Maybe she notices my scar and I can't help feeling self-conscious. Thankfully, she doesn't know that this scar extends halfway around the back of my head. I quickly bow my head, making sure my hair and hoodie cover my face again.

"B ?" I hear her whisper. I look towards her again. What? I'm dumbfounded. She must see that I'm confused about this whole encounter. I also feel bad that I'm upsetting her in some way.

Her lips are quivering and her breathing is rapid. Her eyes continue to roam over me from head to toe. Poor girl is either about to be sick or have a panic attack. I know all about those. I want to help her, maybe clear the air because like that other guy, she seems to think she knows me. I'm not sure how to help. It's not like my voice will soothe her in any way and I'm barely able to keep myself upright, let alone offer her any assistance.

She turns her head away from me. I can see her wiping her eyes and I hear her clear her throat before facing me again. "I should probably introduce myself, I'm Greya," she says. Her voice is soft and kind behind the obvious nervousness she portrays, and she's holding out her hand for me to shake. My first instinct is to back away, another weird issue of mine that I don't understand. I don't know this girl, which means I shouldn't trust her. Really I shouldn't trust myself not to look like a bumbling idiot when I reach out my shaky hand. No chance I'm opening my mouth either, so I give her a small awkward smile while fiddling with my bookbag again.

"Well, here's your book." I keep my shaking hands to myself and she slowly places the book on my desk. "I'm sorry about Jasper, he can be rude sometimes." Is that the guys name? I can't believe she's apologizing to me for him, she doesn't need to be sorry for anything.

She's waiting for me to respond or do something besides standing here like a statue. Either way, I feel like shit for not being able to form a coherent sentence, she at least deserves a 'thank you' from me for picking up my book. She thinks I'm mute anyway, so it's better to play that card and maybe she'll never try to speak with me again. I've obviously scared her and her initial reaction to me along with her apparent kindness frightens me. Probably better for both of us if this doesn't happen again.

She finally gives up and I watch her practically run out of the room, but not before witnessing her tears flowing down her cheeks. I can't help but stare at her this time. Her silky long brown hair is in the form of a braid that reaches down to her gorgeous ass. She's tall and thin, with perfectly defined leg muscles. I did hear she's on the soccer team. Maybe I should try to catch her game today, I could ask Liam to come with me.

Wait! What am I thinking? For one, that girl's way out of my league. Maybe if it was three years ago I would've had a chance, but not now. And secondly, I've managed to completely mortify her and make her cry. I still don't understand why, it was such a strange encounter.

Even so, I feel drawn to her. There's some sort of familiar connection I feel deep in my gut. The way she just acted with me has me curious, though Liam will tell me I'm being naive. I wonder what makes such a beautiful girl so nervous and sad. I can't possibly be the root of her sadness, we don't even know each other.

All I do know is that I'm undeniably and stupidly attracted to her. And as much as I should, trying to stay away from her will be harder than learning how to walk normally again.