Did I hear right?

Nick remembered everything?

Nick was slumped on the floor as if remembering took all his strength from him.

"Nick, what do you remember?" I asked again.

He looked up at me, his eyes swimming with emotion. "Me and you. I remember me and you. I remember the hallway, the girl's washroom, the principles office, the movie theatre, the walks, the lake, the secrets and the promises. I remember loving you. Jesus Eva, I was so in love with you."

Was?

"And now?" I bit my lip.

He looked at me in pity. "I remember them, and my body remembers it, but I'm still struggling to piece them together."

My heart sunk.

"Hey," Nick reached for my hand. "It doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying. I want that. I want what we had. Every bone in my body knows my happiness comes with you."

I closed my eyes tightly. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust him. Trust what we had. Nick squeezed my hand giving me the strength to open my eyes again.

"Okay, we'll try it again," I told him.

Nick's lips stretched from ear to ear in a wide euphoric grin. He pulled me to him, suffocating me with a tight hug. I couldn't help but chuckle despite my fears.

He pulled back to look me in the eye. "If I recall correctly, I did promise you a first date to Joe's."

This time my grin matched his. "With cheese that stretches and sauce so hot it burns your tongue?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Tomorrow after work? I'll pick you up with my dad's car. He's been extra lenient since coming back from the dead."

I chuckled at his dark humor. "I'm going to smell like popcorn and I'm gonna be all icky. I want to at least fix myself up a little."

Nick's expression turned serious. "You never have to try with me, I'd like you in any condition. I don't want us to waste any more time."

My lips stretched into a smile. "As sweet as you are, dressing up is more for me. I'd want to feel pretty."

Nick tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers torturously tracing my jaw before cupping it. "You are beautiful Eva. I remember comparing you to Amelia before, I regret that. She has nothing on you. Your beauty is radiating."

My heart beat faster. I knew he was a writer, that he had a way with words, but it still touched me.

"Okay fine, you win. But you can't complain if my skin is sticky with soda," I caved in.

Nick grinned. "Just how I like it. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see you dressed up, we'll have plenty of chances for that."

I was soaring. Nick and I could finally go on dates. We could do the things we wanted to do, but couldn't. We could be together with no timeline.

I bit my lip remembering what conspired earlier today. "You kissed me."

"I did," he smiled warmly.

"In front of the whole school," I finished.

He opened his mouth and closed it. "That I did."

"And...." I urged him. What was going to happen now? Word had obviously spread. We're we ready for this? Was I ready for this?

"And screw them. We don't need to let people's opinions and rumors come between me and you. It's our relationship, not theirs," he gave me a serious look.

So what he's saying is that he wants to go public? Make it official?

As if noticing my hesitation, he spoke. "Just so we're clear, I want you to be my girlfriend and I'd love the world to know."

I couldn't help but smile widely. "I'd like that. Now the more pressing matter... how do we tell our parents?"

He opened his mouth and closed it. "My parents love you and your dad loves me.... he's not gonna kill me right?"

I chuckled. "I mean what's he gonna do? Kill you twice."

"Ha. Ha." Nick was not amused. "You have a sick sense of humor."

"It's a gift really," I teased.

I could see that Nick was pale. He was worried about my dad.

"Don't worry about my dad Nick, he's not going to hurt you," I assured him.

He shook his head. "I don't want him to hate me. I respect the man a lot, I don't want him to see me poorly."

I shook my head and laughed. "Where was that thinking when you were taunting me every day."

Nick gave me a guilty expression. "Oops."

The front door opened indicating my father's arrival.

"Come," I took his hand. "I'll be with you the whole time."

We went down the stairs and towards the kitchen where my dad had bags of takeout. His eyes widened when he saw Nick was over, followed by a large smile.

"Nick my boy! What are you doing here?" He asked before his eyes shot down to our intertwined hands. "Oh... why are you two holding hands?"

"Dad..." I started cautiously. "Nick and I—"

"Sir," Nick cut me off. "I think you have the most exceptional daughter in the world. I want to be with her and stand by her side. I won't ask for your permission because I know we both trust Eva to make her own decisions, she's always been a smart girl. I just hope that you will be okay with the idea of us."

His parted lips did not close. He just started at us for a few moments longer. This was getting awkward.

Then his lips stretched into a wide grin. "Yes! This here is what I'm talking about." He walked around pulling the both of us into his chest in an awkward hug. "My daughter and the son I always wanted. I'm living for this."

My jaw dropped. Was my dad our super fan?

Nick cleared his throat. "Ah... thank you sir. I'm grateful for your trust in me."

"Are you kidding boy? You know you've always been my favorite," my father cheered.

I let out a scoff. "Wow, where's the whole: don't break my daughter's heart? Hands off or I'll break them?"

Nick looked at me like I was crazy for reminding my father of these usual threats.

"No way," my father chuckled. "Like Nick said, I trust you and I trust him. You're both smart kids. Just... for arguments sake, no grandchildren or early proposals. I can't handle that."

This time I squirmed. I could feel my cheeks turning beet red and could feel Nick tense beside me. Yup, this is awkward.

"Dad..."

He looked at me and shrugged. "Hey, you asked for it."

I did indeed.

My father began taking out the take out. "You joining us Leighton?"

Nick shook his head. "I'd love to, but I think I wanna break the news to my parents tonight. That way they won't go as crazy on Eva when she comes over." He looked at me with an apologetic smile. "Me moving on to you is probably an answer to their prayers so I apologize from now for any weirdness that may come."

This made me laugh. "It's okay, just don't leave me alone with them."

"I can do that," he winked.

I walked Nick to the door holding his hand for just a little longer. I finally had him back. I didn't want to let go so soon.

He lifted my hand to his lips, I don't know if he did it on purpose or out of habit. "I'll see you in the morning."

I nodded with a smile. I watched him walk to his house before I finally closed the door behind me.

I walked back to the kitchen to find my dad staring at me with a wide smile.

I let out a groan. "Daaad. Don't make this weird."

"What? I'm happy! Let an old man be happy!" he exclaimed. "And you used to tell me you hated him."

"I did!"

My dad didn't look convinced. "Yeah, I can see that with the sparkle in your eyes."

I grabbed a pair of chopsticks and a takeout container. "I'm taking this upstairs."

"Oh, come on kid! I'll drop it! I won't mention Niva."

"Niva?"

"Nick and Eva. You know, it kinda sounds like a hand cream," he thought to himself.

God, maybe we shouldn't have told him.

I hope Nick is having better luck than I was.

***

Nick's POV

I had finally escaped to my room. I hadn't seen my mom this happy since the moment I came back from the dead-- or coma. She wanted all the details and kept expressing how she did not like that Amelia girl. The only way I could escape her joyful clutches was to pretend to be tired. Not too tired of course, or else they'd try to rush me to the hospital like last time.

I finally took a look at my phone wanting to see what was waiting for me.

Trey: YOU AND EVA? WTF DUDE! WHEN? HOW! WHY?

Amelia: SERIOUSLY NICK? EVA MONTGOMERY HAS NOTHING ON ME! IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE ME JEALOUS MAKE IT GOOD.

There were a few other texts from friends.

WAY TO GO MAN.

SHE HELLA FINE, NICE CATCH.

SHE FREAKY IN SHEETS LIKE SHE IS ON THE STREETS?

Then there were those weird status, tweets, posts and rumors that were circulating.

EVA HAD NICK HELD CAPTIVE AND ONLY RELEASED HIM IF HE'D DATE HER.

EVA CAST A SPELL ON NICK BRINGING HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH HER.

NICK IS BEING THREATENED TO DATE EVA OR SHE WOULD GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT THE SECOND TIME AND END HIM OFF.

NICK IS ACTUALLY A CLONE MADE BY EVA.

Things got weirder. Some claimed alien abduction or Eva using her vampire mind controlling powers.

It was almost scary what power popularity held over people. They were like sheep and I was the shepherd. If I disliked Eva then so did they, but if I liked her then she was now liked/envied by others.

I couldn't believe I got most of my memories back. Bits and pieces keep coming to me. I know I loved Eva, enjoyed her company, admired her mind, but it felt like just a memory. I wanted to feel it consume me like it did before. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. That's why our date to Joe's was important. I needed to spend time with her. To feel my chest ache and those butterflies in my stomach. I wanted to feel nervous only to later find comfort. I wanted all that back.

The next day I waited for her out on the porch. I was going to walk her to school for the first time without being a ghost.

Eva stepped out and let out a yelp. "N-Nick! Why are you on our porch? Does your mom need sugar or--"

"Eva, I'm here to walk you to school," I cut her off.

"Oh," her lips formed an "o".

"Is that a problem?" I asked, slightly nervous. Did she change her mind? Did she not want to be seen with me? Was she only with me because she pitied I was presumed dead?

"No, it's just... it's all new to me," she blushed.

I felt my heart settle. "Is it though? Ghost me walked you to and from school almost every day."

This made her smile. "No one saw me with ghost you. Now everyone will be pointing and staring."

"Weren't they doing that anyways?"

She paused. "That is... correct."

"Besides, I'm on your side now. Things should be different," I offered.

She nodded looking unsure.

I held her hand. "Eva, I got your back no matter what."

"I got you too," she smiled warmly.

That I knew. Anyone crazy enough to chase a possible attempted murderer has clearly proven loyal.

"After you Sherlock," I teased. This made her smile grow wider.

"Right this way Watson," she replied and walked down the steps.

All I could think of was how she didn't let go of my hand and how happy that made me.

Maybe falling in love with her all over again won't be so hard.

I think it was already happening.

---------------------

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