I sighed with content as I sat down in the backseat of Brian’s car. He and Eve were on their way to Nick’s house-warming party. They were getting along exceptionally well, except for a few minor fights caused by Brian’s over-protectiveness, and I was getting closer and closer to achieving my task. Maria was very proud of me.
There was only one downside. My memory still had not faded. I could remember everything about my life from the time I was two up until my death. Maria was not sure why this was happening, but she had assured me that it was nothing bad.
“I’m hungry,” Eve whined in a high voice that pulled me my out of my thoughts. “Can’t we stop at a convenience store and pick up some food?”
“No,” Brian answered firmly, not taking his eyes off the road. “We’re not stopping – especially not at a convenience store.”
“Why not?” Eve persisted.
“Because… they’re dirty.” I shook my head sadly. Brian had not so much as looked at a convenience store since I died.
“They are not. Come on Bri, it takes 20 minutes to get to Nick’s and I don’t think I can last that long.”
“Too bad,” was Brian’s curt response.
Eve turned around to look at me and I shrugged. “Maybe he has PMS,” I offered. She rolled her eyes and faced forward again.
A little while down the road, Eve suddenly screeched, “BRIAN, STOP!”
Brian slammed on his brakes and we all jerked forward then backward violently. “What, what’s wrong?!”
“I’m getting out of this car unless you get me some food,” Eve said, folding her arms across her chest. “Look, we stopped in front of a store, let’s just go in and get something really quick.”
I looked out the window and to my horror I saw the store. Brian had stopped right in front of the store in which I lost my life. I turned around quickly and tried to keep the memory of that day from haunting me again.
Brian seemed to notice it too. His eyes grew wide, his cheeks paled, and his mouth hung open as he gaped at the store.
“What is wrong with you?” Eve demanded, shaking his shoulder. “Snap out of it!”
Brian said nothing. He stepped on the gas and took off, speeding down the stretch of road until we were far enough away.
“Why did you do that? I said I was hungry.”
Again Brian remained silent. Eve looked at me worriedly and I shrugged at her again. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what it tell her, it was the simple fact that spilling my secret could lead to disaster.
* * * * *
“Brian, are you okay?” Eve finally asked as Brian pulled into Nick’s long driveway. “You haven’t said a word since-”
“I’m fine,” Brian said simply, not even bothering to look at her.
“Brian-”
Eve went to continue, but I put my hand on her shoulder. “Don’t. Let him be for awhile,” I advised her. Eve nodded.
They got out of the car and walked silently into Nick’s humungous backyard complete with an olympic sized built-in pool. The guys, Kat, and Heather were playing volleyball in the pool while Nick was barbecuing.
“Hey!” Kat squealed, climbing out of the pool and rushing towards them. Everyone else waved. “I thought you guys would never get here, what took so long?”
“We, uh, had some problems with the car,” Eve lied, giving Kat a weak smile.
“Listen, I promised Nick I’d help him with the food, so I’ll talk to you later, okay?” Brian quickly kissed Eve’s cheek and walked in Nick’s direction.
“What’s with him?” Kat asked.
Eve sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“So tell me, what happened?” Kat led Eve over to a table and naturally I followed.
“Well all right.” Eve told Kat her story, sparing on details until she got to the part about the store. “…He just sat there in a daze, staring at the store like it had done something horrible to him. I had no idea what suddenly brought that on, but it scared me.”
“You say the that store wasn’t too far from Nick’s house?” Eve nodded. “Was it called Tiny Mart?”
“Yes it was. You know something Kat, what happened to Brian at that store? Does it have something to do with him being so protective lately?”
‘Please don’t tell her,’ I begged Kat silently.
“I-I… can’t. I’m sorry, but it’s not my place to tell you. It does have something to do with Brian being over-protective though.”
“Did I do something?”
“No, no, not at all,” Kat said soothingly. “It’s just, well… look, talk to Brian later, maybe he’ll tell you.”
“Okay. Thanks Kat.”
“You’re welcome. Now come on, you wanna play volleyball? You, me, and Heather verses Kevin, Howie, and A.J.”
“Sure,” Eve agreed, walking off with Kat.
I smiled at them and walked over towards Nick and Brian to see what they were talking about. Sure enough, it was the same topic Kat and Eve had just discussed.
“… I just sat there staring at the store, I don’t know for how long. Eve asked me if I was all right but I didn’t answer her, I just took off down the road. I’m pretty sure she thinks that she did something and that I’m mad at her, but it wasn’t her fault.” Brian buried his face in his hands. “I thought I was over her, that I wouldn’t have to go through my life feeling empty. But as soon as I saw that store… God Nick, why does everything have to be so complicated?”
“Brian, calm down. You just weren’t ready to see the store again. You’ve never drove past it since that day, it was natural that you had the reaction you did.”
“But what about Eve? She knows now that something’s up.”
“Maybe it’s time you tell her about Miranda,” Nick suggested softly. “You guys are getting closer, and who knows, maybe it’ll make you feel better.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on Bri, what do you have to lose?”
“Eve.”
“Talk to her Brian. That’s the best advice I can give you.”
“You’re right,” Brian said determinedly. “Tonight I’m going to tell her about Miranda and hope that she’ll understand.”
“Oh no,” I groaned. If Brian told Eve about me, I would have to answer her questions, and then I would fail my task. I just hoped that Brian would wait a little while longer to tell her so I could think of a plan.
