Page 30 of Girl Like Me

“Why are you even here?” I whisper in Echo’s ear. He turns to me, leaning in.

“Back up, see B there is nothing the big man doesn’t know. He has eyes and ears everywhere.” He doesn’t elaborate any more than that. Our entrees are served and he tucks in, not that there’s much on the plate to tuck into. Once he finishes his, he turns and stabs his fork onto my plate stealing a piece of what looks to be ravioli.

After dinner everyone gathers in the sitting room, the men all grasping their whiskeys making small talk about business, and the woman with their fake smiles talking about charity work. Sebastian has made a point to stick to my side like glue; Echo has made a point to stir him every chance he gets.

“Can I get everyone’s attention?” Sebastian asks from beside me. The room quiets as he gains everyone’s attention. He laces our fingers together and I suppress the urge to gag at the contact. “As you all know Bristol and I have been dating now for a long time. I love her and was going to wait until graduation to do this, but now is as good a time as any.” He drops to one knee causing everyone to gasp but I shake my head at him.

“Get up.” I whisper down to him.

“Bristol, will you marry me?” He can’t be serious right now, this was the least romantic way to ask someone to marry you. I’m shocked as I look around the room. Our mothers are smiling, my father is staring, my uncle looks about ready to pop a gasket and Echo is shaking his head. When I gather myself, I look back down at him. This can’t go on any longer, I can’t pretend anymore.

“Why would you do this now when you know I don’t remember you? From what I do know you’re a dick and there’s no way I would marry you.” His face turns, the real Sebastian is coming out.

“I tried to do this the right way Bristol, but you really don’t get a choice. This marriage is a business deal, you knew that.” He stands and dusts down his slacks. I hear someone crying but don’t turn to see the fake water works, now Echo saying he was here for backup makes total sense.

“I do have a damn choice. The difference between the old Bristol and this new version is I don’t care about the money or the business.” He doesn’t have anything to say.

We are in a stare off when Carter decides to speak up.

“She has some boys now that are happy to pay her way.” I roll my eyes, he is pissed at me. I get it, he seems a little wishy washy with whether he likes me or not. But maybe that’s just how siblings are.

I’m first to break the stare off and turn to my brother.

“Why don’t you just mind your own damn business. Everyone has been pussy footing around me since I came home. I’ve had to put everything together on my own and it’s sucked. Yet no one genuinely seems to give a crap. I’m done, after my exams I’m leaving. I have stayed to try to get my memories back but clearly that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.”

The room has cleared out, the only people left watching me like I’m going crazy are my family and Sebastian.

“This is why you were locked up in the first place, you have these crazy outbursts. I’ll call the doctor tomorrow and look into you going back to…”

My mother wants to lock me up, I forgot I was trying to keep quiet until I turned eighteen for this very reason. “I’m not crazy and I’m not going back to that place.” I turn to my uncle, through the power of deduction I have a feeling that the phone call I was trying to make in my flashback was him. “Don’t let them send me back there, I’m not crazy. I just can’t handle all the lies and how fake everyone is.”

He leans in closer to me and lowers his voice. “Everything comes with a price, I will send Echo to pick you up in the morning.” I nod at his request.

I don’t care what the price is for my freedom from this life at this point. I just want to be done with these people and go back to the life I really want, where I was happy and I could be the real me.

Once I had finished talking to my uncle last night I excused myself to my room, where I’ve been hiding out ever since. Right as I finish throwing on my hoodie over my leggings, my phone buzzes with a message.

Echo:I’m outside. Do I need to come in and rescue you?

Me:No, I’ll be down in a minute.

I lace up my shoes and head down the stairs. Just when I think I’ve made a clean getaway my mother steps out of nowhere.

“Bristol. You’re not leaving looking like that?”

It sounds like a question but I highly doubt that’s true. “Of course I am.”

“It looks like we can’t afford to buy you nice clothes.”

“I’ll get changed as soon as I get back. Echo is waiting for me, and my uncle doesn’t seem like the kind of man who likes to be kept waiting.”

“I don’t understand why he keeps that street rat around.”

I ignore her comment and make my getaway.

Echo smiles as I make my way towards the purple muscle car he’s in.

“Nice car.”

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