When I Forget You Read Free Page A

seriously, what the HELL am I going to do?
                  I’m still crying, sitting on the couch with Rey and Cynthia sitting on each side of me. My mom is on the love seat with my dad. Kade is still in the kitchen and hasn’t moved. Even though my back is to him, I can feel him watching me. I really wish he wasn’t here. As if he can hear what I’m thinking, I hear footsteps walking on the tile of the kitchen. He’s coming over here. Then, I see his body. He’s walking out of the kitchen, down the hall, and out the door.
    **
    A day later I ball my eyes out when I hug Cynthia goodbye at the border. Her Cynthia smell, not perfume or body wash, just her scent, makes me want to find a way to keep her here. If I didn’t have to focus on my senior year, I would probably sacrifice my sanity and work at Walmart to make the money she needs to keep living in the US. Now that is sacrifice. She’s always there when I need to talk to someone, or when I need a good, warm, “home” meal. She did my hair for every special event. Cynthia has always been the best at doing hair. Her favorite thing to do is braids, since my hair is so long. She says my hair is the perfect color. You can’t call it dirty blonde, because truly it’s not. It’s the perfect golden color. It’s light at the top and tips, and my perfect dark under layers compliment the lighter streaks. It makes me cry even harder when I hear her sniff as she lets go of me.
                  She wipes my tear away. “Becca, listen to me. You can come visit anytime you want. If you call me within an hour, I can be right back here at the border. You need me and I am here.” I cough like a horse then try to keep my mascara from running down my cheeks. “And Kade, he won’t bite. He tries to be tough, but the truth is he’s all mushy inside. If he does give you a hard time, you come to me.” She winks at me, then turns me around. She rubs my back then gives it a pat, signaling for me to walk away. I try to remind myself that this isn’t goodbye. It’s simply her going on vacation and leaving me and Kade for a while. Kade and I will be fine without her. We’ll just miss her. But it’s a chance for us to see what it will be like when we go off to college. It’ll be okay. She will be back. I know it. “Be good. Don’t kill each other.” Cynthia points at Kade and I, giving us the evil eye. God, this is going to be the longest year of my life. Kade living in the room across from me? I’m not quite sure how this is going to work. I cross my arms and look at Rey.
                  “No promises.” Kade looks at me and winks. I roll my eyes and put my arms to my side, then get into the back seat of the car. I watch Kade hug his mom and dad. Cynthia says something to him, then pokes him in the chest. She’s probably telling him to leave me alone. I immediately pretend I’m not watching them when Kade turns around and walks to the opposite side of the car. He opens the door to the back seat and gets in, but not in the middle next to me. He takes the seat farthest away from me. Good, hopefully Cynthia scared him. I’m a whole five feet, and I’m definitely not what guys call “scary.” My dad puts the car in drive and we go. I want to look back and watch as Cynthia and Rey drive away until we can no longer see them, but I don’t want to burst out sobbing again. For one thing, I’m not a pretty crier and second, we’re in a car and there’s no fresh air; I hate the smell of tears. Kade puts his iPod headphones in and I start a movie.
                  About an hour into the drive back to Santa Barbra (which is a frickin’ five hour shit long ride), I see Cynthia’s name blink on my mom’s phone. She was calling already; she promised to call twice a day. I paused my movie and listened to the conversation. I don’t think I’m supposed to, but whatever. 
                  “Watch those two,” Cynthia