Remember Me

“It’s okay, I had to get used to it too. One time I walked into the wrong class and when I found out I was too embarrassed to get up, so instead I just stayed there till it was over.“ She explained but then realized maybe that was a little too much.

Ari laughs, “I’m sorry to laugh but that’s pretty great. I’m always so paranoid that I’m going to do that so I always try to get to class early and then ask what class I’m at.” They grin, “I’m that annoying college student in tv that’s always pestering people, like right now asking for directions.” It was nice to know they weren’t the only one with that fear, and it was really good to talk to someone as nice as Ashley.

“No problem. I know how I hate getting lost.” Ari seemed pretty nice so she didn’t mind sharing her navigation app. “I am going that way anyways so you can just follow me.” She smiled. “I’m Corinna, but everyone calls me Cece. Are you new?”

“Cece’s a pretty name.” Ari smiles and starts to walk, “I used to go to Carnifax, before someone went and blew it up. It’s just taking me time to get used to the new layout.” They sigh. They had been out in the town when it happened but they’d lost a lot in the destruction and hassle. It had been beyond annoying, but coming to Luxor had brought them closer to their friends. “What about you?” 

maia was walking to her next period, trying her best to squeeze by the slow walkers and impromptu makeout sessions. below the music in her headphones, she heard a voice and turned around to make sure that it was to her; she’s had too many embarrasing moments to screw up again. when she figured out that it was, she took one of her earbuds out and looked at the clearly confused person in front of her. when the brunette asked for the humanities building, she smiled because it wasn’t too far of a walking distance from where she was going to. “uh yeah, i’m walking in the same direction anyways,” she said, letting a light chuckle escape her mouth. “so, first day?”

“Not my first day, but not a great one.” Ari sighs, “I just get lost, a lot.” They look back at the girl, realizing that she had seem startled, “Sorry if I bothered you, I just don’t really know anyone and am running late. They laugh lightly, albeit forced. 

Noah had just left the library after taking out his third book of the week. There wasn’t much to do anymore considering classes were over, but it gave him time to catch up on his reading. He was just about to crack it open when he heard an unfamiliar voice. “Ah .. you’re new huh? Yeah, the school can kinda be a fucking maze if you don’t know it well enough,” letting out a small smile. “I can show you where it is if you want? I’m heading that way anyways.”

Ari shifts their weight from foot to foot, feeling awkward, “Not really new... But I have a shit memory and I don’t remember which way to go.” They laugh, “Yeah, this place really is a maze. I’d really appreciate the help.” Glancing over the book in his hands, they tilt their head, “What are you reading?” 

kasey didn’t mind, he was done anyways. just mostly standing around to kill time until it was time to head to his own class. he liked helping out when people needed it and they sure seemed like they were a bit lost. “no problem at all, i wasn’t really doing anything but looking busy.” he laughed softly. “kasey..” he said introducing himself. “where are we going again?”

Ari nods, still feel bad about interrupting him but deciding not to voice it any longer. “I appreciate the help, It’s nice to meet you, Kasey.” They think for a second and then dig their phone out of their pocket to check their schedule, “Um, the humanities building, I have an english class I need to get too.” 

“Which means we better fix it, right? One good snack one and making sure we have our us time coming up!” Ches grins, nodding. “I thought you would remember that, it’s very important I pay you back after all.” Honestly Ches probably didn’t even owe Ari candy but she wanted to buy her friend some, so if they were willing to play along with her on that one she was more than willing to provide the Swedish Fish.

“Whoever said you’d lose me if I went insane?” She grins, winking at them. She liked to think even if she fell off her rocker to the point of no return, she’d still keep Ari in her life. “Maybe we’d just plan something like world domination instead of movie night? Switch stuff up.” She jokes.

“So do we want popcorn to go with our candy? Or something else?” They think hard, “I could really go for some pretzels right now, or something else salty.” Ari never says no to food, especially not candy. Their sweet tooth got the better of them sometimes, but it was oh so worth it. 

“Fair enough,” They grin at her joke, “Honestly, Ches, if you came up to me and said you wanted to take over the world I’d be on board, no questions asked. You’d make a great world leader.” 

“What’s been going on in the life of Ches, anyhow? I feel like I haven’t had the rundown in a while.”  

“Honestly? Yes, actually. I don’t think I mind that though, makes me feel better about asking people for song requests as they walk by.” Collen chuckles, he honestly thought Ari was great and he was actually pretty thankful they just let him become their friend after the day they met in the library. Most people probably wouldn’t have reacted well to him just deciding to be their friend, but it had worked out pretty well with Ari.

“I’ll come with you then!” He agrees, almost about to follow them when they tell him to stay there because it was a great shot. He smiles, continuing to play the song for them. “Can I be honest for a moment? I think it’s pretty amazing how you recognize shots worth taking. It’s a beautiful way to try to remember.” He smiles, hoping he wasn’t stepping on toes by saying so.

Ari’s memories issues probably was hard on them, but they had found a way to try to help that was lovely. That was worthy of appreciation.

“You’re certainly a better musician than some of the people I’ve heard out here.” Ari grins, and turns their camera around to show him the pictures, “What do you think?” They really liked how it looked, but they had to give a lot of credit to Collen himself. He probably couldn’t take a bad picture with a face like his. 

Ari ducks their head, “Thanks! Honestly, I owe my older sister. She got me my first camera on a whim and none of us expected it to help this much, but Im glad it does. Plus just taking pictures is fun, I like the process and the way a photo comes together in the end.” 

They offer him a hand, “Where too first do you think?” 

Ari was glad to have some free time. They didn’t have many hobbies, mostly reading and taking pictures, but it was still nice to have a day where they could relax and take their time. They were strolling along the campus, taking a few shots that they hopped to submit to the school paper when they spotted someone off to the side. She was a perfect picture, and steeling themself, Ari approached, “Uhm, Hi! My name’s Ari, I was wondering If I could take your picture?” 

“It feels like it’s been too long since we did one, you know. We could go on a massive snack run, just have some Ari and Ches time? I think I owe you some Swedish Fish. “ Ches suggests to her friend eagerly, it seemed like a simple enough thing to plan. “Plus I feel like if I keep studying when I can’t sleep, I’m going to go a bit insane. We can’t have that, right?”

“It really has been too long.” They hook an arm around Ches’ shoulders, “Snack runs are always welcome, and so is Ari/Ches time. And yeah, my memory is shit but I definitely remember you owing me Swedish fish.” That was totally a lie but Ari wasn’t going to admit that, they were getting candy out of it! 

“Please don’t go insane,” They smile down at their friend, “We really can’t have that. If you go insane, what will I do without you?” 

“Hey, don’t stress it. New school, new faces and this random guy is just asking you for song requests. You’re fine.” Collen assures them quickly, clearly not offended in the slightest. They had memory issues and there was a lot for them to try to remember, if he slipped he didn’t mind too much. They’d remember him eventually, they always did.

“Can I help? I know it’s a lot to remember sometimes.” Even without memory issues, new places could quickly become confusing and Luxor was no exception to that rule. If he could actually do something to make the transition easier on them, he wanted to. “I could go with you, if you’d like.”

They laugh, “Not the weirdest thing that’s happened to me, would you believe that?” Ari sways slightly to the music, glad that Collen was so easy going about them forgetting him for a second. He and Ches had always been the most understanding, and that support meant a lot to them. It definitely wasn’t easy to deal with, especially when it happened more often than not.

“If you’d like too! That would be fun.” They stand up and then turn, grinning, “Wait, stay right there, but keep playing.” Ari unclipped the lens cover off their camera and pointed it at him, “This is a great shot.” 

kasey turned to look as he shut his locker. he hadn’t ever seen them before which said a lot. kasey might had not been well known around the school but he made sure he knew about the people around him for his own benefits. shutting the locker he looked over them. “it’s fine.. might be better if i just show you?” he offered. “i have a little time to kill before my next class anyways.”

Ari feels bad for interrupting Kasey while he was looking through his locker, but they relent when he says he has time to kill, “That would be really, really helpful actually, sorry to bother you. I just got lost and I never remember where I’m going, ever. I really need like a gps or something.” They try to laugh but it’s an unconvincing sound.

“Oh sorry,” bobbie said as someone started talking to her, she pulled her ear buds out, and luckily her music wasn’t so loud she that she didn’t hear the question. “You are lost, this is the art section, but you’d have to go…shit, i’m dumb, follow me, I can show better than I can give direcetions.”

Holding up their hands, Ari tries their best to smile, “Oh, it’s okay I didn’t realize you were wearing headphones. They fiddle with the straps of their backpack, fighting the urge to laugh nervously. “I’m shit at directions too,” Ari admits, following the girl, “I tend to just... wander until I recognize something. With my memory though that never ends wells.” 

They pause, “Oh, Im Ari, by the way.” 

Cece understood their struggle, being no stranger to getting lost. It happened to her so many times that Tyler found a solution for it for her birthday last year. It was a very useful gift, though he got her jewellery as well. “Oh, I get lost all the time. Don’t worry. My boyfriend had someone make a navigation app for the school for me. I can look it up for you if you want?”

Ari sighs, “That would be really helpful, thank you.” they pauses, realizing they didn’t actually know the girl they had stopped, but she was beautiful and had a kind demeanor, “My name is Ari, by the way, I didn’t mean to be so rude and just come over and talk to you. What’s your name?”

When she heard someone speak to her she raised her head up from her phone. “Oh I’m on my way over there right now actually.“ She smiled over at the other person who was obviously lost. “You can follow me if you want. I’m Ashley by the way.”

Ari was cursing themself for being too stubborn to ask for a map. They were far too aware of their reputation to give themself any helping hands, so it was their own damn fault that they’d gotten lost between classes. Okay, calm down. They told themself, taking a deep breath, you’re getting worked up over nothing. Steeling their face into a mask of calm they approached the nearest person, “Excuse me? I’m looking for the humanities building and I’ve gotten lost.” 

Collen grins when he sees who gives him their request, between it being Ari and the song choice? Well he was one happy camper. “I mean, you could probably request anything, Ari but I did mean songs.” He jokes, already starting to play the song. He knew that one well enough at this point, it was one of his favorites too. “How are you doing today?” He questions, opting not to sing and to talk to them instead.

He hadn’t seen them yet today, after all - he would rather check in than not. They were pretty nice and Collen had pretty much gone I like you, I’m adopting you the moment the two had met. He was well aware their memory wasn’t always the kindest to them.

-

Ari paused and then shook their head, suddenly realizing who they were talking too, “Sorry, Collen, I was so focused it took me a minute to recognize you.” They grimace at their own mistake but move to sit next to him regardless. They liked Collen, he had been really kind to them, like an older brother. It was just still taking them time to really remember him well. 

“I’m doing alright, bit of a bad memory day.” They hold up their camera, “I was thinking of taking pictures of the buildings so I would know which ones were which but I got a little lost. Thankfully I found you though!”