“Oh, well, thanks,” Rachel, said. “It’s nice to be here with you, too!”

“So, why’d you start this year now?” Brian asked. “I mean, where were you the past few months?”

Rachel dreaded that question, but knew it was inevitable that he’d ask it. She didn’t know how to address it either. She didn’t really know where she was, but she’d look like a total freak if she said she forgot. What did that mean anyway?

“Well, I was away,” Rachel, answered vaguely.

“Yeah, I heard you moved! How was that?” Brian asked. “Apparently not so good if you and your bro are back here so fast!”

“Yeah, we are happy to be back, that’s all I can say!” Rachel said, trying to dodge the question.

“So, what’s new with you? How’s the ski team doing this year?” Rachel asked.

“Oh, ski team is number one this season. It’s so nice to finally be back on the slopes. We’ve been lucky the weather got colder this year than last. Last year, we weren’t able to hit the slopes until January, so we had indoor practice all the time. It was a drag. But we get to the mountain at least 3 days a week now!” Brian said.

“That’s awesome, I’d love to be on the ski team!” Rachel said. “I’m not the best skier, but I love it!”

“You should so join, there are a few spots still open, and the season just started a few weeks ago!” Brian said.

“Really?” Rachel asked, sounding interested.

“Yeah! Totally, come tomorrow, Coach Croak will be happy to have you, I’m sure of it!” Brian said.

Rachel thought about it for a moment and then said, “I guess I could come and check it out. I mean, I don’t have any equipment or anything.”

“That’s fine. A lot of us rent at the mountain. They have good deals on season rentals and you don’t have to wait on long lines,” Brian answered.

“Ok, I’ll go. You convinced me!” Rachel said.

“Great!” Brian said, smiling at her and inching towards her to put his arm around her.

A moment later the server came back with their chocolate fondue. “Here it is!”

“Thank you,” they said in unison.

“Can I get you anything else for the moment?” the server asked politely.

“I think we’re ok for now, thank you!” Brian said.

The two sat there, eating dipping their fruit and marshmallows into the fondue. Brian dipped a giant strawberry into the chocolate, then turned to Rachel and said, “Open up!”

Rachel opened wide and ate the strawberry off of his fondue fork. She returned the gesture by dipping a marshmallow and feeding it to him. A bit of chocolate dripped down his lip and she moved it with her finger.

Brian laughed and said, “Thanks, sweetie.”

A moment later, Brian scooted closer to Rachel and then, for a moment, she took a whiff of his body and found it to be irresistible. It wasn’t a specific cologne smell; it was the scent of his skin, of his body odor, of his inner workings that turned her on. It was a strong smell, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. It was strange, but she wanted to taste him. She wanted to taste his body right then and there. He moved even closer, their bodies touching, and she looked him up and down, focusing on his neck, and watching his pulse go in and out. His large adams apple, protruding out of his neck, made him even more desirable. She couldn’t resist him. It was a feeling foreign to her and she didn’t know what to do. Her heart was racing as she sat there, staring at his body, watching it come closer to hers. She could feel her body changing and her mouth watering. Brian leaned in towards her mouth to kiss her and the second his lips touched hers, she felt a protruding in her mouth. It felt like her teeth were growing or something. It was scary; she didn’t know what to do or what was happening to her. She quickly jumped back and moved away from Brian hoping the distance would calm her down.

“I’m sorry, Brian. I’m not feeling well,” Rachel said.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked.

She couldn’t stand there and look at him for one more second. She wanted him desperately, but not in a normal way. She couldn’t explain it. She just had to get out of there. She stood up and ran out of the café.

CHAPTER 11

Rachel ran home, in the freezing cold and could barely catch her breath as she got to her front door. She was surprised by her speed getting home, but figured she was high on adrenalin from the night. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened with Brian. She knew she was acting weird and figured she’d ruined their budding relationship. She was distraught about the feelings she was having at the café and knew that it wasn’t normal. She didn’t know what had happened to her or what had gotten into her. When she entered the house, she broke down and started sobbing uncontrollably. The tears kept streaming from her eyes and down her cheeks.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” her dad asked as he came running down the stairs. “Are you ok, what happened?”

Rachel couldn’t catch her breath to answer him, she was hysterical. Her hormones were raging out of control, and she couldn’t pull herself together.

“I’m..I’m fine,” Rachel said, sobbing through her words.

“You’re clearly not fine,” here dad said, with a look of concern.

“You’re right, I’m not fine!” Rachel said, now in a yelling tone. It was almost as if she couldn’t control her rage and anger. She started storming through the house yelling, “I hate this! I hate everyone! I’m so angry!”

“Rachel, come back here this minute,” her dad said sternly. “I must talk to you about this. You have to tell me what happened to you tonight. You are not acting right.”

Rachel stomped around and then started crying again, “I’m not right. Something is definitely wrong. And maybe it’s because I don’t remember anything. Maybe that’s it? Ya think?” she said, in a snotty voice.

“Don’t get fresh with me, young lady. I’m only trying to help you out,” her dad said.

“Well, it’s not working. I can’t be helped. Nobody can help me!” Rachel said. “I’m way beyond that point now.”

“Don’t say that, Rachel. We will get you help. You will see Dr. Goldman first thing in the morning. I will call him now and get you an appointment,” her dad said.

“I don’t want to see a shrink! I don’t need a shrink!” Rachel yelled, stomping up to her room.

“You are going! It’s not up for debate!” her dad yelled up after her.

“NO!” Rachel shouted down.

“Yes you are. If I have to drag you there with my two hands I will,” her dad said.

Rachel then slammed the door to her bedroom and cried herself to sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, she saw a man dressed in a tweed suit sitting next to her bed on a stool. He had dark brown hair, glasses and a very long chin. His none was pointed and he had a short beard. Feeling scared, Rachel let out a yell and pulled the covers over her head.

“Who are you?” Rachel asked.

“I’m Dr. Goldman,” he said. “I’m here to talk to you today about what’s been going on. Your father called me late last night saying it was an emergency so I figured I’d come to the house today to see you.”

“Well you can leave now. There’s nothing to discuss,” Rachel said, from under her covers.

“I’m not leaving you, Rachel. I want to help you get through this hard time. Please tell me when this all started?” Dr. Goldman asked.

“When what all started?” Rachel asked, peeking her head out from under the covers.

“When you began to feel the way you are feeling. Was it a few days, a few weeks, longer?” he asked.

Rachel wished she knew the answer. Part of her felt grateful that her dad cared enough to bring in Dr. Goldman, but the other part of her knew he wouldn’t help her at all. The only person who could help her is her grandmother and she had to find her first. Dr. Goldman was going to be a waste of her time, but for her dad’s sake, she figured she’d go through the motions with the guy and see how far they get.

“Well, I’ve only been back a few days. So a few days I guess. That’s really all I can remember,” Rachel said.

“You’ve only been back a few days?” Dr. Goldman asked. “Where have you been, my dear?”

“Well, that’s the problem. I can’t remember where I’ve been,” she said.

“You can’t remember? Well, is there anything you do remember? Let’s start with that,” Dr. Goldman prodded.

“Well, all my friends are telling me about the move and the guys I liked, and the friends I made up there, but I can’t remember a think about it. Not one thing!” Rachel added. “Not to mention my friends here hate me now. I totally messed that up. Everything is going wrong for me.”

Rachel was surprised at how much she was opening up to this complete stranger. She then began to cry.

“Why are you crying? What are you feeling?” Dr. Goldman asked sympathetically.

“I don’t know why I’m crying. I can’t remember. I wish I knew what happened to me Doctor. I have no recollection of anything that has happened the past two years. It’s like it’s been erased from my memory or something,” Rachel sobbed. “And now, I don’t even feel like myself.”

“Describe what you mean when you say you don’t feel like yourself,” Dr. Goldman asked.

Rachel couldn’t help but feel like she were in a movie. She replayed shrink scenes over and over in her head, and this was exactly the same.

“Well, I don’t really want to talk about it. You wouldn’t understand,” Rachel said.

“You’d be surprised at just how much I understand,” Dr. Goldman reassured her. “You can tell me anything.”