Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 50

From Jamie's pov:

Lance was taller than Jamie. Jamie knew from pictures Ellie had drawn, she was talented. He had chocolate brown eyes which Jamie could see was easy to melt into. It was a great past time that Ellie found. She has a vivid memory of Lance; her mum brought her watercolours, pastels and art pencils from home when she realised that Ellie was drawing again. She had been talented at school, so she supposed it made sense in Ellie's 16 year old mind that she was still talented. And she was. The first indiction that she was still a good artist had been recieved when she'd drawn a portrait of Lance on an knapkin after eating dinner one night.

To be fair, it hadn't actually been that long since she had been 16. She still had her artistic flare. A lot had happened and a lot had changed but Linda guessed that Ellie had the gift of being an artist intrinsically. It was just part of her. But then Ellie could turn her hand to anything, and do a good job. But nothing gave her the enjoyment of drawing or painting. She was so into it - painting or shading the perfect picture of her lover - or so she thought - that she didn't notice when I kept sneaking outside to make a call to America. I had said I was Lance's best friend and I lived really close to the hospital so it made sense. Managed to convbince her of that, even though she hadn't seen Lance.

Lance was married now and had a daughter called Pippa. When Jamie explained about Ellie's condition - Lance really sat up to listen. He was a personal trainer to the rich and famous in Hollywood. His wife, Mandy was horrified to hear of the unfortunate state that Ellie was in. She kept telling her husband that he should talk to Ellie. Jamie prompted Lance to cross over the pond and see Ellie in person. Mandy agreed that he should and so the date was set for Lance's visit. Jamie went to the airport to pick Lance up.

His eyes really were as captivating as Ellie had drawn them. He had sculpted cheekbones and Jamie could see why his female clientelle hired him and why he was never out of a job. He had that cheeky chappy American drawl that so many women crave. He was so good looking which made Jamie doubt himself. If Ellie had had a rerlationship - and a good one by the sounds of it - with this guy Jamie stood no chance. It wasn't only that he was a beautiful man - but the fact that he'd flown across the world to help someonw out when they needed him.

Jamie had taken him back to his to get settled as Jamie was putting him up for two weeks while he saw Ellie and took in the tourist sights of London. Lance and Mandy had decided that Mandy shouldn't come because in Mandy's words: 'That'd only confuse the poor dear.' Given that Mandy had never met and so was inconsequencal to Ellie, Jamie agreed with their thoughtful decision.

The next day, Lance and Jamie went up to the hospital together. Instantly, Lance was on the backfoot when they got to Ellie's room. Jamie could tell Lance didn't want to go in alone, despite all the encouragement Jamie had been giving him. So Jamie went into the room with him. Linda was not there yet. Jamie high-fived himself. Linda didn't even know that Jamie had been speaking with Lance so this show-up would surprise her.

Ellie was lying face-up, cradling her pencils protectively. She'd obviously gone to sleep in the middle of drawing yet another picture of Lance in a heroic pose. The lines were so delicately drawn that Jamie almost felt the love embedded within them. 'Whoa...' Lance whispered fingering through all of the sketches of him that littered the windowsill.

The moment after he spoke Ellie's eyelids fluttered. 'Lance?' she whispered.

'Who else?' he answered cheekily with American charm.

'Wow. You're not usually here when I wake up,' Ellie said.

Lance looked at Jamie with knowing eyes. 'I know. I've been crazy busy! But I'm here now!'

Ellie poured herself some water and drank it with one gulp. 'Wow! I can't believe this!' Ellie announced. 'Do you like all the pictures?' she asked hopefully.

'Yes I love them. You've chosen my best side!'

'There isn't a bad side to you,' Ellie giggled.

Lance laughed. 'Thank you Ellie.'

'What happened to El?' Ellie asked confused. He always called her El when they were sixteen.

'A lot has changed in the last seven years,' Lance said awkwardly, looking at Jamie and Ellie in turn. 'Look closer at me,' Lance suggested. Ellie leaned closer to him. He looked older, more tired. 'You look different,' Ellie gasped. The changes didn't take away from the fact that he was still a very handsome man. 'But our prom is -'

'Was, sweet girl,' Lance interrupted.

'But how can so much time have gone?' she asked pleadingly looking around the room.

'You've lost your memory El,' Lance told her.

Steph

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Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 49

Jamie and Jeff opened the door of their flat. They had been out to dinner together in an attempt to cheer Jamie up. It had worked to an extent but Jamie had still mentioned her name forlornly. At the time the disappointment was etched on Jeff's face. But he didn't bring up the issue in public, which Jamie was thankful for. Maybe Jeff was learning! As soon as the door closed it was interrogation time though.
'So you didn't fight for her?' Jeff sighed.

'She's lost her memory mate,' Jamie said solemnly.

'But she might remember you if you're there?' Jeff said dumbfoundedly.

'It's all mights, ifs, I'm sick of it,' Jamie admitted disjointedly.

'If you're not there when she does remember you, you'll only feel worse,' Jeff pointed out sensibly.

'Wish I was confident about her getting her memory back,' Jamie said.

'Well, at the moment we don't know the severity of her condition, and it's better to talk positively about her recovery while we're still unsure,' Jeff reasoned. Jamie guessed that was true. 'Anyway, why did you never tell her before?' Jeff asked.

'I was scared. I really could have used you here for moral support,' Jamie told Jeff.

'I'm sorry my life doesn't run according to Jamie's love life,' Jeff said sincerely. 'Would there have been something I could've said that you couldn't have counter-acted?' Jeff asked seriously. 'If you really wanted her, you would have told her,' Jeff told Jamie before Jamie could get a word in.

'Well, now it's too late,' Jamie told him disheartedly.

'No mate, it'd be easy to give up but that's why you have to keep going. Keep going to that hospital because maybe not today, not tomorrow but someday she will remember something. And if it is your face, don't you want to be there?'

Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 48

Jamie's pov.

How can she not remember me? We've had some pretty memorable times together, or maybe that's just me.

That was my initial reaction.

After talking to Jeff after I got home that first night - bearing in mind I'd just confessed my feelings for her - to have them thrown back in my face I realised that she can't help it. She doesn't know who I am. Again. It's just starting the story anew. She doesn't know who I am. Yet. I'm still going to see her as much as possible as I have done in the past. I guess I'm hoping that by seeing her regularly, hopefully she'll begin to remember. I know it takes a long time but she's worth it. I try to keep an optimistic view. That's the only way to get through this.

I know she's going through a rough time, Linda called while I was at work. Apparently she thinks she's sixteen and with an ex-boyfriend called Lance. Apparently he used to buy her daffodils so when she saw the daffodils in her room she jumped to conclusions. I don't want to lie to her but Linda said it's probably best if I pretend to be a friend of Lance's. 'But how does that explain why he's not there?' I asked.

'You can tell her he's on an urgent call or something?' Linda said down the phone timidly.

'I'm not going to lie to her,' I said fiercely.

'So what are you going to do?' she asked.

'I don't know, I don't know,' I repeated again and again until I was hearing it in my dreams that night. I've seen 50 first dates (with an ex - not my choice) and while that's a movie and very different circumstances that's given me some good ideas.
Steph

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Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 47

To Ellie's mind she was still 16. She was still with her American transfer boyfriend, Lance Tokson. She imagined that he was with her in hospital, she only woke up when he had nipped out for a coffee. He was always making coffee that boy. And because he didn't come back until she was asleep again she imagined that he was caught up chatting up a nurse. Even though he was young enough to be many of nurses son he truly was irresitible. He was so hot that Ellie imagined all the nurses that came to see her falling over themselves to talk to him. She laughed to herself. So why did she wake up with a stranger looking at her so worriedly? One of Lance's friends. Must be.

She had explained to the doctor that she had her dress for her school prom. It was a beautiful amethyst colour - a light shade of purple. She was shocked to see her face in the mirror that the doctor handed to her. She saw the shock of red hair, but it had been mousy when she was 16 and those wrinkles can't be hers. She liked to laugh a lot but there was less laughter lines than real wrinkles. 'Very funny,' she announced as soon as she saw it. She looked around herself to see whether it was possible for the mirror to be reflecting someone else. They were on their own in the room and the doctor was standing over by the windowsill. Her mum opened the door to her room at that moment. The doctor had a few quiet words with her that Ellie couldn't hear. The doctor passed her mum and said he'd check in on her tomorrow. Mum smiled at her when it was just the two of them in the room. She pulled the chair the doctor perched on over to the side of Ellie's bed. Linda moved some tendrils of red hair from Ellie's face. 'All right, sweetheart?' she asked.

'I don't understand,' Ellie managed before bursting into tears.
'What? What don't you understand?' Linda cooed.
'My reflection. He showed me. What's happened to me?'
'You've grown up. Into a gorgeous human being,' Linda said tentively.
'Where's Lance?' Ellie asked, almost viciously.
'Well...' Linda bites her tongue. How does he tell her?

'I could really use seeing him.'
'Well y'know Jamie is still here. Waiting outside the door,' Linda said awkwardly.
'Why's he there?' This made no sense to Ellie. Who was Jamie anyway?
'He cares about you. He told me you heard him?'
'Yeah I heard. But I don't know him,' Ellie spat. She was so mad at the situation. It didn't make sense. Any of it.

*Sorry it's so late! But I hope you like this part and it was worth waiting for.

Steph

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The Story Of Steph Part 3

The 2nd time I went to hospital I was in year 11. It was a pretty intense time during my GCSE's. I was in hospital for the first of my tendon releases - we were doing it 50% twice because my parents and I were scared of doing it all in one go. Tendon release is a surgical procedure that involves clipping part or all of a tendon in order to decrease tension in the muscle it controls. (http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-tendon-release.htm) I was only in hospital for three days which is the quickest I've ever been having the operation and recovering. At the time, Carrie Hope Fletcher was really kind to me and sent me messages which I printed out and took to hospital with me. I read them every night before I went to sleep! The next day, my mum and sister were visiting me. 

My sister was bringing my phone with her, as it was in the days when phones weren't a vital part of our daily lives! I put my phone on and I had the sweetest text off my best friend at the time (who I'm still in contact with!) I turned on 'Hero' by Mariah Carey on my sisters' ipod which I was listening to. It would've tortured me if I couldn't have gone home after that! The lyrics of 'Hero' really hit home when you're in pain! My legs were still really painful but out of pure grit and determination I got to go home 2 days after going in for the operation. 

Steph

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Things Aree Not Clear Cut Part 46

Jamie was still stood there when visiting time was at an end. Very kindly, one of the nurses gently reminded him he would have to leave. He could hardly compute, his brain frazzled by Ellie's non-remembrance. He moved slowly, shuffling almost his arms and legs like lead and his brain not functioning as usual. He stumbled a few times but eventually found his feet and left. Linda had come back and the nurses had checked Ellie over. The doctor would come around to check on her more thoroughly tomorrow. 

The world beyond her hospital window bewildered her. She looked around herself and deduced that she was in hospital by all the machines and whatnot, though she didn't know what for. She'd talk it over with the doctor tomorrow. Right now she just wanted to close her eyes...

Steph

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Things Are Not Clear Cut Part 45

Ellie waited to speak to speak to Jamie when her mum had left the room on another endless phonecall to her sister.
               'You are very sweet. Thank you. You seem popular with my mum which is a great feat. But I'm sorry I...' she took a deep breath 'I just don't know who you are.' She bit on her lip so hard that  it started gushing out blood. She was shocked. Her body was responding to her! She was surprised that she still had enough blood in her lips to have it gush out. It was a definite sign that she was alive.
           
               Jamie just stood there. Helpless. He felt like he'd been stabbed straight through the heart at those words. How could it be? he wondered. Ellie took another deep breath. There was a gorgeous guy beside her hospital bed confessing his undying love for her yet she didn't have a clue who he was. 'I just need time,' she said to herself out loud. Jamie  looked like the mosst defeated warrior in the world right then.

*I'm so sorry this is a few weeks late! So much has been going on recently - I haven't had time to breathe - or it feels like that anyway! I'm not used to having so much on my plate!

Steph

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