Page 8 of Boys Like You

“We know what it’s like to feel lost and alone. Until you know who you are, we’re not going anywhere,” Rory says. “Mercer, you need to hit the gym, and Rocky, your Mum wants you at the track in an hour.”

“Come on, I’ll give you a lift,” Mercer says to Rocky before turning back to me. “If you need anything, the nurses have our numbers. You can call me anytime, and I’ll be here.”

“Go, do what you would normally be doing. I will be here when you get back.” Rocky jumps up on Mercer’s back and shouts “Giddy up!” I expect Mercer to drop him on his ass, but he grabs him under the legs and leaves the room. I wait to see if he will race back in, and after about twenty seconds he is back through the door to kiss my forehead before racing out of the room again.

I ask Rory to buzz the nurse. I need some painkillers, a shower, and more sleep – in that order.

While we wait, Rory sits beside me and shows me pictures of his dirt bikes. We end up snapping the others, sending funny faces. Maximus even sends one back from the other side of the room. When he texts Rory, he takes his phone and reads it out of my sight before texting back. I watch them both before Maximus stands to leave the room. I wave – he still has his headphones on, so he won’t hear me. He smiles and is gone.

“Knock knock.” Rory and I turn to face the door at the same time. A middle-aged woman with short curly hair, her hair pinned to the sides so it doesn’t hang in her face, her curls fall around her shoulders.

“Hi dear, I’m Marlene from the department of child services.” She comes into the room and eyes Rory.

“And who might you be?” she asks him. Before he responds, I answer for him.

“This is Rory, one of the guys that found me. They have been keeping me company until my memories come back. The doctors say they should hopefully have some answers for me soon.” Rory goes to get off the bed, and I grab his hand before panic sets in. “Anything you need to say to me, you can say in front of him. I get panic attacks when people ask me questions.”

She says that it’s fine – she doesn’t have many questions since I have no memory yet, she just wanted to introduce herself as she will be handling my case. When asked what happens if my family isn’t found, she says she has a lovely lady who will take me in while we search for them.

“How are you coping with having no memories?” she asks, getting up off her seat.

“I’m fine. Can’t miss what you don’t remember, and I have the guys here to help me until I remember something.” She writes something in her notepad and says she will be in contact soon.

Rory gets back up on the bed after she leaves and continues to show me videos of him riding his motor bikes, telling me all about different kinds of tricks he does on them, like something called a superman. It’s weird, I feel like I have known the guys for a long time. Like an old comfy sweater.

My nurse for the night is Millie. She gives me my painkillers and gives the okay for me to shower on my own, to just press the red button if anything happens and she will come help.

Rory helps put my clothes in the small bathroom attached to my room, the same one Mercer showered in earlier. It still smells of him and it warms my heart thinking about him.

“Carson also got you a travel pack with shampoo and some girly shit.” I thank Rory and close the bathroom door behind me. Being locked in, the panic sets in. I try to breathe and hear Mercer’s voice in my head. I’m safe here. When the feeling subsides I look at myself in the mirror. My blonde hair is messy, I think it has sand in it, my face is swollen and the colour of the bruising is starting to turn a deep shade of purple. My lip is busted but a scab has formed over the top. I inspect the rest of my body. The right-hand side of my ribs has a large bruise, my hips look as though there are finger indents on them, I’m also the kind of girl who shaves her nether regions, has manicured nails, and a small black infinity tattoo below my hip. I run my finger over it and wonder what made me get a tattoo.

Once I’m showered and dressed, I head back into the room where Rory is waiting.

“You look like a whole new person,” Rory says, still lying down on the bed, except he is now in sweatpants and a white Von Dutch shirt, his hair down around his shoulders, and his shoes removed.

“I feel like a new person, besides all the bruising. The ones on my hips look like hand prints.”

“Can I see?” he asks, sliding off the bed. Moving around so he is standing next to me, I nod and slide the side of my pyjamas down just past my hip. His hand reaches out slowly, his fingers brush over my hip, tracing along the marks. “Did you show these to the doctor?”

“I only just saw myself in the mirror, but maybe they saw them when I was brought in.” The touch of his fingers running along the marks sends goosebumps across my body.

He clears his throat when he notices my reaction and drops his hand. “Let’s call in the nurse and let her know.”

We do just that, and she says she will update the doctor. Rory calls Levi and asks him to see what his aunt thinks. My painkillers start to kick in and I’m told to rest since the medicine will make me drowsy.

I should get some of my test results back tomorrow and might get some answers as to what is wrong with me. Getting in bed, Rory slides in beside me. Tears fall, not because I’m scared, but because I have been around these guys for a day and I hope I never find out who I am. That girl is gone. I hated seeing the blonde hair and perfect nails. Rory pulls me into his side. I rest my head on his chest while he runs his fingers through my hair until I fall asleep.

All the guys were here as soon as visiting hours started, along with Mr Cole, who I have figured out is hilarious. It makes my heart swell thinking of Mercer being taken care of.

I slept like shit and so did Rory; I forced him to go home and get some sleep. Mercer has taken his spot in the recliner again, and the others are in various places around the room. Mr Cole stopped by with bacon and egg muffins for breakfast before heading off to his day job.

Rocky is telling me a story about a camping trip they went on during summer and how they forgot bug spray; they only lasted a night before going home. His bright blue eyes light up as he retells the story. He is interrupted by Levi’s aunt and her boyfriend.

“Hey, guys,” Levi’s aunt says, taking in all the guys in the room. We are quickly joined by the doctors, the lady from child services and a lady I have never met before. The expression on her face when she notices the boys tells me she knows them and I wonder how.

“Mumma B,” Rocky says excitedly, jumping down from the bed and wrapping his arms around her, squeezing tight. She laughs, accepting the hug.

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