TORYN HUMMED AS SHE SEARCHED through the clothes rack. She was in Charlotte Russe going through the various ensemble they had out. They didn't seem to have too many Winter items but there were hundreds of stores in the mall. She had even seen some of her favorites like Gucci and Swarovski. She was hoping she would be able to get some things from there.

"Hello my name is Rose, can I help you with something?" The employee said approaching Toryn. She noticed her standing by the same clothes rack for a little over seven minutes and she hadn't really picked up anything much. Employees were trained that things like that were mostly a sign for customers who were trying to steal.

Toryn turned to her and that's when Rose pulled her head back. She immediately recognized her as that girl she had once made fun of when she was a teenager. It was years ago but the girl really didn't look that different. She just looked taller and some of her facial features had changed. She had gotten better looking.

"Hi," Rose smiled. She was still small in size but it was clear she wasn't a kid. She had on her black uniform pants and a long sleeve orange top with her name tag pinned on the left side of her shirt. "Do you remember me?"

Toryn looked at her with the tilt of her head. The only place she could have been from was the Spice mansion, if she was referring a specific place. But she was smart enough to know every person couldn't have come from there. Plus this looked like a person who had their life together. She didn't look like she'd been in anything crazy like that.

"No not really." Toryn said, sucking the Sour Apple Charm's blow pop in her mouth. She turned back toward the rack to continue searching for clothes.

Takashi appeared next to her, with his hands in his slack pockets and a frown on his face. They'd been in the store for over two hours and it seemed like she was picking up everything but not purchasing anything. She'd basically been browsing since they walked into the store. He had finally found a free day in the week to take her shopping. Even though Braelyn had offered, he had rather them not spend more than two seconds in a room together unless he was present. Plus their taste in clothes was much different. Braelyn would never step foot in a place like this.

Rose looked at the man next to her and instantly remembered the face when she looked at him. She smiled hard. Even though she hadn't known him really back then, she had to admit she was looking hard now. He had grown up to be something handsome. His waves were beautifully perfect and soft. His sepia brown skin would make a vanilla lover stare and he had these mysterious brown eyes that seemed unreadable. They were dark but sexy at the same time.

Rose tapped his shoulder and Takashi looked down at her. He hadn't even noticed the small employee when she approached. He gave her a small smile not knowing what the tap was about. "Hello."

"Don't you recognize me? I remember you two," she said motioning back and forth between them. "You guys are the two friends that were at Dupree's house that day."

"My old high school friend? Yeah that's me. But you gotta tell me exactly when this was because I don't remember. You went to my school?" He asked. He had been to Dupree's house plenty of times when there were girls there. So he wouldn't exactly know who she was. But then when she mentioned Toryn he started to think about it right away. He hardly brought Toryn out in the first place, so as he continued to ponder, he ended up figuring it out. He snapped his fingers vigorously. "Oh oh okay okay I do remember you, but you have to forgive me I don't know your name."

Rose laughed and looked at him, twirling her hair. "Rose! Remember? We were talking about her glasses." Rose then looked at Toryn. "and she still has them."

Takashi instantly swallowed and cleared his throat. "Rose, right, right. So, how's it been?"

"It's been good, graduated obviously. Still hang out with some of my girls, others I dropped. Bitches are fake you know how that go. So, you two together?" She said motioning her index finger back and forth between them. She honestly couldn't believe they were still around each other after all these years.

"No, no." Takashi smiled.

Rose seemed to perk up at the news, taking that as her opening to jab at Toryn. She chuckled as she put a hand over her mouth. "Remember we were talking about how much she looks like that guy from that animated movie? What was the movie called?"

This time Takashi didn't have a smile on his face, he looked at Toryn who looked at him, holding eye contact. Toryn didn't know what was going on, but she clearly knew when someone was making fun of her. And the employee chick was not even trying to be discreet about it. Toryn looked at her and so did Takashi as he put his hand up.

"We're kind of in a hurry here, if you can just—"

"Oh yeah! It was The Incredibles right? The teacher with the big ass ugly glasses." Rose cackled.

Takashi closed his eyes and stared at the ground as the tension ate away at him. Toryn couldn't even remember him now, the last thing he needed was bad memories to be brought to light.

"I don't think he remembers," Toryn said. "Can you remember the word small though?"

"Yes." Rose said slowly as if she was a child.

"Good because I need that in all of these," she said dumping a pile of clothes in her hand. "Now go to the backroom and check for it little Charlotte Russe employee. Because their not on the shelves."

Takashi looked up, seeing the anger on her face. "Toryn." He mumbled quietly. Ever since he had found her she had changed. She had a mouth on her and was much more snappy then mellow like the old Toryn. To be truthfully he missed the old Toryn better, but it seemed like her medication wasn't doing anything to help bring that back.

"The name is Rose." Rose said smugly, struggling to hold the pile of clothes in her hands.

"Thank you Rash." Toryn said, giving her a fake smile.

Rose cut her eyes and walked away leaving the two standing there. Toryn walked off with Takashi right behind her. He grabbed her wrist but she pulled away from him. "Don't touch me," she whispered harshly, causing a few of the nosey shoppers who were within ears length to peep at them.

"Really Toryn? Calm down, your making a scene. You really gonna be mad at me for what she said? I don't even know that girl. She was bringing up some old shit."

"Some old shit that's apparently true. You didn't deny it! You use to make fun of me? Then why do you try so hard to get me to remember you now? You're probably not even really my friend."

Takashi clasped his hands together like he was praying. "Tee Tee...this happened years ago. Okay? It was not that serious and it was nothing. Are you seriously gonna let some chick you don't even know get you mad? You've been spending the last few months with me. Doesn't that count for anything? I'm the one that's taking care of you. Where is everybody else you know?"

Toryn looked down because he was right. Any type of family or friends were missing in action. Toryn learned that her father had died since she was a child, but she kept forgetting how. And she knew her mother was in a mental hospital suffering from the exact illnesses as her; but besides them she still had family. Which none had come for her. All she had was Takashi.

Toryn looked up at him with glassy eyes but quickly turned away, watching another Charlotte Russe employee bugging a customer about buying things from the clearance rack. A strong but soft hand turned her chin making her look into sugar brown eyes. Toryn's heart twisted at the look in his eyes. It was so intense. He pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on top of her head.

The scent of his Obsessed cologne made her body tingle. She closed her eyes for a brief second but he pulled away before she could get comfortable. He smiled and licked his lips, his K-nines out in the open for everyone to see. Rose soon returned with some of the clothes from the back, but it was clear the pile was smaller than what Toryn had put in her hand.

"These are all we have in small, sweetie. Usually what's on the rack is what we have. Okay?" Rose squeaked smartly. The girl had gotten more pretty and it was jealousy honestly on Rose's part. Because honestly, Toryn had become better looking than her. But Rose wouldn't let her hate show. "Where'd you get your glasses from? I'd love to have them."

"Mm." Toryn said, "I'd love to stay and chat but I don't want to bother you. You know they say time is money and you need that eight-twenty five an hour baby doll."

"Rose to the fitting rooms, Rose to the fitting rooms! There's a spill and we need it cleaned up. Rose to the fitting rooms! " The voice over the intercom said.

Toryn smiled just as Rose walked off.

Toryn dumped all her items on the counter and once everything was rang and bagged up, Takashi extended his credit card to pay for the seventy-five dollar tab. He got all the bags for Toryn, including still holding things from Forever 21 where she had came from before came into Charlotte Russe. She was killing his credit card but he didn't mind.

The two walked side by side, walking past all kinds of food outlets and stores. People stood around trying to stop other people to sell their products, get them to sign up for something or give out free samples of food on toothpicks. The mall was busy with over hundreds of people. Takashi was winded and he was ready to call it a day.

"Can we go to Armani and Gucci next?" Toryn begged, her pink bottom lip stretched out as if she already knew what the answer was gonna be.

Takashi pulled his head back, laughing. "What? Toryn hell no. Gucci and Armani? You got that kind of money?" He said. He could afford to buy some things from places like those, but not shop on a regular. "Just because I have a house and a car doesn't mean I'm rich, Toryn."

She frowned. "But that's what I always use to wear when I lived at the mansion. My clients always use to buy me those kinds of stuff."

"Well I'm not your clients Toryn. I'm not some nasty old pervert trying to buy your affection, I'm your friend." He said.

Toryn frowned but held onto his arm as they walked through the mall. "I guess..."

He looked down at her. "How about we stop to eat something? How does that sound?"

"Yeah that's cool."

He laughed. "Good because my arms are killing me anyway, I need the break."

They walked over to a directory board and looked at all the food places in the mall. There was this nice Thai place he heard of before and it happened to be one of the places here. Takashi was actually somebody who was adventurous with food so he didn't mind trying new things. They took the elevator up to the fifth floor and walked in.

The place was nice set up with comfortable booth seats made of leather and high partitions blocking other people from looking right at you or your food. It was a little chilly since they were sitting right underneath an air vent, but everything was fine. Toryn who was a big seafood lover was already looking at the seafood side of the menu.

Within five minutes they ordered food and drinks, their feet barely having space to stretch since all Toryn's shopping bags were underneath the table. Toryn looked at him, putting her head in her hand. "So..."

"So...what?" Takashi asked.

"You claim to know a lot about me."

"Yeah." Takashi said, "what of it."

"So who were my other friends besides you?"

Takashi smirked because she asked him this regularly. He didn't know if she kept forgetting she asked or just felt lonely and wanted to feel like she was somebody before meeting him again. Takashi had to admit he felt bad for her. He would never know how she felt.

"I was your only friend. You didn't talk to people like that. You were shy so you stayed to yourself."

Just then their drinks were placed on the table. Toryn gave the waiter a small smile but her eyes met Takashi's again right away. For some reason she felt like he was lying. She was twenty five years old, it was inhumanly impossible for her to have never at least gained some kind of relationship with somebody other than him. He was taking care of her but she felt it was in a way of trying to hide her from the world.

"I feel like your lying."

"Pardon me?"

"I feel like your lying to me. About not knowing anybody else. Why don't you just tell me?"

Takashi picked up his glass of Long Island ice tea and took a large gulp, never breaking eye contact with her. He hated to be challenged and if she had her memory she would know that. Takashi clenched his jaws, reminding himself how much of a good time they were having and didn't want to ruin it. Then he smiled, "Toryn I'm not lying, what would I gain from that? It was just me and Laura."

"I feel like your trying to hide me from the outside world."

"I'm trying to hide you from yourself," He said, causing silence at the table. He leaned forward just to make sure no one else could hear them. "Toryn, the last time you went off on your own, look at what happened to you. I'm not gonna let that happen again, ever." He reached across the table and took one of her hands. It was soft and small, "I know you may not believe me but I would die before I ever let something happen to you."

Toryn's whole body shook like a draft of cold air was flowing inside her. She looked into his eyes and could detect the look in them right off the bat. It was one she had seen from her clients several times. She gripped her glass, ignoring the cool beads of water falling over her fingertips. She was blushing so hard she wouldn't even be surprised if it showed on her face.

"What?" She mumbled, not usually intimidated. She kept looking at him and looking away. She perched her glasses higher up on her nose.

Takashi smiled, feeling a moment of nostalgia. He wished he could live in this moment forever. In this one second he was looking back at his old friend and he wanted that again so badly, he would do anything for it.

"Here you guys are." The waiter said placing their dishes in front of them.

Both dishes were steaming, Takashi's Med Ma Moung which was stir fry chicken with cashew nuts and white rice on the side. He had ordered it spicy, knowing Asians were well informed on seasonings and spices. Toryn's Tom Yum Goong plate was a little more her style with a shrimp soup holding green leaf vegetables, lemongrass and mushrooms.

"How is life at Laura's house?" Takashi questioned. He felt weird calling his mother by her name when talking to Toryn since Toryn use to call her mom. Calling her Laura made it feel like Toryn was not that close to her when Laura had partially raised her, but Takashi knew he had to take it slow again until they got back to that point.

"It's good, she's really sweet. I like her. Her boyfriend is very quiet though." Toryn laughed.

Takashi nodded his head, Lance was still around after all these years as quiet as a mouse. No longer a kid Takashi wasn't scared of him, but he was still curious on what he did and why he was around still.

"Can I ask you a question ?" Toryn asked.

"Sure."

"Are you in love with Braelyn?

Takashi just smiled, he looked down at his plate, stabbing a piece of meat. "I'm married to her aren't I?" He said, placing the fork in his mouth. He chewed before picking up his glass and gulping down his ice tea like it was the middle of a Summer day.

"That didn't answer my question." Toryn said looking amused. "I asked if you're in love with her."

"I'm married to her, aren't I?"

They both laughed and Toryn shook her head. "You are such an asshole."

Takashi sighed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Nah I am. I'm in love with Brae. She's very conservative, shy, caring, helpful. I do love her. She doesn't know it but at work I have this picture of us on my office desk...every time I look at it I start smiling."

Toryn cooed. "Aww..."

"Why'd you ask?"

"I just wonder what it's like to be in love. I want that one day."

Takashi's jaws clicked and he picked up his drink to take a sip then realized he had downed the whole thing already. "You don't need to be in love with anybody Toryn. You just need family."

"Then how come you get to be in love and I can't?" She pouted.

He smiled, reaching across the table to brush his finger under her chin. "I'm all the love you need, girl."

Toryn tried to hide her smile by smacking his hands away and twisting her lips to the side but he still saw it. Pushing his chair back, Takashi got up, feeling a full bladder. "I'll be right back." He said. He excused him and headed toward the back.

Toryn ate in silence while she looked around. It was a lot of people in the restaurant eating and an even bigger set of people piled up at the front waiting to be seated. There were a bunch of kids running around too. She always wanted kids, but not a lot. Two or three would be good.

The sound of a phone buzzing made her quickly go for her purse. Takashi had bought her a phone recently. An iPhone 5, she didn't need anything too fancy. Toryn pulled her phone out which had a purple cupcake phone case over it. The minute she saw the blank screen and realized it was not her phone, she felt a sadness come over her. It was obvious it wouldn't be for her. Who would be calling her? She knew nobody except for Takashi and his mother. And although she was grateful, she felt so lost at the same time.

Her eyes watered. She had nobody really. All she had was the information she received from a stranger who was trying to help her regain her memory. So many nights she stayed up trying to figure out what her life was like before. Was she popular in school? Was she a party girl? What were her hobbies? What did she want to be? Now she lived like a robot with no real purpose in life.

"Toryn."

Toryn plastered on a smile and looked up ready for Takashi to tell her some crazy story about something that just happened in the bathroom, but her smile faded as she stared at an unfamiliar man. He was average height for a male at six feet and had some yellowish skin. He was handsome though. He had a well trimmed mustache that connected to neat sideburns, going well with his fresh haircut. She could smell his cologne from here. His eyes were sugar brown and he had a nice muscular but slim build.

Behind him stood a pregnant woman who seemed like she was around eight months. She had a big frown on her face and made no attempts to hide it as she glared at Toryn. And next to the pregnant woman was another man who was busy in his cellphone.

Toryn felt breath leave her body at someone else knowing her. Not wanting to get too excited off the bat she cleared her throat and looked at the man who had called her name. "Excuse me?"