Never Forget (Memories)

voice mails they've left. Instead, I scroll down to Alec's name in my contacts and hit the call button.
    "Princess, is everything okay?"
    The sound of his concerned voice travels to my ears and I break again.
    "Meet.. Me.. Bay," I manage between my sobs.
    "I'll pick you up in five minutes,'' he says and clicks off. I nod although he can't see me.
    He can't take the pain away, but he can sure make it better.
    I move into the bathroom and stare at myself in the mirror. My dark hair is a mess, my cheeks are blotchy and my eyes are swollen from crying. I splash my face with cold water, trying to compose myself. Grammy's face products are lined up on the tiled shelf, staring at me. I glare at them, like it makes a difference, and slam the door on my way out.
    Alec is waiting outside when I open the front door. He takes one look at me and wraps me in his arms. I cling to him like he's my lifeline, like I'm drifting out to sea and he's the only one who can save me. I squeeze my eyes shut and he strokes my hair gently, burying his face in it.
    His touch soothes me where I need it. It grounds me again, and we stand there in each others arms until I feel strong enough to speak.
    "Gram's had a heart attack," I manage.
    "How is she?" He looks at me, his blue eyes shining with worry.
    "She's in ICU. Till tomorrow at least." I get into his car. "I didn't stay long enough for the finer details. I hate hospitals."
    He links our fingers over the gear stick and pulls away from the kerb.
    "Me, too," he agrees. "Your parents are still there?"
    "Yeah, Bing drove me back. He's there now getting them."
    "You should have called, I would have come to get you."
    "I didn't have my phone," I say quietly.
    The beach looms ahead of me and I can already feel its effects. The sea breeze drifting past, the calming, steady beat of the waves as they claw their way up the sand.
    I jump from the car as we stop and run to the rocks. My hands press against the rugged surface as the image of Gram flashes in my mind again. My knees buckle as strong arms go round me from behind and I spin, burying my face into Alec's chest as a fresh wave of tears come over me.
    He lowers us gently to the sand, holding me tight against him.
    "She has heart disease, and they didn't even tell me. They were expecting it to happen and they didn't tell me!" I cry, my voice gaining volume. "Even Bing knew! But me? No. No-one thought to tell Gram's girl."
    "Sssh." Alec rocks me gently. "It was wrong. I wish you could have been told before this happened. I wish I could have told you."
    I wish I could have told you.
    The meaning of his words wash over me with a startling clarity.
    He knew.
    "You knew," I choke out and pull away. "You knew my Grandmother was dying and you didn't tell me!"
    "Princess.'' He reaches for me but I shake my head and stand up.
    "Don't you Princess me." I laugh bitterly and turn to walk away.
    Betrayal laces through my body and my heart clenches. Everything we've shared together, everything we've said and done... He knew the whole time and he kept it from me.
    I spin back around and march up to him, the waves increasing to a roar as they match the heightened emotion in my body.
    " YOU KNEW !" I scream and shove his chest. He looks down and I push him again. "You've known from day one! She's probably dying and I didn't spend as much time with her as I could have! As I should have!"
    "She didn't want you to know.'' He meets my eyes and I see the pain there but it doesn't register in my mind. All I can feel are my own, overwhelming emotions. "She wanted to watch you this summer, she wanted you to be happy."
    "Then I'm glad she can't see this." I run my fingers through my hair. "How could you keep it from me? After everything? I. Gave. You. Everything, and you were hiding it all along!"
    "I didn't want to see you hurt!" Alec shouts.
    "Well it's too late!" I yell back at him. "Because now I have double the pain to deal with and no one to help me deal with it!"
    "Lexy.."
    "No, Alec! You don't get to do that anymore! You betrayed me, you lied to me." I finish quietly and walk backwards away from him. "You made me fall in love with you, then you ripped my heart out in the worst possible way."
    My breathing is coming hard and fast and I can barely see through the tears in my eyes.
    I've never felt a pain like this.
    "Don't do this, Lexy," Alec says in a slightly anguished tone. "Don't walk away from me."
    I swipe at my cheeks and shake my head again. "You destroyed