Knox hadn’t had paint on his face today, and I doubted he or anyone else would ever wear it to school. Still, I couldn’t shake the fact that I knew him.

But from where? 

I closed my eyes, replaying our meeting at Judaculla Rock. There was something about the way he held his keys in his hand.

It wasn’t how he held them, I thought. It was what he was holding.

I remembered the brass-colored J that flashed momentarily between two keys. I’d seen a similar set before.

Did they all carry the same set?

Suddenly, everything came back to me.

“He’s Knox Turner,” I said.

“What?” Anamae asked, lost in her own thoughts.

“The boy at the park. He’s Knox Turner.”

“Yes. We already know that,” Anamae said. She grinned at me. “Something’s coming back to you, isn’t it?”

“Not just something,” I said. “All of it.”

“That’s a relief,” she said. “I mean, you really had me thinking I’d lost my mind. That I’d imagined the whole story about James. I drove out to Judaculla Rock for me just as much for you. So, what made you forget it all?”

“I didn’t forget anything,” I said, filling in the blanks. “Knox must have used the fading on me.”

“Where does he fit into all of this?” she asked.

“He’s a friend of James’s,” I said.

“If all the boys are like that hottie, please tell me how to get to Judaculla.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “Knox is staying at James’s house. That Hummer back there is James’s car.”

“Let me get this straight. He’s staying at James’s house and driving James’s car. How do you know he’s not here for James’s girl?” Anamae asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Get serious,” I said, dismissing her question. “He came here as a favor to James to make sure I was okay.” Sudden indignation washed over me. “I cannot believe Knox did that to me.”

“Well, it worked,” Anamae said. “At least in the beginning. I wonder why he did it.”

“Don’t know,” I said. “But you can believe I’m going to find out.”

17

Prom

“See you later,” I called to Mom and Desmond when I heard Anamae’s car pull into the driveway on Monday. I scooped up my book bag and jogged outside, stopping in my tracks when I saw the black Hummer. Bittersweet memories flashed in my mind as I remembered all the times James had picked me up in the same car.

Knox was leaning against the passenger side.

I doubted he’d feel my fist, so I just flew at him, swinging my book bag before me. It connected with a clunk against his side. “Don’t you ever do that to me again,” I shrieked.