Chapter 3

Carly was wondering why Michael was so upset but he wouldn't talk to her. When 
they entered the house Michael went up to the attic, which was his bedroom. It 
was done up pretty good too. After Jason went to bed Carly went up to Michael's 
room. Michael had climbed out of his bedroom window. Carly panicked and ran to 
the window. She saw Michael was crying into his lap. Carly's heart began to beat 
again and she climbed out. She sat next to him and he wiped his tears acting 
like nothing was wrong, "So… is there a reason why you’re mad? Did Jason do 
something? Did they say something to you about me?" 

Michael shook his head, "You’re not here for me." 

Carly sighed and nodded, "Your right. I'm not. I'm here for myself. Is that 
what's bothering you?" Carly questioned him concerned. 

"So you admit it! You admit your here for money!" Michael cried. 

"Money?" Carly repeated shaking her head. 

"You told somebody over the phone that you struck gold!" Michael shouted. 

Carly laughed, "Is that why your mad?" 

"You’re laughing now. You’re laughing." Michael was so mad. 

"No, Michael. The phone conversation that you heard wasn't about money." Carly 
scooted closer to him and bumped him a little, "It was about my memory." Carly 
pulled her knees to he chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. 

Michael calmed himself, "Then what was it about and who were you talking too?" 

Jason sat next to the open window listening to their conversation. He didn't 
know until now about this conversation and Michael being so angry.
 
Carly turned to him and had tears in her eyes," I was talking to Kevin and it 
was about my memory. I told him I struck gold because I met my supposed family. 
I mean this whole party tonight was the gold. Trying to figure out who I am is 
striking gold. That's what I meant." 

"Kevin? Is he your boyfriend?" Michael felt sadden by the thought. That would 
kill any chances for his dad. 

"Oh god, no!" Carly giggled and Michael saw her expression change, "I want to 
tell you a story. Do you want to hear it?" 

"Sure." Michael grinned. 

Carly wrapped an arm around him, "There once was a couple who were spending a 
romantic weekend in the Bahamas and when they were scuba diving they saw a body 
sinking to the body not to mention all the blood surrounding the body. They 
pulled the body out and saw that the person had a severe blow to the head. They 
rushed the person to the hospital and the person stayed in a coma for a year. 
The wonderful loving couple wouldn't give up on the woman. When doctor's told 
them to… how do I put this? Pull the plug, they wouldn't do it. They took the 
woman into there home and had doctors and nurses visit her regularly. Anyway, 
when the person… woman woke up she had no memory and they had found no 
identification on her so the woman was lost and she was stuck. The couple felt 
sorry for her and…"Carly sighed, "They had lost a daughter not too long ago. Her 
name was Angie and the couple wanted to try and change the girl into their 
daughter. The woman of the couple wanted that and the man of couple told her it 
wasn't right. So they asked the girl when she woke up if she wanted a family who 
didn't want her or a family who needed her." Carly sniffled and her tears began 
to fall, "The girl thought about it and thought. The couple had everything she 
could ever need love, care, money you name they had it but the girl couldn't 
help but think who am I? What was I like? How did I seem to others? Was I ever 
in love? Did I have a favorite movie or book? The girl thought about these 
things and knew she had to find out who she was. And right about until, for 
fourteen years, she's been looking for herself. Trying to figure out who she 
is." 

"You’re the girl?" 

"Yeah, I'm the girl." 

"So Kevin and Paige are the couple?" 

"You listen to that whole conversation didn't you?" Carly smiled. 

"I'm just psychic." Michael joked. 

Carly hugged him with her one arm around him, "You know, Michael, if this thing 
doesn't work out like we want it too I don't know if I'll be able to leave you." 
Carly confessed and rested her head on his. 

Michael relaxed and rested his head on Carly's shoulder, "You won't have to." 

Carly and Michael really bonded over the next couple of weeks. Michael always 
thought of Carly as his mother but Carly always thought of him as friend. She 
viewed Michael much like Jason did as an equal but she still always called him, 
'Kid'. Michael didn't mind too much. Jason and Bobbie watched them grow 
together. Carly seemed a lot less defensive around Michael for some reason she 
trusted him. She hadn't opened up to Jason or Bobbie or anyone else just 
Michael. Everything Jason knew about Carly he learned from listening in on Carly 
and Michael's conversations through the attic window. Jason felt stupid because 
he did feel a twinge of jealously towards Michael. Jason use to be the one Carly 
told her deepest darkest secret to. But that was over now. 

Right now Jason, Carly, and Michael were at the mall. Carly talked them into 
going. Just to look around. Carly had dragged Michael over to the women’s hats. 
She was trying them on and Michael would shake his head yes or no. Carly pulled 
a purple hat off the rack. It would have matched her outfit she was wearing a 
short white sweater that revealed her waist every time she raised her arms and a 
pair of faded blue jeans. She had on a few bracelets again and a small stud in 
each ear. Jason thought she looked very beautiful and it was definitely was a 
change from the way she looked when they finally saw her again. Michael didn't 
like it though so Carly smiled, "Oh yeah?" Carly said and put it on Michael's 
head pulling it over his eyes. Jason walked over hearing everything they were 
saying. Carly's laughter made Jason feel happy. He had missed her wonderful 
laugh and he didn't know if he'd ever hear it again. It had been fourteen years 
since he heard that laugh. That playful happy laugh. Michael grabbed the hat off
his head and put it back on hers. Jason loved the way she sort of glowed now 
that she had some idea of where she belonged. 

"Dad?" Michael said snapping him out of his thoughts. 

"Yeah?" Jason said snapping out of his thoughts. Carly and Jason made eye 
contact and Carly blushed. 

Michael grinned and grabbed Carly's hand, "Come on!" 

Carly giggled and put her hand on her head, "What about the hat?!" Carly said 
following Michael. As they ran out of the store a clerk there called after them 
but Jason stopped the woman, "Here. It's for the hat." Jason said and handed her 
a bill. 

The lady looked down and her eyes widen when she saw it was a hundred-dollar 
bill. They all ran out to the next store. Jason caught up with Carly and 
Michael, "Don't worry about the hat." 

Carly shook her head, "We should go back." 

Jason took her hat and pulled off the tag, "It's taken cared of." Jason said and 
smiled. 

Carly flashed him smile, "You bought it for me?" 

"Yeah," Jason put it back on her head, "Looks good." 

Carly touched the sides, "Yeah? Really?" 

"Yeah." Jason said and kissed her cheek. Carly's cheeks grew rosy again and 
began to say something when Michael came up to Carly. 

"Hey ,mom there's this really cool book I want you to see." Michael said 
dragging her deep into the bookstore. Carly looked back at Jason and smiled 
before disappearing with Michael. Jason grinned to himself and laughed slightly. 
Michael dragged Carly to a lot of places in the mall with him. They all had fun. 
Carly and Jason kept sharing subtle but very obvious moments. Michael liked them 
but didn't know if Carly was too comfortable with it. She seemed to like it but 
like his dad Carly sometimes realized things late. After a few hours they all 
got into the car and headed home. Carly for once sat in the front seat with 
Jason. Michael went to sleep in the back. Carly rolled down the window and 
closed her eyes while breathing in the fresh air. Jason wanted to say something 
but didn't know what to say. There was a full moon out and even though it was
night the moon lit the night perfectly. It was beautiful. Jason cleared his 
throat, "Are you hot? I could turn on the air conditioner?" 

Carly shook her head and continued to do what she was doing, "I just like fresh 
air." 

"Oh." Jason said. 

Carly now felt like the idiot. Jason was trying to make conversation and she 
acted like he was a bother. She took off her hat and ran her hand through her 
hair. Jason thought that was one of the sexiest things about her. She would use 
her hand like it was a comb and run it through her hair. Carly stopped and saw 
his stare, "You should probably watch the road." Carly bit her lower lip as 
Jason nodded. Carly looked up at the clear black sky, "You know I think the sky 
is so amazing. The stars and the moon are always there but they fade and the sun 
goes down. Clouds drift but the sky is always there. Isn't that amazing?" 

"I never thought about it that way." Jason replied with a smile. 

Carly looked at Jason then returned her gaze to the sky, "I always think about 
that. It's incredible if you think about it. In fact a lot of things are." 

"Like?" Jason questioned her statement. 

Carly grinned, "Like… I don't know. This situation is incredible. This day was 
incredible. I mean I've never had so much fun… at least not that I remember." 

"Did I tell you I lost my memory?" Jason brought up suddenly. 

Carly gasped, "No. How long did it take to get it back?" 

Jason pulled into their driveway, "I never got it back." He turned off the car, 
"I actually use to like the Quartermaines in fact I was a Quartermaine." 

"You’re kidding." Carly chimed in before he could finish. 

"No, I'm not. I wish I was but I'm not. I didn't like his life so I made my own 
and I guess that's what you’re trying to do." 

Carly hugged him for the first time since she had gotten back, "Thank you for
understanding, Jason." 

Jason accepted her and can't remember the last time he held someone like this. 
Someone he cared about. Someone he wanted to want him. Carly pulled back and 
looked deeply into Jason's eyes. They closed their eyes and both started to lean 
in for a kiss. Michael's groan stopped them in their tracks. They both got out 
of the car and opened the back doors for Michael. Michael opened his eyes and 
got out on Carly's side. They all entered the house and Michael could sense 
something wrong but he was too tired to analyze. He went upstairs and Carly 
rushed up to her room before she and Jason could say goodnight or anything else 
to each other.