Chapter 14: Somebody That I Used to Know

*HADLEY'S POV*

Things have been massively strained between Mason and I, so I've been spending almost all my time working with Pepper.  We have gotten so good riding I am entering her in riding contests.

The first contest I entered her in, we came in sixth place, but the trainers tell me she shows great promise, so I enter her in a couple more races and she finally wins!

I know this is nothing but a distraction, but I have done all I can to try and work with Mason on our relationship, our future, all of it.

My "family" doesn't really help either.  Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm visiting a funny farm.  They're all crazier than I am.  They joke with each other, get into fights, then get along minutes later...it's too much to deal with.  I guess since I don't remember anything about my life, I don't remember that I used to love all the crazy.

It seems like the only thing I have is Pepper and the fact that everyone seems to know me.  I like the paparazzi.  All I have to do is smile and let them shoot pictures of me and they're happy.  It's refreshing and a lot less stressful than all these people that expect me to be my "old" self.

*MASON'S POV*

As much as I want to be strong for her, I am having so much trouble dealing with the "new" her.  I can live without her memories, but I'm having trouble with her complete personality change.  I don't get it.  To beat it all, I don't know who to talk to.  I don't want to burden the kids and I don't want to go to my parents, or her parents, or her siblings...and Evie is her best friend...although they haven't been as close since all this happened, so maybe I can talk to her.

I catch up with her outside her house.

EVIE: Hey, what's going on, bro?  Is everything okay?

MASON: Oh...yeah...I mean, nothing is seriously wrong, I don't guess.

EVIE: Well damn, you had me scared...I thought something was wrong with Hadley, or Mom or Dad...

MASON: Good Lord, I told you it wasn't an emergency.

EVIE: I thought you were telling me that so I wouldn't panic.

MASON: And you panicked anyway...

EVIE: Well, yeah, you knew I would...

MASON: Anyway...

EVIE: So what is it?

MASON: It's about Hadley...

EVIE: Is she okay?

MASON: Damn...Evie, yes...she's okay...it's just...we're not.

EVIE: What's that supposed to mean?

MASON: We've been fighting a lot...

EVIE: What could you all possibly be fighting about?  She can't remember anything.

MASON: That's kind of the point...

EVIE: What?  That she lost her memory?  Kind of a dickish thing to be pissy about, isn't it, Mason?

MASON: It's not like that...

EVIE: Than what is it like?

MASON: She's just different...and...

EVIE: The doctor told you she would be different.  She told you you might not completely recognize her, but she's still her.

MASON: I know...I just didn't expect her to be this different.

EVIE: Don't you think it breaks my heart that we don't get along all that well anymore?  It's like she's not really my best friend...

MASON: That's one thing...you all got along, even as babies...why aren't you getting along now?

EVIE: We're getting along, we're just not that close...maybe we're the ones that have changed, Mace...ya' know, she is just working with the personality she was born with...we have a whole lot more to deal with.

MASON: So what?  I have to teach her right from wrong?

EVIE: No, you have to get your head out of your ass and stop worrying so much about what this is doing to you.

MASON: Evie, come on...

EVIE: No, have you even thought about how she's handling all this?  She's living with a husband she doesn't know, hanging around people she doesn't know.

MASON: Evie, I think about that every day.  I try to be understanding, but this is hard on me too.

EVIE: Honestly, Mason, I don't know what to tell you...you just need to man up.  Look, I have to go to work...call me when you're ready to not be a selfish ass.

Wow...that was awesome.

*BRIANA'S POV*

After I get Keely her breakfast, I come in to get her out and see Mason holding her.

A site like this warms my heart.  He has really proven to me that there are good men in the world.  Trevor was such an asshole, I can't believe I spent so much time with him.

BRIANA: You're so good with her.

MASON: *laugh* Thanks.  I think it's second nature to me.

BRIANA: Yeah, I know what you mean.  Sometimes I feel like I've been raising children for my entire life.

MASON: Is Keely your only child?

BRIANA: Yes, but...I just really love being her mom, I guess.

MASON: You're good at it...do you ever want to have more?

BRIANA: Yes, definitely...I just don't know how I'm going to be able to.

MASON: It'll happen for you, I'm sure of it.

BRIANA: I hope...hey, I wanted to bring something up with you.

MASON: What is it?

BRIANA: I want you to let me know if we overstay our welcome, okay?

MASON: You haven't...

BRIANA: Mason, I heard you and Hadley fighting the other night...

MASON: Oh...you heard that?

BRIANA: Look, I don't want to be the reason you all are fighting...

MASON: We don't really need a reason to fight these days..it seems to happen whether we want to or not.

BRIANA: Oh...I'm sorry to hear that.  You and Hadley always seem like the perfect couple.

MASON: We're far from it, believe me.  I don't know what to do anymore.

BRIANA: What's wrong?

He looks taken aback...uh-oh...I've overstepped.

BRIANA: I'm sorry...I didn't mean to be nosy...it's none of my business.

MASON: No...it's okay...it's...well, she's not the same person I married.

BRIANA: What happened?

MASON: She got...sick...and she hasn't been the same since...I don't know what to do.

BRIANA: People change, Mason...

MASON: Yeah, I know, and I can deal with it, but she's so different...I mean, you heard her.

BRIANA: Well, I didn't know her before...

MASON: I'll tell you, my Hadley would have never said half the things she did.  She would open her home to anyone.  If she thought they needed help, it wasn't even a question.

BRIANA: Well, if she's been sick, maybe that's why...

MASON: Yeah, I don't know.  We grew up together, I don't know if you know that, and she has never been this way.  I guess I didn't realize just how much of her personality was based on her life experiences, not just her nature.

BRIANA: Nature versus nurture...I guess nurture wins, huh?

MASON: Yeah, I don't know, I guess you know how people change better than anyone, huh?  I'm sure Trevor wasn't always an asshole.

BRIANA: No, he pretty much always was...

MASON: Oh...well...

BRIANA: Don't worry about it.  I guess I'm not known for my good choices.

MASON: Hey, we all make bad ones...believe me.

BRIANA: Well...what are you going to do...about Hadley?

MASON: *sigh* I don't know...but I really appreciate you talking to me...I actually feel a little better.

BRIANA: No problem...

MASON: I'm sorry I unloaded on you like this...

BRIANA: No, don't apologize...

MASON: It's just...I can't really talk to anyone else...

BRIANA: Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, you can come to me.