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Sherry froze while she tried to follow what he was saying. Poor guy. He seemed just as confused as she was.

She was blushing a little bit harder by the time he was done. He wanted to get to know her better? Make new memories? She'd not even wanted to let herself hope for such things. Not after having to seek him out in the past. Not after the way she'd broken down in front of him.

"No, no. Don't leave," she said, shaking her head, her hands rising in a definite stop motion. "It's just I was expecting you to hate me or something." She bit her lip. "I'd really like to talk and things." She gave him another small smile.

"Would you like to sit down?"

She raised one eyebrow, doing her best to keep the 'everything is alright' face on and the emotions on the inside. "Because I--"

She paused as he reacted to something, and Sherry found herself very worried. Of course he wasn't alright. Huge holes were in his memories and he was still missing Chester. She actually let out a sigh of relief when he sat down. She didn't need him passing out in her room.

Still worried and hurt and tired and unsure, Sherry stepped closer, crouching down next to him and placing on hand on his arm. "Why not?" she asked, looking up at him. "I'd like it if you stayed, I think. I was just worried that after I'd cried all over you like that...you'd not want anything to do with me. I mean. It has to be pretty strange for you."

Strange for him, painful for her. That's how she thought it was.

Ah, that flinch at her touch. She remembered that and it made her ache a little more. Her brow furrowed at his words though, and she sighed. "And why not? If you give me that speech about not wanting me to get hurt because you can't protect me again, don't. I've heard it and I don't care for it. It's a stupid line to give any girl on this island. We're in mortal peril just by being here, being around you doesn't up that any."

She sighed again, pain evident in this one. "If it's because you don't know who I am and you don't think it's going to work, that's different. That's fine." Her throat got a little tight around those words. "I'd like the chance to at least be your friend though. I...I realize that this is all strange and confusing, but I want you to be happy." She rose a little, just enough let one hand stroke his hair while she planted a soft, bittersweet kiss on his temple. "Life's too short to spend it miserable, Jake."

Sherry squeezed his hand, smile a little sad as she crouched next to him again. "Then don't leave." It was as simple as that.

"You don't have to worry about hurting me." Her mind flashed over things he'd said in the past, and the hole in her heart ached. He'd already forgotten her. What could hurt more than that? "You really don't. And forgetting me for my sake is just silly." She forced a smile. "But listen. I know it must be difficult forgetting so much, and I know it must be quiet without Chester. I'll do what I can to help, and I'm sure you'll remember happy things, too."

She looked up at him, telling herself not to start crying again. Her heart was broken, but she had Armagnac and her friends, and even Jake. She couldn't sit there and feel sorry for herself while he was even more lost than she was. At least she knew why she hurt. "Besides, I'd like it if you stayed, too."

If it's what she wanted? Sherry lowered herself a little more, sitting on the floor next to the chair, her hand still holding onto his. She stared at that hand of his, almost like seeing it for the first time. She saw the wrinkles and the folds of it, she felt the warmth and the strength and the softness of it. Closing her eyes, she sighed a tiny little sigh. It couldn't be about what she wanted. She wanted him, and that wasn't fair. Not when he was lost and confused and lonely and didn't even know who she was. She wanted him, but she didn't want him here out of obligation or guilt or past promises he couldn't remember. Heck, what if he didn't like her this time?

"I want," she said, forming each word carefully, almost tasting them, "you to do what you want." She was also having a terrible case of deja vu. "My feelings for you haven't changed, but I don't want you to feel any sort of obligation to me." She fought the urge to lean her head against his leg. "You're always welcome to stay here, no matter what our relationship is."

She heard the irritation and it made her flinch the tiniest bit, but she didn't respond beyond that. She listened, sad that she didn't know what to say. She didn't like seeing him hurt. Her face softened when she realized he was joining her on the floor, finding comfort in that. She returned his smile, sadness twinging the edges of hers.

"I'd like that, too." I'd like that a lot. Jake would feel the grip on his hand shift as she turned it, moving so that she could run her thumb over it in a lazy, idle manner. She barely realized she was doing it as she placed his hand virtually in her lap again while she played with it. "I'm sorry, Jake. I don't know how to fix your memories. But like I said, I'll help you in any way I can."

She smiled at him again, telling herself not to hug him. It hurt, but he wasn't hers. She then scolded herself, because friends could hug, too. But the wound was too raw, too-- She looked down, realizing that she'd all but claimed his hand for her own again. She paused and chided herself, blushing slightly. While she stopped actively running her thumb over his hand she didn't let go.

"How's um, how's your shoulder holding up?" Because subject changes were meant to be abrupt and not helpful.

Sherry wasn't quite sure what to make of him squeezing her hand. Reassurance? For what? She really didn't want to read things into the action that weren't there, and she knew what she wanted to see. She really couldn't let herself get carried away, she just couldn't.

So she scowled at him. Not important? Of course it was important. Shoulders were important, and she very clearly remembered what it had looked like before. She was ready inform him of this when he tugged at her hand and she realized he was changing the subject.

Sherry was suddenly aware of how warm Jake's hand was, and how warm her face was growing. She averted her gaze. Stuff about her? He had said he wanted to talk about her, hadn't he? The flustering wasn't on purpose, it was just that she was constantly reminding herself that he didn't know her, and this both reminded her of that (they'd just had this conversation) and raised her hopes again. She didn't really know where to begin. "I, uh..."

Her free hand rose to play with the necklace at the mention of it, and her gaze flickered back to meet his. "Thanks," she said, sadness creeping into her smile. "I think you gave it to me, or that it was important to us, somehow." She didn't quite remember when she got it, but she knew Jake was the reason she didn't take it off.

She was pretty sure her face couldn't get any redder, but it felt a bit warmer as something in the way he said that made her heart flutter and took the sadness out of her smile. She looked down at the pendant, averting her gaze from his. "I- I don't remember getting it, but I know I never take it off because it reminds me of you, and I showed it to you once because it meant something about a connection."

Looking back at him, she hoped he wouldn't notice how pleasantly flustered she was. Couldn't have her reading things into the conversation that weren't there, especially where he could see her doing it. Though he had just asked about her. "I like jewelry and things, but this is my favorite piece. It's really nice." And it reminded her of Jake.