CHAPTER ONE

If we've all forgotten you
Are we all forgotten too?

-Paper Route-Are We All Forgotten?

Macy told us beforehand that she would be leaving early that night, but that didn't mean we could help the sudden overcrowding of work. By the time the regular patrons of the diner had left, Jenna and I were exhausted.

"Never again." She swore, fumbling with the buttons of her coat.

I nodded fervently. "What I don't believe is the number of people willing to stick around just to avoid going back home. Seriously, aren't there laws against that?"

She smirked. "Don't let Eric hear you say that. Troubled marriages are God's gift to him."

I groaned when I spotted said employer making his way towards us, looking apologetic. I recognised that look.

"Don't tell me." I begged.

Eric winced. "Uh...actually, maybe I can handle it on my own."

He was doing the puppy-dog eyes thing. The guy had severe issues, yet he was irresistible. I found myself stalking back into the dining area in no time.

Despite my irritation at having zero resistance to charming employers, I composed my face into neutral lines before grabbing my notepad. I took a cursory glance at the customers. Two guys, one fair-haired, the other dark, both around my age.

Out of nowhere, I suddenly felt almost dizzy.

Shit. Not again.

It had happened before. I'd see a face in the street, a smile out of the corner of my eye, and my knees would give out and my focus would blur. But the sensation hadn't been quite so strong before. I attempted to shrug it off, knowing that it would pass quickly. After six months of almost recognizing a life, I was more than used to strange feelings.

Despite that, it was too strong. The nagging at the back of my mind was like an alarm clock, impatiently counting down the seconds until something happened.

I swallowed, willing my voice to be steady. "What'll it be?"

The fair-haired one took one last glance at the map spread out before them. Definitely not from around here. "Nothing for-" He began, then our eyes met.

Oh, fuck. Oh, no.

Because at the sight of his eyes -honey-colored and utterly shocked- I felt something shake violently within me. It was like every single cell in my body were simultaneously imploding.

I gripped their table for support. What the fuck is going on?

I blinked consecutively, not caring what that looked like. SNAP BACK! "Um, should I come back when you're ready to order?" I managed.

The dark haired one looked up.

My stomach lurched. Bizarrely, a flash of a figure standing next to a window blazed through my mind.

A smile curved the corners of his mouth upwards. "Oh, we're ready to order, alright."

I forced my pencil against the paper, and thrust my eyebrows up expectantly.

The dark one took his time. His eyes met his companion's, a hint of a smile still lingering, apparently completely unaware that I wanted to throttle some answers out of him.

"I'll have the cheeseburger, with extra large fries. Oh, and lots of coffee." He smiled charmingly.

The fair one muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Going to need it."

I nodded. Calm. I am calm.

"Be right back." I tried to muster a smile, gave up, then walked away unsteadily.

*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)

"They could be from, you know, before." Jenna widened her eyes significantly.

"Maybe." I rested my head against the door. My actions were erratic and unfocused, due to sheer fatigue. On my way back, I'd even crashed against a table. I've never actually seemed clumsy, but my brain had trouble making sense of what was going on around me, and as a result, my movements were nonsensical. "Listen, are you sure...?"

She shrugged. "No problem. I'll cover for you. You go home and rest. It's been a long day."

I smiled, but it was an effort. "Thanks, Jen. You're the best."

She smirked, and brushed it away. "Whatever. Just remember that you owe me."

I nodded, grabbing my bag. "See you around."

I nodded at Damien, the chef, on the way out. Damn it, Jenna had been right. I was tired beyond comprehension. My fingers fumbled around for my keys, and I realized that I was shaking.

Shit. This is very, very bad.

I rested my forehead on the cool surface of my car. For the millionth time, I wondered who the new arrivals were. Were they dangerous? Or was the only danger they posed the reaction I had to the mere sight of them?

Breathe. In, out. Don't panic. For heaven's sake, don't panic.

Of course, it didn't work.

"Can we have a word with you?"
I gasped, and whipped around. The dark-haired man was leaning casually against Damien's pickup. I made out a flash of gold, to spot the other one standing a little distance away, his unusual eyes weary.

I briefly contemplated yelling for help. Damien was sure to hear me, if he hadn't moved form his position.

As if reading my thoughts, the fair-haired one said, quietly, "Don't worry. We won't harm you."

The other one snorted. "Most likely it'll be the other way around."

My eyes flitted between them, gauging distances. Again, seeming to sense my trepidation, the golden-eyed one took a step back. After a questioning glance, his companion followed suit.

I shook my head in an attempt to clear it. My heart was still thudding too loudly against my ribs.

We studied each other. The street lamp afforded more than enough visibility, and I had good eyesight anyway.

They were both undeniably attractive. I realized that that was part of the aura of mystery that hung around them, almost visible yet still unusual. The fair one's hair wasn't either blonde nor brown, but a strange combination that seemed bronze under the lighting. His complexion was deathly pale, but his features suggested nothing vulnerable. He had a strong, obstinate jaw, and his eyes had the expression of perpetual defiance, as if he had experienced nothing but disappointment his entire life, but was still determined not to let the world break him down.

The other one was a striking contrast. He was taller, but not by much. His coloring was the same as mine, as was the tone of his hair. He had dark eyes, seemingly full of nothing but mischief and amusement. He was a man nature had blessed with a personality that went with his handsome exterior. I could imagine a life with him: safe, happy, content.

Whoa there. I was stunned by this wayward thought. I wasn't ready to view these strangers in any light bar that of mistrust.

But the feeling was there, almost a longing. It was like he was the juxtaposition of all my dreams, ones I never knew I had.

Get a grip. Now.

He cleared his throat, his expression inscrutable. "Um. Well, for what it's worth, my name is Jake."

I raised my eyebrows. "Sarah." I offered, cautiously.

A strange emotion seemed to flood Jake's dark eyes, which he closed abruptly. If I didn't know better, I'd have called it pain.

"Edward." The other one said, his face blank.

I nodded. My heart had resumed beating in the ordinary way, though my every instinct was screaming at me to run. "And why do you want to talk to me?"

The dark one -Jake- tugged at the collar of his T-shirt. "Damn, we should've rehearsed." He muttered.

"Are you sure about who you are?" Edward asked, confirming my worst fears.

A curious thrill ran along my spine. They might know about me. Not for the first time, I fantasized about a perfect life, possibly with one of these beautiful men-

-only to slam back to the concrete knowledge: whatever that made me this way can't be good.

That was when I knew.

Whatever they could tell me, whatever they knew...it wasn't good. There was no way I could wake up with no memory in a neighborhood of people who'd never seen me before if what had happened to me had been tolerable in any way. What they were about to tell me would change my life for the worse- and I liked where I stood.

I held up a hand. They looked at me, surprised.

"I understand that you're about to tell me something about my life before." I said, unconsciously using Jenna's name for my past. "Before you do, let me tell you something: don't."

Jake's eyes widened. Edward's face was set into a controlled mask, so that there was nothing I could read there.

"Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate your coming here from wherever you're from. But-" I gestured helplessly. "It's been a long day. And I don't think I can take it."

Jake nodded. "How about tomorrow?"

I blinked. "Don't you understand? How about never?"

Deciding that there really was no reason for me to stick around any longer, I turned around and climbed into my car. I reversed out the parking lot, ignoring them.

I left them standing there.

Author's Note: Not very happy with this one. Getting through Leah's view was really tricky. If you hate the change of PoV, tell me. If you're okay with it, tell me that, too. I really need the feedback.

Love,

Evil's Sidekick