I honestly didn't realise how much reviews inspire me to want to write. So thank you everyone for inspiring this chapter. I hope it doesn't disappoint. Rise by Gabrielle kind of fitted this and You Found Me by The Fray is a good fit for the last chapter. Thanks Taylaa :).

Chapter 7

"So remember, this week we are focusing on the bachelorette party which is this weekend, call me if you need anything. Even if you just want to panic over a last minute detail, ok?"

"Yeah, all I need to pack is a weekender bag for the all girls spa trip. You do know you're invited? No objections, even if you'll have to spend the weekend on standby to Nate's Bachelor party."

"I really wish I could come but it would be unprofessional to come to your party and Nate's not having a party. I expect he wants a quiet, family oriented weekend or something," I shrugged and stood up, packing Caitlyn's folder onto a nearby shelf.

"Alex, while I'm gone will you still be on standby for Nate? You don't have to babysit him just look out for him, ok?"

I nodded despite myself. It would be very hard to look out for someone I wasn't talking to.

"Sure, just remember to take it easy and look out for yourself most of all. You can check in from 6.30,"

I waved off all the worrying and negative energy she brought as she left. I was sort of relieved that she didn't ask why Nate wasn't having a party; it would be tricky to explain why I didn't want to be in the same room as him. I could see that conversation going down really well.

"She gone?" Mitchie peered through the door with a sly smile on her face. She didn't think much of Caitlyn mostly because she thought Nate was really cute. "I would love to see you tell her about her fiancés proposal!" She laughed and plodded down on the plush velvet.

"I wouldn't. I'd be out of a job and it's not her fault. It's just really bad luck."

"Whatever, how's Seb doing? He's really hot. Like, if I wasn't such a great friend I'd be at home right now blowing him,"

I suppressed a shudder and a giggle. "Wow, you're all heart. Seb's fine. He took me to lunch today. Said to say hi." I had divulged all the information I was willing to and conveniently left out that lunch started at a cute little café not too far away from here and ended up at his in a heated make out session before I freaked out and came back here.

"He's going back to Britain soon isn't he?" I nodded and bit my lip, "That's a shame. You guys were really getting along, I heard last night."

I was too used to Mitchie's blasé nature to blush. "I didn't sleep with him for your information. We talked."

"Is that what you crazy kids call it these days?" I ignored her as she cackled at her wittiness. She sighed dramatically, "About what?"

"He asked me to come to London with him." A calm silence ensued which was actually a first from Mitchie. "Mitchie…" She laughed, actually laughed in my face. Gee, thanks best friend!

"What would I know about boys wanting to get serious? When all I have are pricks who turn up at midnight for sex or to see my roommate."

I cringed slightly, "I'm sorry. Do you want me to beat Shane up later?"

She looked deep in thought and nodded vehemently, "I think you should go though because its not like you can never come back and after this wedding, you don't have any work lined up for 3 weeks. Its perfect!" I nodded, taking in all that she was saying.

A break away from all this craziness in New York would be good. It was so stupid because I walked away because I was the one who had to be strong but no matter how many times I tried to drill that into my head my every spare thought went back to Nate. What was he doing? Was he thinking about me? It was careless to have such thoughts when so much was at stake but then again, he was the only person who could tell me who I was before this accident. I was still sore over my family's deceit and honestly, they had already told me all they could. Who was I really? What were my biggest secrets and fears? I recalled Nate saying something about me wanting to be a fashion designer. I loved fashion and shopping and I occasionally knitted but was that a link to my past bursting through subconsciously?

I was still deep in thought when I noticed Alison standing in the doorway. I really hoped she hadn't heard the whole conversation otherwise I'd be out of a job. She stared at Mitchie until she left before claiming her seat looking a cross between smug and satisfied. "Alison," I began breezily, "This is a pleasant surprise." The only time she ever wanted to talk to me was when I was in trouble and since I was already on strike one so this would be anything but pleasant. Painful sounded more like it.

"I've just been speaking to my bosses in London. Very impressed with your work. They want you to go to London after this project is finished up and talk business,"

It took a moment for the words to take effect.

"Wow, of course I'll go." I replied without really thinking. "That sounds great." I was too flummoxed to say much else.

She beamed down at me for the first time ever and then left.

It all felt surreal, New York to London. For the first time life seemed to be starting again, properly.

"I can't stay long, I'm supposed to be meeting Alex, she says she's got the best news ever and has told everyone already," Shane shrugged his arms, a lazy smile easing onto his face.

I scowled, "How can you still be talking to her? She's insane."

He stood to rinse him mug, "Hardly insane because she rejected you. I'd run away too if you asked me to try again,"

I drained my own cup, "No worries there then bro."

He made a face, "I think I'm quite the catch, thank you very much"

I snorted as I joined him in the kitchen, leaning against the smooth black island, "No one has you long enough to determine whether you're a catch or not."

"Shut up." Was his witty comeback. He grabbed his coat, "At least I'm not about to marry one person whilst asking out my wedding planner, sometimes single is the only way"

Shane slammed the door hard behind him out of habit.

"Thanks Best Man," Silence, "No really!"

The phone ringing drowned my words out; I skipped over to it following the buzz of an afternoon coffee break.

"Nate, darling"

"Hey mom, what's up?" I took a seat, as I knew this was going to be a very lengthy conversation.

"Caitlyn and I wanted to check in on you but she thinks there's some sort of superstition so instead I said I'd call"

I almost groaned aloud at forgetting Caitlyn's spa weekend.

"Erm… Great mom, I'm ok so you can stop worrying. Shane just left." We all knew that Shane was mom's favourite and I was dads' and obviously Jason was the first-born and thus their pride and joy. Mentioning Shane would butter her up for whatever bomb she was planning to drop.

"That's nice dear. I just wish he would at least bring a date to this wedding" She sighed quietly, "Any news?"

She whispered briefly and I wondered whether Caitlyn was nearby.

"Shane just left to meet her, she doesn't want anything to do with me"

She tutted and mumbled something about being cruel.

My mum regarded Alex as the daughter she never had and was almost as heartbroken as I when we lost touch.

"You guys could at least try to be friends. I wonder if she'll remember me."

"So she declined the invite?"

"Unfortunately, Caitlyn wasn't too bothered though. Doubt there's any love lost between them."

I shook my head, I wasn't too sure that Caitlyn knew anything about Alex and my family's relationship except that she was getting rather close with Shane and she found it quite strange but I guess it was a relief that she wasn't getting close to me.

"Sure," I mumbled unsurely.

"Listen honey, you take care of yourself this weekend. No trouble!" I massaged my shoulders looking and feeling nothing like my 23 year old self would have me act.

"I will mom,"

"And stay safe!"

"Yeah mom, I've got to go…"

"I love you darling!"

I clicked off quickly before she could rope me into another lengthy conversation.

It was crazy. One more week as an unattached guy before I was confined to a life of early nights and children and other husband related… tasks. I had never thought that I would take the plunge so early in life. At 23, they had just about stopped asking me for ID when buying alcohol. I was sure I was ready to get married. We'd been together 2 years and sure it seemed fast we'd moved in together after 9 months and been engaged for a mere matter of weeks but I really did love Alex. I meant; I really did love Caitlyn. She was stunning, both in looks and personality. She had this infectious laugh that never left you feeling down. She was sultry and sexy but very girls next door. She had this ability to make you forget all you were thinking and try to catch your breath. I don't know how Alex's name just entered my head well; to be honest she never actually left. Thoughts of her, thoughts of us were now never too far from my mind. Thoughts I had worked so hard to bury and feelings I had poured into songs so that I could forget them.

Obviously because she was my first love I would always love her. I didn't even know this new Alex well at all. Shane says she's funnier than before but more reserved. She thinks before she speaks though sometimes she can't help her fiery temper and when she smiled, she whole face lit up. Her dimples were more prominent and her eyes glittered so very overcome with happiness. She was beautiful, so painfully so.

And I was in love, so irrevocably and irremovably so.

"London…" His voice trailed off and I frowned; Shane didn't look as happy as I thought he'd be. Not even in the slightest bit.

"What's wrong with London?" I tried to mask my upset by sipping slowly on my milkshake. We were in this really shabby old diner with the best milkshakes according to Shane. Meh, i'd tasted better at McDonald's. He was probably still bitter from when i told him.

"Nothing's wrong with London, it's just…" He trailed off again. If he did that one more time, I would kick in the shin with no hesitations.

"Shane? What's wrong?" I stared him down until he was ready to talk. Intimidation was a useful technique.

"Well, you're going with Sebastian right? Following him like you did with Nate. When he came to New York." I must have looked bemused because he kept explaining, "You know, when you were rushing to the airport and got into the accident that started all this,"

I froze. I had tried to follow Nate to New York?

"I didn't know that I tried to follow Nate," I commented softly.

Shane looked up and closed his eyes slowly, "Shit. Oh god Alex, I'm so sorry," I shook my head.

"It's fine. Just a shock but honestly, I'm sick of people not telling me stuff." I bit my lip.

"I'm sure Nate was going to say something. It's hard though, Caitlyn's with him 24/7. Save this weekend."

I shrugged. "Mitchie thinks I should kill you for being such a jerk. Actually, it was more a request than a thought,"

See how he liked the table being turned.

"Well maybe if every time I tried to call her it wasn't intercepted by some random guy…" He was clenching and unclenching his fists. "Stop changing the subject. Talk to Nate, before he gets married next Saturday."

"Whoa, that was never the subject. I was saying that Seb is going back to England and that I have to go London for work and they're probably going to offer me a job permanently in one of their offices. They've got offices in Hawaii, should I go to Hawaii? Or Lille? Or Vancouver? London? Munich? What Shane?"

"What about New York?"

I scoffed then softened, "I can always come back but I think I'm ready for a change. New beginnings and stuff." I commented flippantly.

We both stayed silent for a minute appreciating each other's company.

"Hawaii sounds good. Well, it looked good in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I'll visit all the time,"

I nodded, "Of course,"

"But London sounds good, doesn't it?"

"Nah, I dunno. If I go to London with Seb, he'll think we're getting serious and now you've told me that I don't know if I want to."

"Vancouver is just like London but a lot smaller. People are nicer. Speak English. Weather's not too great."

I nodded at his reasons. It wasn't fair that in a week Nate would be starting this new chapter in his life and I would sit here in crowded places like this feeling utterly alone. I wasn't sure what I wanted but I knew that I didn't want to be here.

"Wanna get out of here?"

I nodded at Shane's suggestion and wrapped my coat around me, securing the buttons out of habit while Shane slapped $10 on the table.

We walked in silence for a while, down the emptying streets. I was thinking about Mitchie and Shane and I guess he was thinking about Nate and I.

"You know that when you called on Wednesday, the plumber answered Mitchie's phone because she was asleep and he was closest to it. I know I'm lazy. And on Thursday, the Electrician thought it was his phone ringing and this morning, well Mitchie had a rough night and you know how she sounds in the morning?" I laughed slightly thinking back to it.

"Does your apartment have a lot of problems?" I punched him hard, "Ok, so no guys that Mitchie's actually been sleeping with?"

"Well," I rounded on him. "She vowed to shag Seb and after listening to Nate's album she's smitten and convinced that his next hit should be a song about her. In fact, she's penning it now." I was serious again, "But no, no guys." I confirmed.

It seemed that Shane was fighting some internal battle with himself over Mitchie so I was happy that I could put a smile on his face, however small it was.

Hours of mind-numbingly dull TV and I was sure my brain was fried. So when the doorbell went, I naturally jumped at the chance of actual human interaction that extended past Lorelai and Rory's impossibly fast dialogue.

"Alex," I breathed, feeling completely confused but more alert.

She smiled slightly and invited herself into the apartment. "Shane said you couldn't cook for shit."

I noticed the large box of Chinese in her hand and nodded realising how hungry I actually was.

"Did I interrupt something?" She was looking now at the TV, perching on the edge of the armchair I had previously inhabited.

"No," I grabbed the remote and pressed buttons not bothering to note which ones, at least now the news was on and she couldn't make fun of my guilty pleasure.

"Sorry, I got hungry on my way here and ate some," Her eyes were wild and dancing with laughter.

"S'alright," I told her. I couldn't form full coherent sentences because I was still quite shell-shocked.

"Are you going to start forming actual sentences anytime soon?" She snapped; it looked like she was fighting an internal battle.

I cleared my throat, "Sorry, it's just… I wasn't expecting anyone, much less you.

"Oh," She bit her lip kind of guiltily. "Shane went to sort something out with Mitchie and is probably ravishing her on my sofa right about now. Home's kind of a no go area." She explained coolly.

"Where's Seb?" I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth but she didn't even bat an eyelid.

"I tried to come after you on that night." She began, staring me straight in the eye. "And I think I was speeding and then I crashed. It all makes sense now because I was having these dreams where I was driving and crying and it was weird but I must have been crying because I was leaving or something-" She was talking a sentence a second and I could see her getting hysterical, tears welling up in her beautiful brown eyes. I really hated to see her cry.

I enveloped her in a big hug and she grew silent.

"How did you move on?"

I don't quite know. "It took a while. Hating you worked well. Finding your faults. Caitlyn. My music. The less I thought about you, the easier it became, I guess."

She pulled away. "I don't know why I'm here." She said quietly, "I don't know what Shane wanted us to talk about. What else is there to say?"

That was a good question. After ages of deliberating and wondering if I ever saw Alex again what I would say. To be perfectly honest, I had nothing. It wasn't awkward at all though. It just felt final. I had closure. I stayed silent not really knowing what else to say.

But Alex did, "I have so many questions to ask you about me like, why was the only retrievable in the crash this necklace?" She was gripping onto it, "But then again, I can't be the same person I was before so what's the point?"

"A.M.G stands for Alexandra Margarita Grey," I told her quietly. "It was a promise that we'd get married."

She looked down at it in embarrassment which was silly because she had nothing o feel embarrassed or ashamed about. "Sometimes I remember things," My eyes were darting between her eyes and her lips, "When I first touched you, I had a flashback…" My mouth went dry when I realised that she was doing the same thing, I licked my lips "So if you…"

It started slow and sensual. Her lips placed ever so softly on mine. The kooky but sweet blend of spices that made up her perfume completely encapsulated and intoxicated me, a fine blend of cinnamon, vanilla and rosewood. Then a spark ignited within us. Our tongues teased and fought each other and just like before I won. Her soft hands were kneading through my curls and I stroked her cheek tenderly. It felt so familiar and so very right yet wrong.

"Alex," I groaned as I pulled away. She understood and uncoiled herself from around me.

I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. When I opened my eyes, Alex trying in vain to do up her coat.

"Alex," I stood up to stop her or help her or something. "What are you- Are you ok?" I could see tears blurring her vision as she struggled to complete the buttons.

"Ugh!" She gave up and attempted to swipe her bag from where it lay on the floor.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was shaky as she let a tear slip down her face. "I'm just so confused." She explained.

I was confused too; I wanted to understand. "Why? Talk to me."

She shook her head, "No," and sniffed, "You make it worse. I'm trying to remember who I am and sort myself out but everytime I'm with you I go two steps back and I'm lost again."

I opened my mouth to fight this accusation.

"No." She retorted angrily, "I'm going to London with Seb and I'm not sure when I'll be back."

It felt like my heart had dropped into the pit of my stomach. "When?"

"Saturday evening."

I looked at her, "But that's the wedding?"

"Don't worry, it's after the wedding."

"Alex," I started slowly in almost a whisper, "I feel that I've just gotten you back and now you're leaving." I ran a hand through my hair, "Before we dated, we were really good friends, you know?"

"No, I don't actually." I wanted to curse myself for my poor choice of words. "Look, if your life was a book, I'd be the last seven chapters and this is the last page. In a week a new chapter will start and I can't hang in the background while it does." By now, neither one of us were looking at each other. "Bye Nate." She kissed my cheek before she walked out.

…

"Hello,"

"Hey, sorry I know you probably didn't expect me to call right now,"

"Uh, no but it doesn't matter."

"I just, I wanted to tell you that our love is forever and always,"

"I know Nate," She replied slowly, "I know."

Okay, do you think Nate called Alex or Caitlyn? Who did you want him to call? Sorry it's so late and kind of rubbish but I wanted you to know I haven't forgotten about this story and the next chapter I post will be Saving Me. Whenever that is. Sorry its bad. It was a rush. :/