I spend the next few days in the apartment while Kate gets everyone fussing about me. My dad has been over both days and Kate has even called James around on both evenings. Jose came with him last night. While we had all been chatting Jose had seemed a little bit more edgy around me. Maybe due to him trying to kiss me. That I would have liked to forget. I did over hear Kate and Jose talking in the kitchen on the second night and Jose was telling Kate that Christian was bad news. He wouldn't say why. He just got a really bad vibe from him.
I would have heard a little more, but James started telling me things I had forgotten, like how I got him to meet Christian and get all his DVD collection signed. I just wish I could remember any of it. I remember my whole life, but the last two weeks are filled with so many missing pieces I feel like I have been sleepwalking through it.
The hardest part of the two days, however, was dealing with my mother. When she called it became an hour long phone call of her worrying and telling me to come home. She was worried that is was stress or that I had some type of brain tumor the doctors had missed. Once I finally managed to calm her down I got an ear full for not telling her about my new boyfriend. In my defense, I can't even remember him didn't go down to well with my mom.
She had heard it from my dad and was just a bit angry that I don't share all my secrets with her anymore. I have always done that with Kate since we became friends all those years ago. Lucky for me, I had a free pass due to my memory being gone so my mother didn't come down on me that hard. I had to promise I would come home and visit her when dad came home.
By the end of day three since I woke up without my memories I was exhausted. Laying in bed, I felt like everybody was tiptoeing around me. Trying to be careful what to say. Like I'm a piece of fragile glass that would shatter if someone said the wrong thing. In my pajama's I lie in the dark and gaze around my room. My eyes stop on my dressing table. My mind flashes a picture of someone sitting there. Why are these flashes so brief? I barely get time to register them. Some items are on the floor. Jumping out of bed, I walk over and Rayd down, a few hair ties and a pair of underwear.
I touch the dresser as I reach down and another flash of me naked sitting on it as someone is inside of me. The thought makes my insides clench. This is getting too much. I need to sleep. I put the hair ties and underwear away and slip back into bed trying to remember any of it.
Waking up early in the morning I decide to do something with today. I look at the clock. It's too early for Kate to be up and I don't want the looks of worry coming out again so I get dressed and leave the apartment quietly without waking her. When I need a break, I retail shop and that sounds like the perfect plan for today. I think to myself. After midday, I will give Kate and my dad a call and let them know I'm fine I just need some me time that's all. I head to Fashion Valley, my nearest mall.
Now I'm standing in line waiting for my tea and toast from the coffee shop. The bad part of me sneaking out is that I'm hungry and shopping on an empty stomach is not wise. So the coffee shop is my first stop, fuel up and then go. I'll be off shopping to my heart's content. Well, my credit cards content. I don't want to spend a lot, but I'll buy a few things for myself. Just then my number is called and I step over to the counter.
"Anastasia?" The woman calls out behind the counter. I nod my head and she hands me my tea and toast. Turning round I look for a free table in the coffee shop when someone hits me. They knock into my side and send my tea and toast onto the floor. I turn looking to see a young woman with curly brunette hair and a long black jacket. She is looking over at me surprised.
"Ana. It's so good to see you. I'm so sorry." She beams at me. Who the hell is this woman? "Jeanie can we have a tea and a latte, Toast, and a chocolate chip muffin, please." The woman shouts over sweetly to one of the girls behind the counter. Her hand grabs my elbow and leads me towards a two seater sofa with a small table next to it. "I'm sorry I didn't spill anything on you did I?" I look up at her confused.
"No, I'm okay thanks. I'm sorry but do I know you?" I ask her. She looks hurt for a split second and then smiles.
"Of course you do, we met last week." She seems so bubbly and friendly. I find myself feeling more comfortable around her. "So you're here clothes shopping. I love to clothes shop. My wardrobe is huge already, but I can't help but buy more. Girl's got to have a hobby." She says smiling.
I'm so badly wanting to remember where I know this happy girl from, but it's drawing a blank. I shut my eyes for a second trying to think. I feel her hand on my own and my eyes snap open.
"Are you okay?" She is gazing at me with concern. Her cute features showing worry.
"Yes sorry, I'm fine. I have been struggling to remember things the last week or so." She smiles softly. "It's okay. My name is Mia we're friends." Her smile is sweet and infectious and before I know it I'm smiling too.
The waitress brings our drinks over and Mia pays for them. She insists.
"So you say you're struggling to remember things?" She asks sipping her latte before picking up her muffin. I bite a piece of toast.
"Yes I woke up three days ago and it's like parts of my memories are gone," I mutter.
"Well, I hope it's not the best bits." She smiles. "So how are you feeling? I mean that must be traumatic?" She asks softly.
"Well I have been examined by quite a few doctors and they don't know what it is. My friends are great, but they have been very careful with me the last few days especially my best friend Kate." I don't know why but I feel the need to open up to this girl. Mia? Her name seems so familiar.
"Ohh I would love to meet Kate. I bet we would get along so well." Mia jumps in. "We should all hang out together. I could take us all shopping. I usually drag my brother, but the last few days he has barely left his apartment keeps sitting at the piano playing such soft, sad tunes. He lost someone recently and now he is not coping well. He barely even sees me anymore and I'm the closest family he has. His driver Taylor keeps trying to stop me seeing him. I worry for him." She says her mouth trembling slightly and I feel like she is going to break into tears any second.
I reach over and take her hand. "It's okay. I'm sure your brother will be fine he does have you after all." I say as her head is still down.
"It's not me he needs." She says under her breath. Her eyes look up and I feel like she is trying to tell me something without saying the words. "Do you believe in love?" She says.
"Yes, I do. what girl doesn't." She smiles back at what I said.
"I told him that too. What about that everything happens for a reason?" She asks. I nod my head again.
"Of course everything happens for a reason." I offer. She looks down for a second. "He doesn't believe that part. For the first time in a long time, my own brother won't listen to me." She seems upset.
My mind flashes an image of me in a towel standing in a kitchen talking with Mia. "I'm sure he will come around. Did we meet in a kitchen?" The words seem to give her hope and I see her smile up at me.
"Yes, we did." Her smile is back and lighting up the store again. " Let's eat and go shopping. I know lots of stores that have dresses perfect for your size." She grins taking a bite out of her muffin as I sip my hot tea. Wait, how does she know my dress size?
The next four hours I spend getting pulled around from shop to shop by Mia as she links my arm. She makes me try on so many dresses. It so much fun, I'm like her model as she waits on the seat in the changing room and I come out in each outfit. She offers to buy me every single one. Mia must be very well off. I decline but do end up buying three dresses for myself. They are not up in her price range as I see one dress which is seven and a half thousand dollars. The three dresses I buy end up costing under two hundred and fifty dollars total.
Looking at my phone I see there are three messages from Kate and two missed calls. Two more missed calls from my dad and a message too. I open my phone as Mia bounces up next to me. I realize this is the first time I have looked at my mobile phone in three days. There is the picture of the magician again holding the red Steele. She looks over my shoulder playfully.
"Who's the guy?" She asks. "He's a magician. I had a bunch of pictures of him on my computer. I think I have met him before. One picture was us two together in a hotel lobby." I say to her. "Well, he does seem cute if you like that sort of thing." She adds before going off to buy her items. I look at his picture she is right. He does seem cute. No not cute. He's hot. Yes, that is a much better word. My inner devil agrees with me as she licks my phone screen. I read the texts from Kate and my father.
First message for Kate.
Ana where are u?
The second message reads.
Call me now or else!
Third message.
Damn it Ana, call me before I call the police!
I find it amusing how each message gets longer. My dad's reads.
Baby girl where are you? Please let us know you're safe.
I send a quick message back to both of them.
It's okay. I'm fine. Done some shopping will be home soon. Don't worry.
Love Ana.
When Mia comes back I tell her I have to get going. She seems upset but quickly shakes it off. She asks me if I have her mobile number and before I reply she grabs the phone out of my hand and types it in quickly her fingers fly over the keys as I look around to see the nearest exit to my car. She hands me my phone back and then pulls me in for a hug. As she whispers.
"I hope you remember everything." Then she turns and walks away as I stand there for a second letting her words sink in, then I make my way back to my car.
(Looks like Mia just couldn't stay away from Ana. Seems like a nice shopping trip. I wonder if this will be able to jog Ana's memory? It does seems like Kate and Ray were worried.
So I have received another rejection email from an agent. So far that makes three. Also been working hard on getting book 2 ready to self publish.
I have also had an idea for all you lovely readers. A chance for you to meet my very own Christian Grey from my story. His name is Laurent Quinn and I will write a special scene just for you where you will meet. It will be for your eyes only as it will be private messaged to you.
All you need to do is tell me which part in my story you are currently up to. Part 1, 2 or 3 and write to me in a private message how you think this story could end.
I will decide which ending I like the best and that lucky girl or guy will get the scene written with them in.
I do not have a date for when this contest will end but will keep you updated in my author notes.
The lucky winner will be asked for a name, hair colour and length and eye colour aswell as favourite colour. Also as an added bonus the lucky winner gets to ask Laurent three questions to the mysterious man himself. They will be written into the scene.
This is a Christmas treat. Please do remember to leave a review and I hope you all enjoy the next part of my story. Thank you. SJamesW.)