[Alan's POV]

"Good morning Nana!" Then I hugged the old lady as I entered the kitchen to have some breakfast. I feel fully charged that morning. It was too early for our scheduled TV interview.

"Sit down Alan. Join Phoenix with breakfast." she said to me while whisking her hands like shooing me away from her.

Then my eyes immediately flew to the person on the table.

"Morning!" I greet her.

She raised her head and lazily greeted me in return. "Good Morning." then she smiled halfheartedly.

'What's with her?' my eyebrows burrowed.

Then I suddenly remembered what happened last night. I raised my voice at her. Is that the reason why she seemed like she doesn't want to talk to me.

"Phoenix..."

I saw that she startled causing her to drop her spoon.

'What's wrong?'

She glanced at me and asked, "Y-yes? you were saying something?"

"About last night..." I blew out a sigh. "Just forget about what happenned last night. I never meant to-"

She suddenly stood up in my surprise.

"Nana, do we have pineapple juice?"

Nana nodded. "Yes, just get it from the fridge."

She opened the fridge and got some juice to her glasses.

I shook my head thinking, 'She's really weird.' Like she doesn't want to be alone with me.

"I'm going to Rise, I'll take you there." I said to her without raising my head.

Then I heard a gasp and saw that she spat the juice in her mouth causing her to cough, hard.

Her face is all red. Nana was caressing her back.

"What happened to you?" Nana asked.

Phoenix still coughing just shook her head. 'Poor girl.'

"I'm f-fine." She was already recovered. But her face was still all red. Even her nose. Which made her really cute!

"Are you sure?" Nana asked her again.

Phoenix nodded.

"You're coming with me whether you like it or not." I told her and stood up to prepare. I didn't give her a chance to protest.

---

I can't concentrate on my driving. I'm so fully aware of the person beside me. This feeling was really new to me. I was so curious about her.

There's something in her that I couldn't explain. I don't know what but I've never been this curious. Most especially with girls.

Unless... I have a crush on her?

I shook my head to reject the thought. It's impossible. I love Samantha. Yes, sometimes we fight but it's normal in a relationship and we love each other, that's what matters.

'Focus on the road Alan!' I tried to motivate myself.

But I can't help but stare at her. She's looking outside the window so she can't see me looking at her.

Then I notice the scar on her left shoulder blade. It was almost 2 inches long.

"Where did you get that?"

She didn't answer.

Then I saw her wearing an earphones. I rolled my eyes. 'Damn! this girl loves her music.'

I pulled it out from her ears.

"What?"

"I said where did you get that scar?" then I pointed at her shoulder.

She answered almost in whisper. She bowed her head and said, "I got it when I was little."

"What happened?"

"Why do you have to ask that Alan?" I can feel she's irritated.

I didn't have a chance to answer as the traffic light turned green. She put her earphones again and closed her eyes. Obviously, she doesn't want to talk.

'Fine!'

---

When we arrived at the office, Phoenix was gone. I didn't notice where she went. I met some fans outside and had some pictures then I didn't see her after that.

I went to the 4th floor where the interview will be held. I saw a group of guys and a girl at the end room of the hallway. Then I saw Phoenix.

One guy wrapped his hands around her shoulders and both of them are laughing.

'What the hell?!' he wanted to smack the guy's face and threw him outside the window.
'Shit!' why would I do that?

I shook my head and head on to the lobby and decided to wait for the guys to arrived.


[Phoenix POV]

"Well, look at you. Fresh from Sydney, Australia" It was Jaden. He was with other 3 tour managers.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't start Jaden."

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"C'mon Nix. I will not try to sleep with you anymore, Just make sure that you will treat us." he laughed and I can't help but laugh too.

"Why don't you come and hang out with us later?" it was Paul, one of their tour managers at Rise.

I shook my head. "Nah! I have a lot o work to do. Of Mice and Men will release their album tomorrow and I have to fix their schedule." Then I smiled.

"You're a buzzkill!" Jaden protest.

"And you're an idiot!" then she laughed. Then someone caught my eyes.

I swear I saw Alan turned left to the lobby.

I tried my very best to avoid him. I tried not to look at him or even talk to him.

I was once a tough person. If I was able to do it before, I can do it today. I just need to be strong. I'll pretend that he doesn't exist. That I didn't love him with my whole heart.


And maybe, just maybe. I'll be able to forget him.

---

The day of the album release. I've fixed all their show schedule, interviews, and guestings. I've coordinated with their road manager as they will go on tour with Bring Me The Horizon's 'The American Dream Tour' by next month. Everything is fully booked until August.

It was still early. I looked at my watch and it says 7'oclock in the morning. The official release will be at 11 am and the band will unveiled various Restoring Force pre-order bundles, including limited edition items such as a shell shaped pewter pendant necklace, autographed promotional posters, limited edition colored 12 inch LPs, and more.

I stayed at the office until the wee hours just to finish fixing everything and I'm damn tired. I planned to sleep for a couple of hours and will be back when the album is set to be released. I took a cab and when I went inside, I saw a familiar car.

Then I heard a familiar voice and knew right there and then who it was.

"Girlfrieeeeennnnnnndddd!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Girlfriend!"

A tall tattooed guy is standing at the front doorway with his both arms crossed at his chest.

"Austin?"

He was smiling sheepishly. The jerk was really cute! It was best to describe him as handsome and not gorgeous.

He walked towards me because I can't even move. I missed him and his craziness. He was still smiling and when he reached me, he gave me a big hug.

"I'm back! I miss you girlfriend." I heard him said. Then I felt he hugged me even more. "What did you think, that I forgot about you? HELL NO!"

I couldn't help but smile. I can't believe that I would still see him. Then I saw him wiped something from his eyes.

"Hey! Are you crying?" I laughed and wrapped my arms around his waist.

He laughed. "Why would I cry? You're not even that important to me." then he hugged me again.

"Austin, do you really want to kill me?" I yelled at him. "I can't breathe!"

He let me go but cupped my face and kissed me on my forehead many times.

"Austin!" I tried to pushed him to stopped what he's doing.

"Didn't you miss me?" He was still holding my face.

"Why would I miss you?" I crossed my arms at my chest.

"Ouch!" he faked being shot at the chest.

"Yeah right!" I rolled my eyes. This guy hasn't changed a bit.

"I'm serious Phoenix. And I think I love you-- OUCH!"

I kicked him at his legs.

"What the hell was that?!" he groaned.

"My welcome gift to you. Didn't you say you missed me?" I grin.

"You're a sadist! Just be thankful that I really love you or else..."

"Or else what Carlile?"

"I'll file a complaint to the owner of this house." Then Austin looked at the door and saw Alan leaning against the door watching us. "Alan! Your guest is REALLY rude!"

"Aren't you two finish?" I can't see his face clearly but I can tell that he's pissed off. Then he went inside. I just shrugged and went in with Austin.

---

"What are you doing here?" when I looked at Austin, I saw his serious face. "You shouldn't have accepted this."

I sighed. "It was an order from OUR boss Austin. If I had a choice, I wouldn't come back here. At least not this early."

"But why?"

"I don't have a choice. I was dragged here." I squared my arms.

He blew out a long sigh. "Leave. I'll let you stay at my house."

"Why?! You almost live here."

He didn't answer. I saw him like thinking of something.

"Phoenix, please stay at my house. It's safer there." then he looked at me.

I could see his point. But- "No need Austin. We are going to be on the road a lot and I don't have any choice but to be with you guys. Don't worry, I'll manage. This is all work." I smiled at him.

He looked at me like he was not convinced.

"I'll be fine Austin. And I can handle the situation on my own."

"Aren't you scared that he might found out about you pretending to be Sam?" He was talking about Alan.

"Scared. But..." I don't know what to say.

"Then get out of this house!" he yelled.

I covered his mouth. "Really Austin?! Do you have to shout?"

He removed my hand from his mouth but he didn't let go of me. "If I need to drag you out from here, I would. I don't want to see you in pain Phoenix." This time he lowered his voice.

"Austin please... Don't make it harder for me than it is right now."

He sighed in surrender.

Little did we know that Alan is watching us from afar.


[Austin POV]


We're already on our way to Rise Records as we are going to officially announced our new album.

Alan and I were on my car and blasting our songs on the stereo from the old album.

"Is she the girl who stole your heart?" Alan suddenly asked out of the silence.

"Who?" I pretended that I didn't know and burrowed my eyebrows without looking at him.

He lightly punched my arms. "Oh come on Austin! You know who I'm talking about." Alan smiled.

I didn't answer. I don't know what to tell him exactly.

"Hey! cat got your tongue?"

I laughed. "How did you know I'm in love? I didn't even tell you anything."

"Do you seriously have to ask that? Problem with you my bestfriend, you're too obvious! You're too transparent when in love."

'Really? Am I too obvious? Shit!'

"Yeah! You're right. It's her." There's no reason to deny it. It's better for him to know what I feel for Phoenix.

"You're the man dude!" and we high five. "So how did you meet her? How did you fall in love with her?"

"It's a long story." I just smiled.

"And?"

I laughed. "And since when did you become so curious Ashby?"

Alan laughed. "I just want to know Aus. You're my bestfriend and I want you to be happy."

I stayed silent.

"Hey! Are you ok?" he asked when I didn't talk.

"Is it ok if I let her stay at my house?"

I saw how his eyebrows met at the center. "How the hell did you even want to let her stay at your house?"

'I want her to be away from you.' I wanted to say to him.

"Austin? Seriously! You're acting weird today." I saw him shook his head. "It's fine with me, if it's ok with her."

I blew out a sigh. "That's the problem. She doesn't want to." We're almost at our destination. I looked at him and asked, "Do you like her?"

I saw how he froze midway while tapping his phone. Then looked at me in slow motion. "Why are you asking me that kind of question? You know I have a girlfriend."

I've known him for years. I know when he is lying.

"I'm just asking. No offense." I smiled and look at the road.

"You're an asshole Austin! You know how much I love Samantha." then I saw him shook his head.

"Which Samantha? The one who took care of you when you were still blind or the Sam after your surgery?"

He didn't answer. Confused, he stared back at me.

"Never mind dude!" I laughed. "Let's go! we're here." Then I stepped out of the car.

Suddenly a bitter laugh rose inside me. I didn't like what I just found out. And I think I really need to do something before it's too late.

Notes