Forget Me Not

Chapter 1 - The Clock Is Ticking

Four months ago...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Antha."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Go away." I mumbled and snuggled deeper into my pillow, but the sound of the door opening and the heavy steps of someone approaching the bed prevented me from sinking back to sleep.

"Antha, wake up. I think you've slept enough," a male voice said.

I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the light grey colored ceiling.

Where the hell am I?

I shut my eyes again and tried to remember how I got here.

"Antha?"

"I'm up," I replied as everything came back to me. The nonstop flight from the Philippines to LAX. My jet lag and the throbbing headache that's a constant after flying. Aaron waiting for me. The crowded exit at the airport that was polluted with paparazzi and fans waiting for some celebrity. Driving to Aaron's apartment, our quick dinner and then me taking some aspirin. Finally, the last thing I remembered was crashing here in his extra bedroom without bothering to change clothes.

Eww.

Forcing my eyes open again, I sat up slowly and saw Aaron exiting the room, closing the door behind him. As much as I want to lie back down, I know I can't. Aaron will just come back to pester me, or even carry me over his shoulder to the table. He did that once and I'm not in the mood to be carried around caveman-style this morning. I got to my feet.

Wrong. Move.

Suddenly, the room started spinning and my body tilted sideways. "F#ck me, " I gasped while grabbing the edge of the bed. Closing my eyes tightly and taking a few deep breaths, I waited for the dizzy spell to pass.

After finding my balance again, I carefully walked to the door and exited the guestroom.

"Aaron?"

"In the kitchen," he called back. "Your bags are where you left them in the living room. I'm cooking bacon and pancakes. Hurry up so we can eat!"

"Yes mother!"

I hurried to the living room, grabbed my toothbrush and a change of clothes from my bags before going straight to bathroom to do my business.

Oh, that feels good. Now for some food and coffee so that I'll feel human again...

Club music was playing when I entered the kitchen. I laughed under my breath when I saw Aaron moving his hips to the music while flipping pancakes by the stove.

"Is this a new mix?"

"What do you think?" Aaron shouted back as he turned around and walked to where his phone is docked on a portable speaker.

"Nice job, DJ Ace."

He winked at me, lowered the volume and went back to what he was doing. "I know. Sit down. This will be ready in a minute."

I parked my ass on one of the chairs by the island, closed my eyes and nod my head to the beat of Aaron's EDM mix.

Aaron Lewis, or Ace, is a childhood friend. He is three years younger than me, tall and built like a swimmer. Most people underestimate him because of his good looks, easygoing attitude and the mischief that always seem to shine from behind his dark amber eyes. What they don't know is that Aaron is very smart. In fact, he graduated a couple of years early from college and is now a very young area manager of Sam's Cup, one of the largest coffee house chains in the world. He is also a budding mainstream and club DJ known as DJ Ace.