The Lost Boys / ATL, PTV, OMAM - AU

Drawn towards you

I lay down and pass out almost immediately, not being used to so much exercise really takes it's toll.
When I awake it is already morning and the sun is up, I look around and see Alex sitting a few feet away, observing me, obviously waiting for me to wake up.
I smile pushing myself up when he looks at me. "Hey, Alex, you came ba-"

My eyes go wide with horror as I get a strange feeling in my chest. It is as somehow a strong rope is attached to my heart and I am pulled backwards. It is really painful and I can't breathe, my vision gets blurry and dark from the edges. I want to scream but no sound leaves my mouth. Everything around me fades and the colours run together to form a multicoloured swirl.

It feels as if I am raced backwards through ice cold air until it stops and I finally plop into a chair and everything is over. I pant and grab my hurting chest as my vision returns, only to show that I am sitting in my chair in one of the recording studios at my workplace in front of the mixing consoles and the monitors and I hear a voice talking angrily to me.

"Mel! Did you get one word of what I was saying?"

I turn around to the voice and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. It's Alex Gaskarth talking to me. Of course! Why didn't I recognise him. It is the same face! Well, not really the same, this Alex looks considerably older and less innocent than the Alex in the woods but still it is him.

He is still good looking although not cute anymore as he has lost his purity and the glow in a way. That's the best I can describe it. I have no idea what's happening and how I did get back here but I try not to freak out as he doesn't seem phased by my appearance at all. Although I must have been staring at him as if he had two heads because he stops talking and raises an eyebrow.
"Mel, are you like, okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A familiar voice joins in and I recognise John Feldman, aka Feldy, our producer sitting at the back of the studio as he suggests. "Look, it's been a long session, why don't we all take a lunch break and meet.." Here he checks his watch "let's say at three o'clock here again."

Without waiting for a reply he gets up and pats my shoulder before exiting the studio.

I realise I haven't spoken yet and I have difficulty to form the words as I try. "Uhm, uh, okay, Feldy, see you later." I mumble but he is already out the door.

I turn to face Alex after that, he is still standing looking at the monitors with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a displeased look on his face. "I'm sorry, Alex. I just spaced out I guess." I try to apologise not really sure for what though.

He turns towards me rolling his eyes then he bends down grabbing my hand and pulls me up. "Feldy is right let's get something to eat, Mel. But you have to tell me what's going on, you have been out of it all morning."

"I - I have?" I ask.

He looks at me with a smirk throwing an arm around my shoulders dragging me along. "Point proven!" Is all he says.

Wait! What kind of relationship do I have with Alex? And why can't I remember? What is going on?

We walk a couple of blocks to a tiny Italian restaurant through the chilly New York spring air. Why is it spring, when I was just spending my summer holidays in the Appalachian Mountains?

Alex keeps talking about random stuff but I can hardly focus, my mind is racing trying to come up with possible explanations.

"MEL, YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN." he whisper-yells at me as we sit at the tiny table and I notice the waiter standing beside us ready to take our orders. "Oh, uhm," I look at the menu in my hands helplessly. "I'll have what he is having." I quickly say handing the menus back.

I look over at Alex who is rubbing his face sighing. "Sorry, Alex" I mumble.

"Mel I am having the seafood pasta."

"Yeah, so?" I reply confused.

"You don't like seafood" he sounds on the edge.

"I don't?" I ask not really remembering.

"MEL, DAMMIT! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?" He is losing it and screams at me, ignoring the death stares from the other patrons.

I can't tell him the truth. I can't tell him that I don't really know if we are friends or just colleagues or maybe even more.

I can't tell him that I don't remember what I like to eat and what not and I certainly can't tell him that I just met his other self or whatever it is in the deep forests of the mountain wilderness. But what am I supposed to say instead?

I obviously have been pondering about this question too long as he puts his hand on top of mine on the table and his voice is soft and he sounds worried. "I'm sorry for yelling Mel. Please say something."

My eyes stay transfixed on our hands as I manage to tell him. "I don't really know Alex, I'm just not feeling well today. Don't worry though I think I will feel better after I had lunch and a break. We will be able to finish the mixing later on and you will like it, I promise."

"Do you believe that's what I'm worried about? What kind of an asshole friend do you think I am?" He replies sounding hurt.

Okay so Alex and I seem to be friends, good to know!

"Mel, although we aren't together anymore I still care about you, you know?" Oh, okay, so we have been more than friends. Damn, why can't I remember anything?

I look at Alex and I can feel the tears gathering behind my eyes, what is wrong with me? Why is my brain not working anymore?
Apparently Alex notices my watery eyes and interprets it as me being moved by his comment because he smiles and pats my hand.

"It's okay Babe, just know I'm here for you if you need to talk. Now let's eat something, it will make you feel better."

Our food arrives and we start eating, he was right, I don't like seafood but I just eat around it. We manage to hold a normal conversation and I even stop thinking about the recent events for a while.

Alex can be very charming if he tries and he makes me laugh a couple of times so it is a really pleasant lunch break and much too soon we have to get back into the studio.

We walk back hand in hand and get a coffee from a small corner shop on our way. Before we reach the studio entrance I stop one last time to check my reflection in a large store window.