*not edited*

Nataliya- Now

Oh, boy. This was going to be awkward. I was standing outside the entrance of the glass office building. My boots only inches away from a puddle of water that was clearly going to grow if I didn't hurry up. I was wearing the same clothes I wore last time, except this time the top was dark blue. 

From what I remembered of Alex, I doubted he would make much of a big deal of everything. Probably just shoot sly glances from across the room, and line almost everything he said with sexual innuendos. So by the end my face would probably end up looking like a tomato. 

I gathered what was left of my dignity and made my way up through the building, to the meeting space. I could hear the quiet whispers of mostly women, a name that was commonly mentioned was either 'Alex' or 'Mr. Jacobson' and ever single time I hear it, it felt as if it was a slap to my face. That I wasn't worthy enough for his memory, that I didn't deserve him, and he thought so too. Why else would he not remember me? And, I doubted Lana was right.

The room was similar to the one where I had first seen Alex... Again, that is. 

I looked around, Mr. Carter was clearly still doing whatever he usually did. 

I plopped down on one of the seats, my foot catching onto the edge of the carpet as my bag took a leap of faith, crashing to the floor. All of my pens, folders, purse tumbled across the carpet with a slight crash and thud.

"Shit." I knelt down, stuffing as much as I could into my bag with my hamster hands. 

I jumped, as a low chuckle warmed it's way to the back of my neck, mingling with the air around. I tensed. Alex. Strong hands lifted up everything in one scooped and handed it to me. In a perfect pile.

"I didn't think anyone needed that many pens, just for an hour or two. I guess I was wrong." Alex grinned, his lips curling up into his signature cocky smile. 

I rolled my eyes, already feeling the blush coating my cheeks. Then the pain creeps back in. Alex always knew that I carried a lot of colored pens in my bag. But he doesn't remember. He doesn't remember at all. 

"Ah, Mr. Jackson, take seat, I'll have a few architects come in with the plans seeing as Nat is already here." Mr. Carter interrupts, heading out of the doorway. 

The sound of Alex's footsteps filled the quiet room as he plopped down onto a seat. 

I followed suit.

"So..." I droned, pulling out the papers and folders from my bag, with a notepad and pen. "Um, here are the files of the layout of the club... I drew them from the images, so correct me if I'm not accurate." I spread the papers out on the table, clear enough for him to see.  

Alex raised a brow, but didn't object. 

I couldn't let him see how much he affected me. I couldn't let him see that I was hurting. That every moment spent with him, every moment where I realized he didn't remember me. Was like torture. 

Slowly, without taking my eyes off him, I started sketching out the basics of the furniture.

"So, what do you think of dark looky cover, with hints of dark red, blue, magenta and white. The basics of the design are here." I pointed towards the sketch I just did, and looked up at Alex. 

He nodded, "Yeah, dark, I like that...." He grinned.

I rolled my eyes.

So pretty much after that, we continued. Alex would slip in a few innuendos now and then, and I'd find myself turning beet red. 

∞

"So, how'd it go?" Lana grinned, twirling her car keys around her finger.

"It was fine okay, completely fine, no awkwardness, nothing to talk about. Okay?"

"Mmhmm, Mmhm. Okay, but I still don't believe you."

"Look," I said, switching my blue top and necklace for a tight black tank top that hugged my torso and matched my skinny jeans. "Everything was fine, we talked I sketched. He dropped a few innuendos every now and then. But other than that. Boom, it was fine."

She just shook her head, grinning. "Well, I'm out, tata." The door shut softly behind her, drowning off whatever she was muttering along the way. 

I stared in the mirror, the tank top was a bit too hugging. I looked, a bit... thin. Well, It was uniform. I pulled on a zipless, black hoodie to protect me from the coldness of the wind. 

Then, I was out.

∞

The smell of pine wood and freshly made coffee, filled my nostrils as a tied the half apron on my waist, grabbing a notepad I made my way through the tables and couches in the cafe. 

"Oh, hey, You were the girl at the bar... Right?"

I stiffened. Slowly turning around. 

It was the same strawberry blonde haired girl who was with Alex when I first saw him again. 

And when he didn't recognize me. 

I strained a smile, "Hey."

She smiled, "I'm Jenna, this is Michelle, Emily and Paula." She gestured to the girls behind her, lingering on who I assumed was Paula.

I smiled, "I'm Nat, nice to meet you."

Paula, stepped forward and held out a hand. "Hi Nat, I'm Paula, Jenna said that you met Alex at the bar the other night. Right?"

I nodded.

Paula smiled, proudly. "I'm Alex's best friend." 

All the air whooshed out of my lungs. 

It felt like someone had just slapped me in the face. Hard.

She was Alex's best friend. 

Alex had a new best friend.

Just like that. 

All those years we spent together as best friends... More than that. 

He found someone else.

He found someone to take my place.

My smile was strained at Paula. "That's great." I tensed, "I uh, we- well, uh...."

"Oh." Emily and Michelle nodded.

Jenna grinned. While Paula's brows furrowed. 

Jenna's eyes seemed to rake over me before she smiled. "Alex fights sometimes. How would you feel like coming with us to the underground club? My fianceé also fights there sometimes."

I grinned, "Sure, I would love to."

Jenna lips curved up, and her eyes twinkled, "Great, then it's settled. We'll meet you just outside here."

"Yeah, thank you." I said.

"No, problem, we'd like to get to know you better." Emily said, smiling at me.

"Great," Paula said, "Well, bye Nataliya." And at that they left.

I leaned back against the concrete wall. I'd see Alex again tonight. And Paula.... Oh god. How could he. But she seemed like a really sweet girl. With her golden blonde hair and hazel blue eyes, it was obvious how any man would like her. 

But Alex. 

She was his new best friend. 

I could feel the wetness in my eyes growing.

She'd replaced me.

And I don't think I could handle that.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey guys, first off I am really, really sorry for not updating. When was the last time I updated..... I think around a month ago.

And I know that you guys want a chapter but I have been going crazy on the studying and homework this last month. I have really important test but luckily my huge essay is over.

Sadly, I have a test next week and I'm hoping to have time to study for it.

So I'm really sorry for that and for the fact that this chapter isn't great. My writing isn't great. I think I'm experiencing some type of writer's block even though I basically have this whole story planned out. So not sure, if a writer's block is even possible right now.

 It's pretty easy to come up the scenes but really hard to put them in words.

On a happier but also sad note... Poor Nataliya. Alex has a new best friend.

Who isn't her.

*cries silently*

Well, Tata.

- Treetop ;)