MEGAN

I sat on the floor scrubbing it clean for the past one hour. It had been months since anyone did that. Thomas had been complaining that he was not getting enough time to study and hang out with his friends since Amber announced her wedding date. Pitying him, I gave him a day off. Amber was out with Zack to deal with her wedding ordeals, so it was only me for the night. With Smith's death, Amber and Zack had pushed their wedding date two months forward, but they were running around since things had to be done either way.

I put the brush to the side, pushing the untidy curls to one side of my bun. I stood on my knees and pulled the bucket of water towards my side, reaching for the other side of the room.

"Megan idiotic Taylor!"

I jumped up, pushing the bucket, hitting myself in the process. I swung my head swiftly, releasing my hair from the bun. I tried to stand up on my feet again, but I skidded through the wet floor and fell back on my butt.

"Ouch." I groaned, pushing my hair from my eyes to see my disaster causer. "Can't you be any louder?"

I turned my head towards the source of noise, simultaneously tying my hair. I didn't dare to stand up just in case the voice thought of shooting another tantrum at me.

I slowly came eye to eye with a light orange colored pencil skirt with brown belt holding the slender waist. The familiar brown wavy curls adored the oval face. It was Pamela.

"Pam!" I greeted, standing on my feet again, careful not to fall this time. "How have you been? It's been months since we saw each other!"

As I made it safe and sound on my feet, Pamela pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry, you fell hearing my voice. I didn't know I had such an effect on people."

I laughed hitting her shoulders slightly. "You have no idea what your voice can do to people do you?" I said, wriggling my eyebrows at her.

"You are becoming so dirty minded ever since you came back, Meg." She pretended to pout but failed miserably.

I snorted. "What makes you to my humble abode?"

"You know, I wanted to see Hannah, since I couldn't make it during Smith's." she explained. "So, took the first flight here as soon as I could."

My happy face dropped a little on hearing Smith's name. It had been tough for the past month. But it was alright. Hannah had accepted the fact that Smith was no more to her while Amber and I took turns to stay with her.

"And you didn't call!" Pamela added, probably seeing my fallen mood. "I had been waiting for your call ever since you came here. But you! You never call, do you?"

"I was a bit busy you know." I said, tucking another imaginary piece of hair behind my ear. At least it was not a lie. "Come let's sit down and talk. I'll go and wash my hands."

I lead her to the counter where there had been two stools for the customers. Since it was already six, there were very few people that came around. I pointed the stool that lay on the right as I made my way to the nearby sink to wash my hands.

"I heard about you too." She said in a small voice, taking my hand in hers as I sat next to her.

"Some good things I suppose?" I lightly joked, even when I knew what she was about to say to me.

"You were suffering through panic attacks?" She asked. It was more like accusing though. "And you forgot to even mention it to me during the three years that we spent together?"

Ever since I had come out of the hospital, I had made news once more. How pathetically Miles' ex is trying to get his attention back on her or Is Megan deliberately trying to get Jackson's attention was the heading for the next week that followed. When Miles had kept his distance after I had almost spit at him, the news had come down a bit, focussing on something else.

"Pam," I lightly chuckled. "You are starting to sound like the one who is about to break up."

"I'm serious here, Megan." She pulled her hands away from mine and sat across me.

"What was I supposed to do?" I asked, sighing. "It was nothing anyway. So, how's Edna?"

"She's fine." Pamela said, waving her hand in the air. "Was that the reason why you were so jittery when we went to that party?"

"What party?" I gulped.

"For God's sake, Megan." She held my hand tightly this time, just like the predators that hunted their prey. "Google knows you better than me. Do you know how that makes me feel?"

"You are just exaggerating." I said, trying to get out of her strong hold. "But, really, am I on Google?"

"You were Miles Jackson's girlfriend." She said, ignoring all my protests. "It said everything about you—how you met, your love and all that. But it didn't exactly tell how you two broke up."

Talking to Pam was reviving my old memories. Thank God to those extra dosage medicines. My panics were in control and it was only ragged breaths till now. If she would have been talking all this before I had taken the medicines, I was sure I would have fallen flat on the floor on the very next second.

"It said that you went missing after that interview and Miles had said that it was a minor misunderstanding." Pamela went on. "The recent article tells that you have magically come back to town and doing your usual business, though."

Pamela looked at me as if I were a strange specimen. "What?" I asked, my voice too low.

"You look as if you swallowed a rock." She let go of my hand and handed a water bottle from her hand purse.

I drank till I emptied the bottle. I was turning back to normal now. "Well, that's all true." I smiled cheekily as I handed her the empty bottle.

"Are you okay, Megan?" She asked concerned. "Hannah is worried about you."

"I was perfectly fine till I hurt my bum as you shouted my name." I hit her shoulder playfully. "Enough of my petty story. How's that hot guy you were talking about?"

Her eyes shone brightly for a second before it dimmed down. "He is sweet, caring and all, but I don't think it's him."

"Why do you think so?"

"He's too flirty with all his staff." She complained and I had to suppress my laughter. "I mean I understand that you have to talk friendly with the staff and all, but flirting all the time? I walked straight up to him and broke off with him."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Pam." I patted her shoulder giving her a guilty look.

"Nah, what do they say? Plenty of other fish in the sea, right?" I smiled as she waved her hand in the air for more dramatic effect.

"So, what plans now?" I asked.

"Um... you are not going to get mad at me, right?" she asked, fidgeting with her hands. "Okay, just promise me that you will come with me, no matter what."

"How can I promise you unless you tell me what it is?" I argued.

"For me, please." She joined her hands together, praying to tell yes. "Have I ever asked you anything before?"

---

I wasted too much of my time in formulating a reason to not to go with Pamela. I loved her to the moon and back, but her plans for the night was not sitting well with me.

A ball of nervousness swirled around in my stomach with a promise of not letting go. It was the same kind of feeling that I had felt when Pam had made me agree to let me into that treacherous party months ago.

I wasn't ready back then. I wasn't ready now.

Pamela Reed had booked a table for two in the Jackson's toast hoping to cheer me. But what she didn't know was that it would not cheer me but would only put me to doom. And I realized that it was a bad idea from the start.

No matter how I twisted and turned the fate that was fallen upon me, I knew I couldn't get out of it. I remembered what Amber had told me – one step at a time to face the real world.

Perhaps, it was time for me to go back to the normal and stay sane after that. It was a test I had to pass. Then again, I didn't have to worry. This time, I wasn't alone. Pamela was going to be with me in all of the scenes. And if I was not okay, we could leave.

I consoled myself that it was okay for me to go out.

If I had a twisted fate of luck on my side, Miles Jackson might have been busy to come check on his own hotel. I would be spared.

Before getting out of the house, I prayed fervently.

Once I was out of my apartment with Pamela standing and looking at her phone, I heaved a sigh, mentally preparing myself for the worst. She had been wearing the same orange skirt and creamy shirt and still looked wonderful while I got ready with my usual jeans and a black-white striped shirt.

"Can you drive?" I asked once I reached her. "I'm too tired."

I didn't know if I could be trusted with a car when I was having a mental breakdown. I hadn't seen or spoken to the guy ever since I told him out flat that I didn't want to have anything to do with him. And going out with Pam to the same restaurant where he worked was now seeming like a bad idea.

"Sure." She said, taking her car keys. "I actually wanted to ask you that. Hannah asked me to stay at her place today and if you got your car, you would have to make extra rounds to drop me off."

"Oh, that's nice." I said, trying to distract myself with the new information. "I had been there last week."

"She blames herself for what happened to you." Pamela said. "She thinks that she failed as a mother."

I ran my fingers through my hair. I had this discussion with Hannah around a hundred times already, yet she clutched on to the topic like that stubborn squid. Guilt wrapped around me when Hannah cared for me more than my own parents.

Eleanor, the woman who adopted me and took money from Miles to stay away from me, had called me a few times after I had broken up with Miles... to make sure what she was hearing was true. I had broken down completely letting her know that her plan to get Miles and I apart had worked, and she didn't have to worry about it anymore.

That was the last of words I had heard from her. She had stopped going to the media and I could only hope that she had stopped going to Miles as well.

"It's not your fault, you know." She said, noticing my actions. "You were dealing with your problems while she was dealing with hers. No need to put your chin down."

"Yeah." I said as she started the engine.

The car ride was silent, and I stared out into the dark. I had purposefully avoided this area giving all the decorations that took place here to Amber. Every lane had been scarred from our memories together and I had to concentrate on my breathing to make sure that I wasn't giving in to the temptations of reversing the car.

As Pam halted the car in front of the hotel, I had to hold my breath to admire its majestic view. I had forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful it was especially at the night when they put on all the twinkling lights to attract the customers.

A surge of emotions passed through me. I had always come through the backdoor of this hotel to meet him. I stood motionless as I relived the memories.

"Megan, come on." Pamela pulled me back to the present, standing with my side of the door held open for me.

"Sorry," I said, tucking my hair behind my ear.

Pam looked at me in concern again. "You sure you are alright?"

I nodded my head, not able to speak. Pam did all the talking while I stood behind her with my dark night glasses on. I didn't want anyone to recognize me and pull me into a conversation that I was not ready for.

"Right this way, ma'am." The hostess said, with a fake smile that she was giving all day long. Thankfully she didn't recall me as Miles' ex and lead us to a table present at the corner towards the right. "Make yourselves comfortable. I'll have someone attend to you."

"Wow!" Pamela said, as soon as she was out of earshot. I was sure it was only for my benefit. "This place sure looks like a freaking palace. Did you see the way they were serving in that table?" She pointed to the table that lay far across from us. I took my glasses away to see them properly. "It's as if you are the queen of the world."

I rolled my eyes with a smile. "They will surely ask a lot of money from the queen of the world for their service."

She poked her tongue at me. "I told you to dress more like it." she said changing the topic. "Look at everyone! You look as if you escaped from a prison break."

I laughed. "I surely look better than the one who's sitting there." I pointed to a table that lay left to ours. "She's been having trouble keeping her gown stain free."

"Megan?" I heard someone say and immediately I cursed under my breath. "That's you?"

I turned around to see Dylan, one of Miles' best friends of all times. Instantly my face broke into a happy smile. "Dill!" I called out as he pulled me out of my chair for a bear hug.

"How are you doing?" He asked once he let me go. He twirled me, pretending to inspect me. "You have lost your weight. Well, you are in the right place alright. I will feed you today."

"Dill!" I said, laughing, hitting his shoulder playfully. "It's been so long since I saw you."

"Yeah." He said, his face losing its color.

"This is Pamela, one of my friends." I said, changing the topic, the first chance I got. "Seems that your hotel still stands at the top spot, you have got guest from far away land."

"Hello, sweetheart." Dylan pulled Pamela's hand to give a quick kiss. I rolled my eyes. Dylan had always been the flirty one.

"The top spot is still in debate, though." Pam said, making me giggle. "We have been here for fifteen minutes and no one's been attending to us."

"She's a feisty one," Dylan said to me, pointing his thumb finger at Pamela. "Have you guys decided what you want yet?"

"Actually, we are still debating." I confessed.

"That's alright." Dylan smiled at us. "I'll let you girls select while I get Joe. He's been missing you too."

I nodded at him as he went his way to fetch Joe. I had been missing them too and certain someone else.

Megan, don't go there!

"How is that you know all the hot guys in town?" Pamela questioned, her dreamy eyes following the path that Dylan took a few minutes back. "He's so hot."

"Just select something to eat first." I said, shaking my head at her. "His specialty is the pork." I whispered as I shuffled through the menu.

"Well, well, well." I heard Joe's familiar voice as he stood behind me few minutes later. "If it's not the same florist we knew."

"Joe!" I pulled myself up from my place and hugged him. "It's so good to see you."

"And you." he said, holding me at arm's length. "Still a black sheep, aren't you?" He said, pointing my dress.

I laughed. It had been such a long time since I had seen them, and I was immensely happy that I did agree to come with Pam. I always though meeting them would be difficult for me since they were Miles' best friends. But neither of them once asked me about it and pretended that the whole three years didn't happen. And that was the best thing about them.

"I'm Pamela." Pam introduced herself, not waiting for me to introduce them. "One of the best friends of Meg here. I was the one to force her come here."

"That's the best thing you did!" Joe said, making her blush. "I'm Joe, by the way."

We all fell into small talks, mainly sticking to food and what we wanted to order to keep the dinner light. Dylan was giving offhand flirty lines towards us both covering enough innuendos for Joe as well. When Pam was about to retort, Dylan was suddenly pulled away from our little group roughly slamming to the side.

It was a little hard to process who it was as things were happening very fast. Joe went towards the two people trying to separate them. The guy who came in held his back towards me, while Dylan was facing him, pleading him to let go. But it didn't take a genius to figure out who that was.

"Miles! What are you doing?" Joe gritted his teeth separating those two.

"I didn't do anything." Dylan kept saying but Miles was not in a position to listen to him.

"She's with her friend." Joe said in a low voice, not wanting me to hear, but I heard it none the less and everything seemed to fall back to its place. "You can't rule the customers here, Miles."

Then like a jigsaw puzzle, everything fit in its place perfectly. I knew exactly why he was angry with them. He had assumed that they had brought me here. Did he hate me so much? Then again, I wanted him to hate me.

"We will leave." I said, raising my voice and all the four of them turned towards me. "It was nice meeting you both." I picked up my purse and glasses and Pam followed me.

"Stay Megan." Joe said. "Miles will leave." He said looking pointedly at the two of them who were both breathing heavily. "You are scaring our customers."

Miles pulled Dylan by the collar and went to the farthest most corner where there was a balcony attached to it. Joe sighed as they went.

"I'm sorry Megan." He said, for the first time referring to Miles. "He's been a bit stressed lately. Anyway, you girls must be starving. I'll get you the usual? Bacon and the French salad with the chocolate mousse?"

"I will have some wine, Joe." I looked at Pam, as we sat down again. She nodded at me still confused at what had happened. I just hoped that this new news wouldn't air.

"I'll have this one please." Pam said pointing to the menu.

Joe noted down the items and looked at the balcony where the two of them had disappeared. "Don't worry about it." He said before he left us alone.

Pam looked at me and I shrugged at her, not able to talk as I gulped the pain down my throat.

---

A/N: It's always the memories that haunt us no matter how strongly we want to move ahead. Megan and Miles do need time. And it all boils down to one of them letting go of their ego. 

Who do you think should take the first step?