"Thank you for choosing McDonald's. We hope you enjoy your meal."

The teenage boy with freckles kept gawking at my chest.

I shoved his package to him and shouted. "Next!"

An old couple came next in line and placed their orders.

I handed them their change. "Here's your change. You can take a seat and I'll call you when your order is ready."

Nobody came in line after that and my shoulders slumped down as I sighed loudly, massaging my shoulders.

"Hey, Amanda. Nick just came over so you can pack up and leave." My coworker, Natalie said from behind as she sprinted and took incharge of the counter beside me.

"You're late." I deadpanned.

She scoffed and wore her cap. "You know how he is. Car broke down in the middle of nowhere, tyre punctured in a smooth flat road and God knows what other excuses."

"So what was today?"

"No gas. Beat him by five minutes. Nick's still changing his clothes and here I am, ready to serve fat in bread buns." Natalie and Nick are siblings. One year apart. "That stupid ass won't sell that cheap metal to make some extra income."

"Hmm." I hummed absentmindedly and counted the cash in the register.

"So I was thinking... actually Nick was hoping you could hang out with us tonight. You know, hit a club, dance, let loose and look after me while I drink my ass off."

I looked at her. "Um, drinks... clubs, not my thing. I'm busy tonight."

"Busy sulking over your ex who dumped you?"

I laughed nervously and shook it off. "Of course not. I have got some things to look up at while eating Chinese food."

"That's fine." She got really close to my ear. "You can explain that to Nick."

Oh God, not with this again.

"Nat, stop playing cupid for your brother. I have no interest in him." I growled lowly.

She raised her arms in surrender and laughed. "Chill. No need to go all macho mode, Amanda. Just looking out for ya. Besides, my brother gets a crush on every girl he sees at first sight. Ugh, speak of that idiot."

"Hello, beautiful lady and my potato faced sister."

"I told you not to call me that!" Natalie hissed.

I took off my apron then faced Nick. I know that he is a great guy – black eyes, golden brown hair, clean jawline, lean shoulders, great personality and makes really good jokes – and I know that Natalie secretly rooted for us to be 'together' together. I knew Nick did too. He was just waiting for me to get over 'my ex who dumped me'.

Little did they know...

"You're late." I informed with a blank face. "The old couple on table six have already placed their orders and I counted the cash in the register. 456 dollars and fifty seven cents. Note that down. Don't be late next time."

"Aye, aye ma'am." He faked a salute and gave me a charming smile.

I took off my McDonald's sign cap. "Oh, and one more thing."

"What?"

"Don't eat the fries."

He chuckled. "I'll try my best."

I locked the door of the bathroom then locked myself in a bathroom stall and took out my new mini TV looking like iPhone.

'Flights to Trento, Italy.'

My palms kept shaking as I looked through all my options.

'No flights available.'

I kicked the door in frustration and just like every other day and night, I broke into tears.

"Why?" I wailed alone in the empty bathroom. "Why me?"

13 days. It's been goddamn 13 days. That's almost two weeks since Leonardo Agostini kicked me out of the mansion and that was the last time I ever saw him. That was the last time I saw any of them. He actually forced me to leave just like his stupid a-hole of a father did to his mother.

'Like father, like son' phrase perfectly fits on them.

And I am so sick and tired of this drugging shit people pull on me. I remember Adrian drugging me right outside the mansion doors, out in the cold air and snow. I thought that he would be there with me, to support me as he comes up with something that would stop his father's stupid tactics but no. A very big no.

Just like last time when I was drugged in the state of California, I woke up in Italy.

So when I was drugged in Italy, I woke up in the state of California.

How pathetic my life is.

I spent almost seven years and five months to get into this state while being awake. One cloth full of drug and I fell asleep for God knows how many hours then bam, I am here... except no one is here. No family. No relatives. No friends. No Adrian. I am here all alone.

California is a big state and I do salute Adrian for not throwing me back to my old neighbourhood or even worse, the same city, but he did throw me away from his life, his brother's life and everybody lives as if I were nothing to them.

Maybe I never was anything to them.

In short, my name is Amanda Quinzel Jones. Yes, that is the name I have been using for my online college courses and that is the name I forgot during the party. My boyfriend of one night and few hours kicked me out of his place because he thought or should I say, he was under the influence of his dear old father who made him spoon feed the words 'too dangerous and enemies lurking around the corner' just like he did when he kicked out his wife. I was drugged again and like a piece of clothing, I was shipped back to where I came from.

Amanda. Amelia.

Quinzel. Rapunzel.

Jones. Jones.

I jumped in shock when I heard the door knob rattle accompanied by rapid knocking.

"Hello? Amanda, you in there?" I heard Natalie from outside. I responded with a loud yes. "Why did you lock the bathroom? I swear if you are doing some suicidal shit over some stupid man who doesn't deserve you, I will break this door! This is a family restaurant. I don't wanna lose my job!"

Quickly, I wiped my face and got out of my stall. I unlocked the main door and came face to face with a stern gaze of Natalie, but when she saw my face, she softened a bit.

"Done crying?"

"I wasn't crying. I was changing my clothes." I replied flatly.

"Oh, really? Where's your bag then?"

"Umm..."

She sighed and stepped into the bathroom. "Look Amy, boy problems is very common between us girls. We cry over them, we watch sad movies, eat loads of ice cream and chicken buckets, but in the end, we always find someone new. A new boy. A new toy. Simple."

I stared at her blankly as I processed her words.

She placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. "I know we don't know each other that well. You joined only three days ago and you are new in this city, but if you ever want to talk or anything like that, maybe I can help. Only if you forget the part where I easily figured out that you are currently going through a break up when I first saw you."

"You embarrassed me on my first day by asking me so many personal questions." I muttered.

She laughed. "I believe so. By the way, two weird, funky looking men just came in. You wanna watch Nick taking their order before you leave?"

"Sure." I smiled weakly. "But you were wrong about one thing, Natalie."

Her smile faltered. "What?"

"He is not some boy toy," I said. "He's a man who just forgot that I don't give up on things so easily."

Jetlag was slowly kicking me in as I leaned on a wall, half hidden behind Natalie as we patiently watched Nick taking in his last order before those two weird, funky looking men, as Natalie described, turn came but they weren't funky looking kind to me. They were dark. Tattoos everywhere, piercings, muscles protruding from their thin plain shirt and looks that were ready to kill... literally.

"What can I, well erm, what can I get you?"

"Fries." One man answered.

"Just... fries?" Nick squeaked.

"I don't get it," Natalie whispered, slowly stepping back. "This is a family friendly fast food restaurant chain. This is McDonald's. People like them don't come here and if they do, they order through drive-thru."

"How can you be so sure?" I whispered back.

"Well, have you ever seen any of them coming in and ordering?"

I remembered the brothers ordering our breakfast from a drive thru.

"No." I answered after a moment of silence. "I have not, but you shouldn't judge people like that."

"I know."

"Okay. Fries. Small, medium or large?" Nick asked, pressing on the small computer screen.

"Small." The other man answered. Their accent sounded American but something about them was not right.

"Two small fries. Coming right up."

"No. One small fries."

"O-Okay. One small fries. That would b—"

A hundred dollar was smacked on the counter. "Keep the change."

"Well, um, okay." Nick blinked rapidly and awkwardly placed the cash on the register. "You can take a seat and I'll call you when your order is ready."

"No. We prefer standing. We'll wait here."

Their eyes roamed around till they landed on me and Natalie. Me, to be exact.

I blinked.

They blinked.

I blinked again.

They blinked again.

I blinked twice.

They blinked twice.

Natalie eyed us in suspicion. "Amanda, do you know them?"

"I... I have to go." I said nervously. "My shift is already over."

*****

"Mom! Dad! Freddy! I am home!"

Silence.

I scoffed to myself and tossed the keys on the table then dropped on the couch, closing my eyes for a minute. A chime from my phone interrupted my silence and I groaned as I pulled out the source of my interruption.

'$200,000 credited to your account.'

My jaw clenched in anger and I tossed my phone on the table too, biting back the tears which were threatening to spill again.

I woke up here. In this two bedroom apartment. Imagine my panic stricken state when I woke up alone in the bed (again), saw a box of new phone on the nightstand along with my laptop and a glass of water with some Advil, kept staring at the door, hoping that Rylie would open the door (again) or anybody else who I knew or loved.

And when nobody did, my whole world came crashing down for the umpteenth time.

I cried and ran around the whole apartment, screaming everybody's name, especially Leonardo's name till I dashed out of the apartment and realised where I was, where I woke up actually.

I came back in utter, dumbstruck silence and found a few documents under my name in a huge walk-in closet. Fake passport, driving license and a voter ID card. I also found a credit as well as a debit card on my name, well, my other name. For an outsider, one may see me as a working woman who earns pretty hefty and leads a very lavish, happy life, if I was judged by the size of this apartment, the closet and the godforsaken clothes, bags and shoes it has in it. But on the inside, I was heart broken, lost, betrayed and angry.

It's like the past seven years and eleven months of my life never happened.

Everything was just a nightmare at the beginning and the best dream of my life in the end – but I know it wasn't. That message is the proof. Every single thing present in this apartment is a proof, including the clothes I wear because I have tried them before back in the city. I had seen them, touched them and let go of them because I didn't wanted to be dependent on anybody. I swear, the next time I see any of the Agostini brothers, I will make sure that they hear an earful of scolding from me.

I spent my days crying, wailing and screaming in the apartment till I ran out of fruits and canned food.

Survive first. Adrian's words echoed in my head so I did what every common person would do; search for a job.

Besides, McDonald's is always hiring.

I know it is him sending millions of dollars to me every alternate night but I wasn't going to touch that money to look after myself. I want his brother and I am going to get him back after I deal with his father.

And to deal with his father, I need to be in Italy and to get into that country, I need a one-way ticket to Italy.

I have really started to hate this holiday season even though I haven't celebrated it in all these years. There are no flights! Even if there is any, they are full! I am stuck in this state for God knows how many more days and every minute, every second is killing me from inside.

Never give up. No matter how alone you are. Another promise I made to Adrian and it made my mind boggle with many questions.

Did Adrian knew about his father manipulating Leonardo into kicking me out? Why did he push me away from everything and send me back to America? Why did he wanted me to find Louisa? Why did he not tell me anything about his and Louisa's relationship before? I felt cheated by his behavior. He hid things from me. I thought we had established a mutual relationship of trust and friendship... like a family.

My heart pained and moisture fell from my eyes when I thought about Leonardo.

I loved him yet I hated him for what he had done. He didn't listen. He refused to listen. Whatever it was, we could have figured it out together but he let go of me. He told me to go.

I choked on a sob and breathed shakily, remembering his beautiful face and our times together. I miss him so badly and I am thousands of miles away from him. I have the resources to go back to him but I don't have any mode of transportation.

My stomach growled in hunger. I got up from the couch, wiping my face on the way with phone in the other hand, took off my coat and threw it on the bed then I walked into my closet, switching on every lamp and tubelight.

Varieties of bags, shoes, sandals, heels, boots, accessories, dresses, shirts, scarves, sweaters, jackets, jeans, watches and God knows what other things came into my view and I remembered how my mother used to have this kind of closet, but she used to buy things like these for herself and for myself. She earned so she bought. I didn't do anything. My stupid boyfriend has a brother who bought this.

Grabbing my undergarments, I hit the showers where I cried again. That's all I do. Cry because I am hurt by the Agostini brothers actions, alone in a city I have never been before and angry at their father for ruining my life.

I was drying my hair when my gaze went out of the window and I froze on my track when I saw a black van with tinted windows in the far end of the street.

Fear grew in me and I shut the drapes, breathing heavily. This is exactly how it started! Black van and creepy people. I stumbled back and grabbed my phone.

'Chinese restaurants near me.'

I found the nearest restaurant in four block radius and checked my bag to see the cash I had saved.

"Thirty dollars." I whispered to myself and called the restaurant to place my order while walking to the kitchen.

"Ma'am, would you like your order as a takeout or to be delivered to your doorstep?" The lady on the other line asked.

I checked my refrigerator and frowned when I saw that I had no sweet dish nor any milk. The fridge was empty.

"Ma'am?"

"Um, yeah. Yeah! A takeout please. I'll be there in thirty minutes."

I have to buy some milk and cake with the remaining few dollars.

"Okay, ma'am." I cut the call, tiptoed my way to my bedroom's window and peeked through the curtains. The van was still there. I have to leave the building through its back door. Quickly, I changed into some warm clothing, grabbed my phone and a light pink scarf to match it with the contrasting colours of my shirt and jacket, something which I thought of doing long back when I first saw myself in back in the shop during our little city tour and wrapped it around my neck.

Purposely, I left my lights on and locked the door properly.

Cold air hit me like a soft breeze as I covered a block and took a turn, my phone and money deep inside my old jeans pocket. There weren't much cars in the street. It's a holiday season after all. People spend time in their homes, with their families. I scoffed, thinking about my family.

I had almost covered another block when suddenly, a chill ran down my spine and I halted. Very slowly, I looked over my shoulder and blood drained from my face.

Black van. In the corner. A car or two were passing by on the street but that thing wasn't. That thing wasn't supposed to be here.

My throat clenched tightly as I gulped. I breathed slowly and I faced forward, my eyes roaming everywhere till I found an alley and I ran straight into it. Took a right, another right then a left, caught a glimpse of that van pass right ahead so I ran left, found a dead end, ran back and took a right turn again, found an empty street, ran straight ahead and into another alley. My heart was pounding hard in my chest and my lungs were burning fire but I kept running. I wasn't going to let those kidnappers kidnap me again then sell me like a painting in an auction. After taking another turn, I stopped to catch my lost breath.

Oh God, where am I? Did I lose them? I pulled out my phone from the pocket and turned on my location. Almost two weeks with this device and I was slowly getting a hang of it even though I use it only to search flights while I'm out serving burger and fries to hormonal teenage boys who stare at my chest.

Fuck. My legs were paining from running so much. Maybe I did lose them and my location says I am not that far from my apartment building.

Oh, yeah... I definitely lost them and for the first time in almost two weeks, I laughed like a mad woman.

"Take that, you suckers!" I shouted in the empty neighborhood as I walked out of the alley. "Catch me if you can! I'll show you a piece of my running skills again!"

Fuck Leonardo for being such a puppy in front of his father and for telling me that I have low stamina.

Fuck Adrian for lying and hiding things from me. He can rot in hell with his brother and father.

Fuck that so-called father of theirs for being such a meanie and coming between Leo and I. He ruined everything. He deserves a special treatment from the Devil itself when he lands in hell.

Fuck my family and my friends for giving up on me. They left the goddamn place and they left me behind with it. Ha! As if I ever want to meet them again. I don't want to see their faces again.

I kicked an empty can on the footpath and jumped in shock when I heard a loud, blaring sound of a horn. A truck passed right in front of me in full speed and took a turn, toppling the trash can in the corner.

Fuck that truck driver for horning so much. Somebody teach him some driving lessons.

I kicked the empty can again and the second it touched the ground, I heard tires screech loudly accompanied by a deafening crash and another crash in the direction where the truck went.

An empty can of Pepsi doesn't make that sound, does it?

My heart dropped in my stomach when I realised what has happened.

Oh, my God. It's that driver!

Knees quivering, I ran in the direction of the crash site as fast as my legs could take me and stopped dead when I saw the sight in front of my eyes.

"Oh, my God..." I covered my mouth in shock, my heart making very plausible attempts to jump out of my throat. Huge clouds of smoke coming out of a black car which was tossed upside down and damaged brutally. Pieces of glass was splattered all over the road.

I fished out my phone with shaking hands and dialled 911.

"911. State your emergency."

"T-There's been a-an accident! An ac-accident!" I screamed.

"Ma'am, please remain calm and be on line..."

I didn't hear what the lady was saying and ran straight to the truck and climbed up the driver side to check on the man. A strong stench hit my nostrils and I bit back a gag. I saw empty bottles of beer on the seat and the man's head on the steering wheel.

That's a long time in jail for you, buddy.

My steps faltered as I kneeled down to the driver side of the tossed up black car, removed my scarf and after covering my hand, I broke the remaining glass of the window.

"Oh, God." I gasped and looked away instantly, controlling the heavy bile rising in my throat. I saw vehicles approaching and I shut my eyes close to remove the bloody sight from my brain. Everything from his head to his collar was drenched in red. Jesus Christ, that's so much blood. Deep breaths, Amy. You've seen it before, you've cleaned it from floors. This is just a man... a man with a major bleeding on his head... a bleeding man.

I turned my flashlight on and flashed it on his face. "Hello? Sir? Can you hear me?"

No response.

Then I heard a faint whimper from the passenger seat.

I sprinted up, screamed at the man running from his car to call an ambulance then kneeled on the other side, breaking the window with my scarf covered hand and flashed the light on the woman's face.

"Hello, miss? Can you hear me? Miss?"

Her auburn hair was sprawled over her face and with trembling, bloodied hands, she covered it from the light. Something shined in her finger and I quickly assumed it to be a ring.

Engaged. That's a first.

"Miss, can you say something?" I saw her other hand clutched to her bleeding stomach and she whimpered again.

I turned down the flashlight and removed her hair from her face and when those grey eyes met my pale brown ones, my mind spun.

Memories of my childhood, highschool days and our last exchange came back to me like quick flashes and my vision clouded with tears. My hear hammered in my chest and I spoke.

"Maria."

Her eyes widened slightly and a long trail of crimson liquid dripped from her forehead. "Am–Amy—my ba–baby..."

My eyes went down to her protectively held stomach, then to her engagement ring and back to her now unconscious state. They kept rotating back and forth, back and forth till my ears started ringing and I felt dizzy. From a distant, I heard sirens approaching and people coming over.

And there was only one thought in my mind – Holy shit. There goes my 'not wanting to meet anybody' straight out of the window.

Author's note:

I swear this the last time I'll ever do a crossover.

Maria has her own story. So if you can handle lots of crying and self harm, feel free to find my book in my profile; His Bitter Cupcake.

Be sure to have tissue papers in hand, if you read it.

And if you are way too eager to find out what happens next, you can sure get a few glimpses from Maria's side on Chapter 32-33.

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