"This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."- Chuck Palahnuik

Our story starts in a quaint little home, nestled in a sweet little neighbor hood, somewhere in Japan. Inside you'll find a girl with big brown eyes, and a mop of, quite disagreeable, auburn hair. At this moment in time, she seems to be furious. In this quaint little home a thriving argument rings throughout the halls. It seems our heroine quite despises her alarm clock…

The despised object hit the wall with a splintering crack as it at last went silent. Sighing and rubbing her eyes, Jem sat up. That was the fifth one that month. For some odd reason she always threw them at the exact same place. Because of this there was a distinguishable dent in the wall, right across from her bed.

Dragging her self up, Jem stumbled down the hall into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, and shucking off whatever random garments she had slept in last night, she stepped into the steam. Immediately she became less tense, muscles relaxing against the streams of water. After her showering, toweling of, and getting dressing in a white sweater, brown pants, and a copper scarf.

She reached over, pressing a set of buttons on her espresso machine. A few minutes later a cup of boiling heaven was cradled in the young woman's hands. "Coffee, my dear sweet kryptonite." She mumbled lips on rim of the mug.

After a quick breakfast, if you can call it that, of slightly burnt toast and a half eaten muffin, Jem hoisted her suitcase, yanked on a coat and boots, and ducked outside into the frigid winter air. Hissing profanities under her breath, she trudged to her car, slipping inside, and slamming the door vehemently. After kicking the seat a few times, the engine started up and the heat came on. Dogs barked as the car pulled out, swinging lazily down the street. It was going to be a long day.

Jem reached over to the radio flipping it on. Wincing as it screeched with static, she flipped to a random channel, and nearly grimaced. She had no problem with Christmas songs, but to play them this early, nearly a month and a half from the Holidays was just stupid. Luckily the song ended and a better on came on.

Humming under her breath, Jem pulled into an empty parking spot. There were only a few other cars in the lot. Climbing out of her car, she gathered her things, and practically skipped into the building. Music always put her in a better mood. Inside the smell of coffee beans and muffins assaulted Jem's nose. The light was cheery and warm, and Jem pulled of her coat once inside.

Miyako looked up from the tea she was drinking and smiled when her friend walked in. She stood and helped the younger shake off the snow clinging to her clothing. "Good morning Miyako Sunbae" Jem said, giving a half bow. Miyako smiled then offered Jem some tea. The girl made a face. "You know I hate tea!"

Miyako rolled her honey colored eyes. "Nonsense chilled tea is so much better for you then coffee" She wrinkled her nose, as if even the word disgusted her greatly. Jem snorted, and then headed toward the back. Yanking on the tasteful green apron and jumping the counter, Jem ignored her boss who called out teasingly "Now don't go jumping over my furniture young lady!"

The café was empty now except her, her boss, Miyako their best customer, and the cooks. In a few minutes it would be filled with business men and women, all hoping for a quick bite to ea before heading to their boring jobs, and then back home to their demanding wives and annoying children. Jem sighed. She wasn't a huge fan of families, for reasons she wasn't particularly fond of thinking about. This was pretty obvious, considering most seventeen year olds didn't exactly live alone.

The hours at work passed uneventfully as always. Pouring cup after cup of coffee to ungrateful adults, trying (and failing) to sneak a scone or to of the pan, and generally wishing she was anywhere else. Miyako noticed her friend and laughed. Leaning against to counter, she said "Don't you look like a little ray of sunshine!"

"Delightful." Jem snorted, furiously scrubbing stains on a cup. Miyako just sighed, used to the teen's awful temper. "Yah know what'd be great?" Jem asked, gazing out the window with a longing expression.

Miyako shot a look at a pair of noisy children at a far table, "Earplugs?" she asked.

Jem grinned, "I was talking about curling up at home with a warm drink, my iPod, and a book!" Miyako shrieked well naturedly, covering her ears.

"No!" the girl whined, "I can not be friends with nerds. I refuse to hear your smartical talk!" She staggered dramatically across the room, dropping back onto her chair. Jem sighed.

Once work was over, Jem ripped of her apron, and with a much undignified cheer, rammed out the exit. She skipped over to her car, screaming about freedom and oppressive manual labor, managing to scare of some pigeons. The regulars in the shop just rolled there eyes affectionately, used to the girls antics.

Jem had a simple plan when she got home. It was Saturday night, work was done for the weekend and she was free! Cranking the stereo up to the point were it was making the car shake, she began to sing, or rather scream, out the lyrics. It was only around one in the afternoon, so she had the rest of the day. She could even go out tonight!

She nearly laughed at the ridiculous notion. She didn't go to clubs, and she hated partying. Who was she kidding? What really sounded good was a banana smoothie, her couch, and an hours or gore filled drama movies. Tonight would be great. Or at least that is what she thought then.

It was her fourth, maybe fifth movie that evening. Pillows and blankets cocooned around her and she stared mindlessly at the screen, loving the drama. Then the door bell on her apartment rang. She grumbled incoherently and dove under the covers. The ringing, however, didn't cease. Whoever it was was pounding now, insisting to be acknowledged. Pausing the T.V, she trudged to the door, mumbling profanities under her breath. "Who is it?"

"Miyako! Open up." Called a voice. Jem blinked in surprise and switched on the lights. Why was Miyako here at nearly 12 at night? Opening the door, she saw the sopping wet girl standing there, blonde curls plastered to her heart shaped face. It must be raining outside.

However all worries of her friend getting a cold flew right out her head when she saw who was with her. Well she supposed that wasn't true. It was clear this man wasn't 'there' at all. His gorgeous truffle colored eyes had glazed over, and he was collapsed against Miyako, half conscious as his raven locks spilled over his forehead.

"Shit Miya! Who the hell is this?" Jem swore crossly. Miyako looked nervous, and freezing. Her eyes were big and pleading as she shivered in the door frame. Relenting, Jem opened the door letting the 20 year old in.

"See I was at the bar, when I met this guy. He seemed all depressed, and I bought him a drink. Apparently he can't handle his liquor, and he got all loopy and we started flirting. Don't worry; he's 18 so it's totally legal. Anyway he got drunk and collapsed. I couldn't just leave him there of course. So I helped him out." As Miyako spoke, they had laid the man out on her couch.

"So why is he here!" said Jem angrily, giving Miyako the stare down.

"Well as you know my brother Chris is staying at my place right now. He'll flip out if he sees this guy. So I was hoping…

"Hell no! I am not going to let one of your boy toys crash on my couch. What if he murders me in my sleep? This guy is probably some creep." Said Jem firmly.

"Jem!" cried Miyako, "Please, for one night?" When the blonde midget started using the eyes, Jem relented with an irritated sigh.

"Fine! But I swear to god, if you leave a serial killer on my couch, I'm going to kick your ass all the way into next Thursday." Miyako gave a happy yelp and bear hug Jem who laughed. "Now get out, and go home. And don't let me catch you driving drunk ever again." Miyako gave a mock salute the hurried out the door. Jem slammed it behind her.

She turned superstitiously to the boy on the couch. He appeared to be knocked out cold. His glasses were still on, settled on his face at a crooked angle. She grinned, reaching out and pulling of gently. He was sleeping peacefully. With a last suspicious glance, she headed flicked off the lights and T.V, and headed to her room, locking it behind her.

"The start of love is beautiful. Sweet, slow, and utterly hectic." Unknown

Anyone who reads my "You Ask, They Answer" story will know the story behind this. If you don't then it doesn't really matter. Hope you enjoy! It should also be pretty obvious who is on Jem's couch…