Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty-Four

Alec

Waiting for Nat to ascend the stairs was pure hell.

Yeah, we would get exactly no practice time for that little concert he had planned, but I knew we could pull it off.

I pulled at my black tie for the fiftieth time that night. My ears perked up when I heard footsteps coming down the hall.

“Wow!” Evan applauded while I tried to find words that would do Nat's beauty justice. “You clean up well, Nat.”

She rolled her eyes, and then set those same brown eyes in my direction, waiting for me to say something—anything. I wasn't sure why my mouth wasn't working.

She was wearing a cute little cocktail dress that made her legs look so long I couldn't stop staring. Her makeup was done to perfection. I mean, she was just so… pretty.

“Yes.” My voice was hoarse. I looked away, licking my lips, gaining courage from the silence, and grabbed her hand. “Okay, you got everything you need?

Wow. So instead of compliments, I just turn into a complete ass?

If Nat was hurt, she didn't show it.

We piled into the car.

She wasn't smiling until she checked her phone. It was Demetri; it had to be.

She giggled then asked Evan to take a picture of her. I tried not to be jealous, but that's the thing with jealousy—once you let it in, it's hard as hell to remove it completely from your body.

I'd basically allowed her to cheat on him, with me, and I was still flirting with the entire idea of screwing it all and just having her for myself.

I told myself I wouldn't make any more moves—if he messed up, she was fair game, until then. I stole another glance at her glossy lips and curled hair. Damn it. I'd wait years for her.

Because nobody was perfect, right? At one point he was going to mess up, and I would be there to pick up the pieces.

We pulled up to the parking lot and immediately went to the door to start our patrol for homecoming committee. The only problem?

I was usually the event people stood in line to see, so when they saw me guarding the door they wanted to touch, they wanted to flirt. I had two girls, TWO, offer sex in the bathroom stall.

Right, because that was every rock star's fantasy. Sex in a high school bathroom? Really?

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I felt like a piece of meat and the door was getting more crowded by the second.

“Hey”—Nat gave me a sympathetic look and walked up to Alesha—“Can we switch?” At least then I'd have a table to separate me from the loads of people who wanted to cop a feel.

“Sure, I'm almost done anyway.” Alesha moved from the ticket table to the door and let us take our seats.

I thought tickets would be easy. You know, people hand you money, you stamp their hands, done.

Except, my hands kept colliding with Nat's, making the parts of my brain that should be on counting money—on kissing her. And that wasn't helping my situation at all.

I clenched my jaw and thanked God when we sold the last ticket and were able to go into the dance. Luckily, Bob and Lloyd had agreed to help with security, which was good, all things considered.

“Do you want to dance?” Nat asked shyly once we walked into the gym.

She looked so cute. I couldn't turn her down. I grinned, and pulled her into my arms. Now dancing? I could do. I knew where my strengths were.

Nat was having a hard time keeping up with me. Which I kind of loved, because it made her face all flustered and sexy.

She kept apologizing when she tripped on her feet.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, then pulled her flush against my body, rolling my hips against hers a bit to get her to follow the movement of the music. Instinct took over.

Last year one of our popular songs was remixed into this crazy tango beat that had dance clubs all over going crazy.

Fans posted YouTube videos of choreography to the song, and I knew Nat had to know it.

So I started with the first move, she followed with the second, the crowds had parted and it was just me and her on the dance floor. I loved it.

I'm sure Demetri was watching from backstage laughing his ass off—but for right now, it was just me and her… Dancing at Homecoming.

Mouth dry, I watched as Nat moved to the ground, skimming her heeled foot between my legs and then kicking to the right and left, before twisting and then standing.

Holy shit. That was hot. As in, my mouth was still open and I was ready to kiss her right then and there.

Once she faced me again, I turned her around, moving my arms slowly down her shoulders and then across her stomach as I lifted her into the air and grabbed her legs so she was clinging backwards to my body. I twirled around the dance floor.

People started clapping, and I probably looked insane. I hadn't danced like that in a long time.

The music died down. People clapped, and I put Nat back on wobbly feet. “I think I may have a crush on this Alec,” she joked out of breath.

“This Alec?” I asked; sweat trickled down the side of my face.

“The one who seduces girls on the dance floor and puts Justin Bieber to shame… hey, um, can I have your autograph?” She fluttered her eyelashes.

My mouth dropped open, I cursed, “You suck.” I hated it when she brought that guy up. Way to kill the moment, Nat.

She winked.

And I lost it.

We both threw back our heads and laughed. The music switched to a slow song; she rested her head on my chest. I couldn't help but sigh, and just enjoy the moment.

“Nat, I—”

The lights flickered. That was my cue.

I grinned. “I'll be right back.”

I ran backstage and met up with Demetri. He was shaking his head at me, “Dude, did you have to show me up and go and dance like a freaking maniac?”

“Yup.” I nodded.

He was still laughing. I almost asked him if he was on drugs because old Demetri would have been pissed that I was flirting with his girlfriend; instead, he looked… overjoyed.

It grated my nerves.

Because it made me think that maybe—things were going to be great between them, and I'd gone and ruined the one thing that had kept a smile on his face for longer than six hours.

“Sorry about that, folks. The dancing will recommence after this special performance,” the principal announced loudly.

“You ready?” Demetri asked.

“Always.” I nodded. “Let's do this.”

A surge of adrenaline rocked through me as I made my way onto the stage.

“It is my pleasure to announce, AD2!”

The stage went dark.

And then lit up like a Christmas tree. Demetri moved to the middle.

“Nat,” his voice rumbled in the microphone. “This one's for you.”

I moved behind him with a guitar and stood in front of the microphone.

The tune Demetri had used to write the song was haunting; it started on sharp notes, slowly pulling the listener in with its eeriness.

“Torn Like Rain,” I said into the microphone, staring directly at Nat.

Brown eyes, blonde hair, I can't help but stare. She's got me hypnotized. I need her, like oxygen, I can't explain the way she makes me feel inside.

Breathe in, breathe out, sometimes you just gotta shout your love. Shout your love. Inhale, exhale, the beauty of your love will always be enough. Enough.

Demetri sang the first verse and chorus. I was in charge of the bridge. My voice was different from his; it had a type of rasp to it whereas Demetri sang so clearly it was ridiculous.

I didn't realize I was still staring at Nat until her eyes flickered from me to Demetri. His body tensed next to me, as if he saw the raw expression of hunger on my face.

I could never hide my emotions when I sang. That would be like trying to put a shield over the sun; eventually it burns through, singeing everything in its path.

Demetri belted the chorus with a desperation I'd never heard him use before.

When the song ended, the entire room exploded into clapping. I trembled with each clap. How would I ever say goodbye to this life? To the rush music gave me? I couldn't.

And by the look on Demetri's face, he couldn't either. We had to fix us—fix what was going on so we could do what we were born to do.

We walked together off stage.

“Don't tell me.” Demetri's voice was raspy. “I don't want to know.”

“Know what?” I asked with a dread-filled voice.

“Or maybe I do,” he whispered. “Did you…” He swore. “Do you realize how much I hate having this conversation?”

“Demetri—”

“Did you sleep with her?” He sounded so calm, as if he hadn't just asked me if I slept with his girlfriend.

“No,” I whispered. “Besides, this is Nat we're talking about. I could be the most famous person on the planet… and she'd still see you.”

“Yeah.” Demetri sighed. “I know she sees me, man. I just wish that when she looked, you weren't the first one she looked at.