Chapter 37: Chapter Two

Natalee

By lunchtime, word had spread and it was nearly impossible to see Alec and Demetri without a swarm of people stalking them down the hallways. It made me wonder why they chose Seaside of all places.

Granted, we were on the Oregon coast — far away from their homeland of Canada, and nowhere near L.A., but still. We had the Internet. We had phones.

They were in no way invisible to our sleepy town. It was only a matter of time before they high-tailed it out of here. I mean, they didn't even have bodyguards!

With a sigh, I fished out my lunch money from my back pocket and looked at the choices of the day.

Tacos or a salad.

Or, I gave a mischievous smile, taco salad. I quickly made my little concoction and grinned even brighter.

“I must say…” A deep voice said from behind me. “I've never seen a girl get so excited over a taco salad.”

“Well,” I turned to face Demetri, of course it would be Demetri. “I like food. And I think I get a gold star for being creative.”

He laughed and leaned in closer, his golden hair falling gracefully across his forehead. “Think you can make me one too?”

I put one hand on my hip. “That depends. Are you asking me so you don't have to make your own, or are you just wanting an excuse to talk to me?”

“Both.”

I laughed. “Fair enough. But be warned, perfection doesn't often happen twice in a row.”

He smirked and stood next to me as I made him a similar salad. “So, where are all your admirers?”

“With Alec.” He nodded his head toward the other side of the cafeteria where Alec was holding court with at least fifty people. His face was as handsome and stern as ever.

“Does he smile, like ever?”

Demetri shook his head, a bright grin creased his lips. “He smiled at you, didn't he?”

“That was a smile?” I handed him his tray. “I thought it was a grimace. Easy to confuse the two on his face.”

“Don't let him hear you say that. He may just fall in love with you if you tease him.”

“No danger of any guy falling in love, no worries.” I kept my head down so I wouldn't have to look at his gorgeous face and walked away, but felt his hand touch my arm.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“To eat, like normal people. It is lunchtime and we only get fifteen minutes.”

“Sit with me.” His blue eyes sparkled, and his dimples seemed even more pronounced as his smile spread even wider across his face. Stupid rock star.

“Um, no thanks,” I said as politely as I could.

His smile faded. I continued walking to my usual table when I felt a hand on my arm again. “No thanks?”

Demetri sure was persistent, but I didn't want to be a part of his harem. “Let me guess, you've never faced rejection before.”

He looked a little less confident as he shuffled his feet, his eyebrows drew together. “No, um, not really.”

“There's a first for everything, Demetri. Enjoy your salad.” I patted him on the shoulder and continued walking in a straight line even though my legs were wobbly.

I turned back around to see if he was following me. Big shock there, he was surrounded by at least twenty girls, each of them touching his arm or shoulder, even his butt. Disgusting.

And that was the reason I wasn't sitting with him. I wasn't them. I would never be that girl.

I blew my hair from my face and plopped into my chair. Evan gave me a confused look. “Did he just ask you to eat with him?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?” Evan repeated. “Are you high?”

“No,” I said, as I opened my juice. “I just didn't want to eat with him.”

“Right. And I don't want to get laid by Cameron Diaz.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Does everything always have to be about sex?”

“Yes.” Evan gave me a serious look before taking a huge bite of his sandwich.

There was officially no hope for the male species.

The bell rang a few minutes later, meaning I only got to enjoy part of my salad. I rushed to my next class.

Just as I was rounding the corner, a guy bolted out of the classroom door, slamming me against the locker and sending me sailing to the ground.

I was literally my own teenage soap opera.

“I promise I'm not doing this on purpose,” I said as I pushed myself to my knees and gathered my books, stuffing them into my bag.

Alec leaned down and shook his head. “You sure about that?” His mouth curved upward into a smirk.

I felt my nostrils flare. “Yeah, I promise. Plus, it's not like I trip in order to get attention. That's the last thing I want.”

Alec grabbed my bag and handed it to me. “Believe me, you're the center of attention whether you trip or merely walk down the hall.

“Have a good day, Nat.” His hooded green eyes seemed to mock me as he looked me up and down, then walked in the other direction. So what if I watched the way his muscles stretched underneath his T-shirt?

I sighed and shook my head.

“Really, Nat?” Evan whispered over my ear.

“Crap!” I jumped. “Don't scare me like that!”

“Scare you?” Evan put his arm on my shoulder and directed me toward class. “I was standing behind you for like two minutes saying your name before I whispered in your ear.

“Geez, what's the big deal about those guys? So they're like rock stars. Who cares? They still shit.”

I burst out laughing. “Thanks, Evan. Your eloquence and wisdom are always so refreshing.”

His chest puffed up as he pushed me teasingly into class. “It's what I do.”

The day progressed slowly. I almost believed everything was normal. I walked to my locker and forced it open.

“So, what are you doing tonight?” I knew his voice by heart now. It was deep, sexy, and always had some sort of smug inflection.

“Homework.” I slammed my locker door shut and gave him a smile. “And you?”

“Whitney.”

“Huh?”

Demetri gave me a shameless grin and burst out laughing as I felt my face flush red. “I'm kidding, girl. You really need to get out more.”

Preaching to the choir.

“Okay.” I sidestepped him, not even sure why I was angry that he would joke about hooking up with some girl I didn't even know. It really wasn't all that funny to my little virgin ears.

“What'd I do?” He stepped in front of me and grasped my arms. His eyes scanned me from head to toe as his hands caressed upward toward my shoulders. His smile was mocking.

I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped when I felt a warm hand grip my shoulder.

“Really, Demetri? Begging isn't your style.” It had to be Alec.

Demetri's face immediately broke into a grin. “I'm sorry, Nat. He's right. I don't beg. I don't usually have to, but you make me want to.”

I was officially pinned between two of the hottest guys on the planet and all I could think about was not passing out. Demetri was in front of me, all ”6” and packed muscle.

I staggered backward only to find myself up against the same thing. Only Alec smelled like expensive cologne.

It was probably Abercrombie. I swear they put pheromones in that stuff.

“Run along,” Alec said over the top of my head.

Demetri nodded once and walked away, but not before giving me a seductive wink.

I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath. Alec's hand moved across my shoulder until his arm was around me. I stumbled in shock.

“You sure do that a lot,” he said without looking at me.

I watched his face as his eyes scanned the hallways. He was walking me out the door as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Clearly, he had lost his mind.

“Trip?” I offered.

He nodded.

Apparently Demetri got the personality in this family.

“I can't help it, I'm clumsy.” I shrugged, liking the way the weight of his arm felt on my neck and shoulders.

“Yes. You are.”

“Well…” I stepped out of his embrace.

I whipped around and truly wished I would have just kept walking. Then I wouldn't have seen the way Alec's smile totally transformed his face.

The twinkling green eyes basically glowing on the tan skin. He lifted his hands into the air in surrender and approached me.

My inability to breathe was not helping the situation.

“You think I'm boring, don't you?“ Alec seemed amused as he leaned in closer to me.

Exhausted, I laughed and put my hands on my hips, fighting to keep myself from making eye contact. “Yes.

I slugged him like we were on some sort of baseball team and laughed. The look of horror on his face was priceless. Clearly, he was also used to getting exactly what he wanted.

“Sorry.” Still laughing, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I'm not used to much social interaction.”

“Says the poor afflicted rock star.”

“Girl's got bite, I like that.” He winked. “Can I walk you to your car?”

“Are we stuck in the fifties?”

“It is Seaside,” he countered, offering me his arm.

Well, really, what else could I do but take him up on the offer? I rolled my eyes and took it. “You gonna carry my books too?”

“Wait, do guys still do that?”

“It is Seaside,” I reminded him.

He took my books as if they weighed about a pound and walked me to my truck.

Alec's eyes scanned the ride in approval. “Beautiful girl, drives a truck, hates rock stars… Hmm, I just might write a song about you.”

My heart hammered in my chest but I kept myself in check. “Is this where I'm supposed to swoon and tattoo your name on my ass?”

“You don't have to swoon.” He leaned in, his body shielding me from the school and all air that smelled like anything other than his cologne. “But can you make sure to spell it with just one L?”

I rolled my eyes. “Why are you here?”

“I like you.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling that all-too-familiar blush. “But I meant Seaside, Oregon. It's literally the most boring place on Earth. Well, I guess that's not true.

His smile tightened a bit as he licked his lips and then looked away. “I'll see you later, Nat.”

He walked off without an explanation. His mood had changed again.

I jumped into my car and shook my head. This had to have been the weirdest day in my existence.

My cell rang. I slipped it out of my pocket. “Crap!” It wasn't mine. I still had Alec's cell. How could I have forgotten that?

I looked at the screen. It was flashing my number. I wanted to drop the cell like a hot potato or at least hide it or something.

Without any other option, I answered with a shaky hello.

“Naughty girl stole my brother's cell phone,” the voice said mockingly.

“Hey, Demetri.”

“Hey yourself.” His voice sounded deeper on the phone. My body shivered involuntarily.

After a few awkward seconds I asked, “Is there something you needed?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“If you're offering to help me with my… needs.”

“You're disgusting.”

“Aw, thanks sweetheart.”

“Look.” My hands shook as I tried to calm myself down. “I didn't mean to keep Alec's phone. Is there a place I can drop it off or something?”

Silence and then, “Why don't you just keep it until tomorrow? We'll see you at school and I'll make the swap.”

“He's going to know his phone's missing. Besides, he has mine.”

“I know. I've already hacked into it. High School Musical, Nat, really?”

I groaned aloud and fought the urge to bang my head against the steering wheel. “It's good running music.”

“So is the entire Hannah Montana soundtrack. Doesn't mean you put it on your playlist, Nat.”

“Wait. How do you know the Hannah Montana soundtrack is good running music?”

“That's beside the point. We're talking about you now.”

“Did you need anything else?” I snapped.

“Are you offering?”

“Bye, Demetri.” I hit end and ignored the silly butterflies that had taken up permanent residence in my stomach. I refused to be one of those girls.

I looked back at the school.

It was as if you could see a wave of lust blow through the front door as girls walked out and began texting on their phones, hiking up their skirts, and giggling obnoxiously.

No doubt each of them wanted a chance with the guys. And again, I refused to be one of those girls.

At any rate, I had a crapload of homework, but my job was calling my name. I quickly put the truck in drive and made my way over to Seaside Taffy.