Chapter 42: Chapter Seven

Natalee

It sounded super believable. I would have probably thought the story was legit. But Demetri made me doubt it. But what other purpose could there be behind them being here?

My mom was as reclusive as ever, and I was actually looking forward to going to Evan's party with Alec.

We ran together every morning. Demetri never said anything about it, but I wondered if it upset him.

Demetri followed me everywhere at school like a puppy dog. If he was trying to annoy me, it was working. Though it was more flattering than annoying.

I got more glares from girls in those few days put together than I had in my entire life. Alec ignored me completely as if he was embarrassed to be seen in public with me.

The one time I approached him, he gave me a small smile and brushed me off. I wish I could say that I stopped running with him, but I couldn't help it. I was drawn to him.

It seemed like the mornings were ours. We talked about music and his family. Never about his brother and never about school.

After a few weeks I was able to be seen in public with either guy and not freak out, meaning I could walk in a straight line and chew gum without choking.

Demetri had warned me that his brother was different, that I needed to keep my distance, but I figured that was just jealousy talking. Not that I was anything to be jealous over.

I mean, Demetri had kissed me. But he hadn't made a move since then. He joked around with me, carried my books everywhere, but that was the extent of it.

Maybe he found me interesting, like some sort of pet he could watch and spend time with. Oh, my gosh! Was that what I was? A fish?

I had two hours until the party and still hadn't decided what to wear.

My cell sang the familiar AD2 ringtone. Demetri had successfully hacked into my phone and changed all my ringtones to their band. I was too impressed to be upset.

“What's up, Alesha?”

“You're going tonight, right?” she asked excitedly.

“Um, yeah, I told you this morning.”

“Oh.” Long silence. “I forgot. Anyway, wanna get ready together?”

“Yeah, but Alesha, I don't really have anything here to wear—”

The line went dead. Well, that was Alesha for you.

Within minutes she was hauling a pile of clothes and a makeup tote through the door.

“Are we moving into Evan's?” I choked.

“No, silly, but it is a sleepover, so pack some cute lingerie.” She swatted me with her free hand after she put down the duffel. “You're already with Demetri, not that I can blame you.

“He's staked his claim repeatedly. First by kissing you on the cheek in the hallway and then again when he told every guy in the locker room that if they looked at you he'd castrate them.

I didn't know he'd been talking about me. I shifted uncomfortably. I hadn't ever really talked to Alesha about Demetri. It didn't feel right.

Just because she thought we were an item didn't make it true. He hadn't made one move since the beach.

“Anyway…” She flicked a piece of hair away from her face. “Since he's taken, I'm going to go for the angry one.”

“Alec.” I clarified.

“Duh!” She pulled out a tight black dress. “Here you go!”

“Please tell me that is my pajamas.” I grasped the small piece of fabric, already feeling my face flush with embarrassment.

“Nope, that's your dress.” She moved behind me and tsked. “We should probably fix your hair too.”

I lifted my hand to my hair. “What's wrong with it?”

“Way too flat.” She grabbed a piece and grimaced as if I was somehow unclean. “We'll rat it, no biggie.”

And just like that, I was turned from slave into Cinderella. That is, if Cinderella suddenly decided to become a prostitute.

“Absolutely not,” I said, looking at my figure in the mirror. I didn't necessarily look bad, just cheap, and not at all like myself.

“Trust me, Demetri will die!” She clapped behind me. Alesha had low-slung jeans and a short white off-the-shoulder shirt that barely covered half her chest.

“Not sure I wanna kill him, Alesha.” I hadn't the heart to tell her I was actually going with Alec. She'd find out soon enough, I guess.

“Crap!” She looked at her phone and hurriedly grabbed the rest of her clothes. “I gotta go, Evan forgot to get ice.

“I swear if that boy graduates high school I'm giving him a medal.” She ran to the door then stopped and turned around. “And don't forget to pack your PJ's. Evan doesn't want anyone driving.”

Great, add alcohol to another list of firsts. I gave her a thumbs-up, but felt sick to my stomach with dread. I had always avoided Evan's parties like the plague.

I looked at the shoes she left me. They were tall, intimidating, and pointy. I put them on and hobbled around the room as I tried to get my bearings.

Finally, I looked at the finished product in the mirror. I guess it wasn't that bad. What at first looked like dark makeup really only brought out my features more.

She used soft shadows to make the color in my otherwise plain brown eyes pop. And she straightened my hair. It looked really shiny and bright, not dull like normal.

I added the lip gloss she left me just in time for the doorbell to ring.

After two failed attempts to run down the stairs, I quickly threw off the shoes and opened the door.

Alec was leaning against the frame, all six-foot-four of him. He wore a tight muscle-tee and a leather jacket like they were made for him.

His eyes widened for a brief second before he aggressively shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Wow.”

“What?” Did I have lipstick on my teeth? Crap. I knew this was a bad idea.

Alec hung his head. “The jacket's just making it worse. How is adding more clothes making it worse?” He cursed again and looked away.

“I can change.”

“No!” His hands shot out to grasp my arms, the jacket slipped off and suddenly I was in his embrace.

His heavily lidded eyes gazed at my lips. With a sigh, he pulled his arms away and took a step back. “You ready to go?”

Shaken from our encounter, I could only nod and grab the shoes I had tossed at the foot of the stairs.

I grabbed my overnight bag and followed him to his SUV.

By now I knew he drove a brand-new Lexus LS 570.

“Stop lusting over my car, Nat.” The darkness only aided in making Alec look more dangerous and handsome. Black wavy hair fell over his forehead.

I wanted to brush it out of his eyes, but we didn't have that type of friendship where we were comfortable with touching each other in any capacity.

Every time he accidentally brushed my hand, or even my arm, he would jerk back as if I burned him or something.

In fact, he was the perfect gentleman, which he proved again upon arrival at the party when he ran to my side and opened the car door.

“Are you for real?” I blurted.

“What?” He looked genuinely confused.

“You opened my door,” I said dumbly.

Alec's eyebrows drew together as if he was trying to figure out why I was so amazed. “How else were you supposed to get out of the car?”

Well, when he put it that way.

“Never mind,” I muttered, semi-irritated that he was being so nice to me. Why couldn't he be this nice at school? Why did he always keep his distance?

It would be so much easier to forget about him if he would just be distant all the time.

But no, he went around opening doors for girls and asked if they needed ice after a run, and even tied their shoes for them. Okay, so really, he just did those things for me, but still!

Who did that to a complete stranger? A normal, boring, girl who lived in Seaside, Oregon?

Crap. I wanted to yell. Instead I gritted my teeth and followed Alec inside. The party was already crowded. Kids I hadn't seen in years suddenly came out of the woodwork. You know the type.

Alec grasped my arm. His touch shocked me, and unfortunately caused me to trip right into his arms.

“You okay?” He righted me and grasped my shoulders, looking intently into my eyes.

“Yeah, um…” His eyes were so green. For a minute I forgot to breathe, or at least it felt like it. His gaze never wavered as he waited for me to answer; I just wasn't sure I would be able to.

Weren't high school boys supposed to be jerks? Players? Horny? Alec was none of those things. Indifferent, yes. But… “Just not used to heels, I guess,” I finally managed.

“You made it!” Demetri came up behind me and squeezed my side, his hand dangerously close to my butt as he pulled me into a side hug and kissed my neck.

What had once given me chills now left me a little irritated. Couldn't he see Alec and I were having a moment? Well, I was having a moment.

“Damn, you look sexy!” Demetri's nose went instantly into my hair as he again nipped my neck. “Please tell me you're staying with me tonight.”

I didn't answer. I couldn't. Not with Alec's gaze boring into mine the way it was. Helpless, I looked at Demetri.

“How much have you had to drink?” I asked.

“Enough to feel good, but not so much that I can't please you later, Babe.” His mouth sloppily met mine. I fought the urge to push him back, but every time I was in his arms I felt wanted.

I hated that I liked that feeling, but Demetri could have anyone, and for some reason he wanted me. He chose me.

When he stumbled back I glanced behind him and noticed that Alec had wandered off.

“Parties aren't really his scene,” Demetri explained, grabbing my hand. “He'd rather read a book, or go to a poetry slam, or whatever gay guys do.”

My head jerked so fast I nearly fell over. “Gay?”

“Well, I have my suspicions,” Demetri admitted, pulling me onto the dance floor. “Now come on, I've been waiting for you all night. Let's see those moves.”

He twirled me a few times. I laughed because I couldn't help it.

Was he my boyfriend?

We danced for a while. Sweat formed at the base of my neck. I was so thirsty.

“Drinks?” Demetri nodded and grasped my hand.

He went to the punch bowl and filled our red cups to the rim. “Cheers.”

“What are we celebrating?” I leaned in so he could hear me.

He took a big gulp of his drink. “I thought you knew?”

“Knew?”

Demetri placed the cup on the counter next to us and pulled me into his arms. Usually my head only met his shoulders, but with my heels I was eye-to-eye with his chin, big improvement.

“I want you to be my girlfriend.”

And this is the part where any sane girl would look around the room for a hidden camera.

“Excuse me?” I said weakly.

“You. I want you.” His lips found mine. My world tilted as he pushed me against the counter, his tongue licking the corner of my mouth before he slowly took a step back and gazed into my eyes.

His look was predatory, hungry, as he swooped down and kissed me again. His hands slid beneath the straps of my dress and tugged down towards my bra.

It was so sudden I could only respond with a moan. His control was gone. Never had he been so flippant with me, so aggressive.

Panicking just slightly, I tried to push him away, get him to cool off. I still wasn't used to that type of attention and part of me still doubted what he said.

“Are you sure?” His large arms braced my body as he lifted me off the ground, his kiss sending an alarming if not lustful thrill through my body.

“I'm sure,” he whispered, pulling away and winking.

For some reason the satisfaction that was supposed to come at a time like this was absent. Instead, I felt… kind of sick. Maybe it was because I was dehydrated.

“What is this?”

“Rum Punch.” Demetri shrugged. “And I think a couple other things. Don't tell me you've never been to a party before, Nat.”

“Fine, I won't tell you.” I put the cup on the counter.

“What's with the crabby attitude?” He held me against his chest and kissed my neck. “Why don't we go outside and get some fresh air?”

I nodded. That was exactly what I needed. Fresh air. It was freakishly hot in Evan's house. Speaking of Evan, “Have you seen Evan?”

Demetri laughed. “Um yeah, he's currently wrapped up in Alesha's arms.

“Right.” I swallowed the panic I felt at not having anyone near me that I could really trust. I mean, how much did I really know Demetri?

By the time we reached the front door, the room felt like it was spinning. Great, add a panic attack to my already awesome night.

Demetri stumbled slightly, forcing me to grab him so he could walk in a straight line. “Whoops!” He laughed and pushed open the screen door to the porch.

Evan's house was nestled a few blocks from the beach. His parents were never home. Everyone in Seaside knew he threw these parties. It just seemed like nobody cared.

Sometimes the cops came by, but even then there were always bigger fish to fry in our sleepy town. So it wasn't ever a problem.

“Beach?” Demetri said breathlessly into my ear.

No. Absolutely not. Not with him drunk. With my luck, he'd try to swim and I'd have to jump into the frigid water and save his sorry butt.

“Um, why don't we just walk around the block? I really don't want to be away from the party that long.”

“Okay.” He shrugged and fell into step beside me. “So, you never said yes.”

“To?”

He threw his head back and laughed, still unsteady on his feet. “Being my girlfriend. Damn, you're adorable.”

I could have sworn I said yes, but then again, he had quickly kissed me and I'm a little fuzzy on what was being said, what with all the music and Demetri slobbering all over me.

“Why me, Demetri? You date movie stars. You date girls who look like supermodels. I guess I'm kind of confused. I mean, on top of all that, isn't this sorta fast?

Demetri stopped walking and leaned against the chain-link fence, folding his arms across his chest. “Baby, you want to see fast, I'll show you fast. This is the slowest I've gone in a relationship.”

Right.

“Besides…” He pushed away from the fence and leaned down to kiss me. “I want you. I figure you're the type of girl that needs the big gestures. I mean, you're special.

“So you want to put a label on us in order to get me into bed with you?” I asked, suddenly furious.

“No!” He started laughing all over again, shaking his head. “Seriously, you have to be like the cutest girl on the planet.” He kissed my forehead.

Was he calling me easy?

“Stop glaring.” He kissed my cheek and grabbed my hand as we continued our walk. “What I'm saying, very horribly might I add, is that I really like you. You're different. Not like other girls.

I exhaled. That was better.

His smile was wide and excited as he pulled me into a side hug and kissed the side of my mouth. “Do you like me too?”

“Of course I do!” I punched him playfully on the arm. “But I'm thinking you don't have trouble with the opposite sex. I mean, I do read the gossip magazines like everyone else.”

His arm tensed on my shoulder. “You shouldn't read that crap.”

“It's not like I believe any of it,” I reassured him, looking into his eyes to convey the seriousness of my confession.

“Good.” His smile had vanished. “It's just that a lot of those gossip magazines have it all wrong about me. I mean, I'm not the man-whore they make me out to be.”

“Really?” It was my turn to be serious.

He grinned. “Nat, I'm dead serious. I'm not that bad. I mean, I'm bad, don't get me wrong.

“So first, I'm different, second I'm easy, and now you're ignoring your common sense to be with me? Wow, I actually believe you about the gossip magazines being wrong.

“Hey!” He put my head down between his arm and body so it was stuck underneath his arm in a headlock. “I've got plenty of game.”

“Prove it!” My words were muffled by his shirt. He didn't smell like Alec. He smelled like peppermint and cigarettes. Did he smoke?

“Fine.” He released me and stepped back. “Natalee.” He took both my hands in his, gone was the smile. His eyes gazed intently into mine.

“You are the most unique and beautiful girl I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When I'm with you, you make me want to be a better man. You make me dream of things I never thought possible.

“But it's more than that — I want you. I want you so bad, that when you're not by my side, it hurts.” He placed my hand over his heart then brought it up to his mouth to kiss it.

Dumbfounded, my mouth gaped open.

“I guess what I'm trying to say,” he continued, “is that my heart hurts because it never knew what it was missing until now.”

His eyes were glazed with unshed tears. Either he was the best actor in the known universe, or he was dead serious — or on drugs. Did drugs make you spout out romantic stuff like that?

“That was…” I gulped. “Beautiful, Demetri.”

He winked. “I meant every word.”

My heart picked up speed as he crushed his lips against mine, his hands got lost in my hair, sending shivers down to my toes.

“Stay with me tonight,” he murmured again across my lips.

I nodded.

“Good.” He stepped back. “Now let's go dance.” His eyes were glazed as he tugged me into his arms and then pushed back. He was so hot and cold it was almost dizzying being with him.

Did drugs do things like that to you? I mean, not that I was suspicious, but still. His mood swings were getting strange.

His hips did a seductive rock star move that I'm sure the kids' channel would censor, and I couldn't help but laugh.

“Whoa, easy, Tiger. Don't go moving like that all over the place. You could get random strangers pregnant.”

His smile froze on his face. “That's not funny, Nat.”

“I was kidding.” I grabbed his hand but he pulled away.

“Whatever.” He looked away and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Let's just get back.”

What the heck did I just do? And why was he so upset? Geez! Talk about mood swings! Maybe he was just feeling the effects of all that drinking.

He sure smelled like it, and I could have sworn I saw him pop something else in his mouth as we walked back toward the house.

Ugh, I didn't know, but either way I was more than thrilled to be back inside. Demetri led me to the dance floor again. The dancing was different. He wasn't laughing anymore.

“I… I need to use the bathroom!” I yelled in his ear.

He shrugged and walked toward the drinks.

Okay. Weird.

I had to crawl over at least thirty gyrating teenagers in order to find the bathroom, and when I did, there were people making out in there.

Awesome.

I went to the upstairs bathroom and was relieved to find it empty.

Shutting the door, I leaned against it and exhaled. Did I really want to spend the night with him? Was his definition of spending the night and mine the same?

Confused, I splashed water on my face, took care of my business, and ran back down the stairs. We needed to talk. I had to set boundaries, even if he made fun of me for it.