Chapter 46: Chapter Eleven

Natalee

Work was busy.

It seemed like everyone and their mom had decided to come into Seaside for the weekend. I was handling the crowds fine until a mom with three screaming kids walked in.

“Evan.” I elbowed him. He still looked hungover from the night before. He was holding his head in his hands and moaning.

“Why. Do. Children. Exist?” His teeth were clenched.

I would have laughed if I didn't feel so bad for him. He said his head hurt so bad he wanted to die this morning. That's what he gets for underage drinking.

But the little kids were making my job easy — he was miserable.

“Make it stop, please make it stop.” Evan drank from his bottled water and glared at the mother.

I wouldn't be surprised if she disappeared on the spot.

“Evan, here.” I gave him some more aspirin and set about cleaning the counter. Seaside Taffy was one of the largest taffy stores in the city.

It had every flavor you could possibly think of, including some that didn't seem like they should be edible. Who wants to eat a grass-flavored taffy? Or buttered popcorn?

We also served ice cream and caramel apples. Evan was usually in charge of the candy while I helped serve the other food. But today he just sat like a bump on a log.

“Seriously, Evan, I need help.” I seethed two hours later when the line grew so long, it reached out the door and down the sidewalk.

Evan said something under his breath, but finally moved to the register and began taking people's money.

“Is it true?” A girl gushed to Evan.

“That your voice is very high-pitched?” Evan offered. “I'm afraid so.”

“Evan.” I nudged him. “Sorry, sweetie, is what true?”

“That like, the band AD2 is staying here in Seaside and going to school?”

“Yup,” Evan answered quickly. “Now what can we get you girls?”

They were in middle school and knew the art of distraction too well to allow us to manipulate them.

“So,” the girl in pigtails said, jutting out her hip. “You guys look old.”

Evan's grip tightened on the register. “Listen, you—”

“Yup, we're old! You're right!” I smiled wildly. “But girls, there's a line, we need to grab your order, okay?”

“Fine,” they grumbled in unison.

When I handed them their caramel apples, the pig-tailed girl whipped around. “Since you're old and in high school, do you like know the guys?”

“Do I look like the type of girl a rock star would talk to?” I countered.

They tilted their heads, taking in my candy-striped uniform complete with white visor, and shook their heads.

Awesome.

“Oh, I don't know. I'd talk to you, you know, if I was a rock star,” a voice said to my left. I turned and immediately wanted to die.

Demetri was leaning against the ice cream counter, his muscled arms protruding out of a tight gray T-shirt that was half-tucked into low-slung designer jeans.

“Nice visor.” This from the guy who has more female admirers than most movie stars.

I nodded.

The girls who had just been rapidly firing questions at me and Evan were shocked into silence.

“To answer your question,” Demetri said, looking between the two of them, “This girl is the exact type of girl I would hang out with. I may even kiss her today.

I was convinced I would have to do CPR. Were they even breathing?

Finally the one vocal girl piped up, “Can we have your autograph?”

“Sure.” Demetri pulled a marker out of his pocket and signed a few napkins for the girls before sending them on their way. My, he's prepared.

“Thank God.” Evan looked at Demetri. “I couldn't handle any more of their shrieking or questions.”

“Anytime.” Demetri nodded at Evan, then looked at me. “So, you're off in an hour, right?”

“Cool. I have plans for you, Nat.” His eyes did that thing where they magically get darker and close just slightly, making him look sexier than should be legal.

“Okay.” It was the only thing I could say. The crowds were getting ridiculous. “Hey, Demetri?”

He turned around.

“Take care of some of this for us?” I pleaded.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Fine, but you owe me!”

“I love him,” Evan announced. “I'm not gay, but right now I love him. If he can take all the females and loud people away from here, I may just kiss him.”

I rolled my eyes at Evan and laughed as Demetri left the store and signed autographs on his way. Just as I expected, once people noticed he was signing autographs, the crowds dwindled.

Evan looked around the empty store. “He's a god among men.”

“Don't tell him that, he's cocky enough.”

“I'd be cocky too if women threw their panties at me.”

“Are you still drunk?”

A few seconds went by and then, “Maybe.”

By the time my shift was over, my feet hurt, and I could feel a headache coming on, probably from all the stress.

I waved goodbye at Evan and grabbed my purse. I probably smelled like taffy and germy little kids, but I didn't care. I was just so excited that my shift was over.

And there was Demetri, leaning against a killer Mercedes CL 600. It was black. Figures.

“Nice ride.” I suddenly felt very, very inadequate. Why the heck were these two guys paying me any attention?

He shrugged. “It gets me from A to B.”

I'll bet it gets him to C too, but I kept my mouth shut. He was obviously proud of his car. I liked it. I mean, it cost more than most people's houses, but my mind flashed to Alec's car.

It seemed less… I don't know, maybe less of a status thing? It was probably my imagination and I was tired.

“Your carriage awaits.” Demetri opened the door and ushered me in.

“But my truck.” I pointed at my sad cheap truck and again wanted to disappear.

“I've already taken care of it. Keys.” He held out his hand. I dug through my purse and handed them over.

He walked over to the truck and put the keys under the floor mat. “Alec said he'd take a run into town and drive it back to your place.”

“Oh.” Why did the brother who has no interest in me have to be so nice again? It confused me.

“Hop in.”

The car smelled heavenly. A mixture of vanilla and leather. Wood paneling covered most of the dash. I've never sat in anything like it.

I mean, my parents were well off, but we weren't loaded like this. This was beyond anything I'd ever seen.

I was so horribly out of my league it was almost depressing.

“So, dinner?” Demetri asked once he started the car and drove away from the curb.

“You don't mind that I'm dressed like this?” I pointed down to my clothes.

“It's kind of hot,” he admitted. “Put the visor back on, Nat.”

I laughed and crossed my arms. “Jerk.”

“Aw, come on, babe, I'm kidding. I like the visor. Put it on one more time, just once.”

I stuck out my tongue but put it on anyway.

He laughed and parked in front of Owen's, one of the nicer restaurants in Seaside.

I threw off my visor and tried to fluff my hair. At least I didn't have my apron on, but it didn't help that my outfit looked like something a person would wear for Halloween.

I really was dressed as a candy striper. The owner of the taffy shop thought it was funny and cute.

This was me, not amused.

Demetri opened the door for me and ushered me in. The restaurant wasn't very crowded.

The hostess gave me a once-over, then smirked and looked back down at her table.

“Excuse me,” Demetri said smoothly. “My girlfriend and I have reservations.”

The lady didn't look up. “What name?”

“Demetri Daniels.”

The hostess's hand began to shake. She gulped, then slowly looked up to meet Demetri's gaze.

“R-right away, Mr. Daniels.” Her face flushed red, and I was instantly pleased that he stood up for me. At least I think that's what he was doing.

The hostess led us to a far corner of the restaurant.

“If there is anything, anything at all, I can get for you two—”

“Wine,” Demetri interrupted. “A house red, perhaps a Malbec?”

“Right away.” The girl practically tripped over herself.

“Demetri, we're underage.”

He shrugged. “I'm famous. They never card me. Trust me. They'll do anything for my business, including serving alcohol to minors. I mean, look at this place. It's kinda dead right now.

The waitress returned with the wine and gave him an overly obvious wink as she uncorked the bottle. I refused the drink.

He sure could talk a lot about himself. Not that I minded, he was interesting, but still. He hadn't even asked about my day.

I yawned. I suddenly felt flushed and exhausted.

Demetri ignored my yawn and obvious signs of exhaustion and kept talking. I hated his haughty attitude almost as much as I hated that he was right. Within an hour the restaurant was packed.

It was so loud we almost couldn't have a conversation. It also didn't help that people kept approaching our table. I just wanted them to go away.

Demetri never ignored his fans.

But he ignored me.

The entire night.

Finally, after dessert was served, I was ready to go.

Demetri was deep in conversation with a young girl who had just walked up and asked for an autograph. She couldn't be any older than me, and I was instantly jealous.

She was flirting with my boyfriend. My boyfriend.

Just as I was about to open my mouth and most likely make a fool of myself, Demetri reached out and grabbed my hand.

A shiver of pleasure ran through me as the girl backed off and glared, then finally left.

“Sorry,” Demetri apologized. “I didn't know it would get this out of hand.”

“You're one of the biggest rock stars on the planet, and you didn't think it would get out of hand?” Was he for real?

He at least looked sheepish when he shrugged. “Sorry, it's never this bad in L.A. I mean, people usually give us our privacy. I can go to Starbucks and not be stalked.”

“If you haven't noticed, the most exciting thing in Seaside is the ocean and the fact that we actually have a Starbucks. Of course people are going to freak out.” I was kind of angry and tired.

I needed to stop taking it out on him. It wasn't his fault.

Demetri cursed. “You're right, Nat. I'm sorry. Forgive me?” His smile immediately disarmed me.

I shrugged. “Fine, but no more ignoring me on our date.”

“I promise a date will never be like that again.”

“Why? Are we going to stay inside and become reclusive?”

Demetri grabbed my hand and kissed it. “No, the record company is sending over some bodyguards.”

Suddenly everything felt very real. “Um, is that necessary?”

“We got a few death threats yesterday.” He shrugged. “Nothing out of the ordinary, but you know, you should always be careful.”

Feeling a little alarmed, I could only stare at him. On what planet was that normal? I was silent as he paid the check and led me out to the car.

Fans were bustling outside the restaurant just as much as inside. Utterly exhausted, I just wanted him to take me home.

“Let's go.” Demetri strategically led me through the crowds. To say I was freaked out would be an understatement.

“Demetri! Is that your girlfriend? Who is that?” a girl shouted, and then a camera flashed.

Demetri's hand tightened in mine, and then in one swift movement he pinned me against the car and kissed me.

When he pulled away I opened my eyes to at least forty phones pointed at us.

“Guess so.” He nuzzled my hair, then tucked a few pieces behind my ear.

I think people were so excited and shocked, they didn't even realize we were hurrying to get into the car.

“Are you sure you can drive?” I asked. My throat was starting to feel achy and sore.

He laughed. “I've driven in worse situations.”

“I mean the alcohol.”

“So did I,” he shrugged and started the engine. I should have said something more, or at least been more aggressive about him not driving, but I was so freaked out by all the people.

He sped down the road and turned the corner, then finally opened his mouth to speak.

“No.” I shook my head. “You shocked me a bit though. Why'd you do that?”

“Damn.” Demetri hit the steering wheel.

“What?” I froze.

“We're being followed. I knew it was only a matter of time. It's just… We didn't think it would get this crazy here. I mean, it is Seaside.”

“And again, need I remind you that we have computers?” Exasperated, I leaned against the door and closed my eyes.

“I'll drive around the block a few times to lose them, then we can go home, okay?”

I'm not sure if I said okay or nodded or what. My eyes felt so heavy. I had to close them. It was as if someone had drugged me. Maybe I should have been smarter about trying to do so much in one day.

With a yawn, I curled up in my seat and fell asleep.