Tear (Seaside 1)

“Me too.” He gave me a smile. “Demetri just deals with things different than most people. It doesn’t mean he cares for you any less.”

“Why are you always defending him?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Forget I said that, please forget I said that.” I couldn’t escape him, I was trapped in the bed and if I even tried to stand up I was convinced I would collapse on the floor.

“Does it seem that way?” Alec asked looking at me speculatively.

I nodded.

“Hmm, I guess it would. I don’t know, Nat, I’m just protective of him. I’m older by a year, it’s my job to be protective.”

Lame answer, but it was all I was going to get.

“If you’re older by a year, and he’s a senior and you’re a senior.”

“Good math, Nat,” Alec teased.

“How are you in the same grade?”

“I live to learn,” he joked then nudged me.

“High school is like going to hell every day, so why would you willingly choose to go?”

“I never finished. We got busy touring and I kept putting it off. It’s as easy as that. Demetri actually likes learning. He likes studying, even though it doesn’t come easy to him. I’d rather do things. I can’t sit and listen to someone drone on for hours without wanting to jump out the window.”

“And here I thought you liked to sit and contemplate.”

He shuddered. “No, it just appears that way.”

I yawned.

“You’re tired. Go to sleep, Nat.”

I shook my head, I knew I was being a baby but I really didn’t want to sleep, not if when I woke up he’d be gone too. I hated being alone, which was so silly! I was alone all the time!

“I brought a book.” Alec grinned. “I’ll be right here, okay?”

“Promise?”

His eyes darkened. “Promise.” His whisper lulled me to sleep.

****

“Nat?” Demetri’s voice was really close to my head. I opened my eyes and jumped. He was lying on the bed, holding me in his arms. What happened to his phobia of sickness? And where the heck was Alec? He promised.

Defeated, I looked at my boyfriend and managed a small smile.

“These are for you.” Demetri reached behind him and pulled out a bouquet of white roses. White, not red. Interesting, and a really good gift, too. Darn him.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, and shook my head in hopes that it would clear the sleep and grogginess away.

“I’m sorry I bolted.” Demetri sighed “Being sick just freaks me out. Alec said he told you, but it’s not really an excuse to leave my girlfriend.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” Demetri snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”

“Fine. It’s not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” I threw them on the floor and crossed my arms.

Demetri grinned. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” His hand blazed a trail down my neck. “You’re beautiful, funny… I can’t even look at another girl.”

“Well, I’m glad the man-whore has finally settled on one girl.” Sickness made people braver, I decided.

“Only one.” He vowed, then reached down and gently kissed my lips. “Are you really feeling better?”

I thought about it for a second. My head wasn’t pounding anymore, though I still felt kinda dizzy even though I was lying down. My legs felt like lead, and my mouth tasted like cotton, but all in all, at least I wasn’t as tired as I had been before.

“I think I’m better.”

“Hmm…” Demetri threw off my covers, I looked down. Holy crap. Someone undressed me and put me in sweats. Mortified, I closed my eyes.

“Chill, babe. It’s not like you’re the first girl I’ve seen naked.”

Right. Because that makes me feel better. I grit my teeth and pushed off the bed. “Did you undress me then?”

“It was a team effort.”

I wanted to die. “Both you and your brother undressed me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that sort of thing illegal in all fifty states?”

“Chill, Nat. It’s not like we took turns with you or anything.”

Without responding, I tried to get up. I needed to get out of there and go home. I was too confused to stay and felt so sick I just wanted to be in my bed. My head was spinning. I put my weight on one foot and then the other, trying to make it to the door. “You can’t go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they’re sick.”

Demetri frowned.”But you were uncomfortable. Plus, I’m the one who did it. Alec was here supervising. For some reason he didn’t trust me to do the deed without peeking.”

“I’m going home,” I announced.

“Like hell you are!” Demetri grasped my arm, his fingers digging into my sensitive skin. “You’re staying here and that’s final. You’re sick. You shouldn’t be up and walking anyways. Come on.” With a grunt he lifted me up and cradled me in his arms. You would think I only weighed ten pounds. He walked briskly down the hall and then down the stairs.

“She try to escape or something?” Alec asked suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I glared.

Alec put his hands in the air. “She’s scary when she’s sick.”