Tear (Seaside 1)

I checked my phone again. No texts from Demetri. I put my cell by my pillow anyway and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

My entire Sunday was dedicated to homework. Demetri had his fair share as well, so we agreed to hang out Monday at school. I didn’t just miss him, I missed Alec too. But I knew it would be weird to just stop by their house. After all, I basically stayed the weekend with them.

My mom didn’t even ask how I was when she walked in Sunday night. She scurried into her office and said she had an emergency client. Which basically meant there was some sort of suicide attempt.

I shrugged.

My mind still itched to know why Alec and Demetri were seeing my mom. It wasn’t as if I could ask her what they talked with her about. And neither of them would say a word to me about it.

It just seemed like there was so much more to the story. Why were they really here? The situation bothered me more than it should because I was stuck smack dab in the middle of it. And yes, I guess I am semi-insecure, I just didn’t want to be caught up in something that would eventually hurt me.

The next day I accidently overslept. I only had time to brush my teeth, wash my face, and throw on clothes before I was running out the door to my truck.

Only, it was missing. I blinked several times. Maybe I was losing my mind? Who the heck would steal my truck?

“Geez, took you long enough to get ready,” Demetri said from behind me. I flipped around and felt myself blush.

“I overslept.”

“I couldn’t tell.” He eyed me appreciatively making my blush burn my cheeks like crazy.

“Do it again,” he whispered as he leaned in and kissed me.

“What?”

“Blush. It’s sexy.” His arms came around me lifting me off the ground. I giggled as he twirled me around then set me down. “You ready, man?” He called behind him.

Alec bounded out of the house. He was wearing some sort of graphic T-shirt and skinny jeans with Converse. I never liked skinny jeans on guys. I liked them on him. A lot.

I blushed again, but this time I turned away from Demetri. It wouldn’t go over well if I was caught blushing because of his brother.

“Let’s go.” Alec got into his car an unlocked the doors. The drive to school felt tense. I had no idea why but all I kept thinking was that I was somehow the reason for it. I looked between both guys and saw that neither of them looked happy.

Demetri’s cell phone ring jolted me enough to make me almost smack my head against the window.

“I’m sorry, what?” he roared. “How the hell did that happen?”

Lots of cursing followed and then he threw the phone to the floor of the car.

“How bad?” Alec asked quietly.

“Bad.”

“Atlanta bad?”

“Worse, man, so much worse.” Demetri turned around and bit his lip. “I don’t know how to say this, or even how to warn you.”

“Just say it,” Alec spat.

Demetri gave his brother a glare before reaching for my hand and kissing it. “The media’s cooked up a pretty ridiculous story. It’s not going to be an easy day.”

“What kind of story?”

My eyes flickered between the two of them. Alec’s hands were gripping the steering wheel so hard it looked like he was going to break it off.

Demetri cleared his throat. “One where you were seen kissing one brother one night, only to be seen almost kissing the other the next night.”

“So they labeled me a whore?”

Alec slammed on the breaks and put the car into park smack dab in the middle of the road. Luckily it was Seaside, so no traffic.

His eyes were furious. “Don’t you dare ever call yourself that. Do you understand?”

I nodded, suddenly scared. I hadn’t ever seen him this mad.

Demetri put his hand on Alec’s arm. He looked like a man possessed. I could see every muscle tense in his body. Finally, he turned back and we were on our way to school again.

“So what’s the plan?”

Demetri looked shocked. “How are you not more upset?”

I shrugged. “I missed breakfast and didn’t have my morning coffee. I have no energy to be upset.”

Alec cursed again and reached into the glove box pulling out a protein bar. “You gotta eat, Nat. You were sick this weekend.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say, Thanks, Mom, but something told me he wasn’t in the joking mood.

I nibbled on the bar as Demetri talked. “You’re my girlfriend, people know that. We’ll just have to do some damage control. And don’t be seen alone with Alec.”

“That won’t be a problem.” Alec put the car in park, turned off the ignition and jumped out.

“He feels responsible.” Demetri sighed. “He’s not mad at you.”

I nodded, tears suddenly clogging my throat.

“Nat, look at me.” I did.

Demetri placed his hands on either side of my face. “You have to be brave, okay?”

“Okay.” I bit my lip. “I can do that.”

“That’s my girl.” Demetri hopped out of the car and opened my door.

We walked hand in hand into the school amidst the awkward stares and whispers as we made our way down the hall.

Some students took pictures, others pointed and laughed. I wanted to die a thousand deaths. Within minutes a few giant men greeted me at my locker. They weren’t high schoolers, not unless we were suddenly putting steroids in the baseball team’s hot lunch.