Tear (Seaside 1)

“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. “As stimulating as this conversation’s been I got a ton of homework tonight, so I’ll see ya later.” I walked away but froze in my tracks when I heard gut-wrenching laughter behind me.

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 breath 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. But you’re pretty to look at, so as long as someone doesn’t scratch your face off, you’ll always have that!”

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. That title actually goes to Boring, Oregon.”

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. Oh my gosh, he’s going to think I seriously stole his cell phone like some crazy stalker!

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. If anything, it made me want to put on baggy sweats just so I could set myself apart from the groupies.