Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen

Demetri

I drove off like a complete jackass and then slammed on the brakes. What was I doing? Did I seriously get in my car and leave my girlfriend behind? My sick girlfriend?

I hit the steering wheel; my hands shook as I gripped until my knuckles turned white. It wasn't her fault. She didn't know about my dad.

The smell of hospitals freaked me out—stuffy noses made me immediately think the person was going to get pneumonia. I mean, when people are terminally ill, they can die from a cold.

Seeing Nat lying in that bed, her face pale. I died a bit inside, maybe it was because I wasn't on the drugs but my damn feelings were physically hurting me.

Swear, I never knew you could actually feel your heart clench. Mine did. I felt it squeeze and then I just… panicked.

I don't know how long I sat in the car staring out the windshield, but eventually, I turned around and drove back to the house, but not before stopping off and grabbing a bouquet of flowers.

Alec was downstairs watching TV. He didn't look up. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I ran my fingers through my hair, holding my keys in one hand and the flowers in the other. “It's just—she's sick.”

He sighed and put the TV on mute. “I know, man. You wanna talk about it?”

No. I wanted to get drunk. I wanted to forget that sickness existed; I wanted to forget that people died.

“I'm good.” I flashed a smile. “Has she woken up at all?”

“Nah” —Alec licked his lips and picked the remote back up again— “Maybe it would be good for you to go check on her? Just so you know she's okay?”

“Yeah.” I fidgeted with my keys. “Yeah, I'll do that.”

I made my way slowly up the stairs and let myself in Alec's room. Nat looked so peaceful, she had a small smile on her lips as her even breathing made my own pick up. She was fine.

She was so defenseless, so… pure. I walked up to the bed and took a seat. When she didn't stir, I lay down and pulled her warm body into my arms.

“Nat?”

Her eyelids flickered open in confusion as if she wasn't expecting me to be there. I couldn't blame her. I'd let her down—again.

“These are for you.” I placed the flowers on the nightstand and gave her an encouraging smile—the type of smile that says “I'm not leaving your side.”

Nat's eyes took in the flowers, her smile grew and then she mumbled a “thanks.”

I reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I'm sorry I bolted.” I 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.” I snapped. “Damn, why are you so easy on me?”

“Fine. It's not okay. I hate you. Take your stupid flowers.” She reached for the flowers, threw them on the ground, and smirked.

I grinned and had to fight to keep myself from barking with laughter. “Much better. What am I going to do with you? Hmm?” I ran my hand down her neck, my fingertips grazing her soft skin.

“Well, I'm glad the man-whore has finally settled on one girl.” Her eyes narrowed.

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

Nat scrunched up her nose. “I think I'm better.”

“Hmm…” I threw off her covers. She looked down, her eyes wide as saucers. Yeah, she was totally in Alec's sweats. Damn him.

“Chill, babe.

“Did you undress me then?” Her voice squeaked.

I wish. “It was a team effort.” Hopefully that would make her feel better.

“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, she tried to get up, putting weight slowly on one foot and then the other. “You can't go around stripping people of their clothes, just because they're sick.”

I frowned. Okay, so maybe lying wasn't the best option. I thought it would make her feel better, not worse! “But you were uncomfortable. Plus, I'm the one who did it. Alec was here supervising.

“I'm going home,” she announced.

Just kidding. Not fixed. I reached for her arm, “Like hell you are. You're staying here and that's final. You're sick. You shouldn't be up and walking anyways.

“She try to escape or something?” Alec asked, suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. I rolled my eyes and nodded.

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

“She's also suicidal. She wanted to walk home.” I snapped.

Alec scowled. “Nat, you'd make it as far as the kitchen table, pass out, and most likely crack a tooth in the process.”

Nat tensed in my arms. Damn, she was a firecracker.

“Lock the doors.” Alec's intense gaze flickered from me to Nat.

I put her down on the couch and then walked to the doors, locking each of them. “Crap, how long have they been camped out?”

“Since you came back with the flowers.” Alec answered.

“Who's camped out?” Nat piped up.

“Photographers, news crews, fans. Basically everyone in Oregon.” Alec cursed and took a seat next to Nat.

“Great,” Nat grumbled and laid her head on the arm of the couch. “If they saw me now they'd wonder what the fuss was all about.”

Alec tilted his head. “You really don't see it, do you?”

I walked back in the room and only heard the last part of the conversation.

“How breathtaking you are.” Alec's eyes shone with appreciation. “Nat, you're absolutely gorgeous without any help from makeup or fancy clothes.

“She hasn't?” I interrupted. “Rude, Nat. Rude.”

Nat laughed. “So that's how I get rid of you two? Ask for your autograph and throw my panties like the rest of them?”

I plopped onto the couch in between Nat and Alec. “I could live without the autograph part, but the panty-throwing sounds intriguing. You planning on doing that soon?

“I'll wait.” I grinned and received a chuckle from Nat and a kiss on the cheek. Take that, brother…

Alec cleared his throat. His eyes moving from me to Nat then back again. “I'll go see what I can do about the media for now. Why don't you guys watch a movie or something?”

Nat sighed. “My pick. I'm sick.”

I cursed. “My head hurts, does that count?”

“Your head always hurts when you use it, silly, so no, doesn't count,” Nat joked.

Alec left the room laughing, leaving me scowling at Nat. It was easy being with her. Talking with her. I didn't feel pressure to be someone that I didn't want to be.

Especially when her eyes kept flickering behind the couch—as if she were looking for someone.

As if she were looking for Alec.