Chapter 4: Chapter Four

Demetri

“So, what are you doing tonight?” I leaned close to Nat's body, nervousness rolling off of her in waves.

“Homework.” She slammed her locker door and smiled. “And you?”

“Whitney,” I teased.

“Huh?” Her eyebrows pinched together like she actually didn't get my joke about banging one of the cheerleaders. Aw hell, tell me I wasn't flirting with a virgin. That's just what I needed.

A girl who didn't know how to kiss and thought that sex was called making love. Kill me now.

My smile grew as a comfortable silence settled over our conversation. “I'm kidding, girl. You really need to get out more.” And I would be more than happy to show her all that needed to be shown.

“Okay.” She didn't return my smile; if anything, she looked pissed off like I'd just told her I was going to drive over to her house and kick her puppy.

Nat turned her back on me—like I didn't matter. Like I wasn't Demetri Daniels. Seriously?

Moving in front of her, I braced her shoulders and tried again. “What'd I do?”

I caressed her shoulders, running my hands up and down her arms, memorizing the way she felt beneath my touch. Yeah, she'd be fun. And she'd be beautiful, freaking beautiful.

I couldn't wait to taste her, to peel back all those layers until she was naked beneath me. My eyes widened so I could take more of her in—drink her until I was satisfied.

“Really, Demetri?” Alec's hand gripped my shoulder so tight I almost winced. “Begging isn't your style.”

I forced a smile. “Sorry, Nat. He's right. I don't beg. I don't usually have to, but you make me want to.” I licked my lips. Her eyes darted to my mouth. That's right. Focus on the lips, little girl.

“Run along,” Alec encouraged. His eyes basically threatening me within an inch of my life. Fine. I'd go. He could play the hero all freaking day but in the end? She'd be mine.

Alec could go to hell for all I cared.

With one last smile, I turned on my heel and walked away, almost colliding with another guy who'd been talking to Nat earlier.

“Sorry, man.” I sidestepped him then grabbed him by the arm. “Hey, you know that girl?”

“Nat?” The guy shrugged. “Sure. Why?”

“Does she work somewhere?”

“Why? Are you going to stalk her?”

I smirked. “My man, do I look like I need to stalk girls in order to get a piece?”

“No.” He laughed. “Hell no.”

“Right. So her job?”

“Seaside Taffy,” he answered quickly, “I work there with her.”

“And Seaside Taffy is??”

He rolled his eyes, “Downtown, you can't miss it, there's only one main street.”

“Damn, I hate this place.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, well, welcome to the club, rock star.”

I waited exactly ten minutes before calling my brother's phone—the same phone Nat had in her pocket.

“Hello?” she croaked on the other end.

Ah, my heart picked up speed. Her voice was so sweet, so innocent. I could do with that—innocence. “Naughty girl stole my brother's cell phone.”

“Hey, Demetri.”

“Hey, yourself.”

A few seconds of silence went by. “Is there something you need?”

Sex. You. Redemption. Drugs. Really, there were so many choices at that moment it was hard to decide. “That depends.”

“On?”

“If you're offering to help me with my… needs.” If she didn't catch on to that innuendo then there was no hope for her and I was going to have to step up my game.

“You're disgusting.” I could feel her scowl.

I tried to hold back my laughter. “Aw, thanks, sweetheart.”

“Look.” Her voice shook, “I didn't mean to take Alec's phone. Is there a place I can drop it off or something?”

And ruin all my plans? “Why don't you just keep it until tomorrow? We'll see you at school and make the swap?”

“He's going to know his phone's missing, besides he has mine.”

Yeah, he did, only big brother was losing his touch. When we'd gotten home he'd set the phone on the counter and allowed me the opportunity to hack into it.

“I know.” I sighed, “I've already hacked into it. High School Musical, Nat. Really?”

She groaned. “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 that?”

“That's besides the point. We're talking about you now.”

“Did you need anything else?” she snapped.

You. “Are you offering?”

“Bye, Demetri.”

The conversation ended.

Shocked, I stared at the phone.

“What?” Alec came downstairs and pointed to the phone. “Something wrong?”

I stared at the phone. Surely she was going to call me back? Right? That wasn't on purpose? “I think I got hung up on.”

“Ouch.” Alec winced. “How'd it feel?”

“How'd what feel?” I set the phone down and crossed my arms. Any minute. Any minute now. Why wasn't it ringing?

“Rejection.”

“She didn't reject me,” I said defensively. “She probably just lost cell service.”

“Rright.” Alec laughed, “Whatever you say. Oh, and PS we have therapy tonight so… don't be late, and try not to… show up high.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please.”

“I'm serious, Demetri.”

“So am I!” I roared, “I can go a night without lighting up.”

Alec's face fell. “And you know this how? Have you even tried?”

I was officially done with this conversation. “I know my limits.”

“That was one time.”

“I don't care!” he yelled. “It's never happening again. We aren't doing this, Demetri. I can't—lose you.”

Snorting, I pushed past him. “Funny, shouldn't you have thought of that before you slept with my girlfriend and got her pregnant?”

“Dem—”

“No. You're so right. Maybe I'm losing control, losing my shit, but whose fault is that? You broke my damn heart and you expect me to listen to the shit that comes out of your mouth?

“Just…” Alec's voice was hoarse, “Try. For me. Just try.”

I sighed and grabbed the keys to my car. “I'll be back in time for the appointment. But I'm going out.”

“Demetri,” Alec said my name like a curse. “Let me see your pockets first.”

“Am I your child?” I opened the door so hard it almost strained my arm.

“No. Yet you make me treat you like one.”

I reached into my jean pockets and pulled them out. “Empty.” I didn't want to say it was because I'd taken my stash for the day.

Alec's face relaxed like he was relieved. “Thanks, man, I'm sorry, just paranoid.”

“Yeah, well, take a nap or something,” I grumbled, slamming the screen door behind me.

The car roared to life.

Once I was around the corner, I reached into the console and pulled out a tiny bag of pills.

Tomorrow. I'd quit tomorrow.