by Anthology
I could feel Alec's chuckle behind me as I pressed play. We both laughed, and then Demetri's hand moved.
I thought I imagined it, but Alec's hand froze on my shoulder. "Play it again."
I pressed play again, this time it was a crow, and yes, it was beyond creepy. My eyes trained on Demetri's hand. Nothing.
Frustrated, I pushed the play button again. His hand moved, just slightly. I raised my gaze to his face.
"His eyes are open! Get the nurse!" I yelled. Alec was already out the door yelling down the halls.
Demetri's eyes widened as he looked around the room, his eyes filled with tears. "No, no, it's okay." I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "You're fine, okay? Don't panic. I need you to not panic right now, okay?" I felt warm tears slide down my cheeks.
Demetri didn't nod, but his heart-rate went back to normal. I couldn't blame him. If I was strapped to equipment I would be freaking out too. They had removed his breathing tube earlier that morning, but I knew from my dad's stories that Demetri would have a severely sore throat for at least a week.
"Ice?" I reached for a cup of ice that I had set there in hopes that he would wake up soon. He nodded his head just slightly. I scooted closer and lifted the spoon to his chapped lips with trembling hands.
He opened his mouth just slightly, that same mouth I had spent endless days and hours kissing. I choked back another sob as he tried to smile and nod again. He liked it. He wanted more.
I giggled, and lifted more to his mouth.
"Well, well, well, it seems my daughter's treating our patient well." My dad had been my lifesaver these past few days, always answering questions and telling me that everything would be fine. I got choked up just thinking about it.
He walked to the monitors and wrote some stuff down on his clipboard, then began a slow examination of Demetri. "How are you feeling? Blink once if you are in pain, twice if you are okay for now."
Demetri blinked twice. I squeezed his hand in encouragement.
"You've been in an accident," my dad stated. Demetri rolled his eyes as if to say no crap.
We all laughed nervously. Alec put his hand on my shoulder. I had one hand holding Demetri's and the other holding Alec's. I was the link between them, and it felt oddly right to be in the position I was in.
"You should have died," my dad said. Sheesh. Talk about no bedside manner. "I going to be honest with you, and I'm not going to sugar coat anything, son."
I saw a tear pool at the corner of Demetri's eyes. I wasn't sure if it was fear getting to him or the fact that my dad just called him "son", a term he hadn't heard for over ten years. Maybe it was a little bit of both.
"You have a long road ahead of you," my dad said. "I've made a few calls to enroll you in a local rehab program. The missus thinks it will be a good idea."
Demetri's eyes continued to pool with tears but in that moment he seemed strong, not weak. He stared at my dad as if he was some sort of god. "You're better than this, Son."
Okay, now I was getting choked up.
My dad sat on the bed and sighed. "You were made for more than music, more than just living on the edge, Son. I need you to believe that. I need you to work with me so we can get past this. Together. Can you do that?"
Tears streamed down my face as I watched Demetri slowly reach for my dad's hand and grasp it between his.
I wiped the tears away before my dad turned around, but his sixth sense picked it up anyway. He pulled me into a tight bear hug. "He's going to be fine, Baby. I'm going to leave you guys for a minute. I'll send the nurses in to start taking away some of that equipment hooked up to him."
I nodded and looked back at Demetri. His face was cracked into a half smile. "What are you smiling about?" I grinned.
His head moved slowly from side to side.
Alec laughed behind me and gently brought my back against him as he wrapped his arms around me. "I'm thinking it's the first time an adult has scolded him in years."
Demetri's smile widened.
We all laughed. I walked over to Demetri and kissed him on the forehead. "I love you, Demetri. I'll always love you." I grabbed his hand and placed it on my heart "You're right here. Always."
His eyes pooled with tears again, he nodded.
I walked out of the room, leaving the brothers alone with one another. It was time for me to go home and get some sleep. I found my dad at the nurse's station.
"Dad?" I was turning into an emotional basket case. He turned around, concern in his eyes. "I just needed to tell you…" Okay, insert hormonal teenager here. Tears streamed down my face. "Thank you, and I'm sorry. I love you so much. I'm so sorry."
"Baby girl." Within seconds I was in his arms. He was cradling my head in his hands and kissing my hair. "Oh, Baby. I'm the one who's sorry. Your mom said you two talked. I had no idea, Baby. I thought you were just going through a stage. I thought you wanted to be alone. But know this—" He pulled away from me, his eyes filled with tears. "You are my little girl. I love you so much. I would do anything for you. You are mine. Do you understand, Natalee? You are my flesh and blood and there is nothing on this Earth that is more important to me."
I half-expected the people around us to start clapping. His speech was beautiful, but not as beautiful as I felt in that moment.
For the first time in my life, I felt truly beautiful, and it was all because my father, my flesh and blood claimed me as his. I knew to whom I belonged, and his name was Paul Murray, my father."
I don't think I've ever cried so much in my life. I cried the whole way home. I cried as I made my way up the stairs, and when my mom burst into my room I cried again.
She held me, as all good moms should when their daughter is having an emotional breakdown. She promised we would try harder as a family, that we would work harder. She even asked for my forgiveness. And all because I fell in love with two boys.
I laughed through the last of the tears and changed into my sweats. I was exhausted. Tomorrow was Saturday. If all went well, I wanted to be rested up enough to visit Demetri without sobbing my eyes out or looking like a train had hit me.
Chapter Twenty-five
I threw on a pair of sweats the following Sunday night and ran across the lawn to the guys' house. I knocked and waited.
Within seconds Alec appeared. Demetri's voice was yelling in the background, "Since when does she knock?"
Alec rolled his eyes and tugged me in for a heart-stopping kiss. I parted my lips. Things were just getting interesting, when we heard Demetri gagging from the living room.
Alec winked and stepped back. I laughed and followed him into the house.
Demetri had only been home for a few hours. It looked like a tornado had attacked their living room. Clothes and medicine were everywhere.
"Moving?" I asked as I noted the suitcases in the corner. The room went quiet. I looked to both guys and waited for someone to say something.
"I forgot to take my medicine!" Demetri blurted then hobbled out of the living room with his crutches. I glared at his escaping form then turned my attention to Alec.
He sighed and sat on the couch. "We need to talk."
"I don't like that phrase."
"Fine." Alec chuckled. "I need to ask you something."
Tense, I stood. I couldn't sit. Not if he was breaking up with me, not if he was ending the best thing that had ever happened to me. I knew things were going too well. My parents and I were finally talking, Demetri wasn't dead, thank God, and Alec and I were on our way toward bliss! It was only a few weeks until Christmas and I was hoping we would be able to spend our entire break together. I didn't want to spend it alone crying into a pint of ice cream.
"Nat, stop worrying." Alec pulled me down across his lap. I straddled him, but kept my body from touching his. "I love you." He kissed my lips and chuckled. "Seriously, you're stressing me out. Stop freaking."
I managed a tight smile. "So what is it?"
"We're going on vacation."
So not what I
expected.
"Huh?"
"I imagined lots of screaming, jumping, and lots of kissing. Huh wasn't exactly on my list of answers." Alec flicked my nose and kissed my mouth. "We, as in you and I, are going on vacation before Christmas break."
"But we have like a week and a half of school and—"
"I've taken care of it."
"And my parents will flip out…"
"Already talked to them." Alec seemed bored with my excuses.
I glared. "I can't believe you would leave Demetri all by himself!"
Alec threw his head back and laughed. "Okay, first of all, you have trust issues. Second, Demetri is a grown man."
"Thanks dude!" Demetri called from the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes.
"And…" Alec's hands moved to cup my backside, pulling me closer against him. "I've managed to convince your parents that you deserve a few days away from all this craziness. Besides, I have to go to L.A. to take care of some stuff."
"But…" I had no argument.
"Your teachers are more than understanding. In fact I'm pretty sure they could care less if a straight A student skipped out before break. Demetri is going to go crash at your parents'. Bob is staying with him, even though he begged for Lloyd." He would beg for Lloyd, the less scary one. Jerk. "And we'll be back in time to have Christmas together."
I bit my lip and looked at Alec. "As a family?"
He nodded. "Your grandparents, your parents, Demetri, and myself. That is, if you'll have us."
I squealed with excitement. "When do we leave?"
"Tonight." He checked his watch. "You have exactly an hour to pack."
I scrambled off his lap and nearly fell to the floor.
"Easy, Nat. I want to get you there in one piece."
I saluted just as Demetri hobbled back into the living room. Alec looked at me and then made some lame excuse about making sure he had everything he needed.
"So…" Demetri plopped onto the couch and motioned for me to join him.
"So." I repeated.
"My brother."
"Your brother."
"Are you really just going to repeat everything I say?"
"You almost died," I whispered.
Demetri sighed then put his arm around me. "I think I liked it better when you were repeating after me, Nat." I released a shuddering breath and looked at his face. He licked his lips. "Nat, I'm happy for you guys. I can't say that it doesn't suck, but I knew. Damn, I knew the minute you guys looked at each other. What can I say? I'm a selfish bastard. I knew what I was doing, Nat. Even if you didn't know your own feelings."
"But I love you!"
Demetri laughed. "Aw, Nat. I know, but it's not the same kind of love you feel for Alec. Believe me, I've felt that love before, and that wasn't it."
"Before?"
He nodded. A shadow fell across his features. "Once, and she died. I think in a way you reminded me of her. I was trying to fix things, by not really fixing them, Nat."
I leaned my head against his shoulder. "So what do we do now?"
"You mean other than make noises so my brother thinks I'm totally making out with you?"
I pinched him.
"Or that." He winced. "We stay friends, and you keep me far, far away from parties and alcohol-induced stupidity."
"We can always put one of those dog collars on you and press the shock button when you act stupid or make a bad choice."
Demetri threw his head back and laughed. "Kinky, I like it."
"Who's kinky?" Alec growled as he came around the corner.
"Your fiancée."
"We aren't—" I felt myself flush red. "We aren't engaged. It was just pretend." I assured them both and myself.
Alec said nothing, but Demetri grinned like a fool. "Yeah okay, Nat. You just keep telling yourself that you won't be marrying this one over here the minute he asks you."
I felt my cheeks heat even more! Glancing away I offered a nervous laugh and felt my treacherous heart jump at the thought. I was only eighteen for crying out loud!
"We good?" Demetri grabbed my hand in his.
I squeezed. "We're good."
"Love you, Nat."
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I love you, too."
Alec lifted an eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I'm going to go pack!"
Alec followed me outside. The minute the door closed he pushed me up against it. "I can't wait to be alone with you."
I giggled as he kissed my neck and squeezed me against his hard body. "Finally, all mine."
"All yours." I hungrily searched for his mouth as he lifted me into his arms. Wrapping my legs around his body, I hung onto his neck and went about proving to him exactly how much of me he had.
Epilogue
"Merry Christmas!" I shouted, suddenly feeling like the girl jumping out of the giant present! Only I was jumping up and down and clapping my hands. After much convincing, Demetri and Alec both agreed to dress up as Santa and hand out gifts to the family. My little cousins decided to visit. They were twelve and fourteen. Both girls. And both avid fans of AD2.
"Ho, Ho, Ho," Demetri said very unconvincingly as he glared in my direction then tossed the girls presents. "My tummy is a rumbling like a bowl full of jelly."
I wrote the script.
Pretty sure they both hate me right now.
"I feel warm and cozy," Alec added, shaking his head. "But you know what will make me feel better, Santa?"
Demetri smirked, once a pervert always a pervert. "What, Santa?"
"A song."
The adults knew what was going on, as did I. We all clapped happily while Demetri and Alec grabbed their guitars and sat on the couch.
As the music started up, my cousins narrowed their eyes.
And then as both boys began to sing, I walked over and pulled off the beards and hats.
I've never heard girls squeal so loud in my life.
"Baby, I see your smile, it lights the sky, it makes me high with… Love is so deep, and feelings are strong. I need to feel close so I can carry on."
Then Alec's voice crooned, "My Christmas star, I'll follow you far away. Far away. I'll be where you are, just promise me that you'll stay. Stay."
They harmonized together, and I have to admit I was just as starstruck as my cousins. In fact, I was ready to pull out my cell phone and swing it back and forth in the air like a concert goer.
So many things had changed since my trip with Alec. We'd bonded more than I could ever imagine. He showed me all his favorite spots and even took me into the studio so he could start recording his acoustic album. Which Demetri finally gave him the green light on, considering he was going to be in rehab.
Demetri called us every day and every day my parents begged Alec to adopt both of them so they would be a part of the family, which I found alarming considering I was dating Alec. The parents who seemed not to care less about kids now had three. And it was awesome.
They weren't even staying at their own house during Christmas. My parents made up rooms for them, even though Alec was a little irritated that he couldn't sleep in my bed.
But my dad gave him the look, so he backed off and promised he'd sneak in later.
If anyone would have told me that my boring life would turn into what I was currently watching — two rock stars serenading my family on Christmas — I would have laughed. But I guess that's what makes life special. It's unexpected. Scary as hell. But in the end, totally worth it.
Keep reading for a sneak peak of Demetri's story in Pull: A Seaside Novel.
Excerpt from Pull
A Seaside Novel
Add evil.
Malicious.
Manipulative.
And crazy. To all of Nat's attributes.
Somehow she convinced her old boss that not only would it bring lots of business into Seaside Taffy, but having a legit rock star singing on the street would be almost like a tourist attraction.
I was not amused.
And I am still not amused.
Not when I'm driving to an actual job in a Mercedes that cost more than the building the taffy is sold in.
Nor when I get out of the car, grab my bucket — yes, there is an actual taffy bucket — and plop myself on the corner of the street.
People gather around. They expect me to sing the jingle. I want to kill myself. Why didn't I die in that accident?
"Seaside Taffy," I began. My voice cracked. It hasn't cracked since I was five. Again, I want to die. "Loads of fun, in your tummy. Yum, yum, yum." I swear I can feel Bob snickering from twenty feet away. "Ice cream, taffy, treats galore! Don't forget to stop at our store!" I gave a dramatic bow.
I expected applause, or at least some sort of acknowledgement that I did just give the best performance of my life.
What did I get? One solitary clap. One person. I cringed thinking of the pity clap. It was the type of applause every performer dreads hearing. Swearing, I turned around. It was a little girl. She was five, by the way.
"Want some taffy?"
I held out a piece of taffy and the mom suddenly looks horrified like I planned to lay a taffy trail all the way to my car in order to abduct her child.
They hurried away and I'm stuck again with a crowd of people trying to get around me while I shake my bucket. "Seaside Taffy!" I yelled louder this time and threw my hands out in the air. Might as well commit, since this was my hell for the next few months.
"Seaside Taffy!" I flailed my arms again and a piece of taffy flew out of my hand, right into the back of someone's head.
Great. Add assault to my record.
The person turned around and I was a little shocked, because to be honest, I thought I had hit some punk kid.
Not. The. Case.
"Seriously?" The girl stomped toward me, all five feet of her and glared. She was wearing a hat that said "The Best Taffy in the World" and an oversized sweater with leggings and boots.
"It slipped," I offered lamely.
She reached for my bucket. I jerked it out of her reach. "Nobody touches the bucket."