Hello, everyone! My apologies for taking so long to update. Life has been crazy. I have Chapter 3 done, which is below, but I don't have anything written past this, so until I have Chapter 4 written, I hope this update will tide you over. Thank you all who have reviewed/followed/favorited so far! It is very much appreciated. I hope you'll continue to as the chapters go so I know how you feel about this story. I love hearing from all of you. As for my other story 'The Other Side', I haven't had a chance to write the next chapter yet, but I'm hoping to this weekend. Thank you for your patience on that story and I hope you'll continue to follow me on 'Leddie's' journey regarding Loren opening up to Eddie on her past. Thank you to those who have reviewed/followed/favorited me on that story as well. I love you all! At long last, here is Chapter 3 of 'Fighting Temptation'. Let me know what you think! I don't own HH's, otherwise we'd have a 2nd season by now.

Chapter 3

(Eddie is at his penthouse playing on the piano. He closes his eyes often to feel the vibrations of the chords being played. As he's playing, his mind wanders to his first encounter with Loren. The way they met at the party and her instant sarcasm towards him but he could tell she was just protecting herself at the party. As he remembers the memories, his mind wanders to the next encounter with her at the park. The way they briefly talked it was clear she had things on her mind but didn't feel comfortable sharing them. He opens his eyes abruptly and sighs, resting his hands on his lap and shakes his head)

Eddie: "Why am I thinking about that girl? She means nothing to me." (scoffs lightly) "That girl has some serious issues. Even her friend was more laid back." (puzzled) "What was her name again?"

(After thinking for a moment, he nods)

Eddie: "Melissa, that's right. Well, Mel, as she prefers to be called." (chuckles) "She seemed more outgoing. I think Ian can agree with me on that." (leans his head back a little) "Speaking of Ian, haven't heard from him in a few days. I wonder if he's causing mischief?"

(Before Eddie can think or say anything else, there's a knock at his front door. He looks at his door and wonders who it could be. He gets up off the bench that's in front of the piano and goes to answer the door, revealing Ian)

Ian: (smiles) "Miss me, mate?"

Eddie: (smiles) "Hey, man! Come on in!"

(As Eddie lets Ian in and closes the door and sits on the couch, they speak)

Eddie: "Where have you been? Haven't heard from you in awhile."

Ian: (chuckles) "Yeah, sorry about that. I ran into that girl, you know, the college girl I saw briefly?"

Eddie: (nodding) "Yeah."

Ian: "Well, she has a new boyfriend that she introduced me to and he seemed cool so we all chatted for awhile. Anyways, she offered to hook me up with one of her friends who was interested in dating, but I politely declined."

Eddie: (raises his eyebrows) "Do I dare ask why?"

Ian: (raise his eyebrows) "You know why, man. Same reason you're not interested in a relationship. You got out of a bad relationship and aren't looking for anything serious."

Eddie: (sighs) "Yeah, I know. Ever since what happened with Chloe, it-it's like…it's hard to try again another relationship. That's why I can't handle 'em. I really loved her, but she screwed me over when she cheated on me with Roarke. Now…" (scoffs) "…I don't think I can handle getting close to someone again only to be hurt."

Ian: "Yeah, especially considering women know you were a singer and they're taking advantage of that. You know, act like they care so they can get something from you."

Eddie: (glares at Ian) "Yeah, I may not sing anymore, but I was a good one. You're the one who told me that."

Ian: (nods) "I did, dude. I still believe it. But even you have to admit that when you were with her, your writing material wasn't the best. It was because of her. She wasn't a very good influence."

Eddie: (scoffs) "Yeah, if I would've known that beforehand, I never would've stayed with her."

Ian: "Have you heard the latest on her?"

Eddie: (raises his eyebrows) "Do I dare ask?"

Ian: "Tyler asked her to move in with him and she accepted."

Eddie: (laughs incredulously) "Wow! After only a few months?! She moves quick!"

(Eddie sighs and shrugs)

Eddie: "Where'd you hear it from?"

Ian: "You know gossip around LA, especially where we live, man. Considering Chloe's a model, every little thing she does is pretty much news these days."

Eddie: (scoffs) "True." (tilts his head) "Do you know she called me shortly after everything happened to apologize for hurting me and even tried to tell me she felt bad?"

Ian: (shakes his head) "Sounds like she wanted to get rid of some of the guilt. If you ask me, she's too little too late on that."

Eddie: "Yeah, I still see her sometimes of course being we both live in LA. I honestly don't know how she's happy with him, but I guess she's into that sort of thing. But then again, she'd have to be if they're living together."

Ian: "Sounds like you're a tad big jealous."

(Eddie looks at Ian like he's nuts)

Eddie: "Me? Have you lost your mind?" (snorts) "No, I am most definitely not jealous. If she wants him, he can have her."

Ian: (smirks) "Well, look at the bright side."

Eddie: (leans back confused) "There's a bright side?"

Ian: (smirks) "You have two ladies to choose from?"

Eddie: (confused) "What two ladies?"

Ian: (laughs) "Oh, come on, man! Don't tell me you forgot already!"

(Eddie tries to think of the two ladies Ian is referring to, but he just shakes his head and shrugs)

Eddie: "You lost me, dude."

Ian: (sighs deeply) "Mel and Loren ring a bell?"

Eddie: (puzzled) "Them?"

Ian: (tilts his head, glaring at Eddie) "No, goldie locks and Cinderella."

Eddie: (shrugs) "What about them?"

Ian: "Mate, they were hot for you!"

(Eddie laughs hard at his friend before shaking his head)

Eddie: "Dude, I don't know if you noticed, but that Loren chick acted like I didn't exist. As for Mel, she's okay."

Ian: (eyes wide open) "Just okay?! Dude, she was hot!"

Eddie: (laughs) "Maybe it's because of the way she was dressed. I mean, did you see what she was wearing?"

Ian: (nods) "Yeah, I noticed. A pretty skirt to show off her killer legs and perfect top to show off her sexy body."

(Eddie shakes his head and chuckles)

Eddie: "Only you would notice that, Ian."

Ian: (shrugs) "What? It's true. Mel is smoking hot. I'm surprised you didn't notice."

(Eddie rolls his eyes and looks away, causing Ian to get the picture. He raises his head slightly and smiles before nodding)

Ian: "Aw, now I get it."

(Eddie looks at Ian with a questionable look and raises his hands)

Eddie: "Get what?"

Ian: (smiles wide) "It's not Mel you're interested in. It's the other girl."

(Eddie laughs in response and looks at his friend like he's lost his mind)

Eddie: "Are you drunk? No, let me guess, you're losing your mind."

(Ian shakes his head and smiles, pointing at his friend)

Ian: "Sorry, dude, you can't hide your feelings from me. You should know by now I can read you like a book. You like her."

Eddie: (tilts his head) "If you're talking about Loren, Ian, you're way off base. For one thing, she likes me about as much as I like her. Secondly, we annoy the hell out of each other. And third, you already know this; I'm not interested in a relationship. And besides, she made it quite clear she isn't, either. Hell, she doesn't even wanna be friends."

Ian: (shrugs) "So get to know her, mate. How hard can it be?"

(Eddie gives his friend a look, tilting his head)

Eddie: "If I remember correctly, you were there when I met her. She wasn't interested in meeting anyone. As a matter of fact, she didn't even wanna be there."

Ian: "Mel did, though."

Eddie: (smiles) "She made an impression on you, didn't she? The way you're talking about her."

Ian: (snorts) "Please! She's just a college student looking to have some fun."

Eddie: (raises his eyebrows) "Aren't you, too, though?"

Ian: (shrugs) "I guess. Mel is okay if you like the type." (chuckles) "But your type seems to be on the other college girl."

Eddie: (rolling his eyes) "Moving on."

(Eddie abruptly changing the subject causes Ian to laugh hard. Meanwhile, in the college dorms, Mel is sitting at her desk doing homework when Loren comes in, setting her jacket on the back of her chair that's against her desk. Mel notices Loren)

Mel: "Hey."

(Loren looks at Mel and smiles briefly)

Mel: "How was your walk?"

(Loren rolls her eyes and scoffs lightly)

Loren: "It would've went better if I wouldn't have run into what's-his-face."

Mel: (confused) "Who?"

Loren: (raises her eyebrows) "Mr.-I-think-I-can-get-any-girl-I-want."

(Mel turns around to face Loren and chuckles)

Mel: "Okay, in this city, you're gonna have to be a little more specific."

Loren: (glares at Mel) "That Eddie guy ring a bell?"

Mel: (shrugs) "Oh, him? He's not so bad."

Loren: "Says the girl who flirted with him. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you had a little crush on him."

(Mel gets up from her chair and goes to Loren)

Mel: "No, it's not a crush. I just find him fascinating."

(Loren looks at her best friend like she's lost her mind)

Loren: "How? Mel, he wasn't looking to be your friend. He was looking to hook up."

Mel: (nods) "I know that. Trust me, I spotted that the second we met." (shrugs) "But it doesn't mean that I can't get to know him. Ian sounded nice, too."

Loren: (raises her eyebrows) "Really? I wouldn't have guessed from the way you were looking at Eddie." (chuckles) "If I didn't know any better, I'd still say you had a soft spot for him."

Mel: (tilts her head) "Hmm. I don't know. He seemed to be more into you."

(Loren points to herself and looks confused)

Loren: "Me?"

(Mel shakes her head and rolls her eyes)

Mel: (sarcastically) "No, Mandy Moore. Yes, you. I was looking at you when I said it or weren't you paying attention?"

(Loren shakes her head and shrugs)

Loren: "Yeah, well, I'm not interested in him."

(Loren looks at Mel in the eyes and then looks down nervously before turning around, causing Mel to laugh hard)

Mel: "Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!"

(Loren quickly turns around and shakes her head at her friend, wondering what's gotten into her)

Loren: "Are you losing it? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Mel: (smiles) "You're into him. You're into Eddie."

(Loren scoffs and shakes her head)

Loren: "I'm not into him!"

Mel: (raises her eyebrows) "Oh, no?"

Loren: (shakes her head) "No."

(Mel goes closer to her best friend and looks at her half teasingly and half seriously)

Mel: "Are you telling me that you're not into Eddie? You don't have any feelings for him…non-whatsoever?"

(Loren stares at her friend and looks down slightly, as if trying not to show her true feelings. She glances up quickly and clears her throat, shaking her head)

Loren: "No, I don't. I absolutely have no feelings for him. He means absolutely nothing to me."

(Mel looks at Loren mysteriously, as if studying her to see if she's telling the truth. After what felt like an eternity, Mel shrugs and nods her head)

Mel: "Okay. Well, being you swear you have no feelings for Eddie…" (smiles a little) "Would you mind if I got to know him more?"

(Loren looks at Mel and tries to figure out the best way to answer the question. She then looks at Mel casually)

Loren: "Yeah, go head. He's all yours."

(Loren watches as Mel smiles as she walks back to her desk and goes back to her homework. Mel quickly turns around and looks at Loren seriously)

Mel: "You are telling me the truth, right? I want to know before I decide to get to know Eddie more."

Loren: (chuckles) "Yes, you're fine."

(Mel nods before going back to her homework. Loren sighs deeply and privately wonders if she made the right decision and told Mel the truth. Could she actually have feelings for Eddie? She sweared to herself and everyone else that she couldn't stand the guy, but was she just telling herself that or did she harbor some kind of feelings for him deep down? She honestly didn't know. When she first met him at the party, a party she didn't even wanna go to, she couldn't stand Eddie and his cockiness. But there was something different about him at the park. He actually seemed sincere or genuine in wanting to get to know her despite his sarcasm. Loren wondered if there was something past that bad boy image he acted like he had and if he was actually someone who had real feelings. Loren shook her head to stop herself from thinking such thoughts. There was nothing between her and Eddie. Not a possible relationship, not a friend, not even an acquaintance. She smiled and nodded that she was happy for Mel. But then a worried look came across her face…could she actually be interested in Eddie? And if yes, would she be able to step aside knowing Eddie might feel the same way knowing her best friend also likes Eddie?)

Thanks for reading also to those who review/follow/favorite! Please review so I know what you think! I love hearing what you all! To those who are also generous in the follows/favorites, thanks so much! Until next time!