Author's Note: Chapter Four yay! As Always, Read/Enjoy/Review!

Chapter 4: Do You Still Doubt Me

" Doubt is easy. Taking someone at their word is the hard part."-Anonymous

I don't know how many shots I've taken, but what I do know is this. They don't burn anymore, well as much, when I swallow them. I laugh loudly, jumping when the shot Tyson had poured for me sloshes, clear liquid spilling down my hand.

" Damn," I say quickly pressing the shot glass in his hand so I can lick the liquor from my skin, slanting my eyes at him, " Don't you dare drink that one."

" Oh, she's getting feisty now," Evangeline calls in a sing song voice across the table, and I lovingly flip her my middle finger before snatching my shot from Tyson, who was holding the glass halfway to his lips, a dazed smile on his lips.

" Am not. Just drunk," I point out, giggling madly as if I had just said the funniest thing in the world.

" Exactly, you get drunk, you get feisty, I should know," she says, and I roll my eyes quickly taking the lime Tyson holds out to me quickly drinking the shot and replacing the glass with the lime.

" I like feisty," Tyson says into my ear and I choke, coughing wildly.

" Well, I will have you know, Evangeline is sadly mistaken, I do not get feisty. Ever," I say smiling at him, laughing as I try to blink my eyes clear.

" Oh, really?" he says a slight challenging tone to his voice, and i nod my head rapildy, smiling sweetly.

" Yes, really. It is physically, psychologically, all ways, impossible, for me, to get feisty," I proclaim proudly giggling when Charlotte throws an arm around me singing loudly along to the song.

" I say, we test that theory," he says, lining up all the shot glasses, pouring Patron expertly despite his drunken state.

" Oh, and how do you suggest we do that?" I ask, watching him as he hands a lime and the salt to Evangeline.

" Body shots," he declares, and I shake my head looking at him as if he's sprung a third head.

" Nope, no way, wont happen," I say and with my jaw slacking open I watch as Evangeline lays across Jared's lap, exposing her throat and Jared, not missing a beat pours the salt, licks her neck, takes the shot and sucks the lime.

" Surely, we can do better then them," Tyson urges me, " Come on, I dare you."

I stare at him, my eyes narrowing and I take the shot he holds out to me.

" All right fine," I say, " And fuck yes we can do better than that."

Before I can stop myself, I stand up, straddle his lap, and looking over my shoulder satisfied to see the dumbfound look on Evangeline's face, and I push his head to the side, exposing his long throat, dump the salt and lick. I tip the shot glass into my mouth, swallowing the liquid and look around helplessly for the lime to chase away the bite of the alcohol, and find that Tyson holds the lime tightly between his lips, and with the help of the liquid courage I have spent the last hour drinking I close my mouth over his taking the lime.

Evangeline gives a wild cheer as I climb off Tyson's lap, his face covered in complete shock as I straighten my dress.

" I'd say I did better than them, now if you'll excuse me," I say turning towards Evangeline, taking her hand, and then Charlottes, " I'm going to dance with my girls."

" I cant believe you did that," Evangeline calls to me over the loud music as we lose ourselves in the crowd of people and I laugh throwing my hands in the air as I dance.

" He dared me," I yell back, " And it helps that I'm drunk."

With a final laugh, and loud music pouring around us, we dance.

Tyson's POV

I sit with Jared, looking down from the booth, easily finding Braelyn in the crowd. Her dark hair shining under strobe lights that flash along with the beat, and my pulse races as she rolls her body, her mouth moving as she sings along with the song, dancing happily with Evangeline and Charlotte.

" I know that look," Jared calls to me and I turn to him, raising an eye brow at him.

" I don't know what your talking about," I say taking the shot glass he hands to me.

" Oh yes you do. But that's okay, I wont push you on it, for now. I myself am going to go steal a dance from Evangeline, come on Landon," Jared says easily pulling Charlottes fiancé to his feet and I watch as they walk away.

Of course I know what he was talking about.

Braelyn has me captivated.

Intrigued.

I wont go as far as to say it's love at first sight. I don't believe in love. Or fairy tales. But what I do believe in, whole heartedly, is strong, primal attraction.

And Braelyn exudes it.

I toss back another shot, hissing slightly at the bite and get to my feet.

I walk through the crowd, smiling as I get closer and closer to the small group I'm here celebrating with, Braelyn still dancing happily even though Charlotte and Landon are wrapped around each other, and Evangeline is busy teasing the hell out of Jared.

I watch, eye brows raising up when a guy slides up to Braelyn, the popped up collar on his shirt telling me this guy is a tool, and his obvious spray tan, only furthers that assumption. But I stop, watching, waiting for the right moment to make a move. And when she leans in to him trying to hear what the guy says and then gives a firm shake of the head starting to turn away, I move in.

" Hey, there you are," I say wrapping an arm around her waist, giving a smile to the guy who looks more than a little pissed of by Braelyn's brush off.

" Here I am," she says smiling thankfully to me as I spin her away.

" Sorry dude," I call back over my shoulder.

" You didn't have to do that, but thanks," she says smiling before turning to walk away.

" Wait, Braelyn, dance with me," I say, pulling her towards me, staring down at her as she bites her lip nervously.

Braelyn's POV

" Wait, Braelyn, dance with me," Tyson says, and I stare up at him, nervously biting my lip.

" I, I don't think that's a good idea," I say, taking a small step back, my head spinning when he just steps closer to me.

" Its one dance, " he murmurs taking my hand, " It cant hurt anything."

So I let him lead me into the crowd, and I find Evangeline dancing with Jared, Charlotte with Landon, and quiet the panic that skitters inside of me.

" Your right, its one dance," I say smiling as we fall into the rhythm of the music.

One song melts into two, and then three, and I lose myself to the music.

To the moment.

My back presses against Tyson's chest, with the help of my four inch heels, and his hands stay firmly planted on my hips. Still enjoying the drunken haze I managed, with help from Tyson, to drink myself in I let Tyson turn me to face him, a crooked smile on his lips that light up blue eyes.

And my heart gives a startling thump, causing me to freeze when he runs his hands over my bare shoulders, trailing down my arms. With my pulse hammering in my throat I watch him, and its almost like we're moving in slow motion as he leans down, his lips a breath away from mine, and I step away, shaking my head.

" I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I shout over the music before finding escape in the crowd.

" Braelyn, Braelyn wait," Tyson calls after me but I keep walking, trying not to bump into people on my way.

My chest feels like its going to explode as I find my way back to the V.I.P Suite, and I know how desperately I need to get out of the noisy club. Away from the flashing lights, and the feeling of being trapped that has suddenly fallen over me.

I search the booth, trying to find my purse, and with shaking hands running through my hair I almost scream with frustration.

" Shit, shit, where is it?" I mutter to myself, and I spot my shiny black clutch tucked just under the booth and snatching it up I whirl on my heels finding my escape. Every step I take my hearts pounds faster, thoughts whirling madly in my head, which is spinning enough on its own thanks to the multiple shots of Patron I had indulged in.

I reach the door, and just as I begin to push it open one of the security guards call out to me.

" You leave, you cant come back in," the deep rumbling voice says and with a nod of my head I push through the doors welcoming the warm air that I drag into burning lungs.

I pull open the door of Evangeline's black Lexus IS, pulling one black high heel off replacing it with a black flip flop, and I repeat the process with the other before pulling my cell phone from my bag and hiding it under the seat and with keys in hand I shut the door jumping just slightly when the noise echoes loudly around me.

I start walking, instinct taking me where I want to go, when someone grabs my arm whirling me around.

" Where do you think your going?" Tyson asks looking down at me his hand still firm on my arm, and I gently pull it free.

" Need air. Going to take a walk," I say, smiling up at him.

" I'll go with you," he offers, his hand resting on my lower back as I start walking.

" You really don't have to come with me," I say, " Go back in, have fun."

" Okay fine, see you later then," he says and with a smile and wave I pick up my pace, walking towards the beach, " Wait. Wait. Geeze. You aren't seriously going to go walking through the streets of San Diego drunk, by yourself, at night."

" Your right. I don't plan on walking through the streets. I plan on walking to the beach."

" You cant be serious, that's like, twenty miles from here," he says easily keeping up with my pace.

" Its only eleven miles," I say, " And I am serious. I love the beach. Especially at night."

" Your really going to make me walk eleven miles aren't you?" he asks and I laugh tossing my hair over my shoulders.

" I'm," I emphasize the word, " Not making you do anything. I'm taking a walk. Whether you choose to come along is entirely your decision."

" Well, I'm not going to just let you walk by yourself. So…" he says, his words trailing off. And I'm grateful for it. The only sound to be heard is the distant sound of the waves crashing on land in front of us, and the sound of night life behind.

We walk, comfortable silence between us, and the first chill from the ocean air hits me, and it feels just right.

Perfect.

We come to the first dune, and I pull my flip flops from my feet hooking my fingers through the straps, and turn to look up at Tyson, his dark hair ruffling in the wind that comes off the sea.

" Thanks for walking with me, but I'm fine now, really. You should go back," I say smiling up at him.

" Oh, your going to let me walk the eleven miles back by myself, I see how it is," Tyson jokes pulling a reluctant giggle from me, " Besides I get the distinct feeling that you are trying to avoid being alone with me."

" I don't know what your talking about," I say, blush creeping in my face.

" Uh-huh. Well if its all the same to you, I'll walk on the beach. I like the beach you know?"

" I do. I would hope so, since you live in Florida and all."

" Ahh, so you do know about me."

" Sure I do. Your twenty seven. Originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma. You split time between Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and L.A," I say trailing off when he laughs, " What? You think because Jared was the first to get to you about the benefit concert that you weren't all ready on my list?"

" So I was on your list?" he asks curiously and I grin nodding my head.

" Mhm, ever since I found out that you run Don't Hate On Haiti, I bought three of those shirts by the way," I say pushing my hair out of my face, " So yes you were on my list, and being on said list I had to find things out about you, you know, just in case you tried being difficult, that way I would know what to try and bribe you with."

" I don't see how knowing how old I am, and where I live could be used in a bribing situation," he says, and I chuckle, lowering to the sand.

" I know more than that. You love Dr. Pepper, almost all food on the Sonic menu, and hot pockets. I was fully prepared to bribe with you any and all of those things if I had too."

" Well damn, maybe I shouldn't have been so easy," he says wincing when he realizes what he said and how it sounded.

" Well, that'll teach you wont it?" I giggle freely, clucking my tongue, " Shouldn't be so easy Tyson."

" I'll keep that in mind. Well, since you know so much about me, I think, its only fair that I get to know something about you," he says and I shake my head looking out over the waves that crash on shore.

" You know my name, where I work, and from what you've said you have read my blog, which might I add, I doubt, and you've seen my work, what more do you need to know?" I ask, shivering slightly.

I watch him as he shrugs out of his coat and lays it over my lap and I smile raising my legs under it finding it warm on my skin resting my head against my upraised legs, I look at him.

" Why would you doubt that I read your blog?" he asks seriously and I shrug my shoulders.

" I don't know, I guess I just assumed that your busy. Recording. Touring. Doing whatever it is people do when they are in a famous band. Raising hell, trashing hotel room, breaking groupie hearts every where you go," I laugh but when he doesn't share in my humor I feel a sick ball of worry settle in my stomach.

" Well, I do like to raise some hell, have never trashed a hotel room, well not too much anyways. As for groupies, well, lets just stay I try to stay away from them. Learned my lesson a time or two," he says, and I smile silence falling again.

A few minutes pass, and then Tyson starts talking again, completely catching me by surprise.

" It was in that small village in South Africa, much like the many others I visited on this campaign, that I watched from behind my camera, as a mother held her dying child. Tears rolling thickly off her face as she prayed for her baby to be spared. In that moment my heart shattered. In that moment I was humbled. In that moment I was reminded why it is that I do what I do."

Tyson quotes from one of the hardest blogs I have ever written, and I feel my eyes burn and my throat thicken as I try to clear it.

" Do you still doubt?" he asks,

I shake my head, turning away to let just one tear fall.