Eddie Duran had never been more thoroughly entertained in his whole entire life and that was saying something considering that he was a rockstar and had watched concerts of elite musicians, attended countless movie premieres, and danced the night away at exclusive clubs in every major city in the world. Eddie, however, would forfeit going to all of them if it meant spending the night with one Loren Tate and being allowed to watch her as she was being scared shitless watching horror movies in the dark.

If Eddie hadn't already seen Paranormal Activity, he wouldn't have been able to tell anyone what actually happened in it because he hadn't taken his eyes off of Loren the entire movie. Eddie was completely amused watching Loren as she watched the movie. Loren would audibly gasp and scream at all the scary spots and then would throw the blanket they were sharing over her head every time she anticipated an especially terrifying part approaching. Loren would then peak out from underneath the blanket almost as if she didn't want to watch what was coming but couldn't help herself and then would practically jump into Eddie's lap when she was startled by whatever scared her during the scene. Eddie had to admit that he liked the scenes the best that caused Loren to leap into his arms. Any reasons he had to hold Loren close were good ones, even if they only lasted for the briefest of moments.

Somehow during the movie, Eddie developed a brilliant but evil idea. Eddie handed the half eaten bowl of popcorn to Loren and excused himself to go and use the bathroom. Loren looked up briefly but had been so thoroughly engrossed in the movie that she barely acknowledged his leaving. During an especially quiet part of the movie, Eddie had snuck up and crouched behind the couch, smiled to himself, and bided his time until the perfect time approached. Loren was completely focused on the movie and oblivious to the world around her. Eddie waited in silence and as the music in one particular scene started off quietly and then started to build dramatically, he prepared himself for action. Just as the music reached its climax in the scene, Eddie jumped out from behind the couch, yelled "boo" at the top of his lungs, and grabbed Loren's shoulders.

Loren screamed at the top of her lungs, the bowl of popcorn went flying, and she dove underneath her blanket and ended up falling off the couch. Eddie collapsed on the floor in a heap of uncontrollable laughter. Eddie was laughing so hard that he was caught completely off guard when he felt a cold bottle of water being poured directly on top of his head.

Loren smiled slyly as she said, "I thought you might need a little help cooling down." Eddie went to grab Loren's leg but she easily sidestepped him, and then ran to the opposite side of the couch.

Eddie got this mischievous grin on his face as he got to his feet. So, Ms. Tate wanted to play. He was down for that. Eddie ran to the right end of the couch and Loren countered by running to the left end of the couch. Eddie ended up chasing Loren around the couch several times before he faked going right but instead went left and by the time Loren realized what had happened, Eddie caught a laughing Loren and grabbed her tightly around the waist and spun her around and they both ended up collapsing on the ground with Loren landing on top of Eddie.

Eddie rolled them around so that it was he that was on top of Loren. Eddie was pinning both of Loren's arms above her head with one hand and restricting her legs with his own and when Loren was completely immobile, he began to lightly run his fingers up and down her side with his free hand. Loren attempted to buck him off with her feet and struggled to get her hands free. Apparently, Ms. Tate was extremely ticklish and after a few more minutes of antagonizing her and her struggling, Eddie had a change of heart as to what he would rather be doing instead of tickling her.

Eddie released her hands and began to gently kiss her neck and worked his way up to her lips. Loren immediately stilled and then tilted her body up so that it was pressing directly against his and began to kiss him back lightly. Their kiss intensified, and Eddie found his hand resting on Loren's lower abdomen, his fingers gently reaching underneath the hem of the shirt. When Loren eagerly responded by placing her free hand on his neck and started to work her way down to his chest, Eddie began to slide his bare hand underneath her shirt, and felt skin on skin. Loren arched her back towards his touch, and his hand began to inch upward. Loren was so soft and she smelled like wild flowers.

Loren's breathing started to get more labored and she started to tug at Eddie's shirt to remove it. Eddie stood up, removed his t-shirt, and offered his hand to Loren who was still lying on the floor. When she reached up and grabbed his hand, he pulled her to standing position and began to pull Loren towards the direction of his bedroom.

Apparently, the change in position triggered something rational in Loren because all of a sudden Loren stepped out of Eddie's grasp, walked over and sat on the couch, and looked up Eddie apologetically, "Eddie, I want to do this, but we can't. You are more handsome than any man has a right to be, and I have never wanted anyone more than I want you right now, but sex means something to me. As much as I like you, I'm just not ready to share every part of me with you just yet. "

Eddie grabbed his t-shirt off the floor and pulled it back over his head and sat next to Loren. Eddie sounded guilty when he finally spoke "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let it get that far."

Loren smiled softly, "You didn't let it get anywhere that I didn't want it to go, and someday I'll be ready. I'm just not yet. You just broke up with Chloe a couple of weeks ago, and I don't want to be a rebound fling for you."

Eddie looked at Loren with complete shock and said emphatically, "You mean more to me than just some rebound girl. I haven't thought of Chloe even once this evening. You are the only girl that has been on my mind"

Loren shrugged, "This has been a fantastic evening but what happens when you go back to your rockstar lifestyle tomorrow and you're writing albums, touring, and having supermodels hitting on you all the time. I am just not sure that I can compete with all that and I'm not sure if I really want to."

Eddie smiled sadly because so much of what Loren had said was true. This night was a respite from his regular lifestyle and tomorrow he would be thrown back into the world of writing music, giving interviews, and planning his next album and accompanying world tour. "I think this is the first time that I have ever lost out on getting a girl because I'm a rockstar. For most women, being a rockstar usually seals the deal for me. "

Loren looked at Eddie regretfully. "If I were to be completely honest, the idea of hanging out with a rockstar is intimidating. I know that sounds ironic considering that the reason that I met you was because I am a fan of your music." Loren grinned with embarrassment, "And, I have definitely done my fair share of fantasizing about what it would be like to be with a certain rockstar" Loren stopped suddenly and winked at Eddie, "Let's just say in my fantasies we never hit the pause button."

Eddie raised his eye brows raised with approval and encouragement, indicating that if Loren wanted to elaborate on her "fantasies" that he would be more than a willing listener, and he would even take notes for future reference if it helped. Eddie thought to himself that Loren wasn't the only one that could be a good student.

Loren grinned at Eddie guessing pretty accurately exactly where his thoughts had taken him and shook her head slowly as she returned to her previous train of thought, "But when I went to meet you, I never expected or even desired to be allowed entrance into your world. As much as I was drawn to you, the rockstar lifestyle is kind of a turnoff to me. It's so loud and over the top. I live a really quiet and boring life, and it suits me. I sing and write music because it allows me to express my emotions and because I love the feeling of creating something out of nothing. Music is my passion, but being rich and famous doesn't appeal to me at all. In my experience, being the center of attention just makes a person an easy target for haters. For me, tonight, just sitting around like this and having a really nice low-key evening with a really cute boy is practically perfect.

Eddie concurred with Loren's description of their date night together, because this type of night suited him too and he couldn't remember the last time that he had truly enjoyed himself so much. He never wanted the night to end. He wished that rockstars had superpowers because if they did he would use it to freeze time, and Loren would never have to leave his apartment or his arms for that matter. Eddie thought, however, that being a rockstar wasn't just about having your picture taken everywhere you went and exploiting your wealth and fame so that you could lord it over the other 99% of the population.

Eddie relaxed back into the couch and put his arms behind as his head as he thoughtfully responded to Loren's statement, "I agree that parts of the rockstar lifestyle can be overwhelming. The invasion of privacy when you're a celebrity feels intrusive at times, and people think that just because I'm famous that I should be immune to what is written or said about me, but I'm not. My songs are extensions of my thoughts and emotions, so when someone trashes them or calls them superficial, it's difficult not to take it personally.

Loren grimaced, "I'm not sure I would have thick enough skin to be able to deal with all that and to still get out of bed every day.

Eddie nodded in agreement, "It's tough. But then there are the fans that touch my heart and inspire me as much as I do them. When you share your heart through your music, and someone approaches you at a meet and greet and tells you that you changed their life; it's an incredible feeling." Eddie gave Loren a pointed look "If I hadn't put myself out there because of the fear of being judged, there would be no music and you and I would have never met."

Loren reluctantly nodded with agreement. She was about to responded when her eyes sparkled, and she jumped up with excitement. "I have an idea for a song. Do you have a piece of paper? I have to get these lyrics out of my brain before it drives me nuts."

Eddie silently stood up and walked over to his piano and grabbed his own handy dandy journal and a pencil that he always kept nearby for moments such as this when he needed to exorcise the seeds of inspiration from his own brain. Eddie silently handed the requested items to Loren and sat next to her on the couch and watched intently as Loren, writing as fast as she could possibly write, scribbled words onto the empty page.

Eddie's face became engulfed in a grin as he immediately connected to the emerging idea and when Loren paused to think, Eddie grabbed his journal from Loren's hands and lyrics began to flow through him onto the piece of paper and he began to seamlessly continue where Loren had left off as if there had been no interruption of thought at all. Eddie's mind and body became this empty vessel and creative energy flowed through him onto the piece of paper. It was almost as if the words were a part of him and yet separate coming from something larger and vaster than him. It felt surreal, and yet he had never felt so present.

Loren in the meantime had torn out another piece of paper from his journal, found another pencil on top of a nearby table, and wandered over to piano and began to play with chords and melodies and to sing quietly to herself. Once Eddie had purged himself of all remaining drops of inspiration, he stopped writing and began to listen to Loren as random notes that she had been playing began to melt together and began to formulate the early stages of a chorus.

Eddie's mind began to descend down from the creative high he had just been on, and when he began to contemplate what had just happened, he became astounded by how ten minutes ago he and Loren were just having a casual conversation and how Loren had manifested something so completely amazing out of just an ordinary comment he had made. Eddie was starting to question exactly who the true rockstar in this relationship really was.

Eddie silently walked over to the piano bench and sat next to Loren on the piano bench to watch her work. Eddie' presence next to Loren startled her, and she stopped playing. Eddie looked at Loren questioningly, "Don't stop playing. It sounded great."

Loren blushed, "Thank you. I still find it so surreal that I am sitting here playing on your piano when two weeks ago we had never even met before. I can barely sing in front of my mom and my bestfriend. What is it about you that makes me lose all sense of self preservation?"

Eddie smiled winningly and looked down at Loren, "It's the Eddie Duran charm. Don't blame yourself. Women are unable to resist me."

Loren laughed and kissed Eddie gently, "Oh, I can resist. I just don't want to. It's kind of like trying to say no to a puppy."

Eddie jokingly looked appalled at Loren's statement, "Are you comparing me to dog?"

Loren smiled back innocently, "Don't be silly. Dogs can't play piano or write songs, and they are much easier to train."

Eddie smirked and kissed Loren's neck provocatively, "I can be easy to train with the right boner, I mean bone."

Loren burst out laughing, "Oh my God, you are such a guy!"

Eddie gave Loren one last hug before he reluctantly let go. "So, Ms. Tate I think you better distract me quickly with whatever you were just playing before all my good intentions of taking things slow with you are completely shot to hell."

Loren smiled slyly at Eddie, placed her hand gently on his thigh, and looked up at him provocatively, "I wouldn't want to take advantage of you in such a vulnerable state Mr. Duran. But, just thought I would share with you that one of my favorite fantasies included you, me, and a piano bench." Loren innocently clapped her other hand over her mouth and pretended to be shocked at what she had said and whispered sexily, "Thankfully, I stopped myself before I revealed to you where my tattoo is. I got it after I attended your concert at the Avalon. It's kind of in a hard to reach spot, but every time I'm in the shower and washing it with soap, let's just say I'm always thinking of you."

Eddie cleared his throat and stood up quickly and said with a husky voice with trace amounts of amusement and embarrassment. "If you'll excuse me, I think I might need a very cold shower right now and a new change of clothes."

Loren smiled knowingly, "I sure hope it wasn't anything I said". Loren then called out to Eddie sweetly and he started to rush out of the room, "Oh by the way, we're even now." Eddie was having a difficult time remembering his name in his currently aroused state and was momentarily confused by her comment, "Even for what?" and then it hit him suddenly. Damn, the girl was brilliant. Revenge was a dish best served cold.

After a very cold shower and a change of clothes, Eddie returned to the living room to find Loren again engrossed in composing the song they had been working on earlier. This time all traces of humor and teasing on her face were gone and replaced by intense focus and complete seriousness. Eddie stood at a distance observed quietly for a few minutes.

Loren had found his lyrics for verses in his notebook that he had written and had combined them with the chorus that she had written and was now finalizing the touches on the piano composition that she had just started before he had went to take a shower. Eddie thought in admiration that Loren was probably one of the hardest workers that he had ever seen and he was now wondering if she hadn't intentionally plotted to have him leave the room so that she would have the time and space to work in complete solitude.

Eddie had no desire to interrupt Loren's songwriting process as he was simply enthralled watching her. However, despite Eddie's good intentions, his phone rang, and its interruption broke the concentrations of both Eddie and Loren. Eddie wanted to hit 'ignore' on his phone but it was Jake, and Eddie wanted to tell him about the newly created song, and he thought that Jake wouldn't be calling at this hour if it wasn't something important.

Eddie gave Loren and apologetic look and mumbled, "It's Jake. I'll take this in the other room. You keep working. It sounds fantastic." Loren simply nodded and resumed what she had been doing while Eddie stepped into his bedroom to take the phone call.

Eddie answered jovially, "Hey Jake. What's up bro?"

Jake answered pleasantly but a little warily, "Hey Eduardo, I know it's late, but I'm at the office now and I got some news that I really want to deliver to you in person, would it be okay if I stopped by your apartment? I know it's late but, it's important."

Eddie knew that Jake wouldn't ask to come over at this time of night if it was just some mundane business matter and responded "Of course you can stop by. You're always welcome here man. You know that. Is everything okay?"

Jake said with seriousness "Everything's fine, better than fine actually. We just have an issue that needs to be discussed sooner rather than later."

Eddie responded with concern, "Okay, well come on over. I have some news of my own. Loren and I have been hanging out this evening, and she pretty much wrote the next song that I want recorded on my album."

Jake sounded surprised, "Great. I can't wait to hear it. I'm glad that Loren's there. The issue actually concerns her. I'm not actually sure how she's going to respond. I'll be over right over to tell you about it." And before Eddie could ask any more questions Jake had hung up.

Eddie walked back into the living room still trying to make sense of the weird conversation that he had just had with Jake. Loren looked up with concern as she approached him, "Is everything okay?"

Eddie shrugged, "I think so. Jake's coming over. He says he has some news. It must be important. He wouldn't make a trip out of here at this time on a Saturday evening if it wasn't."

Loren started to stand, "I can go. You probably need privacy to speak with Jake, and it's getting late. I need to work on my graduation speech this evening still and I work a full shift at the café tomorrow."

Eddie shook his head and gave Loren the best puppy dog look that he could manage. "Can you please stay a little longer? I really would like to play for Jake the song we just created, and Jake said that the news that he has actually has something to do with you."

Loren looked as confused as Eddie had felt after his conversation with Jake, "That's strange. What could he have to say that has anything to do with me?"

Eddie kissed Loren softly on her forehead, "No clue. But if it means I get to spend a few more minutes with you then Jake can take his time in getting here."

Loren smiled sweetly at Eddie and snuggled into his arm and he hugged her close. Just as Eddie was about to lean down and plant a kiss on Loren's partly open lips, there was a sharp knock at the door. Loren chuckled as she heard Eddie mumble under his breath that whatever Jake had to tell them better be earthshattering or that he was going to be a dead man.

Eddie opened the door and dispassionately greeted his manager, "Hey Jake. Glad you could stop by."

Jake fully aware that he must have interrupted an intimate moment said with a smile in his voice, "Hey Eduardo. Good to see you. Loren, if it isn't my favorite criminal. I thought you had better taste than to hang out with rockstars."

Loren laughed at the joke and went to give Jake a hug. "Hey Jake. Nice to see you. If you can overlook the bad manners and blatant narcissism, rockstars are really just like everyone else. Plus, I'm really just using Eddie for his piano and his body."

Eddie's eyes opened wide at Loren's teasing proclamation but then he looked down with an embarrassed grin and started to blush a bright beet right. "Crap. It's two against one now.

Jake embraced Loren in a great big bear hug and laughed jovially, "I really like you girl. It's about time Eddie actually got some good taste."

Eddie glared at the two of them but the corners of his mouth threatened to break out in a smile as he stated with the fierceness of a growling two year old, "Jake, I'm assuming you had something you wanted to discuss with us and didn't just come over here to see Loren."

The playfulness and teasing slowly depleted from Jake's eyes but his smile stayed in place. He exchanged a look with Eddie that communicated something but Loren wasn't exactly sure what.

Jake spoke up then and said with forced enthusiasm, "I do have something I need to discuss with the both of you, but I think I would like to hear the song you told me about first."

Eddie knew by Jake's reaction that his manager had deflected the weightier conversation that was to come with the less intense topic of conversation of songwriting. Jake never considered writing songs a casual topic of conversation and was constantly pressuring Eddie to write songs more timely, so the fact that Jake was trying to delay telling Eddie and Loren about whatever he came to tell them was an immediate indication to Eddie that whatever Jake wanted to tell them was something huge. Eddie knew his manager would tell them whatever it was in time and decided to just go along with Jake's suggestion to listen to Loren and Eddie's newly minted song.

Loren looked up at Eddie nervously, "I don't think it's done. I mean we have a rough start to the verses and a chorus and I have been playing with a melody, but it's very rough Jake."

Eddie explained, "Loren and I were having a conversation earlier, and in the middle of it, Loren jumps up and demands to me that she needs a piece of paper because she has an idea and she needed to write it down immediately. Loren wrote the chorus, which inspired me to write the verses. Loren composed the piano accompaniment while I was taking a shower and changing clothes."

Jake was about to ask why Eddie needed to change clothes when Eddie gave him a sharp 'don't ask' look and Jake bit back a giant grin. Eddie continued, "So, the song is a duet, and we haven't actually sang it together yet. But, I listened as Loren was just finalizing it, and it's pretty close to being done."

Loren looked at both Jake and Eddie then and said softly, "I don't know if it's good. It really was just an idea I had. I wasn't expecting anyone but Eddie to ever hear it."

Jake saw how nervous Loren was, "It's okay Loren. I come over here all the time and listen to Eddie's material before it's completed. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's not. I'm just here to give feedback. I already know both you and Eddie are very talented. If I don't like the song, it isn't going to be any sort of reflection about what I think about you two as artists."

Loren looked uncertain but then looked pleadingly into Jake's eyes "Jake, please just promise me that no matter what you'll tell me the truth. If you hate it, please don't spare my feelings. I don't trust a lot of people, but I trust you for some reason and your opinion means a lot to me."

Jake smiled softly at Loren and gave Eddie a look that said how touched he was by Loren's faith in him, "I promise you Loren that I will be honest. But, you have to promise me something too." Loren looked up at him puzzled and Jake put his hand gently on hers, "If I tell you that it's good, you need to trust me then too. Okay?"

Loren looked at him for a moment then nodded and held out her hand, "It's a deal Jake. If you promise to always be honest with me, I will promise to trust in whatever you tell me, good or bad." Jake shook Loren's hand and said with a gruffness in his voice that threatened to show how much this young girl's trust in him had truly moved him "So, let's hear this song."

Loren decided that she was going to take a leap of faith. She was going to stop thinking about what Eddie or Jake thought and she was just going to do what she always did when she was scared, she was going to lose herself in her music. Loren was a little nervous as she began to play the beginning notes of the song's introduction on the piano, but by the time Eddie had started to sing the first verse, Loren was already immersed in the melody.

In Loren's mind, she no longer was in Eddie's apartment or playing on his piano, she was in her room standing next to Eddie's life-size poster singing directly into his eyes while she danced around her room invisible to the world.

Eddie's hand touched Loren's shoulder which brought Loren back to reality. Loren's fingers continued to fly lightly across the piano keys, and the next thing she knew the image of bedroom that had been in her mind disappeared and now the only thing in the world that existed were the chocolate brown eyes of Eddie Duran, which were staring directly into her own light hazel ones.

Loren chimed in then harmonizing with Eddie as he started to sing the chorus and then taking over lead vocals for the second verse as Eddie began to sing background for her. Loren never removed her gaze from Eddie's eyes throughout the remaining portion of the song, and when she played the final chords of the song on the piano, she had practically forgotten Jake was still there.

Loren heard Jake move then as he walked up to the side of the piano to speak with both Eddie and Loren. Jake looked as if he wanted to say something but was having difficulty finding the right words to say it. Eddie interpreted this silence to mean that Jake wasn't crazy about the song and looked up at Jake almost in warning to be gentle with whatever he had to say. Eddie knew if Jake didn't like the song that he needed to be honest because Loren had demanded it from him, but Eddie wouldn't let anyone hurt Loren unnecessarily if it could be prevented.

Jake shook his head at Eddie silently telling him to back off. "Loren, it's incredible. The song is definitely a hit. You're really talented, which is actually why I have come to speak with you. I have news, and I'm not sure you're going to like it. "