Meant To Be

by fallingxforwardx

It was chance that we climbed that hill on the same night. It was coincidence that it happened again. However, sparking a friendship was a choice when change was invading both of our lives and we both needed someone to lean on. But falling in love, despite everything that was designed to keep us apart, simply made me believe that we were meant to be. Hollywood Heights. Loren Eddie

25. She Don't Like the Lights

"She can't hide away because the world knows who we are."

-She Don't Like the Lights by Justin Bieber

It's been forever and day since I've updated and I'm so sorry for that you guys! Things have just been really hectic these last few months but I haven't given up on this story. There's still so much of this story left to tell! So if you're willing to be patient with me, I'd love it if you'd continue to read and enjoy this journey. I don't know when the next update will be but I'll get it up as soon as I can!

Stay classy lovelies!

Red and peach hues blend brilliantly together in the sky as the sun stretches its rays over the tops of the rolling hills surrounding the valley. I draw my knees up closer to my chest as my hands wrap themselves tightly around the hot mug of tea and slowly bring the rim of the mug to my lips, the warm liquid instantly warming my body in the cool and crisp morning air. I find myself wishing that this moment could live on forever, warmth and quiet and stillness all surrounding me in a moment of pure bliss; a moment of complete content. But nothing lasts forever. Moments fleet, usually before we even take the time to savor them. Savor this, I tell myself. Then I close my eyes and take a deep breath, inhaling slowly through my nose and silently exhaling through my mouth.

It was inevitable. The moment those cameras flashed and the record buttons were pressed, I knew that the entire world would be looking down at me through a telescope. Whether Eddie and I liked it or not our kiss had gone global, plastered on every major gossip site and blog. We were front page news and not even twelve hours had yet passed.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" My mom's voice startled me and it was then at I realized I hadn't closed the patio door.

I looked over my shoulder, meeting my mom's warm brown eyes. "No, Gina called me this morning. Apparently there's a swarm of paparazzi outside the café waiting for me. She told me to take the day off."

Her eyebrows pulled together as she stepped the patio table, taking a seat in the chair across from me and setting her cup of tea down. "Why would there be paparazzi in front of the café?"

I set my tea down also, my arms folding on the table as I leaned forward engaging in the conversation. "Last night, when Eddie was dropping me off," Mom nodded, indicating that was intently listening, "kids from school caught us kissing goodnight and uploaded pictures and videos online and I guess someone must have leaked where I work to the press because they were already camped out front when Gina got there at five this morning."

Mom took a sip of her tea and shook her head "I'm so sorry hon."

I shrugged passively "It's not your fault."

"I know but I can tell it's upsetting you."

"It's not really even that, that upsets me. It's the fact that Eddie and I just begin to figure out what's been going on between us and then someone has to go and make a spectacle about it." I slowly bob the tea bag up and down with the string, somewhat absentmindedly. "I kind of wanted to keep things quiet for a while. People thinking Eddie and I were friends, that was one thing, but this…it changes things."

"Well have you talked to Eddie about it yet?"

I shook my head, dropping the tea bag string and meeting my mom's eyes again. "I was waiting for him to call me. Plus it's still early he might not even be awake yet."

Mom's left hand then covered my own, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind it if you woke him up for this. He knows that this is all foreign to you. He'll understand that you need to talk it out."

I knew she was right, she usually was. "Maybe…"

"Call him" she said as she patted my hand. "You'll feel better once you spoken to him, I promise." And with that she stood and walked back into the house, pulling the patio door closed behind her, giving me privacy.

I reached into the back pocket of my pajamas and pulled out my phone, my thumb only hesitating slightly before pressing Eddie's name on my contact list.

"Hello?" There was something sexy about Eddie's 'I've just woken up' voice. It was husky, breathy. Was there anything unattractive about this man?

"Hey, it's Loren. I'm sorry I woke you up." I bit my bottom lip as I waited for a reply.

"It's okay, it's everything alright?"

"The paparazzi have already figured where I work. They're camped out in front of the café as we speak and the photos and videos of our kiss from last night have already been uploaded online. It's getting pretty crazy really quickly."

"Are you alright?" He sounded far more alert now, the sleepiness gone from his voice.

I stood and walked down the patio steps onto the grass which was cold and wet beneath my bare feet. "I'm fine, my boss warned me not to go in today. It's just all a little…over whelming." Looking up at the sky, I noticed the water colours slowly bleeding away as bright blue began to push its way through, the vivid glow of the yellow sun now creeping its way higher. "Is there any way you could come over?" The question escapes me before I even realize I've asked it. I hadn't meant to and I close my eyes tightly, pinching the bridge of my nose as I realize that I had. But I don't take it back.

And I swear, if it at all possible, that I hear Eddie smiling on the other side of the phone as he replies "I'm on my way."

I'm sitting back at the patio table, sipping the remainder of my tea, which is now warm instead of hot and just as I begin to contemplate walking back into the house to reheat it, the patio door slides open and Eddie is stepping through. His hair is not styled, his face unshaved and I realize that this is the first time I'm seeing him this way. He must have left as soon as we hung up the phone and with that realization something rushes through me: a wave of weightlessness. My insecurities and worries vanish as it finally starts to sink in: I am a priority.

"Hey" I breathe out as he closes the door.

"Good morning" is his reply before he bends down and lightly pecks my lips. "How long have you been awake?" He asks curiously as he moves a chair and places it directly in front of me before taking a seat.

I tilt my head a little to the head, my own curiosity seeping through. "Why?"

"You just look wide awake."

I offer a small smile "Since just after five." Eddie's eyebrows rise as waits for me to continue. "My boss called me as soon as she went into work. My shift wasn't supposed to start until seven but she just wanted to let me know that I didn't have to come in, in advance." I shrug "I just couldn't get back to sleep afterwards."

Eddie nods in understanding and then leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his eyes begin to pierce into mine. "I'm sorry that you have to deal with all of this insanity because of me. I was hoping we'd have some time together before the media found out."

I can't help the small smile that finds its way onto my lips. At least we had been on the same page about that. "I was too." Then I take a deep breath, our stare never breaking "So what happens now?"

"That's up to you" he says, catching me momentarily off guard.

"What do you mean?"

He reaches for my hand, slowly caressing his thumb over my knuckles. "I don't want to hide this" he says pointedly. "Last night, when I kissed you I promised you that I was all in. Good or bad. I meant that. I had hoped that we would have time to figure more of this out and just be together but now that it's out there and people know I want to be able to walk down the street and hold your hand. I want to kiss you without worrying whether or not a camera is hiding in the bushes. But, I know that this is a huge step for you so if you want to take some time and stay out of the public for a while I'll completely understand."

With my nerves bubbling to the surface, I squeeze his hand, more for my comfort than his. "I don't want to hide either." I confess, my heart racing slightly and I realize I'm not sure if it's because I'm agreeing to a publicly exposed relationship or because he's lifting my hand and drawing it closer to his lips, giving it a gentle kiss. "I'm scared though." For some reason wanting to have a public relationship and the prospect of actually having one was very different. Especially now that I had a better understanding of what that meant.

He smiles as he rests my hand on his lap while it's still wrapped gently in his. "So am I." And due to the slight quiver in his voice I know he's telling the truth.

The patio door, then slowly slides open and my mom step outside "I don't want to interrupt" she says quickly. "I just thought Eddie might like a cup of coffee."

Eddie smiled kindly and took the offered cup from my mother's hands. "Thank you Nora but you didn't have to do that."

Mom waved him off. "Don just got up and I was making some for him anyway." Mom's gaze then shifted towards me, "How are you feeling?"

"Better" I say as I once again squeeze Eddie's hand and my eyes quickly shift to him and back again.

Mom rested her hand on my shoulder for a minute and then disappeared back into the house. While my eyes followed her, I could feel Eddie's remain on me. "You were really put out by all of this, weren't you?"

I tear my eyes away from the door but don't meet his. Instead my eyes stare intensely at a space between the wooden boards of the patio structure. "It was one thing when the world just saw me as your friend but now it's different. Now, I'm the girl standing between millions of others and their dream guy. Now people are starting to judge me. It's intimidating."

"Come here" Eddie took both of my hands, forcing me to stand and then pulled me towards him so that I would sit on his lap. "None of that matters, okay? This is between you and me, the rest of the world is going to poke their heads in and offer up irrelevant comments but the only people that matter here are us. The paparazzi, the media, they're a part of my life. The worst part and I hate that I'm dragging you into that world but it's my world too and as selfish as it sounds, I want you to be a part of it." I couldn't refrain from pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "We just have to promise to be honest with one another and not let them come in between us."

"I can do that" I whisper. Then I once again bring my lips to his but this time I don't pull away. Instead I bring one hand behind his neck pulling him closer and rest the other on his cheek. As his tongue parts my lips, he brings one arm to snake around my waist and his hand rests high on my thigh, holding me in place. As if I'll break away at any moment.

Instead, I push my body against his so no space exists between our chests and I let myself become lost in our kiss, my head spinning, my heart pounding so hard I know for a fact that Eddie can feel it. Kissing is still new to me; it still sends my nerves on edge even though I know that what we're doing is completely innocent.

His tongue slides against mine and his hand travels further up my leg. Okay, maybe not entirely innocent.

The patio door flies open "You're everywhere!"

Eddie and I spring apart like the same poles of a magnet. "Morning Mel" I say as she takes a seat in the chair I had been sitting in.

She seems completely unfazed by what she's walked in on. "Those pictures and videos from last night are all over the internet! And Leddie is trending on twitter!"

"What?" Eddie and I ask together.

"It's your couple name!" She squeals "How adorable is that?" I let out a small groan burry my head in the crook of Eddie's neck. "What's with her?" Mel asks.

Eddie begins to trace circles on my back with the tips of his fingers, trying to calm my nerves. "She's not really enjoying all of the attention."

I turn my head so that it's still on Eddie's shoulder but so I can also see Mel as she flicks her hand in the air, pushing my insecurities away. "You looked hot in those pics Lo, seriously."

"She's right about that." I lightly hit Eddie's chest and glared at Mel.

"Anyway" I stressed, informing them of the impending topic change. "Why are you up so early on a Saturday?" My question, obviously directed to Mel.

"Ugh" Mel sits back into the chair, making herself comfortable. "I forgot to put the dishwasher on last night so Lisa woke me up early and made me wash the dishes by hand. I swear she hates me."

"She's your mom Mel, she doesn't hate you." Mel gave me a pointed look. "You're just really different." I said in attempt to defend my stance.

"Right…" Neither of us really believed it.

"Loren!" Mom's voice carried out from the living room and the three of us looked between each other. "You might want to see this!" The three of us were on our feet and walking back into the house before my mom even finished her sentence.

Walking into the living room, I saw that my mom was watching some kind of entertainment news show and the host was standing in front of the café. Dozens of people were crowded behind her with smiles reaching the tips of their ears and waving enthusiastically at the camera, hoping for their fifteen minutes of fame. I felt Eddie's arm slide around my waist as we made our way to the couch. Once we were seated his arm moved so that it rested around my shoulders. I cuddled into his side, my eyes glued to the television.

"…gathered around the Aroma Café, a local café here in the valley where Eddie Duran's newly confirmed girlfriend Loren Tate works, hoping to catch a glimpse of the real life Cinderella." The reporter brought a girl on camera and I instantly recognized her from school. I don't think we had ever even had a conversation though. "Here with me is Carla Santana, a schoolmate of Loren's." The reporter then turned to Carla "What can you tell us about Loren Tate and her relationship with Eddie Duran?"

Carla beamed into the camera. "Everyone knew Loren was friends with Eddie but I mean, no one ever thought that it would go beyond that. They're so different, you know? Honestly, I don't think it will last, I mean Loren's a nice girl and everything but she's not cut out to be a rock star's girlfriend. She's the kind of girl who heads to the library on a Friday night. Not to a Hollywood party."

And that's how it continued. One by one, the reporter brought a new person into the frame who claimed to know me and asked for their opinion of mine and Eddie's relationship. To say I was annoyed or insulted would be an understatement. I honestly didn't have a word for what I was feeling.

"Loren's always been really quiet." One girl said. I recognized her from my freshmen music class. "I honestly don't know what Eddie sees in her."

"…I don't see how they're even friends."

"…They have nothing in common."

"…I've been going to school with her for four years and I've never seen her with a boyfriend."

"…She's kind of a know it all."

"…I know she's been a fan of Eddie's for like, ever…"

"…So not his type…"

It was my mom who turned the television off. I silently thanked her. "That's insane."

Mel turned to me "You've never even talked to most of those people and they're already passing judgments on you?" Her face was bright red indicating that she was going into protective best friend mode. A mode normally only reserved for Adriana and her clique.

I could feel Eddie staring a hole into my head so lifted my gaze to meet his. "Are you okay?"

Everyone seemed to be waiting for my answer. "I'm not a know it all. Am I?"

Don looked un-amused while Mom cracked a smile and Mel shrugged her shoulders. I threw a pillow at her. She threw it back at me. "What? I'm just saying that you know a hell of a lot more than I do and sometimes you like to make that fact very well known."

"Well maybe if you studied more…" I teased.

Mel laughed "So not worth it." I rolled my eyes at her answer.

"I don't want you going near the café for the next few days Lo. I'll call Gina and tell her that I want you to take the week off and let this call cool down a little and Eddie…" Eddie looked to my mom while I stared up at him. "If you're out with my baby you watch her like a hawk. I don't want one hair out of place on her head." It was closest thing to a threat I've ever heard my mom say. I knew she meant it as attentively as possible though.

Eddie gave a short nod. The threat didn't seem to faze him. "Yes ma'am."

Mom moved into the kitchen to call Gina and Don had followed her, the newspaper tucked under his arm leaving Mel, Eddie and I alone.

"Seriously though, are you okay?" I smiled at my best friend's concern for me.

"Yeah, I'm okay." Then I glanced up at Eddie. "Are you still all in?"

Eddie kissed my forehead "Are you?"

"Yes" my voice was stronger and more assured than I would have expected.

"Me too."

"Aw," Mel touched her hand to her heart and then gestured a finger between Eddie and I. "You two are so freaking adorable." Then she pointed to the T.V. "See, if those people could see you now they'd eat their uninformed words."

I sank further into Eddie's side. "What are we going to do today, now? I'd hate to say it but I think our plans of hitting the mall later are out."

Mel nodded "Yeah, you should probably stay away from large crowds for the time being."

"How you feel about a beach day?" Eddie asked, catching us both off guard.

Mel looked a little uneasy "The Saturday before Spring Break? I thought we agreed she should stay away from large crowds."

Eddie took one of my hands in his, lacing our fingers together. "My dad owns a bungalow a couple of hours up the shore. We used to go there in the summer or on weekends when my parents weren't touring. It would be a good place to go and get away for the day."

Eyes widening, Mel cracked a smile "Could I invite Adam?"

"Yeah, invite whoever you want." With that Mel was off the couch, thumbs already expertly riffling through her phone for Adam's number.

"Is that okay with-" I kissed him before he could finish.

I let my lips linger for a moment before pulling away, resting my forehead on his. "I thought you said you hadn't been up there since your mom died. Are you sure it's okay with you?"

This time Eddie kissed me, his fingers tangling in my hair as he brought my lips closer to his. "My mom always intended for that bungalow to be a place to escape and I think today, we're both in need of an escape." We kissed again. This time I shifted so that I was straddling his lap and facing him. My arms wrapped around his neck and his hands rested on either side of my waist. As I leaned forward, the hem of my tank top slid up and Eddie's hands slowly made their way to the exposed skin on my hips, then they stilled. He never pushed me past my comfort level. "Is there anyone else you want to invite?" He asked between heated kisses. I simply shook my head and pressed further into him, my lips catching his bottom lip between them.

"You?" I asked, taking a second to catch my breath. His lips were back on mine before I could exhale. As my hands traveled down his chest, I could feel his heart racing just as quickly as mine.

"I might invite Ian out, if that's okay?" He mumbled against my lips.

"Mhmm" was my only reply as his lips slowly moved from mine, across my cheek and then slowly down my neck.

"Adam's on his way!" Mel exclaimed as she came into the room.

I leapt off Eddie's lap and retook my earlier seat, pressing my back firmly into the back of the couch. "Great!" I replied a little too excitedly. I earned pensive look from Mel who slowly shifted her gaze between Eddie and I. Then she let out a small chuckle "Were you two making out?" Neither of us answered her blatant question. "You do realize there is only one wall separating you from your mom right now right?" Again, crickets. "Don't everyone speak at once now."

I turned to Eddie "You should go call Ian. It shouldn't take Adam more than ten minutes to get here."

"I'll be right back" Eddie said as he stood and gently kissed the top of my head.

As soon as Eddie was out of the room, Mel plopped down beside me. "Now you see what I've been talking about." Her grin was mischievous. "Isn't making out awesome?"

I laughed lightly as I brought a pillow to my chest and felt a blush creep onto my cheeks. "No complaints so far." I admitted shyly.

"You look happy." It was a simple observation but it had so much weight dangling from it. "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."

"I guess love does that to you."

"Love looks good on you."

The sound of bare feet slapping against the marble floors distracted both Mel and I and we turned to see Adriana heading towards. Her footsteps silenced as she reached the carpeted area of the living room but the force behind those steps remained just as powerful. "No one thought to tell me that Eddie was here because…?"

Raising an eyebrow, Mel replied "Because he's not here for you."

Adriana scowled and turned to me "And you, what's with you keeping your relationship with him from me? You didn't feel like I had the right to know?"

"No."

Adriana rolled her eyes, picked the remote up from the table and made her way to the love seat before turning the T.V. on and turning to some kind of reality show.

Mel and I both left the living room and made our way into the kitchen where my mom and Don were on opposite ends of the island, reading separate sections of the paper. Upon hearing us enter, Mom's eyes snapped upwards and she offered us both a small smile. "Hey, I talked to Gina. She seems to think that you taking the week off is a good idea as well."

"Awesome!" Mel sang and she clapped her hands together. "You not having to work over spring break is like, the greatest news ever!"

I rolled my eyes at Mel and then turned back to my mom "Okay, I actually wanted to let you know I'm heading to the beach with Mel, Eddie and Adam in little while."

Mom looked apprehensive "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Max owns a beach bungalow up the shore and Eddie's says it's pretty secluded so we won't be bothered while were up there."

Letting out a heavy breath, Mom reluctantly nodded "Okay but be careful."

I smiled at her concern "I always am." Then I excused myself as the sound of the door bell rang throughout the house.

By the time I reached the front door, Eddie had already opened it, his cell phone still attached to his ear. Adam and Eddie exchanged a silent greeting and as Adam closed the door Eddie's eyes found mine. "Alright man, we'll meet you and Cora up there…Yeah, sure…okay see you later, bye."

"Hey, so he's coming?" I asked as I made my way across the foyer.

"Yeah, he's going to meet us up there and he's bringing that Swedish model Cora with him." Eddie replied as he slipped his arm around my waist and kissed the side of my head.

"Hey guys! I'm all set to go!" Adam waved. Over his shoulder was an inflatable circle, already blown up and ready while a towel hung loosely around his neck. Sunglasses were perched on his head, a dab of sunscreen visible on his nose, sandals on his feet, a cooler in hand and his swim trunks were already on. Pink and yellow Hawaiian flowers against light blue. Set was a bit of an understatement.

"Hey Adam" I greeted back with a bit of a laugh and moments later Mel came around the corner and threw her arms around his neck.

I pulled Eddie away from the couple and started for the stairs, pulling him up into my room.

"Adam's certainly enthusiastic." Eddie said as he sat on my bed and I dug through one of my drawers for a bikini.

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped through my lips "Yeah, well, you kind of get used to that. If we had told him we were going to the circus he'd of shown up in a full clown costume." Unable to decide, I held up two different bikinis. "Which colour?"

Eddie's eyes went a little wide at my question "The purple one." He said after a moment of hesitation and I threw the yellow back in the drawer.

"Knock, knock" Mel said as she came into the room, a hand over her eyes "Everyone descent?"

"Not funny Mel" I replied.

She shot me a playful smile "Is my bathing suit still here from the last time I used your pool? I don't want to have to grab one from back home."

"Yup," I walked into my bathroom and grabbed her tankini from the drying rack before handing it to her.

"Thank you, and can I borrow a towel?"

"We've got towels and stuff up at the bungalow" Eddie replied.

"Oh, okay, perfect. Well then, Adam and I will be downstairs waiting for you guys." Mel left the room, closing the door on her way out and I rolled my eyes at the not so subtle action.

I grabbed a tote bag from my closet and threw my bikini, wallet, keys and a pair of shorts inside of it. Then grabbed my sunglasses off my desk and pushed them back onto my head. "I'm good to go. Do you need to stop by your place to grab anything?" I asked as Eddie began to stand and head towards me.

"Nope, I've still got stuff tucked away back at the bungalow." His arms snaked around my waist and he pulled me in close.

"Mel and Adam are waiting for us" I playfully pointed out as his eyes trailed down to my lips.

"They can wait another minute." And then he pressed his lips to mine. Needless to say, I didn't argue.

If any of you have a twitter account let me know! I made an account to keep you guys updated on my stories and just to simply keep in touch with you all so I'm happy to follow anyone who asks! The link to my page will be posted on my profile.

-Tia