Chapter 10

"You always have a chance." The words echoed in her head. She couldn't believe what he had said but before she could react he leaned in and gently kissed her. It was simple yet passionate; it felt as if there were fireworks in the background. When it ended he wanted more, but he could feel her pull back.

She looked at him with shocked eyes, "You did have a crush on me."

"What?" he asked.

"After the video shoot I started thinking that you might have feelings for me."

"Was it that obvious?" he smiled at her.

She stood up, her mind was racing, "Why didn't you tell me?"

He stood up, too, "You seemed happy with Cam. I didn't want to take that away from you."

She looked at him with a furrowed brow; she took a step and kissed him deeply. It felt so right, she couldn't help herself. He put his hands on her waist to pull her closer, but she took a few steps back.

"Loren, are you okay."

"Eddie, we can't." The words tore through his heart leaving him breathless.

"What?"

"Eddie, I'm just a girl from the valley. You're a rock star you can have and supermodel or actress you want! I'm nobody, I'm just a high school senior who's dumb enough to believe that someone will choose to love her; dumb enough to not realize when someone's not interested."

"Loren, I don't want any supermodel or actress. I want you! I'm choosing to love you and I am interested. Who cares if you're from the valley or a senior in high school? You're better than any girl I have ever met, and I don't want anyone but you. And it hurts me to hear you say these things about yourself Loren, because you are beautiful, humble, down to earth, kind, fantastic and I just… I'm falling for you. Don't push me away and shut me out because of one boy."

Loren started to tear up, "You don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say that."

"Then why can't we be together?"

"I just found out Cam was cheating on me. You just got punched in the face because I dumped him what, 6 hours ago."

Eddie looked at Loren, she was upset and he didn't want to upset her more. He walked up to her and kissed her on the forehead, "I'm sorry, I'm gonna go."

"Eddie, no I-" she said reaching for him as he walked toward the door.

"It's okay Loren," he smiled, "I'll wait for you to be ready."

"What if I'm not ready for a long time?" She said avoiding his eyes.

He pulled her into a tight embrace, "Then I'll wait for a long time because you, Loren Tate, are worth waiting forever for." He kissed her on the cheek and walked out without another word.

She sat down on the couch and thought about what just happened. She felt like a jerk for doing that, she has wanted to do that for years. Loren hated herself for rejected him, and hated Cam for making her so… vulnerable. She knew she made the right decision; being up front and honest with him. 'Then why did it hurt so bad to see him walk away?' She though.

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Eddie walked to his car and got in slowly. He rested his head back and turned his head to look at his lip. It was swollen and had a little bruise in the corner. He didn't care, he had just kissed Loren; the women he has been falling for since he broke up with Chloe and heard her sing her song while playing the guitar. She was the one for him and he couldn't believe she rejected him. She was practically saying she didn't want him. He should have told her how he felt right away, rip off the band aid. He started the car and started to drive home, he wanted to get away. Get away from the paparazzi, Chloe, his life. He wanted a break, a peace of mind, something to clear his head.

He called Jake, "Hey what's my schedule like this week?"

"Well, hello to you too." Jake said in a sarcastic tone, "Today, you need to meet with the director to see the video. Then tomorrow, you have an interview with a teen magazine I forget the name off. Then you have off till Monday."

"And by 'off' you mean time for me to write songs." Eddie said smiling.

"Yeah, I'm serious Eddie. The label is getting restless."

"I was gonna head to my parent's bungalow on Wednesday to write; that place always helps me write."

"Whatever man, they want at least 2 new songs by the end of the month."

"On it, thanks Jake." he hung up. He headed home to take a shower so he can meet with the director. His parent's bungalow is isolated and on the beach; it's a perfect place to get away.

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It was 11:00 pm and Loren was sitting in her bed. Her phone was next to her and she wanted to call Eddie, but instead she called the one person she wanted to talk to most.

"Lo! What's up guurrrlll" Mel giggled.

"So much," Loren said.

"Spill it Tate." Mel said.

"Well…" Loren started to tell Mel what happened. At times she found herself drifting off and coming off as a tease. She was exhausted and just wanted all this drama to end.

"Loren, I think what you did was fine. You're not ready, its best he knows now so you don't string him along."

"He said he was going to wait for me"

"What? Okay, Lo, do you realize that our dream is coming true here. Eddie Duran likes you!"

"And I like him, but-"

"You're not ready and Lo that's perfectly fine! You just got your heart ripped out, Eddie expect nothing."

"I want to be with him, so badly, and I just want to be ready. I'm afraid that I'll never be ready."

"Do you want my God's honest opinion?"

"Yes, please."

"I don't thin you ever really liked Cam. I think you figured that Eddie was gonna marry Chloe so you settled, but the minute they broke up, your relationship changed because-"

"It's always going to be Eddie."

"You said it not me."

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Eddie was at his piano when he heard a knock. He opened the door to see a drunken Chloe.

"Hi honey, wan-want to get naked?" She laughed.

"No," he saw that Chloe was still wearing her engagement ring, "And I want that back."

"Okay," Chloe took the ring and held out for Eddie to take, but just as he was about to grab it she shoved in down her bra, "Come and get it Eddie." She tempted.

"Drunk or not, I'm not playing this game." Eddie left to find his phone so he could call security. He was in the kitchen when Chloe took his phone and flipped through the pictures, deleting anything with Loren in it.

"Ugly, gold-digger, and whore." she said in an angry tone. The phone rang and it was Loren, "Hello?"

"Chloe, is Eddie there?" Loren said.

"He can't talk right now he's busy getting me wat- hold on" Chloe took a deep breath, "Eddie stop, you know that's my ticklish spot" Loren hung up the phone and Eddie came running in.

"Who are you talk- is that my phone?" he bellowed.

"Just taking care of a little stalker."

"You're the stalker." He said grabbing his phone. The security came and escorted Chloe out.

"EDDIE! EDDIE, HELP!" She said the entire way out.

He scrolled through his phone and saw it was Loren who called, he called although he figured she wouldn't pick up, which she didn't. He heard the beep and left a message, "Loren don't believe Chloe. She's drunk and while I stepped out to get security she took my phone and…. Just don't believe her. I love you and I meant everything I said earlier. It's always going to be you, Loren Tate."

Review please- Tori 3