Authors Note: This chapter goes back and forth quite a bit between Alicia and Zak's point of views. I hope it's not too mind boggling, lol.

Chapter 62: From Douchebag to Hero

Since I had some bit of time to myself, I decided to go to the restroom to freshen up.

I picked up my clutch from the table and stood up, and started walking in the same direction Zak had gone, as the restrooms were also in the same direction.

But as I neared the spot where I would turn away to head to the restrooms, I saw Zak standing just inside the rope barrier separating the VIP section from the rest of the club.

He was standing with Ceci, the two of them close together, and talking rather intensely.

What was she doing here...?

Seeing the two of them together again reminded me of how I reacted earlier during the photoshoot, when they were talking privately together, and then had quickly broke it off when I had come into the room.

Were they dating? And was Zak just trying to have me "on the side"?

I hated thinking that way about him, but his past reputation and dating history started haunting my thoughts.

And all of my insecurities.

She's his assistant, it's probably just work related…

Suddenly, I saw Zak kiss Ceci's cheek, looking absolutely thrilled, and I completely lost it emotionally.

Douchebag!

In ten seconds flat, my insecurities, low self esteem, and self doubt had convinced me that I was right.

Zak and Ceci were dating, I was just the icing on the cake for him, although I didn't understand why he'd picked me of all people.

But after everything we've been through…

I felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces.

I quickly turned away and headed back in the opposite direction, forgetting about the restrooms.

I just wanted to get away from Zak and Ceci.

A few minutes later, I found myself at the bar, and for the first time in my life, was tempted to have a drink.

I had never had alcohol in my life, not after losing my parents to a drunk driver.

But if drinking could end this pain…

"What can I get you?" I suddenly heard a bartender ask.

My courage instantly left me.

"Just some water, with lemon, if it's possible," I replied politely.

The bartender smiled.

"Sure thing," he replied, then moved further down the bar to get a glass, and a bottle of water, from the fridge.

Meanwhile…

Zak's Point of View

I thanked Ceci for all the trouble I had caused her, and spontaneously gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek.

I had gotten Alicia a special gift made and ordered for her birthday, something I had planned from the day Cheryl had announced it two weeks ago.

But when my order had come in, the order was wrong.

And I had only a few days left before her birthday.

I had been in a panic.

Between preparing and getting details settled for the Romanian trip and investigations, and the photoshoot with Alicia today, I didn't have much time to be running around town trying to get my gift fixed before tonight.

But Ceci had managed, somehow, to get it done for me.

She was a miracle worker.

She laughed shyly and in shock after I had kissed her on the cheek.

"You're un, you're welcome," she said, fumbling over her words.

I smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, I was just so worried I wouldn't get this in time," I said, putting the small box containing Alicia's gift, in my pocket.

"It's okay," Ceci said with a smile. "I'll let you get back to the party," she added.

I smiled.

"You're free to join us if you'd like," I said, not wanting to be rude.

Plus, she was a sweet and friendly girl.

"Oh no, thank you, but I have a date," Ceci replied, smiling.

"Oh, shit. I won't keep you then. Thanks again Ceci," I replied.

"You're welcome Zak, see you later," Ceci said.

"Later Ceci," I replied.

She smiled and headed toward the exit.

I quickly turned and started heading back to the booth, eager to get back to Alicia, and, if it was still just the two of us, give her the gift I had gotten her.

I hope she likes it…I thought.

But as I came up on the booth, I saw that it was empty, and my face fell a bit.

I looked around back behind me, wondering if she had just maybe gone to the restroom, but surely she would have stopped to say hello to Ceci if she had come that way?

The only other logical choice to me was that she had gone to the bar to get something to drink, so I proceeded past the crowded booths and groups of people toward the bar.

Meanwhile…

Alicia's Point of View

I sat down on one of the bar stools as I waited for the bartender to get my drink, crossing my legs, and mentally cursing this damn mini skirt.

I pulled the hem off it down to cover more of my thighs.

"Hey there, is this seat taken?" I suddenly heard a male voice ask.

I looked up and I was shocked to see that it was him.

The guy that had been staring at me.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

Zak was probably right…this guy probably just had interest in me…I thought.

I had just been on stage, singing and dancing my heart out.

"No, go ahead," I replied, not wanting to be rude.

Surely he wouldn't try something in a club of this calibre.

He smiled.

"Thanks," he said, sitting on the stool and faced me. "You're one of the girls who was just up on stage, aren't you?" He added.

Oh hell…

"Yes," I replied, doing my best to act civil and polite.

He smiled at me.

"You were pretty hot up there," he said, and I noticed his eyes look down over my body.

Great.

"Thanks," I replied, keeping my eyes on the bartender, hoping the guy would get the hint.

Meanwhile...

Zak's Point of View

As I finally reached the bar, I spotted Alicia sitting on a bar stool, seemingly waiting for a drink.

God, she's beautiful…

I smiled to myself as I started to make my way toward her, but then stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed she was talking to someone.

Him.

The pretty boy blonde guy who had been staring at her.

At first I felt angry, I mean, what the hell?

She had been uncomfortable with him staring at her.

And I thought we had something…I thought.

But then I realized my anger was misplaced.

Alicia and I, although having flirted and occasionally talked about taking our relationship to the next level, hadn't actually done anything.

I couldn't be angry at her, she wasn't mine.

I was angry at myself for not having made my feelings clearer sooner.

I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

Fuck…

I turned away, not wanting to watch anymore.

I started to walk away.

I needed to get out of there.

Meanwhile…

Alicia's Point of View

The bartender walked over with a glass of water with a lemon seated on the rim, as well as the bottle containing the remaining water he hadn't poured into the glass.

"Here you go," the bartender said, giving me a friendly smile.

"Thank you," I said.

Before I could even begin to get up, the guy had leaned closer to me.

"Water?" He asked, chuckling. "Let me buy you a proper drink," he added, suddenly resting a hand on the bare skin of my thigh, just above my knee.

I felt my panic kicking in.

This was totally a new situation for me, and I wasn't liking it.

Not at all.

I quickly slipped myself off the stool, freeing my thigh from his hand and putting the stool between us.

"That's okay, but thank you for the offer," I said.

What the hell Ali? Why are you being so polite?

I picked up my glass and bottle of water and turned to walk away, only to find myself face to face with the guy.

"Aww, don't leave. We don't have to play games," he said with a smile.

"I'm sorry," I started, mentally kicking myself for apologizing. "But I have somewhere I need to be," I said, quickly slipping out from between him and the bar and started to walk away.

Meanwhile…

Zak's Point of View

I was nearing the halfway point of my path leading back to the entrance, when I suddenly felt a feeling of dread and panic come over me.

It was strong enough to cause me to stop dead in my tracks.

I felt like I had walked into a brick wall.

What the hell…?

I looked around myself casually, not seeing anything out of the ordinary, but the feeling grew more intense.

And then I started to feel fear.

I turned and looked back in the direction toward the bar.

Had I been wrong?

Suddenly feeling worried I had misjudged what I had seen so many times in the past, but knowing Alicia wasn't like my past at all, I started jogging back toward the bar.

Alicia's Point of View…

I had barely managed to take a few steps away from the bar, when the next thing I knew, I heard a glass, my glass, shatter as it hit the floor.

The bottle of water hit the floor shortly after it, emptying it's remaining contents onto the stylish carpet.

The guy had grabbed me by the upper arm, rather roughly, and pulled me back to him, so that I ended up face to face with him, his other hand reaching up to rest on the back of my thigh.

But this time his hand had started to slide under the hem of my skirt.

"Hey now, why are you being so rude baby?" He asked.

I froze in fear and panic, feeling utterly alone and trapped, despite the large amount of people in the club.

I could only remember one thought that ran through my head.

Zak…where are you?

Zak's Point of View

The feelings of panic and fear increased with every step I took.

Just as I reached the bar, I heard a few audible gasps of surprise as a glass hit the floor and shattered.

That was when my eyes found Alicia and the pretty boy again.

I saw red.

Pretty boy was gripping her upper arm, to the point of looking painful, and I saw his other hand on her thigh, sliding up under the hem of her skirt.

He was hurting and upsetting my girl.

My hands clenched into fists.

"Please, let me go!" I heard Alicia cry, her voice full of panic and fear.

That set me off.

I pushed through a small crowd of onlookers, and quickly ran up to them.

"Let her go, now!" I said, gently taking hold of Alicia's other arm, glaring daggers down at pretty boy.

"Or what, old man?" Pretty boy asked.

I gently but firmly pulled Alicia back out of his grip, getting her out of arms way.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly, looking at her full of worry and concern.

She merely nodded.

I saw she had tears and fear in her eyes.

This only enraged me more as I turned back to face pretty boy.

"Or this!" I snarled, bringing my fist up and punching him square in the face, hearing the satisfying crunch of his nose being broken, as he fell back on his ass.

Alicia's Point of View

I tried to pull back from the guy's grip, but his hand just tightened on my upper arm, his grip becoming painful.

"Please, let me go!" I cried, reaching full on panic mode.

I hadn't even noticed a small crowd had formed nearby.

Before he could react, he looked past me briefly as I felt someone grab my other arm, hearing a most welcomed voice.

Zak's.

"Let her go, now!" Zak said, glaring at the guy.

"Or what, old man?" The guy replied.

I felt Zak firmly, but gently pull me back out of the guy's grip, putting himself between me and the guy.

His eyes were full of worry and concern, and also rage, as he looked down at me.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly.

I could only nod, tears welling up in my eyes.

I watched as Zak turned back to the guy, and was shocked at what he did next.

"Or this!" He snarled, punching the guy in the face, causing him to stumble back and lose his footing, falling to the floor.

I couldn't help but cringe at the sound of his nose breaking.

Blood started pouring from his nose.

"What the fuck?! What the hell is your problem man?!" The guy asked, holding a hand to his nose.

"My problem is scumbags like you, forcing themselves on women!" Zak replied angrily, shaking out his fist.

The guy just groaned in pain and anger.

"Oh my god, Ali!" I suddenly heard Cheryl exclaim.

I glanced back and saw Cheryl and Aaron emerge from the crowd.

She ran straight to me, embracing me in a hug.

"Are you alright?! We saw some of what happened!" Cheryl said, her face full of worry.

"I'm okay…" I said quietly, still shaken up.

"You alright bro?" Aaron asked, taking up a supportive position beside Zak.

"I'm good now," Zak said, still glaring down at the guy.

Suddenly, security was on the scene as if they had materialized out of thin air.

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave," one of the security guards said to Zak.

"Are you kidding me? He attacked her!" Zak retorted.

"Zak, it's fine…let's just go…" I said softly.

I didn't feel like celebrating my birthday now, and I definitely didn't feel like being at the club anymore.

I also didn't want Zak to get in trouble.

"Come on bro, he's not worth it," Aaron said, putting a hand on Zak's shoulder, grasping it slightly to signal Zak to calm down.

Zak took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright," he said, turning his back on the guy and moving toward me, concern on his face again.

"Let's get out of here," He said softly.

I nodded in agreement, my worries about Zak and Ceci momentarily forgotten.

As I pulled back from Cheryl to go to Zak, I saw movement behind him.

I saw the guy getting up, and he was holding something shiny in his hand.

A shard of broken glass.

From the glass I had dropped and that had shattered when he had grabbed my arm.

"Zak! Look out!" I yelled in warning.

Authors Note: I'm evil with cliffhangers, I know. Lol. ;)

I'm pretty sure next update, we'll be back to lockdowns, for those missing them.

I hope you enjoyed the update. Please review! :)