Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

“My parents didn't even care that Stacy ran away , of course now I know that they kicked her out. They didn't love either of us… I truly think if it wasn't for the money, they would have kicked me out a long time ago, too.”
    Stephan smiles sadly at me. “Do you have any happy memories with your parents?”
    I think for a minute, and then shake my head. “Not really. I mean I have good memories with Stacy, but not them. Maybe there were good times, but there were so many bad that it clouded any good ones.”
    “Do you remember your life before LA?”
    I think for a minute. “A little. Mostly I have memories of our old house, Stacy, and of course my friends from school.”
    “There has to be good memories though,” he says. “Maybe you should talk to Stacy.  She was older, so I'm sure she remembers.”
    I shrug. “What good would it do anyway? I'm done with them, Stephan.”
    “Well, you will always have me.” He puts his arm around my shoulder, pulls me closer, and gently kisses my forehead.
    “Thank you.” There is so much truth in Stephan’s words. “I don't really know how to depend on other people, but I'm learning.”
    “I will just have to prove to you that I'm not going anywhere.” He smiles, and I know that he is going to do everything in his power to prove it to me. “Seriously, anything you ask me to do, I will.”
    “Good thing I'm not that high maintenance.”
    He laughs. “Yeah, right, Scar. A private jet ! You don't get much more high maintenance than that. Seriously.”
    “You get used to it. Trust me, this isn't that exciting for me. It's just… another day. I really hate all the time I waste flying, but it's faster than driving.”
    “Yeah, cause we could totally drive to Europe.”
    I roll my eyes at his sarcastic remark. “You know what I mean.”
    “I'm sorry that you had such a sucky childhood. I wish I could make it up to you.”
    “It's not your fault.”
    He smirks. “I could take your mind off it.”
    “Oh yeah?” I ask. “How?”
    He leans closer and whispers in my ear. “I'm pretty sure we never finished our conversation about joining the mile high club.”
    I look over at Bridgett who is watching a movie on her iPhone. I then whisper in his ear. “Not going to happen.”
    He pouts.
    Damn, he's so cute when he pouts.
    It's his lips. It's got to be.
    “Why not?”
    I'm still staring at his lips.
    “I don't want to until we're in love,” I answer. I'm shocked that I actually told him.
    “Who says that we're not in love?” He looks shocked by my words.
    “You haven't told me yet,” I point out. “Which, I get. You're waiting to say it to your future wife. It's super romantic, and it will be totally special for her. But I'm done with having meaningless sex.”
    “Just because I haven't told you, doesn't mean I don't feel it. What I'm feeling for you is a lot more than lust, and sex with you would not be meaningless.”
    Wow.
    I think I just fell in love with him a little more.

 
     
    Saturday, October 17
    7:30 AM
    Her French is terrible.
     
    It's 7:30 in Paris when we land, and it's raining, which is normal for here. It's 1:30 am in Florida, so we are all pretty exhausted. It is definitely going to be a long day. A car is waiting for us when we get there, and we all pack inside. It's going to be another two-hour drive to my house.
    Bridgett and Alec fall right back asleep, but I'm too nervous to sleep. Stephan stays awake with me, because he's the sweetest boyfriend in the history of boyfriends.
    “How are you feeling?” Stephan asks.
    “Scared,” I answer truthfully.
    I hate that I have to confront my mother like this. More than anything, I wish I had normal parents who love me.
    He pushes my bangs away from my eyes and kisses my forehead. I lay my head on his chest. We lie there in silence for a while. The only thing I can hear is the steady beat of his heart, Alec's light snoring, and the sound of rain falling on the car. It's serene.
    And somehow, against all odds, I fall asleep against Stephan's chest.
    When I wake up, we are pulling into my beautiful home in Paris.
    The rain has cleared up, and the sun is shining now. Surrounding my home are beautiful, rolling hills. The grass is still green, but the leaves on the trees are starting to turn yellow, orange, and red. The view is absolutely breathtaking. How had I forgotten how beautiful it is here?
    The driver goes through the open gates and pulls to the front of the circle drive. He