Faded (Rock Star Trilogy)

alone. I hope he lets me down easy.
    It’s nearly five in the morning when our plane lands in Florida. The time difference is really a killer. When we get home, instead of talking, Stephan and I crash on my bed. My mind is too tired to wander, or even care about being embarrassed. I know that there will be plenty of time for that later.

 
     
    Thursday, November 6
    1:32 PM
    You hurt her, you hurt me.
     
     
    When I wake up Thursday afternoon, Stephan is no longer in my bed. There is a note sitting on the nightstand beside me.
     
    Scarlett,
    I went to school. I’m not a rock star, so I don’t get a free pass. ;) I will come over right after school.
    -Stephan
     
    I am happy because he is coming over after school, but now I am scared.It’s inevitable that we’re going to have this conversation… The same topic that we’ve been fighting over since I came back from LA — LOVE .
    I groan, and lay my head back down on the pillow.
    Why is the question that I keep asking myself — why me? Every single bad thing that can happen will happen to me . Only it’s worse for me because, not only will I see, but also millions of people will see.
    “Stupid documentary.” I punch my pillow. “Stupid love confessing song.” I punch my pillow again. “Stupid parents for ruining my life, controlling me, manipulating me, and keeping me away from my sisters.” I punch my pillow again. “Stupid paparazzi.” I throw the pillow across the room.
    “What did that pillow ever do to you?” I hear Alec ask me.
    I sigh and put the pillow down.
    “By the way, I think it’s time you got us a couple of bodyguards,” Alec says.
    “Again? Why?” I ask.
    “Look out the window.”
    So I do. And my front yard is full of cameras, and paparazzi.
    “Ugh!” I groan. I pull out my phone and am thankful to see that I still have Bob’s number. I give him a call, and he says he’ll be here within ten minutes. I smile and turn to Alec. “Taken care of. Now I need caffeine.”
    “Yes, you do,” Alec agrees. “You’re cranky in the mornings.”
    “Am not,” I argue as we walk down the stairs. “I’m cranky because of other reasons. The morning part is irrelevant.”
    “You’ve never been a morning person,” he snorts. “But Bridgett is. It’s funny how different the two of you are.”
    “What is up with you and my sister anyway?” I ask. “Do you have a crush on her?”
    “Your sister doesn’t want anything to do with me, Scar. So don’t worry about that,” he answers, shaking his head. “I like her.”
    We walk into the kitchen, and I grab a Red Bull from the fridge. “She just came out of a really bad relationship, not to mention she almost died recently. Just give her time. She’ll be falling at your feet like every other girl in no time. But you better not sleep with her.”
    Alec rolls his eyes. “Scarlett, you are my best friend . You have been since the first day I met you. I knew you were special. You’re like my little sister. But you should know, if the opportunity arises to sleep with her, there is no way I could turn her down.”
    I choke on my Red Bull. “If you like your man parts, I suggest you don’t.”
    “It’s not like I just want to fuck her and leave her. I want to be in a relationship with her.”
    I sigh, trying to word what I have to say as kindly as possible. “Alec, you are also my best friend. And I know you well enough to know that you’re not a relationship kind of guy. You’re going to get with her. You’re going to woo her, and have her falling into your bed within a month. And then you are going to freak out and leave her, probably before she wakes up the next morning. My sister doesn’t need you screwing with her head.”
    Alec whispers to me, “I think I’m falling in love with her.”
    I choke on my Red Bull, again. “Geez, could you wait until I swallow to drop these big bombs.”
    “Sorry. But it’s the truth.”
    “Truth or not, you don’t do love, Alec. Seriously, try to imagine yourself married to Bridgett.”
    Now it’s Alec’s turn to choke. “I never said anything about marriage.”
    I shake my head. “Alec, if you love somebody, you eventually marry them. That’s how this works.”
    “Some people never get married,” he protests. “I am definitely one of the non-marrying people.”
    “That’s fine, for you. But Bridgett is definitely pro-marriage, as is the majority of the female population. So before you make a move on her, you need to