Two days later.

Nat watched his little sister clap excitedly as their mom put the homemade cake down on the table. The cake was a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing with different types of fruit on top. There was a big 14 candle on top lit.

“Okay, sweet heart, blow them out.”, his mom said.

“What? No happy birthday singing?”, Nat sarcastically asked.

Addie scuffed, “Do I look like I'm eight years old?”

“Your still a kid.”, Nat said, scuffing back.

“So are you.”, she said. “Now be quiet, I need to make a wish.”

She closed her eyes and thought for about a moment before opening them, blowing the candle out. Nat watched his sister grab the big sharp knife and he remember the last birthday he was here for his sister, their mother would have never given her that big of a knife even though she was only twelve. Addie had even started wearing makeup now and doing her hair. Her light brown hair was now a dark glossy color in curls.

He never really notice to that she was wearing bras. Sure, sports bras, but she was becoming a women now! It made him uncomfortable and realized how much of a close eye he needed to keep on his sister. It made him realize how the girls he messed around with must have had older brothers wanting to protect them like how bad he wants to do for Addie.

Nat was picking at the kiwi with his fork on the plate when the doorbell rang. He got up from the table and went over to the door, answering it. He gave Ray a small smile, “Hey, glad you could come.”

“Wow.”, she said, walking in and looked around the big living room. “Did you get this house for your parents?”

Nat chuckled, “No, my dad works as a partner in his big sales company.”, he said, then looked in the kitchen to see his parents and sister looking at little confused at them. “Oh, huh, mom dad, this is Raychel, I'm helping her with the school talent show.”

“Oh.”, his mom said, looking like she didn't believe it and Nat just wanted to go up to his room to get away from them. They probably think she's just some fan and their going to do something they would like in their house. The only reason they couldn't practice at school is because the principle said he couldn't have the paparazzi on their ground, so he would have to leave right after school since he's not in any sports or clubs.

“Yeah.”, Nat said, leading the way up to his bedroom with Ray behind him. When he walked in, he looked around, “Eh, sorry it's a mess. I use to get my sister to clean my room but now that she older I do it—sometimes.”

Ray chuckled, “I have twin brothers, it's okay. Huh, I expected something. . .different.”

“Like?”, Nat asked, grabbing the chair from the computer desk for her.

She shrugged and sat down, “I don't know—a record studio kind of theme.”

Nat chuckled as he grabbed his guitar and sat on the bed, “No, I'm not to lazy to plan all that stuff even for my own room, that's why when I bought my condo in LA, things were pretty much already set up.”, he said, fixing his guitar around his neck and he felt Ray's eyes on him. His eyebrows came together as he looked up at her watching him, “What?”

“Is it true Cam got in a fight at a club in LA?”, she asked and Nat sighed. “Sorry, it's just I read about on Perez Hilton website. She wouldn't tell me, so did she?”

“It was nothing big—the girl was pissing Cam off.”, he said.

“Wow.”, Ray said. “I never took her a fighter, she surprises me a lot.”, she said, smiling.

Nat just grinned and shook his head at her.

*

Cam.

When Cam opened the door to her house to leave, she was taken back to find Nat on her porch, holding a bear in front of him. On his white stomach said 'Ride To School?'. Her mouth opened a little and she couldn't help but be amused a little, “Uh. . .sure.”, she said, chuckling.

He held the bear out to her and she took it, “Good, because that would have been awkward if you said no.”

“Where did this bear come from? I know you had to get it made to say that.”, she said, leaning against the frame of her house door.

“Addie birthday was yesterday and I went passed that small store where they sell bears, candy, and other crap like that.”, he said and she looked down at the white bear with a smile.

“Why 'Ride To School'?”, she asked, chuckling. “My name would have been nice then to have this.”

“So every morning when you wake up I can ask without really having to.”, he said and she chuckled. “Cheesy, I know, but it thought it would be cute.”

“It is—it's nice.”, she said, going inside and sat the bear on end table. She walked back over to the and went outside. The damn paparazzi only stayed one day outside her house, they were mostly hanging outside the school the last two days because they were asking around, trying to get some good juice about Nat.

She doesn't know why she was so quick to say yes to Nat, but she just did. Maybe she was thinking about getting back together with Nat, but right now they just wanted to do what normal people do and be friends first then see if she really wants to. Seth hasn't talked to her since Saturday and even though she's still hurting about it, she slowly becoming herself again.

She walked over to Nat's car and got in. She remembers the last time she was in here, she was driving his car around the mall parking lot. Something caught her attention and she looked at the necklace around her neck. She touched it and frowned. She can't believe Seth lied to her about getting the necklace, Nat had even put the receipt in her locker.

“I can't believe Seth lied to me.”, she said, taking her hand away and looked at Nat. “Why did you tell me? I mean, why leave it on my doorstep?”

Nat awkwardly looked away and chuckled, but it sounded fake, “I was trying to be mysterious I guess, I don't know, sounded cool at the time.”

Although she wanted to be sad about everything, she wanted to be happy to and she was, it amused her. She smiled at Nat and he smiled back.

“Your smiles are always nice, you got those big chipmunk cheeks I just love seeing.”, he said and her face redden as she shyly looked away.

“It's baby fat.”, she said.

“It's cute.”, he said, reaching over and made her look at him. “Smile again.”

She scuffed and moved his hand, “No.”

“Come on,”, he said, leaning over and started tickling her, making her giggle loudly and try and move his hand.

“Nat—stop—no more!”, she laughed. “Okay, okay!”, she said, giving him her best big smile.

“See, beautiful.”, he said.

She stiffen her face up to try and stop herself from smiling. She couldn't say anything with how close Nat was to her face—almost so close he could even kiss her. The thought sounded nice, Nat has those soft lips. They were almost welcoming. . .

Nat cleared his throat and sat up away from her, “So, Ray got in the talent show, that's great.”

It hurt her when he brought up her new friend. Not that she was jealous—okay, maybe a little—but she felt a moment there for a second. She didn't want to hear about Ray, she wanted Nat to kiss her! Okay, maybe that was bad on the part of them trying to stay friends right now.

She fixed her dress as she sat up, “Yeah, she told me, it's wonderful. She'll do great next Saturday.”

“Yeah.”, he said, starting the car and drove to school.

*

Nat.

Nat was walking down the hallway when TJ came over next to his side, “I haven't heard from you in a couple of days.”

“I don't need you anymore, TJ.”, Nat said. “You can go away like how I got rid of the paint stain my Gant Rugger shirt. Quick.”

He chuckled, “I wouldn't say it's over, Seth came over last night and said he was planning on talking to Cam after school today to talk about getting back together.”

Nat stopped and glared at TJ, “Your joking.”

“Nope, I'm serious. He was like some love sick puppy, talking about how much he loves her and shit.”, he said. “And it was true, he was high so he was spilling.”

“Fix it.”, Nat said, his hands balling up in a fist. He was just now getting Cam back, he wasn't going to let anything ruin that! In the corner of his eyes, he saw a familiar blonde and he turned his head to look down the hall at Seth, opening his locker. He turned back to TJ, “Actually, I will.”

“Nat, no.”, TJ said as Nat walked away, but he didn't really sound concern or worried, but bored and didn't care what Nat was going to do.

Nat walked over to Seth and when he was near, Seth turned his head and looked right back at him. “Leave Cam alone.”, he said.

Seth gave him a amused look, “Excuse me? Why would I ever listen to you?”

“I'll pay you.”, Nat said. “Name your price, I'll give it to you.”

Seth laughed, “Dude, you're really funny.”

“Five hundred dollars.”, Nat offered. “You leave Cam alone.”

“No.”

“A thousand.”, he said. “Fifteen hundred! Two thousand! Whatever.”

“Sell you Cam? No happening.”, he said. “I wonder what she would say if she ever found out you were giving me money to make me stay away. How pissed she would be?”

“Ten thousand dollars.”, Nat said and Seth eyes widen.

“Ten thousand dollars?”, he asked, looking interested.

Nat nodded, “Yeah, I can have it by tomorrow morning for you.”

“Wow, Nat, that's a long of money.”, he said, looking like he was buying more into it. Nat wanted to grin, knowing this would work. “I mean, how can I say no to ten thousand dollars?”

“Is it a yes?”, Nat asked.

Seth nodded for a second, then stopped, “No, it's not. I can say no.”, he said, glaring at him and closed his locker. His voice was hard, “No way am I taking money from you and soon, Cam will be my girlfriend again and you wont win. Knowing you can't have her is the icing on the cake, Nat.”, he said, walking away.