Torn (Torn Series) (9 page)

My stomach tightened as I thought about us dancing together and I stared at my desk as I answered, “Yeah, I did.”

He leaned over so that he was only a few inches away from me and I glanced up to see his eyes going smoldering.

“I did too. Too bad we were interrupted before things started to get interesting. We’ll have to do it again sometime soon.”

I was saved from replying when a couple girls walked over to us. “Hey you’re in that band,
Breaking the Hunger, with Adam and Eric aren’t you? Drake right?”              

Drake turned away from me to give him his trademark sexy smile, “That’d be me. What can I help you lovely ladies with?”

The brunette who had spoken before stepped closer to him and slid a piece of paper into his hand. “Why don’t you call me sometime, maybe I can help you.”

She smiled sweetly as she turned back to her friends and walked away to sit on the other side of the room.

I glanced at the note in his hand. “What was that all about?”

He looked up at me and grinned before opening
up the folded note to read it.

“That,” he motioned to where the girl was sitting, glaring at me from across the room, “was
Xanda, and apparently if I call her at this number she will give me a good time.”

I rolled my eyes as I turned away from him, trying to hide the hurt I was feeling. He wasn’t mine and I shouldn’t be bothered by other girls giving him their numbers. “Nice, you get around a lot don’t you?”

He grinned at me as he tucked the note into his pocket. “I told you before, gotta love the groupies.”

The rest of my morning flew by, and soon I was making my way to the cafeteria to meet up with Logan and grab some lunch. He was standing outside looking pale with a pair of sunglasses on to hide his eyes.

“Feeling better?”

“Not really, but I figured I should probably make it to at least a couple classes today.”

He held the door open for me as I walked past him and into the cafeteria. We grabbed some food and sat down at an empty table next to the doors. I devoured my food like I hadn’t eaten in weeks as Logan watched me with a look of disgust.

“There is no way I’m going to be able to
handle food, here take mine,” he said as he slid his sandwich over to me.

“You need to
eat, it’ll make you feel better.”

“No thanks, I’ll take my chances.”

We sat in an uneasy silence with him staring at me. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say that didn’t involve our conversation from this morning. The chair next to me was pulled back and Drake dropped into it.

“Dude, you look like shit.”

I hid a smile as Logan pinched his lips together but didn’t say anything.

Drake turned to me. “What are you guys doing later? I thought we might go hang out at the bar I play at,” He glanced up at Logan as an evil smile spread across his face, “Grab a beer or two, and something to eat.”
                                                                                                 

Logan turned a light shade of green and stood up. “I’ve got to go, I’ll text you later Chloe.”

He was out the door before I could reply and I turned to glare at Drake, “That wasn’t very nice.”

“What’d I say?”

“Don’t try to play innocent, you know exactly what you did.”

“Whatever, so what do you say? Want to go to the bar toni
ght? You can bring Amber too.”

I shook my head, “No thanks, I’ve been out the last two nights, I need to fit some actual studying somewhere in my college life.”

He shrugged his shoulders as he stood up, “Suit yourself, but if you change your mind, you have my number.”

I watched as he walked out the door with the brunette from class, I think he said her name was
Xanda, following him. I had no doubt he’d find someone to entertain him while I was studying.

Chapter Six

My Hero

The rest of the week passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was sitting in my room
Friday night going over some of my assignments due on Monday. I had stuck to my word, working on assignments and studying Wednesday and Thursday night, and it appeared I was going to be doing the same tonight. What a way to spend my Friday night, I thought to myself as I sighed for the thousandth time and threw the book shut.

Amber had
a date tonight with Alex, the guy she had met at the sorority party, and Rachel was nowhere to be found, so I was on my own for the night. I stood up, deciding I could at least make a trip to Starbucks and get some caffeine in me for an all-night study session. I grabbed my car keys and headed for the door, leaving a note for Rachel in case she came home and wondered where I went. I was walking down the stairs, dreaming of a Pumpkin Spice latte, when I ran into Logan.

“Hey, where you headed to?” h
e asked cheerfully.

“I’m going to make a run to
Starbucks, I need caffeine if I am going to get any work done tonight.”

He rolled his eyes at me,
“You and your caffeine addiction, as much coffee as you drink you would think you could manage to drag yourself out of bed in the mornings on time.”

“There is nothing wrong with my caffeine addiction, but since you’re being so rude, you can guarantee I won’t be
bringing you a cup back.”

“Somehow I think I’ll survive.”

I chuckled to myself as I waved goodbye and made my way out the door to my car. Things had been less strained over the last few days with Logan and I was thankful to be getting back to normal with him. Both of us had been busy, but we still managed to at least text each other a few times throughout the day.             

I started my car and headed across town to get my coffee fix. Lucky
for me it was only a little way across town and before I knew it, I was pulling into their drive through and ordering my latte. The boy opened the window to take my money and I almost passed out from the coffee smell coming from inside. I would live here if only I could afford it! He handed me my coffee and I noticed a help wanted sign hanging in the window.

“Hey, can I have an application too please?”

He smiled and grabbed an application from under the counter. “Here you go, get it back as soon as you can, we’re desperate!”

I took the application and thanked him. I decided to pull over and fill out all the information in the parking lot. It was pure luck that I
had a major Starbucks addiction and since I had worked at the one back in my hometown my senior year, I already knew how to make most of their drinks. 

I got out of my car and headed toward the doors. As soon as I opened them, I was assaulted with the coffee smell again. Yeah, I could definitely stand working here. I marched
over to the counter and handed my application to the woman standing behind the register. I noticed her nametag read Janet as she looked over it, noting I had already worked at a Starbucks.

“Can you start on Monday evening at five
o’clock sharp? We need someone for the evening shift, and based off your schedule preferences it should be perfect.”

I almost jumped up and down.
I had been contemplating getting a job and this one had all but fallen right into my lap.

“Sure, I’ll be here!”

She told me what I was expected to wear and I thanked her as I walked back out the door, all but skipping to my car. I guess my coffee addiction had finally paid off. I couldn’t wait to tell Logan.

I jumped back in my car and made my way toward the exit. Just as I started to pull out I noticed a bar across the road - Gold’s Pub, where Drake said his band played every Friday night. I glanced at my dashboar
d. It was almost nine o’clock so surely his band would be playing soon. I made a split second decision before pulling across the road and into the bar parking lot. The lot was packed and I had to hunt for a spot, finding one in the very back, next to a shiny black 1983 Mustang. I guess that answered my question about him already being here.

I grabbed my coffee and headed inside. Once the guy by the door, who looked like he was an escaped convict on the run, let me through without carding me, I managed to find an empty table in the back. Just as I sat down, I saw Drake and his fellow band members take the stage. My breath caught when I noticed him, he seemed to look sexier every time I saw him.

Glad to be hidden by the shadows in the back, I openly stared at him as they started into their first song. It was fast but heavy, and had me entranced at once. At the party they had covered other bands, but this wasn’t a song I knew, and being heavy into Rock music, I assumed it was one of their own. His voice was as amazing as I remembered it, and he knew it. He gave a cocky look out across the bar and to the women already standing by the stage. When he got to the chorus he belted the lyrics out, almost screaming.

Just follow me,

I’ll take you there,                                                                                                                                            

Stand by me,
                                                                                                                                                         

Have no fear,
             

When we’re together the world stands still,

Just follow me,

Stand by me,

I’ll make it worth your while,             

Have no fear,
             

Just follow me,

I’ll take you there

The lyrics were catchy and I instantly started swaying in my seat to the music. Drake could definitely control an
audience, he had the women eating out of the palm of his hand with the smoky, sexy looks he was giving them. When the song ended, they all started screaming out his name. He grinned at them, signaling the guitar player to start the next song. Soon the drummer, a girl amazingly enough, started in, followed by the guy on bass.

This was a slower song, and as Drake started singing the lyrics, his face took on a thoughtful, almost helpless look. He closed his eyes as he sang, almost whispering on some of the lyrics. It was the most beautiful, heartfelt song I had ever heard. The second time he sang the chorus, I
already knew the words by heart.

Hold me close,

I need to feel you there,

Whe
n the rest of the world’s gone,

All I need is you in my arms,
             

So hold me close,

Keep me safe,

I need to feel you there

I loved the song, and I loved watching Drake perform it. He was absolutely amazing, and I wanted to tell him so. As he finished the song and started back into another fast heavy song, I decided I would catch him after the show and let him know. The band played a few more songs before finishing up. They grabbed their instruments and jumped off stage as I pushed through the crowd to approach them.

He didn’t notice me at first, since he had more women than I could count gathered around him and the other guys. I saw the girl who played drums grin and roll her eyes as the bass player grabbed a girl and headed out the door
, holding his guitar in one hand and her on the other. Drake had an arm around some blonde girl in a skirt shorter than my dress the night of the party when he glanced up and saw me. He untangled himself from her, whispering something in her ear as he continued to stare at me.

She pouted as she glanced up at me, but nodded and headed over to a table with her friends, throw
ing glares my way as she went.

He walked over to me with a huge grin
on his face, “Hey! You made it!”

I smiled shyly up at him,
“Yeah I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. You were amazing, even better than you were at the party, if that’s possible.”

He gave me one of those
Earth shattering grins that made my knees weak.

“Thanks.
I’m going to hang out here and have a couple beers, care to join me?”                            

“Uh, yeah sure, I can stay for a few.” My stomach was in knots as he took my hand and led me across the room to the table the girl drummer was sitting at.

Drake motioned to me, "Jade this is Chloe. Jade is the drummer in our band."

I smi
led and nodded in her direction, "Yeah, I noticed you playing!  You're really amazing!"

Jade gave me a
 quick once over, smiling as if she approved. 

"Why thank you!
  I've been playing since I was ten. The drums have always been my thing."

She had the cutest southern accent when she talked, and I instantly liked her. She was a pretty girl, wit
h warm brown eyes and dyed black hair that had red streaks running through it. It fell half way down her back in gentle waves. I had noticed earlier that she was tiny, probably three or four inches under my five foot, five inches, but she gave off an air of confidence that told me she was not someone to push around.