Hollywood Heights! Leddie must go on

chapter 16

Eddie led Loren up to his bedroom and straight out onto the balcony. Loren stopped before stepping outside and shook her head.

"Paparazzi," Loren said in a low voice.

Eddie was stunned by this. What was she going to tell him that would cause such a reaction that she was scared of the paparazzi getting a picture on his balcony? He looked in her eyes and could tell she was fighting tears. He was getting more and more upset at this stalker and ready to rip him to shreds. How dare anyone cause his Loren this much pain!

Eddie sat on the couch in the alcove, never letting go of Loren's hand. Loren followed but sat as far away from him as she could without breaking their hands. He knew he had to proceed easily.

"I know there is something you're scared to tell me," Eddie said softly. "But, baby, please let me in."

"It's not that easy," Loren said. She couldn't stop the single tear from falling. She was so angry with herself for not being able to keep it in. Her crying was helping no one.

"Do you want some water or – "

Loren shook her head. She sighed and realized that she had to tell him. There was no way she could solve this herself. Eddie had to know.

"There's something that happened Monday, the day of the fire drill, that I haven't told you."

Eddie simply nodded his head and urged her to continue.

"I need you to understand why I've kept this from you – "

"Loren," Eddie said as he cupped her cheek in his hand, "I know there has to be a good reason. Just tell me."

Loren leaned her head into his hand and closed her eyes loving the feeling of his warm hand on her cheek. His thumb brushed away the streak of tears that was starting to get larger and was streaming down her face.

"The stalker grabbed me during the chaos of the fire drill and led me outside." She looked into Eddie's eyes, but didn't notice a change in the way he was looking at her. His eyes still held concern and curiosity; Anger had not crept into them, yet.

"He told me that he was stalking me to get to you." Loren choked back a sob before she continued, "He said that if I told you he would make you disappear again, and this time you wouldn't come back." Loren cried. All her fears of losing Eddie flooded into her heart. The pain she remembered from those days she thought he was dead strangled her and threatened to drown her.

"Shhhh," Eddie said as he pulled her into his arms. Loren took a deep breath and closed her eyes tightly trying to control her emotions. He was here with her, warm and very much alive. His scent, his strength were all around her.

"I'm so sorry, Eddie," Loren said as they hugged. "I would never keep anything from you, but he found his way to my school; I really thought he could hurt you."

Eddie pulled back and looked Loren in the eyes, "I remember someone once told me that I should look at a situation from the other person's point of view. It would help me get perspective." Loren smiled. Eddie was remembering the first time they met up at their special place on the hill by accident. It was after he had found out Chloe's mom was alive and when Loren had to decide whether to go to Brown or start her music career. He was telling her he understood her reasons for keeping this from him.

"Nobody causes you this pain and gets away with it," Eddie said.

"But it's you he's after," Loren said.

"And he's using you to get to me," Eddie said. He realized he needed to curb his anger in front of Loren. He had made some headway in tearing down her emotional wall; he didn't want to scare her away now. "What did he look like?"