𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆𝑇𝑅𝑈𝐶𝐾, djs

[CHAPTER 29]

"Dani, hurry up!" Alex giggles, eagerly pulling him into the hallway. Daniel grins, running a hand through his blonde hair.

"What are we doing in here baby?"

The bass from the music echoes around them, the secluded hallway helping to block out most of the loud noise.

Alex stands near the wall in a short black dress, black Converse sneakers to complete the look. Her hair falls over her shoulders perfectly, a bright smile on her lips.

"Come here."

She pouts playfully, making Daniel's heart skip a beat. He makes his way over to her, gently placing his hands on her hips.

"Closer," she whispers, placing her hands on his chest as her voice slips into a sultry tone. He steps closer to her, his forehead gently resting against hers.

"Like this?" he asks. She nods, leaning up on her toes to gently kiss his li-

-

"Earth to Daniel!"

Daniel flinched, turning his head to the voice. "Yeah?"

"I asked how the apology went," Jack replied, giving Daniel a look.

"You spaced out though." Daniel shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"I'm fine." He stood up, pouring a (non-alcoholic) drink.

"It was fine. We made plans to hang out and ..." He looked at Jack.

"Is that a hickey?" Jack's face flushed pink as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey this discussion isn't about me; it's about you and your crush."

Daniel groaned in annoyance. "Stop calling it a crush, you're going to give me a migraine." Jack laughed.

"Let's talk about you then."

"Me?"

"You never zone out, dumbass," Jack said, giving Daniel a look.

"And you aren't drinking alcohol? What the fuck happened to you?"

"Nothing happened to me Jack." Daniel rolled his eyes.

"And I'm not an alcoholic."

"You're pretty damn close to being one," he muttered, giving Daniel another look.

"What was that, Avery?"

"Nothing." Daniel knew the reason why he had zoned out minutes ago. His mind was beginning to do something that had never happened before: daydream.

Sure, he dreamed at night about his performances or girls in short dresses begging for autographs, but that was before he met Alex. Since that night in the alleyway when he had accidentally knocked her unconscious, his mind lingered around the girl he had met.

Since then, his dreams had slowly stopped. And since the night before on Alex's balcony, he seemed to continually daydream about her.

But as much as he loved having Alex on his mind, he despised the distracting daydreams.

"I got to go to the studio and record some stuff," Daniel said, picking his guitar case off the couch.

"You want to come with me?" Jack shrugged. "Sure." He tossed Daniel the car keys, getting into the passenger's seat of the car.

Daniel joined him a minute later, dropping his guitar into the backseat along with his notepad containing song lyrics.

He revved the engine, pulling out of the driveway and down the road. When they stopped at a crosswalk, Daniel let his mind drift off.

"Did you like the show?" Daniel asks, looping an arm around Alex waist as they walk. Alex nods.
"It was really good," she says.

"You're a good performer." Daniel grinned.
"Why thank you baby." He leans back against the side of his car, pulling Alex flush against him. She looks at him with bright eyes, eyes clearly darting to his lips then up again.

"Maybe I should give you a reward for doing a good job at this show," she whispers, lightly biting her lower lip.

"Go for it," he replies.

"Go—"

"Daniel, go." Jack said, gesturing to the red light. Daniel quickly pressed the peddle, speeding down the road like a red tint covering his cheeks.

"Did you seriously zone out again? We're in the middle of the fucking road."

"Oh shut up." Daniel sighed. In an attempt to change the subject from his daydream, he said,

"Are you going to tell me about that hickey or not?"

"I know what you're doing." Jack sigh.

"And I'm allowed to have fun too. It's not just you and Alex. "

Daniel stopped at a red light and gave Jack a look. " Madison is a good kisser okay? You think one hickey is bad? I wonder how much makeup she has on her neck right now. "

Daniel laughed. " Impressive. "

Jack elbowed Daniel in the side as the park rolled into the parking lot. Both boys went inside, briefly greeting who they knew though Daniel wasn't. He could still feel his heart racing in his chest, a single name echoing in his head.

He quietly walked into the booth, glancing at his lyrics and adjusting his guitar. His eyes fell to the lyrics again, his face It was a list of characteristics he wrote about Alex which helped him write the song more specifically, a love song Daniel sighed and began to sing the lyrics on the page, strumming along.

He tried to turn his gaze away from the glass window where he knew everyone could see his flushed face and small smiles that crossed his face between verses.

He saw Jack raise an eyebrow at him through the glass, almost making Daniel stumble over his lyrics from embarrassment. Alex's name lingered in his mind as he finished the first take of the song. Jack stepped inside as Daniel put the guitar down.

"What's going on with you?"

"Nothing," Daniel replied, shaking his head.
"Just nothing."

"Bullshit." Jack's gave Daniel a look. He went quiet for a minute as his eyes fell to the notepad containing the song lyrics.

"She's on your mind, isn't she?" he asked quietly, a light smirk on his lips. Daniel nodded slightly.
"I fucking hate feelings."

"Well," Jack shrugged, "looks like your 'no falling in love rule' is nonexistent, huh?" He gave Daniel a knowing look.

"Deny it, I dare you." Daniel hesitated a minute.

"Shut up." He turned away, reaching into his pocket for his phone. His heart raced nervously at the thought of meeting Alex tomorrow, his eyes widening in realization that he still had plans to make. Daniel knew he was screwed.

A part of him still held a denial, but more fear settled into him as the days went by. He knew he would have to leave eventually, but his attachment to Alex was beginning to get worse. Attempts to distance himself from Alex had failed miserably, and his daydreams and thoughts continued to increase.