"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.

"Fine."

His curt answer has me frowning. "No, you're not. That little muscle in your jaw is jumping. That means you're upset about something."

Zane glances down at me. "No, it doesn't."

"Yes, it does."

"Nope."

I study his face closely, while he avoids my meeting my eyes. Is he pale beneath his golden tan? I think so.

"Wait, are you scared of roller coasters?"

"No," he answers quickly. Then he frowns, staring off into the distance. "I wouldn't say 'scared'. I just don't like the part before the big drop. That slow build up, the antic.i.p.ation...it's annoying."

Big strong Zane O' Connor afraid of roller coasters? Cute!

"Don't worry," I rea.s.sure him, taking his hand. "I'll protect you."

"Thanks, Violet," he replies dryly.

"We don't have to go on it if you don't want to."

"Oh, don't you worry about me." Zane smirks. "It's not that serious."

I can't the giggle that escapes me. I turn away to hide it, and that's when I notice the girl with the braces.

"Ugh," I mutter, facing Zane again. "That girl over there is taking pictures of you with her phone. She's been staring at you this whole time."

Zane doesn't bother looking, he just angles his face away. "Don't tell me you're jealous."

I scowl at the girl. "Of course not, but it's rude! She's probably texting all her little friends, 'oh, look at the super hot guy standing next to the dumpy girl.' Ugh!"

He squints down at me. "Did you just call yourself dumpy?"

"She's probably thinking that, the little b.i.t.c.h. Do you want me to go over and say something to her?"

"Easy, tiger." Zane grins and rubs my shoulders. The line is moving."

Grumbling, I move forward. I catch the girl's eye and glare at her. Frightened, she quickly turns around.

Great, now I feel bad. And completely immature. What's wrong with me? Remembering Helize's words, I inwardly groan.

Guard my heart. Yeah, right.

I am having so much fun right now. Zane goes on every ride with me, not complaining once. Not even when I make him go on the Princesses' Carousel. I buy him a dorky canary yellow shirt that reads 'Fairytale Castle V.I.P'. and dare him to wear it. He just shrugs and puts it on right over his long-sleeved shirt, not self-conscious at all. And he looks hot in it! Of course, when I put on the same shirt, I look like a big-breasted circus clown.

We eat dinner at Pirate Dan's, a restaurant on this big wooden boat sailing in a man-made lake. I have clam linguini and Zane has a salad of some kind. The ambience is perfect-the dark dining room lit by the soft glow of big Chinese lanterns, and the music is whimsical and romantic. Pirates and wenches roam around, making sure our drinks are always filled.

After dinner, we go up to the deck and kiss and kiss under the stars. Then Zane takes my hand, towing me back to the hotel with breathless urgency.

Afterwards, we stand at the balcony, watching a special fireworks show. As I watch bursts of color light up the night sky, warm and secure in Zane's arms, I finally let go of my fears and doubts, and allow myself to be really truly happy.

No regrets.

Chapter 30.

We don't get much sleep that night, so when I finally get up, it's already ten in the morning. I stretch my whole body feeling wonderfully achy and content.

Zane leans over and kisses my bare stomach. "Wanna grab a shower together?"

I laugh and pull the sheet back up. "No, Yeah, separate ones. I'm kind of...achy from last night."

"Sorry," he says, grinning unrepentantly. "Separate showers, it is. Then we'll get breakfast. Sound good?"

I smile back at him. "Sounds great."

As I'm getting clothes from my bag, Zane's phone rings. Scowling down at the screen, he mutters, "It's work. I need to answer."

He walks out of the room, mumbling a curt greeting to whoever called him.

I can't stop smiling right now. Last night was amazing. If I could wake up next to Zane for the rest of my life, I wouldn't need anything else.

If we got married...

Shut up, Violet. No silly day dreams. Just live in the moment.

Shaking my head at myself, I shuffle into the bathroom. I soak in the tub for a little while until my growling stomach convinces me to get out and get dressed.

Ugh, I forgot a bra. I wrap a towel around myself, grab my clean clothes, and head back to the bedroom. After making sure Zane is still in the shower, I drop my towel and rummage in my bag for a clean bra.

Did I not bring one? Why did I bring fifteen pairs of panties?

Oh, great, I just knocked Zane's bag off the bed. And it's open, so all his things tumble onto the floor.

I pick his bag up and carefully replace the neatly folded clothes. There's something half-under the bed. It looks like a thick ma.n.u.script. Curious, I pick it up, and turn it over to the front.

Hm. The t.i.tle reads, "Falling for the Ghost of You" and there are two neon green sticky notes attached under it. Frowning, I scan over the elegant scrawl on the first note: Aiden, The part of Logan was made for you! He's a rock star who wants to lead a normal life, and enrolls in high school, incognito. He ends up falling for a sweet and brainy girl. The writer is Jennifer Kingsley, and it's being backed by Noah d.i.c.kensen! Also, Chazz says Alaina is in if you are. Read it and tell me what you think!

Aiden? What the h.e.l.l? I read the second note.

You were right about the ending and that scene in the cafeteria. Talked to Drew and she said it was negotiable. We could discuss the change-if you ever answer your d.a.m.n phone! Or are you too deep in your role as "Zane O' Connor" in Nowheresville? Drew needs an answer a.s.a.p. Please keep your phone on!!

P.S., you were right, I totally didn't recognize you! The dark hair and eyes are hot!

My hands shake so badly, the script falls from my hands and lands on the carpet with a soft thump.

It can't be what I'm thinking. There must be a reasonable explanation. There is no way Zane is...no way.

Zane's wallet is right there on the dresser. I've never touched it-never actually went through any of his things. I float to it as if in a dream. It takes me a couple of tries to simply get it open.

A bunch of black credit cards-all with the name "Crosswinds Corporation" on them. I find his driver's license-Zane O' Connor. But the picture is of scruffily gorgeous superstar Aiden Cross.

I stare disbelievingly at the picture. I've never seen his license before-why would I have? The longish dark blonde hair, those extraordinary sky blue eyes...I've seen his face countless times on television, magazine covers...all over Kim's locker.

He looks like Bill this way, I realize faintly. The hair dye, the contacts...all for what? To research a role for a movie?

Is that what this is? Is that what I am? Research? It makes sense now. Zane-Aiden-was using me. Of course he was. I knew there was something he was hiding, and like an idiot, I never pursued any of my suspicions. Because, deep down, I trusted him.

What an idiot I am.

I stand there, frozen, until the sounds of the shower turning off propels me into action. I put Zane's wallet back, and his script, then I frantically throw on something to wear.

I need to get out of here. I don't even want to look at him, or be in the same room as him. I have to go.

I grab my things together, not caring if I missed anything. Shoes-where the h.e.l.l, are they?!

I spot them under a chair. I grab them and sling my bag over my shoulder, and race towards the door.

The bathroom door is just opening. I don't stop. I reach the door, throwing it open, then carefully shutting it behind me. I don't want him to know I've left. Not yet.

Heart pounding so fast, I'm breathless and dizzy, I slap at the elevator's down b.u.t.ton. Finally, the doors slide open. When I'm pressing the lobby b.u.t.ton, I hear my name being called.

I look up to see Zane running full speed down the hall, shirtless and shoeless. He is coming so fast, he might catch me before the doors close. I stab the close b.u.t.ton over and over. The doors slide shut with Zane just an arm's length away.

I guess I'm crying. Hot tears fall relentlessly from my eyes as I sag against the wall.

The look on his face-confused, frustrated, a little angry. He doesn't know I know.

I don't remember getting out of the elevator and going through the lobby. Everything is becoming increasingly foggy. I just find myself standing in front of the hotel all of a sudden.

A blue and white car stops in front of me. Numbly, I open the back door and slide into the seat.

"Can I help you?" the dark haired driver asks, swiveling his head to look at me.

"I need to get home to Hidden Cove."

"Lady, this isn't a cab."

Oh. Great.

"Sorry," I mutter, quickly sliding back out.

This time I make sure the car says cab on it before I get in.

Rico's Cab Service. Wonderful. I climb into the backseat of the tiny white car.

"I need to get to Hidden Cove. Please hurry," I say to the grandmotherly woman behind the wheel.

She frowns at me through the rearview mirror. "Hidden Cove, you say? That's two hours away. I don't really..."

She trails off, studying me harder. "It's going to be quite a bit of money," she warns.

"That's fine, I have it. Just-please, go!"

Zane has just appeared out the doors. He spots me just as we are pulling away.

It's close. He manages to thump on my window before my cab driver accelerates and we leave him behind.

I can't help glancing back to look at him. He's standing in the road, breathing heavily, watching me go.

I turn away from the sight of him, squeezing my eyes shut. The pain in my heart is crushing.

"That you boyfriend?" Grandmotherly Lady asks. "What'd he do to you?"

"Nothing," I say, my eyes still closed. "It's just-he's...not who I thought he was."

"They never are, dear."

I ignore my phone's constant beeping, letting me know I have missed calls and text messages. I've been on the internet, looking up Aiden Cross. According to pictures and various gossip sites, Aiden Cross and beautiful young actress Alaina Skye are a hot item. G.o.d. According to one article, the picture of Aiden and Alaina, laughing with their arms around each other, was taken just a couple of days ago. I want to vomit.

There are pictures of him with many other gorgeous girls as well. At clubs, restaurants...on the red carpet. He's caught in one picture with his hand on a supermodel's a.s.s in one. He makes headlines when he's pictured sporting a s.e.xy new short-haired clean-shaven look. His hair is blonde in all the photos, his eyes that vivid swimming pool blue.

I try to look for the Zane I know in the pictures of the famous singer, but I don't find him. I'm looking for someone who doesn't exist.

I'm so cold. My insides are frozen, and my chest aches. The rest of me is numb. I don't know...what am I going to do?

I scroll through my messages, and my heart gives a jolt when I see I have fifteen calls and texts from Mom.

He called her?

s.h.i.t! I send a quick text to her, letting her know I'm okay and on my way home. I send Lauren the same text. She's texted me about a billion times, too. The rest are from Zane. I erase all his messages without even looking at them, then I turn my phone off.

I spend the rest of the ride looking out the window, not seeing anything, and trying desperately to not feel anything.

I don't know where to go once I'm back in Hidden Cove. Not home. G.o.d, no. Not Lauren's, either. I'm not ready to talk. Not yet.

I end up having the cab drop me off at the beach. It's the only place I can think of. I drop down into the sand, and just stare at the waves.