Behind the Mask: A Rockstar Romance(26)

“Just keep holding my hand until we get in. It’s going to be chaotic out there.” He winks at me.

Nate actually winked me.

I end up giggling like a school girl.

We wait for everyone to climb out and when Nate gets out, he helps me and soon I am blinded by camera lights. Nate’s hand quickly entwines my fingers once again. He walks me toward the hotel, stopping to pose in front of the cameras. They are all screaming at him. Chanting his name over and over.

Troy, Sam, and Tegan are either posing or signing autographs. I turn back around and Nate takes hold of my chin, making me look up at him.

“Smile. Pose. Pretend it’s like taking a selfie.” He chuckles, causing me to laugh.

I turn back to the cameras and start posing with Nate at my side. Soon the whole band joins in, photos getting taken of all of us.

“Isn’t this fun?” Troy says to me.

“It ain’t bad,” I tease. I look at Naomi and she is standing near the limo with a smile on her face, watching us. I’m sad that she isn’t joining me.

She is the reason why I am here. Heading to Naomi, I hear Nate and the guys yelling out to me.

“What are you doing?” Naomi asks me, looking at me confused.

“I told you I need you at my side.” I grab her hand, taking her with me. “You are my guru if anyone asks.” We both laugh and I start posing with her.

“Holy shit, I’m going to be in magazines. I can’t wait to search on the Internet for me,” Naomi says giddily.

The band joins us. Troy swings his arm around her shoulders. I feel Nate once again taking hold of my hand, pulling me toward him.

“You shouldn’t just walk away. It’s a little dangerous for you now.”

I place my hand on his chest, patting him, looking up into his concerned eyes.

“I didn’t want this new life to start without my best friend at my side. It wouldn’t feel right,” I tell him and he smiles.

“You really are one of a kind.”

“I know.”

We both chuckle.

“Nate, is this your new girlfriend?” a reporter shouts out.

“All questions should be asked in the interview, but no, she is the new lead guitarist of our band until our Tegan’s hand heals, and that’s all for now,” he says and soon the flashes and shouts of questions get worse.

This time, though, they are all focused on me.

“This is crazy shit,” Naomi says as we walk into the hotel.

The place screams expensive. I look up at the high ceilings, the immaculate white floors. There is no mark or blemish.

Heading up the elevator, we are taken to an empty conference room. There is a long table in front of us that we head towards. I see name placements on the table. Nate and I are basically sat in the middle.

I look out in front of me, seeing the empty chairs that will soon be full of reporters.

Thank you, God, I’m not talking.

I’d probably sound like an idiot if I did.

“I can’t believe Blair is sitting in the middle,” Tegan complains next to me.

“You need to stop saying her name,” Naomi shouts at her before taking a seat in front of us.

“Naomi is right,” Sam says. “They are going to ask for a name. What should we call her?”

I get a new name.

What name do I want?

“I have a few I could call you,” Tegan says under her breath and I glare at her.

“How about Star?” Naomi answers. We all face her. “I just watched The Lost Boys. I loved the girl’s name.” She shrugs.

Star.

I like it.

It’s fitting.

“I like it,” Sam says, smiling at me.

“Me too,” Troy and I say at the same time.

“Star it is,” Nate says, nudging my shoulder. I nudge him back. I love this side of him. I am just praying he hasn’t been drinking and this is him completely sober.

Soon the door opens and Jeffery walks down the isle, heading toward us. Just looking at him you can tell he likes money. Everything he is wearing looks expensive. “How are my number one guys?” He smiles at them. The guys give quick replies.

He stands in front of me, looking me down. I hate how he is looking at me.

Is he looking at me with interest? “Claire, welcome to the band. Thank you for taking Tegan’s place until our girl is all healed.” He shakes my hand for a little longer than necessary. I hear Tegan laugh beside me.

“It’s Blair,” I correct him. He waves me off.

“Well, it’s Star now,” Nate tells him.

“Pretty. Okay, guys, answer the questions professionally. Just stick to the story. Tegan hurt her hand. Star here is taking her place on tour until she’s all healed up. Star wants to keep anonymous, so she won’t be talking, ever.”

“We know the story as it’s fact, not a story,” Troy says.

“Yeah, good, just say stuff like that.” His phone rings and he answers it, walking to the corner.

Soon the room fills up with reporters and they take pictures of us. The guys look forward with posed faces, so I do the same. Jeffery stands up, introducing himself, his label, and the band. He explains what has happened to Tegan and who I am and also explains I won’t be talking. So much for the band explaining it all.