Star Struck

Sara is obsessed with pop star Tyler Vincent, and as she nears the end of her senior year, she’s determined to find a way to be with him--although her best friend, Aimee, keeps telling her to find a different escape from her desperately violent home life.

Complications arise when Dale, the mysterious new transfer student, sets his sights on Sara, and she falls for this rock-star-in-the-making in spite of her better judgment. When Sara wins a contest, she is faced with a choice--travel to Tyler Vincent’s home town to meet him, or stay and support Dale in a Battle-of-the-Bands hosted by MTV. Their triangulated relationship is pushed to its breaking point, but there is another, deeper secret that Dale’s been keeping that just may break things wide open...

EXCERPT:

"So, I didn't see you carry anything in for me," Dale said. "Does that mean its small enough to fit in your pocket, or that you didn't get me anything because I've been such a bad boy?" He nuzzled my neck and sent goose bumps down my arms.

"Actually, neither. It's already here," I said. He raised his eyebrows at me. "And it's not totally from me."

"Oh?"

"Well, John and I split the cost, actually. I used the babysitting money I've been saving for a couple of years, but I still didn't have enough, so your dad helped out."

His eyes widened. "Holy cow, what did you get me, a Porsche?"

"Not exactly." I grinned. "Something better. Close your eyes and I'll show you."

Dale dutifully closed his eyes and I helped him to his feet, leading him back to John's room. I sat him down on the bed and closed the door.

"Are you sure my Christmas gift is in here, or is this just a ploy to get me alone?"

I laughed, opening the closet door. "Are you ready?"

"I guess so."

"Okay." I pulled off the towels and clothes we had covered it with. "You can open your eyes."

He did, and his eyes widened, his jaw dropping. He sat there like that for a full ten seconds, stunned.

"I... you... wow!"

I laughed, clapping my hands. "You really like it?"

"Like it?" Dale stood and swung me into his arms. "You are the sweetest, most generous, most wonderful girl in the world. Thank you." He hugged me close. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," I said against his neck. "Now you don't have an excuse not to enter the Battle of the Bands."

"I can't believe you did this. Amplifiers cost a small fortune. You must have spent your life savings," he said into my hair, hugging me so close it was hard to breathe.

"Almost," I said. "But you're worth every penny."

He kissed me then, taking my breath as always. I felt his heart beating against mine.

"Are you ready for yours?" he whispered near my ear.

"My what?" I asked, a little dazed from his kiss. He grinned.

"Come on." He led me back into the living room. I sat on the floor while he dug around under the tree. He pulled out a long black velvet box and my heart sank at the sight of it. He came to sit next to me.

"I know we talked about it and said we didn't want to make a commitment. Because we're still in high school, and you're going away to college, and Tyler Vincent, and me trying to make it in the music business," he started, holding my hand and the box in the other.

He paused and I looked at him. Don't do this, I pleaded silently and he smiled a little sheepishly.

"But—?" I said for him.

"I want you to know this isn't like that. This is...this is to show you that I understand... about your feelings for Tyler Vincent. And about me."

I took the box from him and hesitated before opening it, a little afraid. It creaked open and I gasped aloud, lifting the heart-shaped locket out, holding it up on tented fingers. The gold shone in the light and a diamond sparkled in its top left corner.

"Oh, Dale," I whispered, holding it in my palm.

"Open it," he encouraged.

"There's more?" I lifted the tiny latch and opened the heart.