Chapter 37: Till the Break of Dawn

Avril Lavigne, a rock star from Canada, is one of the most famous artists in the world.

This energetic girl has captivated the public's attention since her debut album. If Evan Bell remembers correctly, Avril debuted in 2001, so she's probably in New York preparing for her first album.

"Hey, aren't you the guy from earlier?" Before Evan could say anything, Avril Lavigne shouted, a teasing smirk on her face.

"What, you enjoy watching people argue? Damn man." Evan raised an eyebrow. It was ironic how their paths crossed again, especially after his playful antics at the street corner.

Without waiting for a response, Avril impatiently pushed him. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you know someone at the bar."

Her brown-gold hair swung in a sharp arc, and her delicate face was set in a fierce expression. The tie she wore with her shirt had slipped to her shoulder.

It was clear she wasn't thankful for Evan's earlier help; instead, she was full of anger.

It wasn't hard to understand why. First, Evan had teased her on the street, then cut in line to enter the bar, and finally, used the bar security to deal with the guy harassing her. Naturally, this made Avril Lavigne disdainful and a bit angry.

Evan knew that even without his help, Avril wouldn't have been in any real trouble. He had caught sight of her raised knee, ready to strike if the guy had pushed any further. But he hadn't expected her to be so ungrateful, which made him both amused and frustrated.

Since she didn't appreciate his help and twisted his good intentions, Evan didn't mind continuing the game. He stepped forward, and Avril instinctively took a step back, only to find herself pressed against the wall.

Pinned by Evan's hands, she couldn't move. The guy who had been bothering her was gone, but now Evan was here. Avril's night wasn't getting any better.

Evan leaned in, a wicked smile on his face. "If I wanted to do whatever I wanted, you wouldn't stand a chance," he whispered close to her cheek, his breath warm against her skin.

Their faces were so close they could feel each other's warmth, the intense rhythm of the bar's music amplifying the charged atmosphere.

Furious, Avril tried to knee him, but Evan was ready, blocking her attempt with his hand. His smile grew, making Avril nervous. The man in front of her was dangerous, and every instinct told her to be on guard.

"You're not allowed in the bar at sixteen, so don't cause any more trouble," Evan's voice was low and seductive, sending a shiver down Avril's spine. Before she could react, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd.

How could a complete stranger know she was only sixteen? Avril was stunned. She had only wanted to provoke him after their earlier encounter, but now she was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Standing by the bathroom door, Avril's eyes flickered with frustration. She didn't have the physical advantage over Evan, and she hadn't won the verbal battle either, which only added to her annoyance.

Avril and her two friends had entered the bar with fake IDs. They were all underage, and if they were caught, they'd end up at the police station.

The fact that this secret was exposed by a guy she had just met only made her more upset.

Avril had come to New York from Canada last week to meet a producer, hoping to showcase her talent and gain his approval. She felt her current manager wasn't providing the right guidance, and their ideas often clashed.

So, she had sneaked to New York, searching for a new opportunity. But the producer wasn't available until next week, so Avril had decided to hit the bar tonight for some fun—only to run into this troublesome guy. 

After a while, Avril stormed back to the dance floor, found her friends, and tried to lose herself in the music once more.

As midnight approached, the bar's atmosphere intensified. The music shifted, becoming more upbeat with electronic elements.

To the untrained ear, it was just a good time, but Avril, with her keen musical sense, could tell the DJs were younger, more fashionable, and skillful.

Curious, Avril glanced toward the DJ booth, but the dim lights made it hard to see. All she could make out was a white shirt glowing under the lights.

Evan noticed it was nearly midnight and knew his brother Teddy Bell's birthday was almost over. He headed to the DJ booth to prepare a special set as a final celebration for Teddy.

Tonight, Evan was wearing a white shirt that stood out in the dim bar light. As he looked at the dance floor, he saw many glowing bodies moving to the beat.

As the music began, Evan gave a signal to Eden Hudson, who immediately left the two women he'd been with, pulled Teddy Bell out onto the dance floor, and they started to move to the music.

Calling it dancing might be generous. Teddy was awkward, standing there looking around, not quite nervous enough to flee but clearly out of his element.

Eden, as usual, remained cool and detached, his hands in his pockets, barely nodding to the beat.

Despite their stiffness, women were still drawn to them, brushing against the two handsome men. It was like two steel poles surrounded by dancers.

Without realizing it, the dance set was coming to an end. Avril noticed the man in the white shirt stepping down from the DJ booth, heading toward the dance floor where he joined two men who were standing out like sore thumbs.

Avril found herself moving toward him, but she suddenly stopped when a flash of light revealed his face. It was the same guy who had revealed her secret earlier.

How was he still around? Was she just imagining it, or was this guy really haunting her tonight? What she didn't realize was that their encounters were purely coincidental, and Evan hadn't been following her at all.

When Avril confirmed that the man in the white shirt was indeed the one who had outed her age, she felt conflicted. On one hand, she was angry, but on the other, she was impressed by his DJ-ing skills and musical sense.

At that moment, Evan was surrounded by a group of women, dancing with them effortlessly. His white shirt, glowing under the lights, stood in stark contrast to the awkwardness of Teddy and the cool detachment of Eden.

Gritting her teeth, Avril muttered, "Fuck," and walked away.

Evan, oblivious to the fact that he had unknowingly offended Avril yet again, continued to enjoy himself. But, in all honesty, Even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared.

Evan was having the time of his life, watching Teddy's discomfort and Eden's cool demeanor. They danced for a bit, leaving the women behind, then headed to the bar together.

Evan ordered three beers, raising his glass. "Happy birthday, dear brother." The glasses clinked together, foam spilling over the rims.

By the time they got home on the subway, it was almost three in the morning. Catherine Bell was still up, the lights in the house welcoming them back.

Although none of them had drunk much, the smell of alcohol lingered on their clothes.

Catherine gently urged them to wash up and get to bed. It wasn't until four o'clock that the Bell house finally fell quiet again.

The Bell family's house wasn't big, so the brothers had shared a room since they were kids. Tonight, they pushed the two beds together, making just enough space for the three of them to sleep.

Catherine sat by the bed, looking at her sons' increasingly mature faces. A satisfied and happy smile portrayed on her lips, the early morning busyness fading into contentment.

At the early dawn, the Bell house fell into a peaceful silence. The tranquility was truly intoxicating.