"So what's the plan for today?" I asked hoping we were actually leaving the house today, God his life was fucking boring.

  "Actually I need to go to a meeting today with a producer with the rest of the band at lunch time" Johnny said.

  Lia grinned "Yeah? Rick Montana?" she asked excitedly.

  He nodded "Yep" he said popping the p looking proud of himself.

  She squealed and jumped on him, "Oh God Johnny that's awesome!" she cried excitedly. Ok who the hell is Rick Montana?

  "I know, I just hope we don't screw it up" he said shaking his head amused.

  "Tell the boys to be on their best behaviour then" she said shrugging.

  He laughed "Maybe it would be better coming from you babe, they listen to you more than they do me" he said teasingly.

  She laughed "That's because otherwise they wouldn't get fed" she said rolling her eyes.

  "So you gonna tell Ethan?" Johnny asked her raising one eyebrow, the smile faded from her face as she looked at me.,

  "Um.....you can" she said looking uncomfortable as she started eating again.

  He took her left hand and held it out to me, "We got engaged" he said proudly. My heart stopped beating as I looked down at the huge diamond ring on her finger, I worked hard to keep the horror from my face and plastered on a fake smile as my heart broke into a million pieces.

  They were engaged? She was going to marry someone else? I can't believe I let her slip through my fingers, I had her and I let her go, actually I didn't just let her go I pushed her away. Shit I need to say something. What the hell can I say? Don't do it Lia? Marry me instead?

  "Congrats" I forced out looking anywhere but her hand, that ring was ripping my insides out, I always planned that it would be my ring on her finger. Jeez even if I could win her back, I couldn't buy her a ring even half as nice as that.

  "Thanks dude, you're the first to know" Johnny said proudly.,

  "I'm honoured" I said watching Lia who was looking anywhere but me and didn't really look that happy about it. "So when's the wedding?" I asked curiously, she flinched slightly which made my heart leap in my chest. She didn't actually look that happy about it at all.

  Johnny smiled a little sadly "No plans for a wedding yet dude, Ali needs to finish college first right babe?" he said wrapping his arm around her possessively.

  She nodded "Yep, I got another three years before I graduate" she said shrugging. I breathed a sigh of relief, I had three years to win her back before she married him.

  "I'm gonna go shower, wanna come?" Johnny said kissing her neck making her squirm.

  She laughed "Actually I think I'm gonna give Becca a call, see if she wants to go shopping or something, she has all of those relatives over this weekend, she'll probably want to get out" she said smiling. Johnny smiled and went over to the counter and grabbed his wallet pulling out a wad of cash. "No Johnny" she said before he even said anything., He laughed "You don't even know what I'm gonna say" he said chuckling to himself.

  She smiled and rolled her eyes, "My guess is it'll be along the lines of, 'here babe buy yourself something nice' am I right?" she said sarcastically.

  He laughed "Well actually I was gonna say 'treat your self to something' " he said shaking his head as he held out what looked like about five hundred dollars to her.

  She took the money from his hand and stepped close to him and shoved it in his pocket. "I don't want your damn money Johnny for God sake" she said looking annoyed.,

  "Well my beautiful fiancée, that's tough, because soon enough what's mine will be yours" he said shrugging and pulling the money out and putting it on the counter.

  "Don't start Johnny please" she said as she sighed.

  "Don't start what?" he asked smiling thinking he had won the argument.

  She shook her head "I love YOU Johnny, not your money, you didn't have this house or the cars or anything when I met you, I'm not interested in treating myself to anything" she said throwing her hands up in exasperation.

  He chuckled "Wow, why so touchy about the money babe? Seriously, having money is part of my life now, therefore it's part of yours" he said matter of factly.

  She shook her head, "I don't like to keep having this same argument with you, it's getting boring" she said annoyed.

  He sighed "Then just accept it, Jesus Ali, do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position? To have me throw my money at them like I do you and you aren't even interested!" he said angrily.

  "Well go marry one of them then if you want to buy someone's love Johnny, because I can't be bought" she said acidly as she pulled the ring off of her finger and held it out to him.

  He groaned and took the ring grabbing her hand and pulling her to him pushing it back on her finger. "I don't want another girl for fuck sake Ali" he said frowning angrily at her.

  "And I don't want you giving me money all the time! Just because I'm going to the store doesn't mean I want your money, you want to make me happy? Then stop trying to turn me into someone I'm not, if I need something from you that I can't afford to buy myself then I'll ask baby. Otherwise don't keep giving me money all the time, I'm not some fucking whore" she said acidly.

  He stopped and looked at her, "You think that I think you're a whore?" he asked shocked.

  "Johnny that's what it feels like sometimes, every time I leave your house you throw money at me, maybe you should just leave it on the fucking nightstand huh?" she said rolling her eyes.

  He burst out laughing, "Maybe I should, that turn you on sweetheart?" he asked laughing.

  She fought a smile "No, that turn you on baby?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

  He nodded "Actually yeah it does" he said laughing as he grabbed her and pulled her to his side, she slapped his chest playfully.

  "Well maybe I should buy myself some slutty leather outfits with your money, some fishnets and suspenders, really go to town, you like that?" she asked smiling again now.

  He waggled his eyebrows at her, "Hell yeah" he said smirking at her.

  She went up on her tip toes and kissed his nose, "Stop ok?" she asked.

  He nodded "Ok babe, but if you ever want anything you tell me, or just put it on that credit card I got you that you haven't used" he said seriously.

  She nodded "Deal, I'm gonna go call Becca, I'll see you later baby, good luck with the meeting" she said hugging him, "See you later I guess Ethan" she said smiling at me as she turned and grabbed her purse. "Oh crap, can I borrow your phone baby? I think I might have lost mine" she said looking through her purse.

  Damn, I had her phone in my pocket! I slid it out, "Actually Ali I got it here, I picked it up from that hotel for you on my way round" I said casually.

  Johnny slapped my shoulder "Thank's dude, that's nice of you" he said.

  Lia smiled at me warmly, "Thanks Ethan" she said nodding at me slightly before she turned to walk away turning her phone on as she went, probably to call Becca.

  As soon as the door shut he chuckled and shook his head, "A fucking whore? She's so funny, that girl's incredible right?" he said laughing. I nodded, she certainly is. "I got her a credit card about a year ago with a fifty thousand limit, told her to spend it all, she's not spent a damn dime of it, she just doesn't want anything, I've never known anyone like her, most girls would be bleeding me dry"

  he said shaking his head smiling happily.

  "Well like she said she's not with you for your money, you should be grateful that she loves you that much" I said honestly I would kill for her to feel like that about me.

  "I know, I can't believe I got so lucky, and she's so damn hot" he said grinning, I didn't say anything.

  "We've been together for four years now, I met when she snuck in a bar my band was playing at, she was so wasted, I spotted her immediately, I mean how the hell could I not? She was wearing this tiny freaking skirt and was dancing on the table top" he said laughing his ass off. "She told me she was eighteen, had me buying drinks for her and her friend Becca, I asked her out and she just was
n't interested at all, I had to chase that damn girl around for almost a month before she'd finally go out with me. By that time she'd told me she was fifteen but I just couldn't leave her alone, she had me hooked" he said rolling his eyes.

  I smiled, I could imagine how easy it is for her to hook guys, she was truly amazing to look at, but the thing is, she was even more incredible inside. "Lucky you didn't get arrested man" I said trying to be diplomatic in calling him a pedophile.

  He smiled "Yeah she would have been worth it, damn girl made me wait for almost two years before she'd sleep with me though, can you believe that? I was twenty one and I had to wait two years for sex with my girlfriend, nearly killed me!" he said laughing. I'd wait a lot longer for her than that.

  "Two years and you never cheated?" I asked curiously.

  He shook his head, "No man, I love that girl to pieces. She was so screwed up when I met her though, I think someone did a real number on her, she refused to trust me for the longest time, she has abandonment issues, if I didn't know better I'd say her parents had left her or something. She was scared to let me in in case I left her I think" he said. My stomach dropped, that was me, I made her like that, afraid to trust anyone in case they left her. Wow I felt like a piece of shit.

  "She doesn't get on with her parents though right?" I asked hoping he would shed some light on the whole situation, when I left with my uncle Joe she got on great with her parents.

  He shook his head "She hates her parents man, I don't know why, but they're real assholes, I've met them a couple of times but they treat her like some sort of leper" he said looking a little annoyed about it. I frowned, what the hell is that about?

  "That was her brother the other night though right? Ben?" I asked curiously.

  He nodded "Yeah he's a good laugh, I don't think Ali likes him too much though, she never wants him to come out with us or anything, poor dude" he said shaking his head disapprovingly.

  "Why doesn't she like him?" I asked.

  He shrugged "No idea, she's a really secretive person, she doesn't like to talk about things, if you get too close she just shuts down. I tried to talk to her about her family and stuff when we first got together but she got in such a strop man, wow you should have seen it, when that girl blows you need to take cover" he said laughing proudly. I smiled, Lia always was feisty. "I better go get showered and stuff ready for my meeting" he said putting all of the dishes and stuff in the sink.

  "Yeah ok, what times the meeting today?" I asked curiously.

  "One" he called over his shoulder as he walked out.

  I looked at my watch it was only ten now, I'd have to hang around the house for a while before we went out. My phone buzzed so I got it out of my pocket looking to see I had a new message from Lia.

  'Hi, sorry I couldn't really talk to you in front of Johnny, thank you for bringing my phone over for me, Ali'

  I smiled as I typed a quick reply.

  'No probs, congrats on the engagement, I'm pleased for you, if he really makes you happy x'

  I sent it quick before I begged her not to marry him. She didn't reply, God this was killing me I swear.

  Johnny came down about an hour later actually looking smart for a change in a white t-shirt and black trousers with a waistcoat thing over the top, he'd even styled his hair. "I think we'll go out tonight man, celebrate Ali and I getting engaged, wanna come?" he asked happily. God that sounds like torture!

  "Yeah sure" I said nodding pretending he wasn't killing me with his words.

  He snapped out his phone and started calling his friends arranging a surprise outing for Lia for tonight. He asked everyone to meet in the same bar we went to the other night and not to tell Lia if they saw her. He didn't tell people the reason for the night out so I assume he wanted to announce it to everyone in one go. He even called Becca and told her, telling her to arrange a night out with Lia as an excuse and to bring her to the bar at nine.

  Another hour later and we made our way to the restaurant he was meeting this music producer in, his band were meeting him there. I stood about five feet away watching the area while he sat and had his meeting, it looked like it went quite well as when the producer guy left the band were all smiling and doing high fives. I smiled, Lia would be really pleased it went well for him, she was really excited about it this morning.

  Chapter 9

  Aaliyah

  I walked out of the house quick, Ethan was so sweet, bringing my phone back for me and then lying in front of Johnny. I sighed and looked down at my hand as I got in my car, the big diamond ring felt so heavy on my hand. It felt more like a shackle than a ring, something I was trapped in instead of actually wanting. Mind you, Johnny has been so sweet since last night, we made love a couple of times, he was so considerate and loving then we fell asleep on the couch.

  Hopefully he would stay like this, at least for a couple of weeks anyway. He promised me he would stay off the drugs and I think he would, at least until our next night out anyway, there is no way he'd be able to resist if his friends were doing it in front of him. I quickly called Becca and arranged to go out somewhere for the day, I told her I needed to talk to her and of course, being the best friend in the world she agreed immediately.

  I made my way to Becca's and beeped the horn waiting for her outside her house. I didn't want to go in if she had all of those relatives in the house. I pulled out my phone while I was waiting and text Ethan:

  'Hi, sorry I couldn't really talk to you in front of Johnny, thank you for bringing my phone over for me, Ali'

  I didn't even get a chance to thank him for not saying to Johnny why I was crying last night. My phone beeped immediately with a reply:

  'No probs, congrats on the engagement, I'm pleased for you, if he really makes you happy x'

  I frowned, what the hell does that mean? 'IF' he really makes me happy? God damn boy is always asking things that just aren't his business!

  The car door opened and I jumped about a mile before realising it was Becca. "Hey girl" she said happily.

  I waved my hand at her "Hi" I said waiting for her to notice the ring, she didn't even glance at it just gave me a funny look waiting for me to tell her what I wanted to talk to her about. I smiled and put my hand right in front of her face, "Like my new ring?" I asked teasingly.

  She gasped and took my hand "Fucking hell Ali! You agreed to marry him?" she asked shocked, I took a deep breath.

  I knew she wouldn't be pleased, she didn't like Johnny at all, she knew he could be an ass sometimes. "Yeah, he asked me again last night" I said grimacing waiting for her to explode at me.

  "Why the hell would you say yes to him Ali? That guy isn't good enough for you! He never was, he's a fucking ass who's possessive, doesn't let you wear what you want or even talk to other guys for God sake!" she cried angrily. I winced, ok wow it sounds bad when you say it like that.

  "Bec's, he asked me, I couldn't say no again! He looked so happy Becca, besides what would I do if he broke up with me? I can't lose the thing I have going on with Johnny, I can't go back to sleeping at my house, anyway he's been really sweet lately apart from a couple of little incidents" I said.

  Becca sighed, "I suppose it's better than the alternative but don't you dare marry that asshole! As soon as you graduate you'll get a job you'll be able to get your own place and you won't have to see either of those assholes again" she said angrily. I smiled she was always so overprotective.

  That was always my plan, I loved Johnny in my own way and if it wasn't for his temper he would be adorable. I stayed with him and put up with his drug taking because I could sleep at his house, I didn't want to break up with him because he loved me but I wasn't planning on letting him treat me like that for the rest of my life. If he was serious about not taking drugs though, that would be different, I loved clean Johnny and I would do anything to make him happy.

  "I told him I don't even want to think about marriage until after I graduate and he's agreed, he just wanted me to wear his ring, to be
honest I think it was for Ethan's benefit that he asked me again" I said shrugging.

  Becca looked at me confused, "Ethan's benefit?" she asked.

  I nodded "Yeah last night when I went out to get drinks while the movie was on, Ben came in and grabbed me, Ethan came in and disturbed him" I said taking a deep breath.

  Becca gasped "Shit Ali" she whispered angrily.

  I smiled sadly, "Ethan didn't see anything, but after Ben left the room I started to cry and Ethan gave me a hug. Johnny walked in and went a little crazy, then he proposed when everyone went home and said he wanted everyone to know that I was his, that's what makes me think it was for Ethan's benefit" I said honestly.

  She nodded "That does sound like something Johnny would do" she admitted as we pulled into the mall car park.

  We walked around the shops for about an hour or so before her phone rang, she frowned at it before answering. "Hello? Yeah, I know, really? Sounds like a good idea to me, yeah ok, sure no problem, see you" she said getting happier as the call went on. When she got off of the phone she was beaming, "Come on young lady, let's get new outfits, that was Sandy, she wants to know if we're up for a girls night tonight" she said happily.

  I grimaced, I was supposed to be with Johnny tonight, he didn't really like girls nights much as he didn't really trust me. "Um I'm not sure" I said a little warily.

  "No arguments, Sandy has just broke up with her girlfriend and wants to go out on the town, you're coming" she said nodding firmly.

  I sighed, "I guess, I'll call Johnny later and let him know" I said turning my nose up, well I guess we'd see how sweet he really was prepared to be now that we were engaged.

  Becca made me buy this adorable black dress that Johnny would absolutely hate, I'd have to change before I went back to his tonight so he didn't see me in it. It was short and showed a lot of leg and tight around the bust, with spaghetti straps and was absolutely killer. I paired it with some gorgeous black stiletto heels. I looked in the mirror at myself, God even I could see I looked hot. Johnny would go crazy if he saw me out in this dress.