Excellent, maybe he'd even screw up tonight and I could just take her back to my place and look after her. She definitely looked like she liked the sound of living with me earlier when I suggested it.
"I'm with Johnny's girlfriend, she's kinda wasted and I don't really want to leave her on her own, so I'm gonna wait here for Johnny to come back. Do me a favour would you? Give me a call when you leave to come back, just so I can make sure I'm awake and stuff, I don't want him to think I'm sleeping on the job" I asked.
He laughed, "Oh right, you're with the sexy girlfriend, well you're damn lucky, that girl is fine" he said teasingly.
"Don't be such a fucking ass and do as I've asked ok?" I snapped angrily, I couldn't deal with him after what I'd just heard.
"Yeah yeah got it, jeez Ethan relax I was kidding" he said defensively.
"Right thanks" I said snapping my phone shut and pushing it into my back pocket so I could get it easier when it rang later.
I went upstairs to Johnny's bedroom and grabbed the quilt off of the bed before heading back downstairs. I climbed back on the sofa, pulling her small frame back to me wrapping her tightly in my arms, tucking the quilt under her chin. I kissed the top of her head gently, "I love you Lia" I whispered same as I always used to when I would spend the night in her room. I closed my eyes and tried desperately not to think about all the things I was going to do to Ben.
....................................................................................................................
I woke up with a vibrating sensation on my ass, what the hell is that? I lifted my head and suddenly realised it was my phone ringing. I must have put it on silent. Lia was laying on top of me, literally, her whole body was on top of mine, her face pressed into the side of my neck. I swear it was like waking up in heaven. I wrapped my arms around her and reluctantly rolled to the side so I could shove my hand into my back pocket.
I looked a the time as I snapped it open, 4:47am. Nice, Johnny's just rolling home, stupid asshole.
"Yeah?" I whispered looking at Lia hoping I wouldn't wake her.
"Hey Ethan, we're now on our way back, be about five minutes" Max said, I could hear the sound of the car engine in the background.
"Ok man thanks, listen, I'll just start my shift when you get here so you can take off, you think you could take over from me a couple of hours early? I have something I need to do tonight" I asked quietly.
"Yeah sure thing, I'll come back at about five then ok?"
"Great thanks" I said gratefully. I snapped the phone shut and put it back in my pocket. I kissed her forehead gently, "I love you so much Lia" I whispered brushing her hair from her forehead. I laid with her for another minute before easing my arm from under her neck, she stirred and gripped my shirt scooting closer to me again.
I sighed, God this is hard, I didn't want to get off of her either but she needed to be able to deal with Johnny in her own time. I wouldn't add any more pressure on her by making her chose. Lia and I were meant to be together, we both knew it, she just needed to admit it in her own time. I'd just have to make it clear that when she was ready I'd be here. Well that's if she ever wanted me that way again after what happened. Maybe I didn't even deserve her after what I let happen to her.
I prised her fingers off of me gently and climbed off of the sofa pulling the quilt higher around her. I quickly headed into the kitchen and grabbed a big plastic bowl and went back putting on the floor by her head before sitting down in the arm chair across from her. I needed an excuse for why I was here, she wouldn't want him to know the real reason. I just prayed she didn't wake up and wonder what the hell was going on when I said she was wasted. Damn maybe I should have woke her and told her the plan. I heard a car pull into the drive, oh well too late now I guess.
I heard the front door open and slam shut. Wow he wasn't bothered about being quiet in case she was asleep or anything, luckily she didn't wake anyway. He opened the door to the lounge and looked at me a little shocked.
"Hey" I whispered nodding at Lia asleep on the couch.
He frowned at her for a second, "She ok?" he asked quietly.
I shook my head, "She felt ill earlier, I thought I should wait here for you, I didn't want to leave her on her own in case she was sick in her sleep or something" I lied. He half staggered over to the sofa and sat down on the edge of it heavily making her stir. He is such a stupid asshole!
"She actually been sick?" he asked putting his hand to her forehead.
"No she just felt sick" I lied shrugging.
He nodded looking like he was thinking about something. "I think I'll let her sleep down here, I don't really want to wake her up by moving her if she's not very well" he said, he looked at me as if he wanted my opinion. Hell I'm all for anything that'll keep her out of his bed.
"Good thinking" I said shrugging to appear unconcerned. I got up and made my way to the kitchen flicking on the kettle.
He came out a minute later leaning heavily on the counter, "Thanks for looking after her man, you should have called me I would have come back if I knew she was sick" he said wiping his hand roughly over his pale slightly sweaty face. He was definitely still stoned.
"It's not a problem, oh just to let you know I'm starting my shift now seen as I'm already here, Max will start at five tonight. I have a meeting with the police this afternoon, would it be ok if I did that here?" I asked hopefully. It would be a lot easier to do it here and then I wouldn't have to call in for a replacement while I went to get updated on his 'stalker situation'.
"Sure its fine, just make sure I don't have any drugs lying around though huh?" he said laughing sheepishly. God he's such an ass.
"Sure, you want a coffee or something?" I asked grabbing two mugs, he shook his head and pushed himself upright, he didn't look very steady on his feet.
"Nah, I'm going to bed, when my girl wakes up tell her I'm home would you?" he asked walking off without even waiting for my answer.
I closed my eyes and prayed that she would wake up and decide to leave him straight away. I couldn't cope with much of him being like that, he does seem like a nice guy when he's clean but wow he doesn't seem to be clean very often. I made myself a coffee and slipped back into the lounge sitting in the armchair across from her just staring at her perfect face.
After about an hour she rolled over and lifted her head looking around slightly confused before her eyes fell on me and understanding crossed her face. "Hey, go back to sleep it's only just past six" I said softly.
She sat up pushing the cover off looking at it with a small smile on her face. "Sorry I didn't realise I fell asleep while we were talking" she said quietly, she looked so sad and vulnerable. I gulped fighting with the urge to pick her up and take her to mine and never let anything hurt her again.
"It's ok, it was stressful for you, your body probably needed the rest, you should go back to sleep Lia" I said quietly. She sighed and looked at me, she looked really unsure of herself, she looked like a little frightened animal or something. Her eyes were slightly red from all the crying. I didn't know what to say, there was not one thing I could say to make this situation better. "Johnny's back, he got back about an hour ago" I said trying not to show her any reaction. She frowned and looked at the door, her whole body stiff with stress.
"Does he know you're here?" she whispered.
"Yeah I told him you felt sick and that I stayed here in the armchair to make sure you were ok until he got home" I said shrugging.
She looked at me gratefully, "Thanks" she said her voice breaking slightly.
"You should sleep" I said trying to keep all the emotions I was feeling out of my voice. I could barely keep myself in the chair, I wanted so badly to go round to her house and rip Ben and her parents to pieces, I also wanted to hold her and rock her and tell her everything was fine. Both emotions were so strong that I almost couldn't breathe through the feelings coursing through my veins.
She stood up picking up the quilt keeping it w
rapped around her. "Night" I said closing my eyes trying not to think of her climbing in a bed with Johnny. I felt her hand on my shoulder, I opened my eyes, she was standing right in front of me. She looked so sad. Before I could stop myself I gripped her waist and pulled her onto my lap wrapping my arms around her tightly. She tucked her head under my chin and curled herself into a ball on my lap while I rocked her gently smoothing her hair down just breathing her in.
She pulled the cover up, tucking it over my shoulder so I was under it aswell. "You should sleep too" she whispered, she kissed my neck lightly just for a second. I scooted lower in the chair to get more comfortable and closed my eyes, holding her tight not wanting to let go.
..................................................................
Aaliyah
When I woke up again I was still on his lap his arms still tight around me, he was stroking my back softly. Oh God what the hell do I say to him? Now he knows about Ben he's going to think I'm some dirty piece of trash. I can't believe I told him I still loved him last night, I mean not that it wasn't true because it was. I would always love Ethan. But I was with Johnny, I couldn't hurt him, I couldn't leave him, I loved him too in my own way. What the hell do I say to Ethan now? I needed to talk to him and make him promise not to say anything to anyone, I didn't want anyone to know.
I could feel Ethan's body heat crashing into me, his beautiful smell all around me and I didn't want to move. I didn't ever want him to let go. I pulled my face from it's nice little hiding spot in the crook of his neck and looked to see if he was asleep. He wasn't, he was sitting there wide awake, his jaw tight, his whole body stiff and tense.
"Hey did you not sleep?" I asked quietly, he smiled a little sadly, he looked so stressed, he was trying not to show me he was but I could tell. I guess that was hard for him to hear last night, I bet he never expected anything like that, hell who would? But he never doubted me, not for a split second, he just took my word and believed me, that was something I never forget.
"No I'm working" he said shrugging.
"Ethan about last night" I started unsure what the hell to say.
He nodded frowning. "It's ok, I just want you to know Lia that I'm here for you, if you ever need me, I'm always here for you, I'll always love you" he said brushing my hair away from my face. Oh God I wanted to be with him so much but I couldn't do that to Johnny, he didn't deserve to be hurt like that, none of this was his fault. His eyes were burning into mine making me feel slightly weightless, Ethan always made me feel like that, like he was looking deep inside me right down to the real me, right down to my soul.
"Ethan I'm with Johnny" I whispered feeling my eyes fill with tears.
He nodded sadly, "I know, and that's my fault too, I shouldn't have left you I can't expect to just come waltzing back in and expect you to drop everything for me" he said quietly. Damn it he was killing me, I wanted so badly to just drop everything for him, but he hurt me so much last time I don't think I would survive if he left me again.
"I'm sorry, I can't hurt him, he doesn't deserve that" I said honestly. Johnny was a really good guy when he was clean.
"I just need you to know that I'm here, I'll never stop loving you Lia, I'll never leave you again" he whispered.
I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and kiss the hell out of him. I wanted him to make everything go away. I wanted him to take me away from here and hold me and make everything good again, just like it used to be when we were together. But we were kids then, we had everything planned, everything was so easy through the eyes of a child, but life wasn't like that. Life was hard, and dirty and complicated. Life wasn't a fairy tale. I wasn't Cinderella or snow white and no amount of kissing from a prince could sort out the pile of shit that was my life so what was the point in trying?
"Ethan I'll never stop loving you either but I can't do this, I'm so sorry, I am honestly, I don't want to hurt you either but I can't leave Johnny" I mumbled trying my hardest not to let the tears fall. "And please don't say anything about what I told you, I can't have people know, I don't want anyone to know" I said looking at him pleadingly.
He had believed me so easily but I knew that others wouldn't, Johnny wouldn't, and I couldn't have people look at me like that. The way my parents made me feel was like I was a piece of trash, in a way them not believing me was worse than Ben actually doing it. I hated them even more than I hated him. I blamed them for letting it happen, for turning a blind eye, for refusing to see what was right in front of them. I blamed them for not being there for me, for not being real parents and protecting me like they should have done. Instead they looked at me with hard disapproving eyes, I spent a long time trying to get over that look in their eyes but I don't think I ever will. I couldn't stand for others to look at me like that too.
"I need to speak to Ben about it" he said his voice hard, his eyes were tight he wasn't going to speak to Ben he was going to beat the crap out of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, I didn't want him to do that. I didn't want him to get into trouble for me, I wasn't worth it.
"Ethan please don't, everything's fine now, I've moved out, I'll live here with Johnny, it won't happen again" I said swallowing my sob. His arms tightened around me I heard him suck in a ragged breath.
"Ok if that's what you want I won't do anything, but if he comes near you again I swear to God Lia...." he said trailing off. I kissed the side of his neck, he didn't need to finish the sentence I knew what he would say. If he came near me again Ethan would kill him. I could hear the promise in his voice, it wasn't a threat, he really meant it and I loved him all the more for it.
"He won't" I said trying to make myself believe the words, I couldn't bare to think of the alternative, I couldn't think about Ethan getting into trouble. Hell it's not like I wouldn't love to see Ethan kick Ben's ass because I'd dreamt about that too.
We just sat like that for a few minutes just enjoying the closeness, I felt so relieved to have finally told someone, like a weight had been lifted off of me that I didn't even realise I was carrying. It was over. I had moved out. Now I just needed to try and help Johnny get clean so that living here with him wouldn't become another nightmare.
"I better go shower and stuff" I mumbled not wanting to leave this little piece of heaven right in Ethan's arms. He kissed the side of my head and I fought with every bone in my body not to turn my head and kiss him. I knew that once I'd kissed him that would be that, I'd never be able to stop.
"Thank you so much for believing me Ethan" I said looking at him gratefully.
He frowned and shook his head slightly, "Of course I would believe you Lia, you shouldn't have doubted me" he said softly.
"I know" I whispered as I forced myself to get up off of his lap. He caught my hand and kissed the back of it gently making my whole body ache for him so I made myself walk away and went to shower before Johnny woke up.
Chapter 13
Ethan
Lia and I spent most of the morning watching TV or chatting about random things. Neither of us mentioned Ben again, there wasn't much to say, she obviously didn't want to talk about it and to be honest I don't think I could hear it and stay sane anyway. Johnny stayed in bed seen as he didn't roll home until five in the morning.
"So how did you get into being a bodyguard anyway?" she asked as we were eating lunch in the lounge.
"Umm it's kinda a long story" I said shrugging uncomfortably.
"Well I'm not going anywhere, unless you just don't want to tell me in which case that's fine I was just curious" she said nervously biting her lip.
I sighed, "It's not that I don't want to tell you Lia honestly, I should be in the special forces. On the night of my graduation my commanding officer hit on one of the female cadets and wouldn't leave her alone even though she told him no. I saw him follow her to the toilet and when I went in there she was pushing him away saying she wasn't interested but he didn't seem to be taking no for an answer. I kind of lost it and hit him, not hard I mean it di
dn't even really hurt him, it was just one punch" I said trying desperately to make it clear that I wasn't a thug or something.
She looked a little confused, "Well that doesn't explain how you became a bodyguard" she said looking at me curiously.
"No it doesn't I guess, well I got into trouble for hitting an officer and was released without assignment, a dishonourable discharge it's called" I said quietly. I was actually ashamed of that term even though I would do what I did again in a heartbeat.
Lia gasped "You got into trouble because you stopped a guy attacking a girl?" she cried shocked.
I nodded "Yeah well he was my commanding officer, I got court marshalled and discharged" I said shrugging, that was over two years ago now, I'd gotten over it.
"Well why the hell did you get into trouble for that? Surely the other guy should get in trouble for attacking the girl! I mean didn't she tell them you were helping her and press charges or something?" she asked shocked.
I shook my head and laughed humourlessly. "No, he offered her a promotion, in return she left out the part where he was forcing her so it looked like I just came in and punched him, the court made it look like I was jealous or something" I said matter of factly. No point in getting worked up about it again.
"That bitch, you saved her and she let you take the fall just so she could get a promotion?" she cried clearly angry. I smiled at how annoyed she was, she honestly was adorable.
"Hey, it was a pretty good promotion" I joked trying to lighten the mood. It worked she laughed but still looked annoyed.
"All that training and stuff you must have went through, I'm sorry that happened Ethan, I bet you would have looked smokin' hot in that uniform" she said teasingly, making me laugh.
"Yeah the training was hard, but I can't blame her, I mean it's really hard for women to make it in places like the army and navy if she'd have pressed charges it would have been on her record too. I know it's weird but they don't like things like that, people need to respect their officers" I said shrugging.