Chapter 20

Please read A/N at the end!!!!!

Isn't the girl who plays Jenna gorgeous!?

I am currently obsessed with One Direction's song 18 for some reason, so its on the side :)

Happy Reading!

It was the day after our engagement photos and I was currently sitting at the kitchen table with Lennon next to me telling me which fork was used for what. I tried to listen I really did but my thoughts kept drifting back to Liam. Everything that happened yesterday threw me for a loop and I didn't know what to think about Liam. After we all sat around his parent's place for a while I kept catching him staring at me with a weird expression across his face. Of course seeing him staring at me I would sneak glances in his direction as well.

It was 4 o'clock by time we left his parent's. Liam didn't give me an option of driving with anyone else but him. He was being weird the entire ride home and made the effort to talk to me about the photos and random stuff. I didn't want to ask him why he was acting weird in case it made him stop. When we got home he got to work making dinner for the both us.

The rest of the night he talked about everything, anything. I could tell he was trying to act nicer around me and make me feel comfortable. I don't know what changed with him but I wasn't complaining. It was nice being around him and actually having a nice conversation. It was the first time in 3 weeks that I have felt at home and wanted by Liam. Whatever was going on I didn't want it to go away. When we went to bed he even walked me to my door and said an awkward 'goodnight'.

I had spent a good portion of the night going over everything with a wide grin plastered on my face. I don't know what time it was when I finally fell asleep but I knew I still had a smile on my face and an image of Liam's face in my mind. I knew everything wouldn't be suddenly fine and dandy with Liam when I got up but when I did I felt lighter than I did before. Maybe it was knowing that Liam was actually being nicer than before.

I missed Liam this morning when he went to work but it wasn't even an hour later Lennon showed up ready to teach me how to act 'proper'. It still made me angry that I had to do this but if both Lennon and Liam thought it would help I'll do it. I was not looking forward to his work party in 2 days. The idea of having to dress up and meet a bunch of new people who think Liam and I are really getting married was enough to make me throw up in my mouth a little. I don't like big crowds or attention on me. I'd rather hide away in the background and let other take the spotlight. Beside the real reason of the Benefit to raise money, I knew people were going to be on Liam and I like hounds asking about our engagement. This afternoon we are suppose to go and pick out a few than give them to the paper to print for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning my whole life with change once again. I will be known as the fiancé to one of the richest most eligible bachelor Liam Stanford.

"Jenna are you even listening to me?" Lennon voice broke through my thoughts.

"Yes of course."

"Okay than what is this fork used for?" She held up smaller looking fork but it still looked the same as the other one.

"Salad?" I asked rather than said.

"That was an easy one." She said but nodded that I got it right.

"Can we take a break and get something to eat?" I asked leaning back in my chair. We have been doing this for over 2 hours and my brain was fried.

"Fine but only for a few minutes. We still have a lot to go over." Lennon sighed.

"There's more?" I groaned. "I feel like I'm back in High School." She just shook her head at me.

"I'd make a great teacher."

"Yeah great at torturing children!" I stood up heading to the fridge to grab something to eat. "Are you hungry? I can make us something."

"Sure I'm fine with anything." Spotting some sliced turkey in the fridge I pulled it out. "So you and Liam kissed huh." Lennon said a few minutes later making me stop putting turkey on our sandwiches.

"It was only a peak on the lips." I said trying to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal.

"That was not just a peak, it was full blown making out!" I looked up finding her leaning against the bar in front of me with a smirk on her face.

"And how would you know?"

"We were all spying duh, but that doesn't matter." She waved her hand. "You guys looked to be enjoying it."

"Lennon! That's your best friend." I said feeling a little awkward talking about Liam and I kissing.

"Like I haven't heard about everything from past girlfriends. Seriously though after that kiss Liam couldn't take his eyes off of you."

"Really?"

"Yes. The whole time we took photos he did and afterwards when we were all sitting around the living room he was watching your every move."

"I probably had something on my face that he was staring at." I said finishing up our food and handing her one before going back to the table. I wanted what Lennon said to be true but it's Liam. He wouldn't find me at all attractive.

"And you are just as guilty, you kept glancing at him every chance you got."

"I did not!"

"You so did. Just watching you guys I can feel the sexual tension." I chocked on my sandwich and reached for my water. I felt Lennon's hand on my back softly hitting it.

"T-There's no sexual tension between us." I chocked out

"You can deny it but it is there. You guys just need to give in." She sighed and bit into her food.

"You're one to talk! You and Blake couldn't keep your eyes off one another yesterday."

"Now that is a lie. Blake never has and never will see me as more than a friend. I'll be the brace faced, nerdy girl from high school." She said in a dejected tone.

"Yeah right. He literally could not keep his eyes off of you. He purposely sat beside you when there were plenty of empty seats, and you are the bridesmaid to his groomsmen. I know for a fact if you were Grayson's than he would have thrown a fit. Lenn honestly there is no way in hell he does not like you. You are beyond gorgeous, funny, smart, nice."

"Than why hasn't he said something or made any moves to do so? He didn't care when I had a boyfriend a few months ago?"

"Maybe he is scared of ruining your friendship, or he just doesn't have the balls to say something. I bet he cared more than he let on about your ex. You may just have to be the one to ask him out, there's no shame in doing that."

"Have you done it before?" She asked looking at me almost hopefully.

"I um I haven't." I cleared my throat looking down at my plate.

"Jenna you've had a boyfriend before right?" Lennon asked. I could feel her gaze on me but I kept looking down. I felt embarrassed saying I haven't. She took my silence as my answer. "That can't be true. You're beautiful."

"I just hung in the background during high school. And no one wants to date a girl who doesn't have parents." I said shrugging. It didn't hurt anymore when I admitted it out loud. "But lets not talk about that. We should probably finish this before Liam gets home, we have to go and pick out pictures for the papers later." I changed the subject quickly wanting to stop talking about me.

"Don't think I will let this go so easily missy." Lennon pointed a finger at me. Grabbing our plates she put them in the sink and grabbed a huge binder before coming back to the table.

"What is that?" I asked staring at the binder that was three times the size of my wrist.

"This is everyone that you will most likely be seeing on Friday. Employees from Stanford Industries will be there, as well as beneficiaries from the company. There will also be some of the top A listers from New York companies. We need you to be familiar with all of them so when they come up to you at the Benefit you will be able to talk to them. Lets get started." She rubbed her hands together and opened the binder. I groaned already dreading the next hour or so.

****

"Lennon if you so much as say another person's name I will kill you." I threatened exactly 2 hours later. My brain was beyond fried and my head was pounding with a huge headache. It was now 1 o'clock and I was more than ready to be done. Lennon was a torturous teacher, on more than 1 occasion I wanted to strangle her.

"Jenna one more. Who is Martin Brotherson?" She asked.

"He is President and his parents are the founders of Brotherson's Inc. They sell everything from furniture to electronic items. He has brown hair, that he has to dye probably, he is in his late 40's. His wife is Karen Brotherson and he has a daughter named Tessa and a son named Ryan , they are twins and only 13. I think they are away at some boarding school." I mumbled into my arms I was laying on. "There can we be done now?"

"Wow I'm impressed you learned everyone's name and things about them. I was expecting to come over tomorrow and finish up but now I don't have too."

"Thank the lord." I mumbled.

"Why aren't you in school? You're really smart."

"I never had the money to go. I couldn't even make it to High School most of the time so why spend the money for college to have the same problem." I shrugged getting up to get a drink.

"Maybe now you can! You could take a few classes." Lennon said following me.

"I don't know." I never thought about going to college. It was always something that I couldn't do. I mean I did okay during high school, I would have done better if I knew I could get in somewhere or if I had a future. I wasn't stupid in fact I was pretty smart but the whole idea of going to college was foreign.

"Just think about it, it couldn't hurt to look into it. I better get going a girl that I do makeup for needs me for something. I'll text you later. Have fun with Liam." She winked at me before pulling me into a hug and leaving.

Leaving the kitchen I headed up to the library to do some reading before Liam got home. I haven't read in a while and I was starting to have withdrawals. Having finished 1984 I searched the rows of books for something to catch my eye. As I browsed around a familiar black cover caught the corner of my eye. Pulling it out I let out a laugh seeing the title. Never in a million years did I think Liam would read or have Twilight. I shook my head laughing softly as I noticed he had the entire series. With the book still in my hand I headed for the comfortable chair in the corner. I never read it before but have heard it was good. Yes I was one of those people. Tucking my fuzzy socked feet under me I dived into the book.

I don't know how long I was reading for but when I finally looked up Liam was standing in the door way watching me. I blushed knowing that he had called my name a few times but hadn't answered. I was go engrossed in the book I didn't realize he was home already. I was a good 90 pages into it and I could see why it was such a big hit. The author does a great job at pulling the reader into this world where vampires and werewolf's exist.

"Uh sorry I didn't hear you." I said quietly almost like I would wake the books up. There was something about being in any library that made you whisper.

"What are you reading?" Liam asked his deep voice loud to my ear after a while of silence. At the mention of Twilight I grinned walking towards him with it pressed to my chest so he wouldn't see what it was.

"I didn't know you read the entire series of Twilight." I couldn't help the mocking tone that came out.

"What I've never read those." He defended himself but it was done poorly. I could tell he was lying by the little bit of pink in his cheeks.

"So they are just here for no reason?" I should have just dropped it but it was fun teasing Liam, it doesn't happen everyday.

"It is just there to fill up space."

"Riiiiight. We need re-vamp your books in here. They are all older ones." I said dropping the Twilight comments but I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.

"You're probably right. I haven't read half of these." He said looking around the room. "How about we go to a bookstore after we drop off the photo's?"

"Sounds good to me." I smiled at him. Even if he doesn't realize the simple gesture to get me more books was sweet I did.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah just let me change and get some shoes on." Brushing by him I ignored the tingling feel that spread across my arm as I brushed his. Walking quickly to my room I slipped off my pj bottoms and threw on my trusty pair of blue jeans. Sliding on my converse I grabbed my ring before I forgot then grabbed my bag and headed to find Liam so we could leave. It was probably a good idea to wear my engagement ring when we dropped off the photos.

I found Liam standing by the garage waiting patiently with me. Sending me a heart stopping smile he gestured for me to lead the way. As I walked to the garage I realized that was only the second time Liam has ever really smiled at me. He usually just smirks or keeps his lips in a thin line. I was already liking this new side to him.

Sliding in the passenger seat of the Jeep Liam backed out and started to drive to wherever we were going. Turning the radio up I nodded along to "Shut Up And Dance". The ride to where the photos were was quick. Turning the car off Liam jumped out and ran to my door before I could open it myself. Holding his hand out for me I blushed and smiled putting mine inside of his. Following beside we walked inside a huge nice looking building. A bell chimed above us as we entered the door and immediately the voice of Leonardo yelled at us.

"Love birds! Here to pick up the pictures." His Italian accent thick and echoing around the room.

"Yes we are." Liam answered.

"Follow me." I looked around as Liam pulled me after him. Leonardo lead us to down a hallway that were lined with gorgeous photos of sunsets, flowers, people, stars. Every single one was so beautiful I just wanted to stop and look at them all day. Leonardo was very talented. If our pictures looked as good as the wedding ones lining the walls I would be beyond happy. "Okay here they are."

We came to a stop in front a huge counter that had more than a dozen spread out on it. Dropping my hand from Liam's I reached for the first one I saw. It was the one where Liam and I kissed. My breath hitched in my throat at how amazing we looked. The lighting was perfect and glowed around us as Liam held me up. My leg was popped in the air and my hands gripping his shoulders, my hair framed around his face almost blocking it. I softly set it down and reached for another gently. I was afraid of ruining it. This one was the both of us at the lake. Leonardo snapped the picture just as I laughed at what Liam said how he Leo was his side babe. My head was thrown back while my hands gripped his down between us. Liam was looking straight at me with a loving smile on his face.

The way he was staring at me while I laughed made my heart beat faster in my chest. It was the look of someone in love. I have seen Tom from the club look at his girlfriend Kendra. The lake in the background looked amazing and the sun was shining straight down at us wrapping us in almost a cocoon of light. Smiling down at the picture I moved onto the next one and grinned wider at the photo of all of us holding the boys shirts open revealing the super hero shirts. It turned out perfect! All three boys were looking down at their chests while Julie, Lennon and I looked at the camera. (I am changing Liam's sisters name to Julie instead of June. I don't really like the name June for her. So if you find a spot where June is used PLEASE let me know so I can change it!!)

All the pictures looked amazing and I loved every single one. We could only pick 2 to go in the papers and the decision was going to be tough. Looking at each of the pictures of Liam and I the look on our faces as we stared at each other made me smile in response. We looked good together, I wasn't going to lie.

"We need two photos. What ones do you like Jenna?" Liam asked a few minutes after we both looked at all of them.

"Only two?!" Leonardo interrupted. His tone almost like we offended him.

"For the papers. The rest we will use for invitations." Liam explained.

"I like this one" I pointed to the one by the lake with me laughing. "And this one." I shyly said pointing to the one of us kissing.

"I do too." With a nod from Liam Leonardo starting packing up our photos in a big white box, leaving out the two we needed to drop off. Once everything was packaged up Leonardo practically shooed us out. Shaking our heads at each other we got in the car and headed to drop off our pictures. I was nervous about everyone in New York knowing tomorrow that we are engaged. With Liam being who he is I wouldn't be surprised if I got a lot of backlash from this. Women were smitten with Liam and finding out he is engaged to a random girl isn't going to go over well.

"We just have to go inside to the editor and drop these off than we can go." Liam said once we pulled up in front of the New York Time's building. Nodding and taking a deep breath I stepped out of the car. Slipping my hand into Liam's automatically we headed inside. It already felt natural to hold his big hand with my small one. Holding his hand I felt safe and like he was my rock.

Blushing under the looks everyone was sending our way I leaned into Liam's side wanting to disappear. I hated attention but being with Liam it came with the deal. I hated when people stared at me like I was some experiment under a microscope waiting to be poked and examined. As Liam spoke to a lady at the front desk I discreetly looked around and found a handful of people gawking at us, most women. I could hear them whispering to each other asking who I was and why would a girl like me be with a guy like Liam. I felt small under their gaze but I didn't want to show them how I felt. Straightening my back I turned away from their judging stares.

Walking to the elevator I held my head up ignoring the whispering and looks. My grip tightened on Liam's hand until the doors of the elevator closed cutting off the faces of people in the lobby. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Don't listen to them." Liam whispered down at me even though we were the only ones in the closed space. I nodded and shot him a weak smile. I've had plenty of people say things about me to my face and behind my back but it never gets easier. There will always be a small part inside of me that agrees with everything they say and it hurts knowing it is true. I've heard plenty of times that you shouldn't care what people think of you but how do you do that when you think the exact same things as they do?

"Liam Stanford here to see Mr. Parsons." Liam said as we came out of the elevator. The eyes of the girl behind the desk widened and she opened her mouth like a fish gasping for water. She seemed star struck by Liam and his looks.

"Uh h-he is right in there." She stuttered out pointing to a door behind her. Thanking her we walked to the door and inside.

"Mr. Parsons I'm Liam Stanford and this is Jenna Howard, I spoke with you on the phone earlier." Liam shook hands with the guy. He looked older about late 60's with a bald head and a beer belly.

"Oh yes it is very nice to meet you." The guy, Mr. Parsons, said enthusiastically. He gestured for us to sit down in front of his desk. "So this is your lovely fiancé." The way he was looking at me made my skin crawl. His beady little eyes stared at me as if he was undressing me. Use to guys doing that I narrowed my eyes at him.

"We are here to drop of a few pictures so you can run them in the paper tomorrow about our engagement." Liam cut in ignoring Mr. Parsons remark about me. From the corner of my eye I saw Liam clenching his jaw.

"We would more than happy to put it in our paper. People are going to be surprised seeing that you are engaged and to a very beautiful woman." I squirmed in my seat under his gaze.

"Here. We better get going." Liam threw the packet with our photos in them on his desk before standing up. I could tell Mr. Parsons was getting on his nerves as well. Following his lead I stood up. Feeling the ugly fat mans eyes on me I turned and caught him staring straight at my ass. Not caring anymore I slammed my hand down on his desk. Pushing the pain that was radiating up my arm I glared at him.

"If you keep staring at my ass I will come over there and pull your dick right off. Than I will leave you to explain to your wife that you are a disgusting pig who gets his jollies looking at young engaged women." I hissed at him. With a death glare at him I moved away from his desk, grabbing Liam's hand and pulling him out of the room with me. As we passed by the girl at the desk I looked over at her. "I suggest you find another job instead of working with dick who can't keep it in his pants." With her jaw to the floor I entered the elevator.

It felt great finally saying something to a guy who is disgusting like that man. Working at the bar and having guys undress you with their eyes and say crude things to you was terrible but not being able to say anything back was worse. We were just suppose to ignore them unless they got handsy they one of the guards like Tom would come over. I grinned to myself as we rode the elevator down.

"Damn I didn't know you had that in you." Liam said suddenly. I looked over at him and saw him staring at me with a look of awe and almost fear. "Remind me to never get on your bad side. I want my balls attached." I laughed along with him.

"Sorry I couldn't let it slide. I've dealt with plenty of guys like him at the club and it felt great to finally say something back."

"Men like him really stared and said stuff to you while you worked?"

"Of course. Working at a strip club you are more than likely to get looked at, said things too, and sometimes touched. Comes with the territory." I said shrugging.

"That's not right." Liam said his voice hard.

"It's fine we had guards stationed around so if things got out of hand. It's not big deal."

"I can not believe you worked there." He muttered softly but I still heard him. The elevator dinged opening the doors. Leaving the lobby we walked towards the car. "Lets get something to eat, I'm starving."

Flashing me a grin we slide into the car and he immediately took off down the street.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So there you go. I know it is crappier than what you wanted but I wanted to post something for you guys before I leave tomorrow. I don't really like this chapter so I may re-write it when I get back. It is definitely a filler chapter but atleast there a LIENNA moment :) (Lienna is their ship name!) Let me know what you think of this chapter as always.

You guys know I will be gone from tomorrow until Sunday. I WON'T BE UPDATING AT ALL! But I am thinking of going through an editing this book while I'm away. There is quite a bit of grammar issues, plot stuff and such. Also as you read above I am changing Liam's sisters name to JULIE instead of JUNE. The name doesn't really fit the character so if you find any spots that have the name JUNE please let me know so I can change it :)

Also in the next week to 2 weeks I will be posting a few chapters of my other book 'Silent Love' the sequel to 'Something Inside'. I am going to go back and forth between this book and that one. That means one update will be for that one and the next for this one; so don't think I am abandoning this book.

**Since I have a busy schedule this semester for school updates WILL BE SLOWER!! I am terribly sorry about it but there's nothing I can do. On top of having 4 hours of homework, and writing a 4,000 word chapter and editing it, it will take some time. I will TRY and update as soon as I can, maybe once a week. If I can update twice a week than it will be a miracle. I hope you guys understand.

I want thank you guys for getting this book to 500k reads!!!!! It means so much that you guys love this book! It would be incredible if this book gets a million reads, that means I will have 2 books with that many!!! SO EXCITING!!! If only I could jump through the computer screen and give every single one of you a hug!!

P.S I need some songs to add on my phone before I leave for my trip any suggestions on what I should get!!!!????? Comment what song you are currently obsessed with :)

VOTE, COMMENT, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK/WEEKEND!

<3

-Ken