Chapter 24 - No More 'Golden Couple'

Ryan’s POV

The second we walked backstage I was pulled into a hug, big arms wrapping around me and holding me close.

‘You didn’t have to do that,’ he told me and I pulled back.

‘Yeah I did,’ I told him honestly.

I had been so stupid, and I had taken him for granted for so long. He was my world and the rest of the world needed to know it.

He pulled me back to his chest and it was like coming home after being away for a lifetime.

‘Being without you sucked shit,’ I mumbled into his chest.

‘I know right, I’d rather die than do that again,’ he told me, placing a soft kiss into my hair.

‘I’ll never pick someone over you again. You’re my everything.’

He didn’t say anything, just held me tight.

A few moments later I pulled back and threaded my hands through his hair, ‘Are we good?’ I asked him.

‘We are great’ I smiled at his words, ‘Move in with me.’

‘What!?’ He wanted me to live with him?’

‘Move in with me Ry,’ he smiled at me and I pulled his head down to mine, smashing our lips together.

‘Well, I see the plan worked,’ Max pulled away and Aria was next to us, a giant grin on her face, and a camera in her hand.

‘Are you taking photos of us?’ I accused and she shrugged.

‘Since you two are all public and stuff, I’m thinking of making like a fan website, and it will need photos,’ she told us, taking another photo.

‘Let’s go to lunch,’ Max said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

‘Ok,’ I told him.

‘I’m coming!’ Aria called out.

Max shot her a look but she just shrugged, ‘What? You didn’t think I would miss this did you?’

‘Miss what?’

‘Your first real date dummies,’ she slapped Max’s arm playfully and laughed.

I smiled at Max, I guess she was right.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

I couldn’t help but feel pure happiness as I looked around the table. To my left was Aria, her face held a smile as she talked to Cameron and Colton, who were sitting next to her. Cameron and Colton had their hands linked on the table as they chatted, happy smiles being shared between the three of them. To my right was Max, he had not stopped grinning since the moment we arrived here, using every opportunity possible for public displays of affection, laughing when quiet gasps came from people around us who had not seen the show.

My phone buzzed and I saw the caller ID and groaned.

‘Robert again?’ Max asked.

‘Yep,’ I sighed before turning my phone off.

‘Have you uh, talked to Claudia?’

‘No, but I will.’

I was dreading talking to her. I had managed to avoid her since that day we had lunch, but I knew I would have to face her now. She must have heard about the show by now.

‘Ok.’

He took hold of my hand and kissed my cheek softly. He was so adorable, and clearly loving these public displays of affection. I fear he may be turning into a PDA whore. And I think I might be his pimp or his client. Maybe both?

‘Are you going to be this clingy every time we go out?’

He laughed, ‘Yep, unless you come and live with me, then I can be this clingy all the time.’

I realised that I never gave him an answer, ‘Well, I don’t know, I have many offers from many suitors,’ I rubbed my chin, pretending to contemplate my offers, ‘Some of them are really attractive, and have awesome accents and you know how much I love accents. You have an accent but still. Maybe I should have like a competition to see who can win the honour of-’

‘I’ll kill them all.’

He said and the look in his eyes made me think that he would enjoy the bloodshed.

I laughed, ‘Fine, I’ll move in with you, no murders please!’

‘As you wish,’ he smiled and fondness filled his eyes.

Our food arrived and we ate, laughing and talking with Aria, Colton and Cameron. It was nice, until I heard the sound of gasps to turn around and see that Claudia was making her way through the restaurant. Max gripped my hand harder as he noticed her as well.

She stopped just in front of our table, and it seemed like the entire restaurant went silent.

‘Ryan, can we talk somewhere private,’ her voice was stressed and her face showed anger that she was trying to cover up, with a fake smile.

Max answered for me, ‘Whatever you want to say, you can say here.’

She shot him a disgusted look, ‘I wasn’t talking to you. Ryan..’

‘No. I have nothing to say, I’ve made my choice.’

‘If you do not come with me I will destroy you.’ she threatened.

‘You’ll have to go through me,’ Max said, ‘Me too,’ Cameron agreed, ‘I’ll cut your fake blonde hair right off your head and feed it to you,’ Aria told her seriously and I stifled a laugh.

‘It’s ok guys’ I told them before standing, face to face with Claudia, ‘Destroy me. Do it. Ruin my career, make everyone hate me. I couldn’t care less.’

‘What?’ she asked, shocked, this was the leverage she had over me and I had just thrown it back in her face.

‘I don’t care anymore, it’s not worth it. The only things I care about, you can’t take away.’ I looked down at max and he smiled at me.

I then looked at Aria, who looked so proud of me. Cameron sent me a nod of support and Colton did the same.

‘You will never sing again! I will make sure of it’ She still tried, but I wasn’t going to give her an inch.

‘I don’t care, I would rather be happy. I will never marry you.’

Her angry expression darkened and she lifted her hand, ready to slap me, but the hit didn’t come. In an instant Aria was in front of me, her head whipping to the side as Claudia’s palm connected with her face.

‘Aria!’ Max called out, jumping up and was about to go to her but she put her hand up to tell him to stop.

Aria seemed unfazed by the blow, lowering her hand, stepping forward and staring Claudia down.

‘If you weren’t pregnant I would have punched you so hard you would never act again. Or talk for that matter. Don’t you ever threaten my boys! Ever! Or I will hit you with a lawsuit so big you won’t be able to afford that cheap dye job. I’ll let you in on a little secret, I am very good at my job, and if you spread just one rumour about either of them, I will make sure that you never work again! You won’t even get a toothpaste commercial. Understood bitch?’

Claudia looked terrified as she stepped back slowly and turned, walking out of the restaurant.

Aria turned around and I threw her into a hug, ‘Thank-you.’

‘No problem Hun, that woman needed to be taken down a few pegs,’ she laughed and I cupped her reddened cheek.

‘You ok?’ Max asked from behind me.

‘Yeah, I’ll be right,’ she told him, ‘Now where were we?’ she sat back down and we followed suit.

‘Well I guess the ‘Golden Couple’ is over,’ Colton laughed and we all joined in.

‘Yep,’ I pulled out my phone, turning it back on.

‘What are you doing?’ Max asked me.

‘Changing your name in my phone.’

‘From ‘Maxxie’ to ‘Max’?’ he asked.

I laughed at that, ‘Nope, from ‘Maxxie’ to ‘My Amazingly Hot Sex God Of A Boyfriend’, cause I can do that now.’

‘I love you,’ He pulled out his phone.

‘Changing my name too?’

‘Yep, from ‘Ray’ to ‘Ryan – MY idiot boyfriend.’

‘I don’t love it, but I love you, so I guess that’s ok.’

He kissed my cheek and all was right in my world.

Next chapter is the epilouge!