I watched Aria leave the building from the safety of my car.

Her curly dark hair bounced as she strutted from the apartment building into the car park. I think that if we had met we would be good friends. She not only loved Max, but according to him she was interesting and fun to hang out with.

I realised that we could be friends if Max and I came out as a couple.

I scrubbed that thought from my mind and got out of my car, making my way into the building.

I had to talk to Max, and I dreaded the conversation, but I needed to do it tonight.

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

I knocked on the door and it opened to an amazing sight.

Max stood a few inches taller than me, his dark hair wet, a tight white shirt and jeans hugging his glorious body. Water was soaked through his shirt and he looked sexy as hell.

Max noticed my gawking, ‘You thinking naughty thoughts?’

Well now I was.

Thanks for that, you gloriously sexy man.

‘Nope,’ I said seriously, walking past him into the room, of which I deserved a medal or an award or something, to resist that sexy masterpiece.

I turned around once I was in the room and his face looked sad. Why was he sad?

Maybe it was because I just beat his ass at acting. Pretending I wasn’t interested in that body for a second was Oscar worthy in my opinion.

Boo-Yah. Where’s my award?

His face was still sorrowful so I walked back over to him, ‘you alright?’

He ignored my question walking past me into his living room, taking a seat on the cream couch.

Well, that was rude.

I followed sitting down next to him.

‘What did you want to talk about?’ he asked, but his voice sounded distant.

Oh right, I have to be serious. Calm down thoughts, serious conversation going on.

‘I uh, I wanted to talk about what you said on the phone.’

‘Oh’ was all he replied with, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. Would he want to break up with me if I didn’t want to come out as a couple? All my crazy and happy thoughts went out the window when I saw the look in his eyes. I couldn’t lose him.

‘I, I uh.’

I looked down at my lap. How do I say this? Disappoint him?

‘Ryan? Are you crying?’

I was about to say no, but then I recognised the feeling of a few stray tears streaming down my cheeks and I realised how scared I was that he was going to break up with me.

I threw myself into his arms and buried my face into his chest, he seemed shocked and didn’t respond, but after a few seconds he did, holding me close and letting me cry.

He pulled away after a minute, ‘Why are you upset?’

‘I can’t come out as a couple with you yet. I’m so sorry, I just can’t’ I told him, and he looked surprised. I braced for the worst, but something else happened.

‘You’re not breaking up with me?’

I pulled back hard, what?! He thought I was going to break up with him? I would have to be on many, many drugs for that to happen, or partying with Claudia, considering the amount of drugs she and Zach take on a regular basis, imagine partying with them? I could feel my liver failing at the thought.

‘No! I thought you would break up with me!’ I said, surprised and relieved, but I still didn’t know how he felt about what I had said.

He let out a relieved sigh, before laughing.

I looked down at my lap and he caught my chin with his finger bringing my eyes up to his, ‘Ryan, It’s ok, if you don’t want to do it now, that’s alright.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. Can I ask why though?’ he held concern in his voice and I wanted to tell him the truth, but I couldn’t, he didn’t understand what I would be risking.

If I told him the truth, that it would ruin my career, he would just try to convince me that I was wrong. I wasn’t wrong, it was my image and relationship with Claudia which made my songs famous, and if I corrupted my image and broke it off with her, well, I would be a nobody again. My love for singing would be wasted.

I couldn’t let him know that.

‘I’m just not ready,’ I told him and he nodded, wrapping those tanned arms around me and letting my head rest against his chest.

‘Why are you wet?’ I mumbled against his damp shirt.

‘To get Aria out I told her that I was really tired and I was going to go to bed. She watched me get ready for a shower before she left, so I took it.’

‘Wait’ I pulled back, pervious comments catching up with my mind, ‘You thought I was breaking up with you? Are you crazy! You’re like a giant piece of hot eye candy, I would rather die than break up with that hot piece of ass’

He laughed at my comment, ‘Yeah that was stupid of me.’

‘Duhh pumpkin head,' I tapped the side of his beautiful face.

‘Pumpkin head?’

‘Yess.’

‘Is my head shaped like a pumpkin?’ he laughed and I sighed.

‘Nooo, you’re a pumpkin head because the pumpkin is like the symbol of Halloween, and Halloween is scary with all those crazy people dressed up and coming to your door, I mean, how many of those people are creepers!? And everyone just overlooks their possible creeperness and gives them candy or takes their candy. Therefore Halloween is scary, as a result pumpkins are stupid, and I couldn’t cover up anywhere else on your beautiful body. So you are a pumpkin head.’

‘Babe, that’s crazy logic,’ he laughed and I scowled at the man, using my best, given limited, acting skills.

‘I am not crazy,’ Ok yeah, I was a little crazy, but he doesn’t need to know that!

‘I love when you’re a little crazy.’

‘I am not crazy.’

‘Yes you are, but in the best possible way.’

‘Nope.’

‘It’s endearing and hot.’

‘Nope – wait, it’s hot? Yep, I’m crazy, one crazy sexy piece of ass-AHH’

I jumped straight out of his lap, ‘What was that!’ I panicked, looking for the source of the evil startling noise.

‘The doorbell?’ he laughed and I slapped his arm.

‘Max! You awake?’

‘Oh god,’ Max said and shot up from the couch, he picked me up and ran into his room.

‘What the-’ I stared but he put a hand over my mouth and opened the closet.

‘Get in.’

‘What!’

‘Shh get in,’ I saw the panic in his eyes, and I got into his walk in closet, closing the doors behind me.

I heard the rustling of blankets and the light was dimmed, I could see under the door. The faint slit of light being my only source of light in the dark room I was standing in. I hoped to god that there wasn't some murderer or dark creature waiting behind me, about to strike. To be safe I wipped my hands around, hoping to slap the hell out of it, if there was something there, but my hands only touched air, much to my relief.

I focussed on staying quiet and listening.

A door opened, ‘Max’?

‘Aria?’ Max said sleepily.

‘Hi, sorry, I left my phone here, have you seen it?’ A female voice whispered.

‘Umm maybe the screening room?’

The door shut and a few seconds later it opened again.

‘Sorry to disturb you honey, I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she said happily.

‘Bye Ria.’

‘Hate you.’

‘Love you too,’ he called out.

The door closed and I looked around the closet I was in, it was dark, but damn he had a lot of clothes. Some really nice ones too. I wish I could dress like that, but my stylist would probably have a heart attack.

Suddenly the doors opened and I catapulted myself towards my unsuspecting victim.

I threw my arms and legs around him and he laughed, not screaming like a little girl, like I had intended.

Damn.

Since that plan failed epically, I untangled my limbs from his body and slapped his arm.

‘Awch.’

Plan Successful. Fist pump.

‘Serves you right!’ I told him, pointing my finger accusingly in his direction.

‘Huh?’

‘Also, you put me in a closet?! Do you even realise how ironic that is?!’

The sexy man just laughed at me and I slapped his arm harder.

‘Awch Ryan!’ He said, irritation in his voice as he rubbed his arm.

‘What?’ I asked innocently, giving my best puppy dog eyes and hoping that he would give into their power.

‘I love you,’ he smiled and hell, I couldn’t stay mad at him.

I stepped towards him and leant up to kiss him, he clasped my hips and brought me to him, but when we were only inches apart he paused. His eyes widened for a second, like he had just remembered something important and he turned his head away from me.

‘Wha-’

I didn’t even get to ask before he stepped away from me and was out the door.

‘TEASE!’ I yelled in his direction and sat down on his bed.

What was that? Just leave, go on, just leave, see if I care. Cause I won’t. Nope. No sir. Noopppee.

Also, there was no way in hell I was sleeping over tonight.

Have fun Max, in you cold empty bed!

Yep.

Serves you right, you little tease.

Urg.

Wait.

That means I will also have to sleep in my cold empty bed.

Why can’t I win!?

I was distracted from my self-pity when Max reappeared in the doorway.

‘You’ve got some nerve coming ba- PRESENTS!’

My thoughts of revenge were instantly forgotten.

In Max’s hand was a big box, silver paper covering the object and a gold bow tied around the middle.

‘Am I forgiven?’ He asked, sitting next to me on the bed.

‘Depends.’

‘On what?’

‘How good the present is.’

He placed a soft kiss on my cheek and handed over the box.

I waged an all-out war with the paper and bow, that stubborn bow causing me great distress.

‘Reinforcements!’

I called out and Max took the present back for a second undoing the bow in a matter of seconds.

‘Show off,’ I mumbled as he handed it back to me.

I started round two of the battle and won, the evil silver paper not withstanding my tactics for long. Unfortunately my boyfriend likes to make things harder for me, so underneath all that paper was a white box.

Begin round number three. Fortunately I won this battle quite easily.

‘Happy Anniversary Ry,' he said as I opened the box.