One Week Later

Ryan's POV

The bright lights blinded me for a few moments as Claudia and I walked onto the large stage, she was wearing a long dark blue dress, and sparkly jewellery covered her neck and wrists. Her hand was in mine as we sat down on the black couch, opposite Harley Cooper. Harley Cooper's talk show was well known, and he interviewed many top celebrities each week. We had been invited to come onto the show for Claudia to promote her movie and for me to promote my music. There was still two weeks until Max and I were going public, so Claudia and I were still the golden couple.

I hadn't had a chance to tell Claudia yet, but I planned on doing it tomorrow at lunch.

'So nice to have you both on the show, it's been a few months so I am sure that we have a lot to talk about' Harley greeted us from the adjacent chair, his grey suit made him look handsome in the warm lights of the stage and his dark hair was styled away from his face, light stubble covering his chin and jawline.

'I'm sure we do, it's nice to see you Harley,' Claudia smiled, using her free hand to flip her blonde hair over her shoulder.

'Claudia, so, tell me about 'Sex and Love'.'

Claudia then spent the next few minutes laughing and talking about her movie while I pretended to listen, but really I was wondering what kind of material Harleys suit was made of and whether the hot guy in the front row was dating the girl to his left or his right, seeing as he kept smiling to them both and whispering in both of their ears.

'So Ryan,' Harley brought my attention back to him, 'How are you and Claudia, do I see wedding bells in your future?'

The audience clapped and cooed over us while Claudia smiled and squeezed my hand. She seemed to like this a little too much.

'I'm not sure Harley, but if there is I can assure you that you'll be the first to know.'

'I'm glad. How have you two been handling the media attention while you've been together?'

Claudia leaned forward, 'It's difficult at times, but our relationships more important than those rumours.'

She was a good actress, I'll give her that.

'There are some ridiculous rumours,' I laughed.

'What rumours have you thought were the most ridiculous?' Harley asked and Claudia laughed.

'Well, how about the one where they thought that we were engaged because I wore a diamond ring, on my RIGHT hand!'

The crowd laughed and she giggled.

'Or the time they thought that I was cheating on you when they showed a picture from like two years ago,' Well that was actually true, but everyone had believed us when we denied that one.

'So Ryan, tell us about your new single.'

'Well, the new song is a love song' the audience awed at my words.

'And who was your inspiration?' Harley winked, little did he know that I didn't even write the song, it was one that was written for me. The lyrics were sappy and spoke about love and a pretty girl.

'Claudia of course,' I smiled and there was another communal 'aww' from the crowd, and the woman next to me blushed and pressed her soft lips to my cheek.

'Do you guys want to hear it?'

The crowd cheered and Claudia nudged me, so I got up and walked off the main stage and on to a smaller one which was set up with a small band and a tall microphone in the centre.

The beat started playing and I sang the song. It wasn't one of my favourite songs, but I had always enjoyed preforming so I sung my heart out and listened to the fans scream and cheer when it was over.

I walked back to the stage and when I sat back down Claudia threw me into a sloppy kiss, which I responded too only because the cameras where there.

'That was great Ryan, I have heard that it's already at the top of the charts'

'Yes, I am very proud of him,' the blonde next to me cooed.

Harley concluded our segment and we walked back stage.

'Good job out there Ryan,' Claudia said proudly as we got our stuff together.

'Thanks.'

'Oh and don't forget about lunch tomorrow, I really need to talk to you,' she said and I nodded. Why did she need to talk to me?

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

I waited at Max's door and it opened to a view I was not expecting. Aria stood in the doorway, her dark curls were in a bun, with a few stray to frame her face. Her usual business attire was gone, and she was wearing black jeans and a low cut white top.

'Ryan! Hey, come in!' Aria smiled at me, motioning for me to enter.

Aria and I had lunch together a few times since we officially met, and I had to say, she was a great girl. We had fun and joked about Max. It was nice to have her as a friend.

'Is Max here?' I asked her and she led me further into the apartment.

'He just ran out to get us some take out, want to join us?'

'Yeah, that sounds good.'

'Come sit down,' she motioned towards the couch.

'How was your meeting today?' I asked her, I knew that Max and Aria had a big meeting today with some famous producer about a movie.

'Yeah it was alright, Max still isn't sure whether he wants to do the movie, he's going to have to let me know soon. I think he's just been distracted, what with the going public stuff.'

I got that, I was pretty distracted too, I was just looking forward to being open and two weeks seemed like a lifetime away.

'Max told me that you were on Harley Cooper today! How was that?' She asked me, leaning forward.

'It was good, but I'll be happy when I can go on shows like that with Max instead of Claudia.'

'True, does Claudia know about you and Max?'

I wished that she did, it would have made it a lot easier, but she had no clue.

'Nope, I'm going to tell her everything tomorrow at lunch'

She gave me a sympathetic smile, 'I hope it goes well for you Ryan.'

'Wow, should I be worried that my boyfriend and best friend are friends now? Do you guys gossip about me?' Max appeared in the doorway, his hands full of take-out boxes.

'Let me help you with that' I got up and grabbed a few boxes, walking with Max to the kitchen and placing them on the table.

'I have to made a call, I'll be out soon,' Aria called out after us.

The second my hands were free Max was there, his arms wrapping around me from behind.

'This is a nice surprise,' his warm breath caressed my ear.

I turned in his arms and put a sly smile on my face, 'Well I was on my way to a date with a male model who is amazingly hot, and only speaks Italian, so not only is he amazingly glorious but I also don't have to talk to him, so you can guess what we would have been doing 'I winked at him before putting on a mock disappointed face, 'But anyway I got a flat tire next to your apartment and I thought 'Hey, max is ok looking, I can go see him.''

'You trying to make me jealous?' he laughed, narrowing his eyes jokingly.

'That depends, is it working?'

'Nope.'

Why can't I just winnn! Stupid Max, just be jealous! Fall for my charm and be jealousy of my date with the fake Italian guy.

'I hate you,' I tried to pull out of his arms, but he just wrapped them around me tighter and brought my body closer to his.

'Do you really hate me?' he pouted and he looked so cute!

I was planning on being fake mad at him for at least ten minutes, but those pouty lips! I can't resist!

'no,' I whispered and leant forward connecting our lips.

As we kissed his hands roamed my back, slipping under my shirt slightly before coming to rest on my hips. I let my own hands wander around his back, appreciating the hard muscles they were gliding over. I was vaguely aware that Aria was in the apartment, but I was enjoying this too much to let it go to waste. A whole day spent with Claudia and away from Max had taken it's toll, and all I wanted was to get this man into a bed, yet with Aria in the other room, that would have to wait.

We kissed for a few minutes and I made a noise of disapproval as he pulled away. The man had probably recognised that this situation could turn awkward real soon for his best friend. I then happily recognised the amazing smelling food next to us and I was keen to eat, so I stopped my pouting, even though my body suddenly felt lonely without Max's warm skin pressed up against it.

'I knew you loved me,' he smiled, referring to our earlier quarrel and I snorted at his confidence and patted his chest as I spoke.

'Don't get too cocky there.'

He laughed, and instead of slapping my hand away, he caught a hold of my wrist and used it as leverage, pulling me to him and placing a soft kiss on my lips.

'Can I come out yet? Or are you two having sex in the kitchen? I'm hungry!' Aria called out.

'Come out Aria,' Max sighed and the girl came skipping out of the room, a sneaky smile playing at her lips.

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

Aria had left just over an hour ago, sighting an early meeting in the morning. That left Max and I, since we were too full of amazing Chinese food we decided to just chill on the couch. I left Max watching television, that awful show Karly Grayson was on, while I went to the kitchen to get some water. I noticed his phone on the bench as I passed. I was in the middle of pouring the water when his phone started vibrating on the flat surface.

'Max! Phone!' I called out to him, but he didn't say anything back, he mustn't have heard me.

I leant over and saw that the caller name was 'Aria'.

I put down the jug and picked up the cell phone, pressing it to my ear.

'Hey Aria, its Ryan,' I answered, wondering why the girl I had seen just over an hour ago was calling Max.

'I was calling to tell Max, but it's probably more fitting that I verbally abuse you before I tell him, because I assume that you didn't tell him yourself' Her tone was harsh and her words genuinely shocked me.

What was she talking about? What have I done?

'What are you talking about Aria?'

'You know full well what I am talking about!' she spoke angrily and harshly, and I had the feeling that if we were talking face to face that this is where she would have slapped me.

The reason for that slap, however, is greatly unknown.

'I honestly don't!'

'Why did you lie to me? Why did you lie to Max!?'

'What are you talking about Aria? I didn't lie to anyone' I tried to tell her, this whole thing was too confusing. Why was I being chastised for some reason I have no idea about?

'I just saw it on the news!'

I was going to ask her what she saw but I looked up and saw that Max was standing in front of me, his face was contorted in sadness and his beautiful green eyes were glassy, tears threatening to spill over.

I was a second away from asking him what was wrong when his eyes met mine and I could feel his shock and sadness. He stepped forward and muttered a question in a heartbroken voice that made my heart stop and my blood freeze in my veins.

'You asked Claudia to marry you?'