I stepped out of the shower and looked myself over in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes had only gotten bigger since over the last few days as sleep came scarcely to me. I didn't like the rest anyway, my dreams haunted me of happier times and left me wishing that I could go back in time.

My pity party had lasted over a week so far and it seemed to have no end. Every day it just gets harder, harder to sleep, harder to find the will to keep going. I hadn't left my apartment since that fateful night and Aria hadn't been back since I kicked her out. I really was all alone.

In the first few days I had avoided any sort of news show or interview program, but yesterday I had thought it was a good idea to watch a talk show. Of course Claudia was on there, chatting happily about her happy little family, stating that Ryan was too busy with work to go on the show with her. Too busy with work. While I was home, mourning the loss of our relationship, wondering if I could live without him, he was busy working.

I sighed, shaking my head and willing the pain in my heart to leave me. I put some jeans and a shirt over my wet body and sauntered back to the couch, where old television shows and alcohol awaited me. As I parked myself on the couch my phone rang and for a second I hoped that it was Ryan. After a moment my rationality came back to me and I was disappointed to realise that it wouldn't be him. It was stupid to think that he would call me.

'Yes,' I said, hoping that the person would sense from my tone that I was not in the mood to talk.

'Hey Max.' Aria's gentle voice came over the phone and I hoped that she had forgiven my misdirected anger from the other day.

'Hey,' I greeted her dryly.

'Can I ask a favour?'

'Depends.'

'On what?'

'Do I have to leave the apartment?'

She paused before continuing, 'Uh maybe.'

'Then no.' I pulled the phone away from my ear, about to hang up, but she kept talking so I reluctantly put the phone to my ear again.

'Please Max, I need some help, I need you to come pick me up.'

'Why? Are you ok?'

'Yeah, my car broke down. Can I text you the address?'

'Can't I just send my driver?'

'Can you please come Max?'

'Fine.'

'Thank-you so much, go to the address and there's a back door, just go through that and I'll be right there.'

'Alright.'

I hung up and after a few moments the text came through. I looked like shit, but Aria was my best friend, and she needed me, so I picked up my keys and left.

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

I locked my car and walked over to the large building. Its black walls giving me no insight to what lay behind them. I checked the text again to make sure it was the right place, and it was, so I continued on my way.

True to what Aria said, there was a large black door at the back of the building and I tentatively knocked on it. I silently hoped that Aria had not led me to my death.

The door opened to reveal a dark skinned man wearing black pants and a black shirt.

'Mr Stark, you're just in time, follow me' who was this man? What was I just in time for? My death?

He saw that I had made no move to follow him so he waved me over and I stepped into the building. When he turned around I noticed that his shirt said 'security' on the back. I figured if anyone was going to lead me towards my death it would be smart to wear a security outfit, but he seemed nice enough and the odds were he was just a normal security guard, not the hired hitman I had assumed him to be. I followed the man up some stairs which lead me to what looked like the back of a studio. There were rows of people, all seated, facing a stage which was empty except for a few couches and a coffee table.

'I think I'm in the wrong place, I'm here to pick up Aria Reid.'

'Yes, follow me,' he said and I expected him to lead me away from the crowd, but instead he walked down between the rows and I followed behind him. He stopped three rows from the front and motioned for me to sit. There were two free seats next to a man who was looking in the opposite direction, his black hair was messy and he was wearing a leather jacket. I looked at the security guy and he said, 'Take a seat Mr Stark.'

What has Aria done this time?

I took a seat and the man next to me turned towards me.

'Cameron?' I recognised the man from when I guest starred on 'Marriage and Murder'

'Hi Max, I'm glad you could make it, this is Colton,' he gestured towards the man next to him, and the blonde had a huge smile on his face as he greeted me.

'Hi Max, it's nice to meet you.'

'Uh yeah,' I turned back to Cameron, 'Have you seen a girl around here, her names Aria, long brunette hair, quite tall.'

'Her?' he smirked, gesturing to the seat next to me and I turned around to come face to face with my best friend, a smirk on her pretty face.

'Aria? What is going on?'

'You'll see,' She said, accompanying a smug look.

I wasn't dealing with this, if this was her way to get me out of the house, she was sadly mistaken.

'No, I'm leaving,' I started to get up but she put a hand on my arm.

'Please stay' her expression confused me, she really wanted me to stay, but why?

The lights dimmed around us and I decided to stay in my seat, I should at least know why I was dragged out here.

'Please welcome to the stage, Harley Cooper!'

The people around me clapped, including Cameron and Aria, as a tall man wearing a suit walked onto the stage and took a seat on the single chair, which was slightly tilted towards the couch, a coffee table in-between them.

'Hello everyone, and welcome to the show. We have a very special live show for you guys today. Today we are going to be let in on some of the secrets and scandals of Hollywood as a gentleman that I am sure you all know will be coming to the stage to have a talk with us. Who's excited!?'

The audience cheered and Harley smiled.

'Please give a warm welcome to our special guest today, he is an amazing singer, with numerous number one hits, and he and his now fiancé have been nicknamed, 'The Golden Couple Of Hollywood', let's welcome Ryan Connors!'

I shot a look at Aria. How could she do this to me?

Make me sit here and listen to the person I love talking about his perfect family and career. I had to get out of here.

I got up to leave, but Cameron's hand shot up and took a hold of my arm, pulling me back down.

'Max, you're going to want to listen to this.'

'Let go of me' I threatened harshly but his expression didn't change and his grip didn't falter.

He shot a look to aria who leaned over to me.

'Please Max, just listen,' Aria whispered in my ear and I ceased my struggle against Cameron's hand and he let go of me.

I turned my gaze to the stage to see Ryan and Harley talking.

'I like the style change Ryan.'

'Thank-you,' He smiled, looking down at his outfit. Now that I think about it, he did look different. He was wearing tight black jeans, filled with rips and a band t-shirt. His hair was left messy and around his wrist were black and white bracelets. This was not an outfit that his stylist would have okayed, I know that for sure.

'So Ryan, as you know, we all love the juicy gossip of Hollywood and I was told that you had some secrets and scandals which you would like to share with us today.'

'Yes I do.'

'Let's hear them,' he smiled at Ryan, who looked into the crowd for a moment and I could have sworn that his eyes met mine for a second.

'There is a lot about the show business that most people aren't aware of.'

I saw some flashes from down the front and I saw Karly Grayson and her camera man there, taking photos and watching.

'Like what?'

'For example, I don't pick out my own clothes. This outfit is one of about five that I own which I actually picked out myself.'

'Wow, I'm sure that is a surprise to most people, seeing as you have sparked many trends in the teenage fashion world.'

'Another thing, something that I think everyone would be surprised to hear is that I don't have the final approval on my own songs.'

'What does that mean?'

'Well even though I write most of them, sometimes the lyrics get changed. My first hit, 'Her smile', does anyone know that one?'

The crowd cheered and Harley laughed, 'It has been playing non-stop since its release, I think that the entire population knows it.'

'Well, those lyrics are not my original.'

The crowd gasped and Ryan continued.

'I have sung 'her smile' here numerous times, but does anyone want to hear it with the original lyrics?'

The audience cheered louder than before and I was confused, what was Ryan doing?

'Let's hear it.'

Ryan moved to the centre of the stage where a spot light hit him and he paused and met my eyes. I was too confused to even do anything so I just looked into his blue eyes until he tore his gaze away to focus on the microphone on the stand in front of him.

The music started playing, the slow beat causing the audience to sway and wave their hands to the time of the beats.

Ryan's voice was perfect as he sung the lyrics, and I didn't notice any word changes as he sung about being alone before finding someone, and someone being his light in the world. Even though we weren't together, my heart still swelled while listening to his sweet voice sing so beautifully, to see how much people appreciated him and his talents.

The audience sang along to the words.

The song was the same, except for one line. The first time he sung it I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

'Because it's your smile

Oh it's his smile'

His? His?

Was he talking about me? That whole time, were those lyrics written about me?

Every time he used to sing the word her, it was replaced with the word 'his'.

I had listened to that song a thousand times, but I had never thought he was singing about me.

He stopped the song halfway through, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I looked around me. Every audience member was sitting there, jaws open and wide eyed.

Ryan silently walked back to his seat, as Harley tried to cover his shock.

'Uh' Harley started but words failed him.

Ryan took a deep breath and started talking.

'I have been dating Claudia Grey for over a year, but we weren't really together. It was all for publicity'

There were shocked gasps from the crowd.

'The baby that she is carrying, it's not mine.'

More gasps. I looked down to where Karly was standing to see a shocked and confused look on her face.

'She tried to threaten me and guilt me into marring her and raising another man's child, and I was going to do it. I made a mistake, a mistake which cost me the man that I love,' Tears welled up in his eyes and he looked at me, and I knew he probably noticed the tears which fell down my own cheeks.

I looked over at Aria and she gave me a small smile, 'Did you do this?' I asked and she shook her head.

'He did this, I just helped.'

Ryan kept talking so I looked back to the stage.

'I was scared. I was really scared and I made a really stupid mistake. I am not going to marry Claudia Grey.'

Harley looked like he was about to be sick, 'So, you never dated her?'

'Not truly, I was actually dating a man during most of my fake relationship with Claudia.'

'Who were you dating?' Harley was doing a pretty good job at keeping his composure, but I could tell that he was just as surprised by the news as the people around me, whose jaws were still open.

'I won't say his name, but he meant the world to me, and I thought that by doing this I was protecting him, but I was wrong. I know that he will probably never forgive me, but I will always love him and regret the things I did,' He wiped tears from his cheeks as he spoke. The audience awed.

Arias voice was low in my ear, 'He loves you, he knows he made a mistake, so go down there and kiss that boy.'

I didn't need her to tell me. The second that he started singing that song I knew. I knew what he had done and what he was giving up for me. He loved me and he was willing to throw so much away, not even to get me back, but to just set things right.

'I am an idiot,' he said and threaded his hand through his hair, before wiping at his cheeks again.

I stood up and spoke loudly, 'Yeah you are, but you're my idiot.'

He looked up at my words, and a giant smile covered his face. I grinned at him and walked down the rows of chairs, ignoring the gasps which left the mouths of people I passed by.

'I think Harley just got your story, sorry love,' I whispered as I passed a very pissed off Karly.

I walked up the few steps to the stage and crossed the distance between us. Ryan had stood up but hadn't moved further than that, the raw hope and love in his eyes made my heart swell.

I didn't say anything, I just wrapped my hands around him and pulled him in for a mind blowing kiss, letting all my heartbreak leave my body as I focused into pouring all the love I had into that one kiss, letting go of everything else.

In that one moment the world disappeared, the bright lights, the people, the gasps, the stage, all gone and what was left was pure love.

The way it was supposed to be.

I slowly became aware of the applause around us and I pulled away from Ryan to see that everyone in the audience were clapping and smiling. I saw Aria and she sent me a wink and I mouthed, 'Thank-you' to her.

'I am so sorry Max,' Ryan whispered, his blue eyes full of unshed tears as he looked at me. I pulled him into my chest and let him rest his head against me.

'It's ok now, it's ok,' I told him, whispering enough for him to hear, but the microphones wouldn't pick it up. I rubbed my hands up and down his back as he held on to me.

We slowly broke away and Harley motioned for us to sit down.

'Wow, so Max Stark and Ryan Connors huh? That's a surprise. Now I understand what you meant when you said you had some secrets and scandals, huh? This is one big one!'

'Yeah, it definitely is big, but this isn't a secret anymore and it's not a scandal, it's just love,' Ryan spoke as he intertwined his hand with mine.

The audience clapped and awed.

'Max, you're a serial dater, known as 'The Hollywood Heartbreaker', why did you keep that image?'

'I loved Ryan, but I didn't want to go public unless we did it together, as a couple, and I guess that is what we are doing now' I looked over at Ryan, a giant smile covering my face.

'Yeah I guess so.' Ryan smiled at me.

'Well, I think you guys probably want some time to talk, so why don't we continue this conversation another day.'

'That sounds great.' I smiled and shook his hand before Ryan did the same.

'Congratulations guys, it must be great for the truth to finally be out.'

I looked at Ryan, seeing his smiling face, and knowing that we didn't have to hide ever again.

No, it wasn't great, it was perfect, everything I had hoped for but never really believed would happen.