Stalkers Secrets & Lies, Page 6

  "Johnny not tonight baby, I hurt myself at college today" I lied.

  He kissed down my neck, "I'll be careful" he muttered against my skin as he carried on walking.

  "Johnny, I need to go home, my Mom just called she needs help with something" I lied, oh God please!

  He sighed and dropped me back down to my feet roughly, luckily I caught my balance before I fell on my ass. "Fine, go help your Mom" he muttered as he walked off into the living room slamming the door without even saying goodbye. Wow love you too Johnny, I sighed and shook my head as I made my way to the front door.

  "You shouldn't put up with that Lia, seriously, your too good for that guy" Ethan said glaring at the door where Johnny walked through.

  "Fuck off Ethan, why don't you just crawl back under the rock you came out of and leave my life alone!" I said annoyed as I gave him a death glare and stormed out of the house.

  I drove slowly over to my house, I felt guilty, I really shouldn't keep taking out my frustrations on Ethan. I mean I know he hurt me, but that was six years ago, I should just let it go, he obviously has. Ben's car wasn't in the drive when I pulled in so I smiled happily as I walked in the house. My parents looked at me and smiled but their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes, as far as they were concerned I was the wayward daughter who got in trouble and lied. The disgrace, they were ashamed of me, hell I was ashamed of myself.

  "Hi" I said as I plopped down on the couch.

  "Where have you been? I left your dinner out in the kitchen, I wish you'd call if you're gonna be late, this house doesn't revolve around you you know" my Mom muttered looking away from me to the TV. She was too good to look at me, I had been treated differently ever since I told my parents about Ben and they didn't believe me almost six years ago.

  "Yeah don't I know it" I muttered as I walked to the kitchen and picked at the pasta bake that was on the counter. After a few mouthfuls I threw it in the bin and went up to my bedroom grabbing a book and flopping on my bed.

  I text Becca that everything was ok, she had asked me to let her know if Ben was home and she would come and stay if he had another day off. As I was looking through my phone I came to Ethan's phone number that he had stored in there, God I wanted to call him so much. I wanted to hear his voice and have him tell me everything was gonna be fine, I wanted to apologise for shouting at him, it really wasn't his fault. I went into my messages and typed one to him.

  'I'm sorry I shouted at you, I was having a bad day, it wasn't your fault, Ali'

  I sent it quickly before I changed my mind and went back to reading my book trying to distract myself from thinking about how different my life would have been if Ethan never left. A message beeped making me jump, I grabbed my phone opening it eagerly.

  'That's ok, if you ever need to talk to anyone, I'll always listen, see you tomorrow, sleep well, Ethan x'

  I read the message again and again looking at the kiss at then end of the message happily. I smiled and pulled on my pyjamas, shoving the chair under my door handle just in case, deciding on an early night as I didn't sleep well last night worrying about Ben.

  Chapter 5

  Ethan

  This was my third official day on the job, today was Friday and I was watching the clock waiting for Lia to finish college same as I had been all week. This job was easy, I had made all the extra security amendments and Johnny had barely left the house so I had just been sitting around all day bored stiff. I couldn't stop thinking about Lia, every time I saw her it hurt, it was like looking at the sun, it made my eyes sting and my insides clench up tight.

  She wasn't gonna be happy today, Johnny was wasted again, drunk as a skunk and slurring his words. At just after half past three she walked in making my whole body relax, I was worried about her, there was something going on with her that she didn't want me to know about. It made me nervous how she just refused to talk about it, even to Johnny, but that prick didn't seem to notice anything wrong with her anyway so maybe she'd always been like this with him.

  I smiled at her as she walked in and I saw her hands clench into small fists, she was still really angry with me for what I did to her and I just didn't know how to make it right. I wanted to make it right so bad, I loved her with every part of my being, I never ever stopped loving her and I never will. The only reason I stopped talking to her was because I was going through so much at the time, I was a wreck and I didn't want her to have to deal with that, she deserved better than what I could give her. When my parents died I just kind of went inside myself and by the time I got back out it was too late, I'd already been ignoring her for six months and just wanted her to move on and have a better life. It was easier if I just threw myself into my training and stuff and tried to forget everything that reminded me of my parents and former life. But I never once stopped loving her. I honestly thought she was better off without me and would move on and be happy.

  "Hi" I said happily as she walked into the kitchen, I was looking forward to tonight, Johnny said we were heading out and although I knew I would be working most of the night I'd maybe get to see Lia having a good time and smile once in a while.

  "Hi" she said grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl, I could smell her perfume as she stood there with her back to me, she smelled amazing.

  "You have a good day Lia?" I asked happily just wanting to talk to her.

  She tensed and nodded "Yeah pretty good, please can you stop calling me that" she asked quietly.

  I grimaced, damn it I forgot. "Right yeah sorry, it's just weird, I'm trying honestly" I said smiling apologetically.

  She nodded a small smile on her lips making my heart throb, "Where's Johnny?" she asked looking around slowly.

  I nodded towards the lounge, "He's in there asleep on the sofa, he's been drinking" I said watching her face fall slightly before she rearranged her expression.

  "Right, I'll let him sleep it off then, I'm going for a bath, did he say if we were going out tonight?"

  she asked grimacing, obviously not wanting to go out.

  I nodded "Yeah some bar he's arranged to meet his band in about nine" I said trying to hide my excitement but she didn't look like she was gonna have a nice time like I'd hoped.

  "Great" she muttered sarcastically as she walked off.

  "Hey Lia, shit, I meant Ali" I called after her, she stopped and looked at me. "I made you a coffee, why don't you take it with you" I suggested holding out the cup to her.

  She looked at me a little confused. "You did?" she asked as she walked back and took the cup, I nodded and she smiled her warm smile that I remember from years ago. God that smile made my heart ache. "Thanks Ethan" she said gratefully as she walked off looking at me like I was the most thoughtful guy in the world for making her coffee. Wow he must be a real ass for her to be that grateful for coffee!

  She came down an hour later her hair still wet, wearing sweats and what was probably one of Johnny's t-shirts, she looked really relaxed and chilled and I would imagine she would be more than happy watching a movie or something tonight instead of going out drinking.

  She went straight to the fridge, "You still like chilli?" she asked grabbing a mince from the fridge.

  I smiled that she remembered my favourite food, "Yeah" I said trying not to show her how much she effected me. She nodded and set about cooking making some rice and grated cheese to go with it. When it was done she dished up some for the three of us and headed to the lounge, I stayed in the kitchen but I could hear her in there.

  "Baby, are you hungry? I made chilli" she said quietly obviously waking him up gently.

  He groaned "Fucking hell Ali, I was asleep, you really think I want to wake up and eat chilli?" he asked sounding annoyed with her, fucking asshole! She's made him dinner and he talks to her like that?

  "I just thought you might be hungry baby, sorry, go back to sleep" she said quietly. He groaned again and I heard her catch her breath, "Come on baby let go, my dinner's getting cold" she whined.

  "No, lay with m
e for a bit" he said sleepily.

  "Johnny come on baby I'm hungry" she said sounding slightly annoyed.

  "Ali lay down!" he ordered harshly, I frowned, God he was such an asshole!

  "Ow! Johnny don't" she whined breathlessly.

  He chuckled and "I thought you liked it rough" he growled sounding slightly muffled like he had his mouth covered by something.

  "Johnny, you're the one that likes it rough not me" she said breathlessly. "Ow stop please" she begged, fucking hell I was gonna kill him!

  Think of an excuse Ethan or you'll look like a prick if this is foreplay! "Ali, where is the bottle opener?" I called as I walked through the door to the lounge, if he's hurting her I swear I'm gonna friggin kill him. As I walked through the door I saw her laying on the sofa with him on top of her pinning her hands down above her head as he kissed her neck, she had her eyes squeezed shut.

  "Oop's crap sorry" I said trying to sound like it was an accident, she wriggled and he sighed letting her go, she jumped to her feet quickly and walked out of the room without even looking at him.

  He glared at me, his eyes red from the drink and drugs he had inhaled today, "That's three times you've interrupted man" he said annoyed, I smiled trying to look innocent.

  "Sorry dude, didn't realise you two were doing anything" I said shrugging as I walked out of the room closing the door behind me.

  I made my way to the kitchen to see her eating with her back to me. I couldn't help it, I walked up and wrapped my arms around her from behind, "Are you ok Lia?" I asked softly. Her body was trembling against mine and I wanted to pick her up and take her from the house and never let her go. She nodded but didn't speak, I glanced down to her neck, there was a red bite mark there, I gasped and touched it making her flinch and pull away from me quickly. "Son of a bitch" I growled, anger took over and I turned to go back to the lounge to rip his head off.

  She grabbed my hand when I was half way there pulling me to a stop, "Ethan don't please" she begged sounding upset. I turned to look at her, she was staring at the floor, my protection instincts kicked in and I wrapped my arms around her wanting to keep her safe. She fitted so perfectly in my arms, she always did. She clung to me tightly "Please don't say anything, I need him, please" she begged making my stomach hurt. I wanted to kill him but I couldn't, I had to do what she asked of me, I had to give her anything she wanted, it was like an unwritten rule, I had to give her what she needed and right now she was telling me she needed him.

  "Lia, why do you let him do that? Has he hurt you before?" I asked pulling back to look at her cupping her face in my hands making her look at me. Her eyes met mine and I felt weightless, they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life, eyes I wanted to stare into for the rest of my life.

  "No he hasn't, he just gets a little rough sometimes when he's excited" she said quietly her voice breaking slightly, I stared at her, I could tell she was lying, she was begging me with her eyes breaking my heart.

  "You don't want me to do anything?" I asked swallowing my anger.

  She shook her head fiercely, "Please, please don't ruin this for me Ethan, please" she begged burying her face in my chest. I could hear Johnny moving around in the lounge, obviously getting up, she pulled out of my arms and pulled me into the kitchen quickly looking scared.

  She let go of my hand and went over to her dinner and started eating as if nothing happened, looking at the floor. Johnny walked in a couple of seconds later and wrapped his arm around her. "I hope your gonna change before we go out, you look like shit Ali" he said turning his nose up at her, my fists clenched up tight, I can't do this. I can't not say anything to this little prick who has the most special girl in the world and is treating her like crap.

  She smiled and looked down at her clothes "I thought I looked pretty sexy in this baby, I was thinking about starting a new trend" she said teasingly.

  He grabbed the back of her t-shirt and tied it in a knot at the back making it more fitted and exposing her stomach. He grinned "Now that's sexy" he said running his hand over her flat toned stomach.

  She smiled "Right, add some heels and I think this'll catch on" she said grinning wickedly.

  He grinned and pulled her into his arms kissing her making my blood boil as jealousy shot around my body. God this is killing me to see her with someone else, I think if the guy deserved her then I wouldn't mind as much but this guy was an ass! And she wasn't even using him for his money either as she hated taking his money. I mean what the hell could she see in him?

  He pulled away and grabbed his plate of dinner shovelling the food down quickly, all the time he had one hand on her ass like she was a freaking piece of meat. "So who's going out tonight?" she asked curiously.

  "Mmm the band, Stu, Kelly, Rich, me, you, Ethan, you ask Becca?" he asked shrugging.

  "Yeah she know's we're going out but I don't know where, think we could pick her up on the way?"

  she asked hopefully. Damn it Becca's gonna rip my balls off tonight!

  He shrugged, "Whatever, I don't care, we're going to Joeys bar for nine, so tell her we'll pick her up around quarter too I guess" he said shrugging. "You wearing a skirt tonight?" he asked running his hand up her back.

  She looked at him a little unsure "I don't know, do you want me too?" she asked hesitantly., He nodded and smiled "Yeah, but not too short, I don't like it when you get too much attention" he said squeezing her ass.

  "Right ok, yeah I'll wear a skirt then" she said easily, wow ok he tells her what to wear too? Shit this is a bad relationship and the girl of my dreams is stuck in it and doesn't want to get out of it!

  "Hey, I spoke to your brother today, he's coming tonight too" Johnny said grinning. She stiffened and looked scared for a second before she forced a smile, what the hell is that about?

  "Yeah? Great, you didn't tell him he could stay here again did you?" she asked looking at her plate, her hand shaking slightly.

  Johnny laughed "Of course I did babe, he's your brother, I can't very well make him get a taxi all the way home can I? You live ages away" he said as he nuzzled her neck. Was it just my imagination or did she look scared about something?

  "Yeah I guess" she said frowning.

  She didn't eat anymore after that and threw her almost untouched plate of food into the bin. "I better go and get changed then and call Bec's" she said as she slipped out of the kitchen.

  "Ethan man, do me a favour and watch out for my girl tonight huh? She get's hit on a lot when we go out, I don't know if she's drinking or not tonight but she can get pretty wild" he said grinning from ear to ear, he obviously likes her wild.

  "Sure Johnny" I said casually, I'd definitely be watching out for her tonight even if he hadn't asked me, and what the hell was that about with Ben? She looked almost scared of him, maybe I'd ask her later about it.

  At eight thirty she came down the stairs and I could barely breathe, she looked so beautiful I could hardly stand still. Her brown bob was immaculately straight and she had on a little makeup, just enough to make her blue eyes pop and her already full lips look even more kissable. Her body looked smokin hot in a light blue denim skirt showing off her perfect toned legs and a strapless black top with sequins down the middle showing off all her glorious curves. She had on little ankle boots with open toes and a high stiletto heel that would probably make her feet ache later tonight. I bet he has to carry her home, I know I would if she was mine still.

  Johnny came walking out of the kitchen and dropped his beer on the floor, "No fucking way! Go change, way too damn short Ali, you look like a freaking whore" he growled angrily. I snapped my head around shocked, how the hell could he speak to her like that?

  "Too short? I thought you said wear a skirt" she said frowning, he looked at her like she was stupid.

  "You are joking! That's not a skirt anyway, it's a friggin belt if you're being picky, go change, NOW" he said angrily as he made his way towards her. She flinched slightly and turned on her heel going back upstai
rs as he turned and walked off to the kitchen.

  She came down a few minutes later with a pair of black leggings underneath the skirt and a black combat style fitted jacket looking even hotter with the new look but how that's possible I don't know. She smiled at me as I continued to stare at her dumbfounded, barely able to breathe.

  "Want a picture Ethan? It's last longer" she whispered giggling as she walked past me.,

  "Not sure about that, I have a pretty good memory" I said smirking at her. She grinned and made her way to the kitchen.

  She did a little twirl for Johnny who looked her over, "Better, but lose the jacket" he said waving at it.

  She frowned "It's cold outside" she whined but shrugged out of the jacket anyway throwing it onto the kitchen counter roughly.

  He looked at her angrily, "Don't throw your shit around and have a damn temper tantrum, what are you three?" he said glaring at her angrily. She rolled her eyes at him and I took a step towards her, if he makes any moves I'm putting him down.

  He noticed me move and seemed to snap out of it and sighed, "Fine take the damn jacket, but I'm not carrying it around for you when you get hot" he said throwing the jacket back at her roughly. He stormed out of the room and I stepped to her side.

  "You look beautiful, with or without the leggings and I'll hold your jacket if you get hot ok" I said bending so I could look into her eyes.

  She smiled and closed her eyes "You always were sweet Ethan" she said quietly making my heart throb.

  The doorbell rang and I heard Johnny answer it, "Hey Ben" he said happily, Lia stiffened and stepped closer to me, I don't know whether she knew she did it or not.

  "Hey Johnny, where's my kid sister?" Ben asked sounding excited, she looked at the floor playing with her hands looking uncomfortable about something. Ok something is definitely up with her and Ben. They seemed to get on ok when we were younger, well I suppose she was actually a little like this around him before I left but nowhere near this bad. Ben and Johnny walked into the kitchen chatting about something and laughing. I watched Ben's face as he walked in, his eyes stopped on Lia and looked her over slowly with a smile on his face. He hadn't even noticed me yet and I knew I was gonna get Lia in trouble when he recognised me.