Stay With Me

Chapter 1

I woke up to the loud clatter of pots and pans coming from downstairs, signaling the start of another busy day. Rolling over, I instinctively reached out to the empty space beside me, where Ethan should have been. The sheets lay folded over, a silent reminder of his absence. Despite the countless mornings we've spent apart, I knew he was working hard for the life we share.

I lingered under the covers, craving just a few more moments of solitude before the day's chaos engulfed me. Life in this fast-paced environment was a whirlwind, and although I was grateful for the opportunities it provided, I couldn't shake the feeling of being swept up in the storm.

As the morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft rays of warmth across the room, I allowed myself a moment of reflection. Memories of my previous life flickered in the recesses of my mind—so different from the life I now live. I tried to remind myself of all the things this life has brought me and how much I owe to Ethan. He rescued me from my old life after our paths collided unexpectedly one fateful day at a downtown Los Angeles grocery store, our hands reaching for the same orange. Two strangers living completely different lives, yet sharing a yearning to get to know one another. After spending more time together, Ethan and I started dating. With each passing day, he unraveled the layers of my past, offering me a lifeline to a world I had only dared to dream of.

My parents adopted me when I was young, along with many other children. Our family dynamic was nothing short of troubled, plagued by addiction which lead us to fend for ourselves. We formed a makeshift support system, but the lack of love, guidance, and financial stability made life incredibly challenging. I often felt lost, struggling to find my place in the world.

Until I met Ethan.

Although I still have my struggles, Ethan took me in and brought me everywhere he went, showing me the better things in life. One of those places was his workplace. As simple as it sounds, he is a highly talented music producer for some of the biggest artists in LA. His father owns Columbia Records, and naturally, Ethan wanted to work closely with the stars after growing up in the music industry. This world was entirely foreign to me, having grown up in a completely different environment. Sitting in on sessions in the studio with Ethan, I began to realize the extraordinary nature of this new life. Ethan's rise in the music industry led him to collaborate closely with an artist known as The Kid Laroi. After multiple hits and a song featuring Justin Bieber that now has over 2 billion streams, Laroi soared on the charts. Soon after his rise in fame, he bought a larger home with an even bigger studio and invited his main crew, including Ethan, to live with him so they could focus more intensely on their music.

This move was quite a shock for me. During that time, Ethan was extremely busy. He brought me around when he could, but I always feared he was dragging me along out of obligation. I never wanted him to feel that way. I tried to find things to keep myself busy, but my true passion—art—was too expensive of a hobby for me to maintain. Our family's money had to be used sparingly for the children, leaving little room for extra expenses like hobbies. I considered getting a job, but Ethan assured me that his recent success with Laroi meant there was enough money to go around.

When the news of Ethan's move came out, he sat me down and explained that we would see each other less. I took it hard. Ethan lived just 10 minutes from my house, which was on the way to Laroi's, a one-hour drive. It only made sense for him to pick me up on the way to work, allowing us to spend the day together. When he told me he would be living with Laroi, he explained that we would see each other less since the drive to my house was now out of the way. We adjusted to this new arrangement for three months, and during that time, while Ethan was navigating many changes, things started to shift in our relationship. I found myself struggling, trying to find my own footing in the absence of his presence.

I battle with anxiety and past traumas, working hard not to project these onto our relationship. It's challenging when I feel directionless, and he seems to have everything figured out. It often feels like I'm riding along on someone else's wave, watching their dreams come true while struggling to figure out my own. This alone created a divide between us, making it difficult to see eye to eye at times.

Eventually, I told Ethan I would be starting a job at Trader Joe's to earn money for myself and gain some independence. It was then that I noticed a significant change in Ethan's demeanor and how he treated me. He quickly told me that working at a grocery store would be inappropriate and unnecessary, given his career in the music industry. Despite my insistence that this job was a means for independence and a way to possibly make friends, Ethan had other plans. He seemed to think it was unnecessary and immediately reached out to Laroi, asking if I could move in with them so he could keep an eye on me. I had been around Laroi and the boys many times but never wanted to impose or take up space in his home. I couldn't decide if Ethan's action was controlling or sweet.

Not long after, Laroi agreed and mentioned that there was plenty of room for me to stay and that it would be no problem at all, especially if it meant Ethan would be leaving less to be with me since I would already be at Laroi's house. Surprised by Laroi's response, I agreed to move in with Ethan and declined the job opportunity, trusting that everything would fall into place for us now that we would be living together.

So, shortly after, I moved in.

And what a wild ride it has been these past 6 months.

More banging came from downstairs, pulling me out of my thoughts. Celine must be making breakfast—Laroi's chef. Hungry and now wide awake, I flipped the covers back and hopped out of bed, heading for the bathroom to freshen up before going downstairs to eat. It was a new day, and I was never really prepared for what it might bring—so much to do and never enough time to do it all.

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Hi guys ♡
Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of Ava's journey! Your support means a lot to me and i'm incredibly grateful for each and everyone of you :) I'm so excited to continue sharing Ava's story with you, and I can't wait for you to see where her life will take her next. Stay tuned for more chapters filled with emotion and unexpected twists. Until next time, happy reading!

~ S♡