I LOVE YOU

Chapter 12

STEFI'S P.O.V

"Baby, you're there?"  Riley knocked the bathroom.

"Oh yeah, you need something, love?"

"No, just checking on you.  You're okay?"

"Perfect.  Be there in a second."  I swept away my tears, tried to make myself sneezing for couple times so Riley would realize that I was having flu, instead of crying.

"Hey..."  He greeted me.  He was on the bed, reading newspaper.

"Hey.  Shouldn't you rehearse?"  I sit by the edge of the bed, drying my hair.

"Guess so, but I'm not in the mood."

"Hmm?  Tell me about that?"

"Richard, uh...he's being a jerk."  Riley sighed.

"Well..."  I bowed my head and cleared my throat.  "What's it about?"

"Us."  Riley looked at me.  "Can't believe that it's about us..."

"I bet he doesn't like me, being here?"  I murmured.

"Don't go..."

"No I guess I'm not.  It's just...rude..."  I raised an eyebrow but it more likely a disappointment.

"I know..."  Riley repositioned himself.  "Babe, sit here."

I just nodded and came closer to him.  

"Do you love me?"  He spoke in a serious tone.

"Hmm."  I nodded.

"Then we need to do this together.  Not even Richard could ruin us.  Me and the boys will try to find the new road manager.  This one's not working.  But we can't fire him now, because the tour is about to start."  Riley held my face with his both hands.

"Well...I'm just...  Don't do it for sake of our relationship, baby.  Do it for the band.  Decide the best for the career."

"I know..."

"Good.  I know you do."  I kissed his cheek.  "So proud of you.  And thank you for sticking around."

"Thank you for being so tolerant.  This is the rudest world, the entertainment."

"It's always worth the fight."  I pinched his nose.  "Now, get shower."

"Hahaha... Oh my gosh you just ruined my romantic motion!"  He laughed so loud and fell to the floor.

"Sorry, but sometimes I'm rude, indeed."  I smirked.  "And don't ever think that the loud laugh could save you from shower.  Go!"  I threw the towel playfully.

"I'm passing out!"

"Riley Thomas McDonough!"

"Heck!  Okay!  Jeez..."  He rolled his eyes and ran to the bathroom.  I laughed as well as sweeping away my tears.  Difficult life.

We got ready for 30 minutes.  The boys have wore their show suits.  And me too, I tried to dress up as good as I can.  Riley said that's more than enough, he didn't expect that I would try to match the game either.  Tonight I wore a black long sleeves gown with a ribbon around my waist, and it fell perfectly above my knees.  Since Riley and all the boys have the black as their band's main color, so I guess we're doing great.

We left for the venue by 5 pm.  The band soon did the one last rehearsal and soundcheck.  And all I did just sitting in this green room, hanging with some nice crew, with...the too busy Richard.  He kept running here and there like a sprinter, going inside and out the green room, but not wanting to shake off that glare of me.  I felt so terribly scared.  He has confronted the boys earlier today.  It would be really possible that he might confront me too sometime soon.  I wish Riley was here.  But I can't hide myself forever either.