Looks Can Be Deceiving

Chapter Nine

"Where's Richard?" Joel asks settling himself on the couch next to Chris.

Erick and Stella were out together watching a new film while Zabdiel, Chris and Joel stayed home to rest before their press junket the next day. Richard on the other hand decided that clubbing with some of the sound guys from the tour was a smart idea. They had to wake up at 4am and the boys already knew they would have to make an excuse for why Richard hadn't shown up.

"Out." Zabdiel responds shortly before yawning and rolling onto his side on the couch opposite to Joel.

"Erick and Stella?"

"Movies." Chris is barely paying attention to anything except for the phone. Joel leans over to see what he is looking at and he is surprised to see the photo of Richard and Stella kissing. "Leave me alone." Chris grumbles.

"Papi, come on. That's not a good idea. Why do you even care?"

"She's my little sister Joel!" Chris raises his voice slightly and moves over so that Joel can't see his screen. Joel simply rolls his eyes and drops the conversation.

—

"Did you like the film?" Erick grabs Stella's hand as they walk out of the cinema.

Both Erick and Stella are incredibly affectionate towards each other. Erick taking her hand was not abnormal to either of them.

"I loved it." She smiles beaming up at Erick.

They walk slowly towards their hotel. It was so close to the cinema they decided to walk the 15 minutes instead of being driven.

"How are you feeling about the show tomorrow?"

"Nervous."

"Because of what Richard might do?"

"I don't know why he hates me." Stella sighs. "He just always pushes my buttons, no matter what!"

"He doesn't hate you." Erick rolls his eyes smiling and pulls on her arm to stop them walking. "Did you ever think maybe he does it because he doesn't hate you at all?" Erick looks at her starring into her eyes.

They stay locked in for a moment before Stella rolls her eyes and walks away pulling Erick along with her.

"We definitely hate each other." She laughs.

By the time they arrive at the hotel, all the boys are in bed. Erick can't keep his eyes open and heads off to his room. While they move their separate ways, Stella realises that she left her key card for the hotel in Erick's wallet. By the time she reached Erick's room he was asleep on his bed. Sighing in frustration, tiredness and anger Stella heads for Richard's room. All the boys are asleep and Stella realises her best bet is to wait for Richard to get home and she can sleep on the couch in his room.

Stella wanders her way to his room and settles on the floor in front of his doorstep. Stella lays down and uses her arms as a pillow while she waits. It isn't until 3am that she hears Richard stumble his way out of the elevator. Her eyes open seeing two figures approach and as she rubs her eyes, she sees Richard with his hand on a girl's ass as they kiss in the hallway.

"Richard." Stella mumbles. He either ignores her or doesn't hear her. She asks again a little louder, "Richard?" The girl and Richard pull apart and turn to see Stella on her knees on the floor. "I don't have a key to my room." Stella is embarrassed that she is here in front of the both of them.

Richard looks down at her, annoyance on his face. "And why is that my problem?"

"I was hoping I could sleep on your couch?"

"Were you now? It's interesting, you know. At 3am here you are on your knees in front of my room." He smirks.

"Richard, please I'm too tired for this." She pleads standing up.

The girl looks between the two just as annoyed as Richard. "Richard," she whines, her hand reaching for his shirt. "Are we going to go in or what?" she pecks his cheek while Stella looks on.

Richard turns his head and kisses her, almost as passionately as he kissed Stella in the supermarket. When he eventually pulls away he turns back to Stella. "You can take the couch." He rolls his eyes and opens the door. All three of them walk in.

Stella settles for the couch ignoring the both of them. Her jeans are instantly uncomfortable and she finds a small blanket to keep her mildly warm. As her eyes flutter to sleep, Richard and Stella stumble around the hotel room kissing as they find their way to the bedroom. She hears the bedroom door slam shut and Stella finds peace in her ability to sleep without their distracting noises but the anger inside her builds the longer they spend in the room.

Only a few minutes pass when Stella hears the door open and close. She opens her eyes and sits up turning to see Richard next to her.

"I thought you might want a t-shirt to sleep in and I took this blanket off the bed."

Stella's heart melts at the thoughtfulness but she's remembers the girl waiting on Richard's bed and she snaps a "Thanks," with anger.

"What's your problem now?"

"I don't have a problem." She brushes him off and takes his clothing heading for the bathroom to change.

When Stella walks out a few moments later, Richard is waiting at the door.

"Well?"

"How can you sleep with this girl when we have to act like a couple. You're ruining this for everyone!" she growls.

"Ohh." He laughs, "you're just jealous?" he puts his hand on her waist. "Still reminiscing about that kiss?"

She looks up at him, her eyes melting as he looks into hers deeply. The connection of his hand on body heating the skin he touches. She pulls herself from her trance.

"Oh shut up." Stella rolls her eyes and sits back on the couch.

"Not jealous then?"

"Not at all."

"Well then," he leans down to her ear and whispers, "I guess I'll just go fuck the naked girl in my room."

He walks over and pulls his shirt off in front of Stella, showing off his body and making sure she knows exactly what he intends to do. Stella isn't able to sleep for most of the night because she can hear the moans and groans from the bedroom. By the time morning comes around, her eyes are puffy and the girl from the night before stumbles into the kitchen, makes herself a coffee and leaves without a word. Richard is nowhere to be seen. Stella calls Erick as soon as she can so she can find her way back to her room.