Looks Can Be Deceiving

Chapter Twenty Six

The boys manage to make it on stage without a brawl. Ali and Hugo decide to cut the joint performance in fear that the dance between Richard and Stella will set Chris off. Chris doesn't speak a word to anyone once the show is over, Stella sits next to him, reaches over to hold his hand but he pulls away. Stella feels it like a knife to her heart. When she looks up, Richard is staring at her with watery eyes. He looks down to his phone and sends her a message.

'I'm scared.'

Stella's heart breaks and she looks up at him sympathetically before she writes a response.

'He will get over it. The band will be fine.'

'I know the band will but will we?'

Stella reads his response and locks her phone, avoiding his gaze. Right now she can't answer that. She knows that if Chris asked her to never speak to Richard again she wouldn't. Her brother meant everything to her and she couldn't destroy their relationship over this.

For the first time in weeks, when they arrive at the hotel, Stella walks straight to Erick's room. All the boys are fiddling with their keys to open their doors and Stella stops at Erick's door. Erick doesn't say anything, he knows she needs him right now. Richard turns to see Stella at her hotel door but when he notices she isn't there he turns to see her outside of Erick's door.

"Stella," he sighs. Everyone can hear the pain he is feeling in his voice. Chris' head bounces over to glare at Richard. He wants to ask her to sleep with him tonight but as soon as he tries to open his mouth to speak, Erick manages to open the door and Stella pushes her way in.

Richard closes his eyes and turns his head away. Taking a deep breath he opens the door to his room and heads straight to their connecting door. He knows she won't be coming back into her hotel but he wants to be in the bed that still has her presence. He looks over to her Pooh Bear toy and takes it in his hands. Slipping into the bed, he finds the toy bringing him the serenity it brought Stella.

"Are you okay?" Erick asks Stella as she shuffles through his suitcase to find something to wear to bed.

"No." she responds.

"Chris will be over it in a few days."

Stella nods. Erick sees her growing frustration with her inability to find a t-shirt to wear. He leans down pulling one from a side pocket and throws it to her smiling. Stella sighs in relief, taking a deep breath understanding that she just needs a minute to calm herself down. Her heart raced quickly.

"We were going to tell him tomorrow. If we had told him it would have been different."

"You're right. If you told him it would have been different but that's not how it worked out. So right now, focus on getting some sleep and tomorrow morning we can work it out together."

"Joel and Zabdiel are going to hate me." she states as she changes.

"Why would they hate you?" Erick questions, confused as he finds his way into his bed.

"I'm ruining everything for you boys." she responds following Erick's movements and slipping into the sheets.

"Stella, we have worked hard for years." Erick cuddles up to Stella from behind, "You coming in and sleeping with Richard is not going to take all of that away from us. You aren't giving Richard and Christopher's relationship the credit it deserves."

"You really think he will be over it in a few days?" she asks as she traces her fingers along his arms.

"I know he will. You and Richard are good together, don't let this hurt your relationship." Stella turns to face Erick, explaining the entire interaction they had with each other in the car. She shows Erick the text messages Richard sent her and confesses that if Christopher asked her to choose between them, she would choose Chris. "He won't make you choose." he reasons with her. "You should text Richard. I saw how heartbroken he was that you walked into my room when he tried to talk to you."

Stella sighs, "I know but I just don't know what to say."

"Speak from your heart."

Stella unlocks her phone to text Richard. She assumes he is asleep but she knows it's the right thing to do and what she wants to do.

'I'm sorry. I should have told you I was sleeping in Erick's room. I just can't be alone tonight or with you. I love you Richard.'

"You should try to get some sleep." Erick comments rolling on his side, facing away from Stella.

"I left Pooh Bear in my room." she frowns.