Ryan took off his Ray Bans as he walked into the studio, Brent, Zach, Eddie and Drew were already waiting for him "Hey dude" Zach got up to greet Ryan "We thought you'd got lost"
"Traffic was manic" Ryan lied convincingly "Have any of you guys spoken to Kenny?"
Kenny was the band promoter, he was in charge of organising concerts for the band "Nope and I don't think Ally will be in today either" Eddie said from behind the mixing desk "Terry said she called in sick earlier apparently she has been throwing up all night"
"Shit so we've got no way of getting into touch with the label today then" Ryan frowned angrily, this was obviously another convincing lie as he knew very well why Ally couldn't make it into work, and a dodgy stomach had nothing to do with it.
××
Ally pulled a pair of Black Jeans and a red and a red a white shirt out of the top drawer in Ryan's bedroom. Yes she even had a small selection of clothes at Ryan's house which was lucky considering she didn't really want to go home in her bloody Pajamas.
Ally knew James was at work now so she decided it was a perfect time to go home. That way she could change her clothes and straighten herself out 'I'm so sorry baby please come home, love you J xxx'
Ally looked at the text, it was one of several she had been sent since he had thrown her out the night before. She took a deep breath before dialling his number "Ally, baby thank god" James seemed panicked as he spoke.
Ally moved out of the bedroom and headed into the lounge, she sat down on the cream leather couch that was perfectly lined up with a grey rug "Are you okay? Where are you?" Ally's eyes looked around the room at Ryan's belongings, his jacket was draped over the piano stool which stood behind a beautiful black grand piano. There were a few pictures of him and his family standing on a side dresser, her eyes were instantly drawn to the note book and scraps of paper Ryan had left on the coffee table "Just at a friends house" Ally lied convincingly, she had, had plenty of practise.
"You're not at work?" James questioned curiously.
"No I can't really..." Ally tried to explain the reason she wasn't at work was because of the marks he had left on her.
"Oh right of course I'm sorry, it was stupid of me to assume" James apologised "But you're okay though right? And your friend doesn't suspect...?"
"She thinks I was mugged" Shit why didn't I go to work I could have used that excuse Ally thought to herself.
"I see" James seemed remorseful for his actions, he didn't mean it to go that far...at least that's the excuse he usually used "When will you be home?"
I am already home Ally thought to herself a she found her eyes searching her surroundings again "Probably later" she frowned and waited for James to respond "I might call in at work later"
"Alright, well don't worry about dinner I will cook you something nice" James replied and Ally felt a twang of guilt, just a small one. As she brushed her face with her left hand she was reminded of the white gold wedding band that was sitting on her finger. The cold metal stung the cut on her lip.
"I'll see you soon" Ally needed to end the conversation, she felt a lump in her that as she pressed the call end button. Bringing her knees up and hugging them tightly she found herself sobbing into them. How could her whole life be such a mess?
××
"Holy Shit what happened?" Eddie quickly stood up as a shadow filled the doorway, Ryan's head turned quickly and he was surprised to see Ally standing behind him.
"Jesus" he too joined Eddie in rushing towards her "What the..."
"I'm fine really it's just a few scratches" Ally pulled her sweater up around her neck, she was concious of the bruise.
"How did you even?" Eddie eyed up the cuts on Ally's lip and above her eye and the purplish mark around her left eye.
"I was mugged" Ally frowned "On my way home last night, I was in the parking lot and it was dark I didn't see them coming"
Ally looked at Ryan who looked pained, he couldn't believe she had to lie for James again "How many times have we told you to park out front at night time?" Ryan frowned, he wanted to make the story more believable.
"I know I was stupid, it's my own fault" Ally frowned.
"Did they take anything?" Eddie paused for a moment.
"Just my wallet" Ally lied again, she had left her wallet in the bottom of her purse. I had my phone in my shirt pocket so they didn't know it was there.
"Well in future you park out front okay?" Eddie ordered and Ally half smiled. She nodded and set her purse down on an empty chair before getting to work on some paperwork.
××
The morning flew by, it was almost lunch time when a familiar voice echoed around the studio office "Hey baby" Lily's stomach twisted beyond recognition as James voice strached inside her head.
"Hi honey" Ally stood up and walked towards Ally.
"I came to see how if you were okay" James lied through his teeth much to Ryan's annoyance. He was sitting with his back to James "I wasn't happy about you being here after the mugging, so I thought I'd treat you to lunch" Ryan slammed his coffee mug down with such a force that it bellowed around the studio. He stood up and walked quickly past Ally, not even looking at her or James.
"Writers block" Ally lied and James nodded quickly "It's nothing personal"
But it was personal, very personal.
"So where do you fancy going for lunch?" James asked and Ally hesitated.
"Oh sorry honey I didn't think" James put his hand on Ally's arm and she flinched a little "Shall I get some take out?" He quickly moved his arm with a sense of regret.
"No, it's okay" Ally thought having lunch with James in the studio would have been too much for Ryan so she decided going out somewhere would have been a better option "I'll get my coat"
Not being able to see the expression in Ryan's face killed Ally as she walked out of the studio with James, she prayed Ryan understood what she was doing.
××
Ally sat at the table opposite James and looked at the menu "I was thinking maybe we could go away for a few days, you know like a second honeymoon" Ally's stomach sunk at James suggestion.
"Yeah that'd be nice" Ally smiled weakly "Where do you...?"
"Anywhere you want" James grinned "Ally I'm so sorry for what I did, I never meant to..."
"Not here James" Ally quickly cut him short as she looked around at all the people in the resturant "We'll talk when I get home"
"So you are coming home?" James seem happy.
"Yeah of course" Ally sighed "I always do don't I?"
××
As Ally and James walked back in the studio Ryan's blood boiled, he watched as James moved his hand to the small of Ally's back before kissing her gently on the lips. Ryan's teeth gritted together as his jaw clenched.
How could he have the privilege of kissing her in public, after all the things he does to her behind closed doors?
Ryan loved Ally and would never lay a hand on her in the way James did, and yet all the kisses he shares with her have to be hidden away like a dirty little secret. But then again what did he expect? Ally was married, granted she was married to a monster...but she was still married none the less. Their relationship went against all his beliefs and the beliefs he shared with his family...
