How Was I Supposed To Know?

Alanna

A week after Melody Morgan Baker was born I got a call from an unknown number while I was walking Brian's dog, Pinkly. The sun was hot and blazing, making it hard to read the screen on my phone. I answered it anyway as Pinkly sniffed around the bushes of a nearby house.

"Hello?"

Nothing. Silence. I didn't know whether to be scared or annoyed. Nobody had prank called me since high school. I was gonna ask Layla what the hell she was doing pranking me when she had a baby to take care of but I heard someone breath heavily then seemingly laugh in my ear. It was a sound I hadn't heard in about eight months.

"You may have gotten away last time but I won't forgive your bitch of a friend for what she did."

It shouldn't have scared me to hear the voice of Will again but it did. I thought we were done with him. I thought I could start my life over with Brian by my side and a new family surrounding me. I thought the nightmare was finally over.

"I don't know how you found me but I'm sick of this shit. This needs to end Will." I don't know how my voice didn't crack in any way. How could a day that was so bright and promising be so dark?

He laughed darkly, giving me chills. "I agree completely. Come to the Spearmint Rhino strip club in downtown L.A. at 11 and we can end all of this."

With that he hung up, I had a horrible feeling in my stomach and I wanted to tell Brian but I didn't want him to get sucked into the darkness. Yeah I could go on and on about how horrible our life was in Miami with Will but I never said how terrible and twisted it really was.

I never mentioned the drug deals I had to witness when Layla was entertaining the drug lords who often talked of buying us like we were slaves. I never once spoke of the long scar I had from Dimitri slicing the tender flesh of my side. It stretched from the side of my right breast to the middle of my waist.

Will had wanted several girls including me to perform sexual favors for the incoming crime bosses and I refused and this was my punishment. Dimitri had long lost my trust, but when he cut into me without even a slight hesitation I knew I could never even look at him again.

Dimitri was one of the ones I was close to in Miami, when my mom wanted to waste away on the silver pole, he was more than happy to introduce me to Layla. The sad truth is…. Dimitri was my boyfriend for many years. I loved him and he had constantly told me the same thing. He had become Will's lackey slowly. I remember he was nervous when Will wanted him to accompany him to a drug deal that would secure Will's position in Miami.

"I'll come back to you safe, Ally, I promise." He had said and kissed me.

Looking down at a nervous Pinkly, I shook off the memory and hurried back to Brian's house. It was already 2:30 and Brian would be home from the practice studio in two more hours. It would kill me to have to lie to him but I would have no choice.

I opened the door and unclasped Pinkly who went straight to her water bowl and lapped at it greedily. The home Brian had made for himself was opened to me in such a way it was hard to understand sometimes. He cared and loved me like no one ever had. It was like Layla's relationship with Zack, they loved each other so completely it was like they were meant to be.

Absently I traced the scar on my side while walking around Brian's living room. Pictures of him and his family, both by blood and band filled up the space on his end tables. It was easy to tell which were sober and which weren't. Brian's faces were more goofy when he was drunk.

My phone rang some pre-programmed hip hop song that I had assigned to Layla's phone.

I let it ring a bit before I answered, I heard the cry of a baby instantly. "Hello?"

"Oh my God, I need to come over for a bit with the baby is that ok?" Layla sounded incredibly tired.

I laughed and agreed, I figured I needed to spend some time with her for a bit and maybe it would be alright to tell her about tonight. I hung up with her and made my way into the kitchen. The fridge had countless bottles of beer and microwave food since neither of us really cooked. The guys often joked that we were the perfect stoner couple. I was grateful for these small distractions.

I didn't want to think about what could happen tonight. I didn't want to give into the thoughts of being hurt or killed. It was stupid to assume I would walk out unharmed. It was Will's game now. He wouldn't let us get away with getting him shot all those months ago.

Before I knew it, the doorbell rang, making Pinkly go crazy. I laughed softly and told her it was ok. I opened the door to see Layla carrying a car seat with Melody sleeping soundly. The tiny baby had a plush death bat blanket covering her, loosely.

Layla walked in, kissing my cheek and setting Melody down on the island in the kitchen. As soon as she placed the baby down she placed her finger on her lips to silence my greeting and went to the living room. Plopping her tired self down she let out the most content sigh I'd ever heard.

"I'm guessing its hard to have a baby?" I said quietly, sitting next to her and holding a pillow against my stomach. She gave me the finger but looked so happy doing it, I giggled.

"Lord knows I love her but she's already a handful. You should see Zack with her. She's barely a week old and he's so excited to teach her how to play the guitar one day."

I laughed with her but I couldn't let it reach my eyes. I had too much to hide from her. I should have known she'd see through my defense but I hoped she's be too tired to look closely.

"What's going on?" she wasted no time in staring me down. That was easily one of the worst parts about telling her things.

I didn't know what to say or do so I stood quiet for a moment. I heard her sharply gasp and stare at the pillow I was clutching.

"Holy shit you're pregnant! Brian got you pregnant!" she yelled and we both heard Melody yell too, poor thing was just scared.

"No, he didn't get me pregnant!" I couldn't help but shout. I should have known she'd think that.

"Oh my God it was Matt who got you pregnant then! How could you keep going back between the two?!" she screeched, getting up and getting her child and bringing her back to where we were sitting. She rocked the baby a little too roughly to really be calming her.

"WHAT? No! God, Layla! I'm not pregnant at all! You know I regret leading Matt on and I wouldn't do that to Brian! He's like my Zack!" I tried not to yell like I had earlier but I just couldn't stop some surprise from leaking out.

Layla calmed down some, rocking Melody much more softly. I'm sure Melody appreciated that.

"It's just I got a call from Will and he wants me to meet him later in downtown to settle whats been going on."

"Why are you going alone?! It was me who shot him, I should finish the job!" she was getting riled up again and I made a motion for her to calm down.

"You just had a baby and we both know he'll probably kill you! The only thing I can hope for is for Dimitri to have my back."

I knew instantly I hadn't worded that just right. She would have yelled again but the baby that had just fallen asleep stopped her.

"Alanna, you've been hoping he'd save you for years! And whenever you were hurt what did he do? Nothing! He's a piece of shit!" Layla hissed, holding Melody tighter in her blanket, stroking her tiny covered body. The annoyance in her eyes let me know I wasn't off the hook but I couldn't help but press my luck.

"He wasn't always…" I grumbled, picking up Pinkly and petting her as she settled into my lap. Her white fur was smooth from the bath Brian and I had given her earlier in the morning.

"I'm gonna have to tell the guys." she kept her eyes on the baby, needing all the reason to stay calm that she could get.

I bit my lip, "Don't."

Before she could argue I pointed at Melody to remind her to be quiet. "Please. I'm telling you because I have to but I can't have you telling Brian. You know how bad our world was, I don't want any of them to be part of that." Pinkly rubbed her nose against my hand, begging me to keep petting her.

The only thing making noise for awhile was the cries and chirps of birds and Layla softly humming a song I'd never heard of. I wished she would say something but at the same time I didn't want to get chewed out again. I just needed her to trust me.

"Ok… I wont tell them but if you don't come back before 1 am you bet your ass I'll tell them what's up, if you are ok then you better call me and let me know." her voice was hard and extremely maternal. Who would have thunk it?

"Yes, mom." I groaned, knowing it'd piss her off if just a little bit. Yeah, I definitely love pushing those buttons of hers. Although, I wouldn't push her too far. She had shot someone for less after all.

Layla stayed for a few more hours, Brian was home before we knew it and like I had hoped, she didn't say a word to him about my mission tonight.

All we did was watch Brian hold Melody for a bit, letting us know about all the goings on of the studio. There was the usual, Jimmy goofing around scaring people at the market when he made a beer run then laughing at their faces. Johnny slept half the time and Zack spoke of nothing but the baby. Matt, Brian said, was strangely quiet. Brian thinks it's because Matt's been thinking of getting in touch with his old girlfriend Valary but he couldn't be sure.

"Well, I should get this little girl to bed. She's had a long day and I figure you two want to be alone." Layla grabbed her bag and looked at Brian expectantly, I didn't understand what it was about though. Brian gave Melody a little kiss and gave her back to Layla gingerly.

Brian and I walked the girls out, with him swinging his strong arm around my waist, I had the strange sensation of what it would feel like to be domestic.

"I missed you, babe." he sighed, lowering his head to my neck and kissing me gently. I felt myself shiver, he always knew where to get me. When he brought his face back up to look at me, I kissed him right on those thin but oddly full lips of his. "I missed you too."

"I have something to ask you but I'm not sure how you'll take it." He smiled, his hands around my waist, arms nestling perfectly in my curves. We swayed a bit like we were dancing and I pushed the door closed with my hip. The golden glow of the setting sun made the chocolate in his eyes melt. God, he was so beautiful.

"Hmm, I'm listening." I nearly whispered, stretching up on my toes for another kiss. When we pulled apart he sighed, pressing his forehead to mine.

"Marry me." Brian seemed to freeze after speaking and I didn't blame him. I felt like I couldn't breathe. For some reason I didn't know if he was serious or not. I hadn't felt this unsure of myself in a long time.

I didn't know how to respond so I smiled and kissed him. He didn't pull away but I did feel his nervous impatience.

"I'm serious. Marry me." His eyes were burning and while he was still nervous he didn't sound as scared. My eyes searched his, he wasn't joking apparently. I wanted to answer but I was speechless. With the meeting later and Brian's sudden proposal… what was I supposed to do? The answer was simple.

"Ok. I will."

Brian was stock still and silent like he couldn't even register what I had said, it was like I hadn't spoken. I giggled, placing my hands on his stubbled cheeks, shaking him a little. "Bri? You still here, babe?" He just stared and I wondered if he had weirdly fainted or something.

"You said…"

"Yes. I said yes." I finished for him, kissing his lips once more and finally getting a response from him. He picked me up and hugged me so tight I felt like I would burst! He was so cute when he was so excited!

Laughing, I hugged back and buried my face in the crook of his neck. "You said yes!" Brian cheered happily, setting me down as Pinkly barked anxiously around our ankles. A billion butterflies were let loose in my stomach when I realized what that meant. Brian and I were kinda engaged now….like we were going to eventually get married.

The thought was a bit surreal. It was still hard to believe I had known him for over a year already, never in my wildest dream did I think I was going to marry him!….Well maybe I did dream that but I never thought it would happen.

"Babe, I would love to spend some time celebrating with you," I moaned in his neck after I'd kissed a line on the tender flesh, giving him goosebumps.

"But?" he groaned, picking me up in a swift movement and placing my legs around his hips, walking us over towards his plush couches. I felt how much he wanted me to stay, it even strained the material of his jeans and I wanted it just as badly but I had to stop Will from making a mess of my life. I needed to take a stand. I just needed a little help.

"But, I need to take care of something first then I'm yours all night." I purred, pressing my breasts against his chest, his fingers tracing the outline of the necklace he had given me. A purple guitar pick on a thin silver chain. I was fine with just a simple black string but Brian wouldn't hear it.

I pressed my body into him as much as possible without sending us onto the floor and onto Pinkly who was beginning to growl playfully. My lips crashed into his as I giggled, after a moment I reluctantly pulled away. His grip on my waist became stronger so I wouldn't be able to leave him. It was getting harder and harder to find the will to pull back but after a heated moment of lips and some playful tongue, he let me go.

"I love you." I whispered, pushing some of his hair back and letting my fingers run down his face, a tiny brush of heat tickled my fingers when they rested on his cheeks.

"Aw you're cute when you blush."

In answer his cheeks turned hotter, he ruefully brought our lips together causing me to grind on him a bit then signal him to put me down.

"I love you too." Brian kissed my forehead then sighed heavily from sexual frustration I assumed. "Ok go so you can come back and be mine for the rest of the night." he pointed his finger to the door sadly. Kissing him one last time I walked out the door seductively, satisfied to hear him groan and raced to my car, a cute little dark purple Mini Cooper.

Slamming the door, I pulled out my phone, flipping through the contacts until I found the one I needed. I pushed the glowing green call button and prayed she would answer my call.

"Hello?" the voice was a bit husky from lack of use but I was thankful she was using it at all.

"Aliyah, it's Alanna, look I know we've gotten out of touch for a while but I need your help and we both know you owe me." I rushed out, turning into the freeway to head downtown, ignoring the funny noise my car made because my seat belt wasn't on. After a moment I shoved the belt into the holder.

It was quiet, all I heard was a small sigh then she cleared her throat. "Yeah, you're right. What do you need?"

Glancing at the clock it was about 7:26 and I would be in traffic soon, getting downtown would take at least an hour.

"I need you to meet me downtown at a strip club called Spearmint Rhino. Will wants to meet and I can't have this go on anymore. We need to come up with a plan to end him or at least get out alive." I had caught up with traffic, fear tried to creep into my heart.

"I'll be there as soon as I can. I owe you." she hung up and I had to pray we could get away with what I had planned.