'Hey Frick!' Nick yelled as Brian walked in that evening. 'How was Ria?' 'She's fine. And she's picked her dress. With my help of course.' He struck a dramatic pose as he said the last words. 'And while I was there, I thought of a new tune. Take a listen'. he said getting his dictaphone out. Noticing it was at the end of the tape, he rewound it. 'I must have left it running.' he thought. He pressed play to check where it was on the tape, and a male voice started speaking.
'- the plan. Itz going fine. She doesn't suspect a thing......I'll be with you about 2/3 weeks after the wedding-'
He stopped it and glanced up at Nick. Then he paled as a thought hit him. 'It must be Jason. If I left it running, it was in the kitchen, so the 'she' must be Ria.' he said. He wound it back until he found the start of the conversation. 'Should we be listening?' Nick asked. 'If Jason's fooling her around, she deserves to know before she marries him.' Brian replied firmly.
By the end of the conversation, they knew enough to guess the rest. Apparently the person on the other end was Sara, and Jason was going out with her as well. The worse part was, that after the wedding, they planned to kill Ria, and collect her life insurance, as well as inheritance money from her dead parents which she would be entitled to after she married or turned 25. This he had convinced her to give him in her will.
'We have to tell her' Brian said standing up. Nick nodded. 'But how? She'll never believe us, even if we have no reson to make it up.' 'Then we'll play her the tape. Itz all the proof we need.' Nick nodded again in agreement as Brian picked up the phone and dialed Ria's number.
******
'I don't believe it' she said an hour later, after having heard the tape and explanation. 'But it comes from his mouth' Brian protested. She gave him a small smile. 'No, I believe you. I just don't believe he could be planning to do all this to me.' she said. 'I guess now I know how he really feels about me.' As tears began to roll down her cheeks, Nick got up and gently held her to him until she stopped crying. When he released her, she wiped her eyes and sat back in her chair. 'So. What are you going to do?' Brian asked quietly. 'I'll think of something.' she replied.
'Hey Rok, we'd better go.' Nick said standing up. 'You go. I'm staying. Jason's not around is he?' he checked. Ria laughed softly. 'He'd better not be.' she muttered to herself. 'No, he left a 1/2 hour before you came.' she told him.
When Nick had gone, Brian turned to her. 'Ria, I want you to hear this song.' he said. 'OK' she replied, nodding her head. 'What's it about?' 'One of my ex-girlfriend's.' he told her. 'D'you have a guitar?' 'Yup' she led him into the sitting room and produced a guitar for him. Then he sat down and began to play 'That's What She Said.'
When he finished, he looked up at Ria. She was smiling, but had tears in her eyes. 'Itz beautiful' she whisphered. Then he got up and sat next to her, holding her in his arms.
******
'Ria, darling, where on earth are you?' Jason's mother, her mother-in-law to be, asked when Ria phoned an hour before she was due to be at the church. 'Dorethy, I'm fine, honestly. But I won't be coming to the church with you. Don't worry. I've got another dress, and I'll be there in time.' 'But where are you?' 'I've got to go. My money's running-' Ria hung up Brian's mobile phone half way thru her sentence. 'Thanx' she said, handing it back to him. He and the other 4 guys were sitting with her in their hotel room as she put her plan into action. 'Did it work?' Nick asked. 'Well, she's reassured, but still doesn't know where I am. So yes it worked. Now we wait, and then go to the church.'
An hour later, the congregation was sitting waiting, and Jason was becoming impatient and angrey. 'She'll be here' his mother said soothingly, patting his arm. He shrugged her hand off and looked around for Ria. At that point there was a commotion at the back of the hall, and Ria walked in, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Jason stood up and began to approach her. 'Ria! What are you playing at?' he yelled angrily. She ignored him and stopped a few feet in front of him.Looking him straight in the eyes, she spoke loudly so all could hear.
'The wedding is off' she took off the ring anddropped it at Jason's feet. 'There is no explanation from me. Jason can explain it all if he so wishes.' She paused and was shocked to see the hatred in Jason's eyes. Tearing her gaze away, she spun on her heel and walked out to where the others were waiting without a backward glance.
'Now where?' Kevin asked from the drivers seat. 'To my house soIi can pick up my stuff and car.'she said. She sighed. Jason no longer posed a threat as he wouldn't gain anything if he did kill her. When they reached her house, she leaped out along with Brian and Nick who helped her shove her stuff into suitcases and then into her car. 'Brian, will you travel with me? I need to do something and I need your help.' she said. He nodded and got into the passenger seat, telling Nick he'd meet them back at their joint house. As Ria drove, Brian asked where they were going. 'To my lawyer's to change my will.' she answered.
10 mins later they pulled up outside his office and went straight up to see him. He asked for the corrections she wanted made. 'No money is to go to Jason Poller, or his family. Instead it will go to Brian- what's your last name?' she asked, turning to him. H sat up straight, shocked. 'You're leaving it to me? But-' She cut him off. 'You'll put it to better use. I trust you with it.' she said softly. he nodded and then leant forward to the lawyer. 'My name is Brian Littrell....' and he proceeded to give him all the necesary details.
******
On the drive back to the house, Ria sat in silence and pretty soon brian picked up on this. 'What's wrong? he asked. 'Huh?' 'You're too quiet. What's wrong?' She sighed. 'Well now I've walked out on Jason, I kinda have no where to stay. she explained. 'Of course, I hadn't thought this far ahead.' Brian thought for a moment, and then reached into his pocket. 'Here' he said, holding up a set of keys. 'Stay in my house. I'll be on tour tomorrow for a month or so, so it'll be empty.' She glanced at him. 'I couldn't' she said. 'So you'd rather be homeless?' he asked. With a grin, she looked at him. 'When you put it like that..'
Following his directions, she drove to his house, and he helped her move her stuff in. After showing her around, they both sat down in the sitting room. 'So, you like it?' he asked. She smiled at him. 'I love it. I owe you Brian.' she said. 'My parents are in town too, so I'll tell them to call. That way you can talk to someone. I mean, I'll call too, but you can talk face to face.' he told her. 'Thanx Brian. It means alot to know you care.' she said. 'Oh, and I know you, uh, never got married, but you can still have your pressies.' he said with a grin. He handed her a package wrapped in brown paper. She tore it off and revealed 3 BSB albums, the 2 British ones, and the US one. She laughed. 'Thanx, and hey, who knows, I may be an obsessed fan before long, and them I'll be the one chasing you down the street. And I do alot of running, so you might wanna start training.' she told him. He laughed too. 'My song's on one of them, but you can figure out which one that is.' Then he stood up. 'Well, I gotta go. The plane leaves early tomorrow.' She too stood up and they walked to the door. 'I'll call you when I get the chance, OK? And I'll visit as soon as we get back.' he said. She hugged him. 'Say goodbye to the others for me' she said softly. 'Will do' he replied. Then he kissed her on the cheek, turned and left, waving once before she closed the door.
Chapter 3
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