Second Place Chapter 24: Rumor Has It, an austin & ally fanfic

Second Place

Rumor Has It

Disclaimer: do not own, but you know that already – Thanks!

Pairing: Ross/Laura/Riker

Author's Note: "Quicksand" by Bridgit Mendler

SP*SP*SP

At Columbia Records, Laura had met with the label's CEO, who expressed his positive feelings about hopefully working with her on future projects. If today's recording session went well, he'd said, he would draw up a contract and have her and Neo in his office to strike a deal that suited everyone. Needless to say, Laura was excited, and hoped for the best.

Afterwards, the CEO introduced Laura (and Neo) to Tammy, the music producer who would be assisting Laura with her songs. Tammy reminded the brunette of Food Network's Anne Burrel, with her short and spiky blonde hair, perky personality, and almost-motherly affection.

Now, Laura stood in the sound booth, earphones on while she waited to start recording. The music had already been recorded onto a CD, so now they could focus on the lyrics.

"Alright, sweetie," Tammy spoke through her intercom and straight into Laura's earphones, "Are you ready for your first run-through?"

"Ready when you are," Laura replied, giving a thumbs-up signal.

As the first notes of the piano harmonized, a smile worked its way across her features as she remembered why she'd written this particular song. Stepping closer to the microphone, she parted her lips to begin singing.

Quicksand:

"Ooohhh-Ohhh
You stick to me like glue
Oh, it's true
I can't get you off my brain
When you came in the room
Didn't know what to do
Boy, I melted so fast
It was a sweet rapida
I sunk to the ground
You swept me off my feet and.."

Neo nodded along with the melody, a grin spreading across his face. Laura sounded amazing, but he had always known she would. She was destined for greatness.

From her point-of-view, Laura closed her eyes as she was swept away with the music and her song. When she'd written the lyrics a while ago, she had thought it explained all of her feelings for Ross, but she now knew it barely scratched the surface.

"I'm falling in deeper
Can't be saved
No way out
No way out of your quicksand
Sunk to my knees
I can't escape
No way out
No way out of your quicksand
But I can breathe underneath
(Oh, Ohh)
Take your love
Cover me
(Oh, Ohh)
Pull me down
Pull me down"

Tammy watched with awe-struck eyes as the petite young woman sang her heart out. Having worked for Columbia Records for two decades, she'd come across many artists that were talented, but Laura was something else. All Tammy could see were good things for the brunette.

"After just that time
When my eyes, got their fix
I lost my mind
Now I find that I-I-I'm craving it
I wanna see you again
The way you're looking and you're
so stuck in my head
I think I'm losing it
Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohh

I'm falling in deeper
Can't be saved
No way out
No way out of your quicksand
Sunk to my knees
I can't escape
No way out
No way out of your quicksand
But I can breathe underneath
(Oh, Ohh)
Take your love
Cover me
(Oh, Ohh)
Pull me down
Pull me down"

The CEO smiled, arms crossed, as he listened attentively to the song. If he hadn't been impressed before, he was now. He was just happy and relieved that no other company had snatched her up for their label, because he knew she was dating Riker Lynch. Technically, everyone and their mother knew about the couple, but that was beside the point.

The point was that Hollywood Records wouldn't be signing Laura Marano to their label, and, instead, would be signed to Columbia Records. He'd make sure of it.

"You are wonderful
You've taken all of my heart
Yeah, Yeah
It was all worth the fall
Don't let go
Ohhh-Ooohhh
Ohhhh
No way out
No way out
Ohh
No way out
No way out of your quicksand"

Opening her eyes as the song got closer and closer to finishing, Laura smiled hopefully when she saw Neo talking to the CEO in hushed tones. Her manager/agent seemed excited, and that raised her hopes even more. Being signed to a well-known record label would be a dream come true for her, and her career would skyrocket even more than it already had.

Tammy caught her eye, and the perky older woman grinned cheekily while giving Laura two thumbs-up. Obviously another good sign, if Laura ever saw one.

Almost squeaking with happiness, the brunette focused on the music. Later, she'd jump up and down like a spastic teenager, but not now. Later.

Ohhh
(Ooh, No)"

Finishing the song on a soft note, Laura smiled happily at how wonderful it felt to once again record something of her own. Sure, she loved making music with R5, especially Riker and Ross, but there was something more personal when it was just her. Both were thrilling, but different in good ways.

Before she could say anything, the CEO pressed a button that linked his voice directly to her. "Miss Marano, would you like to be signed to Columbia Records?" he inquired, smiling widely.

Not able to contain her sheer happiness, she jumped up and down where she stood. "Yes," she exclaimed, "Yes, I would love that! Oh my gosh, thank you so much!"

"Trust me, you've earned this. Now, come on out and we'll draw up a contract in my office."

SP*SP*SP

Meanwhile, at Hollywood Records, Ratliff was mindlessly surfing the Internet while Riker was still in his meeting with Deacon. Recording Counting Stars had been wonderful, and it showed how talented all of them were as musicians, so the brunette wasn't surprised that the music producer wanted to take them (R5) to the next level. Ratliff could see it now – their name in lights and people screaming their name wherever they went. It would be awesome, he knew.

I can't wait to tell mom and Kelly, he thought, almost giddy at the prospect of revealing such wonderful news to the two most important women in his life. Sure, Rydel and Laura were important too, but in different ways. Besides, they already know what's happening. Repeating the news to them wouldn't be as fun. He loved how excited and happy his mom and Kelly got. They'd jump up and down, clapping and squealing how proud they were of him and the band. It was always a source of entertainment for the drummer.

Now that I think about it, I wonder how Laura did at Columbia Records? Ratliff debated if he should text her or not, but decided against it. Knowing the petite brunette, she totally killed it and stole the heart of the CEO. There was no other outcome he could think of – the girl was talented. Who wouldn't fall in love with her, at least a little bit?

Clicking on the arrow button that would take him to the next featured article, Ratliff felt his brain shut down when he read the bold headline. He was also pretty sure his eyeballs had almost fallen out of their sockets and his lungs ceased to function for an alarming amount of time.

The headline was simply titled:

"Laura Marano: Cheating on long-time boyfriend, Riker Lynch? More inside!"

All Ratliff could wheeze out was, "Oh dear God…"

SP*SP*SP

Is Laura Marano cheating on R5 bassist Riker Lynch? This power couple has been together for years now – Has it finally occurred to the brunette beauty that one man isn't enough? That there are plenty of fish in the sea? Well, find out all there is to know about Laura and Riker's relationship here, at RumorHasIt Magazine!

Recently, pictures have been surfacing around the Internet of Laura Marano (19) – a known model and new Disney star – with someone other than Riker Lynch (21), the handsome bassist of his family band R5 and Warbler of the TV-sitcom Glee. And who would this mystery fella be, you ask? None other than Harry Styles (19), the front man of One Direction, not to mention British heartthrob!

While fans of Laura and Harry are thrilled at the prospect of these two confirmed close friends getting together, we have to ask what happened to another favorite couple, Riker and Laura (ship name: Riaura)? Last we've heard, they still live under the same roof, along with the rest of the Lynch family – But has anyone else noticed that the star couple has hardly been seen in the public eye together anymore?

RumorHasIt was informed by many sources that Riker and Laura have, in fact, gone on vacation together recently, to Canada. Was there trouble in paradise, perhaps? Stick around for the follow-up story as we watch and wait to see what happens!

The question remains, however: Is Laura cheating on Riker with Harry? Bringing back some highlights of this past year, there is a strong possibility of this being true. What is your opinion? Is Laura cheating on Riker? Post your response in the comments section!

For more information, please wait for the next issue or contact the offices of RumorHasIt Magazine through their email address or Twitter. For the highlights featured in this article, hit the Next button.

SP*SP*SP

"Oh dear God," Ratliff couldn't help repeating, eyes glued to the computer screen. Almost as if his hand was possessed, he dragged the arrow across the desktop until he clicked on the Next button to see the promised highlights of this past year. He honestly didn't want to see it, but he had to know what his friends had gotten themselves into, especially Laura. He knew she wouldn't cheat on Riker (and vice versa), but he needed to see the evidence piling up against them before bringing the article to anyone's attention. The last thing he wanted to do was cause a rift in the most pure and loving relationship he'd ever known.

Pictures instantly popped up on his screen, and Ratliff morbidly went through each and every one of them. He recognized the ones from the Charity Fashion Show, so quickly clicked passed those. The next few sets were generic and taken at different charity events that didn't prove that Laura was cheating on Riker, but the last few, the most recent, had his stomach dropping into his shoes. They were incriminating as hell.

It appeared as though Laura and Harry were standing outside of a coffee shop that vaguely looked familiar to Ratliff, but he couldn't put his finger on why. The picture could have been innocent if it weren't for the fact that Harry had his hands on her hips, like he was bringing her into an intimate hug that only lovers expressed. They were also smiling rather brightly, though Ratliff could see a glimmer of surprise in Laura's chocolate, doe-like orbs.

After examining the photo, the drummer could tell it had been taken from a distance, like across the street or something similar. Paparazzi. It was the only explanation. From there, more photos were taken as the duo was unknowingly followed.

Laura appeared to be showing Harry around LA. She took him to all sorts of popular hangouts and eating places, even some well-known arcades and the bowling alley. The last photo was of Harry assisting Laura into his car, and the duo driving away to an unknown destination.

It was that last photograph that had Ratliff freezing in his seat, dread pooling throughout his entire body. The photo, itself, hadn't been all that interesting, but it had been the time of day that caught his attention. The clothes Laura had been wearing were also a huge hint as to what he had figured out, too. After all, he'd seen her that day, hadn't he?

The day that Laura's meeting with Neo had gone on longer than expected? Well, now Ratliff knew the truth – She had lied.

But why?

SP*SP*SP

As soon as Laura walked out of the CEO's office with Neo beside her, her iPhone rang. In retrospect, she couldn't have timed it better – it would have been embarrassing if the device had gone off mid-meeting. But she was surprised to see Ratliff's picture on her caller ID. It wasn't that she disliked talking to the drummer – never that – it was just that he rarely called her, especially when he was with his band mates.

"Hey, Ratliff," she greeted, walking down the hallway that would lead her back to the sound booth and Tammy. She had a few more songs to record then she would be free to spread the good news of her record deal. Thrills of excitement still spiraled up and down her spine at the thought, and she clenched her jaw to keep her giddiness in-check. While she wanted to desperately tell Ratliff, she wanted to tell everyone at the same time.

"Uh, yeah, hey, Laura," the drummer replied, keeping his voice low. It was like he was making sure no one could overhear his conversation.

Laura was confused and a bit concerned. He never sounded like this whenever they talked. "What's up? You sound funny."

"Um, the thing is… Are you busy? This would be easier if we could talk face-to-face."

She stopped right in front of the door to the recording room. Neo gestured that he would wait for her inside, and she nodded in agreement. When her manager/agent disappeared behind the door, she continued her conversation more openly with her friend. "I'm about to record some songs for my demo. How about meeting up after?"

"Yeah, yeah, that works," Ratliff answered. "Just call me as soon as you finish. Alright?"

"Sure… Okay. I'll talk to you soon, then."

"Cool. Later, Laura."

Giving her own salutation, Laura hung up the phone. Her thoughts were buzzing in confusion. It wasn't anything new if she hung out with Ratliff one-on-one but it was more likely that she'd hang out with Ross, if she wasn't with Riker.

Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing, she thought. Maybe Ratliff was planning some sort of surprise and wanted her input? It could be anything, not necessarily anything bad. Well, I'll just have to wait and see.

Putting the matter into the back of her mind, the brunette entered the recording room with a smile. Neo and Tammy immediately turned around, and Laura could tell the former had given the latter the good news – that she would be Columbia Records' new music artist.

Tammy squealed in happiness. Jumping up from her seat, she wrapped her arms tightly around the smaller female and crushed her close. "Ooh, Neo told me the good news! We're gonna get to work together practically all day, every day."

Laura eagerly returned the hug. "I know," she exclaimed, letting her earlier happiness take over. "This is gonna be so awesome! I can't wait."

Neo chuckled, his sapphire eyes sparkling with amusement as he watched the two. After another few minutes, he cleared his throat to break up their 'fan-girling'. "I hate to ruin the moment," he said, "but Laura, you still have a few songs to record today. Remember?"

"Right. Sorry, Neo," she replied, grinning, "I'll get back to work right now." With that, she scrambled into the sound booth and put the headphones on. "I'm ready for the next song, Tammy."

Tammy retook her seat. "You got it, girl." Then, with a few adjustments to the soundboard, the music started. "So, what are you titling this one as?"

"So In Love With Two."

SP*SP*SP

As promised, Laura called Ratliff when she finished recording. "Hey, Ratliff, it's me. Where did you want to meet up?"

"Ah, hey, Laura," the drummer replied, sounding more like himself. "How about we hang out at my house? I don't want anyone overhearing what I'm about to tell you. That okay?"

"Sounds cool," she said. Ending the call, she turned her attention to Neo, who had just finished his own conversation on his phone. Laura raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

Neo smiled. "It was just the International modeling agency. Your trip to Italy is going to happen sooner than expected, which is a good thing. It was actually scheduled to take place before Christmas, but I got them to reconsider."

"That's amazing, Neo," she squealed. "Now I won't miss the holidays with everyone. You are seriously the best agent, ever!" To add emphasis, she threw her arms around the older man and hugged him tightly. "I'm so excited to go to Italy. When do I leave for the photo-shoot?"

His smile dimmed at the question, but he tried to keep it from completely leaving his expression. "Unfortunately, they want you down there in the beginning of August. You're going to end up missing Rydel's birthday…"

"Oh no," Laura moaned out, crestfallen. Her doe-like orbs flashed, showing how upset the news made her. But then it brightened as she thought of something. "I have an idea, Neo… But I'm gonna need your help."

Neo smiled mischievously. "I'm all ears, Laura. What do you have in mind?"

SP*SP*SP

By the time Laura made it to Ratliff's house, she was still walking on Cloud 9. Her personal life may be crumbling in ways normal people wouldn't understand – or experience – but her career was taking off, and that was the main thing. It gave her something to focus on, especially when her thoughts tended to drift onto her upcoming date with Ross.

I don't know if what I'm feeling is dread or anticipation. She had done everything she could to move on from her relationship with Ross, and concentrate on Riker. But that proved difficult when she shared a house with both blondes. She had no choice but to see them every day of the week, which only reminded her of everything she'd been through.

And you broke things off with Ross for a good reason, Marano, her mind reprimanded her. Laura flinched at the truth behind the statement, but didn't falter in her step to the front door. Who knew who was currently watching her? What happened to him deserving a girl whom he didn't have to sneak around to see? You should have stuck to the plan! You should have lied when you had the chance, not encourage him.

Sighing inwardly, she shook her head. Was it selfish that she wanted Ross all to herself, especially when she had Riker? Incredibly so. Did she regret how she felt? Somewhat. Was she doing the right thing? Hell no.

Despite all of that, however, she wouldn't change a thing. So what if she was in love with two guys? Love was a limitless emotion that should be shared with everyone and everything. Yes, it wasn't conventional for a woman to be in love with two men, but it worked for Laura (somewhat). She just had to figure out a way to balance Riker and Ross, without the former finding out about the affair. She could do that. Right?

Not even if I was the best con-artist in the world. Mentally groaning, the petite brunette decided to put the issue in the back of her mind, and focus on the present situation: Figuring out what Ratliff needed to talk to her so urgently about, and assist him in whatever way she could. This was just the type of distraction she needed (aside from work).

Knocking lightly but firmly on the door, Laura waited patiently. She didn't have to wait long before the sound of footsteps was heard, then the chain slipping out of the lock, and Ratliff was standing in front of her. She smiled. "Hey, Ratliff."

"Hey, Laura," he replied, smiling. Stepping aside, he held the door open and gestured for her to enter. "Come in, come in. Welcome to my humble abode."

She rolled her eyes, but followed the pathway that led into the living room. Placing her purse onto the couch, she turned to stare at her friend curiously. "So, what's up? You sounded weird on the phone earlier."

Ratliff hesitated, then thought better of hiding what he'd found earlier any longer. "Could you answer something for me first?" he asked instead. "It's important."

"Sure. Ask me anything."

He swallowed, gaze darting anywhere but at the smaller brunette. "Okay," he sighed, "Why did you lie?" The question came out barely a whisper but the house was so quiet it was like he was talking at a normal volume.

Laura paled, frantically wondering how much the drummer knew. Did he know about her secret affair with Ross? For how long? How did he find out? Was it something she unknowingly said – Was it something Ross said? Did he already talk to Riker about it?

Calm down! If Ratliff had said anything to Riker, you would've heard about it by now, her mind rationalized. Heck, maybe he's talking about something completely different? But… What else have I lied about? Drawing a blank, she felt the dread building and choking her. God, what have I gotten myself into?

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ratliff," she slowly said, trying desperately to keep a calm tone. So far it was working, and she wished she could use her acting skills for this moment, but they seemed to have deserted her. All she could do was play ignorant. Ignorance was bliss, right?

Not bothering to give a verbal response, he grabbed his laptop from the living room table. "I think it would be best to show you," he muttered under his breath. With quick key strokes he found the website he was looking for. "Sit down. You're gonna need it, I think."

Laura sat next to the drummer, now more confused than ever. What could he possibly have on his laptop, let alone the Internet, that had anything to do with her? Pictures of her and Ross weren't new – Raura fans were always taking photos of them when they spent time together outside of the house, and the paparazzi didn't find them all that interesting anymore – so she wondered what could be so important that it rattled Ratliff's nerves this badly.

"What's going on? You're starting to freak me out," she said.

Ratliff scoffed, "Trust me – you aren't the only one who's freaked out right now." Handing the other brunette the laptop, he gestured with his hand to the screen. "Just check out this magazine article I found earlier today, and the pictures at the bottom."

Doe-like eyes quickly scanned through the text, brows furrowing deeper and deeper the more she read. By the end, while scrolling through the highlights, the color leeched from her facial features completely.

"Oh, my God," she breathed out, horrified. "How did this happen?"

"Why did you lie?" Ratliff countered. It was obvious he wanted answers, and Laura looked up at him in distress. His features immediately softened. "Laura, you know you can tell me anything, right? Riker isn't just my friend – I'm yours, too. I just want to know what's going on."

With shaking hands, she closed the laptop and set it aside as she prepared to explain herself. "I didn't want to lie," she started, tears pricking her eyes from her pent-up emotions.

Upon seeing this, the drummer laid a consoling hand on her arm. "Then why did you?" he asked.

"You saw how Riker reacted to finding out I was good friends with Harry," she said, "He was upset and jealous. Insecure. I didn't want him to doubt my feelings for him – I love him, Ratliff, and I don't want him to ever question that." She paused for a second, letting the words sink in. "And then I did the Austin & Ally movie with Ross. Riker may not have said anything, but it was clear he sometimes got jealous. I mean, he wouldn't even come to the set when they had the kissing scenes scheduled!" Lowering her voice to a whisper, she added, "I just didn't want him to get upset about me hanging out with Harry the other day. We've gotten so much closer since our trip to Canada. I didn't think it was possible, but it is."

Something in Ratliff's chest warmed as he listened to Laura talk about Riker and how she felt about him. God, he had never met a couple more perfect than his two friends – Riker and Laura had something special; a once-in-a-lifetime-type of thing. It always left Ratliff in awe when he saw them together. His relationship with Kelly paled in comparison, though he would never actually say that to her face.

Pulling the petite brunette into his arms, he hugged her comfortingly. "The magazine article isn't going to stay hidden forever, you know," he quietly said. "You should head home and tell Riker everything you told me. I'm sure he'll understand – it's Riker, and he loves you."

Laura buried her face against his chest, soaking up what comfort she could. "He's going to be so mad at me," she half-whispered, half-whimpered. "He'll think I'm a horrible girlfriend and break up with me."

He snorted. "I highly doubt he'll break up with you. I mean, sure, he'll be upset you lied, but you just have to explain how you were just protecting him." Pausing for a second, he chuckled. "Misguided protection, but still. He's a big boy, Laura. Everything will be fine. Trust me."

"Thanks, Ratliff." Breaking the hug, she smiled uncertainly at him. "You know, I'm glad I talked to you about this first, and not anyone else. You have a way of turning a bad situation into a better one, or, at least, into one that isn't so tense."

"You're very welcome. You can always come to me when you have something you need to get off your chest. I promise I won't tell anyone your deepest, darkest secrets." At the last, he grinned in that energetic way only he could pull off.

It was contagious, and Laura found herself returning his grin with a bright one of her own. A small laugh even escaped her throat.

But her mood darkened as she remembered exactly what her deepest, darkest secret was: Her relationship with Ross. And it wasn't like she could admit to Ratliff anything about it; how she felt and how Ross made her feel. No, that was one secret she would be taking to her grave.

SP*SP*SP

"You lied to me," were the first words that greeted Laura as she stepped through the front door.

Not bothering to look at the speaker, the petite brunette closed the door softly behind her and started slipping her sandals off. That done, she no longer had any excuses to not look at the one person in the world she didn't wish to hurt, ever.

Her doe-like orbs connected with his chocolate eyes. Heart squeezing in her chest at the hurt she could see within them, leaving her almost breathless, she whispered, "Riker…"

"You lied to me, Laura," he repeated, letting his emotions start to seep into his voice. He held up his blue iPhone, showing her a smaller version of the article she'd read at Ratliff's house. "You lied about your meeting with Neo. You weren't with him – You were with Harry." Why? His expression seemed to ask. Why would you lie to me about this?

She took a step forward, one hand rising in an unconscious gesture of pleading. "Listen," she quickly spoke, keeping her voice down before they started attracting attention from the rest of the house's occupants, "It's not what you think, Riker. I'm not cheating on you with Harry. He's just a friend, I swear."

Riker released a frustrated noise. His stance was becoming more defensive than it had been, and it worried Laura that she may have unknowingly said the wrong thing. "I wasn't worried about the damned gossip rumors of you cheating on me," he fairly exclaimed, one step away from completely raising his voice. "I was mostly upset about you lying, but since you've brought it up – Have you been unfaithful, too?"

God, that expression of utter heartbreak on his face was immobilizing. The petite brunette couldn't breathe for several moments as her mind etched that image into her psyche. She'd never forget it or the sheer pain she felt at causing it.

What I wouldn't give to tell him everything – Just let it all out, once and for all.

"Laura? Are you even listening to me anymore?"

Black spots were starting to dance at the edges of her vision. Her chest felt tight, tight, tight. She couldn't breathe, couldn't draw oxygen into her lungs. Was this what it felt like to suffocate? To drown?

"Is it true, then? Did-Did you cheat on me?"

Ratliff was wrong – He hates me. Riker hates me. God, why was it suddenly so hot? It was stifling. She felt like she was cooking from the inside, out. And what was the deal with the air? She couldn't seem to suck in just one bit of it.

"Hey, what's wrong? You suddenly look really pale…"

All noise was starting to sound like it was getting further and further away, like she was standing at the wrong end to a tunnel. She couldn't focus on anything either. It was like everything had frozen, and only white noise existed. But really, could that even be considered a noise, an actual sound? It was nothing but static in her ears.

"Laura?" Worried now. "Babe? Hey, talk to me, babe." A light touch on her shoulders. "What's going on? Laura?"

Then, blessed blackness. Complete darkness engulfed her, embracing her like a blanket. Peace. No pain, just quiet. An almost aching quiet.

"LAURA!"

Until*Next*Time

Honestly, I didn't think I'd end this chapter that way, but eh – What can you do? Review, please! ;)

~babydoll92

*Mama Teru: First off, I took your words to heart and reread your review multiple times to make sure I understood everything you said. Thank you for taking the time to leave that message for me; it took me longer to come up with a proper response than writing this chapter, truth be told. Secondly, I'm not using 'blonde/blond' wrong - it is simply a different, not as common use of the word/description. Try asking Google next time (: On another note, this story is rated M, which means there are adult situations, which is exactly what my story has. As I said in chapter one (in the Author's Note): don't like, don't read or review. Also, I find the description of 'lanky bastard' offensive in its own way, but I couldn't figure out if you meant it or not, so I'm not considering it a big deal. Finally, if you find my story so 'toxic' and offensive, please stop reading and hit the 'back' button - it's there for a reason. Besides, it doesn't appear as though you went any further than chapter 2, so you don't know everything about my story, which is quite sad. However, as a fanfiction writer, I can't please everyone. Again, thank you for taking the time to review. I really appreciate it (: