Gray got off the plane four hours later still feeling like shit. Yes, she should get used to the fact that pictures of were going to be posted of her, but a picture like their ABC party could kill her career. All she could do know was pray no one recognized her under all that heavy makeup. She grabbed her bags and headed of the airplane down the terminal. Her phone started buzzing her pocket.

"Hello," she answered already knowing it was Liam.

"Love, I'm so sorry." He sounded completely distraught. Gray sighed.

"Not your fault, you didn't post it," she explained.

"About that. Remember Perrie said she would send you a picture? That was it. She had your email address wrong." Gray smacked her forehead. She completely forgot that Perrie was snapping photos of them at the party.

"It she still there," Gray asked.

"Yes."

"Gray, i don't know if that's a good idea.." Liam started.

"Liam, put her on the phone NOW," she shouted a bit too loud. People around her on the walkway stared. She heard mumbling over the phone before Perrie's sad voice came over the line.

"I'm so sorry Gray," she whispered.

"It's fine Perry, it was bound to happen sooner or later, I just wished it could of been a different picture," Gray rambled on.

"I owe you Gray Goose, ok," Perrie said, her voice sounding a bit more relieved, "I'll give the phone back to Liam.."

"No," Gray stopped her, "I have to run anyway. Just tell him I'll call him later ok?" She needed space to find her thoughts about this. Liam's concerned voice would just drive her more crazy.

"Ok, bye Gray." She ended the call and shoved it back in her pocket. Her mind was on overload. Between Liam confessing his love to her and the picture on Pioneer, she just wanted to go home. Her fingers abstintmindly played with Liam's bracelet when her phone buzzed again.

LIAM: Are you ignoring me again? Do I have to call your mum?

Gray rolled her eyes. Talk about a drama king.

ME: Settle jailbait. I'm tired and want to go home. I'll talk to you later.

Gray put her phone back and walked to baggage claim to find Mila. She was silently thanking herself that she asked Mila to pick her up and not her mom. The last thing she needed was to hear her mom's opinion about this all. Mila saw Gray and started waving like crazy, Gray walked over to her.

"Girl it's good to see you," Mila yelled giving her a hug. Gray smiled and hugged back.

"I see you figured out my side project," Gray joked.

"Uh yea. You didn't tell me you were dating a famous boy bander," Mila said, lowering her voice so the random people around them didn't hear.

"Yeah, must have slipped my mind. Can we get out of here?" Gray was starting to get paranoid about all these people. She needed to figure out her job first before her name came out in public. Mila and her walked out and headed to the car.

"I'm sure it will be fine Gray," Mila said trying to make her feel better. She knew Gray was freaking out inside about the picture the Pioneer had posted.

"I hope so but I'm not counting my breath. You saw the picture M. I wasn't sober one bit." Mila and Gray worked for a very prestige elementary school. They had always threatened at their meetings that social medias issues were not tolerated. One of their first grade teachers was fired last year for swearing on her Twitter. That was a simple infraction, what could they do to Gray for being drunk and very unclothed? She shuddered at the thought.

"Let's go. You want to stop at a bar on the way back," Mila's eyes let up when she asked.

"Yes, drinks are needed!"

---

They found some small bar off the highway and went in. Mila went for beer while Gray went stronger, a nice Long Island Ice Tea.

"Take it slow girl. I don't need your boy or mom yelling at me," Mila warned. Gray rolled her eyes and took another long drink.

"So, you need to give me some details right now," Mila said. She had been wanting the whole car ride for some answers.

"What do you want to know?"

"How did this happen? Is her a good kisser? Did you sleep with him?" Gray laughed, Mila always knew how to get to the point.

"At his concert when I brought all the girls. Apparently he saw me the entire night and needed to meet me. I don't remember him looking at me twice. Kissing is good," Gray responded.

"And.."

"That may of happened." Gray blushed.

"Oh my god, you little slut! I knew you did," Mila laughed throwing a pretzel at her. At the same time Gray's phone began to buzz.

"He wastes no time. Make it fast, I need to hear all about this," Mila said when she say it was Liam calling.

"Hey," Gray answered.

"Hello love, did you make it home ok?"

"Almost, Mila and I pitstopped at a bar." Gray took another sip of her drink.

"Love.." he warned. Gray rolled her eyes.

"Jailbait, it's one drink. Had to drink one to get rid of my sexual frustrations," she joked. Mila's eyes grew huge.

"You know I could of fixed that for you here."

"I know, but duty calls for me." Mila's leg was shaking next to her, it was killing her having to wait for answers to all of this.

"Babe. I gotta go. I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"I love you Gray," he said. Gray's face blushed.

"Back at you jailbait," she whispered and hung up the phone.

"Start talking now," Mila threatened. Gray took another her drink and started letting it all hang out.

----

"Wait wait! You seduced HIM?!" Mila couldn't stop laughing.

"I guess you could say so. I don't remember much of it sadly."

"Gray, when did you grow a set? This isn't normal Gray behavior," Mila asked. She had known Gray for 3 years now and never seen this side of her. Gray was typically the quiet one. She never made huge moves like this. Quiet Gray had left the building.

"It's been weird, I won't even lie Mila. I still have a hard time believing all of this. You know me, I'm average Gray. But I guess he sees something in me," Gray explained.

"Gray, you have to stop calling yourself that. Average is a pants size, not a person. Don't kid yourself, you see something in him too." Gray blushed yet again. She knew what she saw in Liam. He was kind, strong, and not to mention attractive.

"I know I know. I do see a lot in him. Only wish he wasn't so protective of me. He spends more time worrying about me then he does about falling off the stage."

"Gray, there is nothing wrong with that," Mila said. Gray huffed. She felt like she should be agreeing Mila, but it just didn't feel right. Was there a chance he could be too protective?

"Slam your drink. I'm ready for bed."

----

Gray woke up Monday morning more nervous then ever. Over the past day, the tabloids were able to get her name. Now everyone knew she was the girl in the picture. Liam didn't seem to mind, he was somewhat relieved that they didn't have to hide anymore. Gray didn't mind that part either, but until she figured out her job, she couldn't be happy.
She quickly threw on her work clothes, grabbed some coffee and headed out the door. It was now of never. She got to work quickly and headed in.

"Gray," a voice stopped her at the doorway. She turned around to see Vice Principal Galloway staring at her.

"Yes," she responded. Her hands already began to sweat.

"Can you come with me? Principal Mathers needs to see you." Gray followed her down to the office of their principal. Thankfully the building was still empty so no one could see her doing the walk of shame. They walked in and sat down.

"Hello Gray. I think you know why you are here right now," the principal barked at her.

"Sir." Less words the better Gray, that's the way to do it.

"Can you explain this to me?" He put the picture of her and Liam down in front of her. There it was to all it's glory.

"That is me and my boyfriend." She wiped her hands on her pants trying to stop the sweating.

"Miss Cameron, you know that Weatherton School prides itself in having the upmost respect for ourselves and our students. Looking at this picture, I think you lost you own self respect. As much as you seem to be enjoying yourself here, this is not Weatherton material."
Gray knew what was coming.

"As much at it would be nice to keep you, just for the publicity and I am sure you could get your 'boyfriend' here for a concert, I cannot." Gray sucked in a breath. She couldn't believe the audacity of him right now. A concert?! She was Liam's girlfriend, not God.

"Mr. Mathers, I do believe you have said enough at this point. Are you telling me I am no longer employed here," she asked.

"You are correct Gray. Please collect your things and drop your badge off at the office. I'm so sorry for this," Mathers said. Gray rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Please, you are just sad you can't have your precious concert here, don't pretend like you care about me," she ripped her badge off and threw it on his desk," there you go buddy. At let's get one thing straight. That is my boyfriend, who I am in love with, not some stripper or random guy I met. And I didn't post this picture, so don't you dare treat me like I did!" Gray stormed out of the office and down the hall to her classroom.

"Hey girl.. oh god," Mila stopped as soon as she saw the tears down Gray's face.

"I'm.. i'm out," Gray cried. Mila embraced her in a hug, letting Gray cry on her shoulder.

"What happened," she asked.

"Mathers made up some stupid speech, about how he wished I could stay and have Liam and the guys here, blah blah. I ranted out some crap and walked out. I'm fired Mila." Her lip quivered again.

"Gray, it will be okay, the school year is practically over anyways," Mila said back, trying to confront. Gray shook her head yes and broke away from the hug.

"I gotta get my things together before he comes looking for me." Mila helped her grab it all and took it to her car.

"Call me, and call Liam. Don't hide. I love you," Mila said. Gray nodded again and drove away. What the hell was she going to do with her life now?

----

Gray spent the rest of the day hiding in her room. Should she have? No, she was a grown adult but right now she just wanted to comfort of her bed and a marathon of chick flicks. She sat in bed watching Bridget Jones Diary went Liam called her.

"Hello jailbait," she deadpanned. Gray really wasn't in the mood to have a conversation.
"How was work," he replied back all cheery.

"Nonexistent."

"Eh?" Gray sighed, better to tell him now then to try to hide it.

"I got fired Liam. I got fired because of the stupid picture Perrie thought she would send me, instead of just showing me at the hotel. I got fired for drinking way too much in way to little with you, for some stupid reason." She was on a roll.

"Love, I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry isn't going to get me my job back Liam. That was my job! My career! What am I supposed to do now? Every person with a computer and a common sense knows who I am! No school in this district is going to hire me," she sobbed out.

"Love, I get it. It effects my job too." Gray rolled her eyes.

"Liam, how in the world does this effect you badly? You are a rockstar where it's okay to be a sex symbol. You aren't teaching kids. It's okay for you to have pictures being all hot and bothered." The line was quiet for a minute.

"I can tell you are upset.." he started before Gray cut him off.

"Upset?! You think Liam, are you that freaking dense right now! I have NOTHING to do with my life now, I am JOBLESS woman who's boyfriend is miles away and I live with my mother. Clearly you don't get it right now," she yelled.

"Gray, I'm going to hang up now and talk to you tomorrow," he said sternly founding himself just as mad as her.

"Oh look who is running away now! What Liam, as soon as I go crazy and express my negative feelings you run?"

"No Gray, clearly that's not it and you don't get it. To be honest, you are being a bitch right now." Gray sharply drew in a breath. Liam never spoke like that.

"Yeah Liam, and you a fucking ass. Go on and run off with your buddies and have a blast working, while I sit here." Tears were brimming at her eyes. She knew she was being a bit emotional, but did he really have to call her a bitch.

"I love you Gray. Bye." Liam hung up before she had a chance to respond. Gray's tears overflowing from her eyes and she turned her phone off. Her life had gone to shit and right now she just wanted to cry herself to sleep and forget everything.

Notes

Title creds: "Stay" Safety Suit