Protect You, Protect Me
Stronger
2 months later
The wind picked up as Gray continued to run. You could feel fall coming in. Gray smiled, autumn was her favorite time of the year. Usually it meant school, Halloween, and closer to Christmas. Over the past two months, life was better. She found an amazing job as an assistant editor in Chicago. It offered a homey office and a reason for Gray to finally move out of her mom’s house. It took her awhile to go along with the deal and leave her family, but Gloria’s continued stern effort helped. The girls would get older, besides with school starting she didn’t need to be there every day. Gray found a small apartment that fit her needs, and was super close to a park for her to run.
Mila and her also made up too. Gray realized she was in the wrong. Mila was just trying to help her, and she just had a funny way of showing it. After two bottles of wine, they talked, cried, and hugged it out. Life was good for Gray.
“Hello,” she answered her phone, stopping mid run.
“Chick. I have dates for us,” Mila yelled. Gray stood her for a minute. When did they ever talk about getting her to date, let alone double date?
“Are you sure you have the right number,” she joked.
“Don’t be coy. You have to come. Hear me out okay? Don’t hang up or yell at me.” Gray agreed. She walked off the path and went to stretch her muscles on a bench.
“It’s Curtis.” Gray stopped was she was doing and bit her lip. She wanted so badly to laugh, scream or yell at Mila, but she promised she wouldn’t.
“Gray? You still there?”
“Yup, just wanting to hear you out,” she laughed.
“Ass. We reconnected over the past couple of weeks, but his brother is in town. You have to come with me! Please!” Gray loved to hear Mila beg. It didn’t happen often.
“Fine, fine. Anything for you Mila.”
“You are the best!” Mila filled her in with the details before hanging up. For once, Gray was excited. A new first date, just want she needed for her new life.
----
Gray decided to go extra brave tonight and wear heels. Ever since her knee got injured it had been giving her trouble, but tonight was supposed to be fun. She wore her black boots, jeans and a very low cut red shirt. Fire could have been her theme for tonight. Mila picked her up at seven and they headed to meet Curtis and his brother.
“There he is,” Mila whispered, spotting him at the restaurant. Curtis sat in the booth to a very attractive younger version of him. Gray blushed; she didn’t realize he would be so cute.
“Hey boys,” she said as they walked up to the table.
“Hey Gray, Hi Mila. This is my baby brother Connor.” They both stood as they introduced themselves.
“Hello Gray,” he smiled at her. Gray returned the smile and blushed again; it could be a fun night.
----
“Seriously, I never knew I liked to dictate so much before,” Gray giggled. Connor and Gray hit it off immediately. They sat at the bar, downing beers like it was water and gave Curtis and Mila their space.
“Who likes to dictate? Other than a dictator!” Gray laughed at his stupid joke. She playfully grabbed his ear and leaned into him. Gray wasn’t sure if it was the liquor or herself doing it.
“I guess that means I like blood then.” Connor was a nurse at the Saint Vincent Hospital in Minneapolis.
“Guess you do.” She flirted back. Deep down in the back of her mind though, she kept telling herself that she was having fun, this was supposed to be fun, but her mind didn’t believe it.
“Hey you two, we are going to head out, you coming?” Mila asked when she and Curtis walked over. Gray secretly was ready to go home. It was a fun night, but she really wanted to stretch out on her bed.
“Actually I think I am going to head on out..”
“I’ll walk you,” Connor quickly said.
“Yeah, I live about 15 blocks from here, was going to cab it up.” No way was she walking that far on three inch heels and three drinks in her body.
“Well then, I guess we will share,” he smiled at her. An instant pit fell in her stomach. It didn’t feel right to her no matter what. He was supposed to go one way and she the same. First date only, she didn’t need any more hassle. Gray grabbed her coat and followed him.
“Call me tomorrow, I want details,” Mila whispered in her ear. Gray gave her a slight nod and kept walking. The cab ride to her house was quiet. She stared out the window, mostly trying to figure out the fastest exit plan away from him. Things were becoming too much.
The cab pulled up to the side of her building. Gray tried to exit before he stopped her, but that failed miserably.
“I’ll walk you,” he smiled. Gray’s hands shook. For experience, she knew that meant one thing. He was going to try and kiss her. She walked to the top of her stoop and stopped. There was no way he was coming in to her door.
“You not going any farther,” he asked. She shook her head no.
“Here is fine. Thank you for buying my drinks,” she said. Connor licked his lips making Gray want to groan. How much more unattractive could he get? Connor leaned it causing his lips to awkwardly land on hers. Alarms went off in Gray’s head. Everything about him kissing her felt wrong. The mustache on his lip made her feel like she was kissing a dead caterpillar. His lips weren’t like Liam's.
Liam.
Instantly memories of him came flowing back into her brain. His smile and wink, his face and his body. She remembered him at the diner that first name being all shy and cute to her. Another memory came of him picking her up and spinning her around on stage, she couldn’t even remember what city it was it, but she remembered it. They were alone that day, the other guys had gone back to their dressing room for food but Liam and Gray stayed. It was the first time they ever slow danced together. Liam pulled her close, pressing his cheek against her temple.
Flashback
“What are you doing,” she giggled in his arms. Liam’s body began to sway, taking hers with him.
“I’m dancing with my love,” he whispered. Goosebumps ran up and down her spine.
“I’m not a very good dancer,” she said back, into his chest. In all honesty, they were just swaying along, no music and major dance moves required.
“Wise men say, only fools rush in..” He started to sing in his low voice to her. Gray turned up and looked at him.
"But I can’t help falling in love with you,” He whispered, staring right into her eyes. Gray felt like she could of cried at that very moment. It was the most sweetest and sincere thing she had ever heard.
"I love you Liam,” she said back to him.
"What do you love about me," she asked while he continued to sway her around in circles.
"I love the wrinkles by your eyes when you smile. I love the way you are so dependent on coffee and sigh when you take the first drink. I love how good you are with your sisters. I love that you can ride on a tour bus with five smelly lads and still smile. I love that you love me." Liam dipped her, holding on to her tightly and kissed her. He bent her back up, still keeping his lips on his. Gray pulled his body in closer, not wanting to let go.
"How much do you love me," he asked putting his cheek back on her head.
"More then I will ever admit." Gray murmured, causing him to laugh.
"I think I know the feeling." Liam kept his eyes in hers are the spun around the stage. Gray closed her eyes and laid her head on his collar bone. He moved them smoothly along stage, picking back up with the words to his song.
"Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you..."
Gray snapped out of her memory and quickly pulled away from Connor.
"I'm sorry, I.. I have to go." Gray turned around and ran into the building, praying he didn't follow her. She made it to the staircase before the tears started. She couldn't understand it. Gray went weeks without thinking about him, but today it all had to come back. Why today of all days. She was finally feeling really happy, even enough to go out with friends, and it all crashed. Now all she could do was think of him. Gray opened her door and threw her things on the couch. She stripped off her clothes as she walked to her room. Gray quickly threw on a sleep shirt and crawled into bed before another memory came floating back.
Flashback
Gray and Liam laid in the very small cot on the bus. They were headed to Charlotte, only a day after Mila left.
"I had a dream last night," he whispered to her, keeping their voice down so they wouldn't wake the others.
"What was it about," she asked drawing imaginary lines on his chest.
"You were pregnant, standing in my flat hanging Christmas lights." Gray's fingers stopped in their tracks.
"I hope it was yours," she joked, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Har Har. I woke up smiling, I remember that. You weren't in bed though," he told her. Gray smiled. She and Niall stayed up far too late in a Mario Kart death match. She woke up the next morning cuddled up into his back.
"Damn Mario Kart," she murmured. Liam stayed quiet. She wondered if he fell asleep, her fingers started back up on his chest.
"What do you think about that Gray?"
"I think that we wouldn't be able to fit in here if I was pregnant."
"I liked you like that, I can see you with our kids being a great mom. Not right now, but someday," Gray shuddered. She repositioned her body so she could look up at him.
"Liam, do you get what you are saying," she asked him, making sure he knew what he was saying.
"I do love. You are my forever."
----
"Gray? Where you at?" Mila's loud voice woke Gray up in her bed. She looked at the clock to see it was already past noon.
"Gray, are you ok?" Mila slowly walked into the room. Gray never slept past 10, and that was on a bad day.
"No." It was all Gray could get out before she started to cry again. All night she dreamt about him. Some were good dreams, others were bad.
"Talk to me Goose." Mila sat on the bed brushing the hair out of Gray's face.
"I thought I could do this. I tricked myself to believe that I was okay but I'm not. For months now I have pretended that I was healed in my heart. I tried not to think about him, Mila I really did. I wanted to show you all how strong I was. But it's not true. I'm dead. I'm dead inside without him," Gray cried out. Mila reached down and gave her a hug.
"Baby, you are strong. You are strong for knowing the truth about yourself. I wish I could make it better for you, I swear." Gray hugged her back, thanking her without talking. It felt nice to get her feelings out for once, to finally accept them.
"Where do I go from here?" She asked Mila with sad pleading eyes.
"You fix it. How though, I cannot answer."
----
Gray wondered how she even made it to work Monday morning. Every part of her body dragged. Coffee didn’t seem to help either. After Mila left Saturday, she spent the whole weekend reliving memories of her and Liam. Even though she told herself not to, she went through the folder on her computer of all the pictures of them together. Gray spent two hours on her couch looking at them crying her eyes out. Now on Monday, the lack of sleep was catching up with her. Her eyes were dry and scratchy like she rolled around in hay.
"Gray, can you check out this new manuscript? Read the first couple of chapters and write up your thoughts," her boss said before her.
"Sure thing," she smiled grabbing the large stack of papers. Gray set it on her desk and settled in. Reading would be the best way to hide from her thoughts. She opened up the book only to groan out loud at the first page. "The Winter Wardrobe" by Liam Carter. Really God, was this just a horrible sign? Gray threw the papers across the desk and put her hands over her face.
Flashback
"Jailbait, you do it and I cut you." Liam was holding on to her body dangerously close to throwing her in the pool. They all decided to take a late night swim in the hotel pool after all the guests were gone. Gray didn't even have a chance to get her clothes off before Liam took off with her body.
"You wouldn't dare," he laughed.
"You don't know me at all." Liam smiled at her one more time before releasing her body into the water. It was beyond cold, too cold for Gray's liking. She sank to the bottom of the pool without even trying to swim up. She knew it was time to make Liam secretly pay. Gray stayed down at the bottom of the pool before she saw a shadow come towards her. Within seconds she was about the water with Harry pulled her out.
"Gray! Gray! Baby are you ok," Liam said panicked above her. Gray let a small smile crawl across her face.
"Gotcha," she whispered. Liam stared at her shocked. Everyone stayed quiet until Niall started to laugh. Soon they all joined in except Liam. Gray sat up, unable to hold her giggles in.
"Gray, I swear you are the best," Harry cheered out. They all jumped in the pool leaving her and Liam alone.
"You scared the shit out of me," Liam whispered, still having a look of fear on his face. He was sitting there, fully clothed just like her.
"I can hold my breath for over 90 seconds. Told you I'd cut you," she laughed.
"You did, right here." He pointed to his heart. Gray reached over and kissed his wet shirt, right where he pointed.
"I'm sorry baby," she whispered. Liam wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her forehead into his.
"Don't do that again." He pulled away to stand then helped her up. Gray reached up to kiss him one more time. She let go and put her hands on his chest.
"Swim little fishy." Gray pushed with all her might knocking him off balance. He went flying into the water.
Gray wiped away more tears and got back to work. At this point, she could have filled a bathtub up with all the crying she had done. She took another deep breath and opened the pages again. No more Liam thinking, it was time to read a crappy book by an author with a bad name.
----
"Liam? Liam!" He looked up to see all four guys starting at him.
"What do you think?" He stared at them with a dead expression. For the past five minutes he was on his phone, not realizing they had been having a serious conversation.
"Lad, come on!" Harry yelled, grabbing his phone. Harry quickly scrolled through to see what he was looking at.
"Whoa," Harry whispered. Liam had photos upon photos of Gray on there. The other guys looked over his shoulder to see.
"Give me my phone Harry," Liam said sternly. Harry ignored him, continuing to look.
"Liam, what the hell," Zayn asked.
"I was just about to delete them," he lied. Louis rolled his eyes.
"And I was just about to eat my fingers. Don't lie Liam, we thought you were over this?" They hadn't spoken about Gray in weeks. All five of them finally found a middle ground to keep their relationship going. Don't talk about Gray, it was simple as that.
"I was just bored." None of the guys believed him. Harry kept scrolling through landing on an odd picture.
"What is this about?" Liam immediately thought back to that day. They had free time on the bus and Liam was watching Gray put on her makeup.
Flashback
"I cannot think with you staring at me jailbait," she said keeping her eyes on the mirror.
"Sorry love," he laughed, "it's interesting to watch you."
"I never knew eyeliner could be so amazing," she deadpanned. Liam laughed again throwing a pillow at her.
"Don't make me use this," she threatened waving the eyeliner. Liam threw another pillow her way.
"Alright, that's it." She charged him where it was on the couch and jumped on top of his body.
"Close your eyes Payne, you need a bit of a pop."
"No chance love," he whispered, his eyes turning into a lust. Gray decided to work her magic.
"Please Liam, can I just do it once?" Her eyelashes battled and her fingers traced his belly, right above his pants.
"Then I get to doctor you." She was willing to work with that.
"Deal." Gray quickly jumped of him to grab her makeup bag and ran back over.
"Don't move now. I don't need to be known as the girl who made Liam Payne eyeless." Liam nodded in response. He sat straight and motionless while Gray's hands ran over his face. She grabbed her lipstick, mascara and blush, doing a number on him.
"Done." She smiled. She handed him the mirror but he refused.
"Let's finish you first." Gray continued to sit on his lap while he fumbled with the makeup brush. Gray giggled at him.
"Steady," he warned. Gray stopped and continued to stare at him. Liam knew nothing about makeup. Sure they put it on him all the time, but doing it himself was a whole other level. He decided to go as crazy as possible. Ten minutes later his artwork was done. Gray stuck her face next to hers and quickly took a picture on his phone. She pulled it down and laughed her butt off.
"What did you do to my face," she laughed. He drew huge circles around her eyes like built in classes and lipstick on her eyelids. It was like a bug gone back.
"At least you still look like a girl," he laughed. Gray gave him a bit too much blush on his, turning his cheeks to a hard rose color.
"I think I would still love you as a girl," she smiled.
"I'd maybe still love you with glasses," he joked. Gray laughed and bit his cheek. He wrapped his arms around her back and turned her so she was lying on the couch with him on top. He nuzzled her face with his nose making her squirm.
"Do you love me this much," he asked, grinding his hips into hers. She moaned in response.
"More then you know, but you have to wash your face first," she giggled," no loving for you girl!" Liam sat up on top of her and tickled her.
"Girl huh?" His hands kept moving and tickled causing Gray to almost hyperventilate.
"I give! I give!" Liam stopped, bending down to kiss her again.
"I love you Gray Goose," he whispered into her ear.
"I love you too Jailbait."
Liam told them the whole story causing them to smile. He sat down on the couch feeling drained. He had worked so hard to block her out of his emotions, and not to let the guys see how much he missed her.
"Okay, it's time for an intervention," Louis yelled. The guys spread out, circling Liam.
"Liam, we are your friends and this is a safe zone," Louis started, Liam rolled his eyes. He didn't have the patience for jokes.
"Lou, give it a rest -" he started before Zayn cut him off.
“Liam, just listen,” Zayn ordered.
"Thank you Zayn. Liam, I am going to ask you some questions and I want you to be honest, completely honest. We know if you are lying." Liam nodded, willing to go along with this plan and get it over with.
"Do you still love Gray?" Liam paused a moment before answering.
"Yes."
"Are you in love with her?"
"Yes," Liam said again.
"Do you want her back," Harry chimed in.
"Yes." The boys all secretly cheered inside. It only took him two months to finally admit this to them.
"Last question Liam and it's a biggie. Do you want us to get her back here for you?" Liam looked down at the ground. He knew it's what he wanted for weeks now; he just couldn't bring himself to admit it.
"Yes, I'd like that very much."
The wind picked up as Gray continued to run. You could feel fall coming in. Gray smiled, autumn was her favorite time of the year. Usually it meant school, Halloween, and closer to Christmas. Over the past two months, life was better. She found an amazing job as an assistant editor in Chicago. It offered a homey office and a reason for Gray to finally move out of her mom’s house. It took her awhile to go along with the deal and leave her family, but Gloria’s continued stern effort helped. The girls would get older, besides with school starting she didn’t need to be there every day. Gray found a small apartment that fit her needs, and was super close to a park for her to run.
Mila and her also made up too. Gray realized she was in the wrong. Mila was just trying to help her, and she just had a funny way of showing it. After two bottles of wine, they talked, cried, and hugged it out. Life was good for Gray.
“Hello,” she answered her phone, stopping mid run.
“Chick. I have dates for us,” Mila yelled. Gray stood her for a minute. When did they ever talk about getting her to date, let alone double date?
“Are you sure you have the right number,” she joked.
“Don’t be coy. You have to come. Hear me out okay? Don’t hang up or yell at me.” Gray agreed. She walked off the path and went to stretch her muscles on a bench.
“It’s Curtis.” Gray stopped was she was doing and bit her lip. She wanted so badly to laugh, scream or yell at Mila, but she promised she wouldn’t.
“Gray? You still there?”
“Yup, just wanting to hear you out,” she laughed.
“Ass. We reconnected over the past couple of weeks, but his brother is in town. You have to come with me! Please!” Gray loved to hear Mila beg. It didn’t happen often.
“Fine, fine. Anything for you Mila.”
“You are the best!” Mila filled her in with the details before hanging up. For once, Gray was excited. A new first date, just want she needed for her new life.
----
Gray decided to go extra brave tonight and wear heels. Ever since her knee got injured it had been giving her trouble, but tonight was supposed to be fun. She wore her black boots, jeans and a very low cut red shirt. Fire could have been her theme for tonight. Mila picked her up at seven and they headed to meet Curtis and his brother.
“There he is,” Mila whispered, spotting him at the restaurant. Curtis sat in the booth to a very attractive younger version of him. Gray blushed; she didn’t realize he would be so cute.
“Hey boys,” she said as they walked up to the table.
“Hey Gray, Hi Mila. This is my baby brother Connor.” They both stood as they introduced themselves.
“Hello Gray,” he smiled at her. Gray returned the smile and blushed again; it could be a fun night.
----
“Seriously, I never knew I liked to dictate so much before,” Gray giggled. Connor and Gray hit it off immediately. They sat at the bar, downing beers like it was water and gave Curtis and Mila their space.
“Who likes to dictate? Other than a dictator!” Gray laughed at his stupid joke. She playfully grabbed his ear and leaned into him. Gray wasn’t sure if it was the liquor or herself doing it.
“I guess that means I like blood then.” Connor was a nurse at the Saint Vincent Hospital in Minneapolis.
“Guess you do.” She flirted back. Deep down in the back of her mind though, she kept telling herself that she was having fun, this was supposed to be fun, but her mind didn’t believe it.
“Hey you two, we are going to head out, you coming?” Mila asked when she and Curtis walked over. Gray secretly was ready to go home. It was a fun night, but she really wanted to stretch out on her bed.
“Actually I think I am going to head on out..”
“I’ll walk you,” Connor quickly said.
“Yeah, I live about 15 blocks from here, was going to cab it up.” No way was she walking that far on three inch heels and three drinks in her body.
“Well then, I guess we will share,” he smiled at her. An instant pit fell in her stomach. It didn’t feel right to her no matter what. He was supposed to go one way and she the same. First date only, she didn’t need any more hassle. Gray grabbed her coat and followed him.
“Call me tomorrow, I want details,” Mila whispered in her ear. Gray gave her a slight nod and kept walking. The cab ride to her house was quiet. She stared out the window, mostly trying to figure out the fastest exit plan away from him. Things were becoming too much.
The cab pulled up to the side of her building. Gray tried to exit before he stopped her, but that failed miserably.
“I’ll walk you,” he smiled. Gray’s hands shook. For experience, she knew that meant one thing. He was going to try and kiss her. She walked to the top of her stoop and stopped. There was no way he was coming in to her door.
“You not going any farther,” he asked. She shook her head no.
“Here is fine. Thank you for buying my drinks,” she said. Connor licked his lips making Gray want to groan. How much more unattractive could he get? Connor leaned it causing his lips to awkwardly land on hers. Alarms went off in Gray’s head. Everything about him kissing her felt wrong. The mustache on his lip made her feel like she was kissing a dead caterpillar. His lips weren’t like Liam's.
Liam.
Instantly memories of him came flowing back into her brain. His smile and wink, his face and his body. She remembered him at the diner that first name being all shy and cute to her. Another memory came of him picking her up and spinning her around on stage, she couldn’t even remember what city it was it, but she remembered it. They were alone that day, the other guys had gone back to their dressing room for food but Liam and Gray stayed. It was the first time they ever slow danced together. Liam pulled her close, pressing his cheek against her temple.
Flashback
“What are you doing,” she giggled in his arms. Liam’s body began to sway, taking hers with him.
“I’m dancing with my love,” he whispered. Goosebumps ran up and down her spine.
“I’m not a very good dancer,” she said back, into his chest. In all honesty, they were just swaying along, no music and major dance moves required.
“Wise men say, only fools rush in..” He started to sing in his low voice to her. Gray turned up and looked at him.
"But I can’t help falling in love with you,” He whispered, staring right into her eyes. Gray felt like she could of cried at that very moment. It was the most sweetest and sincere thing she had ever heard.
"I love you Liam,” she said back to him.
"What do you love about me," she asked while he continued to sway her around in circles.
"I love the wrinkles by your eyes when you smile. I love the way you are so dependent on coffee and sigh when you take the first drink. I love how good you are with your sisters. I love that you can ride on a tour bus with five smelly lads and still smile. I love that you love me." Liam dipped her, holding on to her tightly and kissed her. He bent her back up, still keeping his lips on his. Gray pulled his body in closer, not wanting to let go.
"How much do you love me," he asked putting his cheek back on her head.
"More then I will ever admit." Gray murmured, causing him to laugh.
"I think I know the feeling." Liam kept his eyes in hers are the spun around the stage. Gray closed her eyes and laid her head on his collar bone. He moved them smoothly along stage, picking back up with the words to his song.
"Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you..."
Gray snapped out of her memory and quickly pulled away from Connor.
"I'm sorry, I.. I have to go." Gray turned around and ran into the building, praying he didn't follow her. She made it to the staircase before the tears started. She couldn't understand it. Gray went weeks without thinking about him, but today it all had to come back. Why today of all days. She was finally feeling really happy, even enough to go out with friends, and it all crashed. Now all she could do was think of him. Gray opened her door and threw her things on the couch. She stripped off her clothes as she walked to her room. Gray quickly threw on a sleep shirt and crawled into bed before another memory came floating back.
Flashback
Gray and Liam laid in the very small cot on the bus. They were headed to Charlotte, only a day after Mila left.
"I had a dream last night," he whispered to her, keeping their voice down so they wouldn't wake the others.
"What was it about," she asked drawing imaginary lines on his chest.
"You were pregnant, standing in my flat hanging Christmas lights." Gray's fingers stopped in their tracks.
"I hope it was yours," she joked, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Har Har. I woke up smiling, I remember that. You weren't in bed though," he told her. Gray smiled. She and Niall stayed up far too late in a Mario Kart death match. She woke up the next morning cuddled up into his back.
"Damn Mario Kart," she murmured. Liam stayed quiet. She wondered if he fell asleep, her fingers started back up on his chest.
"What do you think about that Gray?"
"I think that we wouldn't be able to fit in here if I was pregnant."
"I liked you like that, I can see you with our kids being a great mom. Not right now, but someday," Gray shuddered. She repositioned her body so she could look up at him.
"Liam, do you get what you are saying," she asked him, making sure he knew what he was saying.
"I do love. You are my forever."
----
"Gray? Where you at?" Mila's loud voice woke Gray up in her bed. She looked at the clock to see it was already past noon.
"Gray, are you ok?" Mila slowly walked into the room. Gray never slept past 10, and that was on a bad day.
"No." It was all Gray could get out before she started to cry again. All night she dreamt about him. Some were good dreams, others were bad.
"Talk to me Goose." Mila sat on the bed brushing the hair out of Gray's face.
"I thought I could do this. I tricked myself to believe that I was okay but I'm not. For months now I have pretended that I was healed in my heart. I tried not to think about him, Mila I really did. I wanted to show you all how strong I was. But it's not true. I'm dead. I'm dead inside without him," Gray cried out. Mila reached down and gave her a hug.
"Baby, you are strong. You are strong for knowing the truth about yourself. I wish I could make it better for you, I swear." Gray hugged her back, thanking her without talking. It felt nice to get her feelings out for once, to finally accept them.
"Where do I go from here?" She asked Mila with sad pleading eyes.
"You fix it. How though, I cannot answer."
----
Gray wondered how she even made it to work Monday morning. Every part of her body dragged. Coffee didn’t seem to help either. After Mila left Saturday, she spent the whole weekend reliving memories of her and Liam. Even though she told herself not to, she went through the folder on her computer of all the pictures of them together. Gray spent two hours on her couch looking at them crying her eyes out. Now on Monday, the lack of sleep was catching up with her. Her eyes were dry and scratchy like she rolled around in hay.
"Gray, can you check out this new manuscript? Read the first couple of chapters and write up your thoughts," her boss said before her.
"Sure thing," she smiled grabbing the large stack of papers. Gray set it on her desk and settled in. Reading would be the best way to hide from her thoughts. She opened up the book only to groan out loud at the first page. "The Winter Wardrobe" by Liam Carter. Really God, was this just a horrible sign? Gray threw the papers across the desk and put her hands over her face.
Flashback
"Jailbait, you do it and I cut you." Liam was holding on to her body dangerously close to throwing her in the pool. They all decided to take a late night swim in the hotel pool after all the guests were gone. Gray didn't even have a chance to get her clothes off before Liam took off with her body.
"You wouldn't dare," he laughed.
"You don't know me at all." Liam smiled at her one more time before releasing her body into the water. It was beyond cold, too cold for Gray's liking. She sank to the bottom of the pool without even trying to swim up. She knew it was time to make Liam secretly pay. Gray stayed down at the bottom of the pool before she saw a shadow come towards her. Within seconds she was about the water with Harry pulled her out.
"Gray! Gray! Baby are you ok," Liam said panicked above her. Gray let a small smile crawl across her face.
"Gotcha," she whispered. Liam stared at her shocked. Everyone stayed quiet until Niall started to laugh. Soon they all joined in except Liam. Gray sat up, unable to hold her giggles in.
"Gray, I swear you are the best," Harry cheered out. They all jumped in the pool leaving her and Liam alone.
"You scared the shit out of me," Liam whispered, still having a look of fear on his face. He was sitting there, fully clothed just like her.
"I can hold my breath for over 90 seconds. Told you I'd cut you," she laughed.
"You did, right here." He pointed to his heart. Gray reached over and kissed his wet shirt, right where he pointed.
"I'm sorry baby," she whispered. Liam wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her forehead into his.
"Don't do that again." He pulled away to stand then helped her up. Gray reached up to kiss him one more time. She let go and put her hands on his chest.
"Swim little fishy." Gray pushed with all her might knocking him off balance. He went flying into the water.
Gray wiped away more tears and got back to work. At this point, she could have filled a bathtub up with all the crying she had done. She took another deep breath and opened the pages again. No more Liam thinking, it was time to read a crappy book by an author with a bad name.
----
"Liam? Liam!" He looked up to see all four guys starting at him.
"What do you think?" He stared at them with a dead expression. For the past five minutes he was on his phone, not realizing they had been having a serious conversation.
"Lad, come on!" Harry yelled, grabbing his phone. Harry quickly scrolled through to see what he was looking at.
"Whoa," Harry whispered. Liam had photos upon photos of Gray on there. The other guys looked over his shoulder to see.
"Give me my phone Harry," Liam said sternly. Harry ignored him, continuing to look.
"Liam, what the hell," Zayn asked.
"I was just about to delete them," he lied. Louis rolled his eyes.
"And I was just about to eat my fingers. Don't lie Liam, we thought you were over this?" They hadn't spoken about Gray in weeks. All five of them finally found a middle ground to keep their relationship going. Don't talk about Gray, it was simple as that.
"I was just bored." None of the guys believed him. Harry kept scrolling through landing on an odd picture.
"What is this about?" Liam immediately thought back to that day. They had free time on the bus and Liam was watching Gray put on her makeup.
Flashback
"I cannot think with you staring at me jailbait," she said keeping her eyes on the mirror.
"Sorry love," he laughed, "it's interesting to watch you."
"I never knew eyeliner could be so amazing," she deadpanned. Liam laughed again throwing a pillow at her.
"Don't make me use this," she threatened waving the eyeliner. Liam threw another pillow her way.
"Alright, that's it." She charged him where it was on the couch and jumped on top of his body.
"Close your eyes Payne, you need a bit of a pop."
"No chance love," he whispered, his eyes turning into a lust. Gray decided to work her magic.
"Please Liam, can I just do it once?" Her eyelashes battled and her fingers traced his belly, right above his pants.
"Then I get to doctor you." She was willing to work with that.
"Deal." Gray quickly jumped of him to grab her makeup bag and ran back over.
"Don't move now. I don't need to be known as the girl who made Liam Payne eyeless." Liam nodded in response. He sat straight and motionless while Gray's hands ran over his face. She grabbed her lipstick, mascara and blush, doing a number on him.
"Done." She smiled. She handed him the mirror but he refused.
"Let's finish you first." Gray continued to sit on his lap while he fumbled with the makeup brush. Gray giggled at him.
"Steady," he warned. Gray stopped and continued to stare at him. Liam knew nothing about makeup. Sure they put it on him all the time, but doing it himself was a whole other level. He decided to go as crazy as possible. Ten minutes later his artwork was done. Gray stuck her face next to hers and quickly took a picture on his phone. She pulled it down and laughed her butt off.
"What did you do to my face," she laughed. He drew huge circles around her eyes like built in classes and lipstick on her eyelids. It was like a bug gone back.
"At least you still look like a girl," he laughed. Gray gave him a bit too much blush on his, turning his cheeks to a hard rose color.
"I think I would still love you as a girl," she smiled.
"I'd maybe still love you with glasses," he joked. Gray laughed and bit his cheek. He wrapped his arms around her back and turned her so she was lying on the couch with him on top. He nuzzled her face with his nose making her squirm.
"Do you love me this much," he asked, grinding his hips into hers. She moaned in response.
"More then you know, but you have to wash your face first," she giggled," no loving for you girl!" Liam sat up on top of her and tickled her.
"Girl huh?" His hands kept moving and tickled causing Gray to almost hyperventilate.
"I give! I give!" Liam stopped, bending down to kiss her again.
"I love you Gray Goose," he whispered into her ear.
"I love you too Jailbait."
Liam told them the whole story causing them to smile. He sat down on the couch feeling drained. He had worked so hard to block her out of his emotions, and not to let the guys see how much he missed her.
"Okay, it's time for an intervention," Louis yelled. The guys spread out, circling Liam.
"Liam, we are your friends and this is a safe zone," Louis started, Liam rolled his eyes. He didn't have the patience for jokes.
"Lou, give it a rest -" he started before Zayn cut him off.
“Liam, just listen,” Zayn ordered.
"Thank you Zayn. Liam, I am going to ask you some questions and I want you to be honest, completely honest. We know if you are lying." Liam nodded, willing to go along with this plan and get it over with.
"Do you still love Gray?" Liam paused a moment before answering.
"Yes."
"Are you in love with her?"
"Yes," Liam said again.
"Do you want her back," Harry chimed in.
"Yes." The boys all secretly cheered inside. It only took him two months to finally admit this to them.
"Last question Liam and it's a biggie. Do you want us to get her back here for you?" Liam looked down at the ground. He knew it's what he wanted for weeks now; he just couldn't bring himself to admit it.
"Yes, I'd like that very much."
Notes
Title Creds: "Stronger" by Kelly ClarksonBeen writing like mad lately! Some good ideas are coming though, new chapters soon. :D
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5/18/14