Protect You, Protect Me
Must have been love
“Mr. Tomlinson, what do I owe the pleasure,” Mila laughed into the phone. It had been another two weeks since their intervention with Liam before they finally nailed down a plan.
“Well Miss Mila, I have a mission for you.”
“Spill,” she spit back.
“I need you to get Gray to the UK.” Mila put down her coffee cup on her desk and sat up straight.
“Louis, what are you doing?” She couldn’t believe he just asked her that.
“Doing what we all should have done back in September. It’s almost the end of the year and they still are love sick over each other. She is just as worse as him, isn’t she?”
“Yup.” Gray has been falling farther and farther down the tubes since their double date with Curtis and Connor. She looked like death. Barely sleeping, spending her time at home, and running far too much. It was starting to make Mila worry more than usual.
“Two weeks ago we caught Liam looking at pictures of them on his phone. He tried to say he was going to delete them, but really, after three months he should of done that by now. We all sat down and I asked him four simple questions. Do you love her, are you in love with her, if he wanted her back and if we could help. You know what he said to all of them,” Louis explained to her.
“He said yes,” she deadpanned. Of course she knew that, it wasn’t that hard to see.
“So can you help me out and get her here?” She agreed and they immediately got planning. It was going to be a long stretch, but at this point they were willing to do anything.
“Her birthday is Friday, best time for me to lay this on her. I’ll call you Saturday and let you know,” Mila said.
“Thank you Mila,” he said sincerely. They hung up and Mila sighed. She knew this had to happen for everyone involved but trying to get stubborn Gray to do anything was going to be a struggle.
----
Gray, her mom, the girls, Mila and Curtis were at Flavor Rich, a restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Gray tried her hardest to act happy, but it was hard. She couldn’t shake the dreams at night when Liam came back to visit her. When she was awake she had no issue, but sleeping she couldn’t control her thoughts. Gray picked at her food, thinking of the dream she had that morning.
Flashback
After their second first time back in the hotel suite, Gray threw on Liam’s sweats and sweatshirt leaving him in bed. He smiled at her in a cheeky way.
“You look good in my clothes,” he murmured. She smiled at him, posing like a model at the end of the bed.
“Come get back in here,” he said, pulling down the covers. She nodded her head no.
“I need coffee.” Gray left the room, leaving Liam wanting more and headed to the kitchen.
“So she is alive,” Niall joked, sitting at the table eating bacon.
“And in someone else’s clothes,” Harry chimed in. She flicked them both off. No time for jokes until coffee was floating in her blood stream. She poured a cup and sat on the couch, closing her eyes.
“Who ever made coffee – I love you,” she shouted out. Gray took a large drink, empting half the cup before sitting it down on the table. She stretched, yawned and got comfy. The rest of them were still in the small kitchen talking when Gray fell back asleep.
“You enjoying life?” A voice made her stir. How long was she sleeping? She could feel Liam’s legs beneath her head, and kept her eyes closed. This probably wasn’t a conversation she was to hear. She pretended to still be asleep, making her breathes as normal as possible as she listened.
“I think you know that answer Perrie,” she heard Liam say. Liam’s fingers played with the ends of her hair.
“You two are adorable,” Perrie laughed. Gray tried her hardest not to smile.
“No, it’s her. She is adorable, I’m just along for the ride.”
“Don’t kid yourself Liam. You both are so smitten you can’t breathe.” She heard Liam take in a long breath.
“I think I am more than smitten Perrie.” Alarms were going off in Gray’s head. What did that mean?
“What are you saying Liam,” Perrie asked.
“You know exactly what I am saying.”
“Gray, open your present,” Grace cheered, breaking Gray from her thoughts.
“Oh yes, ok!” She shook the box smiling at Grace.
“Is it a puppy?” Grace shook her head no. Gray carefully ripped the paper off the box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful grey and purple watch, which probably cost a good amount of money for her mom.
“Oh girls, it’s so beautiful!” She cried inside. Grey and purple, that was their colors. She slipped in on her wrist, still fake smiling.
“Thank you girls!” The group finished their meal and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her very loudly before leaving. Gray said her goodbyes and headed to her car. Thank god she made it through without having a complete breakdown. Only a short drive back and she was home free.
“Gray! Hey wait up!” Gray groaned, she was so close to leaving. She spun around to talk to her.
“I have my gift to you, but not here. Can I come over quick,” Mila pleaded. She couldn’t say no to Mila.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” She drove in peace without a radio just wanting tonight to end.
She was so mad at herself. It was her 25th birthday, she was supposed to be happy but she just couldn’t get herself to do it. It was too hard to leave your thoughts. She pulled into her parking space and waited for Mila to show up.
“Before you open this, I want you to keep a very open mind,” Mila warned. Gray looked at her with confusion.
“This was a group effort.” Mila handed her the small wrapped box. Gray quickly tore off the paper and looked inside. It was a plane ticket for London, leaving three days from now.
“Mila..” she whispered. The tears stun her in the eyes.
“Open mind Gray. Louis called me a bit ago. The guys are really missing you and wanted you to come visit. I would go too. It’ll be fun, I promise. Please come Gray, please.” Gray continued to stare at the ticket in her hands. She didn’t know what to say.
“Gray,” Mila whispered putting her hand on her back.
“Okay, but no Liam. I don’t want him near me,” she said quietly.
“No Liam, I promise. Oh Gray, thank you for making this easy,” Mila cheered, hugging her. Mila got up and grabbed her things.
“I’ll call you tomorrow and we can go through the details.” Mila left her apartment and Gray fell back against the couch. Did she really just say yes to this?
----
“Tomlinson, talk to me.” Mila rolled her eyes.
“Hey it’s me. I don’t know how it happened but she is coming,” Mila yelled into the phone.
“Yes! I’m impressed with your skills. Now we just have to figure out what to do with Liam,” he explained.
“Back up the truck Louis. She doesn’t want to be near him, I promised her that she would see him. Louis, don’t you make her kill us,” Mila warned.
“Mila, I am a pro. You get her here and I will do the rest.”
“Louis, I’m serious. Right now she just needs to get out, she looks horrible. No Liam, do you hear me?”
“Yes ma’am.” Louis hung up the phone smiling. Screw them both; he was getting the job done regardless of them.
----
Gray sat on the plane as the descended towards London. She hadn’t been able to sit still for the entire trip. After Mila left that night she immediately packed her bags. Part of her felt like a flame had been lit. She missed the boys more then she could imagine. It became so simple for her to just forget about them all rather then make the attempt to contact them.
“I swear to God I’m going to rip off your hands Gray,” Mila sternly whispered next to her. She looked down, not even knowing she was rubbing the skin off her thumb.
“Sorry.” Mila sat down her magazine and looked at her.
“Gray, this is the point of your new life. Today is it. You need to own it, okay? Be happy! The guys are really excited to see you. Smile, laugh, enjoy life.” Gray agreed with her. Her job was less than pleased about fast trip to London. Gray didn’t give them an option though. She was feeling wild that day and just quit. Being an editor didn’t fancy her much anyway. Today was her new day. She had no clue what to do after this trip ended, but it wasn’t the time to think about it anymore.
“Ladies and Gentleman, please put your chairs into an upright position and buckle your seatbelts as we making our landing in London,” the flight attendant announced of the speaker. Gray did as she told and went back to rubbing her hands together. This was it.
----
The girls exited the plane and started walking through the terminal. Gray realized this was the first time she flew and didn’t have to worry about people watching her or trying to take her picture. It felt amazing. Both of them walked down the escalator to the baggage claim.
“We need to change out our money for the cab ride, how much you have,” Gray asked digging in her purse.
“Don’t worry about it.” Mila said to her.
“Why?”
“We have a ride.” Gray’s heart immediately started racing. Who was it? She prayed it wasn’t him. No Liam, not right away.
“Come down, I promised you. Look to your left and you will see.” Gray followed orders and looked. Niall stood farther off to the side with his sign saying ‘Gray Goose & Mila Man.” Niall was here! She screamed and took off after him.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she said jumping into his arms. He laughed and hugged her back.
“The feelings are the same Gray Goose, it’s been too long. You deserted us!” He pulled Gray back, checking her out.
“Oh Gray,” he sadly said. She looked so much worse then we he had last seen her. Gray had to have lost fifteen pounds then on her already skinny frame.
“Shut it Niall, honestly.” She knew what he was going to say. Everyone had been telling her the same thing for months. She didn’t need to hear it from him so soon.
“Ya Niall, shut it,” Mila smiled,” Can we go now? I’m hungry.” They loaded up their bags on a cart and followed Niall to the car.
“Where are we going,” Gray asked putting her suitcase in the back. No one had told her any plans, other than to get her butt on an airplane and fly to another country.
“Harry’s, he has the most room.” Gray smiled, so was beyond excited to see him. The drive was quick, only twenty five minutes at most to his flat.
“We are here.” Niall parked the car and the girls grabbed her things and followed him in.
“Lads, where are you?” He shouted as they walked in. They all came running down the hall to meet them.
“Gray, love you are here!” Louis yelled pulling her in for a hug. Soon, all of them joined in, bear hugging her. Gray couldn’t hold it in; she had tears of happiness running down her face.
“I missed all so much,” she cried.
“Oh don’t cry Gray. Here let’s make you a sandwich,” Harry said. Gray rolled her eyes; of course they had to comment on her weight too.
“You can cook while I shower. Is that ok? Anyone mind if I clean up,” she bickered back. Enough about her weight already!
“Quite fine, here I’ll show you the way,” Zayn offered sincerely. He led her down the hall, leaving the others to stare.
“Christ Mila, you could have told us she was in that bad of shape,” Harry moaned. Mila put her hands up in defense.
“I thought you all knew! I told you she didn’t take it well. She eats and lives, but runs just way too much.” Gray decided to run a marathon last week, just for the fun it of it. That is a not a normal behavior.
“We didn’t. We should have done this back in September. I’m sorry you had to deal with this,” Louis offered.
“Please, its fine. She is my closest friend; all I care about is her finding some sort of happiness again.” Mila teared up. It had been so hard to watch Gray dig herself into a grave for all these weeks. She was willing to break her promise if it would make things go back to normal again.
“So what’s the plan here,” she asked.
“We haven’t thought of one, you said no Liam,” Louis explained.
“Screw that, bring him in. This needs to end before we go back.” Louis smiled. Things were going to work out just fine.
----
Gray got out of shower and felt the coolness right away. London winters were so much more different then Chicago. You could feel it in your bones here. She quickly dried her hair, leave it to Harry to have a blow dryer. She laughed and finished and changed into her clothes. A ‘Chicago University’ sweatshirt, huge baggy black sweatpants and a scarf never felt so good until now. She left the bathroom and walked out to join the others.
“Refreshed,” Zayn asked her. She shook her head yes. Her crabby attitude left her body as soon as the water hit. She was here, in London, for the first time with her closest friends.
“I got food,” Harry announced walking into the flat. Gray smelt it immediately, cheeseburger. She walked over and grabbed a bag and made herself comfortable between Niall and Louis. Both were eying her burger.
“You come close and I bite your fingers off,” she warned. She leaned in, smelling it one last time before taking a huge bite.
“Oh mah god,” she groaned with her mouth full. Gray looked around to see everyone staring at her.
“What,” she asked after swallowing.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Mila said too cheerfully. They all sat around eating her food. Gray finished her burger within minutes and started staring at Louis’.
“Gray, you want it,” he offered. Hells yes she did. He handed it over without question and she finished it. Food tasted so much better and a foreign country. After she finished, Gray stretched out making Louis’ shoulder her new pillow.
“How’s Eleanor,” she asked. God, she hadn’t talked to her in ages.
“We are taking a bit of a break,” he said quietly. She could hear the sadness in his voice.
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t want to question him anymore. Gray knew what it felt like, no reason to ask him. Both of them stared off and listened to Niall and Harry discuss condiments. Broken heart’s party. Zayn quietly walked over and snapped a picture of them both to put on Twitter.
@ZaynMalik: look who made herself comfortable in London @LouisTomlinson @Gramayonnaise
He knew Liam would take the bait easily.
----
Louis felt his phone go off. They had been sitting around on the couch for hours just making small talk. Gray still had her body permanently resting between him and Niall, possibly in a food coma.
“Hello,” he said answering the phone and walking away from the group.
“How long has she been there?” Ah Liam, it only took him two hours to get with it.
“Well hello Mate. I’m lovely, thanks for asking,” Louis joked.
“Yeah yeah, are you finished?” Liam sounded grumpy.
“Quite. Mila and she got in today. We already fed her,” Louis explained. Liam stayed quiet for a while.
“How is she,” Liam whispered.
“She’s, she’s here. I can tell she is sad Liam. And that she needs to eat, a lot.” Louis looked back at the group; Gray was still in the same position, but staring out the window.
“Where are you,” he asked.
“Wolverhampton with my parents.” Louis knew he had the perfect plan right then.
“Stay there, we are going to work on bringing her to you.” Louis hung up and walked back to the room.
“Say Harry, why don’t you call your mum and see if we can make a visit. I’m sure a weekend in Holmes Chapel would be fantastic!” He wiggled his eyebrows at him hoping he would get the hint.
“Oh sure!” Harry left the room and came back just minutes later.
“She is on board, we can head over tomorrow.”
“Fantastic!” Louis said again. His plan was working so easily.
----
They left early the next morning on the way to Holmes Chapel. Gray was beyond exhausted from the time change and horrible dreams she had. Harry and Louis rented a driver to take them so they could all rest.
“Dibs on the back,” Gray yawned. Zayn joined her in the back with pillows and blankets.
“No kicking,” he joked. Gray made herself comfortable and covered up. It only took her minutes before she was completely out.
“Is she asleep,” Harry whispered. Niall shrugged his shoulders. He turned around to face her.
“Gray! Liam’s here!” Gray didn’t stir from her position at all.
“She’s out,” Niall said.
“So why are you we going here,” Mila asked. She never had the chance last night with Gray being around.
“One, Harry’s mom rocks. Two, Liam is in Wolverhampton which isn’t that far away. Get a couple of drinks in here and bring him on over,” Louis explained.
“You really think that is a good idea? Gray isn’t the old Gray, she has an attitude now. Anytime I bring him up she practically assaults me,” Mila said.
“She probably won’t talk to me for the rest of my life, but I honestly don’t care. We have to do something Mila.” Mila nodded. She knew they had to try something, it was all or nothing.
----
After the three hour drive, Gray woke up feeling refreshed again. Anne turned out to be a lovely woman that Gray really liked. They set up their arrangements, the boys would take the bungalow and the girls would take over Harry’s room in the main house. They built a fire, even thought it was four in the afternoon and sat around to keep warm.
“You need marshmallows,” Gray said.
“Smores are not very popular here,” Harry laughed. She could have gone for one so bad. Lately she just wanted to eat and eat. It was probably a good thing; less people to bug her and her clothes would start to actually fit again.
“I need food,” she whined before getting up and quickly walking to the house. They wall waited until she was inside before talking.
“When is he coming,” Niall asked Louis. They were all on pins and needles waiting for this to happen.
“Not til around seven. He is bringing Karen with him.” Mila groaned.
“Who’s freaking idea was that? Bringing his mom? Way to make a first impression,” she yelled. This was a beyond stupid area.
“Chill. I have my reasons for doing the things I do. Gray isn’t going to yell when his mum is here. She wouldn’t do that, which we all know. This way she will stay somewhat calm, and no one will get injured,” Louis explained. He knew Gray was going to go off the handle regardless, but this way was a better chance that no one would lose any blood.
“I swear Tommo, this best work. I’m the one who has to fly back with her.”
----
Gray was raiding their fridge when a voice startled her.
“Hello dear,” Anne smiled making Gray blush.
“I’m sorry, I was hungry. Harry told me to go searching.” She hoped Anne didn’t mind.
“Nonsense dear. Eat away. Besides it looks like you need it.” Gray rolled her eyes. Another person on the weight gain train.
“I get that a lot,” she laughed. She grabbed an apple from the fridge and walked over to join Ann at the breakfast bar.
“I have heard. Harry kept me in the loop when it came to you. All of the lads have been very nervous about you for months now.” Anne explained. Gray looked down; she was hoping this wasn’t another talk to make her feel bad about not keeping up the communication.
“I haven’t been the best friend too them lately,” she said quietly. Anne wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
“I think they are okay with it. I have heard what went down with you and Liam in the summer. How is that going now?” Gray continued to look down. She didn’t want Anne to see her get upset.
“Not well.”
“I knew that too. You want to talk about it?” Anne was so much different than her own mom, which wasn’t bad. Gloria tended to get just as emotional and tell her to go out and rock it, fix it, control her life. Right now Gray just needed a person to listen to her. That is what Anne was; a mom to lean on.
“It’s just been so hard. After three weeks I felt normal again. I was happy. Then Mila and I went out with a couple of guys and it all just came pounding back. All the memories with him, the moments. I just haven’t been able to shake it like I used to,” Gray said.
“That has to be so hard for you,” Anne replied.
“More then you will ever know. I wanted to forget about him so much. I know he has moved on with his life and I can’t figure out what I can’t do the same.” Anne was quiet for a moment.
“Maybe it’s because you still love him,” she asked. Gray knew it was the answer.
“Yeah, you are probably right.”
“Are you going to be okay later with him and Karen here?” Gray looked up her. All the blood drained from her face.
“What?” Anne looked like she had seen a ghost.
“Oh dear, I guess Louis didn’t tell you that.” Gray quickly shook off Anne’s arm and headed for the back door. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Her whole body was shaking from anger. She walked to the group and threw her apple, hitting Louis straight in the chest.
“What the hell?”
“How dare you! How dare you all! You all knew about this! When were you going to tell me he was coming,” she cried out, unable to stop the tears. Mila stood up and walked toward her.
“No! Don’t you dare come near me! You promised me Mila! You said I wouldn’t have to see him and I believed you! I want to go, get me out of here,” she yelled.
“Gray, we have all been drinking, no one is able to drive,” Niall explained.
“So I’m stuck here? Did you do that on purpose? Feed everyone alcohol so I was stuck here having to face him. AND his mom! How sick are you people?!”
“Gray -,” Zayn started.
“No. Skip it! I could care less about what any of you have to say right now. Fuck you all! I’m leaving tomorrow whether you all join me or not!” Gray sobbed. She turned around quickly and ran into the house knowing no one would follow her. She slammed the bedroom door shut and cried on the bed. How dare they not listen to her. She just wanted a fun trip without having to see him. This was her time to forgive and forget.
“Well Miss Mila, I have a mission for you.”
“Spill,” she spit back.
“I need you to get Gray to the UK.” Mila put down her coffee cup on her desk and sat up straight.
“Louis, what are you doing?” She couldn’t believe he just asked her that.
“Doing what we all should have done back in September. It’s almost the end of the year and they still are love sick over each other. She is just as worse as him, isn’t she?”
“Yup.” Gray has been falling farther and farther down the tubes since their double date with Curtis and Connor. She looked like death. Barely sleeping, spending her time at home, and running far too much. It was starting to make Mila worry more than usual.
“Two weeks ago we caught Liam looking at pictures of them on his phone. He tried to say he was going to delete them, but really, after three months he should of done that by now. We all sat down and I asked him four simple questions. Do you love her, are you in love with her, if he wanted her back and if we could help. You know what he said to all of them,” Louis explained to her.
“He said yes,” she deadpanned. Of course she knew that, it wasn’t that hard to see.
“So can you help me out and get her here?” She agreed and they immediately got planning. It was going to be a long stretch, but at this point they were willing to do anything.
“Her birthday is Friday, best time for me to lay this on her. I’ll call you Saturday and let you know,” Mila said.
“Thank you Mila,” he said sincerely. They hung up and Mila sighed. She knew this had to happen for everyone involved but trying to get stubborn Gray to do anything was going to be a struggle.
----
Gray, her mom, the girls, Mila and Curtis were at Flavor Rich, a restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Gray tried her hardest to act happy, but it was hard. She couldn’t shake the dreams at night when Liam came back to visit her. When she was awake she had no issue, but sleeping she couldn’t control her thoughts. Gray picked at her food, thinking of the dream she had that morning.
Flashback
After their second first time back in the hotel suite, Gray threw on Liam’s sweats and sweatshirt leaving him in bed. He smiled at her in a cheeky way.
“You look good in my clothes,” he murmured. She smiled at him, posing like a model at the end of the bed.
“Come get back in here,” he said, pulling down the covers. She nodded her head no.
“I need coffee.” Gray left the room, leaving Liam wanting more and headed to the kitchen.
“So she is alive,” Niall joked, sitting at the table eating bacon.
“And in someone else’s clothes,” Harry chimed in. She flicked them both off. No time for jokes until coffee was floating in her blood stream. She poured a cup and sat on the couch, closing her eyes.
“Who ever made coffee – I love you,” she shouted out. Gray took a large drink, empting half the cup before sitting it down on the table. She stretched, yawned and got comfy. The rest of them were still in the small kitchen talking when Gray fell back asleep.
“You enjoying life?” A voice made her stir. How long was she sleeping? She could feel Liam’s legs beneath her head, and kept her eyes closed. This probably wasn’t a conversation she was to hear. She pretended to still be asleep, making her breathes as normal as possible as she listened.
“I think you know that answer Perrie,” she heard Liam say. Liam’s fingers played with the ends of her hair.
“You two are adorable,” Perrie laughed. Gray tried her hardest not to smile.
“No, it’s her. She is adorable, I’m just along for the ride.”
“Don’t kid yourself Liam. You both are so smitten you can’t breathe.” She heard Liam take in a long breath.
“I think I am more than smitten Perrie.” Alarms were going off in Gray’s head. What did that mean?
“What are you saying Liam,” Perrie asked.
“You know exactly what I am saying.”
“Gray, open your present,” Grace cheered, breaking Gray from her thoughts.
“Oh yes, ok!” She shook the box smiling at Grace.
“Is it a puppy?” Grace shook her head no. Gray carefully ripped the paper off the box and opened it. Inside was a beautiful grey and purple watch, which probably cost a good amount of money for her mom.
“Oh girls, it’s so beautiful!” She cried inside. Grey and purple, that was their colors. She slipped in on her wrist, still fake smiling.
“Thank you girls!” The group finished their meal and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her very loudly before leaving. Gray said her goodbyes and headed to her car. Thank god she made it through without having a complete breakdown. Only a short drive back and she was home free.
“Gray! Hey wait up!” Gray groaned, she was so close to leaving. She spun around to talk to her.
“I have my gift to you, but not here. Can I come over quick,” Mila pleaded. She couldn’t say no to Mila.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” She drove in peace without a radio just wanting tonight to end.
She was so mad at herself. It was her 25th birthday, she was supposed to be happy but she just couldn’t get herself to do it. It was too hard to leave your thoughts. She pulled into her parking space and waited for Mila to show up.
“Before you open this, I want you to keep a very open mind,” Mila warned. Gray looked at her with confusion.
“This was a group effort.” Mila handed her the small wrapped box. Gray quickly tore off the paper and looked inside. It was a plane ticket for London, leaving three days from now.
“Mila..” she whispered. The tears stun her in the eyes.
“Open mind Gray. Louis called me a bit ago. The guys are really missing you and wanted you to come visit. I would go too. It’ll be fun, I promise. Please come Gray, please.” Gray continued to stare at the ticket in her hands. She didn’t know what to say.
“Gray,” Mila whispered putting her hand on her back.
“Okay, but no Liam. I don’t want him near me,” she said quietly.
“No Liam, I promise. Oh Gray, thank you for making this easy,” Mila cheered, hugging her. Mila got up and grabbed her things.
“I’ll call you tomorrow and we can go through the details.” Mila left her apartment and Gray fell back against the couch. Did she really just say yes to this?
----
“Tomlinson, talk to me.” Mila rolled her eyes.
“Hey it’s me. I don’t know how it happened but she is coming,” Mila yelled into the phone.
“Yes! I’m impressed with your skills. Now we just have to figure out what to do with Liam,” he explained.
“Back up the truck Louis. She doesn’t want to be near him, I promised her that she would see him. Louis, don’t you make her kill us,” Mila warned.
“Mila, I am a pro. You get her here and I will do the rest.”
“Louis, I’m serious. Right now she just needs to get out, she looks horrible. No Liam, do you hear me?”
“Yes ma’am.” Louis hung up the phone smiling. Screw them both; he was getting the job done regardless of them.
----
Gray sat on the plane as the descended towards London. She hadn’t been able to sit still for the entire trip. After Mila left that night she immediately packed her bags. Part of her felt like a flame had been lit. She missed the boys more then she could imagine. It became so simple for her to just forget about them all rather then make the attempt to contact them.
“I swear to God I’m going to rip off your hands Gray,” Mila sternly whispered next to her. She looked down, not even knowing she was rubbing the skin off her thumb.
“Sorry.” Mila sat down her magazine and looked at her.
“Gray, this is the point of your new life. Today is it. You need to own it, okay? Be happy! The guys are really excited to see you. Smile, laugh, enjoy life.” Gray agreed with her. Her job was less than pleased about fast trip to London. Gray didn’t give them an option though. She was feeling wild that day and just quit. Being an editor didn’t fancy her much anyway. Today was her new day. She had no clue what to do after this trip ended, but it wasn’t the time to think about it anymore.
“Ladies and Gentleman, please put your chairs into an upright position and buckle your seatbelts as we making our landing in London,” the flight attendant announced of the speaker. Gray did as she told and went back to rubbing her hands together. This was it.
----
The girls exited the plane and started walking through the terminal. Gray realized this was the first time she flew and didn’t have to worry about people watching her or trying to take her picture. It felt amazing. Both of them walked down the escalator to the baggage claim.
“We need to change out our money for the cab ride, how much you have,” Gray asked digging in her purse.
“Don’t worry about it.” Mila said to her.
“Why?”
“We have a ride.” Gray’s heart immediately started racing. Who was it? She prayed it wasn’t him. No Liam, not right away.
“Come down, I promised you. Look to your left and you will see.” Gray followed orders and looked. Niall stood farther off to the side with his sign saying ‘Gray Goose & Mila Man.” Niall was here! She screamed and took off after him.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she said jumping into his arms. He laughed and hugged her back.
“The feelings are the same Gray Goose, it’s been too long. You deserted us!” He pulled Gray back, checking her out.
“Oh Gray,” he sadly said. She looked so much worse then we he had last seen her. Gray had to have lost fifteen pounds then on her already skinny frame.
“Shut it Niall, honestly.” She knew what he was going to say. Everyone had been telling her the same thing for months. She didn’t need to hear it from him so soon.
“Ya Niall, shut it,” Mila smiled,” Can we go now? I’m hungry.” They loaded up their bags on a cart and followed Niall to the car.
“Where are we going,” Gray asked putting her suitcase in the back. No one had told her any plans, other than to get her butt on an airplane and fly to another country.
“Harry’s, he has the most room.” Gray smiled, so was beyond excited to see him. The drive was quick, only twenty five minutes at most to his flat.
“We are here.” Niall parked the car and the girls grabbed her things and followed him in.
“Lads, where are you?” He shouted as they walked in. They all came running down the hall to meet them.
“Gray, love you are here!” Louis yelled pulling her in for a hug. Soon, all of them joined in, bear hugging her. Gray couldn’t hold it in; she had tears of happiness running down her face.
“I missed all so much,” she cried.
“Oh don’t cry Gray. Here let’s make you a sandwich,” Harry said. Gray rolled her eyes; of course they had to comment on her weight too.
“You can cook while I shower. Is that ok? Anyone mind if I clean up,” she bickered back. Enough about her weight already!
“Quite fine, here I’ll show you the way,” Zayn offered sincerely. He led her down the hall, leaving the others to stare.
“Christ Mila, you could have told us she was in that bad of shape,” Harry moaned. Mila put her hands up in defense.
“I thought you all knew! I told you she didn’t take it well. She eats and lives, but runs just way too much.” Gray decided to run a marathon last week, just for the fun it of it. That is a not a normal behavior.
“We didn’t. We should have done this back in September. I’m sorry you had to deal with this,” Louis offered.
“Please, its fine. She is my closest friend; all I care about is her finding some sort of happiness again.” Mila teared up. It had been so hard to watch Gray dig herself into a grave for all these weeks. She was willing to break her promise if it would make things go back to normal again.
“So what’s the plan here,” she asked.
“We haven’t thought of one, you said no Liam,” Louis explained.
“Screw that, bring him in. This needs to end before we go back.” Louis smiled. Things were going to work out just fine.
----
Gray got out of shower and felt the coolness right away. London winters were so much more different then Chicago. You could feel it in your bones here. She quickly dried her hair, leave it to Harry to have a blow dryer. She laughed and finished and changed into her clothes. A ‘Chicago University’ sweatshirt, huge baggy black sweatpants and a scarf never felt so good until now. She left the bathroom and walked out to join the others.
“Refreshed,” Zayn asked her. She shook her head yes. Her crabby attitude left her body as soon as the water hit. She was here, in London, for the first time with her closest friends.
“I got food,” Harry announced walking into the flat. Gray smelt it immediately, cheeseburger. She walked over and grabbed a bag and made herself comfortable between Niall and Louis. Both were eying her burger.
“You come close and I bite your fingers off,” she warned. She leaned in, smelling it one last time before taking a huge bite.
“Oh mah god,” she groaned with her mouth full. Gray looked around to see everyone staring at her.
“What,” she asked after swallowing.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Mila said too cheerfully. They all sat around eating her food. Gray finished her burger within minutes and started staring at Louis’.
“Gray, you want it,” he offered. Hells yes she did. He handed it over without question and she finished it. Food tasted so much better and a foreign country. After she finished, Gray stretched out making Louis’ shoulder her new pillow.
“How’s Eleanor,” she asked. God, she hadn’t talked to her in ages.
“We are taking a bit of a break,” he said quietly. She could hear the sadness in his voice.
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t want to question him anymore. Gray knew what it felt like, no reason to ask him. Both of them stared off and listened to Niall and Harry discuss condiments. Broken heart’s party. Zayn quietly walked over and snapped a picture of them both to put on Twitter.
@ZaynMalik: look who made herself comfortable in London @LouisTomlinson @Gramayonnaise
He knew Liam would take the bait easily.
----
Louis felt his phone go off. They had been sitting around on the couch for hours just making small talk. Gray still had her body permanently resting between him and Niall, possibly in a food coma.
“Hello,” he said answering the phone and walking away from the group.
“How long has she been there?” Ah Liam, it only took him two hours to get with it.
“Well hello Mate. I’m lovely, thanks for asking,” Louis joked.
“Yeah yeah, are you finished?” Liam sounded grumpy.
“Quite. Mila and she got in today. We already fed her,” Louis explained. Liam stayed quiet for a while.
“How is she,” Liam whispered.
“She’s, she’s here. I can tell she is sad Liam. And that she needs to eat, a lot.” Louis looked back at the group; Gray was still in the same position, but staring out the window.
“Where are you,” he asked.
“Wolverhampton with my parents.” Louis knew he had the perfect plan right then.
“Stay there, we are going to work on bringing her to you.” Louis hung up and walked back to the room.
“Say Harry, why don’t you call your mum and see if we can make a visit. I’m sure a weekend in Holmes Chapel would be fantastic!” He wiggled his eyebrows at him hoping he would get the hint.
“Oh sure!” Harry left the room and came back just minutes later.
“She is on board, we can head over tomorrow.”
“Fantastic!” Louis said again. His plan was working so easily.
----
They left early the next morning on the way to Holmes Chapel. Gray was beyond exhausted from the time change and horrible dreams she had. Harry and Louis rented a driver to take them so they could all rest.
“Dibs on the back,” Gray yawned. Zayn joined her in the back with pillows and blankets.
“No kicking,” he joked. Gray made herself comfortable and covered up. It only took her minutes before she was completely out.
“Is she asleep,” Harry whispered. Niall shrugged his shoulders. He turned around to face her.
“Gray! Liam’s here!” Gray didn’t stir from her position at all.
“She’s out,” Niall said.
“So why are you we going here,” Mila asked. She never had the chance last night with Gray being around.
“One, Harry’s mom rocks. Two, Liam is in Wolverhampton which isn’t that far away. Get a couple of drinks in here and bring him on over,” Louis explained.
“You really think that is a good idea? Gray isn’t the old Gray, she has an attitude now. Anytime I bring him up she practically assaults me,” Mila said.
“She probably won’t talk to me for the rest of my life, but I honestly don’t care. We have to do something Mila.” Mila nodded. She knew they had to try something, it was all or nothing.
----
After the three hour drive, Gray woke up feeling refreshed again. Anne turned out to be a lovely woman that Gray really liked. They set up their arrangements, the boys would take the bungalow and the girls would take over Harry’s room in the main house. They built a fire, even thought it was four in the afternoon and sat around to keep warm.
“You need marshmallows,” Gray said.
“Smores are not very popular here,” Harry laughed. She could have gone for one so bad. Lately she just wanted to eat and eat. It was probably a good thing; less people to bug her and her clothes would start to actually fit again.
“I need food,” she whined before getting up and quickly walking to the house. They wall waited until she was inside before talking.
“When is he coming,” Niall asked Louis. They were all on pins and needles waiting for this to happen.
“Not til around seven. He is bringing Karen with him.” Mila groaned.
“Who’s freaking idea was that? Bringing his mom? Way to make a first impression,” she yelled. This was a beyond stupid area.
“Chill. I have my reasons for doing the things I do. Gray isn’t going to yell when his mum is here. She wouldn’t do that, which we all know. This way she will stay somewhat calm, and no one will get injured,” Louis explained. He knew Gray was going to go off the handle regardless, but this way was a better chance that no one would lose any blood.
“I swear Tommo, this best work. I’m the one who has to fly back with her.”
----
Gray was raiding their fridge when a voice startled her.
“Hello dear,” Anne smiled making Gray blush.
“I’m sorry, I was hungry. Harry told me to go searching.” She hoped Anne didn’t mind.
“Nonsense dear. Eat away. Besides it looks like you need it.” Gray rolled her eyes. Another person on the weight gain train.
“I get that a lot,” she laughed. She grabbed an apple from the fridge and walked over to join Ann at the breakfast bar.
“I have heard. Harry kept me in the loop when it came to you. All of the lads have been very nervous about you for months now.” Anne explained. Gray looked down; she was hoping this wasn’t another talk to make her feel bad about not keeping up the communication.
“I haven’t been the best friend too them lately,” she said quietly. Anne wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
“I think they are okay with it. I have heard what went down with you and Liam in the summer. How is that going now?” Gray continued to look down. She didn’t want Anne to see her get upset.
“Not well.”
“I knew that too. You want to talk about it?” Anne was so much different than her own mom, which wasn’t bad. Gloria tended to get just as emotional and tell her to go out and rock it, fix it, control her life. Right now Gray just needed a person to listen to her. That is what Anne was; a mom to lean on.
“It’s just been so hard. After three weeks I felt normal again. I was happy. Then Mila and I went out with a couple of guys and it all just came pounding back. All the memories with him, the moments. I just haven’t been able to shake it like I used to,” Gray said.
“That has to be so hard for you,” Anne replied.
“More then you will ever know. I wanted to forget about him so much. I know he has moved on with his life and I can’t figure out what I can’t do the same.” Anne was quiet for a moment.
“Maybe it’s because you still love him,” she asked. Gray knew it was the answer.
“Yeah, you are probably right.”
“Are you going to be okay later with him and Karen here?” Gray looked up her. All the blood drained from her face.
“What?” Anne looked like she had seen a ghost.
“Oh dear, I guess Louis didn’t tell you that.” Gray quickly shook off Anne’s arm and headed for the back door. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Her whole body was shaking from anger. She walked to the group and threw her apple, hitting Louis straight in the chest.
“What the hell?”
“How dare you! How dare you all! You all knew about this! When were you going to tell me he was coming,” she cried out, unable to stop the tears. Mila stood up and walked toward her.
“No! Don’t you dare come near me! You promised me Mila! You said I wouldn’t have to see him and I believed you! I want to go, get me out of here,” she yelled.
“Gray, we have all been drinking, no one is able to drive,” Niall explained.
“So I’m stuck here? Did you do that on purpose? Feed everyone alcohol so I was stuck here having to face him. AND his mom! How sick are you people?!”
“Gray -,” Zayn started.
“No. Skip it! I could care less about what any of you have to say right now. Fuck you all! I’m leaving tomorrow whether you all join me or not!” Gray sobbed. She turned around quickly and ran into the house knowing no one would follow her. She slammed the bedroom door shut and cried on the bed. How dare they not listen to her. She just wanted a fun trip without having to see him. This was her time to forgive and forget.
I LOVE THISSSSSSSS
5/18/14