Protect You, Protect Me
Everything Has Changed
“Gray, where are we going,” her mom asked, exhausted. They had been walking around the outside of the arena for what felt like forever. Grace was complaining of her feet hurt and Gillian kept asking the same questions over and over again.
“I don’t know mother, I wasn’t given the passes,” Gray grumbled. She was trying so hard to be in a good mood, but she just could shake what felt like a dark cloud over her. At the beginning of the day she felt excited. Gray danced with her sisters in her room as they helped pick out her outfit, but as the day went on she got more and more crabbier. Gray wasn’t sure if it was nerves, but she had a strong feeling like something was going bad was going to happen.
“Cut the attitude Gray. Look, up there looks to be the place,” her mom warned and pointed up to a door where the same security guard from last night was standing.
“Names?” The guard barked, not breaking a smirk and standing them all down. Grace got scared and hide behind Gray’s legs.
“Yeah, good day to you do,” Gloria rolled her eyes,” Gloria, Gillian and Grace Russell. Gray Cameron.” Gray’s hands broke out in a sweat while the security took his time checking over the list on his clipboard.
“You three are in. Sorry, your name isn’t on the list.” His eyes glared directly into Gray’s. What the hell just happened?!
“Sir, I’m sorry but you are wrong. Liam requested her to be here!” Gloria piped up, obviously getting frazzled.
“He may of or not, but I cannot let her in here if she isn’t on the list. If you don’t like it, you all can leave,” the security guard barked back. Grace shivered behind Gray and began to cry.
“Oh don’t cry sweet girl. It’s okay. You can go in with Mom and Gillian, I can meet you first thing once you guys are done tonight,” Gray said with a shaky voice, trying to soothe her.
“No! You were supposed to come, he wants you to come!” Grace’s lip stuck out and began to quiver. Gray embraced her immediately in a hug.
“It’s okay, I promise. You just be nice and not fall asleep on anyone tonight, k?” Gray pinched the tip of her nose, causing Grace to laugh. Gloria was over by the security guard trying to give him a piece of her mind.
“I want to see a manager of this place,” she huffed. Gray rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her mom, she was a drama queen. She could see where Grace got it from.
“Mom, calm down, it’s not a big deal. Take them in and I will meet you after,” Gray responded trying to alleviate the situation.
“It is a big deal! What are you going to do for 4 hours?!” Gray took a breath.
“I’ll figure it out, just go in before you all get kicked out.” Gray turned to Gillian who looked just as sad as Grace.
“I-I’m sorry Gray,” Gillian whispered. Gray gave her a smile.
“Not your fault sweetie. But I need you to do something; you have to give this to Liam. Trust it with your life.” Gray dug around in her purse looking for a scrap of paper and a pen. She quickly scribbled a note on the backside.
Liam, couldn’t come in. G gave you the wrong last name. Thank you anyway for the passes, the girls couldn’t be happier. Good luck tonight. Gray Cameron
“Remember, with your life,” she drilled into Gillian. Gillian’s eyes went big and she shook her head.
“I will!” Gray gave her and Grace a kiss before getting up and move to her mom.
“Don’t worry hunny,” her mom smiled warmly at her,” I got this.” Gray laughed and rolled her eyes again before walking away.
“Call me when you are done.”
The girls when inside and Gray doubled up her walking pace before the tears could start to fall. She acted all tough and brave for her family, but instead she was falling apart. Really, this shouldn’t be new for her. Things always went south for Gray when they involved happiness. Her family life, college, ex boyfriends. It was just all a common trait for Gray. She quickly reached the car, got in and let the tears fall. Life has a great way of punching you in the stomach that was for sure. She leaned her head on the steering wheel and sobbed. Her strong side didn’t feel like being strong anymore. She wanted to enjoy the fun too. She took a deep breath and sighed.
“Get yourself together Gray, my god,” she mumbled to herself. Gray grabbed a random napkin and wiped her face off. Enough of the sadness and feeling sorry for herself. It was time to go shopping and get her mind off all things of Liam Payne.
----
Liam felt incredibly nervous. He had done so many meet and greets in his life that they became the norm, but this one was special. This one included Gray. He paced the dressing room, counting down the minutes.
“No worries, mate, she’ll be there,” Louis said giving him a slap on the back.
“What’s so special about her? Other than her adorable sister,” Harry laughed. Liam stopped to think of an answer. Heck, what was the answer? Gray wasn’t like the normal girls he met. She didn’t cry and practically faint, or the do the opposite and try to come off like a complete bitch. She was just her, the honest self.
“Total package.” He laughed at his answer. It worked for the moment. As much as he loved these boys, he felt the need to keep anything about her away from them, to protect her in a sort. Harry rolled his eyes and threw the pillow at him.
“Come on fellas, let’s go find Liam’s lover.” They walked into the room and Liam immediately scanned the crowd looking for any sign of her. His eyes fell onto Grace and Gillian with an older woman, but no Gray.
“Liam! Liam come here!” Gillian’s voice flew into his ear. He smiled at her and walked over, causing every other girl in the room to look at her.
“Hey Gillian, where is your sister?” Gillian’s eyes filled up with tears.
“I did it. I gave you the wrong name.” By now tears will rolling down her cheeks. Liam smiled and rubbed them away.
“Liam? I’m Gloria, the girls’ mom. There was a mix-up, Gray has a different name. I remarried,” Gloria explained, hoping he got it all without going into detail. Liam nodded like he understood.
“Here! I have to give you this!” Gillian shoved the note in his hand. Liam opened it and smiled. Gray wrote a quick note on a Chipotle wrapper, how adorable was that. He knew immediately what he needed to do.
“Miss Russell,” he whispered, pulling her back from the group of random people,” can I –.” Gloria already knew what he wanted.
“Just push talk honey, I am sure she will answer right away.” Liam smiled back at her. Mothers, they always knew.
----
“Can I get a white chocolate mocha and a chocolate chip muffin,” Gray told the lady at Starbucks. After her crying spree, she ended up at the local mall. Sometimes there was nothing better than a little retail therapy and Starbucks to eat your feelings.
She picked a booth in the back right as her phone started to go off. Her mom was called already.
“Mom, losing your hearing already,” she joked, causing herself to smile.
“Hi.”
Gray drew in a breath. That definitely wasn’t her mom, that was him! Liam! Her muffin fell out of her hand and back on the place as her fingers went numb.
“Hi there,” she finally said back after regaining her voice.
“I’m sorry for the confusion here, looks like there was a mishap with your name.” She smiled into the phone.
“Well, if you would of asked me instead of an 8 year old, I’d be there right now instead of a mall,” Gray smarted back. Liam laughed through the phone. Gosh he had a cute laugh. Gray reached her a bit of her muffin.
“Can you meet me tonight? After the show?” Her muffin once again went flying, the poor $3 muffin.
“Tonight? Are you sure about this,” she asked cautiously, unsure of what he would say.
“Never been more sure. There is a Denny’s by the arena, I’ll meet you there at midnight,” Liam confirmed with her.
“You don’t have to leave tonight?” As much as Gray wanted to shout yes, she still needed to hear it from him.
“I do, but not until late into the evening. Besides, I’d rather see you.” Gray closed her eyes. This sounded like trouble, good trouble.
“Okay, 11:30 it is.”
“Fantastic love. Got to run though. Your mum seems like a wonderful person,” Gray could hear her mom laughed through the phone.
“And Gray,” Liam whispered quieter now.
“Yeah?” She asked, making his tone.
“I cannot wait to see you.” Gray’s entire body melted.
“Goodbye Gray.”
“Bye.”
Gray put her phone down and bit her lip to try to stop smiling. She probably looked like a complete goof. This was it though; this could be her chance to finally break out of her shell. She waiting meeting Liam Payne tonight, and alone for the first time. The boy she couldn’t quite possibly forget.
“I don’t know mother, I wasn’t given the passes,” Gray grumbled. She was trying so hard to be in a good mood, but she just could shake what felt like a dark cloud over her. At the beginning of the day she felt excited. Gray danced with her sisters in her room as they helped pick out her outfit, but as the day went on she got more and more crabbier. Gray wasn’t sure if it was nerves, but she had a strong feeling like something was going bad was going to happen.
“Cut the attitude Gray. Look, up there looks to be the place,” her mom warned and pointed up to a door where the same security guard from last night was standing.
“Names?” The guard barked, not breaking a smirk and standing them all down. Grace got scared and hide behind Gray’s legs.
“Yeah, good day to you do,” Gloria rolled her eyes,” Gloria, Gillian and Grace Russell. Gray Cameron.” Gray’s hands broke out in a sweat while the security took his time checking over the list on his clipboard.
“You three are in. Sorry, your name isn’t on the list.” His eyes glared directly into Gray’s. What the hell just happened?!
“Sir, I’m sorry but you are wrong. Liam requested her to be here!” Gloria piped up, obviously getting frazzled.
“He may of or not, but I cannot let her in here if she isn’t on the list. If you don’t like it, you all can leave,” the security guard barked back. Grace shivered behind Gray and began to cry.
“Oh don’t cry sweet girl. It’s okay. You can go in with Mom and Gillian, I can meet you first thing once you guys are done tonight,” Gray said with a shaky voice, trying to soothe her.
“No! You were supposed to come, he wants you to come!” Grace’s lip stuck out and began to quiver. Gray embraced her immediately in a hug.
“It’s okay, I promise. You just be nice and not fall asleep on anyone tonight, k?” Gray pinched the tip of her nose, causing Grace to laugh. Gloria was over by the security guard trying to give him a piece of her mind.
“I want to see a manager of this place,” she huffed. Gray rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her mom, she was a drama queen. She could see where Grace got it from.
“Mom, calm down, it’s not a big deal. Take them in and I will meet you after,” Gray responded trying to alleviate the situation.
“It is a big deal! What are you going to do for 4 hours?!” Gray took a breath.
“I’ll figure it out, just go in before you all get kicked out.” Gray turned to Gillian who looked just as sad as Grace.
“I-I’m sorry Gray,” Gillian whispered. Gray gave her a smile.
“Not your fault sweetie. But I need you to do something; you have to give this to Liam. Trust it with your life.” Gray dug around in her purse looking for a scrap of paper and a pen. She quickly scribbled a note on the backside.
Liam, couldn’t come in. G gave you the wrong last name. Thank you anyway for the passes, the girls couldn’t be happier. Good luck tonight. Gray Cameron
“Remember, with your life,” she drilled into Gillian. Gillian’s eyes went big and she shook her head.
“I will!” Gray gave her and Grace a kiss before getting up and move to her mom.
“Don’t worry hunny,” her mom smiled warmly at her,” I got this.” Gray laughed and rolled her eyes again before walking away.
“Call me when you are done.”
The girls when inside and Gray doubled up her walking pace before the tears could start to fall. She acted all tough and brave for her family, but instead she was falling apart. Really, this shouldn’t be new for her. Things always went south for Gray when they involved happiness. Her family life, college, ex boyfriends. It was just all a common trait for Gray. She quickly reached the car, got in and let the tears fall. Life has a great way of punching you in the stomach that was for sure. She leaned her head on the steering wheel and sobbed. Her strong side didn’t feel like being strong anymore. She wanted to enjoy the fun too. She took a deep breath and sighed.
“Get yourself together Gray, my god,” she mumbled to herself. Gray grabbed a random napkin and wiped her face off. Enough of the sadness and feeling sorry for herself. It was time to go shopping and get her mind off all things of Liam Payne.
----
Liam felt incredibly nervous. He had done so many meet and greets in his life that they became the norm, but this one was special. This one included Gray. He paced the dressing room, counting down the minutes.
“No worries, mate, she’ll be there,” Louis said giving him a slap on the back.
“What’s so special about her? Other than her adorable sister,” Harry laughed. Liam stopped to think of an answer. Heck, what was the answer? Gray wasn’t like the normal girls he met. She didn’t cry and practically faint, or the do the opposite and try to come off like a complete bitch. She was just her, the honest self.
“Total package.” He laughed at his answer. It worked for the moment. As much as he loved these boys, he felt the need to keep anything about her away from them, to protect her in a sort. Harry rolled his eyes and threw the pillow at him.
“Come on fellas, let’s go find Liam’s lover.” They walked into the room and Liam immediately scanned the crowd looking for any sign of her. His eyes fell onto Grace and Gillian with an older woman, but no Gray.
“Liam! Liam come here!” Gillian’s voice flew into his ear. He smiled at her and walked over, causing every other girl in the room to look at her.
“Hey Gillian, where is your sister?” Gillian’s eyes filled up with tears.
“I did it. I gave you the wrong name.” By now tears will rolling down her cheeks. Liam smiled and rubbed them away.
“Liam? I’m Gloria, the girls’ mom. There was a mix-up, Gray has a different name. I remarried,” Gloria explained, hoping he got it all without going into detail. Liam nodded like he understood.
“Here! I have to give you this!” Gillian shoved the note in his hand. Liam opened it and smiled. Gray wrote a quick note on a Chipotle wrapper, how adorable was that. He knew immediately what he needed to do.
“Miss Russell,” he whispered, pulling her back from the group of random people,” can I –.” Gloria already knew what he wanted.
“Just push talk honey, I am sure she will answer right away.” Liam smiled back at her. Mothers, they always knew.
----
“Can I get a white chocolate mocha and a chocolate chip muffin,” Gray told the lady at Starbucks. After her crying spree, she ended up at the local mall. Sometimes there was nothing better than a little retail therapy and Starbucks to eat your feelings.
She picked a booth in the back right as her phone started to go off. Her mom was called already.
“Mom, losing your hearing already,” she joked, causing herself to smile.
“Hi.”
Gray drew in a breath. That definitely wasn’t her mom, that was him! Liam! Her muffin fell out of her hand and back on the place as her fingers went numb.
“Hi there,” she finally said back after regaining her voice.
“I’m sorry for the confusion here, looks like there was a mishap with your name.” She smiled into the phone.
“Well, if you would of asked me instead of an 8 year old, I’d be there right now instead of a mall,” Gray smarted back. Liam laughed through the phone. Gosh he had a cute laugh. Gray reached her a bit of her muffin.
“Can you meet me tonight? After the show?” Her muffin once again went flying, the poor $3 muffin.
“Tonight? Are you sure about this,” she asked cautiously, unsure of what he would say.
“Never been more sure. There is a Denny’s by the arena, I’ll meet you there at midnight,” Liam confirmed with her.
“You don’t have to leave tonight?” As much as Gray wanted to shout yes, she still needed to hear it from him.
“I do, but not until late into the evening. Besides, I’d rather see you.” Gray closed her eyes. This sounded like trouble, good trouble.
“Okay, 11:30 it is.”
“Fantastic love. Got to run though. Your mum seems like a wonderful person,” Gray could hear her mom laughed through the phone.
“And Gray,” Liam whispered quieter now.
“Yeah?” She asked, making his tone.
“I cannot wait to see you.” Gray’s entire body melted.
“Goodbye Gray.”
“Bye.”
Gray put her phone down and bit her lip to try to stop smiling. She probably looked like a complete goof. This was it though; this could be her chance to finally break out of her shell. She waiting meeting Liam Payne tonight, and alone for the first time. The boy she couldn’t quite possibly forget.
I LOVE THISSSSSSSS
5/18/14