Liam slipped from her arms and fell to the floor, resting his back against the bed. The sobs shook his whole body. Gray sat there numb. She had never seen him get so emotional before. It killed her inside. Gray slid down next to him and sat on his lap. Each leg was over his, and her arms were around his neck, pulling him as tight as she could to her body. Gray buried her face into his neck and cried along with him. Neither of them had the strength to talk. Liam's arms tightened around her with every cry that came out of his mouth. His tears were making her hair wet, while the front of his shirt was covered in his.

"Are you leaving with them in the morning," he asked, barely talking loud enough for Gray to her.

"Yes." It only made the tears come out faster.

"Just stay with me right now, until the last second." Gray nodded her head. There was no way she would be anywhere else right now.

----

At some point, both of them got up and laid in the bed together. Their muscles ached from sitting in the same position for so long. Both of them had bloodshot eyes and swollen faces.

"I still remember the first time I saw you." His voice startled Gray from where she laid on his chest. Liam's arm was still around her body, while the other held onto her hand tight.

"Usually I don't zone in on people during our concerts, I like to notice everyone, but something there was something about you. I just couldn't look away. You were laughing with Gillian about something. Your head was back, giggling away like you didn't have a care in the world. It was weird to me. Every other set of eyes were all glued to us, but you had to be the different one. And that dress. You look beautiful in yellow, even if it's covered in polka dots. I actually tried to get your attention, twice to be exact. I was pointing and singing in your direction. One of the girls you were with tried to tell you, but you just ignored them all and went back to dancing with Gillian."

"I don't even remember that," Gray squeaked out. She thought about that night so many times but never remembered him looking at her.

"I do. I'll always remember it. The guys all made fun of me for begging Steve to bring you back. He normally doesn't agree to those things."

"I still can't believe you let me back with six girls," Gray smiled. Her fingers unlocked from his and ran all over his bare chest. She wanted to remember this chest for as long as she could.
"Me either. They all thought I was mad, but I knew what I wanted. When you all came in I was so nervous my hands were shaking. You stood off to the side on your phone, I almost didn't come over. Niall wouldn't quit mouthing curse words until I went over there. I must have startled you making you drop your phone. It was adorable to see you so embarrassed." Gray let out a groan, she remembered when her mom texted her at the same time he came over.

"Once you used my arm to take off your shoes, I knew then that I couldn't let you go. I about beat the daylights out of Steve when he wouldn't let you back the next day. He knew who you were but he is so into protocol," Liam told her.

"I cried my eyes out in the car that night." Liam pulled her closer.

"I hate making you cry," he whispered. Gray stopped her fingers, feeling the tears come back once more. She tried will all her might to not let them pass her eyelids.

"The best feeling of my life, other than One Direction, was seeing you in Madison. I came down the stairs, and the look on your face was priceless. You looked so scared, like we were going to send you away. I don't know what came over me kissing you like that." His voice sounded like he was disgusted with himself. Gray crawled up his body, giving him a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Don't sound so pissed, I liked it," she told him. Liam gripped her body, rolling them both over so they were on their sides looking at each other.

"This will sound even more strange, but I loved watching you sleep. All the time. I would wake up early or in the middle of the night just to see your face. You smiled so much then. Never talked or anything, just a lot of smiles. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. Sometimes I'd wait until the last possible second to wake you up, just so you could stay happy in your dreams." Gray blushed, thankful he couldn't see her in the darken room.
"Hey I'm not the only one. The first day you came after your.. accident Niall commented on it too. When you passed out on the bus, we all took turns checking on you. I think the lads thought you were going to stop breathing. Every time they came back, they smiled. Niall couldn't believe you could smile that much, even after getting the shit kicked out of you."

"I have a secret to tell you," Gray said. Since he was sharing, she felt the need to tell you too. Liam stayed quiet, wondering what she was going to say.

"At Anne's house, when I said I was leaving, I never bought a plane ticket."

"What? We all thought you were!" Liam laughed at her.

"I know, it was my plan. Tickets were six hundred dollars and I just couldn't pay that amount. And having you in the same room as me, I knew I couldn't leave."

"What were you going to do instead," Liam asked her.

"Beg someone to drive me back to London and stay at Harry's until everyone came back."
"What if I would of gone back with them," he questioned her again. Gray closed her eyes before telling him the truth.

"I secretly hope you would have." Gray hear him draw in a breath.

"I was so mad at all of you. You guys loved keeping secrets from me. I wish I knew what I would have done if they would have just told the truth. But I probably would have stayed there and refused to go. Then I wouldn't be here with you right now," Gray's voice trailed off.

"Yeah, here, leaving me forever because my fans can't seem to be nice to you," he said bitterly. Gray's hand touched his face, her fingertips running over his cheek bones.

"Hey, don't blame them entirely. We should of went about things differently and it could of made a difference. We can't change the past."

"I love them, honest Gray, I love every single one of them. Hurting you twice isn't okay though," Liam told her.

"I know, they will realize how foolish they were later in life, but don't blame them. Those Directioners made who you are today." Liam mimicked her moves and ran his fingers over her face.

"Where do you think I would be if I wasn't famous," he honestly asked her.

"You would be in England, I'd be in Stafton, still with a job. We never would have met." Gray shuddered at the thought.

"What am I supposed to do without you," Liam barely choked out before the tears fell down his face again.

"Live. Forget about me. Become super successful."

"I don't want to forget you Gray," Liam told her. He drew her body in close to his, barely giving her space to breathe. She didn't to forget him either.

"You will still here from me, you can't turn me away then," he told her. Gray shook her head in agreement, but she knew the truth. After a couple of months, between the different time zones and continents they would grow apart. You couldn't have a friendship when you are thousands of miles apart. Gray wiggled back, creating some room between them. She slipped her hands down, carefully taking off his bracelet before laying it on the pillow between them.

"You have to take this," Gray sternly told him.

"No." Gray sighed, she knew it wouldn't go over well.

"If I keep this, I won't be able to move on. I'm always going to think of you, praying one day you will show up and things will be okay again. I don't think that will ever happen Liam. I can't keep you alive in my mind like that. This has to be a clean break, otherwise we both are going to go mad. I can't Liam, I just can't." Gray didn't even try to stop the tears anymore, there was no point. Liam said nothing, instead he picked up the bracelet, sliding it onto his wrist next to hers.

"We will be together one day. You aren't getting yours back. It's mine. Even if I never see your face again, it will always help me remember everything I love about you." Gray didn't answer, she moved closer to him instead, trying to brace herself for the time she has to finally let go. The sun was starting to come up, she could see it through the crack in the curtains. Gray wished she could believe him, so tried so hard, but she knew the truth. She always did. This would be the very last time they would ever be together. She held him close, watching the minutes pass down on the clock.

----

"Are you sure you want to do this," Louis asked her. Gray, including the girls and her mom, were in the Louis and Niall's room making their goodbyes. Liam told them all the news earlier while she was packing her things. They spent their final minutes together in silence, holding on to each other for dear might. When Gray said she had to get up to get ready, Liam felt like he had died. She was really going through with it.

"No, but I have to," Gray whispered out. Her eyes couldn't cry anymore. They were dry and extremely red from staying up all night with Liam. Louis gave her a tight hug, feeling just as sad. They had became the closest over their trip in Australia. Gray listened to him for many nights talking about Eleanor and helping him figure it all out. She pulled back, giving him a sad smile and a peck on the cheek before moving down the line.

"I'm sorry Gray," Zayn whispered to her when they hugged.

"Not your fault," she told him. Niall wouldn't even say anything when she hugged him. Gray could fell his wet tears hit her shoulder.

"Goodbye Gray Goose," Harry said. She chuckled, happy she could still laugh. She made it to the end of the line. Liam. Everyone was watching them, she could fell their eyes on her back. Gray grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway to get some alone time. Liam looked worse for wear. His hat was pulled down, even Gray could barely see his face. She pulled the hat up, looking into his bloodshot eyes and pulling his face close to hers.

"I will never forgot us," she whispered. Her eyes string, but nothing came out.

"Please don't do this," he choked out.
"We have to. I love you Liam. I love you more then anything else in the entire world. You are my own and only. I'll see you one day, even if it's just as friends. Thank you for everything." Gray kissed him more one last time. There was such a mixture of pain and passion it made Gray's whole body hurt. She tried to pull away, but Liam's stronger force held her there. He refused to let go.

"I'm so sorry," he cried, hugging her body. Gray ran her hands up and down his back, trying to soothe him. Sobs made his whole body shake. The fresh tears ran down his face, making the already wet spot on her shirt bigger.

"I love you Liam," she said. Their foreheads touched and they stared in to each other's eyes.

"I love you Gray." She kissed him one last time before pulling away from his body. As soon as their hands let go, she could feel her body pulling back to him. He was a magnet to her. It took all her strength not to run back into his arms. Gray led them back into the room where everyone was waiting.

"We better get going," she whispered, unable to make eye contact with any of them. The boys helped get their suitcases into the hallway and to the elevator.

"This is the final goodbye," Gray told them, trying to make herself smile. Liam stood in the back, off to the side and unable to look at her. The elevator dinged and the doors opened to show Steve standing there. He helped get their bags inside and Gloria and the girls stood next to him. All that was left was for Gray to join them. She looked at the group again trying to remember this moment.

"Take care of him," she whispered so only Louis could hear. He nodded, unable to talk.

"I love you all." Gray stepped on the elevator and turned to face them. The doors seemed to take forever to full shut. Gray continued to stare at them all until the very last second. As soon as they fully closed and the car began to move, it fully hit her. Her life with One Direction was now over. Gray 2.0 had died as soon as those metal doors met.

----

"Gray, are you all right," Gloria asked her. Gray jumped, not realizing she was daydreaming. She looked around to see that they were on the plane already. Gray didn't even realize, she thought they were still on the plane. Her body and mind were in a numb zone. Nothing felt real right now. She couldn't believe she was on her way home, alone without Liam. It felt like an out of body experience to her. Gray could see everyone around her, but it didn't feel like she was in her own body watching.

"I'm good," she said, hoping her mom would believe it. Gloria didn't say anything else, she just grabbed Gray's hand tightly and looked away. Gray stared out the window, watching the clouds before her. They really were beautiful, something you would see out of a movie about Heaven. For Gray though, it reminded her too much of Liam, there were too many memories.

Flashback

The group sat around in the dressing room in San Fran. It was a boring day, nothing to do until the concert tonight. Gray and Perrie sat on the loveseat together, both curled up reading their books. Liam sighed, and walked over to her. He crouched down at the end of the couch by Gray. She was too into her book to notice.

"Can we me," he whispered into her ear. Gray looked over at him and smiled. She put her book on the ground and joined him by the door. Everyone else were too busy in their own worlds to notice, thankfully.

"Where are we going," she asked him in the hallway feeling giddy. Liam grabbed her hand in his.

"Sometimes when I am bored or need alone time I like to go hide and clear my head," Liam explained. He pulled Gray's body in close to his, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Where is that," Gray asked him.

"Secret," Liam winked at her. They walked outside, sneaking through the buses so no one would see them. Liam put his finger on his mouth to tell her to be quiet as they hid between two of the crew buses.

"Steve will completely kill us if he finds us," Liam whispered very quietly to her. He pulled out between the bus and dragged her over to the very last bus on the end. It was smaller then the others by at least ten feet and shaped differently. He stopped on the far side where it was just them between the bus and a large brick wall.

"Put your hand on," he said, handing it to her. Gray didn't even know he brought them with. She followed orders, pulling the bill down low.

"Okay, up you go," he told her, motioning to the ladder on the side of the bus. Gray stared at him like he was nuts.

"You won't die, I'm right behind you," he laughed to her. Gray started up the ladder, moving very slowly to each ring. Her hands began to sweat with each level she went up. Gray got to the top, crawling very slowly on the top of the bus, making sure Liam had enough room when he came up. Liam flew up the ladder with ease, having a bit of a hop in his step.

"Good job," he told her. Liam crawled over next to her and laid down, pulling her body with him. Gray laughed with excitement.

"No way you are getting lucky up here jailbait," Gray warned.

"I am not that dirty love. This way they can't get pictures of us, other then our feet," he explained, putting his feet up in the air and shaking them around. Gray laughed again at him.

"So what are we doing up here," she asked.

"This is where I go to think and be alone. Steve caught me once and chewed me out but I don't care. I'm quite content up here." Liam looked at the sky and his face looked calm. People could barely see them there, other then their feet and hats. He closed his eyes, letting the sky hit his face. Gray stared at him. It was nice to see him just be calm and silent and not freaking out over her all the time. Liam kept his eyes closed, but still found her hand and took it in his.

"Did you ever cloud watch as a kid," she asked him. Liam laughed.

"Love, I grew up in England. It's always just one big cloud." Gray rolled her eyes.

"We used to watch the cloud, trying to guess what they were." Gray pointed to a cloud above them.

"That looks like a turtle."

"Please love, that is a goldfish, can't you see it's fins?"

"No way jailbait, it's a freaking turtle. That's its head." Liam laughed and reached over to kiss her.

"Is this what normal couples do," he asked, becoming quiet.

"Probably not. Never had a boyfriend make me climb a tour bus and stare at clouds."

"You know what I mean Gray." Gray stayed quiet thinking about it. Normal couples spend a couple days going to dinner or watch a movie together. Then they go back to their houses, where people don't chase them down the street. That would never be Liam and her. Their normal was different, but it worked for them.

"No, not really. Normal would be so.. quiet. This is our normal. Hiding from random people, meeting up every six weeks in random cities or having a boyfriend who millions of girls posted on their walls. This is our life Liam. Every crazy single part of it," she told him. Liam kissed her hand and smiled back at her.

"I like normal with you."

"Gray, I'm sorry your heart hurts," Grace told her quietly. Gray jumped back into real life and gave her sister a sad smile.

"Me too."

----

BREAKING NEWS: Well us at the Pioneer have sad news to report. Sources have confirmed with us that IT couple Liam Payne of One Direction and Gray Cameron the average commoner from Chicago have split. Two weeks ago, Cameron experienced another hazing from local fans in Australia. Two unidentified fans threw produce at her, causing a direct hit to her body as she boarded the One Direction bus. Can we say "Clean up aisle 5?" Our source has told us that Miss Cameron left with her family two days later and fell off the face of the earth. Her twitter and Instagram have been shut down, and her Facebook hasn't been touched in weeks. What happened to our average little princess? Did she die of a broken heart? As you all know, you see her, Pioneer needs to know!

It had been two weeks since she left Liam. Really, it felt like three days. Gray got into a mold of waking up and trying to move on with her life. Most days that consisted of sitting on the couch and zoning off into the world. Her mom had been completely supportive. Gloria decided not to be her typical dominant self, she let Gray grieve in the way she needed. It didn't mean it she didn't worry about her though. Gray looked incredibly sad, to the point Gloria worried she would fall into a depression.

"Gray," she whispered to her on the couch. Gray had been spending her days in the exact same spot.

"Huh," Gray answered, clearly snapping out of her daydream.

"Maybe you should call Mila, get out for a while." Something was up with that. Mila, being just like Gloria, rode Gray for everything. Normally she would be all over her, telling her she is a complete idiot and to go back to Liam. It had been without two weeks without hearing from her.

"She is mad at me," Gray whispered out.

"How do you know that?" Gray finally turned her head and attention to Gloria.

"She hasn't called, texted me, or came over. She must be really mad at me for leaving," Gray told her. Gloria wondered, but didn't tell Gray that.

"You need to go over there, today. Figure it out what's going on. Bring some wine with." Gray groaned, she wanting to stay where she was, in sweats and content on the couch. Or that is what she was telling herself.

"No, you are going, that is final." Gloria got up and went into the adjoining kitchen, grabbing a bottle of chilled wine from the fridge.

"Go, don't come back for a while," she ordered. Gray slowly got up, hoping her mom would change her mind. Gray looked at her, the look on Gloria's face didn't seem like that would happen. Gray grabbed the wine and her purse and headed to her car. She went through the motions of driving, stopping at lines, using her blinkers, trying to be a good driver before coming to a stop at Mila's house. Gray walked up to the steps and knocked on the door. She finally realized how stupid she looked. Red lipped leggings and a orange sweatshirt definitely do not match. The front door swung open, revealing Curtis on the other side.

"Oh Gray," he said, immediately feeling sad. She looked like complete shit.

"Mila here," Gray croaked out. Curtis nodded, opening the door all the way so she could come in. Gray walked over to the couch and sat down.

"I'll get her." Curtis came back minutes later with Mila following. She looked like she already had been crying. Her eyes were watery and her face looked so sad. Gray felt confused already. This was the part Mila usually starting to curse and order her around.

"What's going on," Gary asked, feeling alarmed. Something was off. Mila said nothing, but sat down next to Gray taking her hands in hers.

"Gray, I'm so sorry. I just didn't know what to do. Things are so odd right now, I never expected you were going to be home, heartbroken and done with Liam. When Curtis told me, I just felt like shit. I knew I couldn't be around you and make it worse," Mila sobbed to her. Gray continued to stare at her, waiting for a real explanation.

"Wait, what's going on? What are you talking about," she asked. Mila looked down at her hands, and back at Gray.

"Before everything went down in Australia and everything happened, Curtis proposed to me. We are going to get married." Gray stared at her with no emotion on her face. She knew she was supposed to be happy, this was her best friend getting married. She made herself smile.
"That is great to hear," she whispered out. Mila quickly pulled her into a hug, barely making it able for Gray to breathe.

"Oh Gray, oh my god I am so happy you aren't trying to kill me or sobbing right now. It's been eating me alive trying to figure out how to tell you. That's why I have been hiding. Ask Curtis, he about drove me to your house and force me to tell you but I just couldn't. I know your heart is dying and I didn't want to be the final straw. I'm still so sorry," Mila gushed into her head. She pulled Gray back, making her an arm's distance away.

"Will you be my made of honor?" It did feel like Gray's heart died. This was supposed to be her. Gray was the one who was to be asking Mila to be her made of honor. She was supposed be in her spot, ready to marry Liam. This wasn't the way life was supposed to be. Gray drove her nails into her thigh, forcing the tears to not leave her eyes. She needed to be here for Mila and pretend to be happy, no matter what the cost. Gray's love life didn't matter anymore. It just meant she we be alone, for a long time

"Of course Mila, there is nothing I would want more."

Notes

Title Creds: "Here comes goodbye" Rascal Flatts

I cranked this out super fast just so I wouldn't leave you all hanging. I'm sure you all wanted to kill me last time, and probably not happy now either. Whoopsie. Hang with you y'all, this puppy has a long way to go. I have a pretty packed weekend, so if I don't post tomorrow, it will definitely be Monday, promise! Thank you for all your comments, every one of them makes me smile, definitely means ALOT to me!!