Song for this chapter: When You Love Someone

- James TW

Going back to normal life after the most amazing trip was proving to be more than difficult. With Christmas quickly approaching and therefore the music show, things were starting to get a little more than hectic in music class.

"Reece! You can't sing baby got back!" Grayson tells his best friend, "you can't even fucking sing." He adds, then throws an arm around my shoulder.

"Layla! Tell your boyfriend to stop being so mean to me."

"Stop being mean to him," I say in a monotone voice, concentrating on the music sheets as I attempt to adapt them for the piano.

"Baby, tell him that you agree with me." Grayson says, turning to face me with a sad expression that makes me melt every time. It's the eyes.

"Reece you could sing something more slower than baby got back." I suggest, scrunching my nose up, "or just play the guitar instrumental for baby got back." I suggest, hating when I see his expression fall.

"Yes!" He shouts, perking up, "that's such a good idea. I love you layls." He murmurs and gets up, planting a wet kiss on my cheek.

"Get off her." Grayson mutters when he hugs me for more than five seconds.

"No she's mine now."

"You wish." Grayson snorts.

"I have her best friend." Reece says smugly and immediately I start grinning.

"I'm jealous of that." I comment, and get pinched a moment later by a pouting Grayson. I giggle quietly before placing a brief kiss on his cheek after making sure no one was looking. Letting out a quiet hum, I finish arranging the chorus - it's taken me weeks to accomplish.

"You done?" Grayson says, wrapping an arm around me.

"Almost, I just have one more verse." I tell him, tapping the pencil against the table multiple times as I think. Grayson pushes the hair away from my shoulder and then begins to trail his fingers down my neck and shoulders.

"You'll sort it." He assures me. I let out a noise of agreement, I'm definitely finding it harder than usual to arrange this. I'm not sure if it's the emotional attachment to it that's making me struggle or the fact it's just hard for me to grasp. "I believe in you." He coos, kissing my neck.

"Grayson Reed! Get your hands off my girl." I hear Lydia from the doorway and immediately turn around. She's meant to be in AP Biology.

"Lydia King, you're not meant to be here." Grayson retaliates, "and she's my girl - you know that."

"Yes Grayson!" Mrs Evans sighs, "we all know that." She mumbles, and Grayson lets out a loud laugh.

"Good." He mumbles, pulling me towards him to kiss my temple.

"Miss King, is there a reason for your presence that isn't to do with our lovely Layla?" Mrs Evans asks.

"This isn't the toilet?" Lydia jokes with a smirk on her face.

"You're gonna get me in trouble." She sighs, "sit down, Layla is just about to sing for us."

"I am?"

"Seriously?" Lydia and I murmur at the same time.

"Yes. Get up here. I'd love it if you could sing that song you sang the other week; when I look at you, was it?" She questions and I nod my head solemnly. Oof, those were dark times.

I walk up to the front, grabbing the microphone on the way up.

"Woop! That's my girl!" Reece yells.

"My girl." Grayson corrects, glaring at Reece.

"And mine." Lydia chimes in, taking my seat in between the boys.

I sing the first part a little shit, mixing up a few lyrics accidentally; when I finally reach the chorus I sigh in relief - my confidence increasing. I only notice the phone pointed at me when I get to the chorus. I smile at Lydia at she films.

"Cuz there is no guarantee
That this life is easy."

"Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you." I wink in the direction of my favourite people, and catch them all grinning. Grayson mouths the words back to me, I've well and truly made him into a mini me with all of the karaoke sessions we've had in his car.

"When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I
I look at you." When I last sang this song, my life was actually falling apart but now it looks so much brighter. My life as well as my future. And I owe it all to them.

"You appear just like a dream to me
Just like Kaleidoscope colors that
Cover me, all I need
Every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you're beautiful?"

I quiet down for the last chorus, and when I finish singing, the whole class erupts into applause.

"I'm posting that on TikTok!" Lydia cheers, and immediately my face drains of colour. She has over 100k on there from her dancing and couple videos that she doesn't tell Reece they're filming until after he's made a fool of himself.

"Can I check your arrangement quickly." Mrs Evans pulls me to the side before I make it back to my friends.

"Yeah of course." I mumble and quickly go to retrieve it from my desk.

"You're gonna blow up!" Lydia squeals.

"I just don't understand why you think it's okay to flirt with other guys." Mason rants on, he hasn't stopped since we left school. The walk home seems more tiring when I have his voice droning in my ears about something I didn't even do.

"I wasn't flirting. I'm allowed to talk to boys who aren't you, just like how you talk to girls that aren't me." I say, while rolling my eyes.

"Is this some sick kind of payback for what you saw Lindsey snap me at the weekend? I already told you that her nudes weren't meant for me." He grumbles, squaring his shoulders as he walks in front of me a little.

"I already told you I believe you, didn't I?" I snap back sarcastically, I'm getting really sick of this argument.

"I don't know who you think you're talking to, you're the one in the wrong." He turns around and stares at me furiously. I'm sick of this argument, so I decide to cave for the greater good. So that I can finally have peace and get home. Be the bigger person.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Sorry about being rude or flirting with those guys?"

"I wasn't flirting." I argue, I take it back. I'm not taking the blame for something I never did. He shouldn't be able to disrespect me like this.

"I'm so done with this, with you! You're not even that pretty and here you are talking down to me like you are out of my league or something. You're not who you think you are, this perception you have of yourself is warped. You're not all that innocent and I'm sick of you pretending that you are." He rants at me, "I'm done wasting my time with someone who's below me."

"You have no right to call me names, if you don't want to be with me - then don't. I refuse to listen to you slating me constantly, just because of your own insecurities. Who do you think you are telling me I'm below you?" I argue back, "screw you - I won't put up with you treating me this way." I say to him and walk off. I want to go home and eat ice cream.

To my surprise, he grabs my wrist and pulls me back to him. His lips immediately press against my own as he forces a kiss onto me.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said all that. Please don't leave me." He rushes out, "I love you."

He never apologised.
And it's the first time I've heard him say 'I love you' and my heart begins to soften. But I'm still angry.

"No. You can't treat me like that and expect it to all be okay with a stupid sorry."

"Let me make it up to you."

I let him "make it up to me," and that meant he was nice for a week, until he decided yet again that he was better than me and deserved way more than what he had. I naively believed him over and over again, until I fell in love with him and there was no way out because I was made to believe I'd be nothing without him.

❁ ❁ ❁ ❁ ❁

Just like he said, Grayson is waiting outside of school for me and upon reaching him I hold out my fist for a fist-bump. He just looks down at it, before grabbing my fist with one hand and bringing me towards him. He leans down and swiftly kisses me.

"None of that fist bump shit." He says, wrapping his fingers through mine. He starts to walk forward, walking me towards his car and I smile at how adorable he is. He looks behind him at me, catching me looking at him. He grins cheekily, and winks at me causing my heart to flutter crazily.

I'm meeting his mom for the first time tonight, Grayson is bringing me round to his and then she's cooking dinner when she gets home from work. The nerves settle in the bottom of my stomach as I want her to like me. I know how close Grayson is with his mom and I really don't want to fuck this up.

Opening the door for me, he sends a relaxed smile my way, and kisses my cheek before basically pushing me into the passenger seat of his car. My leg immediately starts to bounce as I feel the full effects of my nervousness hit me.

When Gray gets in the car, he sends a worried glance my way before placing a hand on my thigh.

"She's gonna love you so fucking much, baby." He assures, smiling a toothy grin while he squeezes my thigh.

"What if... what if she thinks I'm not good enough for you? I mean you're literally the most perfect guy-"

"And you're my perfect girl." He interrupts, his eyes never wavering from me. "She's seen how happy you've made me, and let's be honest here - you're so far out of my league. She'll be wondering why you're even with me." He jokes, and I let out a small laugh.

I cup his face with my hands to pull him over towards me so I can place a kiss on his lips.

"Are you okay now?" He asks against my lips.

"Uh huh." I murmur in a daze, nothing unusual when he's this close to me and all I can see is the beauty of his green eyes. He kisses my cheek, before starting the engine.

"Seatbelt." He orders and once he hears me click it into place, he drives out of school.
He reaches over to pass the aux to me, and immediately James Arthur starts playing through his speakers.

"No one direction today?" He asks, turning the volume up and then placing his hand back on my thigh. "Shift the gear, baby." He tells me and immediately I move the gear stick down for him. "Good girl." He comments, and I look at him smiling when I see an easy grin resting on his face.

As he pulls into the driveway of a bigger-than-average house, I feel my nerves pick up once again. This house is so beautiful.
My phone dings and interrupts my state of awe.

Lyds❤️❤️❤️❤️: good luck with gray's momma, she's gonna love u bubs

Her message manages to soothe me a little, I know that Lyds has met her before so it's reassuring that she's not a complete bitch.

Unless Lydia's lying to try and make me feel better. Oh god. My heart rate picks up again.

When we're parked, Gray gets out, getting his gym bag out of the back along with his backpack and mine.

"I can carry mine." I offer but he just narrows his eyes at me before walking up to the house and opening the front door.

"Come on." He urges when he sees when I haven't moved from my position.
"I can help with the nerves, you know." He whispers huskily in my ear, his hand around my waist trailing circles on my waist.

"Or you could give me a tour." I suggest as my breath hitches.

"You don't need a tour. You just need to know the way to my bedroom." He says, planting a kiss to my pulse, making me shiver.
He lets go of me, but stops when he sees I'm not following him and stood still in a daze. "Come on." He says and holds his hand out.

The last destination of the tour is obviously Grayson's room. It looks similar to his room at his dads, apart from there being a lot more photos in here. I find it surprising that they're so similar, I know that his parents are close but I know many separated parents that despite splitting on good terms meant that they felt the need to compete. Compete for the better holidays, the better rooms and on and on.

"Do you like your parents being separated?" I ask, when he comes up behind me and pushes my back into his chest.

"Yeah they're happier now and besides I get two of everything; two birthdays, two Christmas', two thanksgivings-"

"Two girlfriends." I interrupt. He turns me around in his arms, and I look up to see him smirking down at me.

"What?" He questions.

"Well I mean you could have one girl meet your mom and another meet your dad." I explain and watch as his breaks out into laughter, his dimples forming. Grayson laughing is the prettiest sight in the world.

"Damn, does that mean I have to break up with my other girlfriend after tonight because then I'll have introduced you to both my parents?" He pouts, pulling me closer by the waist.

"I would kick your ass." I mumble, "you're mine." I say quietly but I know he hears me when a huge grin makes its way into his face. Jealousy tingles inside of me at the thought of him ever being with another girl.

"As if I'm gonna be with anyone else when I have you. And I'll never let you leave me so I'll always have you." Promises like these scare me because you never know what's going to happen. But a future without Grayson seems terrifying after everything we've gone through. I don't want to lose him and I'm going to make every effort I can to make sure it doesn't happen, unless he wants to leave. I won't beg him to stay then. "God I- I," he stutters, looking conflicted for about two seconds before smirking once more, "You're so beautiful."
My heart warms.

He pulls me onto his bed with him, him sitting up against the headboard, while I lie in between his legs with my head on his chest.

I pick up my phone and start to open snaps from people as Grayson rests his chin on the top of my head and his arms tightly wrap around my waist. We have around two hours before his mom gets back, which means two hours to get my nerves in check.

A dick pic from Bobby on the swim team appears on my screen and I squeal in mortification. My innocence has been tainted!

"What the fuck was that?" Grayson growls, stealing my phone and replaying the snap.

"My innocent eyes!" I exclaim, "my innocent eyes." I repeat, placing my hands over my eyes.

"Innocent my ass." Grayson smirks, and kisses my neck. "How dare he send a dick pic to my girl? He's not even got a good dick, mine is much better, isn't it babe?" He questions and I look at him in amusement.

"Yes Gray, so much better!" I say in a monotone voice, rolling my eyes.

"I'll show him what a mans dick looks like." He says and then starts to pull his pants down. I flick his hand away in horror.

"What are you doing?" I ask, my eyes widening.

"He sent my girl a dick pic, so I'm gonna send one right back, giving him some pointers too about where his tiny dick can go get lost."

"You will do no such thing!" I exclaim.

"Oh yes I will!"

"You're not sending a picture of your penis to him, Grayson!"

"Yes I am."

"Grayson Elias Reed!" I say sternly, moving to face him so he can see my glare of warning. His lips twitch in amusement.

"Fine, because you're jealous of another person seeing it, I won't send a picture. But I will tell him to fuck off! You're mine." He finishes and then kisses my lips sweetly.

"I'm not jealous."

"Whatever you say, lil' one." He goads, he is such a little shit. He puts the phone down after a good five minutes and then starts to place open mouthed kisses on my neck. I suck in a breath and whimper at the tingles that spread with his kisses. He sucks on my soft spot, making me moan quietly.

"Grayson." I whisper. He hums against my skin and then sucks hard. Fucker! I would push him away but honestly I love his hickeys and I brought concealer anyway, I'll be sure to give him a stern talking to once we're finished though; but until then, I move to straddle him, wanting to be as close to him as possible. He groans out in pleasure once I'm sat and moves his hands down to my ass to pull me even closer.

"We can't do this right now." Grayson whispers breathlessly as he pulls away from me.

"I know." I mumble, pecking his lips once more. "But I'm ready." I tell him honestly, my past has been tying me down for a while, but I want Grayson and I want everything that comes with him. I want this with him.

"I want it to be special." He says and he cups my face.

"With you, I doubt it will be anything less than perfect." I mumble, kissing his nose. Aware that I'm probably about to ruin the mood, I say what's been on my mind since Lexi, "so... how many girls have you been with?" I ask, and immediately watch as his expression falters a little bit before he looks up at me and blinks rapidly. He looks scared shitless, "I'm not gonna judge you." I assure him, running my hands through his curls. His past doesn't bother me, I just need to let him know of my inexperience.

"You have to remember that all this was before I even met you." He tells me, and I nod my head in reassurance for him to continue. "There were quite a few, numbers I'm not quite sure exactly. But no more than 10." That's much lower than I thought.

"Okay." I say with a smile, "I'm not very... um, I'm not very experienced. I think Brody and Rob were the only ones but I'm not sure-"

"I know." He mutters, kissing my cheek, "it'll be nothing like that with me, I promise. We'll take it as slow as you want."

The words 'I love you' are right on the top of my tongue but I can't force them out for some reason. I get off of him and instead curl into his side as he wraps an arm around my waist. He reaches over me for the remote on his bedside table and turns on Netflix.

Hopefully The Vampire Diaries can distract me and keep me from running a million miles in the other direction from this first meeting with his mom.

I am so so sorry it's taken to so long for me to post. I