Song for this chapter: you and I (nobody in the world)

- John Legend

Grayson's POV

Chris: you know Layla and Lydia are going to a party tonight? My daughter is calling you a tool, I don't know what you did but you better go and fix it so you can look out for her.

Shit, Layla called me a tool? She said that to her dad? I mean she is one hundred percent correct, I am a tool. A complete asshole. But I'm an asshole that loves her. I love her too much to drag her into my shit.

I've always had protective instincts when it comes to her - since the day I met her, and I don't think that I'd ever gonna change. It's worse now than it's ever been.

She is my world. And I refuse to bring her anymore suffering by shedding light on a part of my past that I wanted to remain hidden. I also don't want her to look at me differently.

I send a message to the group chat to let them know I'm up for the party. I declined earlier because the argument with her drained me, and the look on her face as I disappointed her has begun to haunt me. But if she's there, getting drunk at a party with the guys in our year - there's no way I'm letting her go without me being able to watch out for her.

Lydia isn't always the best drunk and I can't count on her to look after my girlfriend under the influence. I need to be there, even if she doesn't want to see me. I throw on another outfit, and spray Layla's favourite cologne of mine before grabbing my keys and leaving my house. I shout a goodbye to my mom on the way out, telling her where I'm going.

Getting in my car, I text the boys that I'm on my way - I agreed to be designated driver tonight, although I'm pretty certain they'll stay over as Dan is an friend of all of ours. I agreed for the sole purpose of looking after my girl. I know how much of a lightweight she is and she causes me so much stress being already clumsy - her being drunk seems to heighten her clumsiness that much more.

I pick up the guys one by one, each seeming to be more drunk than the last and when Reece gets into the passenger seat I have to refrain from wincing at the stench of alcohol on him.

"What's up?" I ask, trying not to inhale.

"I fucked it man." He complains, causing Myles to reach forward and slap his neck.

"Not that you deserve to know, but Lay texted me half an hour ago saying how Lyds is perfectly happy and fine. You need to sober up if you want to sort things out with her." Did he just say Lay? As in my Layla?

"The car ride isn't gonna be enough time for him to sober up, unfortunately." I point out, picking up my bottle of water from in the pocket of my door and handing it over to him. It'll be a start, I guess. I watch as he gulps it down in one go.

Remind me to refill that later for Layls. I'm sure she's gonna need it.

When I pull over, Reece is at least a little bit less drunk. I offer him some spray that I have left in my car from practise, figuring that he doesn't want to smell like that when he sees Lyds.
He happily grabs it from my hands and sprays an awful lot, resulting in both Myles and I coughing as we choke on it. I fan around my face to get it away from me, before opening my door and getting out. Time to see my girl.

"Fuck sake Reece, you sprayed it in my eyes." Myles complains, desperately rubbing his eyes.

"Let's go." Reece cheers, rushing forward only to trip on the sidewalk and face plant into the concrete, okay so maybe he's not as sober as we thought.

"You okay man?" I ask, stepping over his fallen body.

"Yeah." He grunts, as Myles moves to help him up from the floor.

As soon as I step through the door of Dan's lavish mansion, the smell of alcohol and sweat hit my nostrils. I can't believe I used to enjoy this shit by myself, now all I can think about is her. This would be fun if she was here with me, giggling and swinging around in my arms - where I'd be able to catch her if she falls over due to intoxication. Where is she anyway? I head to the kitchen first, with Reece and Myles following me. When Reece tries to grab the bottle of vodka, I swiftly snatch it from his hands. He doesn't need any more of that.

I do a quick tour of the house, not being able to find the beautiful blue eyed girl anywhere in the house. She's probably running late anyway, those two take ages to get ready when they're with each other. They spend more time dancing than actually doing their makeup and getting dressed.

With a huff, I take a seat in the lounge, opposite Reece, who's anxiously looking in three different directions. He's clearly on edge waiting for Lydia to arrive.

"Where the fuck are they going looking that good?" Reece asks, a frown on his face as he takes a sip from his beer, looking down at his phone.

"What are you talking about?" I question. He hands me his phone, a picture of Layla and Lydia smiling at the camera from thirty minutes ago is on his screen. God, she looks so fuckin beautiful. The white dress she's wearing is clinging to her gorgeous curves, showcasing her long hair which is falling in waves down her front. Are her eyes that blue and pretty in real life? Who am I kidding - they're even prettier. I'm gonna marry this girl. After I apologise for what happened earlier. And depending on whether she forgives me for being a grade A asshole. I let out a pained groan. "Why the fuck is she so pretty?" I want to cry. I miss her.

30 minutes ago? Surely they should be here by now, I don't understand why they're not. Unless they're eating.

I guess all I can do is wait for her and then I can finally get on my knees and beg for her forgiveness.

...

It's been three hours.

Three hours sitting on this couch, waiting for her to arrive. I've sent her a dozen messages, asking if she's okay. I'm worried something has happened to her.

"Grayson?" Amber asks, a confused frown set on her face, "where's Layla?"

"I'm not sure to be honest. She said she would be here." I tell her, I have no idea where she is and I'm worried out of my mind. I miss her. And I'm scared something has happened to her.

"I'll text her to see where she is." She sends a comforting smile my way, before walking off with Aria and a few other of her friends.

...

Four hours.

Where the fuck is she?

I've called fifteen times.

I'm five seconds away from calling a search party for her.

Why isn't she here?

I see movement from the corner of my eye, the crowd parting for some reason. I stand up to see what all the fuss is about and feast my eyes on the girl of my dreams finally arriving. I let out a sigh of relief, before I register that's there's someone else with her. What the fuck?

My eyes narrow into a dark glare as I see my favourite girl in the arms of some random douche bag that I've never seen before. Lydia is being carried between two other guys, laughing as she swings her head all over the place. She looks delirious. I turn my attention back to my girlfriend who looks like she's falling asleep in this stranger's arms. He starts grinning down at her and I swear I want to knock him out.

"What the fuck is this?" Reece spits, before storming over to Lydia and her two men, grabbing her out of their arms and throwing her over his shoulder. For some reason I think my balls would get broken if I took the same approach to Layla. His probably will too, judging by the way her fists are repeatedly punching his back as he heads upstairs.

I step forward to go and take Layla away from the stranger but before I can, she asks him to let her down. He does as she asks, before scanning the room. Once his eyes land on me he points over before leaning into Layla and asking her something. He better not be flirting with her.

Her beautiful blue eyes meet mine and her lips stretch into a smile before she stumbles over to me, I watch as she grabs a drink from Emily Dallas as she walks past her. She downs it in one go and I let out a wince before she crashes into me wrapping her arms around my neck. This is my fault.

"I missed you." She coos, before pulling away and tapping my nose. I don't let her get far from me as I wrap my arms around her waist tightly. I think I'm the only thing keeping her up. "Do you like my dress?" She asks, pouting up at me. Her eyes are so beautiful, especially up close.

"I love your dress." I tell her, watching as a beautiful smile makes its way across her beautiful face. "How did you get here?" Most of its curiosity - I wanted to be introduced to the guy who is standing behind my girl, looking like a lost puppy as he stares at us. Okay so mainly I'm jealous and want to find out who the hell the bastard behind her staring at us is.

"Ooh!" She squeals excitedly, turning around to grab this randomer's arm and pulling him forward, "this is Chase! He offered to help us bring you to us." I'm not sure if she's aware that she's not making proper sense, but I'm able to understand her at least. She's a drunken mess, but she's my drunken mess.

"How nice of him," I smile painfully, turning towards Chase. "I'm Grayson, thank you for getting her here."

"Ah, the boyfriend." Yes, the boyfriend. "It's nice to meet you." He shakes my hand, smiling as he does so. I hate him. Layla squeals again before jumping on me.

"Woah, okay." I mumble into her neck, "are you okay?" I whisper, running a hand through her hair. I grimace when my hand gets tangled, her hair sticky - clearly a drink has been spilled on her.

"Yeah. Sorry. Lydia poured drink on me." She mumbles sadly, nuzzling further into my neck.

"Did they argue?" I direct the question to Chase, not wanting to make Layla cry, last time this happened, Layla was the one who ended up crying in bed. It looks like Lydia shouted at her again.

"Yeah." He lets out a small chuckle. "Some guy hit on Layla so she started crying because she missed you. Then Lydia called her a pussy and she started crying more so Lydia poured a drink on her. Then Layla asked to come here." He explains, smiling a little bit.

Layla steps away from me to place her hands over his mouth. "You weren't meant to tell him that. He doesn't like that I love him." She whispers loudly, obviously paying no mind to the fact that I can hear her loud and clear. My eyebrows furrow as I process the meaning of her words. I don't like that she loves me? I love that she loves me. Layla being all mine is the best thing that's ever happened to me, no one has ever made me feel like she does and I love her more than anything. I hate the effect that me withholding information to protect her is having on her. I'm going to tell her. There's no way I'm going to make her feel like this any longer. Well, I'll tell her as soon as she's sober enough to underhand me.

"Anyway I have to get back to my boyfriend, she's here now so we better go." Chase says, suddenly looking a bit awkward as he notices my stare fixed on Layla. He holds out his fist to Layla and she fist bumps him before he leaves. Thank fuck for that.

She swings back into my arms, making me tighten my grip as I panic, not wanting her to fall and hurt herself. She stresses me out being as clumsy as she is. She falls at least twice a day and it almost causes a heart attack every time. I need to buy her some balance. Or take her to yoga. My heart can't handle her getting hurt.

"Let's get you home." I say grabbing her thighs to pick her up. She wraps her legs around me tightly before burying her head into my neck. "I'll see you guys later." I say to the guys on the football team, watching as they all send amused smirks my way - no doubt about to mock me for how whipped I am. Like I could care less. I'm perfectly happy being whipped if it feels like this.

"Mine or yours? My dad is home so we'll have to be quiet." She rambles, heaving out a sigh as she starts to tug at my hair. "We can have angry sex because I hate you right now. But not actually because I love you. Hate you love you." She spouts, I'm sure drunk her is proud of her little rant - judging by that cute little satisfied grin on her face. I pull out my car keys from my pocket, and throw her in the front seat.

"We're not having sex." I tell her, leaning down to take her heels off before pushing her legs inside the car.

"Why not?" She pouts, reaching her hands up to me.

"Because you're angry at me, I'm not into taking advantage of you, you should know that by now." She lets out a noise between a growl and a groan, as I lean over her to clip her seatbelt. I watch from the corner of my eye as her first swings back and then slams into my stomach, forcing my to heave as air leaves my body.

"Why would you do that?" I ask breathless, a smile cracking at the corner of my lips as I stare down at my little spitfire.

"I don't know, I just couldn't resist," she smirks as she stares intently at her fist, moving it around in amazement. "Damn it felt good!" She squeals. She goes to punch herself, but I quickly grab her hand mine, kissing her knuckles.

"Don't do that." I mumble, entwining her fingers with mine. I shut the door and go to get in the drivers side. I'm not even halfway past the front of my car before Layla is flinging open her door and sprinting away. Fuck.

"Layla, get back here right now!" I scream after her, slamming my door shut before running after her. I hear her giggle, making me smile as I hear it. Fuck sake, why is she so adorable?

I catch up to her in no time, but by the time I grab her in my arms - she's no longer laughing, instead crying her eyes out.

I did this to her.

"I'm gonna lose you." She cries, and I bring her closer into my chest. "No. No. No. No. Get off me." She shouts, pushing me away from her. "You chose her over me. You're gonna leave me."

"That's just your insecure thoughts, I'm not gonna leave you, Layls." He says softly.

"I'm not being insecure! I'm being scared. I'm scared that you're suddenly realising that I'm not enough. I'm not pretty enough, tall enough, blonde enough. I'm terrified that you're going to realise that I'm not worth sticking around for. I'm not her."
He grabs me closer to him, holding each side of my head in a strong grip. I made her insecure. I know how scared she is if people leaving her and I made her think I was doing exactly that. I'm such a fucking idiot. I was trying to protect her, and I've fucked it all up.

Layla's POV

I wobble a little on my feet, my mind swirling with all of my thoughts that are swirling around my head so fast.  I'm an over thinker by nature and my past has made it so much worse. I love him and he's going to leave me.

"I'm in love with you, not her. I'm so in love with you it hurts. If anyone's gonna leave, it's not gonna be me. You don't have to worry about me leaving you, okay baby? I'm never going to leave you. I'm not your mom, or Cleo or Mason. I'm Grayson. I'm your boyfriend, then I'm going to be your husband and then the father of your kids. I'm in this for the long haul. And nothing is going to stop me from getting what I want. Okay?" He places a kiss on my temple, before wrapping his arms around me to bring me into a hug. "I love you." He whispers again against my head.

"I love you too." I say, even though my vision is still swirling, I mean it.

"When your head is better in the morning, I promise I'll tell you everything. But for now, let's get you home." He says, picking me up once again to put me back in his car.

"Okayyyy," I mumble, letting out a yawn before I kiss Grayson's neck. He gently placed me in the front seat, doing my seatbelt for me. "Can you stay with me tonight?" I ask.

"Yes. We're going back to mine." He tells me, he's so hot when he's decisive.

"Cuddles?"

"When have I ever denied you cuddles, baby?" He questions, raising his eyebrows as he faces me. He puts the car in drive and then pulls away from the house party.

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