Cross My Heart

Grayson awoke at twelve-forty-five in the afternoon the next day, with a pounding headache and sore, puffy eyes. She shuffled into the connected bathroom and relieved her bladder before washing her hands and face. The cool water did little to bring relief, but she dried her cheeks anyway and walked back into the bedroom. She searched through her purse before she found her phone, and quickly dialed her sister's number.

“You live!”

“Leah, I need you to come get me,” Grayson said bluntly, not in the mood for jokes.

“Gray, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” her sister asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, I promise. I just need you to come get me, okay?”

“Okay,” the older girl sighed. “Where are you?”

“I’m at Oliver’s.”

“Why can’t he-“ she paused for a second, “oh no. I’ll be right there, Gray. Just hang tight for a minute.”

“Thanks, Leah,” Grayson said before hanging up. She fell onto her back and let out a large breath of air, staring at the ceiling.

She couldn’t even bring herself to think about what had happened the night before. It was bad; so much worse than anything that had ever happened to her before. She could feel the tears coming on again, but she wouldn’t cry - not yet, anyway. She shrugged into her jeans and top before grabbing her purse. As quietly as she could, she opened the door and peeked out into the hallway, sighing in relief when there was no sight of Oliver. She tip-toed down the hallway and stairs, only to freeze in place when she saw his hazel orbs staring straight at her from the couch.

Fuck.

“Can we talk?” he asked with a rasp in his voice. Grayson couldn’t bring herself to speak, but she shook her head, continuing on with her venture towards his front door. Oliver jumped from the couch, hot on her heels. “Gray, please! We need teh talk!” he said with urgency, grabbing her hand.

“I think you said everything you needed to say last night, Oliver,” she told him, not bothering to hide the venom in her voice.

His face seemed to fall and he looked at her with heavy sympathy. “Yeh misundehstood what I were sayin’, Grayson.”

“Well then what exactly were you trying to say!?”

“Why didn’t yeh tell meh yeh were a virgin?”

She stared down at her shoes. “I honestly didn’t think it mattered, Oliver. It’s not like it was a big deal.”

He placed a finger underneath her chin, forcing her to look at him. “It was a big deal, Gray. Yeh first time shouldn’t ‘ave been like that!”

“Been like what?” she asked. “With someone I love?” Her words stunned the both of them, and Oliver shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

“It shouldn’t have been when yeh were drunk and not finkin’ right.”

She scoffed. “I may have been drunk, but I knew exactly what we were doing, Oli. I knew what I was getting myself into the moment we left the bar.”

His hand dropped from her chin and he tugged at his hair, sighing. “Yeh just don’t undehstand,” he mumbled.

“Understand what?”

He gave her a solemn look. “’M not readeh to be wif anyone, Grayson. ‘M still tryin’ teh deal wif what ‘appened teh Fiona and I were wrong teh lead yeh on the way I did last night. ‘M sorreh,” he told her softly.

She felt her bottom lip trembling as tears welled in her eyes. “If I tell you something, do you promise not to laugh at me?”

“I ain’t gonna laugh, Gray,” he promised.

She reached for his hand, her eyes scanning over each letter of the word 'Drop' that were tattooed right above his knuckles. “I – I was sort of … saving myself for you,” she confessed, her cheeks going on fire. “I didn’t know if it would ever happen, but I had high hopes that my first time would be with you.”

Oliver didn’t speak for a long moment, but finally, he stepped right in front of her, cradling her face in his hands. He locked eyes with her and Grayson couldn’t help but to get lost in the warm stare he was giving her; a look of complete adoration and love. It made her heart skip a beat. “I’ll ‘ave yeh one day, Grayson. When I can deserve yeh, I’ll ‘ave yeh and I’ll give yeh everehfing and anehfing yeh ask fer,” he vowed, his lips lightly ghosting over hers as he still gazed into her orbs. “Ask me.”

She sniffled, smiling through her tears as she knew exactly what he meant. “Promise?”

“Cross meh fuckin’ ‘eart, love,” he stated, giving her a genuine smile that reached the corners of his eyes. “Can I ‘ave meh best friend back, now?”

She laughed, wiping her eyes. “I never left, Oli,” she pointed out right as a horn sounded from outside. “That’d be Leah.”

He frowned. “I would ‘ave taken yeh home, yeh know.”

“I know you would’ve, but I was still pissed off at you when I called her.”

“I guess I can’t blame yeh,” he sighed. “Aye, before yeh go, I gotta ask yeh somefin’.”

“Go ahead.”

“We’ve been asked teh play at a venue in London next weekend. Yeh up fer goin’?”

Grayson instantly smiled. She loved watching the boys perform. “Do you even have to ask me!?” she practically yelled, making him laugh.

“I guess not, but I wanted teh make sure.” He pulled her into a hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “Remembeh meh promise, alright?”

“I will,” she nodded. Leah honked the horn again and Grayson laughed as she pulled out of Oliver’s arms. “I guess I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”

“Aye,” he smiled.

She waved over her shoulder to him before walking out the door, making her way to Leah’s car. She sat down in the passenger seat with a bright smile on her face.

As her sister began backing out of the driveway, she laughed. “I take it you and loverboy made up?”

“Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Well what happened anyway?” Leah asked as she pulled out into the road.

Grayson shrugged subtly, turning to look out of the window. “We just had a misunderstanding, but it’s settled now.”

____________________________________

The rest of the week had gone by smoothly. Grayson and Oliver were back to acting normal with each other, and she couldn’t have been happier. She’d even finished with working on a design for a tee shirt and had received a lot of praise for it. She’d yet to call Adam, though, and it wasn’t because she hadn’t thought about it – because she had – but she was just comfortable with how things were going at the moment, and didn’t want to disrupt the peace that had settled into her life.

It was Saturday night, the night of the band’s performance in London, and Grayson was laughing along with Acey as the boys huffed and puffed as they unloaded their equipment.

“Yeh know, instead of standin’ oveh there and gigglin’ like some idiots, yeh two could ‘elp!” Matt stated, giving both girls a look.

“But you look so good using those muscles of yours. Let me enjoy the view!” Acey flirted, giving him a wink. This seemed to please the boy enough and he grinned as he walked into the venue with a piece of his drum set.

Grayson laughed. “You’ve got him wrapped so tightly around your finger it’s ridiculous.”

She smiled. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice,” she joked, making them both laugh.

Grayson continued making small talk with Acey as the boys unloaded and when they were done, she noticed Oliver walking towards her. Acey excused herself and ran to Matt. “Hello, Master Syko,” she teased, making Oliver laugh.

“C’mon, we’ve got a meet and greet teh do,” he said, pulling her up from the ground. He wrapped his fingers around hers as they walked into the building, and Grayson couldn’t help but to smile the entire time. There was always a certain comfort she found in Oliver's hands; a feeling that couldn't be found anywhere else. When they reached a room in the back of the building, he stopped just before opening the door. “’M kindeh nervous,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head with his free hand.

“Why?” Grayson asked, somewhat surprised.

“’S just been awhile, yeh know?”

She nodded her head. “Yeah, but you’re going to be great tonight, Oli. You’ve got your fans that love and can’t wait to meet you, and the guys, and see you all perform. Stop worrying,” she told him, giving him a light smack on the butt.

He grinned at her. “Careful, love. I like teh be the one doin’ the spankin’,” he winked, giving her a tap on her bum as well before opening the door to the room.

Grayson hid part of her face in his shoulder as they passed by the line of fans, walking to the table that was set up for Oliver and the guys. He made sure she was comfortable as she sat in the chair next to Acey, before going to take his own seat in between Vegan and Matt. He took the cap off his Sharpie and flashed a smile as security allowed the fans to begin approaching the table.

“What’s another word for entertaining that’s seven letters long?” Acey queried suddenly, turning to look at her. Grayson arched her brows in question and she laughed, pointing to her phone. “I’m doing a crossword to pass the time,” she explained.

“Oh,” Grayson said. “Uh … try amusing?”

“Yes!” she squealed. “Thank you!”

Grayson laughed and nodded her head. “You’re welcome.”

She crossed her legs and watched as each boy conversed with their fans, laughing and smile the whole way through. There were a few times when she’d catch one of them bouncing their legs or tapping their Sharpie pens, letting her know that they were growing anxious; they were ready to play. After signing and take a photo with the last fan in the line, all five boys immediately stood and once more, Oliver took Grayson’s hand as they all filed out of the room.

“Time to play?” she asked.

He nodded his head. “We’ve got about five minutes before we go on.”

“Still nervous?”

Oliver looked at her, giving her a smile. “Nah, not anehmore.”

She blushed and bowed her head as they walked to the side of the stage. She let go of Oliver and allowed him to join the boys in getting pumped up before they took the stage.

“You and Oliver sure are looking mighty cozy,” Acey smirked.

Grayson rolled her eyes. “We’re just friends, Ace.”

“Yeah … for now.”

Grayson pushed the girl playfully, nearly making her come out from the behind the curtain, and laughed. Acey gasped and pushed her back, which only resulted in playful wrestling between the two of them. After one last shove, they turned to see all the boys looking at them in amusement.

“Unless yeh two are gonna get naked, we’re about teh go on!” Matt joked.

“Only in your dreams, Matty!” Grayson laughed.

He smirked. “No offense, Gray, but the onleh girl in meh dreams is Aceh,” he said, pulling the red head into his arms.

“You’re such a kiss ass,” she teased.

“I’d like to kiss yeh arse.”

Grayson laughed as Lee and Vegan acted as if they were sticking their fingers down their throat. She gave Jona a quick word of encouragement before stepping in front of Oliver. “Is it too late to make a request?”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, using his other hand to snap his fingers quickly. “Talk teh meh, love.”

She laughed at his antics. “Play Off the Heezay?”

At this, the smile was wiped off his face. “Why that song?”

“Because I like it?” she said, the words sounding more like a question than a statement.

His mouth twisted to the side. “And not because of what the lyrics are saying?”

When Grayson thought about a few of the lyrics, she quickly shook her head. “I mean, I like the lyrics, obviously, but that’s not why I asked, Oli. I promise.”

He nodded his head then, giving her a small smile. “We’ll work it in,” he said before pressing a kiss to her cheek.

“Good luck!” both Acey and Grayson called to the boys before they all walked out on stage.

Oliver rounded Lee, Vegan and Jona around Matt’s drum set and exchanged a few words with them before they all spread out, taking their spots on the stage. Oliver then welcomed the crowd to the show, before going into the first song of the night.

“We will never sleep!” he shouted before turning the microphone towards the audience, who immediately responded with “’Cause sleep is for the weak!”

As the show progressed, Grayson’s cheeks began to hurt from smiling so much. She loved watching Oliver perform; seeing him move across the stage and shout so much that at times, it made her own vocal chords hurt. But more than that, she loved watching him living out not only his dream, but their friends’ dreams as well.

Drenched in sweat, and with the sides of his hair now curling against his ears, Oliver stepped on top of an amp. “Fanks fer comin' out teh see us tonight! This one’s called Off the ‘Eezay! Fuckin’ sing as loud as yeh can if yeh know it!” he exclaimed before looking at Grayson, giving her a wink. “Awesome foursome!” he yelled, making Grayson and Acey laughed.

When the song finished, Oliver thanked the crowd one last time before he and the guys walked off. He came straight to her, shaking his head like a dog, making droplets of his sweat hit Grayson’s skin. She laughed. “You’re disgusting.”

He grinned. “’S just sweat; won’t ‘urt yeh.”

“It might,” she said smartly.

“Well it was nice knowin’ yeh,” he retorted just as cheeky.

She laughed and pulled him into a hug. “You guys were amazing, but I expected nothing less. And as a reward, here you go,” she said, pulling a water bottle from behind her back.

Oliver laughed. “Fanks, love,” he smiled, wasting no time in chugging down the liquid.

After congratulating the boys on their show, Grayson walked with them back to their dressing room. Each boy took their turns in the shower, whilst Grayson and Acey kept busy by talking to whoever wasn’t in the bathroom at the moment. When all was said and done, they began loading their trailer back up and this time, Grayson and Acey pitched in as Oliver and Jona had gone to see about ‘business stuff’.

It took another hour or so, but they were finally all seated back in the large van, Vegan driving. “I don’t wanna ‘ear aneh complaints about meh drivin’,” he stated as he pulled out into the street.

Jona laughed from the passenger seat. “Drive properly and you wouldn’t have any, mate.” Vegan flipped him off and everyone laughed.

It would be roughly a three hour trip back to Sheffield and with it being so late into the night, nearly everyone began dozing off. Grayson was wide awake, though, and she stared out of the window as she ran her fingers through Oliver’s hair, his head lying in her lap. She studied his face as he slept, slightly amazed that one person could look so perfect. She pushed back the fringe from his forehead, letting out a soft sigh.

She had it bad.

Suddenly, Grayson felt a vibration against the seat and after checking her phone, she realized it must be Oliver’s going off. “Oli,” she said, shaking him. His eyes twitched a bit and she shook him again. “Your phone’s going off.”

Still keeping his eyes closed, he reached into his pocket and peeked one eye open to tap the screen. “’Ello?” he answered, his voice groggy. She watched as his eyes grew wide and he shot up from her lap, bumping the top of his head against the roof of the van. “Y-yeh do?” he stuttered, clearly nervous with whatever the person on the phone was saying. “Yeah … No, I undehstand … Yeah … Alright, I’ll give yeh a ring tomorreh, if that’s fine? Alright then … Bye,” he said, tapping his screen once more to end the call.

Grayson noticed how pale his face had suddenly gone. “Oli, what’s wrong? Who was that?”

He looked at her with nervous eyes. “Fiona’s mum,” he stated, and suddenly, Grayson’s stomach flipped. “She wants teh see Findleh.”