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LYRA
Grayson and Lyra hadn't been properly communicating for quite a while. It wasn't intentional, of course.
Half of Grayson's thoughts were still preoccupied with Lyra and half of Lyra's thoughts were still plagued by her asshole.
It was just that, between Grayson's work at the firm and Lyra's studies, they couldn't talk much.
So, apart from the occasional "How are you?", "Did you eat?", "I love you" and "I miss you", they weren't interacting. Of course, Lyra had noticed. And she hated it.
But she had figured that, once both of their lives calmed down, everything would return to normal. Return to just them.
Life had other plans, though.
Grayson was tired. Lyra was beyond exhausted. Yet they still took out time and decided to meet one another, that's what love did to a person. Unfortunately, though, their lack of communication over the past few weeks finally took its effect.
They ended up arguing.
“Lyra, I honestly don't remember??” Grayson said, sounding absolutely exasperated. Which only hurt Lyra more.
“I- Gray. You planned the event??” Lyra immediately shot back.
“And I forgot. I'm sorry, its just work has been-”
“Do not give me that excuse again, Gray, because I have been perfectly busy too, but I remembered.”
Grayson ran a hand down his face, his smile was completely gone now.
“I'm not giving you an excuse Lyra, its the truth and sadly inevitable.”
Lyra let out a frustrated groan, “Inevitable, Hawthorne? Really? You're the one that suggested we go out this weekend and then forgot. This was perfectly avoidable.”
Grayson's eyes bored into her, as if he was trying to read what was going through her mind.
“You're right. This was perfectly avoidable, I shouldn't have tried in the first place.” He sounded cold.
Lyra tried to remind herself that they were both just tired, that they were both lashing out for no reason, yet she couldn't get herself to stop.
Her scoff was cruel.
“Or you could have remembered?? Set a reminder or something. This is the third event of ours that's been cancelled-”
And so they went back and forth over and over again.
“Oh, my god. I cannot even with this right now.” Lyra said after they had argued for a good twenty minutes. She raised her hands in defeat and began to pace the room to keep her cool.
“With what?” Grayson pried, he wasn't masking his anger either.
“I don't know genius. The event? This? Us?”
When Grayson was angry, he didn't yell or scream or turn red. No, when he was angry, he put on his poker face. His cool, unbothered façade. He went so unbelievably still, seemed so unbelievably calm, that people were unnerved.
And that demeanor never faltered when he was in a bad mood.
At least that's what Lyra had thought up until then.
The moment the word “Us?” left her mouth, Grayson's expression changed. For one split second, he looked shocked, taken-aback, broken.
Lyra knew immediately where she had erred. She didn't mean that. Not one bit.
“Gray-”
“Then leave.”
Silence.
Lyra felt her world tilting on its axis as she repeated those words again in her head.
Then leave.
He wants you to leave. He wants you to leave.
A small part of Lyra whispered, He doesn't mean that.
Lyra took a deep breathe.
But what if he does?
She looked up to meet Grayson's gaze but he wasn't looking at her anymore. His head was turned to the side as he glared holes into the floor.
“Leave?” She asked, her voice sounded indifferent. A broken kind of indifferent.
A heavy silence followed, which answered the question for her.
“Alright then.” Lyra turned on her heels, walking fast towards the door. She needed to get out of there.
“This is the end, Hawthorne.”
Lyra grabbed her car keys and was about to snatch her coat from the stand when she realized that it wasn't hers.
The coat she had been using was her boyfriend's. Or, her now ex-boyfriend's
Lyra's hand retreated and she barged out the door. She didn't let the tears come, she had a long drive ahead of her.
But where am I going to go?
She decided on Miles End, making up her mind to drive for nearly a day and a half.
Lyra sprinted to the parking area and spotted a man standing in front of her car.
“Excuse me, can you please move? I need to drive.” She tried to sound as polite as she possibly could at that moment.
The man turned to her, “Actually, I have been assigned to drive you wherever you'd like.”
Lyra felt her heart tug.
Maybe Grayson didn't hate her?
She pushed the thought away. He had told her to leave, he didn't want her around anymore and she would respect that.
“I decline the offer, now please leave.” Lyra said, making her way to the drivers seat.
“M-miss! I insist-”
Lyra sent the man a levelled glare, ordering him to back off, “You are dismissed, sir.”
The man gave a small bow and left. Lyra almost felt bad, she hadn't meant to scare the poor guy, but she wasn't exactly emotionally stable at the moment.
Finally, sitting there alone in the car, her feelings bombarded her. A broken sob escaped her lips.
Lyra didn't think her life could have a lower moment than when the memory of her biological father began to haunt her. She had been wrong.
This was so, so much worse.
Because Lyra had a taste of what love felt like, what being whole felt like, what being with him felt like.
And she had screwed it all up. She had ruined it.
Lyra felt like somebody had ripped her heart out of her chest, threw it to the ground, stomped on it a hundred times and put it right back in her chest.
That would be better than this, actually. She thought.
Everything hurt.
And he wasn't there.
Lyra's entire body shook as she sat their in the car, crying her heart and soul out.
She had lost him. He hated her. They were over.
-------------------------------------
GRAYSON
Grayson's brain didn't process what had went down until she slammed the door shut behind her.
She left.
Lyra was gone.
And he had told her to leave.
Grayson's eyes widened slightly.
When they had started arguing, Grayson knew it wouldn't be a short 'scream and finish' argument. They both had been tired, they both had lashed out.
But he never expected for this to happen.
Grayson took a step back as the weight of the situation finally settled in.
Lyra left. She's gone. She isn't coming back. We broke up. She hates me. It's over.
He fell back on the sofa without meaning to, his legs had given out. Grayson had faced heartbreak before, this was something else. Because what was his life without Lyra? What was he without Lyra?
How did this happen? Why did this-
He took a shaky breathe. He tried to steady himself.
He failed.
---------------------------------------
LYRA
It was hard to keep her eyes open for nearly 29 hours after having an entire sob session, but Lyra was stubborn as hell.
She had drove. An entire 29 hours. No eating or breaks. Just driving
And she was now at Miles End.
Lyra stood at the front door staring at the door knob as she contemplated whether to tell her mom. What to tell her mom. She took a deep breathe and stepped in.
“Mom! I'm home!!” Lyra screamed as if her arrival was to be expected.
Her mom ran out of the kitchen, “Lyra?! Oh my goodness-”
She hugged her, Lyra let her.
“You came alone?? Where's my soon-to-be-son-in-law?” She asked, looking back to the door to make sure nobody was left behind. That he wasn't left behind.
When Lyra didn't reply, her mom turned back to her.
Lyra had decided before hand that she wouldn't tell her mom, she didn't want to worry her. She didn't want her mom to see her despair.
Her mom turned around and gazed over her entire body, toes-up. Her eyes lingered on her face. She didn't say a word.
She simply took Lyra's hand and led her to the living room.
Lyra followed like a lifeless corpse.
She took a seat on the sofa and signaled for Lyra to follow suit. She did. And then, her mother took her head and gently pried it onto her lap, Lyra was stunned for a moment.
But that's all it took.
She wrapped her hands around hers mother's waist, face towards her mother's stomach.
The tears came of their own violation.
----------------------------------------
GRAYSON
Grayson had dealt with heartbreak before. This was not the same.
He didn't know what to do. What to think.
It had been nearly a week since the argument, since the break up. Grayson hadn't so much as left his room. He didn't shower, didn't eat, didn't sleep.
Life felt bland, pointless, like nothing.
Suddenly Grayson heard voices coming from outside the door, his usually sharp ears, though, didn't process what they were saying until they entered his penthouse.
“Nope. We've given him enough time to sob. We cannot handle this gently anymore.” Jameson
“Agreed.” Said Xander and Nash heaved a heavy sigh.
They stepped into his room and froze.
Obviously, whatever it was they were expecting, it wasn't this.
Grayson, laying down on his bed, looking surreally pale- symbolizing a corpse. Judging by how disheveled his clothes looked, he obviously hadn't changed from his previous pair, leave alone bathed.
He looked miserable. Dead, almost.
His three brothers stood there, trying to process what they were seeing. It didn't feel right. Nothing about the scene said Grayson.
Jameson snapped out of it first.
“Grayson. What are you doing?” He practically screamed, Nash shot him a glare but he ignored it.
When Grayson didn't reply, didn't move, Jameson walked forward.
“Oi! Grayson-” Nothing.
“Gray! You can't stay like that for the rest of your life. Get up.”
Followed by, once again, nothing. Not a glare, not a scoff not even an eye twitch.
Jameson's eyes widened slightly. This was bad.
Nash and Xander stepped up beside him as they all looked down to Grayson's extremely still body-practically-corpse.
They were stumped.
“Okay!! Its obvious my dearest brother here is in need of some scones. And chaos. A lot of chaos.” Xander declared.
He produced a scone out of his pocket and handed it to Grayson, when he didn't move Xander began to wave the scone in front of his eyes.
“Brother! Earth to Brethren!! Hey, its a once in a lifetime moment that I share my scones, are you seriously going to miss out on this??” Nash and Jameson snorted, Grayson remained still.
Silence.
Xander looked slightly panicked and even Jameson was shook.
Nash then picked Grayson up and they all moved to the living room. No one had to say anything, because when a Hawthorne was down and depressed, only one thing helped them lighten up.
“Karaoke Time!!” Jameson and Xander screamed simultaneously.
And the brothers did what they did best. They chaos-ed. They chaos-ed so hard that Xander had just about lost his voice, Nash had ditched his cowboy hat and Jameson's shirt had come undone. Yet, despite it all, Grayson had still not moved.
Finally, his brothers stopped.
They all shared a look, they needed to face this head on.
Nash sat down next to Grayson, who was just staring at the floor. He wore no expression but it wasn't what you could call his poker face.
His poker face only came up when he himself was in control, this expression was something else.
It was broken.
“Gray.”
Nothing.
“Look at me lil' brother.”
Grayson didn't. He didn't so much as move a muscle.
“I feel a tackle coming in~~” Xander tried. Still nothing.
Finally, Jameson stepped up.
He simply moved and sat down on the other side of Grayson and then, without warning, he smacked their wrists together.
A loud clinking sound was produced.
Nash and Xander looked confused, they looked to Jameson and Grayson's wrist and saw two Rolexes.
Two matching Rolexes. Bestie Bands.
Finally, Grayson looked to Jameson and Jameson met his faltering gaze.
“You alright, bro?”
Grayson shook his head slowly as his brain began to catch up with reality once again.
A broken sob escaped him, and then he couldn't stop. The sound kept coming, shattered and crushed.
Jameson was immediately there, wrapping his arms around his brother, Nash put his strong arms on Grayson's shoulder as he shook.
Xander's eyes looked slightly glassy, he was the youngest after all. He wiggled himself between Jameson and Grayson's bodies and wrapped his hands around Grayson's waist.
All four brothers stayed like that for a while and Grayson's brain finally formed one coherent thought.
What'd I do to deserve these three?
A/N: Everything. Gray, my child, ur the bestest.
-----------------------------------
LYRA
It had been a week and five days.
An entire 288 hours without Grayson, and Lyra was not coping well.
She would randomly explode during the day and cry herself to sleep at night. Things were not looking good.
Lyra's mom had told her that she needed to be stronger for herself and try to get over the entire situation.
But it was easier said than done.
Because getting over Grayson Davenport Hawthorne seemed to get more and more impossible with every passing hour. How were you supposed to get over somebody that perfect, somebody you didn't even want to get over??
Lyra had been trying though, to pull herself together for the sake of her family. She was miserably failing.
No matter what she did, her brain would always find a way to wander back to him. If she was cooking she'd think, "Grayson likes less spice in his food" Or if she was watching TV she'd catch herself thinking, "Grayson's favorite show comes on today."
And then reality would catch up with her, but that wasn't the worst part.
No, the worst part was the thought that came after.
You shouldn't be thinking about him anymore. You can't.
It was that thought, that thought that made her heart squeeze, that made it hard to breathe.
Thinking about Grayson had always come naturally to Lyra, as if he was always meant to live rent free in her mind. And Lyra had loved to think about him, her boyfriend.
Hell, she still loved thinking about him, and that's what anguished her.
Lyra still thought about him, still loved him but she had lost the right to do so. She had hurt him by saying she was tired of them, she had left.
It was all her fault.
"Lyra!! Get down here, you have a guest!!"
Lyra flinched awake. She had been trying to sleep off her heart wrenching reality for a little bit, but it seems her mom had other plans.
A guest?
No one knew Lyra was back in town, so who would have come to visit her?
"Quickly!!"
Lyra dragged herself out of bed unwillingly, she barely had the energy to stand. She walked over to the mirror and stopped, looking herself up and down.
God. I look terrible.
Lyra's eyes were brimmed red because of all the late-night-crying-sessions and her hair was all over the place, not to mention her tear stained cheeks.
She let out a heavy sigh and grabbed a scrunchie, putting her hair into a quick messy bun and then washed her face.
When she was done tidying up, she realized... she still looked like shit.
Screw it.
Lyra flew down the stairs, making up her mind to wrap this up quickly.
"Mom, who is i-"
Lyra reached the end of the stairs and paused upon seeing the guest, she was absolutely floored.
A tall man in his early twenties, equipped with a cowboy hat stood at the front door.
What''s Nash doing here??
Lyra proceeded to have a mini freak-out.
Oh no. He probably heard what happened from Gray. Does he hate me too? I would hate me if I were him.
Nash's voice reeled Lyra out of her trance.
He smiled and said, “Hey lil' darlin'.”
Lyra was, once again, floored. Why was he smiling at her??
“H-hi.” She replied. What were you supposed to say to your ex-boyfriend's eldest brother?? Lyra certainly didn't know.
“Can I get you anything, Nash?” Lyra's mom chimed in.
Nash turned his gaze from Lyra to her mom, “No, thank you though. I'd just like a few moments with my lil' sis' here.”
Lyra's eyes widened slightly at the endearment. Lil' sis?
She took a deep breathe, trying to calm her emotions which were brewing up a storm, internally. But why was he being so nice to her??
“Please come in.” Lyra said finally.
Nash walked into the living room, his eyes travelled around Miles End as if assessing and judging the house.
“Um- can I ask why you're here?” Lyra asked hesitantly.
He plopped himself down on the sofa, turning his gaze to her and that's when it hit her.
He's probably here to return the stuff I left.
When Lyra had left Grayson's pent house so abruptly, she had forgotten all of her belongings.
“I already told your mom didn't I? I just wanna talk with you for a little while.” Nash drawled, Lyra felt a comfortable warmth settle over her.
Why was he being so nice?
“Oh, I also needed to give you something your forgot.” He quickly added.
I knew it. She thought.
Unexpectedly, Nash reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. Lyra looked at him, slightly surprised, before taking hold of the picture.
Her breath hitched.
The picture had 5 smiling girls in it, Avery, Max, Gigi, Savannah and Lyra.
It had been no secret that Lyra loved the photo, she had framed it and kept it in her room and it seemed Nash had noticed.
But it wasn't the photo she loved exactly, it was the moment that had come with the picture, the photographer.
------------
“Alright people, gather around!! Our photographer is ready to do his job!” Jameson yelled from across the park.
Grayson rolled his eyes. A habit he had picked up from his girlfriend.
The five girls, who had been screaming and messing around, ran on over to have their photo taken. Grayson was ready with his camera.
The girls posed, putting up two fingers to make the peace sign, grinning. Lyra had been smiling too, the same smile she always wore in all her photos. A practiced smile.
Grayson was adjusting his camera when he suddenly frowned. A frown so minute you could barely see it but Lyra knew it was there.
She was confused, 'why is he upset all of a sudden?'
Suddenly, Grayson looked up at her and their gazes met, the rest of the world seemed to tune out. Because, god, he was looking at her like that again. Like she was the world and the stars and everything else that came with it.
And then, Grayson Hawthorne- the beautiful asshole, smiled. He really smiled. The type of smile where his eyes softened and his eyes wrinkled slightly.
Lyra's breathe caught. How was he so unfairly beautiful??
But Grayson Hawthorne was contagious.
Lyra found herself returning the smile and then the camera sounded click, he had taken the picture.
And she had been smiling. A real smile. Meant for him.
The moment was incredibly private, but Lyra knew she'd cherish it forever.
They would be forever.
-------------
Lyra ignored the way her heart squeezed and her throat closed up. She smiled at Nash.
“Thanks, Nash.”
“So, what have you been up to?”
Lyra thought that over. Oh- the usual, crying, having mental break downs, etc.
She couldn't exactly say that, though.
“I've been trying to learn a new dance choreography I found online. Its pretty nice.” She settled for a half-truth.
Lyra had been trying to learn a new ballet choreography, true. But she had also been unsuccessful in doing so because even the slightest violin note reminded her of him and then she felt her eyes burning.
Nash's eyes bored into her, and suddenly Lyra was reminded of how crappy she looked.
“Max and Xander managed to almost burn down the entire house. Again.” Nash deadpanned.
Silence.
Why was he telling her this? Weren't they going to talk about Grayson?
“Oh.” She replied finally.
He adjusted his cowboy hat “Yeah. They were apparently trying to make scones with some sort of alchemy for science.”
Lyra snorted at that.
“Let me guess, Alisa had their head?”
Nash shot her a look, “Worse. Xander is banned from touching scones for two days and Maxine is not allowed to read any romance novels.”
Lyra couldn't help it, she giggled.
Leave it to Alisa to find the most perfect ways to punish people.
Lyra and Nash talked, discussing the stupid found-family that resided within the Hawthorne household. And for the first time in the past two-ish weeks, Lyra felt slightly happy. Slightly at ease.
“I can't believe him sometimes, honestly.” Nash said in reference to Jameson.
Lyra rolled her eyes, “That sounds like Jameson. Stupid half-british ass.”
Nash paused for a second, meeting her eyes before laughing. Lyra found herself joining in.
Finally Nash stood up, a smile still on his face, “I should get goin' now. A long trip ahead and everythin'.”
Lyra stood up too and walked with him slowly, towards the door. She wasn't sure why he came all the way to Miles End just to talk to her.
Once they reached the door, Lyra spoke.
“You can say it.”
She hadn't meant to open her mouth, but now that she had, she couldn't find it in herself to stop.
Nash turned to look at her.
“W-why,” She took a deep breathe, “why haven't said anything about Grayson? You have the right to be mad. You're his eldest brother.”
Nash didn't say a word as he continued to look at her.
Her vision began to blur, “I'm sorry. Its my fault. I got mad first and lashed out like an idiot. I-”
She tried to steady herself, ordering her tears not to fall, “Grayson, he- he deserves better than m-”
Lyra was cut off by Nash's strong arms wrapping around her upper back and pulling her close. Lyra was stumped.
And then a sob escaped her. Followed by another, and the she was breaking down again in Nash's embrace.
“Shhh, its okay lil' darlin'.”
--------------------------------
GRAYSON
“For the last time, Jamie. No.”
It had been exactly two weeks since the break up.
And saying Grayson had not been taking it well was a major understatement, weren't these things supposed to get better with the passage of time?
How come he felt like dying then??
“C'monnnnnnn. What're you gonna do lazing around here, marinating in your depression?” Jameson retorted.
Grayson sent him a glare, “Do I look like I'm in the state to attend a social party, Jamie??”
He didn't. He looked terrible actually.
He hadn't had a proper meal in ages, which made him look skinnier than usual, his hair was disheveled and he wasn't even dressing properly anymore.
The Grayson Davenport Hawthorne, who always looked too perfect to be real, looked far too human at the moment to be considered even okay-adjacent.
"Heartbreak doesn't kill a man, and it certainly doesn't kill a Hawthorne." Tobias Hawthorne's words echoed in Grayson's mind.
And then he snorted. Then what the hell is happening to me right now, old man?
“Gray. Please. Why can't you try and move around a bit? Touch some grass?”
Grayson didn't deign that with a response.
Jameson muttered something incomprehensible, “You're gonna die at this rate.”
Then Grayson met his eyes, “Good.” Before turning his attention back to his phone.
Silence.
When Jameson didn't say anything Grayson looked back up at him, planning to tell him to leave.
His tongue caught when he saw Jameson's expression, though.
Jameson was a lot of things.
Reckless, stupid, a daredevil, whipped, narcissistic, perhaps even an egoist in the making. But that was mostly just a front. He, like all of his brothers, was taught to suppress his feelings, to never let his emotions catch up with him.
So when Grayson saw the expression Jameson was making, he was taken-aback to say the least.
Jameson's eyes were glassy and he was holding his breath, like if he let go then he'd come crashing down with it. His hands were balled up into tight fists and he was glaring holes into the floor.
He looked angry, helpless.
Scared.
Grayson thought the situation over again. To him, dying sounded perfectly fine, hell he already felt dead. But Jameson wasn't okay with that.
“Three hours. Then I will leave.” Grayson deadpanned.
The way Jameson's face lit up reminded Grayson of when they were kids, when they actually confided in one another. When it was just them.
He almost smiled.
“See you then, Gray.”
-----------------------------------------
LYRA
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I hate you.”
“I love you too.”
Lyra groaned.
She had been trying to help her mom cook when her phone suddenly went off. She ignored it initially but then it rang again.
Lyra had stormed off, ready to snap at whoever dared call her a second time when it was obvious she didn't want and wasn't going to pick up.
She was slightly shocked when she read Avery's name. Pleasantly shocked.
“Avery. I. Am. Not. Coming.” Lyra paused after every word, trying make her point.
“Whyyyyyy??!!”
“I literally live 29 hours away?! I can't just show up for an over night, quote on quote, 'social party' and leave-”
“I'll just send a private jet to get you, please come.”
Lyra forgot she had rich friends.
But travelling wasn't the only problem. What if Grayson is there?
Lyra wouldn't mind seeing him, in fact, she wanted to. Really, really badly. But Grayson hated her. What if he got angry when he saw her? What if he ignored her?
She didn't want to think about it.
“Lyra. We haven't so much as talked in two weeks, I miss you. Just for a little while. Please.”
Lyra felt warmth wrap around her heart. She had missed Avery too. The two girls had talked all the time when Lyra was still dating him.
“... Alright.”
She heard Avery gasp and then squeal from the other side of the line.
“But only for a little while, okay?”
“Of course, darling.”
--------------------------
LYRA
Lyra had considered ditching the entire plan and running away a million times but she pushed the thought away every. Single. Time.
Yet, as she stood in front of the Hawthorne Gates, gazing at the huge crowd, she cursed herself for not escaping while she had the chance.
I am done for, aren't I? Welp. No turning back.
She walked in.
Lyra was, in a way, an introvert. She hated huge crowds and loud noises, so this party was not appealing in anyway.
Just find Avery, say hi, get out.
She walked through the crowd and spotted Avery.... with Jameson.
Yay. Off to a great start.
Lyra turned around and stalled for a little while, praying that Jameson left his girlfriend's orbit for just one god damned minute.
There was no way she was facing any of Grayson's brothers today.
Thankfully and surprisingly, Jameson did walk away. That was almost sketchy, Avery and Jameson were practically inseparable at events.
Lyra decided not to look into it and walked on over.
"OH MY GOD LYRA!!!" Avery screamed and immediately hugged her. Lyra laughed, returning the embrace.
She still couldn't believe that both Nash and Avery didn't hate her.
"Its been so long, girl. Where have you been?"
Lyra gave her a soft smile. There was something to Avery, something that allowed Lyra to open up and be herself.
"At Miles End. Dying, I think." She said it as a joke, but it was true.
Avery stared her down for a before they continued talking about the most random bull crap, laughing at terrible jokes.
Lyra turned around to grab a drink from a bartender and that's when her gaze fell on him.
About 10 feet from where Lyra stood, a man with beautiful blonde hair and shining grey eyes stood. His posture was perfect, one that said that he was a man of power and not afraid to use it.
Grayson Hawthorne. Gray.
He looked skinnier, his dark circles had grown slightly, too. No one else saw it, she did, though.
Lyra's heart beat picked up, she felt like a stupid girl with a crush again. She couldn't help but stare, forgetting that Avery was talking.
He looked immaculate as always, glorious as he smiled.
And he was talking to a girl.
Lyra tried to ignore the way her heart squeezed, he's not yours anymore, Lyra. Get a grip.
"Lyraaaaa, earth to my favorite kitty!"
She snapped out of it and turned back around to see Maxine Liu standing next to Avery.
Lyra couldn't help the smile that broke out on her face, Max was a force to be reckoned with and Lyra loved her for it.
The three girls went on yapping, when suddenly a very familiar song came on. One everybody knew.
Shape of you.
Max squealed, "Lyra."
Lyra didn't have to guess what Max was implying, "Max. No."
Avery smiled at the both of them, "Why not?"
Lyra sent her a withering glare, "I just don't want to."
Max rolled her eyes, "Who are you lying to? You always want to dance."
She had a point, Lyra did in fact want to dance. It'd help her get her mind off of Grayson smiling at another girl.
God Lyra, stop acting like you're still dating him. Her heart squeezed again.
But if she were to start dancing, chances of Grayson spotting her would be at an all time high. She couldn't risk that.
"C'mon pleaseeee, its been so long since we all danced together." Avery pleaded and Max joined in.
Lyra sighed, feigning exasperation as a smile broke out on her face.
Well, I suppose I could dance just a bit.
And the three girls walked on over.
Lyra looked to her two best friends as they began to dance, Lyra let the music come, felt it in every bone of her body and then she was swaying to the beat.
------------------------------------------
GRAYSON
Like every other event Grayson had ever attended, this party too, was extremely taxing.
People put on nice facades and talked to others only so that they could benefit themselves.
In fact, this party was much worse.
Not only was Grayson still trying to cope with the separation from Lyra, as it turns out, news of the break up had spread far and wide. People jumped at the opportunity.
In the one hour Grayson had been present at the party, he had been flirted with at least 50 different times and that was rounding it off.
His brother was not making that much better.
"Oh! Gray, here comes another one~" Jameson teased, signaling towards a girl whose clothes seemed far too suggestive for Grayson to feel comfortable.
Wrap this up quickly. You control the room. Grayson reminded himself.
He was wrong. This girl was demanding and stubborn.
"Hey there hottie~"
Grayson tried not to cringe as Jameson snorted.
"Yes, miss?" Grayson replied, ever-so formally.
"I hope you know CPR, because you just took my breathe away." She replied.
Jameson turned his head around, covering up his laugh with a cough. Grayson fought to remain polite.
"That's quite funny, miss."
"Oh please, drop the title, just call me mine." She said, adding a wink.
Grayson was dumbstruck, can this woman not take a hint?? Jameson was having far too much fun.
"I'm sorry, ma'am?" He said, emphasizing the new title. This woman was getting on his nerves.
"Hmm, maybe 'mine' is not to your liking?? Then what about girlfriend?" She said, sounding smug.
Jameson tried to cover up his grinning by sipping his drink.
Grayson was floored, "Um. No thank you."
"Aww, you wanna take it fast then? Alrighttttt, you can call me wife."
Jameson choked on his drink.
Grayson choked on air.
What in the world was going on??
"I'm not interested, so-" She cut Grayson off.
"Yet. You're not interested, yet."
Grayson blinked. What?
The lady spun on her heel, she shook her head, her hair falling down to her waist and she threw off her coat.
"My dance will enamor you." She declared.
Jameson was barely holding it together, she then boldly walked to the dance floor, never once breaking eye contact with Grayson.
Then she started dancing.
Grayson shot Jameson a withering glare as he laughed. Hard.
"OH MY GOD, THAT WAS PEAK. AHHAHA-" Jameson barked
Grayson was considering actually digging up a hole and just dying, the woman didn't even dance well for all her boasting. She looked like a robot was attempting to do ballet.
Grayson's gaze wandered over the dance floor before it landed on one girl. He'd recognize those moves anywhere.
Far left, Grayson's gaze rested on a girl with long dark hair which had been left open, her golden-tan skin seemed to shine in the disco light as she danced to the beat like the music had possessed her.
Lyra.
He noticed the way her moves seemed more dragged out, as if she was tired. Her smile was fake and her dark circles had increased.
Yet, she still looked breathtaking.
Grayson didn't bother hiding his stare.
---------------------------------------
LYRA
Lyra got carried away.
She knew it the moment she felt his gaze on her, unwavering as he stared.
Lyra didn't know whether she should hate herself for dancing in the first place or hate herself for liking the fact that she had caught his attention.
He's probably glaring. She thought.
I mean, his ex-girlfriend did quite literally just attend a party his family had hosted. Lyra groaned.
"You guys, I'm tired." She said, coming to a stop. Her body ached for more.
Avery and Max shared a look, "Alrighty, lets go chug some drinks!!" Max yelled.
Lyra shook her head as they began to walk off the dance floor, that's when two guys stepped in their path.
"Hi." One guy said, speaking to all three of them but his eyes rested on Lyra.
Lyra wanted to ball his eyes out.
"Hello." Lyra replied as Max and Avery spectated.
"I happened to see you dancing and I must say, you can groove." He said.
Lyra heard Max and Avery snort the moment the weird guy said groove. She shot them both a glare.
"Um... yeah. Thanks. Now please move aside." Lyra replied, trying to make her disinterest clear.
The man was stubborn.
"Actually! I was wondering if we could have a drink together?" He asked, sounding confident in his abilities to make a woman swoon.
Lyra raised a single dignified brow. She had learned that from Grayson. Her heart ached yet again and she immediately pushed the thought away.
"I'm sorry, but no." She said, crisp and firm.
That should do it. Lyra thought.
"Oh come on. you can spare a few seconds-" The man started.
"She said no." Avery stepped up along with Max, who was now glaring.
"Um... I don't remember including you in this conversation?" The man had the audacity to say.
Lyra thought about reaching for her heels and beating the living shit out of this guy, but she couldn't since that'd tarnish Avery's image.
"Really?? Well I remember Lyra telling you to back off and you not listening you motherfaxer!!" Max said.
"Look. Everyone knows she's single, so she doesn't have any real reason to reject me?? Why should I-" The man began.
"She's my sister-in-law and best friend." Said Avery and Max simulatenously.
Lyra whipped her head around to face them.
Sister-in-law?? She wasn't dating Grayson anymore, what were they on about??
Avery sent her a look. Lyra let out a breath and turned back towards the man.
"You heard her. I am married and taken. Walk away."
The man and his friend snorted.
"Who do you think you're lying too??"
Lyra was about to reach for her heels, when she felt a hand suddenly land on the small of her back. She froze.
She knew that hand, that touch. She knew it the way she knew her own body.
Grayson.
Lyra leaned into the touch out of pure habit, she relaxed into the intimacy.
Shit! Pull back. Lyra ordered herself.
But then Grayson's hand moved from her back and slithered over to the side of her waist. Everywhere he touched burned and Lyra felt her heart begin to race.
She blushed hard.
"Don't make her repeat herself."
The man looked up at Grayson with wide eyes, obviously, he wasn't expecting this. To be fair, Lyra hadn't either.
Grayson's voice turned dark, "Scram."
The man and his friend didn't need to be told twice, they ran like their life depended on it.
Avery and Max smirked at Grayson, knowing fully well where this was going, before they, too, took their leave.
Yet, Lyra couldn't focus on them.
Her focus was fully on the man behind her.
Grayson. Suddenly the party hall seemed too small and she couldn't breath properly.
Neither of them moved until Grayson retracted his hand. He made to move away but Lyra was faster.
---------------------------------
GRAYSON
The guy with the death wish finally left.
Grayson had considered sending Oren after him or beating him up himself but his anger completely dissipated when his gaze landed on her again.
Lyra. Grayson's heart swelled yet he felt nervous.
Her eyes were downcast, her hair covering the side of her face. He saw the tiniest tinge of pink on her ears.
Grayson didn't let go at first. He couldn't.
Lyra was right here. Right in front of him. He wanted to pick her up, run away with her and apologize until she forgave him. But he wouldn't do that.
Not unless she wanted him to.
Grayson loosened his hold on her and then let go completely, he turned to move when her hand latched onto his.
He froze.
She wants me to stay. Grayson pushed the hopeful thought away. He turned around to face the goddess, that was Lyra.
She wouldn't meet his eyes as she stared down at where her hand held his arm.
"U-um. I- uh." She began.
Grayson's heart began to race, he had almost forgotten how much he liked her voice.
"Can we talk?" The words were out of his mouth before his brain had even processed it.
Lyra looked up at him then, eyes blown wide.
Shit. I screwed up.
"Yes." She said finally.
Grayson paused. then blinked once. Twice.
Yes?? She said- she said yes?! Yes!
He grabbed her hand and walked the both of them off the dance floor and towards the "Staff Only" area.
Once they got there Grayson let go of her hand and turned to face her properly. The Staff Only area was unfairly small.
They deserved better than one small square room??
Grayson noted to mention that later.
Grayson's gaze landed on Lyra and, this time, she was looking too, Grayson's breathe caught.
Suddenly the rest of the world didn't exist.
She's here.
------------------------------------------
LYRA
Lyra noticed the way Grayson's eyes travelled around the small staff room he had led them to.
She observed as his face went from stoic, to observant, to disappointed, to serious before his gaze landed on her and then all of his feature softened.
Lyra's heart swelled. Why was he looking at her like she was fragile? Like she meant something??
She had hurt him.
Lyra had made up her mind on the short walk to the room that she would apologize to Grayson and that, no matter the outcome, she would live with it.
No matter how upset it made her.
But, now, with her staring into his beautiful deep eyes, she couldn't seem to remember any of the points she was going to say.
"Lyra." Grayson broke the silence, he said her name like it was a secret. A promise.
Lyra didn't know what to say.
You're beautiful? I love you still, but I'm also a dumbass and hurt you?? Why are you looking at me like that?? Her mind ran through her options.
"Hi."
She slapped herself mentally.
hi? HI?? REALLY??
Grayson blinked, slightly taken a back, before a smile broke out on his face, Lyra's breathe was taken away.
How was it fair that he smiled like that and she was supposed to let him go?
"Hi, Lyra."
She looked down as she blushed slightly, god this is embarrassing.
A silence followed, but it wasn't suffocating or awkward. It was comfortable. As if the rest of the world had disappeared leaving just their slow breathing.
They both stood their, absorbing the others presence. It felt like coming home.
Lyra felt her eyes burn slightly at the familiarity of this situation. Grayson always gave her this sense of comfort. Did she really have to let it go?
You brought this upon yourself. Apologize.
Lyra took a deep breathe, "Grayson."
Grayson kept staring at her which made it hard for her to focus, "Yeah?"
She looked up and met his gaze, "I'm sorry."
Grayson's eyes widened slightly.
"I-," she took another deep breathe to try and calm herself, "I shouldn't have lashed out. That was stupid of me."
She tried to keep the tears at bay, but one fell anyway.
"If you hate me now, I completely understand. But I want you to know that when I said us-" her voice cracked, she kept going.
"When I said I was tired of our relationship. I-" She calmed herself. Lyra needed Grayson to know that she truly meant this.
Lyra's gaze steadied and she met his eyes.
"I didn't mean it. Not in the slightest."
Silence.
"I'm not telling you to forgive me or anything, I just need you to know I'm sorry and-"
"Stop." Grayson said finally, Lyra did.
His voice sounded deep, hoarse, guttural. As if it was taking everything in him to keep firm. He looked both confused and surprised.
"Lyra, why are you apologizing??" Grayson finally managed, his breathing was slightly shaky.
Lyra paused.
"Why-," he ran a hand through his hair and walked closer to Lyra, making her heart beat pick up again, "Don't apologize Lyra. Its not your fault."
Lyra stared at him, she couldn't process what he said at first.
Not my fault?
Lyra turned the phrase over in her head as her eyes widened, what did he mean?? It totally was her fault?
"Lyra, you weren't the only one who lashed out. I did too, and that was dumb. As hell." He let out a breath.
Lyra couldn't believe her ears, was Grayson blaming himself?
"And no matter what you might have said, Lyra, I was the one that told you to leave."
Lyra's breathe caught once again.
"I told you to leave like I wanted you gone, like I was tired of you. I acted like that freaking penthouse was mine alone."
Lyra gulped, "It is yours, though, Grayson."
"No. No its not. Its not just mine. Lyra, when I asked you to move in with me, the place became ours. Its yours just as much as its mine."
If Lyra wasn't crying before she certainly was now.
"I shouldn't have told you to- fuck. I-"
Lyra didn't let him finish, she threw her arms around his neck. Grayson went still for a moment before his arms wrapped around her waist tightly.
They stayed like that for a while, with nothing but the sounds of Lyra's sobs slowly dissolving into nothing but silence.
Just them
"I love you." Grayson said, finally.
Lyra thought she was done crying but she had been wrong.
"And you don't have to say it bac-"
Lyra pulled away from him, looking him dead in the eye, "I don't have to do anything Hawthorne. I chose to come to this party. I chose to follow you here. I chose to apologize to you and-"
Lyra smiled, "I choose to love you, Gray."
The wind sped up, making the room slightly chilly, but Lyra didn't care because, god, Grayson was looking at her like that again.
Like she was the entire universe and he didn't need anything but her.
Grayson closed the space between them first, taking her chin and prying it upwards. She closed her eyes and they were kissing.
It wasn't a slow kiss, not at all.
All of the pent up emotion- heartbreak, anguish, regret, lust and love- all of it spilled out in their intimacy.
Neither of them were holding back, Grayson picked her up with practiced ease and set her down on the singular table in the room, Lyra wrapped her legs around his waist as if they were always meant to be there.
They finally broke apart gasping for breathe. Lyra's head was on his shoulder and she could feel Grayson's breathing by her ear.
Butterflies flew around in her stomach.
Lyra lifted her head and met Grayson's eyes, he looked at her- his chest still moving up and down, trying to catch his breathe.
Her hands went to his face, she started from his forehead, moving down to his cheek bones to tracing his jawline. She committed the moment to memory.
"That girl was fucking annoying." She said finally.
Grayson paused before he burst out laughing, Lyra couldn't help but smile at the warm noise.
"I can sympathize with that, though, the guy was worse." Grayson said. Lyra groaned.
"God don't remind me." She said, exaggerating as she put her head back on his shoulder.
Grayson pulled her closer.
"We aren't going to get anywhere here." Lyra said.
"..what?"
Lyra pulled back again, her eyes alight with something new, "Well? Won't you give me the chance to make up for being away for so long??"
Grayson's entire demeanor changed. He grabbed her hand, "There's a short cut."
Lyra laughed. She couldn't believe it.
She looked at Grayson's beautiful face, his eyes taking on a bluer shade in the moonlight.
She had been sure that she had lost Grayson forever, that she didn't deserve him in the slightest, but she had been wrong.
Because in the end, Grayson chose her and she chose him.
Isn't that really all that mattered?