54 Paparazzi

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I opened my eyes and noticed that Dom was instead replaced with a carefully constructed blanket roll. I knew he was probably out doing promo or an interview since that was the main reason we were here so early. I groaned just at the thought of waking up and I heard the door open streaming hallway light in my eyes
"You awake?"
"Yeah Tom. I am now. What do you want?"
"Wanted to know if you wanna do something? I'm not needed at this meeting so I got a free day."
"Do we have to go out?"
"No. But I don't really want to leave you here alone."
"Okay. I'll come with you. Just let me get up and get ready."
"No it's fine. You don't wanna go I'm not gonna make you. You do need to get up for breakfast though. There's bacon and eggs going if you want it" I sat up rubbing my tired eyes so I could see him properly "Cmon sleeping beauty. Get up" I stuck my middle finger up at him
"I'll meet you down there."

"So where did you want to go?"
"Nowhere in particular. Just want to get out of the house."
"Well I'll come with you. It's the least I can do."
"That's sweet but you don't owe me anything. If you insist on coming with me you can. The meeting ends in a couple hours so I'd text Dom or at least leave a note."
"I'll leave a note. He's been away for too long and I don't want to cause problems with management if he messes up whatever he is doing."
"We can go to the beach?"
"Sure. You mind if I change into my bikini. Yknow, while I still can?"
"Why you asking me. Where whatever you want."
"Ok. When are we going?"
"As soon as you want"
"Then I'll be right back down with you."

"Fuck off Tom" I whined swatting him away. He was trying to take a picture of me but I was having none of it.
"Cmon just one? You look so pretty"
"Flattery ain't gonna work Tom." I picked up my pullover and hid my face. He tried to pull it away but I fought him, laughing in the process.
"Just one?"
"No!" I exclaimed in fits of giggles. He was silent then all of a sudden he was pinning me down, a knee planted either side of my legs. I squealed and started laughing even louder when he started tickling my sides eventually resulting in me letting go of the fabric that was covering my face. He cheered in victory and all of the people close to us on the beach were staring at us. It didn't phase me and I simply let him take the pictures he wanted. That was until a photographer came up a few feet away and snapped a photo. "Tom."
"What?" He said absolutely clueless
"Tom they just took a picture." I pushed my hands on his chest gently and he got the message to get up.
"Hey it's alright" he said calmly keeping his distance since I'd pushed him away
"No it's not. They're gonna take the pictures. They're gonna fucking twist them. Tom I can't take this shit."
"Woah Woah. Why are you freaking out? You've never been this bothered before"
"It's not just me is it." I said barely above a whisper making it virtually impossible for him to hear let alone anyone else "Can we go home?"
"Yeah. We can." He stood up and gathered his towel stuffing it into the large beach bag he had brought. I sat up and put on my pullover and my sandals before standing up. He took my and folded it neatly before draping it over his arm "Cmon. I shouldn't have thrown you into all this"
"Tom it's not your fault" he didn't say anything and we just walked in silence back to the car. He threw the stuff in the back quite literally and got into the drivers seat beside me "Be honest with me"
"Okay"
"Is that the first time they have taken a picture out if context? I don't have social media or really anything like that. But I need to know"
"No. It's not. But you know it's not true so it's okay"
"Oh. Is it? How fucking nice" I remarked not satisfied with his stupid rosy outlook on things
"Lexi I care about ya-"
"Do ya? Or am just some project to you? Something to make your life seem fucking useful!"
"What do you mean?"
"You never fucking paid attention to me till your stupid fucking girlfriend was out of the picture!" I knew I was going too far but I was mad. Not at him In particular. In fact not at him at all. Just at the way I couldn't have a nice day out with them "Go back to her and stop trying to pretend you ever gave a shit about me!"
"Get out the car" he said as calmly as he could through gritted teeth. I'd really done it now
"What?"
"Get out of the fucking car Lexi!" He shouted "You can find your own way back" I took notice of the way his hands gripped the steering wheel
"Fine! I hope she takes you fucking back!"
"Get out!" He screamed even louder. Even more out of control. Even more over the edge. Even more out of character from the person I knew. He'd changed so much. Did I even know him. I unbuckled my belt and got out letting him drive away clearly angry with me. That was when they saw there chance. I didn't engage any of them but that didn't stop them asking questions. Trying to get the next but of gossip for an article. The new secret romance section of some trashy magazine that only knew how to entertain middle aged women who had not fucking clue who yungblud was. I eventually gave in hoping that if I said nothing they would stop
"Fuck off!" Came a familiar voice "Leave her alone ight" he came into view and tapped my shoulder smiling slightly before prompting me to cover my ears "I said fuck off! She's an innocent girl get off her back!" Most of them left but a few still stuck around keeping there distance. He sighed and turned his attention back to me "Good job I was there eh?"
"Yeah. Thanks for saving me"
"What? No 'im a strong independent woman, colson, I don't need saving' speech?"
"Nope. Not today. Today I actually needed saving."
"Cmon. I'll take you back to where you're staying. It's clear you don't really know how to navigate round here ain't it?"
"I don't wanna go back there. I'm a horrible person. But it was just too much. I've dealt with them before. Yknow cus I was always around Dom a lot. But they just got so in our personal space. Like so fucking close." He hugged me "Why didn't you say you were here?"
"Uh I've got Casie with me. She don't like it when people interrupt my time with her."
"Oh. I'll get goin then."
"No." He said quickly "You can come. It's better than throwing you back to those fucking wolves."
"You sure she won't be mad?"
"Positive. She loves you."
"Can you not tell them where I am?"
"Secrets safe with me. Let's go back to my place."

Tom's POV
My phone started buzzing against the coffee table and part of me didn't want to answer it. The small part of me that still believed it would be Lexi went for it though and I picked it up only to see it was colson wanting to facetime
"Hey colson"
"Hey. Uh I wanted to talk to you"
"Go ahead" I saw him walk away from wherever he was stood
"I got Lexi in the car. We're gonna drive about til she calms down." I let out a sigh of relief that she was with someone. Colson was wild but he never would hurt her. And he knows the consequences if he ever did
"Alright. Thanks for letting me know. I haven't even gone home yet." I sighed looking along the beach I'd somehow ended up walking along "I don't think I am tonight."
"Well stay safe yeah?"
"Thanks Kells. I will."
"Any messages?"
"Tell her I'm sorry. And I love her." He smiled fondly
"That's too cute dude. I will tell her. Don't worry. I gotta go or she's gonna wake up."
"Okay. Bye I guess." And with that he ended the call.

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