My Name is Gabby Simpson (The Vamps Fanfiction)

Stay

“What?” I stuttered, turning around.

Tristan stood behind me, eyes condescending and posture ready. He looked as if he were waiting for me to run, knowing full well he could catch me. “Bradley said you were going to try this,” he said to me, as if I were stupid.

“No,” I said. No. I was careful. I was so close. How could they know?

“Yes,” he told me, answering my unspoken question. “You are that predictable.”

“How did you know?” I asked, fighting hard to keep my voice level. My heart was pounding so quickly I was afraid I was going to pass out. Fury towards myself coursed throughout my entire body. yet shock paralyzed me.

“Answer my question first. Where do you think you’re going?”   

I spoke through gritted teeth. “I have to find my friends.”

Mocking was behind his laughter. “You have no goddamned idea where your friends are.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I snapped back. “I’ve been doing it my entire life.”

“No you won’t,” he said. “We live in the middle of nowhere so fans won’t find us. Give up.”

He stepped towards me and I stepped back instinctively.

“You’re injured,” he said.

“Not- not really.”

He gave me a look.

“And what if you can’t find them?” Tristan said. He crossed his arms. “You’ll be stumbling around London alone with broken limbs and a black eye. You look weak- an easy target. You won’t be able to steal with that arm of yours.” He smirked, but there was an edge behind it.

I ignored that. “I’ll get a job,” I said. But would I really?

“No one is going to take you seriously with those torn clothes,” he shot back, “Much less hire you.”

I avoided his eyes, pissed, glaring at the ground. I wanted to snap something back, but in all honesty, he was right. So, I just shifted my bag on my shoulder and turned back around, hoping he would give up-

“Please, Gabby.”

There was desperation in his voice.

“Why,” I muttered, trying to hide the emotion in my own tone.

“You’re hurt-”

“No,” I interrupted. “Why, really. Why… for any of you?” Why should I stay for people I didn’t know, people who claimed things and controlled things and wouldn’t let me be.

His reply was immediate, but it came out slowly. “Everyone in that house wants you to stay,” Tristan said. “Your brother, Maddie, the boys.” He paused, very briefly. “I want you to stay.”

He stopped stepping closer, and I stopped backing away. “You can’t force me,” I told him. And I meant it.

“You’re right.”

“What?”

“I said, you’re right. It’s your choice, whether or not to stay here. Your choice, right now. We’re not going to force you.”

I laughed with disbelief.

“But-” he looked at me. “If you say yes, you’re staying. You’re not switching your mind in the middle of the night, and you’re not taking off when we go out. If you say yes, expect that you’re not going anywhere unless it is said so. Until you heal.”

He waited for me to reply, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

I’m really glad you’ve decided to stay, Bradley had said.

I want you to.

I turned around, looking at my path of lights, then back at him. I took a deep breath.

“Fine,” I finally said. And I meant it.