Not Alone.

Chapter Two.

I'd been with Tom for a week now. Nothing much had really happened during my stay so far. I kept myself to myself, hiding in my room for as long as I could get away with. I had bonded with Giovanna a little over the past few days and was gradually begining to trust her. I knew Tom worried about me distancing myself from them and I could see in his eyes when I hugged Giovanna before bed each night and avoided any type of contact with him, it killed him. Tom made an effort. He wanted me to trust him so much it was obvious. He was always asking how I was or if i needed anything, treating me like his own. I was trying my hardest and was slowly getting there.

I was sitting on my bed cross-legged with my hair pulled into a messy pony tail, pen in hand and my writing journal opened infront of me. Everything I felt was in this one notebook. Whether it was in words, pictures or lyrics, it was there. It was a friday and Giovanna had left this morning for a long weekend away with some friends. She had offered to cancel the trip and stay with me but I couldn't let her do that. She had done so much for me over the last few days the least I could do was let her go away for the weekend. I had decided I was going to use this time wisely and make an effort to get to know Tom.

I heaved myself up off my bed and wandered downstairs to find Tom in glasses leaning over some paper work. He hadn't noticed my arrival in the room so I took a deep breath and readied myself.

"Hi" I murmered, internally cursing that I wasnt as loud as I had been hoping. Tom looked up at me, the shock evident on his face. I had never been the one to start a conversations, it had always been him whilst I replied with the minimum I could get away with. 

"Hey" he grinned showing his dimpled cheek, making me grin and show him mine. "You all ok sweetheart?" He said getting up and placing his mickey mouse mug by the kettle whilst motioning towards the kettle. I took the hint and nodded at his offer for tea. 

"I'm fine thanks." I said louder this time making Tom's grin grow. He was obviously over the moon with me trying to converse with him. "Do we have any plans for today?" I asked whilst sitting opposite his once occupied chair. Tom finished the tea, placing the 'Little Mermaid' mug down in front of me before returning to his chair.

"I was actually about to come and ask you about that!" Tom said with a grin before continuing.

"I was planning to visit the boys in the studio. Your more than welcome to come with me, the boys are dying to meet you. But if you'd rather stay here thats fine. Its up to you pumpkin" Tom stated warmly with a soft reasuring smile. I looked down at my tea contemplating what he had just said. I really didn't want to stay on my own. I might have been being stupid but staying at home on my own brought back bad memories. Being here was like a fresh start for me and I was ashamed that I was too scared to stay here on my own. But on the other hand, the fact that I'd be alone with 4 boys terrified me slightly, even though I was almost positive that Tom would never let that happen. 

"I-I don't w-want to be a-alone" I stuttered with a sniffle, still looking down at my tea. I heard the chair on the other side of the table push out and foot steps walking towards me. Still looking down at my tea, what happened next shocked me. Tom had tried to comfort me many times over the past week but I had always pulled away or hid from him. But as his arms wrapped around my shoulders instead of pulling away and muttering an excuse like normal, I leant into Tom's warmth and let him comfort me. I could tell that Tom was shocked as he gasped at my reaction before burrying his head into my hair, in a fatherly fashion, and kissing the crown of my head, smiling the whole time. 

"It's ok pumpkin. You can come with me. You dont have to dress fancy, I'm going in my joggers! The boys won't bite. Although they may get a little over excited.. But if they do, they'll have me too deal with." Tom said as he realsed me and bent down to my eye level and smilled. What I did next I had never expected myself to do in a million years, and by the shocked look on Tom's face, nor had he. I bent forwards, wrapping my arms around his neck, burrying my head into his shoulder. Tom hugged me back as I whispered into his ear