Hero // Ethan and Grayson Dolan

chapter 6 ~ photographs

I lay silently in Grayson's bed, stroking his muscly arm which is currently wrapped around me. I pull the sheets up to cover my naked body, and roll over so I'm facing him.

"What have we done?" I say, with guilt in my voice.

"I have no idea." He lets out a massive sigh, but that doesn't stop him from leaning over and pressing his lips against mine.

My phone buzzes from Grayson's desk, and I scan the room for the nearest item of clothing I can find. I manage to get hold of Grayson's black hoodie, and I slip it on. It smells like him, which causes me to crack a smile.

Ethan: On my way home now. Hope you haven't been too bored haha! x

I bite my bottom lip. Shit. "Ethan's on his way home. He said: 'Hope you haven't been too bored'."

Grayson scratches his head. "Shit, we really have a situation here, don't we?"

I nod in agreement. "What do we do? I can't just pretend that I don't love you and continue dating your brother!"

Grayson buries his face in his hands. "You're going to have to!" He shrugs.

I pout disapprovingly.

"I'm going to hate lying to him. Can't I just tell the truth?"

"I think it's safer to pretend there's absolutely nothing going on between us." Grayson says, which is true.

I look down at the floor.

"Shit! I completely forgot I was wearing your hoodie!" I laugh, taking it off. I clip on my bra and slide my underwear back on, quickly throwing on the plain grey t-shirt dress I was wearing before. I step into my room and redo my mascara, tying my hair up in a high ponytail.

Grayson follows me into my room wearing his hoodie and some matching sweatpants. He wraps his arms around my waist from behind, placing soft kisses all over my my neck.

"Do you want to go to the beach?" He asks, with a massive smile on his face.

I spin around to face him. "Gray I would love too, but Ethan is about to come home ..."

He interrupts me by cupping my face in his hands and kissing my lips lightly. "I know, but who knows when else we will be able to go out and have some fun together? What if Ethan finds out sooner than later and something bad happens?"

I shrug. I really do want to go out with Grayson, but there is no way in the world I can leave Ethan here alone, not knowing where we are.

"Gray, I love Ethan so much. Maybe I don't love him the same way that I love you, but I still care for him. I couldn't do this ..."

We hear the front door creak open. "I'm home!"

Without giving me a chance to think, Grayson grabs my hand and pulls me towards the window.

"Let's go to the beach." He points out the window.

I give in and jump out the window, which is easy because Ethan and Grayson live on the first floor. I land on my feet smoothly, unlike Grayson, who gets tangled up in the newly-trimmed bushes planted against the wall. I give myself a chance to laugh and then help him up. "Well done!"

He punches my shoulder lightly. "Ok, this way!"

Grayson takes my hand and runs off in the direction towards the beach. At first we are slowly jogging, but when Gray receives a text that reads:

Ethan: Where are you?

and we sprint.

....

It's a beautiful afternoon and the waves are small, slapping lightly against the shore. Surprisingly, there is no one else here, so Grayson and I walk along the beach hand in hand.

"Why is there no one here?" I ask Grayson, confused.

"I brought us to a part of the beach where not many people come, so I can hold you hand and-" He doesn't finish his sentence, instead he brings me close and presses his lips against mine. I jump up onto him, still not breaking the kiss, and wrap my legs around his waist, while he wraps his arms around me. I rub my hand against the back of his head and stroke his hair affectionately, while he kisses me more passionately than ever.

"I love you so much, I hope you know that." He whispers into the kiss, breaking it for a few seconds. The heat from his breath tickles my neck, causing me to crack a smile.

"I love you too."

...

"How are we supposed to get inside the house? We can't go in together." I say, leaning my head on Grayson's shoulder.

"Didn't think that part through properly." We both laugh quietly.

"How about I go in through the front door normally, and tell Ethan I went for a walk down at the beach and forgot my phone, which I actually did."

Grayson nods. "Good idea. I'll go past the shop and pick up some dinner, and I'll come home about 10 minutes after you."

"Sounds like a plan!" I say, looking up at him. He flashes the most adorable smile and kisses me on the forehead. "Go home."

I kiss him back, this time on the lips, and run off towards the apartment.

...

"Where the fuck were you, Brooklyn?" A worried Ethan greets me with a quick kiss on the cheek as I walk in the door.

"Sorry! I went for a walk down at the beach and forgot my phone." I say, smiling at him and ruffling his hair.

"It's ok! I was just really worried." Ethan sits down on the couch comfortably and pulls out his phone. He opens twitter and starts scrolling.

While he's distracted, I dart into Grayson's room and grab my phone off his desk, shutting the door as I exit. I click the home button as I walk back into the kitchen and see I have gotten about seven messages.

Ethan: Where are you?

He sent me the same text as he sent Grayson before. Lucky I had my phone on silent otherwise it would've beeped from Gray's room.

I click out of Ethan and I's conversation, and see at the top of my list:

Unknown number

Attachments: 6 images

3 minutes ago

"What in the world?" I mumble to myself as I open the chat.

I stop in my tracks and let go of my phone, dropping it on the carpet in front of me. I close my eyes and shake my head violently.

"This can not be happening, no no no," I whisper, crying softly.

Someone took photos of Grayson and I at the beach.

Show these to Ethan. Or I will.

... and that's chapter 6! I hope you are enjoying the story so far! Stay tuned for chapter 7 soon x