Hero // Ethan and Grayson Dolan

chapter 17 ~ san diego

It's been seven months since we've heard from Ethan. 

He hasn't tweeted, posted a photo, taken a snapchat - he hasn't even texted Grayson saying he's okay. We have no idea where he is. What he's doing. Who he's with. And it's been killing Gray the entire time. The only thing thats keeping him going is the fact that he's going to be a dad in about a month. 

"Brooklyn?" I hear Grayson calling from the other room.

"What's up?" I yell back. "Come here! You're not going to make your girlfriend who is currently eight months pregnant get off her butt, are you?"

I hear his cute little chuckle from the other room, followed by the sound of his footsteps walking along the corridor.

"Look at this video." He gives me a grin and flips his phone screen around, revealing a cute video of us that a fan edited. He sits down on the bed next to me and presses play.

"We're so cut-" Grayson starts. But he is silenced by a notification that pops up on the top of his screen.

Ethan: San Diego.

His eyes pop out of his head. 

"ETHAN'S IN SAN DIEGO?" He springs up off the bed without hesitation. "HE'S BEEN THERE THE ENTIRE TIME?!" 

Grayson's phone buzzes again.

Ethan: I know what you're wondering. I've been at Abby's house.

"HE'S BEEN WITH ABBY THIS WHOLE TIME?" Grayson paces around the room, fiddling with his hair.

"W-who's Abby?" I can barely speak. Seven months of stressing, and we've finally got answers.

"Abby is our friend who lives in San Diego. She lives with her four sisters: Cody, Mikaela, Andrea and Emily."

"Well he moved on fast. Living with five girls for seven months after finding out that his girlfriend has been secretly dating his brother." 

Grayson raises his eyebrows. I give him a guilty grin. "Too soon?"

He nods.

"Were going to San Diego. Get in the car." Grayson immediately rushes into his room and packs his bags, throwing around random clothes and toiletries and chargers.

I do the exact same thing.

three hours later

The house is massive. It's really modern, got two stories and It's painted a nice cream colour. I honestly quite like it. 

As soon as Grayson takes the keys out of the ignition, he's already bolted to the front door and has knocked on it three times.

Still sitting in the front seat of his car, I watch the door nervously. Seconds feel like hours. 

"Please be okay." I mutter under my breath, biting the inside of my cheek.

The door creaks open. Ethan stands there wearing a plain black t-shirt. His streak is blue again. And Grayson just throws his arms around him, not a care in the world. 

But the most amazing part is that Ethan hugs him back. They both stand there for about a minute. Just enjoying each others presence. 

When they pull out of the hug, Grayson brings his sleeve up to his face wipes his tears away. I see him gesture towards the car - and Ethan looks over. He sees me for the first time since the massive fight. He still must be so angry at me. I don't blame him. 

But he just walks towards the car and opens my car door.

 "Hey." He gives me his hand and I hop out of the car. "You should really lay off the chocolate."

"Hey!" I nudge his shoulder, laughing nervously. Is he still mad at me or-?

"We need to talk." 

"Is everything okay?" I blurt - and then I just burst out crying. 

"I just missed you so much and I didn't have any answers and it's all my fault." 

He smiles gently, wrapping his arms around me and stroking my hair. "I'm so so sorry, I can't explain how sorry I am." I say into his chest.

"Let's go for a drive." He pulls out of the hug. 

"Let's." I smile, staring into his eyes with my tear-stained face. 

...

"How has this past seven months been? What have you been up to?" I turn my head and stare as him as he steers the wheel. 

"Pretty good. I actually started to-" He stops.

"Started to?" I nod.

"Have feelings for someone else." 

"Oh." My face goes blank as I sink into my seat. For some reason, that's not what I wanted to hear. "For who?"

"One of Abby's sisters."

"But I thought you loved me?" I slap my hand over my mouth. I can't believe what I just said. How fucking selfish.

THE STORY IS COMING TO AN END :(((( ONE CHAPTER LEFT! 

I'm reaaallllyy sorry for not updating sooner, but chapter 18 will be up very, very soon I PROMISE! 

I love you guys, thank you so much for all the support! x