The man held me tight to keep me from screaming, and shushed me, turning me around harshly to take a look at him.
"It's me" He screamed in a whisper.
The deem lights were making it hard for me read the features on his face, as so was the hair that covered the side of his forehead.
My eyes squinted, as I tried to really figure out who the hell was standing in front of me. Dark eyes, chiseled jawline, round nose, brawny arms.
This could only be the one and only, Grayson Dolan.
My heart dropped, as my eyes filled with tears. "Oh my god" I whispered and pulled him into a tight hug. "Gray." I cried onto his shoulder.
I felt such a big mix of emotions. My brain couldn't even process a sentence. I was taken so aback and left speechless. After all this time, I had thought he was dead, yet right then, there he was, standing right before me.
"Come with me" He said in a whisper as he took my hand. I wanted to ask where and I wanted to tell Ethan and Jack, but I was afraid that if I asked, he would just change his mind and disappear again, until god knows how long.
I didn't want that happening again.
We walked down the street through the cold night, with the moon watching from above, watching our every move, listening to our conversation.
There were no stars. The sky was pitch black, it looked like a painting almost. The cold air blew strongly, caressing my reddish cheeks. I rubbed the sides of my arms due to the coldness.
Grayson turned his head and noticed. " Here" He said, handing me his leather jacket without a second thought. I thanked him and wrapped it around my shoulders. The smell of his perfume hadn't changed, and it made me all teary when all the memories flashed in a second.
"You've changed" He began, scanning me from head to toe. "You did too" I smiled at him, doing the same.
He was wearing a white polo shirt and some fit, ripped jeans with some boots.
I noticed his sleeve tattoo and his facial piercings.
We arrived at a cafe, that was open 24 hours. He pulled the door and stepped aside for me to go first. I mumbled a "thanks" and walked inside.
The cafe was a beautiful, vintage place, with white and light brown wood combinations in their furniture.
It had big ceiling fans and a grey marble counter, where the waiter stood behind and greeted us with a small smile once he saw us come in.
Grayson ordered some coffee, while I just ordered some Soy Milk. While we waited for our drinks to arrive, I noticed how his eyes kept examining my every feature, as if I was a painting in a national museum.
We were quiet.
His eyes glistened with the moon's deem light. Eyes that I missed, but couldn't recognize anymore. I could tell I was the reason for his change and all the tattoos on his arm.
Our drinks arrived and we both thanked the waiter in unison. We exchanged awkward smiles and stared down at our drinks.
I wrapped my hands around the white, heavy cup, letting my hands warm up as I stared at the sky through the gigantic window beside us, but turned my head back to look at him once I felt his cold hands touch mine.
I watched him as he took my hand, examining the ring Ethan gave me. He flashed a small sad smile, and gently rubbed my fingers with his thumbs.
"Was everything really a lie?" He asked almost inaudibly while he kept examining the ring.
Tears were already blurring my vision. "No" I said. Almost too weak to even answer. "It was a deal between me and Ethan. But as the time passed by, I got attracted to you, Grayson. I did love you." I managed to explain in between quiet sobs.
His eyes looked up at mine, as if he was trying to find out if my words were honest. Truthful.
Once he found the answer he was looking, he looked down, and let out a sad chuckle. "You know" He trailed off, slowly letting go of my hand and wrapping his hands around his cup. "I did come back for you" He said.
My heart tightened at the thought of it. "You just weren't there anymore" He sighed, stirring his coffee with a light, thin, wooden stick.
"Grayson, I-" My voice cracked. "I was always there" I said, almost inaudibly. I was trying so hard to hold the tears from rolling down my cheeks.
"I waited for you. For months I waited for you to come back."
He looked down and shook his head. He did not believe the words that were coming out of my mouth. So I decided to open up, and explain further.
I wanted to tell him everything I wanted to tell him back then when he disappeared without a single goodbye.
"When I got all the money, I met the kings." I trailed off, wiping the tears with the back of my head. His gaze rose, and met mine again. But I looked away.
I knew that if I looked at him, I would become a crying mess.
I didn't want that.
"Dom, Michelle and Luke were there with me. Incluiding Ethan" He clenched his jaw at the mention of his twin brother's name, but held his anger back.
"Anna was given back to me. It was her birthday that day actually" I released a small chuckle, to try and cover that I was actually becoming a crying mess
"But as soon as the kings knew about the others being in the same meeting place, they shot her multiple times and got away with the money." I said, the last few words in a whisper almost.
Grayson's face softened, but his jaw was still clenched. I could see the anger burning up in his eyes.
"She died" I finally broke down crying. I couldn't take it anymore.
It felt as if I was digging back into the memories I had buried deep down. It felt as if I was putting salt into my still open wounds.
His face was now full of concern as he cupped my face and wiped all the tears away with his thumbs.
Just like the old times when we used to be dating.
He flashed me a small, but real, genuine smile and leaned in to kiss me. I couldn't deny it. I missed him like crazy.
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❝ you know, i did come back for you.❞ -Grayson Dolan, Melrose
