Holding On For Him ~ GD

Chapter 23~ New York

** AMBER'S POV **

The plane lands and Mum, Jai and I walk through the tunnel and into the airport. We walk to the baggage conveyor belt thing. I take me suitcase and wait for the other two. We walk out to the front of the airport and wait for our Uber. I take a deep breath and smell the sweet air of New York City, the smell of burning gases and hot crosonts fill my nostrils. I've never been here before so excitement is slowly filling my veins. Not enough to take away the fact that I haven't spoken to Grayson yet. In a way I want to but also want to give him space. He is right. He told me to stop, he told me everything gets better, he told me that someone will be there for me. I just didn't believe him. I didn't want to.

He spoke to mum before he left for New Jersey a few days ago, I guess he told her because I went to therapy yesterday. I told the therapist everything that happened from last time I saw her. From Grayson taking me to the beach and keeping me company to me finding out my nan is dying and me feeling lonely and out of place.

Our Uber arrives and we go to the hotel. I watch as the brick buildings go by the hot food stands the different types of people. I flop onto my bed and close my eyes carefully.

***
I wake up to Jai screaming at me, "Happy Birthday!"

"Morning." I sigh laughing.

I turn my phone on and check my messages hoping someone remembered. But there's only really one person I want to have messaged me.

"Happy Birthday girly! I miss you!"

-Erika

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY I LOVE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY!! 🐢✌"

"Haha thanks! 😂 ily too!"

-Ethan

"Happy Birthday beautiful ♥"

"Thanks Gray. ♥"

I read what time Grayson sent his message. 4am. Why the hell was he even awake then? Oh well. I push the irrelevant question to the back of my mind.

I climb out of bed and jump in the shower, put on a pair of high waisted jeans and a cropped, light pink hoodie with a white strip across it with the word sassy written in it. Mum puts two french braids in my hair before we go out for breakfast. A short walk then we arrive at a small café, I scan the menu already knowing what I am searching for. There it is.

"Waffles please!"

"What are waffles?"

"Jai you're kidding right?" I gasp.

"That's a waffle!" Mum says pointing to the waiter giving our neighboring table their waffles.

Mum orders us all waffles.

"Have you spoken to Grayson this morning?" Mum asks confidently like she expects it.

"Um well he messaged me at four this morning to say happy birthday.. If that counts.."

Mum just sits there smiling, she's being weird. Not the normal mother kind of weird either. We finish our breakfast before getting a taxi to central park. We take a walk along a wide path, I watch as the red and orange leaves fall from the trees, landing softly on the autumn grass. The beauty in all things dying. As we come to the end of our walk we decide I want coffee, well I decide I want coffee. Mum googles the nearest coffee shop and we make our way there. As I'm about to order mum's phone rings and she steps outside. I order me a pumpkin spice latte from the young lady at the counter. I recieve my latte before walking outside, not looking where I'm going I almost run into someone. Instantly he reminds me of Grayson, he smells like Grayson, he's wearing the same shoes as Grayson, my heart breaks a little me thinking, knowing it's not going to be Grayson. But when I look up I realize it is Grayson.

"Happy Birthday.." He sighs shyly.

"Oh hey.."

He takes my hand softly and pulls me to the side. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have got angry and ignored what you were saying. I should have stayed."

"It's okay, I get it."

"No it was wrong. So I am here to make it up to you." He smiles lightly.

"Well thank you."

** GRAYSON'S POV **

I stand here staring at the beautiful girl I adore so very much. Her face still looks sad, just like when she ran away the other day. I begin to feel a rush of guilt as I remember the way I yelled at her.

"How'd you even get here?" Amber asks.

"I drove."

"Oh right haha!"

"What?"

"I wondered why you were up at four this morning."

"Yes well sometimes you have to sacrifice the things you love for the things you need."

"Oh so you don't love me, you need me?" Amber laughs lightly.

"I love you but I need you just a little bit more."

"Really?." She blushes.

"Yes really."

The two of us walk hand in hand over to Amber's mother.

"You made it then."

"Yes I did."

Amber stands with a confused look plastered on her face as I talk with her mother about the drive I made here.

"Well I'll see use for dinner?" Marisa asks.

"Yep."

"Well have fun. Don't get lost!"

And then Amber and I walk off.

"So, Amber, where would you like to go?" I ask.

"Oh please, I don't know."

"Anywhere you want."

"You could just take me somewhere."

"Fine then. You been to central park yet?"

"Yeah but we can go again it's so pretty." She almost whispers.

She's nearly as shy as that day I found her crying. The second time I ever saw her. She was scared of me, the fact that I'm taller than her, my voice deep. And I was just a stranger trying to help her.

I grip her hand tightly, she flinches slightly but relaxes a little. She's so jumpy.

***
We walk along the side of the wide path, Amber admiring the beautiful oranges and reds in the leaves. Her dark, braided hair blowing in the gushes of wind that blow in our face. We walk in a complete, comfortable silence for a while. We find a open grassy hill, Amber motions me to sit on the grass with her. I sit down beside her and slide my arm around her waist, too scared that if I let go she'll never come back. I wrap my other arm around her and bury my head in her neck, she wraps her arms around my waist also. We sit like this for a moment before she pulls away and looks up at me. Her eyes full of guilt and sorrow as I look deeply into them. Amber looks away slowly, now avoiding eye contact.

"I'm sorry Grayson.." Amber mumbles, quietly under her breath.