Jersey

six

Grayson and Ellie were both in their respected bunks, when they were abruptly awaken by a loud slamming. Gabby was in the bus, and had slammed two books onto the floor.
Grayson jumped and Ellie fell over onto the floor.
She groaned. Grayson sat up peaking over the railing to find Ellie splat across the floor.
He looked up at Gabby in disbelief, "Uh, good morning?"
She rolled her eyes, completely stepping over Ellie, who was still motionless on the floor.
"I might not like you right now but I'm still your manager. Therefore i still have to manage you. You have a meeting today, get up." She snapped, walking out of the bus altogether.
Grayson groaned, laying his head back.
"Ellie." He called out, "Are you alive?"
He heard a muffled, "Yeah." and turned over.

Grayson went to the meeting alongside Gabby who wouldn't look up from her phone.
He sighed, "Look, Gabby, I'm sorry."
"Do you mean it? Or are you just trying to break an awkward silence?" She asked, still not looking up at him.
"I mean it." He said, "I shouldn't have went behind your back like that. I'm sorry, I really do respect you. I was just upset at people telling me what i can and can't do like I'm not able to make decisions for myself."
Gabby sighed, finally meeting his eyes, "I know it's frustrating but you really can't go behind my back like that again. What you did for her was sweet, the song was amazing, and the world clearly did love it. But don't forget there are still bad people in the world who won't be as understanding as some."
Grayson sighed, "I'll try and remember that."
Gabby nodded giving him a small smile, "You're a good kid with a great career. Don't mess it up now."
Grayson looked down to his feet for a split second before speaking again, "I won't."

Back in New York, Lily was finishing her up her last few lines of the scene. Walking off set, she heard what sounded like Grayson's voice in the dressing room. She walked in, seeing some of her cast members huddled around the tv.
"Grayson Dolan surprises the crowd last night in Los Angeles with an original song he wrote called 'Jersey'." Lily then walked closer, "Turn it up."
The tv was soon turned up, and Lily was all ears.
"He says it's about a girl- who we would infer is his girlfriend, Lily Tanner, lead actress of 'rocked', but he goes on to say that it's about a mystery girl."
Lily's face slowly starts to redden. Not from anger, but from embarrassment. One by one, everyone shot her worried looks.
"He also mentions she was there that night, wether it had been backstage or in the crowd, the only information we are all wondering is, 'are he and lily still together?'. Lily has stayed quiet on these matters back in New York filming, but there has been no of evidence up until last night that leads us to believe, Grayson's eyes may be on someone else."
"Turn it off." Lily said, not wanting to hear another word. She stormed out, slamming her private dressing room door shut. She pulled up a live clip from his concert, fully listening to the song. Tears filled her eyes. Her heart beat fastened as she paced back and forth. She was humiliated.
Picking up her phone, she dialed Grayson- only to be sent to voicemail due to him being in a meeting. She groaned, slamming her phone down onto the dresser. A knock was heard on the door, scaring Lily a bit. She took a deep breath, opening it, to see her co-star, Amber, front and center.
"Hey. What's going on? Have you really not seen that?" She asked.
Lily couldn't even make out words, "No I- I never-"
"Okay." Amber said calmly, "Do you have any idea who she is?"
She nodded in defeat, "Yeah. I just can't believe he'd do something like that for her, knowing he was still with me."
Lily honestly wanted to cry. He said he would never hurt her, yet that's exactly what he did.

Ellie was in the tour bus, half asleep in her bunk until a loud abrupt sound was heard. She jolted up to go into the living room, and all that was seen was flashing lights. A few seconds later, Mike entered uneasily.
"Go to the back and stay there." He instructed.
She was now scared, "What's happening?"
"Paparazzi. Call Grayson, let him know we're going downtown."
"Downtown?" Ellie asked.
He stepped into the drivers seat already starting up the bus, "Yes. Your identity is at risk right now. Everyone wants to know you are. We're going on lockdown."
Ellie rushed to the back, grabbing her phone, but Grayson was already calling her.
"Grayson."
"Hey. Gabby told me what was going on, are you okay?"
"Honestly I'm kinda shaken up." She said, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Gabby and I are gonna take her bus. Where are you?"
"Mike says we're going downtown." She answered.
"Okay. Just stay in the back, okay? Paparazzi is crazy, I don't want them busting the windows down on you."
"Okay." Ellie answered.
"I'll see you soon." He ended the call, fighting his way through countless press bombarding him with questions. Getting to Gabby's bus safely seemed nearly impossible.
"I told you this would happen." Gabby said, tired and out of breath. She instructed her driver, Carson, to track down Mikes bus. They plowed through recklessly, the flashing lights still being shown through the curtains.
"How's Ellie?" Gabby asked, whipping out her phone to contact management.
"She's fine." Grayson answered, "What if they find out who she is? What'll happen to her?"
"She'll be eaten alive, Grayson." Gabby answered, looking up at him, "They're not going to accept her. They're going to turn to the side of Lily and blame her for everything. Jesus- why couldn't you have just listened to me? Now Ellie might never get the chance to come out."
Grayson's stomach churned, "But we can change their minds, right?"
"We can change their minds, right?" Gabby mocked, "No we can't change their minds. They're not gonna care Grayson. The only thing they're gonna see is you messing around with another girl, breaking Lily's heart publicly, and feeling nothing of it. Your reputation is gonna- oh my god. I can't even- I'm sorry." Gabby said, excusing herself to the back.
Grayson sat there motionlessly.
He looked at his phone, seeing a missed call from Lily. He then looked up, knowing everything Gabby had said was right. She warned him and he didn't listen.
He should've listened.
Ellie and Mike had escaped the paparazzi and found a place to park. Ellie exhaled a deep breath. Mike looked in the rear view mirror and sighed, "You okay back there?"
"Fine." She answered.
Sooner than later, Gabby and Grayson were parked beside them. Grayson quickly exited Gabby's bus and went to his. He opened the door and Ellie walked over to him, "Hey."
"Ellie I'm so sorry." He said, wrapping her into a hug. She hugged back, but didn't think much of it, "It's fine. You're a celebrity and paparazzi exists."
He shook his head, "No you don't get it. If your identity gets out then it's over- for the both of us."
"What?" She asked.
"I made a big mistake, Ellie."
She was confused, she searched his face for answers but got none.
Gabby entered the tour bus suddenly, and her face was saddened, "Ellie, I'm sorry. But you have to leave this tour."
"What?" Ellie asked, face pale with confusion.
"Wait- no." Grayson said, standing in front of her, "Gabby."
"I'm sorry." She said louder, "But the risks are too high now and i can't do anything about it. As long as she's with you, here, they're not gonna stop and you know it. She needs to be somewhere safe and that is not here."
"I can keep her out of the paparazzis way, she doesn't have to leave."
"This isn't up for discussion, Grayson." Gabby nearly yelled, "I tried to warn you. I really did."
"Gabby no, this isn't fair." He defended, with tears in his eyes, "She didn't do anything."
"I know!" She yelled, "She did absolutely nothing. You did."
Grayson's throat became dry, and Ellie's eyes filled with tears.
Gabby hated this. Seeing both of their expressions so broken and sad. She couldn't even bare to look anymore.
"Ellie, pack your things, I'm taking you to the airport in an hour."
Gabby then closed the door, leaving the bus in complete silence. Grayson couldn't even turn to look at her. He was so ashamed. Ellie stood still, processing everything that'd just happened.
"Do you not have anything to say?" Ellie choked out, letting a small tear slowly run down her face.
Grayson closed his eyes, trying to keep his cool, "I never meant for any of this to happen."
Ellie just stood there, staring at his back.
She merely shook her head, "Yeah. Neither did I."
She left him standing there, as she went into the bathroom. She couldn't help letting a few more tears hit the floor. If she'd known coming on this tour would cause this much, she never would've done it.