Fake Love | G.D

[twelve]

- a week later

"Are you sure you don't mind taking care of him?" I ask Madison for the 5th time since I got here.

"Chloe I promise Marley will be fine here, it'll feel good having someone stay here for a few days" she assures me.

"Chloe we're going to miss our flight!" Grayson yells from the car.

"I'll be one minute!" I yell back, "thank you so much for doing this, Marley be a good boy!" I warn while petting him.

"It's no problem, now go or you're going to be late" Madison laughs taking Marley's leash from my hands.

"Thank you" I thank her once more before running down the steps and into Grayson's car.

Madison is taking care of Marley for a week while Grayson and I are in New Jersey and New York. Since she's opened up to me about her feelings for Grayson, Madison and I have become good friends. She still hasn't admitted how she feels to Grayson but she told me she plans on doing it when we're home.

It's Monday today and the Marc Jacobs fashion show is on Saturday so we're going to New Jersey first to visit Grayson's parents. I don't know what I'm more nervous for, meeting Grayson's family or walking a runway in front of hundreds of people who are very important in the fashion industry.

"Stop worrying, everything's going to be alright" Grayson says placing a hand on my thigh while focusing on the road.

"I'm not worrying" I mutter under my breath looking out the window.

"You've been biting your nails all morning, I've never seen you do that before" he points out as his thumb traces circles on my thigh.

"What if your mom and dad don't like me?" I ask nervously.

"There's nothing I can do, they'll just have to deal with you for a year" he shrugs before bursting out laughing, "Clo you look like you're going to start crying, I'm joking with you, obviously they'll love you"

"But what if they don't?" I can't help feeling extremely anxious, I know Grayson and I aren't really dating but his parents don't know this and I don't want them to hate me.

"Trust me, they will" he tells me surely.

Shortly after we arrive at LAX, he gets our suitcases out of the trunk and takes my hand leading me through the crowd of paparazzi outside the airport. Once we're through security and waiting for our flight I remember they we're actually getting on a plane.

I'm terrified of flying, but I've been so worried about everything else that the plane journey never even crossed my mind. I search my bag for my pills I take to calm me down when flying but I can't find them anywhere and begin to panic.

"Chloe what's wrong?" Grayson asks looking concerned.

"My pills" I mumble while frantically searching my bag, "I can't find my pills anywhere"

"Talk to me" he says taking both of my hands out of my bag and holding them in his, "what pills?"

"They calm me down" I try to explain but I'm on the verge of tears, "I need them or I can't get on this plane" I urge as the tears start rolling down my cheeks.

"We'll check your bag again, if they're not there you can still get on this plane, I'm with you, you're going to be alright" he speaks in a gentle voice while wiping away my tears.

"No I-I can't, I need to go home Grayson, I can't do this" I stutter as I begin to panic. I zip my bag up and turn to walk away, he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him before embracing me in a hug.

"I know you're worried but try not to think about it, focus on meeting my parents and walking in the fashion show" he whispers as he strokes my hair with one of his hands while the other is wrapped around my waist, "I promise everything's going to be okay"

"I'm sorry for acting like this" my voice is muffled into his chest as I wrap my arms around him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for" he pulls away from the hug to kiss my forehead before holding me tightly again.

Our flight is called over the intercom, it's now boarding.

"Are you ready?" he asks and I nod as I pull away from him. He takes my hand as we walk to the gate, our tickets are scanned and we board the plane.

Grayson takes the seat by the window and I sit beside him in the middle seat.

"You're alright, I promise" he whispers placing his hand on my thigh, I can't stop my legs from shaking, I'm trying to calm myself down but I'm terrified.

"I can't breathe" I mumble trying to catch my breath, "Grayson I can't breathe" I repeat louder as I start to panic more.

"Yes you can, you wouldn't be able to talk to me if you couldn't breathe" he informs me, "close your eyes and take deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth" he instructs and I do as he says as the air hostesses begin the safety tutorial, "good, keep going" he encourages as he notices my breathing slowing down.

The plane starts moving on the runway and my breathing speeds up again.

"Grayson I need to get off" I panic looking around for the nearest exit, "I can't do this"

"The plane is moving they're not going to stop it now" he wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side, "close your eyes and try to imagine your in a car"

"Cars don't leave the ground" I shut my eyes tightly as the plane takes off, "this is the most horrible feeling in the world"

"Being on a plane?" he asks.

"No, being afraid" I admit.

"I know" he agrees rubbing his hand up and down my back trying to keep me calm.

"No you don't" I scoff, "I can't imagine you're afraid of anything"

"Of course I know how it feels to be afraid, it's human, everyone's scared of something" he reminds me.

"What are you afraid of?" I ask curiously looking up at him.

"I can't tell you that" he smirks, "how are you feeling now?"

"A lot better, thanks to you" I smile, "you were really good at calming me down, I've never been able to stop a panic attack before actually having one, how did you know how to do that?"

"I use to take them all of the time when I was a teenager" he confesses, "Ethan would usually calm me down by distracting me, he'd get me talking and focusing on my breathing that I'd realise it's all in my head"

"You continue to surprise me everyday" I accidentally blurt what I was thinking.

"Really?" he asks surprised.

"Yeah" I smile, "thank you, for everything today" I change the subject quickly.

"Don't worry about it" he smiles.