Fake Love | G.D

[twenty one]

-a week later

Today is the day I've been dreading since we arrived in New Jersey, Frankie's funeral. Grayson's been a completely different person all week but I know it's not his fault, he's grieving.

He's barely spoken a word since we got here and nothing can make him smile. He doesn't want to leave the house which is very unusual for him and Ethan's the exact same.

Grayson never wants to talk about it so I don't push it. I still don't know how to help in situations like this. I've just been taking care of Grayson when he's forgetting to take care of himself, making sure he eats well, drinks plenty of water, gets up out of bed, showers and gets dressed everyday even if he doesn't plan on leaving the house.

I sound like a pain in the ass but he hasn't asked me to stop and I've noticed his mood has slightly improved because of it.

"Grayson" I mumble from across the room while watching him tie his tie for the 5th time, "do you want help?" I ask getting up off the bed to help.

"No, I can do it" he huffs tugging at it to get it out of the knot he's just put it in, his hands begin to shake as he grows more frustrated, "fuck!" he yells before punching his fist through the mirror and I gasp with a fright.

The mirror is smashed and there is blood everywhere, it's on the mirror, dripping on to the floor and running down his arm. He stays silent for a minute with his back to me before turning around with tears in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry" he apologises immediately, "I don't know why I did that, I didn't mean to scare you" his voice cracks.

"It's alright it was an accident, I just got a fright" I assure him, "do you have a first aid kit anywhere in the house?"

"There's one in my bathroom" he tells me without looking at me, he keeps his eyes on the wall behind me.

I find a small first aid kit in the bathroom and go back into his room to see him sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands.

"Today is probably going to be the worst day of your life" I admit kneeling down in front of him and he looks up from the floor at me confused, "but you only have to do it once" I remind him as I start to clean his hand up.

"I still have to live without Frankie for the rest of my life" he adds taking a sharp breath as I clean the cuts on his hand with rubbing alcohol.

"I know and I'm genuinely so sorry about that but look at it this way" I start as I begin wrapping his knuckles with bandages, "you got to know Frankie, got to trust him and most importantly got to love him before he passed. You crossed paths with him and you were a big part of his life, most people will never be as lucky. Unfortunately you didn't have him in your life for as long as you would've wanted but that's how life works, blessings are given and taken so we learn to appreciate them. Today is all about appreciating Frankie and celebrating all the amazing things he's done in his life, try think about it that way" I try my best to make sense of the situation and he looks at me astonished.

"What?" I ask trying not to blush. I can't help it, whenever I catch him looking at me I blush but especially when he's looking at me like that.

"Nothing" he smiles shaking his head, that's the first time I've seen him smile all week.

"What I said was stupid wasn't it?" I scoff, "I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to things like this I was just trying to-"

"Chloe it wasn't stupid" he interrupts me, "it's the first thing that's made sense in a while, it's just like something Frankie would've said, because just like you he always found positives in the negatives" he tells me.

"Really?" I smile and he just smiles back at me, "you're doing it again, what is it?" I ask hiding my face suddenly feeling insecure.

"I always knew I got lucky with you" he admits taking my hands away from my face, "but right now I can't even put into words how blessed I'm feeling to have you in my life, I literally can not explain how amazing it feels having someone like you love me" he states.

Without thinking I stand up and dive on top of him squealing like a giddy child. We fall back on his bed and he laughs while I'm lying on top of him hugging him tightly. Hearing him laugh sends shivers down my spine, it feels like I haven't heard it in years.

"Thank you" he whispers.

"For what?" I take my head off his chest to look up at him but my hair is all over my face.

"You have no idea" he smiles fixing my hair and tucking the stray pieces behind my ears.

"Grayson, Ethan, Chloe, we're leaving in 10 minutes!" Lisa shouts from outside our rooms.

"Come on" I pull him up off the bed, "we need to get you ready" I mutter while I focus on untying his tie and begin tying it properly.

"Frankie taught me how to tie a tie" he admits, "my dad tried to a few times but I just wasn't getting it, maybe I was too young or something but I remember it just clicked when Frankie showed me" he explains.

"That's why you got so upset over it" I nod understandingly.

"I just wanted it to be perfect, it has to be perfect for him" he says with determination written all over his face and I know that he's talking about more than a tie.

"As long as you stay true to who you are, the man that Frankie knows and loves, he'll be proud of you no matter what you do" I remind him.

"I don't care how we met or how long we've been together, I couldn't imagine my life without you" he mumbles wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to him.

"I love you" I whisper leaning in to kiss him before his mom shouts upstairs that we have to leave, "where's your suit jacket?" I ask before finding it on the bed. I hold the jacket open for him to put his arms through and quickly fix myself in the mirror.

He wraps his arms around me from behind as I'm walking out of his room. "I love you too Chloe" he mutters kissing the back of my neck then takes my hand while we're walking downstairs.

note;
it's almost 4 in the morning and i'm in school in 4 hours so i'm sorry if there's any typos i'll fix them later, thanks for reading!