When I stopped so suddenly, George dropped his arm from my shoulder and rested it around my waist.
"You ok Emma?" He said seeming really concerned.
I couldn't vocalise what I wanted to say so I just shook my head, which led to George pulled me into a tight hug, which caused me to burst into tears and hold onto him for dear life.
The sight that has left me almost broken in the arms of one of my favourite musicians, was something I had never mentioned to anyone, and never thought I would need to.
"Do you want to talk about it?" George murmured gently rubbing my back
"Not right now, and not right here, but soon," I reply pulling away slightly to look into his eyes so he knew I was telling the truth.
"Ok, just know that I'll always be here for you, for whatever and whenever you need," he said quietly brushing the slowly drying tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.
"Thank you George it means the world to me," I reply softly with the smallest of smiles.
With that we venture out further into into the sunlight towards Shari, Shailey and the boys, with George's arm around my waist and me doing my best to avoid the cause of my breakdown, the one person I thought I would never have to see again, the guy that stalked me for most of my senior year at high school and gave me nightmares and had me fearing for my life and sanity, Mitchell Walker. I hoped he hadn't seen me but knowing how small the venue was, it was bound to happen at one point.
Putting all the horrible thoughts and feelings aside George and I had finally made our way back to where our friends were, George gave my waist a gentle squeeze as if to reassure me and let me go so I could give Shailey a hug.
"Is everything ok Em?" Shailey asked as we let go of each other.
"Not really, but it will be soon I hope. I do however need to talk to you and Shar about some things though," I reply with Shari turning her head towards me at the mention of her name.
"Sure thing Em, we can head over to your car really quickly if you want? Although it's almost 1:30 so we better make it quick if we're going to get back in line for soundcheck," Shailey replied gesturing for Shari to follow her as we made our way back to my car.
I really quickly explain everything that happened with George, leaving out the Mitchell stuff because despite the three of us being so close, they had no idea what had happened that year. The first person to say anything was Shailey.
"Awww, you guys would be so cute together," she said so loudly that I caught George looking over at us and when he realised i caught him looking, winked and went back to talking to the boys, I then turned back to the girls with burning cheeks.
"Someone's checking you out huh Em? I totally agree with Shailey though you'd be cute together, I've noticed it for a while now and I've even come up with a name for you two," Shari said with a cheeky smile.
"And what pray tell is this name you have come up with Shari," I say while checking secretly that George wasn't looking over at us again.
"It's perfect Em, your names are George and Emma, so your couple name is Gemma," Shari said looking quite proud of herself.
"OMG Shari that's perfect, I totally ship Gemma!" Shailey replied high fiving Shari.
"You guys are certifiably nuts you know, now hurry up we've gotta get back up to the waiting area for soundcheck it's almost 2:00," I reply making my way up to where George, Callum and Lewis where, along with a few others that had started to gather.
I can hear the girls follow me, discussing the cuteness factor of 'Gemma' and I shake my head in amusement and being distracted I trip and almost fall straight to the ground but I'm caught by a pair of strong arms, a pair of arms I recognised, they belonged to the subject of the girls discussion behind me.
"Falling for me that easily Em," George says with a wink and a laugh as he lifts me up so I'm standing again.
"Shut up you," I reply trying to sound mad with my cheeks burning yet again, being in his gaze apparently makes this happen all the time now, especially with the girls close behind me.
"Oh you love me Em, you can't deny it now," George laughed while wrapping his arms around me in a hug so I couldn't escape his gaze.
"I deny it categorically," I say failing to keep a smile off my face.
George laughed and pulled me even closer and whispered in my ear, "Told you so Em".
I'm enjoying being wrapped safely in George's arms when all of a sudden I hear someone call my name and it's like ice water has been poured down my back.
"Long time no see Emma," the terrifying voice says.
