⚠️TW'S:

- SUICIDE

- DRUG OVERDOSE 

Those Eyes by New West

Cause all of the small thing small things that you do are what remind me why I fell for you.

Let me just recap the previous 22 minutes. Grayson was left in the room alone with me. He opened up. He took my hair out of the braid. He started kissing my neck. He turned me around so i was on his lap. We started making out. We're still making out. 

I pull apart quickly when I realise how slutty this is of me. "Grayson" I pant, still struggling to catch my breathe again. "I kissed Jameson. Last night. Not even 24 hours ago" I admit. 

He also struggles to catch his breathe as he looks down thinking. "Was he better?" He asks. 

"What?" I ask having definitely not expecting that question. "Who was a better kisser?" He asks. "Well you both- Wait why aren't you more mad?" I ask.

"Paris. We don't go out, you didn't cheat on me. We have something but I'm not stupid, I can see you and Jameson have something as well. For now you can have both" he shrugs. "What did you just say to me?" I almost laugh. "No! You need to slut shame me! I'm a slut" I say jumping back out of his lap and standing next to the bed. 

"Paris" he grins. "What?" I ask. "How do you feel?" He asks also standing up and stepping towards me warily. "Fine." I say slowly feeling a equally confused and worried. 

"Your stomach doesn't hurt too much?" He asks. "Well not any more than it did before" i answer. "You're standing. And you have been for about 30 seconds." He grins. "Oh shit." I smile. "I'm standing without help" I say. 

He wraps his arms around me and hugs me. "Not even 48 hours. I've gotta be some kind of miraculous recovery or something" I yell excitedly. 

The nurse rushes in again after seeing my actions. "You shouldn't be pushing yourself!" She scolds. "I'm not! I stood up without noticing and I've been standing for like 40 whole seconds" I beam excitedly. 

"Well. Don't push it." She replies. "Can I shower?" I ask. "With assistance I can't see why not as long as you can stand without pain" she agrees. 

"Grayson. Why don't you assist me?" I flirt. He smirks a little. "Not that kind of assistance" the nurse smiles at my joke.

"Well good luck with that shower. I should get going. The others will have left by now." He says. 

"Bye" I smirk, "Bye" he replies. He steps towards the door and pauses for a second or so. He changes his mind and turns to face me. He pulls me into him making me squeal a little. He presses his lips against mine for a moment before leaving. 

"Well, well, well. I saw that and the other guy from last night" the nurse smirks. "They're brothers as well" I tell. "Wow" she applauds. "He knows. I told him and he said that we aren't dating so he doesn't care that I like his brother as well." I say. "I kind of wish he had just called me a slut and left because now he expects me to choose." I say. 

"Oh girl. You're in too deep." She says. "I know" I sigh. "Are we doing this or what? Start undressing." She eventually orders. 

"Woah. No foreplay?" I ask jokingly. "Take off your damn clothes and shower." She grins. 

I read her name tag for the first time and realise her name is Nurse Aaliyah Mohammed. She has dark skin and large hazel eyes. She is quite short and wears her black Afro hair back in a ponytail which hardly contains it.

"So do you actually join me inside the shower or do you just like.. watch" i ask awkwardly. 

"I'm supposed to stand next to you with only the curtain between us but I know damn well you'll try to make some awkward conversations so imma wait out here for my own safety." She says.

"You know me so well" I grin. "Yeah well just yell if you need me. We recommend turning the shower really cold and then slowly adjusting til its warm" she recommends. I nod and step inside. She waits at the door outside as I turn the shower on. 

I do as she says with the cold water so it is as cold as it can be. I drop the gown off and tear off the bandage slowly followed by my pants and bra. I step inside and shriek at just how cold the water is. 

"You okay?" Aaliyah yells inside. "I'm fine" I reply in a really high voice because of how cold I am. 

In that moment I disregard all that I was told about easing myself back into hot water and turn the temperature up as hot as it goes. 

I smile when I'm hit with the boiling water on my cold skin. The heat burns my wound but it isn't too bad because I finally feel clean.

I wash my hair and then decide it's time to wash my body. I purposely avoid my wound and once I'm fully washed I decide to brave it.

I place some soap in my hands and rub it in gently, wincing slightly at the burn. I let the water run for an extra few minutes just enjoying the feeling of boiling water pouring down my back. 

Once I am out of the shower I brush my teeth. Yesterday morning, last night and this morning they brought me a bowl over to my bed that I cleaned my teeth over.

I walk out of the bathroom wearing the towel and a satisfied smile. Aaliyah throws me a new gown and underwear. I place them on and slip back under the sheets of the uncomfortable bed.

"Lift the gown up" she orders. I pull the gown up for her and she begins re-wrapping my wound.  

"I'll be back at 6pm for dinner. I think you should be able to eat and drink again now." Aaliyah Informs. I smile happily at the good news and reach out towards the side table where I grab the remote for the tv. I turn it on and switch to news. 

"In regards to the shooting which occurred the night prior to last. Hawthorne Heiress' sister still remains injured in St Agatha's hospital. Paris Gramb's was shot allegedly by her former partner Danny Stewart. Police are still in search of the shooter and any information regarding his whereabouts should be sent in to the Texas Sheriff's Station immediately." A photo of Danny and I is then flashed up on screen. 

I take a shaky breath as his eyes seemingly stare at me from the screen. I know my eyes are being laced by tears which I immediately blink away. 

"Just earlier today Avery Grambs was caught leaving the hospital with her eldest sister and Nash Hawthorne" it then shows the three leaving the hospital.

"Miss Grambs! How is your sister?" Someone asks. "She's getting better. She would like to thank all of you for your kind get well soon messages. It helps her a lot during these troubling times" she smiles. I grin, knowing those are the exact words Landon put in her mouth. 

"What is your response to her relationship with Grayson Hawthorne?" 

"Well... That's for them to discuss with the media if and when they are ready.  He's actually in there with her right now. If you wait you may catch him on his way out." She says. 

I almost forgot about our 'relationship' until now.

"Grayson! How is she?" 

"She was shot less than 48 hours ago, she's hardly going to be well" he says with an angry look on his face. 

"Is it true that it was your brother who saves her?"

"That is correct" he nods.

"And does it not anger you that it wasn't you who saved her?"

"She made it out alive. I'm glad she did. Without him being there who knows what would have happened. I'm more than grateful shes alive and with us. Jameson happened to be there and I'm glad he was, in fact in some ways I'm glad it wasn't me who was there. Seeing her hurt when he carried her in affected me more than anything ever has" 

"Is this you confirming your relationship with Avery's sister?"

"She has a name. She hates being called 'Avery's sister' and it's all you ever address her as. Her name is Paris Riley Grambs and she is my girlfriend." 

I am?

Oh shit.

He's confirmed it.

News is out.

Landon must've told him it was time, I wonder what she'll have me say the next time I'm asked questions in public. 

"Well there it is folks. The news we've been waiting for for almost a week is finally out. Grayson Hawthorne and Paris Riley Grambs are together."

Brilliant.

"Okay Paris. Grayson. The hospital has cleared Paris for an early discharge. After Grayson confirmed your relationship last night you'll now have to play the part well when leaving. I think Paris should wear something you've previously been seen wearing, maybe a scarf or hat. Grayson, arm around her shoulder. Paris, I've been pushing it with the doctors and they've agreed for you to have your bandage off. You're going to be wearing a cropped top. The point of it is to show your wound and I want you to walk out of there as if it didn't affect you. He might have shot you but your coming back stronger than ever." Landon tells us the next day. Grayson is sitting in a chair next to my bed whilst I stand trying to get my strength back. 

"I'm having stylists meet us any second now to discuss your outfit" She informs.

Not long later two stylists show up. They have a few outfits they want me to try. Jeans paired with a cropped plaid shirt. A cropped crochet shirt with denim shorts. A pair of white shorts and a matching bra style top. 

I choose the third outfit because the first wasn't really my style and the second was too cute for leaving a hospital in. Although i made sure to let them know how much i love it and want to wear it sometime. 

"Grayson is that what you wore when you where on your way in here when paparazzi  took photos of you?" The female stylist asks. He nods in confirmation. 

"Ok come here" she orders, he stands from his seat and approaches the corner of the already small room we are working with. Both the stylist begin looking at him all over to find something. "The ring!" The man yells. 

Grayson and I share a questioning look. "His ring! It's perfect. She wears his ring around her neck and he wears her necklace." He explains.

 "In case you haven't noticed necklaces aren't really my style" he says deadpan. 

"You wear her chain not the one with charms." He corrects.

"He can't wear that" I speak up. "I'm not taking my ring off" he also insists. 

"Why not?" The male stylist exasperates. "It was my Mom's" I justify. "This was the only thing Skye gave me of Father's" Grayson explains. Grayson? Sentimental? Never.

"Fine. Here. Matching dog tags." The girl gives up handing us both dog tag necklaces with infinity signs on it. I open my mouth to say something but am cut off, "if either of you even think about complaining, I swear" the male stylist warns. I immediately shut my mouth and begin putting the necklace on. 

"You're not allowed to take these off for the rest of your life" he exaggerates. 

I get changed into the chosen outfit in my bathroom and by the time I'm out the stylists are gone with all their stuff along with Landon. 

"Ready to go Honeybun?" Grayson jokes. "Ready as I'll ever be Loverboy" I reply. "Oh wait" I say when I remember something. 

I look down at the bandage on my chest and tear it off, I try to hide how much it hurt ripping it off so quickly, which makes Grayson grin a little. 

As we stand in the elevator on the way down we start preparing. "Your dog tag is stuck under your shirt" I inform. "I'll get it" I grin at him trying to look down. I move in front of him on the top of my toes and untuck it.  

The elevator door pings open as I finally untuck it. I remain up on my toes watching him closely even though the doors are now open. He puts his thumb on my forehead and moves a few stray hairs out of my face. 

I grin up at him brightly causing him to smile. He puts his arm around my waist knowing the paparazzi probably saw that whole interaction due to the elevators being close by a glass window. 

We begin exiting the hospital together and get bombarded with questions from flashing lights. 

"Paris! How are you?"

"I'm doing better now thank you" I say as we both walk towards the car, the paparazzi follow us with flashing cameras.

"How long has your relationship been happening?"

"We began dating around two weeks ago. Best two weeks of my life" Grayson answers looking down at me. 

"Grayson how does your family feel about the relationship?" 

"My family are happy for us" he answers briefly.

"Paris, are you only with him for the money?"

"In case you've forgotten, my sister is the heiress now so his fortune isn't why we're together."

"What about you Grayson? Did you begin dating Paris when her sister inherited the money?"

"Paris doesn't like to accept money from Avery. She made her own money from working two jobs whilst juggling high school, three clubs after school activities and 12 hours a week of dance. I think anyone to take advantage of that would be cunning and sick. We're together because we lo- like each other.. very much" he justifies. 

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the grin that is spreading across my face at his slip up of almost saying love. 

"How did you relationship officially start?" 

"Well we had been getting really close for a while and I had asked her out for a swim one night. When we were in the pool she kissed me and I asked her out." He answers as we get closer to the car.

"Who was the first person you told?" 

"Well when we were in the pool as I said, my brother Xander was on his balcony and saw us."

"And how did he feel about it?"

"He was definitely shocked but ultimately happy for us" Grayson answers before opening the side door of the car for me. He's driving us back today. 

He closes the door for me and walks around the car to get into the front seat. He sits down and closes the door. I relax in my seat a little.

He begins driving, we stay pretty quiet but not awkwardly quiet, comfortable silence. We reach a road down some wooded area. "I'd say that went well." He speaks up. 

"Are they always so personal and blunt?" I almost laugh. "Unfortunately yes. You're lucky you haven't had them follow you inside the gates yet. Worst mistake I made when I was 14. Jamie and I were out with Emily. The two of us got back and never shut the gates, some got in and were taking pictures of people through the windows in no time" he tells. "That's a little perverted" I say with my eyebrows risen. "Yeah. Thankfully never got many shots before they were caught." 

"That still must-" I am cut of by a beeping sound produced by a walkie talkie. "I need to pull over, thats the station they use for emergencies only." He says. 

Panic floods my brain. Jameson? Avery? Libby? Why did I think of Jameson before my own sisters? 

Just as Grayson promised, he pulls the car over in the middle of nowhere. He opens the door and goes outside to answer. Next to the car is a wooded area which he enters, he is still next to the car but is pacing at the front of the woods. 

He is listening to the walkie talkie patiently. Suddenly, he hears something that makes him stop in his tracks. His eyes immediately look up and meet mine, I can tell from his eyes something has happened. I immediately open the door hoping to hear the conversation but as I reach him he says "copy that" and puts the walkie talkie back in his pocket. 

"What? What is it?" I beg. "Paris. They found Danny" he says softly, walking towards me like a dog that will run if he gets closer. "Why is that a bad thing?" I speak loudly, praying for the best. Did he get to Avery? Someone else? 

"They found him," he repeats. I feel like I'm in a movie. Waiting desperately for the anticipation to end. "Dead.. in a motel room" he reveals. I freeze. I breathe in and out. I blink quickly. Those are the only things I can think about doing. 

"Paris.. You okay?" He asks coming closer, he is now in front of me. "I don't know" I speak honestly. "I shouldn't be upset. He tried to kill me. But I've known him since I was 5 and the old him didn't deserve to die." I say looking anywhere but at Grayson. 

"Do they know who did it?" I ask quietly. "Paris.." he starts, there's more? "Danny overdosed on heroin last night. He wasn't killed, he killed himself." Grayson says carefully. 

Breath in.

Breath out.

In. 

Out.

In.

Out.

In.

In.

In.

I can't seem to stop the shaky breath in. It feels like all the air in the woods isn't enough. I'm hyperventilating now. 

Dead.

Overdosed.

Danny.

Gone.

Killed himself.

Breathe!

Paris you need to breathe! 

Stop overthinking!

Grayson pulls me into his chest, holding , me tightly. I can finally breathe. One of his hands is on my back, the other on my neck, rubbing it slowly. 

"It's ok Paris. I'm here. It's over." He assures. With Drake and Danny both gone there is nothing else. We're finally out of this. I calm down at that thought. That is until I pull away from him.

"It's not over."