The sound of Drayton's pleas and whimpering registers with me before I've even opened my eyes and I can feel his large solid body thrashing beside me.

"Dall-- stop! No!" he calls out and when I sit up, my lids flying open so quickly that I feel disoriented for a moment, I narrowly miss an outstretched arm that flails in my direction.

My eyes take a moment to adjust to the pitch-black room, the only light comes from the lamp on the driveway outside of Dray's bedroom. I stare down at his disgruntled expression, still blinking rapidly and rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hand in hopes of speeding up the adjustment that my eyes need to make.

I notice the sweat beads formed on his forehead, the way his mouth is downturned and his lids shut so tightly that little wrinkles appear on the outer corners of his eyes.

"Dallas! No!" he loudly cries, causing a stabbing pain in my chest when his thrashing becomes wild and violent.

"Drayton!" I twist on to my knees and grip his shoulders, which is a difficult task considering our size and strength difference. "Drayton wake up!"

My hand slaps the side of his arm a few times while I continue to shout his name as loudly as I can without waking up the entire house. He hasn't had a nightmare in a while, at least not while I've been here anyway. I know that they're worse when I'm at home, which had unofficially become our excuse as to why I spend so much time here.

It's not a total lie.

Drayton's eyes suddenly fly open and he becomes still, my fingers tighten on his shoulders and I scoot closer while he whips his head around in confusion, his laboured breaths causing his chest to rapidly rise and fall.

"It's okay babe," I coo with a gentle voice. It hurts so damn bad to see my strong, stoic boyfriend become so vulnerable. Especially when I know that I'm the reason behind it.

His eyes finally land on me and when they meet mine, his entire demeanour changes in a split second, his expression softens, his breathing slows and I can see a sense of calm take up residence where the panic had just been.

He wraps an arm around me and lightening fast pulls me down into the bed, crushing my back against his front so that he can spoon me. His hold is tight and desperate as he buries his face into the nape of my neck.

"Don't leave me Dallas," he murmurs with a sleepy voice and I wonder how alert he truly is. "I love you. Don't leave me."

I'm not sure whether he means right now, or if he's referring to California. Or if perhaps I'd died in his nightmares and he was still not totally separating reality from fiction. I couldn't be sure but all I knew was that I had to soothe him, to let him know that I'm not going anywhere.

"I'm right here babe." I roll over so that my face nuzzles into his bare chest. His skin is slightly damp from stress sweats and I graze my fingers along his collar bone. "I'm right here."

The next morning, I awake to that startling spring sunshine that beams through the window. My body is almost glued to Drayton's and both of us are damp with sweat from the body heat. The spots where our limbs are intertwined are wet and slippery and I begin to peel away from him, doing my best to get out from under his heavy arm without waking him.

I know that Dray had an unsettled night so I don't wake him, but instead take a moment to appreciate the peaceful expression on his sleeping face. It's a stark contrast the look of terror he'd worn last night and I'm glad that he's possibly having better thoughts now.

The time on the bedside clock reads 9:34am. I decide to leave Drayton to sleep a little longer and head to the ensuite for a shower. My skin is damp and it feels uncomfortable, like I probably stink of perspiration.

"Morning gorgeous," Drayton greets with a sleepy smile when I slink back into the room with a towel wrapped around me. He's leaning up on an elbow, looking relaxed and unfazed, which I'm pleased about. I often worry that the nightmares will linger once he's awake. "You didn't wait for me to shower."

"I thought you could use some rest." I give him a knowing look while I step in my underwear and pull them up under the towel. "You had a nightmare last night."

His light and carefree expression drops to one of disappointment and he rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling with little emotion in his features. I refuse to believe that he doesn't remember them, I know that I remember all of mine and I can't understand why he won't explain what's happening in them. It can't be worse than what I've experienced. I always imagine that he gets hurt and it's horrible but it's not real, hence why I do my best so as not to let them bring me down.

Before I can pry any further, the email sound dings on my phone and Dray and I meet each other's eyes before I glance over to the cellphone sitting on his side table drawer. In as little time as possible, I finish getting dressed. I drop the towel and hurriedly put on my bra, following it with a large squad T-shirt and a pair of black leggings.

"Dray! It's from CalArts!" I read the email sender on the home screen as I plonk down on the bed. Drayton sits up beside me and wraps an arm around my frame, resting his head on my shoulder so that he can read the email with me.

My fingers tremble over the screen, tapping the password in while I attempt to regulate my breathing. This is it, the moment that I've been waiting for, for so damn long. Or so it feels that way anyway.

Dray cups his hand over my arm, rubbing it up and down in a soothing motion while his lips press light kisses on my shoulder. He makes so much difference and I'm not even sure if he's aware of the full extent of how calm he can truly make me.

I finally tap the email and wait with a strong beating heart while the loading symbol flashes repeatedly until the words appear and everything changes.

Dear Miss Dallas Ashley Bryan.
We are pleased to announce that a spot for you at the California Institute of the Arts, starting September 2017 is Available. We congratulate you on your acceptance-

"Oh my God! I got in!!" The phone is carelessly discarded on to the mattress and I turn around, allowing Drayton to engulf me in such a strong hug that it knocks the wind out of me. We fall backwards into the mattress, rolling around and laughing together at nothing in particular.

"I'm so proud of you babe. You have no idea." Drayton flips us over so that I'm trapped beneath him. He stares down and the genuine smile on his face is enough to warrant waterworks.

There isn't a hint of disappointment that my leaving is now finalised. I'm sure he's feeling it, but he doesn't want to ruin this moment for me and that's more than I could have possibly hoped for. Hell, even I'm feeling it. I'm leaving, it's done and dusted and I don't know what that means for him and I, but for right now, I just want to revel in the fact that I got accepted into my dream school. It feels so damn good.

"Dray, I-"

"I love you!" he interrupts my attempt to ask how he's feeling. "I love you so much." He leans down and his mouth meets mine. I don't want to feel desperation or grief but I'm so in tune to the hidden meaning behind his kisses that I can't ignore it.

It makes me frightened but I don't want to show it, I don't want to admit that things could end between us. I want to ask him if he's okay with this, if we can make long-distance work? Or perhaps he'll come to California? There is a swarm of questions firing from all corners of my mind right now and I don't know how to focus on one singular emotion. It's disorienting to say the least.

When he pulls back, his eyes give away a hint of sadness, but it's quickly masked by the brightest smile. His hand comes up to stroke the side of my face and my hands tangle in the hair on the back of his head. "We're gonna be fine cheer." He mumbles, his eyes studying me closely, travelling every inch of my face.

It seems that he doesn't want to have an in-depth conversation about this matter right now. Perhaps he feels that it'll spoil the excitement. I'm not sure. But he leans back in and pecks me, his arm muscles bulging under his weight.

"I'm gonna have a shower and then we should go out? You can tell your brother and Spencer the good news?"

"That sounds perfect." I sit up and give him one more kiss before he leaps off the bed, giving me a wonderful view of his almost totally naked body before he disappears into the bathroom.

I'm sure that Spencer slept here last night so I decide on going for a wander to see if I can find her. I skip down the steps two at a time, a bounce in my step because while I'm mildly confused about what this means for my relationship, I'm beyond ecstatic at the prospect of my future. I've worked so damn hard to get here.

The kitchen is the first stop on my search and it's filled with the aroma of breakfast. Bacon, waffles, hash browns, breakfast sausages. Ellie and Leroy are perched on the breakfast bar with a plate each in front of them.

They either sense or hear me hovering in the doorway because they both turn to glance at me. A smile immediately illuminates Ellie's expression, Leroy however, merely acknowledges my presence before he turns back to his newspaper and food. He's wearing a tight black shirt that accentuates his taut muscles and a pair of grey sweats. It's almost amusing at how similar he and Drayton are.

"Good morning."

"Come in and have something to eat!" Ellie waves me forward so I tiptoe in, feeling the cold tiles beneath my feet. "I had this delivered this morning. I felt like something yummy!"

"It looks great!" I eye the spread that covers half of the breakfast bar and wonder where the hell it all came from. I had no idea that we had someone who delivers breakfast in Archwood.

I wander around to the opposite side of the island and pick up a plate before I start dishing different foods onto it. It smells so good. "So how are you darl?" Ellie asks, resting her elbows on the countertop as she sips on her coffee.

"Actually I'm fantastic!" I grin, placing a spoonful of scrambled eggs on top of my breakfast muffin. "I just found out that I was accepted to CalArts this morning."

Ellie gasps with delight, setting down her coffee so that she can clap her hands together. Leroy doesn't have quite the same reaction, but he does react. He glances up from his paper with an almost blank stare, however I notice the furrow in his brows and detect a hint of annoyance. I'm yet to understand why I, or my college choice, bothers him so much.

"Honey, that is so fantastic! Congratulations!" Ellie beams, the corners of her eyes have little crows feet wrinkles but she does look incredible for the mother of a teenager. "We have to celeb-"

Before she can finish, the home phone starts to blare through the kitchen. She slouches and shoots me a look of disappointment. "Sorry, that's probably a shipment situation I've been waiting to hear about. I'll take it in the office. Excuse me."

And within a matter of seconds, I'm left alone with Leroy, who's dropped the intimidating stare but still looks mildly annoyed. Balancing my plate in one hand, a knife and fork in the other, I walk around the side of the island and sit two seats away, hoping that absolutely anyone walks in here right now to break this awkward silence.

"So," Leroy's voice breaks the quiet surround so abruptly that I startle with a wee shake. "You're off to California next year?"

I turn my head to the left a little, and notice that he's swivelled in his chair to face me, his broad arms folded in front of his chest.

"Yeah, I am," I reply before biting a mouthful of hash brown.

"And you and Drayton will be okay doing the long-distance thing?" His expression is almost a challenge, as if he's daring me to suggest anything else. "Because Drayton is going to Baylor and I won't have it any other way."

And just like that, I understand it all a bit more. He does think that I'm trying to convince Drayton to move with me, when in truth, I've never suggested anything of the sort. Perhaps this is a conversation he and Leroy have had though.

"To be fair sir, I think that if Drayton wants to move to California, that'd be his choice. But to answer your question... yes, I could handle long distance."

I could. I would miss him. But I wouldn't ask him to change his plans for me.

He chuckles and rubs his hands together, staring over the spread of food. "Drayton is not moving to California." His chuckle is gone, the grin on his face dropped and his clipped tone isn't threatening but it is authoritative. "Our entire family has attended Baylor, it's the school that produces the highest percentage of Dallas Cowboys and my son will be the quarterback for that team."

"Sounds a little controlling of you," I mumble, stirring the food on my plate with a fork. I can feel my appetite plummeting the further this conversation progresses. "Drayton would be a fantastic NFL player no matter where he goes. You should want your son to be happy."

"He will be happy. But you're both young and he shouldn't make such life-altering decisions based on a highschool girlfriend. He's not going to fuck up his career because of one tramp that he thinks he loves!"

His voice is raised by the end of his rant and I can see how rigid and tense his posture has become. But I can't look at him, I can't even acknowledge what he'd just said, because as much as I don't want it to, it hurt. So I stare down at my plate and inhale a deep breath.

"What's going on?" Drayton's voice washes over me, instantly calming and comforting. I turn around and watch him cautiously walking into the kitchen wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of black chinos. His eyes dart between his father and me, his expression becoming more accusatory by the second. "What the fuck did you say to her?"

I'd attempted to smile at him as though nothing horrific had just taken place, but I suppose he'd seen right through that because he quickly slides the barstool out of his way; the loud sound of metal on tile echoes through the kitchen and he stands between his father and me, his rippling back facing me.

"I was simply congratulating her on her acceptance to CalArts," Leroy explains with a calmer voice than he'd had before. "And gently reminding her that you're attending Baylor."

"How many times have I told you to stay the fuck out of it!?" Dray bellows. I thought Leroy had been intimidating; I can honestly say I'd never want to be on the receiving end of Drayton's fury. "And don't bullshit me, I know what your idea of gently talking to someone means."

"Maybe if you'd man up and tell her yourself then this wouldn't be an issue." Leroy's calm tone is starting to dissipate again.

"There's nothing to tell. I'm considering UCLA and you can get the fuck over it."

This is the first time that I've heard him say it out loud. I have to wonder why he hasn't brought it up before. But perhaps he hadn't wanted to get my hopes up, considering that his parents - or father - seem to be a major issue.

Drayton turns around and cups my face between his hands, his green eyes staring down at me with intense concern. "Whatever he said, don't listen to him." All I can do is nod in response, too far gone in the depths of his green orbs. He drops his hands and laces our fingers together, pulling me to my feet. "I'll buy you breakfast. Let's go."

"Drayton if you defy me, I will blacklist you boy!" We come to a standstill, halfway out of the kitchen as Drayton turns around with the most terrifying scowl I've ever seen. "I will make sure that NO NFL team drafts you."

"Go to hell you piece of shit."

I'm all but pulled out of the kitchen, struggling to keep up with Drayton's long strides. I'm beyond shocked at the confrontation. I don't know how Leroy could be so cold and cruel. Especially considering he's already lost a child. It makes no sense that he'd want to push his only son away after already suffering such a loss. And over something so minor as to where he goes to college. Drayton has an incredible future ahead of him, no matter where he gets his education.

We pull up on the bike in front of my house ten minutes later and he seems to have calmed down. I know that riding has that effect on him. He stays on the bike and retrieves his phone from his pocket while I jump off and remove my helmet.

"This has been going off since we left." He stares at the screen of his phone with his helmet tucked under one arm. "It's Mom. I better take it. I'll meet you inside."

"Yeah of course." I give him a quick kiss which earns me a smile and at that, I feel more elated than I had before.

When I walk inside, I shut the door and immediately focus on the fact that I can hear two burly voices coming from the back yard. One is Nathan's for sure, the other is familiar but I can't for the life of me think of who it is.

"Dallas!" Nathan beams when I step onto the back step. He's manning the barbecue with a beer in one hand and a large set of tongs in the other. "Look who came to visit!"

He points the tongs at Alden, his best friend from high school who moved to Florida after graduation to pursue his football career. From what I know, he's done pretty well for himself.

"Well damn. Is that Dallas?" I can't help but notice the way he sweeps my body with a sleazy expression. I do seem to recall him and Nathan being a heartbreaking duo; the two of them never did know how to keep it in their pants. He hasn't changed a lot. He's still got a jet black, cropped hair cut and almost equally dark eyes. He has a chiselled jaw and of course that footballers build that might drop the panties on any other girl but he just can't compare to my man. "Shit, I don't see you for three years and you turn into a woman. And a fine one at that."

"Bro," Nathan slaps Alden's arm as he spreads both of them open wide, taking personal offence to the smooth-talking, "that's my little sister."

"You fucked mine." Alden shrugs, his lips curling into a devious grin as he swigs his beer back.

"She was two years younger than us," Nathan defends with narrow eyes. "Not eight."

"Fucking hell," I mumble, walking down the steps to retrieve a beer for Drayton and me.

"Aye, whatdya say! Sister for sister?" Alden winks but narrowly avoids Nathan's fist that comes up to clip him around the head.

"The sister says" - I clutch two beers in one hand and raise my other to halt any ideas from forming in his small mind - "that she has a boyfriend. So it's a no."

"Aw, bet he's in high school." Alden laughs and I detect a little slur. It's not even lunchtime on a Sunday and they're drunk. "See, I'm a man, not a boy. I can show you things."

Before I can bite back that Drayton gives me the best sex I've ever had, which would no doubt horrify and scar Nathan for life, Drayton appears at the back step, a smug smile on his face and a puffed chest which leads me to believe that he's heard a decent amount of the conversation.

"Oh hey babe." I grin as Drayton situates himself beside me and encircles his arm around my waist. Alden gives him a once over, his expression losing some of its confidence and I can't help but giggle at the size difference now that I'm seeing them in the same space.

"I think I'm man enough for her." Drayton takes the beer that I offer and I notice Nathan focusing extra hard on his steaks, doing his best to bite down on the grin that's forming. "I also killed a man recently. He was threatening my relationship. So I stabbed him in the throat. And I avoided jail."

Drayton doesn't break eye contact as he effortlessly pops the cap of his beer off and takes a long guzzle. The way Alden's Adam's apple bops up and down is priceless but he's quite clearly struggling on whether he believes it or not.

"Actually that's more or less true." Nathan nods his head and that's enough for Alden to succumb to fear, his eyes widening and skin paling. I applaud Nathan for going along with it and not calling us out for only explaining half the truth. I suppose he'd had enough of Alden talking to me that way as well.

"Right, got it." Alden chuckles nervously, stepping closer to the barbecue as if Nathan will protect him if Drayton decides to flip out. "No hitting on Dallas. Sweet."

"So anyway," I clear my throat, hoping the awkward tension evaporates so it isn't marring the big news that I have to share, "guess who got accepted to CalArts?!"

Nathan whips his head towards me so quickly that I'm worried he just gave himself whiplash. His mouth hangs agape and the wind ruffles his mouse-brown hair.

"Seriously?!" He drops the tongs on the BBQ shelf and puts his hands on his hips. "Dude! I'm so fucking proud of you!"

He strides towards me and Drayton drops his hold, stepping aside so that Nathan can embrace me in a strong, brotherly bear hug. "I'm gonna miss you around here. I'll have to get a flatmate." He laughs and steps back, ruffling the top of my head.

"Wait, catch me up?" Alden glances between the three of us with a confused expression. Nathan resumes his cooking with a proud smile, slapping Alden on the back as he picks up his tongs.

"Dallas is a dancer, she just got accepted for an arts school in California."

Alden physically bites down on his lip, no doubt holding back some crude comment. Drayton returns to my side, slinging an arm around my shoulder. I don't care if it seems a little possessive, I love how protective he is of our relationship. It's hot.

"Wanna celebrate with us, Nathan?" Drayton's fingers trace small circles on the bare skin of my shoulder while we wait for a response.

"Well I've already got the barbecue going so how about we get some beers and more meat?" he suggests, turning a large piece of steak. "Call Spencer and her family and invite them if you want?"

So that's what we decide to do. An impromptu barbecue and beverages is perfect for a celebration. It's definitely me and I decide to overlook the fact that Alden is here. I can put up with him for one evening, as long he keeps his mouth shut. Which he seems to be doing quite well. I have a feeling he thinks Drayton will bury him alive if he makes one suggestive comment.

We haven't spoken about what went down in his kitchen less than half an hour ago, but I appreciate that he's all smiles and a good attitude. He really knows how to put me above himself and it warms me all over.

• • •

Thank you for 200k reads. Wtf. Y'all are unreal. Much love. x
Drayton and Grayson ❤️

Please tap the star to vote !! Much love. Until next time x