Chapter 29

Robbie's POV

"That was a lovely gesture which the lads did for us. I wish the party didn't get gatecrashed, i heard Mark mention fireworks? Now that would of been amazing to see. Hopefully we can set them off before we head back home, what do you say?" Gary kicks off his flip flops, which slide underneath the bed. Sitting on the bottom of the bed, my eyes flick from watching Gary's shadow on the wall to staring vaguely at the blank screen on the TV. "Rob? Are you listening?"
"Uh? Oh yeah, fireworks. Yeah they're nice."
Gary smirks, whilst crawling down to the bottom of the bed behind me. "You're not listening to a single word I'm saying, are you?"
"Of course i am. You said about the fireworks you saw on TV last night."
Gary shakes his head and tugs my earlobe in between his thumb and index finger. "I'll take that as a no then."
"You and your bloody strange ear fetish." Nudging my elbow against his chest, i continue drowning myself in my thoughts.
"You love it really." Gary acts like a cat, purring against the back of my neck. Ignoring his mood, my teeth grip to my thumb nail. Could it really be? Its been happening right underneath my nose and i never suspected a thing. "Rob?" Faintly a voice speaks. Maybe I'm just over looking this, maybe they haven't spent enough time together, because I've been smothering and keeping Gary all to myself? "Robbie?" Surly if that's true, then it would be the same with the other lads. Mark probably more, he's the small worrier of the band and prefers Gary's calming comfort the most. Although Howard is the one Gary looks out for the most, the shy one of the band who rarely gets a say so. Am i really that stupid? "ROB!" Hands grip to the tops of my shoulders, giving my body an aggressive shake.

"AH!" Jumping out of my skin, i almost end up falling flat on my face. Gary sits back on his knees, with a concerned look forming on his face. "What the fuck, Gaz? Trying to give me a heart attack or something?" Holding my chest, my eyes widen at the male.
"What's the matter? I've been calling your name constantly and you've just been staring into space. You're not ill are you? Feeling faint again?" Tenderly he places two fingers against my forehead. Lashing out from the shock and over thinking, slapping away his hand we break contact.
"I'm fine."
"Clearly you're not." Bluntly Gary now speaks, getting even more worried yet frustrated with me. "What's going on?"
Stroking along my temples and down to my cheek bone, softly i mutter under my breath. "Like you care."
Stunned by my comment, Gary stares up at me whilst furrowing a brow. "Excuse me? Where's this coming from?"
"You tell me." Bluntly i reply.
Gary's eyes frantically search my face, as an uneasy smile curls at the corners of his mouth. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"Do we have guilty conscience, Gary?"
"This is ridiculous. What have I even done? You've been giving me the cold shoulder all night! Did you not enjoy the party or something? That's pretty ungrateful."
"Oh, I enjoyed the party all right. With my two best friends."

Gary frowns his lips. "Two best friends? And that means?"
Turning around on the spot, my eyes glare at the puzzled man now in front of me. "What's been going on, Gary? Do you really think I wasn't going to find out?"
Words fail to leave Gary's mouth, as shock spreads across his face. "W-What?"
"I knew it." Softly i mumble. "I bloody knew it. Why Gary? Why keep secrets?! Jason he is...He was our friend. Oh, god this is making me feel sick." Nervously, after waiting a couple of seconds, Gary places a supportive hand onto my shoulder. "Don't!" I spit, falling to my feet. "You're disgusting! I can't bare to look at you." My voice trembles and my knees feel weak.
"Rob listen i-"
"Why?! Why did you string me along if you were just going to end up sneaking around with my best mate?" Rising my voice, the room begins to spin.
Gary blinks his eyes and shakes his head by my words. "N...no...oh god...no Rob." Pushing himself up and off the bed, swiftly he walks into my direction. "God, no. Its not like that, honest!"
"I need to be alone." Is the only words I'm able to mutter. The lies are the last things i need to hear right now.
"Rob, honestly. Me and Jason...its not like that...I swear to you! I would never ever cheat on you and definitely it wouldn't be with one of the lads."
"And how do I know you're telling me the truth, eh? You've been getting cosy with him ever since we arrived here."
Breathing out a sigh, Gary's voice becomes hoarse. "That's not true. Me and Jason...well we-"
"Is it because I've been claiming you too much? Is that why you have been wanting to be with him more? I just wanted to spend as much time with you as i could until we get the paps shoving cameras into our faces left right and frigging centre."
"Don't be daft. I'm glad we're spending time together." Coiling an arm around my waist, he walks me back towards the bed. "Jason... he... well he..." Running his fingers along his jaw line, firmly he closes his eyes. "...He's been going through...some stuff...that's all."
"Stuff? What stuff? Why hasn't he told us?" Shakily i question, finally feeling the room slow down once again.
"You've only just got out of hospital. He didn't want to bother you with his problems did he? Howard has his own problems and Mark well...you know how much Mark worries. I guess problems would of been added if he spoke to one of them. That is all I've been doing, i swear to you." Reassuring me, gently he nuzzles his face against my chest.
Sensing Gary's guilt, forms a lump in my throat. "I'm...I'm sorry...then." Clearing my throat, my eyes latch onto my fingers. "I guess I'm wrong...once again."

"Hey...don't put yourself down." Wrapping his arms around my stomach, carefully he pulls me to the top of the bed. "I don't blame you. You've had a rough couple of days, I should be looking after you."
"I'm not a child."
"And I wasn't planning on treating you like one either." Delicately he nibbles against my earlobe, whilst he arms remain tightly around my frame.
Outstretching my neck, i shrug my shoulders against his chest. "Gaz. Leave my ears alone."
"Soz." He grumbles, as his lips tickle against my neck. "Do you forgive me?"
"Don't really have a choice, do I? Besides... I'm the one who should be apologising. I do trust you... I really do its just-"
"Ssssh..." Pressing a finger against my lips, my words are unspoken. "Don't speak... lets just sit here for a while." Is the last thing he says, before the silence creeps in. Gary's hands snake up the front of my shirt, skimming his fingers against my bare torso, as he releases an audible sigh of relief. Lolling my head backwards, lightly my head falls into the crook of his neck. Closing my eyes briefly, slowly i inhale Gary's scent. The scent which instantly brings me comfort. Lifting a hand, it clings to Gary's bare shoulder, as my leg wraps around his waist. Feeling Gary's fingertips stroke each one of my pecs, sends me into drowsy state.

Gary's POV

The vibrations against my chest is the only thing stopping me from drifting off into my own world. The world of scolding and over thinking. Today was close, so close. Thankfully Robbie got the wrong end of the stick. Looking down at the figure cradled in my arms, his lips are slightly parted, allowing warm air to hit against my chest. Such a fragile man, even if he does put on his manly act. Deep down he's just as weak as every other human being. Pecking my lips against his forehead, my head drops against his, holding him closer, not wanting to let go, not wanting to lose him. Suddenly, the sound of the lock scraping, causes my ears to stand on end. I could of sworn I locked the front door. Glancing down at Robbie, he continues to silently snore with his limbs tightly wrapped around my body. Great. Someone is our apartment and there's no way I can move. "Gaz? Rob?" A whispering voice speaks from within the living room area. "Guys, are you here?" Footsteps shuffle outside the bedroom door. Breathing a sigh of relief, I narrow my eyes into the direction of the dark shadow.
"In 'ere, lad." Muttering as quiet as possible, my arms tighten around Robbie's body, as the door creaks open. Standing now at the doorway is a very nervous looking Mark Owen. Shining a smile into his direction, using my free hand I flick on the dull bedside lamp. "Mate, now isn't a good time. Rob's shattered. He's had a pretty rough day and its not down to the party, don't worry about that."
"Oh...er...did he say why? Do you already know?"
"Know what?" Trying my best, I hutch myself up against the pillows behind me. "Is there something I'm missing here?"
Deeply Mark sighs whilst pinching the bridge of his nose. "Howard's outside..."
"Er...right? Is there any reason why that is?"
"I don't know how to tell you, I don't want to be the reason for causing any trouble or causing Rob anymore stress."
Feeling slightly frustrated with the worried looking man, I frown my eyebrows up at him. "Just spit it out, lad."
"Well...well the thing is. When we left the beach... we got collared."
"By whom exactly?"
Raking a hand through his hair, he confesses. "The...The paps, Gaz. They know. They know about you and Rob. Somehow from somewhere they caught you, holding hands on the beach."
"You're kidding..." The world has suddenly fallen back onto my shoulders like a ton of bricks.
"I wish I was, Gaz. They're outside your room as we speak. They're refusing to budge without knowing if yours and Robbie's relationship is real. I'm sorry to say, but your secret is out." If things couldn't of got any worse, they sure have now.