Something Real

by Nellie Christine

  “Did you see Grayson at all?” he asked.

  Oscar stood beside them now, shielding his face from view as he looked at the stage.

  Fallon shook her head. “You asked for my help. I got you in the party and I got you to see Grayson, apparently. Don’t forget that I said whatever happened after that was up to you.”

  “A warning would’ve been nice,” Stephen said. “Now I’ve got to find Grayson and convince him that he can do better than this Elijah asshole. If memory serves me correctly, he’s the biggest slut in the five boroughs.”

  A slut? Oscar couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Fallon was the chick who introduced herself as Elijah’s best friend, and she wasn’t even defending him. What kind of best friend would be helping some dickwad break up his relationship? A relationship where he was happy, at that. He turned around and faced the both of them.

  Fallon stopped whatever she was saying midsentence as her eyes went wide.

  Oscar looked away from her and stared at Stephen.

  “O-Oscar?” he stuttered out.

  “You’ve got three seconds to say goodbye to your little friend and get the hell out of here.”

  Fallon winced. This wasn’t good. This Oscar guy would definitely tell Grayson about what he’d heard, and if she thought Elijah was mad at her before…

  “Oscar… maybe we can talk about this –”

  “Don’t,” he said to her. “First of all, you don’t know what this piece of shit put my friend through, and furthermore you don’t know how happy Grayson has been with Elijah. You’re really fucked up for this –”

  “I’ve made mistakes,” Stephen interrupted, trying to keep his voice low. “But who’s perfect? I’m here to rectify that and I’m getting him ba –”

  Oscar’s fist collided with Stephen’s jaw as soon as the music video began. The people around them gasped, but thankfully it wasn’t loud enough to make a scene. At least not a scene that would reach Harvey Paul.

  Eleanor rushed over as soon as she saw her boyfriend swing, and Mark tried to get in between the two, but luckily security had beat them to it.

  “All of you, out,” the head of security told them.

  Fallon tried to fade into the background, but Mark grabbed her and pulled her forward. She rolled her eyes but allowed herself to be thrown out of the biggest Christmas party in the city.

  Of course. The night would have to end like this.

  ∞

  Elijah walked outside with both his coat and his boyfriend’s. Grayson was pacing back and forth in front of the hotel building. The only other person out front was a journalist from Rolling Stone, and Elijah kept that in mind. His first instinct was to hold Grayson and promise that they’d get through whatever the fuck just happened up there. He still wasn’t sure what it was.

  Grayson walked a few feet and then leant against the building. He buried his face in his hands and took a deep breath. Tonight was supposed to be a good night. The last person he expected to see was Stephen. In fact, Stephen was the furthest thing from his mind.

  “I knew I’d find you out here.” Elijah waited for him to drop his hands from his face before handing his coat over. “Hey…”

  Grayson tried to smile as he accepted the coat. “Hi.”

  Elijah glanced over at the journalist who was of course watching. He put his own coat on and took a step back from his manager. “I’m not sure what just happened, but –”

  “I’m pretty sure I just found out you fucked my ex while I was still with him,” Grayson answered. He stood up straight and worked one arm into his sleeve.

  Elijah wasn’t really sure what to say to that. ‘Sorry’ probably wouldn’t suffice. “Are we going to ignore the part about him wanting you back because that stood out to me.”

  Grayson looked down the block into Central Park. “I think I’m going to go home. If you can tell my friends that I left, then –”

  Elijah shook his head no. “I’m sorry? You’re just leaving after whatever the hell that was?”

  His boyfriend laughed, but it was clearly sarcastic.

  “I don’t find anything about this funny, Grayson,” Elijah told him. He was about to continue when the journalist walked over; the shorter, older gentleman pulling out a business card.

  “Elijah Dawson, right?”

  Grayson looked at the man and took the business card for Elijah. “I’m his manager, Mr.…” Grayson looked down at the card. “Mr. Smith.”

  “Really? Well, I’d love to set up an interview with him and if I could be the first to interview him for the magazine then that would be great.”

  Elijah noticed his friends, as well as Grayson’s, were being forcibly removed from the hotel. As if this night could get any worse.

  Grayson saw Stephen holding his jaw and Mark holding Oscar back. He took a deep breath, looked at the journalist, and quickly nodded. “We’ll get in touch with you. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He walked back to the hotel, but not before staring down the large group outside. Thankfully, he went back into the building instead of looking for the inside scoop.

  “I know it isn’t funny,” Grayson continued, hoping to say his piece before everyone was near them. “But if anyone gets to be upset here, it’s me. You don’t get to fuck everyone and then be upset with me for having an old flame who’s interested –”

  “Don’t pretend like you didn’t know the type of guy I was –”

  “Is it only was, Elijah?”

  It was Elijah’s turn to smile. He shook his head and looked away. “Alright, Grayson. Maybe it isn’t only was. Maybe I should just go back to having sex with random guys because you’re upset with me right now.”

  Grayson nodded. “Yeah. Blame it on me, Elijah –”

  “I demand that you talk to me,” Stephen barked.

  Elijah stared at Grayson and took a step back, practically challenging him. The look on Elijah’s face said ‘He’s all yours if you want him.’

  Grayson only shook his head no. “I’m not talking to you, Stephen. I’m not talking to anyone. I’m leaving.”

  He started to button up his peacoat as he looked around the group. Eleanor seemed more confused than everyone, but she did have a pleading look on her face.

  Grayson looked away. “I’m sorry, but I hope everyone had a decent time.”

  “I know that you two are trying to hide your relationship,” Stephen said.

  Elijah rolled his eyes.

  “Oscar, after he punched me, told me to keep my voice down. I know that people don’t know about the two of you, but they will pretty soon if you don’t talk to me.”

  “If you open your mouth, I promise you are going to wish you had it sewn shut,” Elijah told him. He’d been looking at Grayson, but he turned towards Stephen with the most serious look on his face. “You think you regret how you hurt Grayson?” he continued. “You’ll regret fucking with me even more.”

  He smirked. “Are you threatening me? That could be another thing I tell the tabloids –”

  Oscar swung and hit him on the other side of his jaw this time. Stephen stumbled to the ground, and Mark shook his head. He didn’t even want to get in between it this time.

  “Just give it up,” Allison suggested politely. “You got hit in the face twice buy a guy in a Kitty-Christmas sweater.”

  Stephen looked up at Grayson who only shook his head. “If that’s how you want to play it, then so be it. And I intend to press charges, Oscar!”

  Eleanor grabbed her boyfriend by the elbow, pulling him away. “If I have to bail you out, you are not getting any sex for months.”

  Elijah started to walk away without another word until Stephen’s next statement froze him in his steps.

  “By the way, even Fallon knows you aren’t right for Grayson, kid! She’s the one who helped me out tonight. Your best friend.” Stephen smiled as best he could with his aching face.

  Everyone fell quiet. Elijah glared at her, unsure of if he believed it, but t
he guilty look on her face was all the confirmation he needed.

  Fallon closed her eyes. She knew it was coming, she just wasn’t ready.

  As Elijah turned and walked off down the block, Fallon ran after him. Grayson shook his head and called for his driver. He’d seen more than enough. “I’ll see you two at home.”

  Oscar and Eleanor nodded to him, not really sure what else to say. Security dumped all of their coats and belongings out onto the sidewalk, and Mark sighed, taking Allison’s hands and walking over to get theirs. Stephen stood up. He watched Grayson get into a vehicle, unsure of what else he could do at this point. To say that this wasn’t the welcome back he was expecting would be an understatement.

  Eleanor grabbed her boyfriend by the arm again and pulled him away, dragging him towards their things.

  Fallon tried her best to follow in her heels. “Elijah –”

  He held up a hand and continued walking. “Please. Don’t say anything.”

  “Elijah. Listen –”

  “What is it that you want to hear?” he asked her. “That you were right? That I’m just a kid who doesn’t deserve anyone, especially not someone like Grayson Paul? That I –”

  “I don’t want to hear any of this –”

  “Then why would you fuck with the ONE good thing I had?” Elijah shouted.

  Mark looked over at them from where he was picking up their things.

  “If I’m that much of a screw up, which clearly, I am, then let me fuck this up for myself. I could’ve done it without your help, best friend,” Elijah continued.

  “I’m sorry,” Fallon cried. “I didn’t know… I just didn’t want you hurt!”

  Elijah smiled, shook his head, and then walked away. When he’d gotten maybe 10 feet towards the train station, he turned back to face her.

  “You know, if I never have to see you again, I’d be perfectly fine with that.”

  Fallon wanted to follow him. She wanted to apologize, but really, what else was there to say? She’d fucked up big this time, and she knew it.

  Behind her, she could hear Mark and Allison’s footsteps as they approached. Her coat was thrown over her shoulders and she started to break down. Mark made sure she got in a taxi, but that was the furthest his sympathy went.

  Chapter 21

  Grayson could hear the front door close from where he was in the kitchen. He rubbed at his temple as the kettle started to sound, and he quickly walked over to the stove to turn it off. The sound was bothersome now that the alcohol was wearing off.

  Eleanor found him first. She hadn’t even taken her things off yet. She sighed, moving behind him and wrapping both arms around his shirtless body. Grayson smiled as he poured the hot water into a mug.

  “Nobody died, El. It’s fine.”

  “That wasn’t fine. None of that was fine.”

  Maybe that much was true.

  Oscar walked into the kitchen and sat down at the island. He stared at his best friend and shook his head as he tried to replay the night’s events in his head. That was the furthest thing from what he wanted to happen.

  Grayson smiled back at him as Eleanor started to pull off her coat.

  “Would anyone like some tea?”

  Oscar shook his head no. “I’ll take a beer. Thank you.”

  Eleanor walked towards the fridge. “I’ll make that two.”

  Grayson resumed what he was doing, quietly dipping the tea bag into the hot water and trying his best not to think about whatever happened. He scratched at his hair, groaning when he remembered the amount of product he put into it, and then wiped his hand on his pajama pants.

  “I’m going to be the one to ask,” Eleanor said.

  Grayson figured as much. He opened a couple sugar packets and dumped it into his mug. Oscar pulled off his sweater and sat it down beside him, left in only a Camp Rock 2 t-shirt.

  “I gather that the dude my boyfriend could’ve gone to jail for hitting multiple times tonight was the infamous Stephen, but what happened? I thought you and Elijah snuck off to do what you and Elijah do. I’m just… confused.”

  “Add a second passenger to the confused train,” Oscar said. Although he kind of got that Fallon set this whole thing up, he was still rather lost.

  Grayson didn’t even know where to begin. He walked over to the kitchen island and took a seat, too. “I mean… Eli and I were about to. You know.”

  Eleanor nodded. Oscar thanked her for the beer.

  “But when I got to the room, Stephen was standing there, and he was about to knock. I really thought I was imagining it. But he’s saying he thought I invited him up there, and then Elijah opens the door, and Elijah’s confused, and it turns out they had sex when Stephen and I were still a thing, and I just had to get out of there.”

  Oscar’s eyes went wide. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Eleanor shook her head.

  “I left the hotel. Elijah got dressed and found me within minutes. I guess he knew I’d try and ditch the place. Thankfully he grabbed my coat for me.”

  “When we came out, you two looked like you were arguing,” Eleanor said.

  Grayson sighed. “We were getting into it. It wasn’t even worth it, but I think things started to escalate because I was mad he was the gateway drug that started Stephen’s infidelity.”

  Eleanor shook her head some more.

  Oscar took a sip and looked at his best friend. “Honestly,” Oscar began, “the guy is a piece of shit. He would’ve cheated on you regardless. We cannot blame Elijah here.”

  Grayson smiled, looking down at the brown liquid in his mug. “You know me. I always have to blame someone, huh?”

  “Blame Stephen,” Eleanor told him. “There will be plenty things to blame Elijah for when the time is right, and vice versa. Neither of you are going to be perfect.”

  Oscar nodded to that. “Very true.”

  “But,” she continued. “You don’t want to give him the power to mess up what you have with Elijah. You two have just started, but you’re good for each other. If there’s anyone that gets to be your downfall, it shouldn’t be Fallon, or your ex-boyfriend. It should be you two deciding that you want to try something else.”

  Oscar smiled at her before glancing at his best friend. “Do you hear how smart she is? That’s why I love her.”

  Eleanor went quiet, as did Grayson, but he smiled down into his tea. Oscar didn’t realize what he said until they started to stare at him. Then his eyes went wide.

  “Relax,” Eleanor said with a smirk. “I love you, too, Dummy.”

  Oscar let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Good. Because I love you more.”

  Grayson cleared his throat. “You both are sweet and in love, but back to my crisis.”

  Eleanor laughed, walking around the island to wrap her arms around Oscar. “Okay. Back to you.”

  Grayson took a deep breath. “I think I said some things I didn’t mean tonight, and I’m pretty sure Elijah is pissed at me. Add that to the fact that he’s probably viciously angry at Fallon, what do I do? Do I wait until tomorrow to talk to him or should I contact him now?”

  Eleanor was quiet, allowing Oscar to take this one. He was honest with his answer.

  “Personally, I’d probably try not to discuss this via text message or phone call. Fixing it face-to-face will be what’s best, since you guys were arguing that way in the first place.”

  “I agree,” Eleanor chimed in. “You can text him to say that you want to talk tomorrow.”

  “But not in a scary way that has him up all night thinking you’re mad at him.”

  “In a way that lets him know you want to work it out.”

  “Exactly.”

  Grayson nodded at the two of them. He definitely wanted to work it out. And tomorrow was the big show. The last thing he wanted was to stress out his new superstar on the day of his first major performance. He took a deep breath.

  “Do you guys think that Stephen is going to run to the tabloids a
bout my relationship with Elijah?”

  Oscar smirked. “Did you hear your boyfriend’s threat?”

  “About that,” Eleanor laughed. “You should probably tell Elijah that he shouldn’t walk around threatening people like he’s in the mob. He’s going to be pretty big and he doesn’t want that reputation.”

  Grayson smiled. “Yeah. We’ll talk about that.”

  ∞

  Elijah hated that he felt like shit. This was not the day that he wanted to feel like shit. Honestly, this was going to be a huge day for him in revealing how successful he’d be as an artist, yet he only wanted to stay at home and bury himself under the blankets.

  That wasn’t on the agenda.

  His agenda was full, though. He had to meet with various people from the label today, and that was a good thing. That meant that Harvey Paul had faith that he’d do well, and that he could be signing a multi-album record deal after tonight. Elijah knew he should be happy.

  He wasn’t.

  It was mostly because of the events last night. Between what Fallon had done to him, and the fact that he now had to compete with someone who was so… Grayson’s type. It was all bullshit. The only thing keeping him going right now was the fact that Grayson texted him the night before saying that he was sorry and that they needed to hash things out.

  That was a good thing, Elijah believed.

  He wanted to say sorry, too. It couldn’t have been easy having an ex-boyfriend pop up, only to discover that he’d screwed your current boyfriend at some point in time. But that didn’t matter now. It was years later, and Grayson was supposed to be happy with him.

  Elijah wanted them to be the real deal.

  He walked into rehearsal and smiled as the girls of The Pretty Committee all flocked over to him. Elijah liked them too, even though he suspected they all had a crush on Grayson and Laura was the only one bold enough to say anything.

  Rehearsal flew by, thankfully. They were incredible, and the song he was performing with them that night, “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” sounded incredible. He went over his small set list and sang Paradise a couple times before he decided he was done.