Under the stars || James McVey

Chapter thirty two

James' POV

Walking into the dressing room, I see the lads just sitting there, waiting patiently for our support act to finish up so we could get out there and perform. This always happened; we all get really hyped because a gig, full of energy and anticipation for another great night. I take a seat at the dressing table and take out my phone and send a quick text to Katie, but just as I was about to press send, a message comes through from her first.

Kate: Coming through security, it's crazy here!x

I chuckle and send back a quick reply. It always is, sorry about that.x

Kate: Haha, it's fine. Don't sweat it x

Me: I won't. Come to the dressing room x

Kate: Will do. On my way.

Me: OK

Kate: OK.

The lads obviously saw me chuckling to myself, as Connor takes a seat next to me and plucks my phone from my hands to look through my messages. "Ooh, looks like Katherine's nearly here lads." I roll my eyes at him as he wiggles his eyebrows at Brad and Tristan. They all wolf whistle and Con slaps my back in approval.

"So, what's happening with that then? You guys official?" Brad asks and I ponder the question intently. Were we?

"I don't know. It's too soon to tell."

"It's been almost three months since we met her you know," Tristan chirps from the sofa. We all look at him as he shurgs his shoulders. "Seems long enough to me"

"We weren't dating then though" I say in confusion.

"So you're dating now then?" Connor wiggles his eyebrows again and I roll my eyes... again.

"It's complicated."

"What's complicated about it? You're practically in love with her, and her you." Brad states nonchalantly.

"Wait... what? I'm not in love with her."

"Of course not, you just more than like her."

"Exactly," They all look at me with stupid grins on their faces. Did I really just say that? I groan and put my head in my hands. "I more than like her," I mutter, more to myself than the boys.

"Good. I like her too," Connor chirrups as my head snaps up to him. "Strictly platonic, of course." He says in panic and Brad slaps a hand on his back chuckling a 'way to go bro' at him.

Tristan gets up off of the sofa then and comes to a halt beside me. He places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a quueze. "It's alright to let yourself feel for her, you know. You might not know it but you've already let your walls down for her, you can't hold back now. You owe it to yourself to keep going."

"I don't know, it's just..." I sigh and rub my hand over my face.

"What would Emily say?" I look up at him and give him a small smile.

"She'd tell me stop being a wuss," I reply with a chortle.

"Yes, that's true. But she'd also tell you that it's okay to do what makes you happy. What happened wasn't your fault and Em wouldn't want you to blame yourself for it. She'd want you to be happy. And, Katherine makes you happy."

I sigh and nod in agreement when Joe comes through the door with Katie and her friends close behind. She smiles as soon as she sees me and steps aside of Joe to give Brad a quick hug before coming over to me. "Hey"