The Ghost of You [COMPLETED]

Realisation

You and Brad were, for lack of a better word, awkward after the club. It was like it had been at the photoshoot, with you two acting like you were walking on eggshells around each other, and the others noticed it. It also felt like he was suddenly everywhere you needed to be. When you were getting breakfast in the morning, he appeared in front of you, causing an awkward 'you go' 'no you go' interaction that you ended up just turning away from.

When you were helping to load the equipment in the bus, everytime you turned to grab something else he was right there, a bag in his hand as well. He was acting just as awkward as you. Mumbling apologies, side stepping you whenever he could.

You thought at the weekend it would be okay, that the awkward bumps would calm down, with them on stage, and you standing in the pit taking pictures. But you seemed to catch his eye through your camera lens, you always seemed to end up right in front of where he was standing. You must have looked like an idiot, darting back and forth every 10 seconds to avoid him.

Before you knew it, it was time to fly back to Europe for the next stop - Paris.

The band tried to get you to sit with them again, but you made a point of going to the back with Team B, avoiding looking at Brad while you did so. You needed a solid few hours of not being around him, sitting in your own chair, in your own space, where you could relax.

A few hours in, James came through the curtain and looked round for you, coming to sit in the empty chair beside you once he spotted you.

"Alright, what's the sitch?" He huffed.

"Who are you, Kim Possible?"

"I wish. You and Brad seem...awkward. I thought you guys were friends now?"

You sighed and closed the book you were reading. You looked round, seeing that the others were either in their own conversations or asleep, and turned back to James.

"I...think that's a loose term for what we were trying to be." You muttered. He kept staring at you, and you knew he wouldn't let up. "We got a bit too close. In the club. We argued about it. Now I think we're both just...making sure it doesn't happen again."

"Ah." James nodded, leaning back in his seat. "I wondered when that would happen."

"Excuse me?"

"Look," He shifted again. "We all know you two, and we knew you back then. You were either all in, or breaking up. Me and guys didn't think you could be around each other for a month without something happening. I said you'd fight, Tris thinks you'll get together. Seems like it was a bit of both." He winked, but your eyes widened.

"You think me and Brad are going to sleep together? Not a fucking chance!" You hissed. "He's with Maggie, I'm with Ryan. We had some drinks and it just happened. But it won't be happening again!"

"Hey, hey I'm not attacking you." James rushed to say, his hand coming to your shoulder comfortingly. "We just know that this can't be easy for you. Either of you. You were a big part of each other's lives for a long time. So do you really think you can spend the next three weeks just avoiding him?"

You breathed deeply. It was unrealistic, you knew that. You and Brad were going to cross paths numerous times a day for the next few weeks. You just had to decide whether you would be awkward, or you would try and push down all these confusing feelings and just be friends.

You looked at James, and he smiled a little when he saw the realisation had set in.

"He's in the front if you want to have a chat. I think it will be good for you to get on the same page." James said, as wise as he'd ever been. As you watched him stand up, he held his hand out to you, and you eventually took it, letting him help you stand. You followed him to the front of the plane, him dropping your hand as you walked through the curtain, and you instantly caught eyes with Brad, who had apparently already been looking in your direction.