Wishful Thinking

Chapter Twenty Six - Sharing With Guys

We sprang apart almost immediately, holding each other. Arthur was the first one to start laughing, and then soon after I dissolved into a fit of giggles. Neither of us expected me to say that, I just couldn't see it happening. After a few minutes we both calmed down, taking a moment to catch our breath, "Gwen, I love you so fucking much." Arthur breathed, pulling me into a tight hug.

I welcomed his warmth and felt a solitary tear roll down my cheek, "I fucking love you too, Arthur."

—

Arthur pulled me round the hall, heading for the drinks table. This brought back a few memories. Arthur caught my smile and raised his eyebrows, wanting to know what I was thinking. I shook my head, "It's nothing."

"No, tell me." he prompted, pouring himself a drink.

He poured one for me and I took it gratefully, I was parched. "Well." Arthur led me over to an empty bit of wall and we sat down together, hand in hand, "The last time I was at a party I chucked a drink at someone."

Arthur laughed, "Yeah, I'd heard about that."

I sipped at my drink, feeling the coldness seeping down my throat. "It was at Nathan."

Arthur laughed again, "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."

This time I raised my eyebrow. But eventually shrugging it off, part of me not really wanting to know. I watched as Kacie pranced up to us then, plonking down right in the middle of us. "It's nearly time to go." She informed me.

My face dropped, was it that time already? Kacie rolled her eyes and then got up, prancing back the way she came. Arthur took my hand and caressed it softly, making a circle on my palm. "Are you gonna stay?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Arthur looked deeply into my eyes, the answer showing. I nodded understandingly, looking down at our hands. "I can stay too?" I offered, realizing what it meant.

But Arthur shook his head, standing up and then pulling me up. "No, you need to go, you have a long day tomorrow."

I put my hands on his shoulders, "But I don't want to leave you."

"I know, but you have to."

I sighed, not knowing what to say to that. "Look at it this way, you'll need your energy to deal with Tony."

I groaned as Arthur started leading me to the entrance, to the cold night. "I wish you weren't right." I joked as we stepped outside.

Arthur laughed and slipped his hands round my waist, making me face him. Steve's dad was in the car waiting for us all, Kacie and Steve were already jumping in so they were waiting for me now. "Better not keep her waiting." Arthur whispered, kissing my cheek.

He let go of me and I started walking to the jeep, trying to keep my attention ahead of me. But I couldn't take it ending like this, I turned around and ran back up to Arthur, locking our lips together. My eyes shutting almost immediately. The kiss was light but it had a sad twinge to it, like it carried the weight of grief. And sooner than I'd have liked we broke apart, staring into each other's eyes, "I love you." I whispered, before I ran back to the jeep and hopped in. Steve shut the door behind me and I stared at the hands in my lap, then, as the car drove away from the hall, I looked out the back and saw Arthur mouth a few words to me, I love you too. I smiled as his figure got smaller and smaller and then turn and walk back into the raging party. Something dawned on me then, "What time is it?" I asked of no one in particular.

Kacie clicked her phone, "Nearly 12."

—

I rubbed my eyes sleepily, barely managing to stand upright. I huffed and picked my suitcase up, dragging it into the corridor and down the stairs. "Come on Gwen, Tony is waiting!" she shouted up the stairs, making it sound like a date.