You're My Hope for the Future

Chapter 2

Although they exchanged texts and the occasional phone call, the next time Paul and Hannah saw each other in person was when they all got together at the first rehearsals for their performance on Children in Need.

As it was all those years ago, Hannah was late. The others were all chatting in the studio when the door opened and Hannah breezed in.

"Sorry guys!" She said in a sing-song voice. Paul couldn't help but grin at her wide smile and bright eyes. But there was no time for him to try to talk to her.

After a couple of hours of trying to get back into the habit of learning a routine, they were allowed to stop for a break. Paul had been struggling to find any sort of co-ordination between his arms and legs and Hannah had been watching him from the corner of her eye as he stuck his tongue out in concentration. Was it wrong that she thought it made him look adorable?

Hannah grabbed a couple of bottles of water and headed over to where Paul was leaning against the wall, hands on his knees.

"Hey, Pauly. You look like you could use this." She teased, handing over one of the bottles. He reached out to take it and Hannah felt her heart stop momentarily as Paul's fingers accidently brushed over hers.

"Cheers, Han." He said breathlessly, uncapping the bottle and downing half of it. "I can't... believe... I used to... do this... on a regular... basis."

"That's what ten years does to you!" Hannah grinned. "And that extra ten pounds." She smirked, playfully patting his tummy before running away.

"Yeah, you better run, Spearritt!" He yelled after her, unable to hide the smile on his face at her playful baiting.

Hannah had to rush off again after rehearsals, so Paul was once again left disappointed.

With a later start the next day, it was lunchtime before they had a break and Hannah and Paul had once again gravitated towards each other. All seven were quite happily sat there, eating their lunch. Suddenly, Paul reached over and grabbed the last piece of sushi from Hannah's plate, popping it into his mouth before scampering away from the seats.

"Paul!" Hannah cried. "Right, that's it!"

With a determined look on her face, Hannah got up and started chasing Paul around the chairs and tables in the room. With agility on her side, Hannah soon caught him and jumped onto his back. Unsurprisingly, Paul wasn't having any of that and the two were soon play fighting.

Jo leaned over to Bradley to whisper, "Is it just me, or are those two flirting?"

"He drunk-dialed me the other night, said he still likes her." Bradley whispered back.

"Well, let's just hope neither of them get hurt." Jo muttered.