Run [Stereo Kicks/ James Graham]

Chapter 18

"About bloody time!" Casey cried as we broke apart. I felt heat rush into my cheeks as I went scarlet, sending him a glare.
"Casey!" RK hissed. Casey had a moment to look guiltily before she dragged him off, berating him the entire way.
"Come on." James tugged gently on my hand so I followed him into his room. We were both silent for a moment after we sat on his bed, the awkwardness of needing to break the next barrier enveloping us.
"James, I-"
"I've kinda-"
Giggling, I motioned for him to go first. "I've kind of liked you for a bit now, I mean, at first you were the pretty sister of Reece, then I got to know you and you were smart and funny and awkwardly adorable. I started to fall for you, for the way you'd bit your lip every time someone said you should join the band, for the way you'd dance around to silent music while getting breakfast for a snack, for the way you'd calm Reece down just by touching him, for the way you'd just do everything. I like you. I like you a lot, Amelia."
"I like you, too." My cheeks were probably a furious red but I sent him a shy smile.
James tucked my hair behind my ear, before lacing his fingers through mine. "Amelia?" He asked me.
"Yes?"
"Will you go on a date with me?"
"Of course I will." A bright smile lit up my face and he grinned back at me before leaning forwards and kissing me softly.
"Come on, then."
"Now?"
"Got a problem with that?"
"No."
"I'll be at your door in half an hour." James assured me, so I got up, running back to my room.
"Half an hour, oh my gosh, how am I gonna do this, someone help-" I ranted as I sorted through my wardrobe.
"You've got assistance, stupid." RK waltzed into my room, followed by a girl with curly, long blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
"Georgia." She smiled at me.
"Barclay's girlfriend?" I laughed.
"And my own person." Georgia curtsied.
"Awesome! We're all got up to date now. Right, this is serious, we've got half an hour." RK sent me a hard look. "Go take a shower, fast, we'll sort what you're wearing."
"Thanks!" Grabbing a couple of towels, I headed into the bathroom for a shower.
When I came out, Georgia and RK were rapidly discussing a few clothes that were laid out on my bed. "Cool, so you can either go black dress, blue dress, red skirt and black shirt, or white jumpsuit." RK told me.
"Blue dress." I decided. "I don't want to wear a skirt, I don't think a jumpsuit is appropriate and black might be too much right now."
"Good choice, the blue is cute." Georgia held it up to me, examining me. "Yeah, it suits you."
"We're pairing it with black tights, pumps, small cardigan and handbag." RK handed me everything. "Changed, now." They turned around so I could change, before Georgia tied the back of my dress as RK fastened a necklace around my neck. The dress was a darkish blue with black patterns, tight around the bodice but the skirt was light and floaty, and ended at my knees.
"We have ten minutes to do your makeup and hair." Georgia stressed, a light frown on her face. "RK, which one do you want to take?"
"I'll do makeup." RK nodded decisively. "Loose hair or not, Geo?"
"Hmm." She mused, staring at me. "I'm thinking half up, half down."
"Yeah, that's best."
"I like my say in this." I muttered as they wrapped a towel around my shoulders, Georgia scooping my hair back over my shoulders as RK took out a large makeup bag.
"Girl, we have to make you beautiful." RK sent me a blank look. "So James falls even harder to the core of the earth."
"Great for singing if he falls that far. Good acoustics." Georgia nodded in agreement. Rolling my eyes at their stupid banter, I let them 'beautify' me.
********************
There was a sharp knock on my bedroom door and I blew out a breath. Georgia sprayed a little more hairspray into my hair and RK straightened my necklace before they deemed me ready. "Go for it!" RK giggled before they both hid in my wardrobe.
"You look beautiful." James grinned at me, handing me a rose. He was dressed in a button-down shirt, skinny jeans and dress shoes, and I smiled at him, following him to the door. A soft cough interrupted us as we turned to be faced with Reece, Charlie, Jake and Casey.
"You look after yourself, and we'll kill him if he doesn't act proper, okay? We'll be in the background with water guns." Charlie assured me confidently and I laughed, hearing Jake and Casey threatening James, their threats getting more and more violent as they tried to outdo each other.
"Enjoy yourself." Reece wrapped me in a tight hug, which I returned. "You look amazing, go stun him."
"Movie night soon?" I asked, getting a nod in response before he let go of me, and James and I left. "Where are we going?"
"That would be telling, wouldn't it, dear?" James grinned lazily at me, and I sent him a shy smile back. "I'm sure you'll like it. Or, I hope you do."
"I'm sure I will, you've only had half an hour anyway so I'm not looking for much." Shrugging, I followed James out of the lift, and onto the street. The limo in front of us was black, sleek and shiny and I looked over at James, bewildered.
"After you, m'lady." He held the door open for me.
"You're incredible." I laughed softly, looking around at the leather seats and sophisticated aura.
"Good enough for a kiss?" James teased.
"Hmm, you'd have to be really good for that." My eyes lit up with humour before I lent forwards, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
"I try my best." His arm snaked around my waist, holding me in place as the limo set off, the driver glancing back at us through the rear view mirror, and I saw a shake of the head and a smile. "It'll only take ten minutes to get there."
"Oh," I frowned, "I like this, I don't want to get out in ten minutes."
"You'll get to get back in afterwards." James laughed, and I giggled in response.
Finally, the limo pulled to a stop, and James helped me out, leading me into the restaurant in front of us. "Graham, please." He told the man standing by the door.
"Of course, Sir, if you'd like to follow me to your seats." The man led us through the quiet restaurant, fairly full of people in suits and dresses dining and drinking in the most elegant manner I had ever seen in my life. "I do hope you enjoy your meals, Sir, Ma'am."
"Thank you." We both said, sitting down.
"This looks so expensive." I bit my lip nervously. A white tablecloth covered the table, a candle shining in the middle. Plates were already laid out, with numerous pieces of cutlery either side and in front, and a champagne glass to my right.
"Only the best for you." James winked at me.
"Enough flirting, you." My cheeks heated a bit, so I ducked my head, checking if my hair was still perfect so he didn't see my light blush.
"Enough blushing, you." He teased.
"Hey!" Playfully, I glared at him, getting a bright smile in response.
"I've already ordered our meals, if you don't mind." James murmured as he reached across the table and tucked a strand of hair behind me ear.
"That's fine, but don't catch fire from the candle." I whispered back, making James laugh, a few diners glancing over at us. "I think we're being too loud."
"And I think I don't care, as long as you're enjoying yourself." He retorted, in a slightly hushed voice. "Champagne?"
"I'm underag-"
"Thank you." James thanked the waiter who poured the sparkling liquid into the glasses. "A toast?"
"I'm undera-"
"A toast, I think, to us, and our future." His hand caught mine, placing it on the handle of my glass so I lifted it, before picking his own glass up delicately.
"To us." Giving up, I clinked my glass against his before drinking.
"You've got it, a sip at a time." James smiled brightly at me. "Don't worry about anything, I've got it all covered."
"You amaze me, sometimes." I shook my head, when a couple of waiters and waitresses appeared beside our table, expertisely switching our plates for platters covered in silver dishes which they removed with a flourish, taking one set of the cutlery away.
"Outside, in." James murmured to me, picking up the 'correct' set of cutlery, so I copied, examining the food in front of me. "I assure you, the best gourmet Asian food you'll ever eat."
"It looks amazing." I smiled, carefully slicing into the food which then quickly melted in my mouth.
"I agree, and I'm looking at the thing in front of me." James was still gazing at me, so I blushed, focusing on my food. "How many times a day do you blush?"
"Not many, until you came along, Fine Sir."
"It is my pleasure."
Our conversation fell into a very slow pace as we both ate, the food of such a standard that I was unsure if I'd be able to stomach the vibrant, expensive flavours and textures.
"We do have somewhere else to go after dessert." James told me as our plates were taken away, before more food was placed in front of us. This time, it was a delicate slice of cake, along with ice cream, sauce swirled around in an elegant pattern, chocolate in a fine structure balanced on top. "You like?"
"I can think of something I like more."
"And what would that be?"
"You."
**********
After we had eaten, James led me back inside the limo that was waiting for us, before it took off again. "I am in love with food." I announced as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"Me, too." James laughed. "Do you happen to know what the time is?"
"It is ten past nine, Sir." The driver called.
"We spent a long time in the restaurant." I giggled.
"Good thing I allowed a lot of time before the next thing, then, isn't it?" James smiled down at me.
"Which is?"
"A thing."
"Really?" Dramatically, my eyes widened. "Never!"
"Yeah. A thing." He smirked at me, before we both started laughing. "Do me a favour and don't tell Reece I gave you champagne?"
"What champagne?"
"Good girl. Water. Lemon water with ice."
"Lemon water with ice." I agreed. "Plus alcohol and bubbles." James laughed, before suddenly kissing me. "What was that for?"
"Because you're beautiful."
"You're passable, too." Receiving a flat look, I giggled, kissing his cheek.
"You're lucky I like you so much." James rolled his eyes.
**********
We arrived at 'a thing' and James slipped his hand over my eyes as he pulled me out of the limo. "Okay, you can look now." He said once we'd walked a few steps.
I was standing on some grass, the night sky lit up with fairy lights draped across trees and candles handing off branches or on picnic blankets of people sitting around. A river flowed on the other side of the grass to us, the surface rippling gently with reflected light.
On the river was a gondola, a person holding the boat still carefully. James grinned at my astonished face, gently guiding me through the path of candles, the hum of quiet chatter surrounding us.
"This is beyond incredible." I whispered, looking over at him.
"Only the best for my princess." He murmured, gazing into my eyes. "Be my girlfriend?"
"Always."