Run [Stereo Kicks/ James Graham]

Chapter 19

It was some hours later as it approached midnight that James walked us home, his hand in mine. "Wait here a moment." James murmured, coming to a stop on the edge of a street facing a large square.
"Why?" I questioned him.
"You'll see." He smiled down at me, shrugging his jacket off and placing it on my shoulders, even though I wasn't very cold.
"Thank you." Smiling at him, I leant into his embrace when he wrapped his arms around me, kissing the top of my head.
"You're beautiful, Amelia, I want you to know that." Carefully, James turned me around so I was facing the square and placed his head on my shoulder, falling silent as we waited for whatever James knew about, his arms around my waist keeping me warm.
Lights illuminated the night sky in a sudden burst of colour, fading through red, purple, blue then green before paling to white. "Wow."
"Pretty, isn't it?" James chuckled, as the park's lake reflected the light. "Come on, Reece will start worrying by now."
"It's just hit midnight, hasn't it?"
"Three... Two... One..." He breathed out a few seconds later until his lips were on mine, kissing me softly. "Happy new day."
"You too." I giggled, as he intertwined our fingers, leading me down the unfamiliar streets back towards the apartments.
**********
"Bloody hell, I was starting to worry." Reece tsked as we walked through the door, and James gave me a knowing look. A giggle left my lips as I handed James' jacket back, taking my shoes off. "How long does a date take?"
"We weren't gone that-"
"Eight hours or so? You left at five and it's now one o'clock." Jake rolled his eyes as he wandered into the lounge.
"Did you enjoy your little lovebird selves at least?" Georgia sang as she and Barclay came in from the kitchen.
"We did." I smiled, looking up at James who just nodded in agreement.
"Right, we can go to bed now then." RK yawned from where her and Casey were sitting on the sofa. "Casey, I'm sleeping in your room tonight I can't be bothered to go home."
"Okay, then." Casey rolled his eyes as she left, bidding us goodnight before following after her to the other apartment. Barclay, Georgia and Reece left as well, leaving us with Jake who was in the kitchen noisily making a drink.
"Chris is already asleep, so don't be too loud!" Jake yelled to us.
"Who's talking?" James teased as he went to talk to Jake, and I yawned, walking to my bedroom.
"Ugh." I sighed, looking at the makeup remover and cotton pads either RK or Georgia had left on the bed, picking them up, grabbing a onesie and stealing the bathroom.
When I had showered and removed all the makeup from my face, I went back to my room, diving under the covers and grinning happily into the pillow.
"Amelia?" James called, opening the door to my room.
"Yeah?" I sat up, turning over to face him.
"Goodnight." He pressed a kiss to my forehead before leaving the room.
Flopping down onto my back, I gazed at the ceiling, before beaming, grabbing the other pillow to cover my face with, love radiating from my heart.
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Some Weeks Later
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"Stereo Kicks! Stereo Kicks! Stereo Kicks!" The girls in the crowd chanted as the boys waited backstage for their next performance. I was standing with them, watching from backstage instead of in the audience.
"Catch you in a bit." James kissed me, before they all ran out, earning loud screams from their fans. "Hello, Manchester!"
They sang their way through a few songs, Jake dancing across to the side towards me and leaning down to brush his fingers against some of the girls who were reaching out for him.
One of them was holding something, and I frowned, squinting to make out what it was. "Jake, no!" I screamed, running out from backstage and grabbing him, pulling him away just as the knife snapped open.
Silence.
Then, everyone started screaming - security grabbed the girl with the knife and manhandled her away as the boys watched me with open mouths.
"Don't do that to me." Awkwardly smiling at Jake, I turned and headed backstage again.
"Wait!" He ran after me. "Thanks."
"No problem." I grinned as they went back to the middle of the stage. The concert continued as normal, but the boys stayed in the middle of the stage instead of going out to their fans.
"Thank you everyone! We're going to have a five-minute break, then we'll be back!" Tom called, waving as they headed off.
"How the actual living cheese balls did you see that?" Charlie asked as they all came to a stop by me.
"Spring-loaded knife, they're illegal to carry. Seen a few in my lifetime." Shrugging, I accepted a hug off Jake. James enclosed me in a tight hug when Jake let me go, lifting me off the ground and burying his face in my hair.
"I never want to hear you scream again." He mumbled. "I thought you were hurt."
"Sorry." I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist so he didn't drop me and leaning my head on his shoulder.
"You sure about that?" Casey smirked. James rolled his eyes at Casey as Jake and Tom started to snicker, Jake's phone going off. "Ooh, who's that?"
"Noone." Jake murmured, texting away already.
"It's Gemma." Tom raised his eyebrows at us after peering over Jake's shoulder.
"Shut up." Jake flipped off Tom, going back to his phone, ignoring Tom's indignant shout after him.
"We're back on stage in like three minutes so be quick!" Chris called after him as they dispersed to get water and things like that.
"You're amazing, sometimes." James pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, holding me until they were called back to go on stage. When they were all dancing around the stage, music blaring, I turned, heading further backstage to try to find my phone which I'd put down.
"Looking for this?" A stagehand stopped me, offering my phone.
"Thanks." I grinned. Just then, a piercing scream, amplified from a microphone filled my ears and I paled, glancing back over my shoulder before breaking into a run.
"James!" Tearing up, I flew to his side where he lay on the stage, grimacing while clutching his leg. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." He whispered, handing me his microphone. The other boys, although standing nearby, looking worried, were still singing, so I cleared my throat as I prepared to sings James's solo. "For me, please, you can do this."
"But I'm only human, and I bleed when I fall down. I'm only human, and I crash and I break down. Your words in my head, knives in my heart. You build me up and then I fall apart, 'cause I'm only human." My voice soared through the room as I linked my fingers with his.
"I'm only human." The harmonies of the other boys singing as well made my heart race, the incredible feeling of thousands of people watching us filling me as I gazed down at James, smiling softly at him. His eyes lit up and he smiled back, squeezing my hand encouragingly.
"'Cause I'm only human..." Our voices faded away as the song ended and I looked up to the stagehands who ran on stage. Grabbing James and pulling him off, I stood as well.
"Wait." Charlie murmured, grasping my shoulder. "We need someone to sing James's part."
"I hardly know it." Minutely, I shook my head.
"Yeah, but, we can't switch around now and you've actually got a damn good voice." He pleaded. "There's only a few songs left."
"Fine." I sighed when I saw the pleading stares of the other boys. "You owe me several pizzas for this."
**********
"Goodnight, Manchester!" Barclay was the last one off stage, and I handed James' microphone to a random stagehand, running off to try and find James.
"Through there." Someone pointed down the left corridor.
"Thanks!" I yelled, running off until I came to a door and shoved it open. James was laying on a bed-type thing, paramedics sitting around the room. "James?"
"Hey, beautiful." He smiled at me when I sat gently on the edge of the bed, reaching out and cupping his face with one hand.
"What happened to you?" I whispered.
"Snapped a bone." He giggled, and I frowned, looking down to where his shin was heavily strapped up. "You know what I mean, the thin bone to the side."
"Yeah... You'll be okay, though?"
"I'm always okay if you're around." James murmured, cupping my face with his one face. "You're... I can't think what the word above beautiful on the pretty scale is, but you're that."
"Thanks." I whispered. "I love you."