Obstacles (A Sequel)

Chapter Eight

The comments on Instagram and social media had been mostly positive about mine and Mark's engagement and I felt relieved. I relaxed back on the seats at the airport gate, waiting for the plane to Cincinnati.

"You worry too much, angel-cake," He squinted his eyes and smiled as I raised my eyebrow. "Thought I'd try that out; do you not like it, pudding?" I shook my head.

"I'll only settle for babe, princess, little biscuit and Georgia...and Gee." He laughed softly and pulled me closer to him with one arm.

"Only?" He pulled me up as our flight was called and Mark got our tickets out. "Got everything?" I nodded and we headed to boarding. I smiled as I walked beside him to board the plane and saw the excited look on his face.

"You literally are a puppy, and you're adorable!" He rolled his eyes and I reached up to ruffle his hair, linking my fingers with his. We boarded the plane and sat in our assigned seats – I was next to the window like Mark had promised and he placed the remainder of our luggage in the overhead cabinet before taking the seat next to me.

"I don't want any funny business on this plane; I have an example to set!" I opened my mouth in shock and slapped his chest as he fought a smirk. "And before you ask, I haven't done it on a plane..."

"Yet." I muttered, to which he winked at me and I blushed, fastening my seatbelt and settling into my seat more. "You need to tweet."

"I was about to, gosh." He opened up Twitter and tweeted about our journey. As I always did in situations where others were on their phone, I opened the photo on Instagram of us at the beach and read through the comments, smiling to myself.

'MY FEELS YOU GUYS!!!!!!!'

'Omg, congrats!'

'IM FUCKNIG SCRAMEING R U SRS?!?!'

'*places hand on heart* our boy is so grown up *wipes tear*'

Mark was right – I did panic too much about what his fans would think, and I needn't have because they were all lovely. I was pretty positive that Charlotte had seen the photo, so I would Skype her from Cincinnati, after we had spent some time with his family of course.

As we ascended, I held onto Mark's hand as a natural reaction, even though I had been on many planes before. He rubbed his thumb over mine and laughed a little, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I closed my eyes as we levelled above the clouds and smiled as I still felt Mark's hand in mine.

"Can I Skype Charlotte at yours? After we spend some time with your mum and brother, of course."

"You don't need to ask my permission, biscuit." I beamed as he took note of the nickname I loved. "Feel free, and I won't intrude."

Falling asleep on the plane was a bit of a habit for me, but I woke up before we landed and watched as Mark slept next to me, and giggled as I saw his glasses were halfway down his face. Taking them off, I stroked his hair and folded them neatly in my lap, listening to my music happily.

I picked up my book in front of me as I listened and Mark slept, laughing silently as I reread the funny parts. I rested my arm on the armrest and grinned as it was hugged, and accepted the fact I wouldn't be able to move it until he woke up; however, turning pages with only one hand free proved more challenging than I thought.

As we eventually neared the ground, I heard a snort next to me as Mark woke up, looking puzzled as he let go of my arm. "Can't get enough of me even when you're sleeping, eh?" I teased and he kissed the back of my hand before stretching and sitting up, blinking as he realised something was missing from his face.

"Can I have them back, please?" He asked, reaching for them and putting them back on. He gave a lop-sided smile as he saw me sigh. "Do you think I'd be wearing them if I didn't need them? And I don't have my contact lenses with me, so." He pushed them up his nose and I nodded, defeated.

"How are we getting to your mum's?" I asked, changing the subject and he chuckled.

"The way you say that will never stop being funny to me," He joked and I smiled. "Tom's gonna drive us home." I nodded and smiled as the plane landed and passengers began to move to get off. "Are you staying here?" He frowned as he got the bags from the cabinet.

"I've always waited until there's room to actually move." I tapped my temple and grinned. "Logic, babe!" He shook his head and pulled me up after I'd got my things together, placing his arm around my shoulders; I snuggled into him as we waited and he kissed the top of my head.

After we had stepped off the plane, we made our way to the entrance and collected our bags after the necessary checks. "He'll probably be here in about ten minutes." He looked at his watch and he raised his eyebrows as he caught me gazing up at him. "Why is it that when I do something, I always catch you looking at me like that?" He squeezed my hand and I blushed.

"Because you're a handsome motherfucker, that's why!" He pouted and closed his eyes as he ran his hand through his hair, flexing his muscles and putting his sunglasses on again. "But not when you do that." I laughed and he turned away, insulted.

"You're just jealous!" He muttered and I let go of my suitcase to pull him backward by the waist, which proved difficult. "So weak," He tutted and turned quickly, picking me up and flipping me upside down. "What am I?"

He began to tickle me when I refused to answer, finally ejecting it from me. "So strong!" He laughed and lowered me so I was level with his eyes and pursed his lips. I bit my lip and closed his eyes gently, capturing his lips in a deep kiss.

"You are in public, you know." I heard a voice and I was placed on the floor as Mark hugged his brother.

Mark laughed as Tom opened the trunk of his car. "You're early, man! How's mom?" He put both of our suitcases in and shut it.

"Excited to see you both! Which is all the more reason to get going!" He laughed as he got in the driver's seat and Mark sat in the passenger seat. "You okay back there, Georgia?" I nodded and we set off for their home.

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