Star In The Shadow // CTH [Editing process]

XXVI

"I still can't believe you bought the dress for me..." I say as I park in the garage. "I have to pay you back..."

"I've told you millions of times that it's ok... You don't owe me anything..." He says as I turn off the car.

"But-" I start and he cuts me off.

"Roxanne..." He says taking both of my hands.

"But Cal-" I start again, he cuts me off, again.

"You don't owe me anything!" He says chuckling as he cups my face.

"I just feel like-" I start, but then again, he cuts me off. This time, with a kiss.

He pulls away and then kisses the tip of my nose. I giggle and he takes my hands on his.

"Don't you ever say you owe me. The one that owes something here is me. Why? Because, you know that I've fucked up really badly in my past. And even after knowing that, you've been here. And yeah, basically every girl would, because of my fame. But that's another thing I love about you; you don't care about my fame or money, you just care about me. And I owe you, because indirectly you helped me stop smoking. Without you noticing, you made me a better person." He pauses and looks around. His eyes are looking glassy. "I already knew I was doing something wrong, but I didn't have the courage to stop. I needed something or someone to be my rock. To remind me that there's people that want me to be successful and healthy. That I have a life full of adventures with my friends and family... I needed that spark... I needed a star in my life that could lighten my days and nights." He pauses again. A smile is on his face and a couple of tears have fallen. "And from the day I saw you on your messy bun, black leotard, and pink shirt, I knew you would become someone really special for me." He looks at his hands, that are intertwined with mine. "You, Roxanne Prescott, are my new addiction. You're that little star in the shadow that glows brighter than any other. And I hope - no - I know that even if we are in different universe, we'll be together. I will keep loving you no matter what. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit more every. single. day..." He finishes looking at my eyes.

"How do you come up with these things?" I say as I brush his hair that's on his forehead with my right hand.

"You inspire me quite a lot..." He says chuckling and blushing a little.

I'd never seen him cry or blush. I guess I find new things about him everyday.

"I'm sorry for crying... It's just... I guess I got frustrated at one point, because the boys and my family told me to stop, and I just never thought that I could..." He says now looking at his lap.

"Well, everyone cries..." I say as I tilt his chin up. "And maybe you are just as emotional as me..." I finish, winking at him to change his mood; which works, because I earn a chuckle from him.

"Lets go inside..." He says after kissing my cheek.

We get out from the car and head inside. As I let Calum in and shut the door, my father and my mother sit on the island counter, and my brother looks at us from the couch.

"Did you guys have fun, but not to much fun?" My father asks as we go into the kitchen.

"Yep, we bought a dress..." I say as we sit down on the stools.

"*gasp* I wanna see it!" Says my mom as she stands from the stool and walks up to me.

"Okay." I say as I chuckle and go with her to my room.

We get into my room and my mother closes the door, so that I can change into the dress. I change to the dress in my bathroom and then go out to show my mother.

"*gasp* Oh My Heavens! You look gorgeous!" She says covering her mouth with her hands and looking at me with glassy eyes.

"Mom don't cry... You'll make me cry..." I say as I chuckle lightly.

We both sit on my bed, looking at each other with a smile, in a comfortable silence. After a couple of seconds, I speak.

"Calum bought the dress for me..." I say looking at my hands, that are on my lap. "I told him I would pay him back, but he told me this whole explanation of not owing him and... I just..." I let out a sigh. "He said that he owed me because I helped him... I just didn't know what to say..." I finish, now looking at my mom.

"Oh, sweetheart, that must've been so romantic..." She says looking at my green eyes, which I got from her.

"It was..." I say as I laugh lightly. "I'm scared mom..."

"Scared of what?" She asks looking at me with concern.

"I'm scared that maybe this won't work... What if the 'long distance relationship' thing doesn't work with us?" I ask, tears on the verge of falling off my eyes.

"Roxanne..." She envelops me in a hug. "I've seen the way you guys interact with each other. It's obvious how much he loves you. Do you love him?" She ask pulling away a little, so that I can look at her face.

"Of course I do mom!" I say as I cry a little.

"Well, if you love him, there's nothing that can tear you guys apart." We are hugging again, and she's tapping my head lightly. "Yes, there might be some bumps on the road, and it won't be easy. Though, you need to remember that you don't only live from love. But you guys can work things out."

"*sniff* Thank you mom..." I say pulling away, and whipping my tears from my cheeks. "I don't know what I'd do without you..."

"Oh... You know I'm always here for you..." She says smiling sweetly, and caressing my cheeks. "Now, go change. The boys must be wondering what we're doing."

I chuckle as I make my way to the bathroom. There I change into my normal clothes and wash my face, since I don't want the guys to know I've been crying.

Mom and I go downstairs, where dad, Joseph, and Calum sit together at the couch. Something about the way that Joseph looks at calum scares me. It's obvious that he's having a 'jealous brother' meltdown.

We talk for a while about anything that pops in our heads. We try to avoid questions about tour or college, knowing that these are some delicate topics right now. After a while Cal and I go to an empty room we have on the house, where we practice our routine carefully (Calum's still a little hurt). After practicing for almost an hour (and making out a little), Calum leaves, and I go take a shower. I get into some comfy close (shorts and one of Cal's shirts), and go to bed. Still, I fall asleep with Calum's words on my mind.

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Sorry for the cheap chapter.