[1] Trust 》T. HOLLAND

21- "i can't"

Everything had been overwhelming for Kaycie since the afternoon that she did nothing but cry in Tom's embrace--which was three weeks prior. 

She hadn't told the 21 year old British actor of her feelings for him, which only put a strain on her head and her heart. Whenever the two of them were together, and she found them getting too close or too comfortable, she automatically started doubting herself and would distance herself. 

Tom knew she was doing it, even if he didn't show it. He could tell that whenever the two of them were comfortable--like they had been when he chased her around her living room--her smile faded or a slight blush would appear on her cheeks and then she would get distant and stutter-y. 

He just didn't know why she would get like that. 

Unfortunately, he had a lot of promotion and a lot of interviews in Southern and Central California, so, he wasn't always around to ask her about it. If he wasn't in an interview, he was in a car heading to the next interview or he was in a hotel room sleeping.

At one point, he had to fly out of California for an interview that was scheduled last minute in New York, and had to there stay over night before an early flight back to California for even more interviews and promotion. 

Needless to say, the two weeks after he had let her cry in his arms had been just as overwhelming for Tom as they had been for Kaycie. 

But neither of them showed it to the other when they had those days of free time to hang out with each other. 

And, now, during one of those free times, the two were hanging out in her apartment. Tom had wanted a break from cameras following him and documenting his every move. And Kaycie didn't want to go out anywhere anyway. So, the two stayed indoors and watched Netflix instead.  Kaycie made him watch Captain America: Civil War with her; not that he was actually complaining. 

They sat together on the couch, with a bowl of popcorn resting in Tom's lap and the lights dimmed low in order to prevent glaring on her flat screen. And this was one of those moments when Kaycie was herself, relaxed and comfortable around him. 

She laughed at the jokes made in the movie, she gasped when the bomb went off and killed T-Challa's father, and she let tears fall down her cheeks during the famous Captain America and Iron Man fight scene. She even gasped a second time when Bucky's metal arm was blown off by Iron Man. 

Tom's favorite reaction from her was when she cheered at the appearance of Spider-Man. She giggled when it was Peter Parker on screen, talking to Tony about going to Germany. But once Tony yelled "Underoos!", she threw her arms in the air and cheered for Spider-Man as he flipped into frame and took Cap's shield. 

Tom couldn't help but smile at Kaycie's reaction to his character in the movie. The smile never left her face and, after her little freak out moment, her small hand wrapped around his bicep as she continued to watch. But he didn't mind it at all. 

By the end of the movie, Kaycie was becoming aware of everything around her again. She was aware of Tom sitting right next to her on her couch, and she became aware of the fact that she was gripping his bicep with her arm looped though his. 

A blush crept onto her cheeks and her anxiety got the best of her. She untangled her arm from his and reached for the remote so that she could put on something else for them to watch. As she reached for the remote, she subtly slid away from him to create some distance.