Headstrong (A Benedict Cumberbatch Story)

Chapter 3

"You ready?" Matthew offered me his arm and I hesitated before taking it. I locked my door and we went down the stairs arm-in-arm. 

At the pub he pulled out my chair for me and went up to the bar for drinks. I just hoped that Benedict wouldn't come round to the back like he had before. I just hoped that Ellie didn't decide that that was how it would go. 

Matthew came back with a gin and tonic for me and I took it gratefully. Then, from a guitar I now recognised by the soft warmth of its sound, the riff to There She Goes by the La's rang out through the sound system; I waited with baited breath for the voice to go with it. There it was. Benedict, pure and sweet and filling the room with his music. I sighed inspite of myself and Matthew noticed.

"What? Do you not like it here? We can go to a restaurant instead if you want, or just stay for drinks and go home again for a home-cooked meal - "

"I'm fine. This is fine. It's all fine." I stopped him. This was going to be a long, awkward night.

**

"Wait, I know that voice. That's um... Ben, from across the hall. I didn't know he could sing like that!" Matthew said innocently, and I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes - he'd heard the pub owner introduce Ben AND walked straight past the stage at least 5 times. 

I struggled on for a further hour, my only consolation being the music belting through the speakers from the next guitarist. I nodded and murmured occasionally to Matthew's comments, but he could tell I wasn't really paying attention. I was really glancing nervously at the wall seperating me and Ben. I was really praying that he didn't come round the corner and make this even more embarassing; a young couple were smirking at me from their table, and eventually, when Matthew wasn't looking, I stuck my finger up at them. They guffawed but left me alone after that. 

I couldn't bear it any longer. I feigned a yawn and stretched. 

"You're getting tired?" Matthew asked, a smile on his face that made me want squirm. It was a smile full of fondness that he didn't have the right to feel yet. I nodded, and he put some money down on our table for the salad we'd shared. He steered me by the small of my back - another gesture I didn' t appreciate all that much -  towards the door. He opened it for me. Just as a particular person was trying to come through it. Ben stepped through with an empty beer glass in his hand.

"Why thank you." he said, winking at me. 

"What are you up to in the pub with this fine young gentleman?" he murmered in my ear, and I chuckled, as Matthew had squared his shoulders and was trying to look tough, inspite of the massive difference in height between him and Ben. 

"Nice job earlier." Matthew nodded at him, and Ben nodded back in reply.

"We should be getting going if you feel tired, Maria." Matthew turned to me, and I started to move out of the pub; from the corner of my eye I could see Ben trying to withhold a smile at Matthew's comment.

"See you around." I said over my shoulder, and Ben waved. He patted Matthew's shoulder, and we walked to Matthew's car.

Crowded House, Together Alone came on with the engine, and I rolled my eyes. He'd put that on because he knew I liked them. He'd heard me singing along to it many a time. He hummed uncertainly along with the chorus. 

**

"Well... goodnight." I unlocked my door and smiled at him. He shuffled, smiling shyly. 

"You said you'd think about changing your mind after one night. Have you?" he asked, and I tried to be gentle, Ben's barely covered smirk bouncing around in my mind,

"I'm sorry, Matt. I just don't want this kind of thing right now. Maybe in a few years, when my career's taken off and everything's... settled down a bit." 

"You mean Ben settles down a bit. You either want him and Ellie to get married so that you don't have to stay on the edge of hoping all the time, or you want to give them a chance to break up so that you can have him. I get it." Matthew spoke sharply, and I blushed.

"Well, I'm warning you now, Maria. He's no good for you. He'll hurt you in ways I don't want to see happen to you. So stay away from him. I don't necessarily care if you don't want to be with me, but stay well out of his way. Goodnight." and he stormed off. Only to be caught mid-stride by Mrs Golderoy with her laundry basket.

"Oops, sorry dear." she laughed sweetly, and Matthew muttered to her,

"I'm trying to make an impression, can you please move, Mrs Golderoy?"

"Oh, by all means. Terribly sorry." she winked at me as Matthew slammed his door a little too obviously.

"Why does he need to make an impression on you?" she asked, and I shook my head, an inescapable smile on my face.

"He wants me to stay away from Number 45 because he thinks he's bad news, and would much rather I go for himself instead."

"Well, you do what you think is best for you, and make your own impression on people." she patted my hand and tottered off down the stairs.

"Thanks Mrs G. Why don't you take the lift?" I called to her, and she called back,

"I don't trust some flimsy wires carrying a metal box up and down."

"Alright. Have a nice evening!" I grinned, and she waved her tights in farewell.

"Tarah dearie!" 

I shut my door and sank down to the floor right there in the hallway, my head in my hands. Benedict came and nosed his way into my lap. I clutched him and buried my face in his fur.

"Well that was a wasted evening."