Under the stars || James McVey

Chapter eleven

Katherine’s POV

The next several hours consisted of chocolate, ice-cream, buttered popcorn and a selection of over the top, cheesy movies that are so bad, they make you want to vomit and laugh at the same time. Cuddled up between the two girls, Maggie’s head rested on my shoulder with her arms circled my left arm, which was wrapped around one her brought up knees, and Chloe was curled up, her head rested on my stomach and her arms tucked tightly around my middle as I played, absentmindedly, with her hair.

“Guys, can we watch something good now?” I whine to both of them when the film ends.

“Kate, it’s Mean Girls. Everybody loves Mean Girls.” Mags states, as she walks over to the DVD player and replaces the Lindsay Lohan film with some movie about some girl who goes to Rome with her fiancé and finds letters written to Shakespeare’s Juliet and then goes a some sort of quest to find the older woman’s teenage love with her grandson. It sounds ridiculous, but Chloe loves it, and seen as she’s in the worst possible state, I decided to just grin and bear it. It couldn’t be as bad as Mean Girls for sure. Or could it?

We’d barely watched half of it, when Alex comes bursting through the door, announcing that there’s a party a few streets down from us, and if we – I quote – “had any sense, we’d get fucked and forget the world”. I had to chuckle slightly at his gallant remark. After a few nudges in my sides, and pleading from the terrible twins in my arms, I finally gave in, making a chorus of cheers sound through the room at an ear-piercing level.

An hour later, I had my hair styled, my face painted with makeup and my body dressed in the tightest skirt I’ve ever seen. I must say, I looked slightly fierce with the messy but nice curled hair and the smoked out eyes. Complimented with a nice crop top that come down over the high wasted skirt, and the smallest pair of black heels Chloe owned, I was finally ready, the girls both grinning at their marvellous work. I will admit, they did a cracking job, especially with themselves. Chloe looked like a goddess, despite the fact she’d seen her boyfriend cheating on her and spent the entire day crying.

It was just about half nine when we strolled up at the house party. We’d already heard the music a few streets down so we knew we weren’t lost. None of us had driven seen as we all wanted to drink tonight, so we walked the short distance from Maggie’s house. It wasn’t that far and I guess we could say we needed the fresh air.

Entering the house, we were hit with the overwhelming stench of alcohol and smoke. A few of our college friends were here along with several familiar faces from high school. After asking around, we found the kitchen and grabbed ourselves a beer. We weren’t exactly sure whose party it was, but I recognised the house from a party before. That’s when an easily recognisable face sauntered up to us and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“Katherine James, what on earth are you doing here?” He slurred into my neck. God, he was already drunk.

“Hello to you too, Nick” I reply with a giggle.

“It’s been too long, girl. Where’ve you been hiding? I’ve missed ya.” Nick says as he grabs himself another beer.

“Just around, I’ve been busy. How’ve you been, Nick?”

“Good, I got into Bristol” He states proudly, receiving a sort of scoff from Chloe.

“Oh my, I think the world is coming to an end. Nick actually got into university.” She mocks him lightly. He nudges her arm playfully and sticks his tongue out.

“Well, I think it’s wonderful.” I say, and we all laugh as Nick hugs me tightly.

“Don’t be a stranger” he whispers to me, “Ladies” he adds, and nods at the girls, before strolling off into the living room and fist bumps a couple of guys I recognise from school.

“He doesn’t change.” Mags states with a smirk. I sip my drink and shake my head when Chloe and Maggie decide they want to dance and ask me to join them.

“No, you guys go ahead. I’m alright here.” I reply, and let them walk off, hand in hand, giggling as they do so.

I don’t know how much time had passed as I sway against the kitchen counter and nod my head along to the music, Rihanna played loudly through the speakers, and chuckle slightly when two lads join my best friends on the dance floor and they all start grinding. The sight was horrific to watch but Chloe seemed to having fun, so I let it go and allowed myself to sip the remainder of my second beer. The girls had come and gone over time, just say a quick hello and grab another drink before disappearing again and now returned to the dance floor, whilst I remained in the kitchen by myself. A sudden tap on my shoulder startled me enough that I jumped and hit my side on the corner of the kitchen side.

“Ow!” I exclaim, clutching my side.

“Shit, sorry!” the guy curses, placing his hands on either side of my waist to hold me up. “Are you alright?” He asks.

I look up to the stranger and see James standing before me, his eyebrows knitted together in concern. “James, hi”

“Hey, are you ok?” He asks again. I nod and let my gaze wander to his hands still placed on my waist. His follows my gaze and removes his hands quickly and straightens up. He smiles at me and I return it politely, noticing the way his eyes flicker with a sort of masked pain, as if something was bothering him when he lets his head hand low.

“James?” His head snaps up and his blue orbs focus on me. “Are you ok? You seem upset.”

He tugs at his bottom, bringing it into his mouth and frowns. For some reason, my heart aches for him because I know that look. The pain and sorrow behind it, the fear. He takes a few moments before he eventually speaks up. “Do you want-“

He doesn’t get a chance to finish before Tristan barrels into him, a very giggly Connor latching onto him. Brad follows behind and gives me a warm smile. I can’t help but laugh when Connor wraps his arms around Brad shoulder’s and plants a wet kiss on his cheek, with an ‘I love you’ receiving a shove from a the curly haired boy and a “get off” before rubbing at his cheek with the sleeve of his shirt. It didn’t go unnoticed, the exchange between James and Tristan, when James whispers something into Tristan’s ear and leaves the room, not turning back when I call his name.