Under the stars || James McVey

chapter twenty

James' POV

After a while of sitting there in silence, Katherine jumps up off the bed and switches on the tv before sliding a box over to my feet.

 “As much as I love silence, this is deafening. Pick a movie,” she instructs, fiddling with random buttons on the remote to find which setting she wants. I rummage through the box, trying to find a good movie. I saw the new Captain America film under several other Marvel films and chuckled at the superhero theme. I picked up The Winter Soldier and held it up to her for her approval. She grins at me and takes it from my grasp. “I’m really starting to like you, James,” She says before slotting it into DVD player and pressing play.

 She pops down at the head of the bed and climbs under the covers. Frowning at me where I’m sitting at the edge still, she pats the seat next to her and pulls back the covers. I smile back at her, to which she returns, and join her in the bed. After all we’ve been through together, our close proximity – arms and thighs touching – didn’t seem to phase either of us as we snuggled into the pillows and got comfortable for watching the film.

 A couple of hours later, the film was coming close to the end and glancing over at Katherine I could see tears brimming her eyes. I watched her discretely as she mimed the words – “Then finish it… because I’m with you to the end of the line.” – when she whispered the words, a few tears escaped her eyes and she pursed her lips together as they trembled. She absentmindedly traced the anchor tattoo on her wrist that I hadn’t noticed before. I guess it wasn’t only the film she was upset about. If she had a tattoo, it had meaning to it, meaning that even I couldn’t comprehend.

 Not wanting to see her upset anymore and wanting to comfort her, I slipped my hand into her hand and entwined our fingers. I quickly locked eyes with the screen knowing she was looking back at me, confused. Feeling her shift beside me, I thought she was pulling away, until she gave my hand a squeeze and rested her head on my shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispers to me as we both focus back on the screen.

 “You’re welcome,” I whisper back, tracing my thumb over the back of her hand.

 Just as the ending credits roll in, we hear the front door shut making us both jump. We look back at each other and try to suppress a laugh, but fail so our laughter tumbles out, filling the room with a lighter atmosphere. Wondering what was going on inside Katherine’s room, her mother swings her head around the doorframe, her eyes widening when she sees me in bed with Katherine.

 Katherine seemed unfathomed by our closeness and gives my hand a gentle squeeze for reassurance as her mother enters the room and sits on the end of the bed with a grin.

 “Well, isn’t this new?” She smirks as us, resulting in Katherine groaning into my arm.

 “Mum, not now,” Katherine whines lifting her head up slightly.

 “I’m sorry, but when I come home to my daughter cuddling up to a boy in her bed, holding hands and under the covers might I add, I feel the need to celebrate,” Her mum chortles at her.

 Katherine rolls her eyes and gives me an apologetic look. I smile at her, telling her it was fine and hoping that my now burning cheeks were not visible to her or her mother.

 “Look, he’s blushing!” Mrs. James exclaims loudly. Too late. Katherine looks up at me and blushes too, seeing her mother’s observations were right. “Oh my, look at you two. You look so cosy,”

 “Mum, for heaven’s sake, get out!” Katherine shrieks, making me chuckle slightly at her embarrassment. Yes, I was embarrassed too, but it was comforting to know she felt the same way so I didn’t feel so awkward around her.