Headstrong (A Benedict Cumberbatch Story)

Chapter 7

Dancing was not my strong suit.

"No, no, I'm fine just sitting, drinking, talking..."

"Any verb apart from dancing?" Benedict teased, and chuckled, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the corner where the musicians were playing. No one else was dancing. He lifted my arms up over his shoulders and put his hands very lightly round my waist. We swayed slowly; I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, at least 4 other couples had joined us in the corner and were dancing too. Benedict smiled and spun me round by the hand before returning to my waist.

I was very tempted to rest my head on his shoulder. The piece stopped and everyone clapped. I was torn from my reverie and hurried over to the bar where our drinks were waiting. I sipped it quickly, feeling the sharp heat of the alcohol in my throat... I blinked and turned to see Benedict staring worriedly at me.

"You ok?" he said, and I realised we were still sitting at the bar. The musicians had stopped playing and were taking a break. No couples were dancing in the corner. Benedict hadn't asked me to dance. 

I sighed and lifted the corners of my mouth; that's all it takes to lie to anyone that looks at you. A smile.

"Yeah, I'm OK."

**

I wiped my eyes of tears, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably with laughter at the comedian in the bar. Benedict's deep laugh was echoing around me and I was slightly happy from our drinks, having a wonderful night. My phone buzzed with a new message:

U don't know where Ben is do u? He's not home yet

from Ellie. Great. I quickly tapped out a reply, slipping my phone back into my pocket.

I ran into him at The Bar and we're watching a comedian right now.

I didn't get a response for quite a while, but it soon fell to the back of my mind. 

The comedian finished his act and we left. Benedict spotted an empty bench in a nearby park and we sat for about 20 minutes just watching the night-traffic gliding past. He took out a lighter and I watched as the flame caught on his cigarette and he took a drag. The fiery red jewel on the end lit up his entire face in the dark. 

"Have you had a good evening?" he smiled, and I nodded vigorously, causing him to smile wider. We sat silently in cold air that bit our skin and sent little shivers through us. I wrapped my coat further round me and pulled my knees up to my chest. 

Benedict finished his cigarette and threw the end away; he turned to me and opened his mouth to speak, just as a familiar voice reached our ears.

"Cooey! There you are!"

Ellie.

She tottered over and practically fell into Benedict's lap. He adjusted her weight on his legs and she threw her arms around his neck, giggling.

"I take it you had fun at the club with the girls?" he said and she nodded, pumping her fist to an imaginary beat,

"Oh yeah! And how was your night? Evie told me where you were and I tried to find you in The Bar but you'd gone already." 

Benedict and I exchanged a look and he reeled off a few of the comedian's jokes, making Ellie laugh hysterically - she was very drunk. I stayed sat with my knees to my chest on the bench as they curled into each other in the dark. Eventually Ellie started to snore very gently and Benedict slowly stood up with her in his arms. Motioning for me to come too, he left the park and I followed quickly. 

"Do you mind hailing a taxi?" he whispered, and I managed to catch one relatively quickly. The short ride home was silent save for the 70s music on the radio.

I got the door for Benedict to slide through with Ellie lolling in his arms. He laid her gently across the sofa, pulling a rug over her and stroked her arm. I touched his shoulder,

"Thanks for a fun night, see you in the morning - for garbage day." I said, and he smiled, waving. Going back to my apartment, I was confronted yet again with Matthew. 

"It's really rather late, Maria, what are you doing coming out of his apartment?" he said sneerily, with emphasis on Benedict's pronoun. I narrowed my eyes.

"It's no concern of yours where I am and when. I will tell you that we went to a bar and had a lovely time and he's currently curled up with his GIRLFRIEND on his sofa." I managed to flounce past Matthew successfully and closed my front door on his scornful face.

Yet another day that set my heart beating wildly every time I looked to me right, for there would be standing: Benedict. Yet another day when I worried about sentence that came out of my mouth, for there would be listening: Benedict. 

With barely enough energy to change and see to the cat, I got ready for bed and slumped down into the warm mattress. Suddenly the window blew open, sending in a vicious wintry wind. I grumbled and got up to close it. As I approached, I heard the soft plucking of guitar strings; I stuck my head out the window, braving the cold and listened to Benedict playing in their bedroom. His navy blue curtains flew around in the cold air and lamp light spilled out his window. I closed my eyes, leaning on my sill and humming along. Eventually I couldn't help myself and joined in.

"No no, they can't take that away from me. We may never, never meet again on the bumpy road to love. Still I'll always, always keep the memory of..." I opened my eyes when his voice unexpectedly trailed off, to see his head sticking out the window and grinning.

"You like that song?" he said, and I nodded shyly. Benedict put his elbows on the ledge and flicked his cigarette ash out into the night.

"That's a beautiful voice you've got there."

I blushed. He pretended to shiver and rubbed his arms.

"I despise the cold, but I love the winter," he spoke softly, "goodnight Maria." and he drew his head back in, closed the window; the lamp went out.