Cut!

Take 32 - I Should Have Kissed You - Part 1

A/N: Comment as you read. It'll make my day.

A few things happened at once. Harry grabbed my hand, everyone bowed, the fans cheered, all while I was trying hard to stay calm. The only reason I hadn’t panicked yet was because the audience shadowed the sound of the thunder. But I knew it was there—I could see it.

Ever since my parents died, I’d seen lightning as a bad omen. Tonight was no different. I couldn’t move on my own, and it was only Harry’s pull on my wrist that made me leave the stage.

“I…” I tried to speak, but I couldn’t form a sentence. Only simple syllables and groans came out. Harry looked at me with worry. He’d probably noticed the thunderstorm long before I did.

“Do you have your medicine with you?” he asked.

I managed to shake my head from side to side. I felt paralyzed with fear, and the anxiety attack hadn’t even peaked yet.

I watched as Harry said something to Zayn, and then he turned to me. “I’ll be right back,” he said.

Part of me wanted to ask him not to go away from me, but I couldn’t speak. Instead, I slumped down against the wall, unsure of where I was located. Around me, I could see equipment that I didn’t recognize, and I didn’t dare to look up, afraid to see yet another lightning bolt.

“Cami! There you are!”

For a moment, the voice shook me out of my haze. It wasn’t a voice I had expected in any way. Confused, I stared at Jamie.

“What—“

He didn’t let me speak. Instead, he held a finger to my lips, shushing me. “Don’t talk. Just let me speak, okay? I need to get this off my chest now.”

I frowned. What was he talking about? I took a good look at him, surprised to see him out of the suit, dressed in regular jeans and a t-shirt. His hair was tousled, not unlike the last time I’d seen him.

“I love you, Cami,” he said and took a step closer. “I have since I set my eyes on you for the first time. And I tried so hard to get your attention, even went so far as to book this trip just so I’d be near you.” He sighed. “I wanted to do things properly, I really did, But now I realize: I should have kissed you sooner. I should have been more aggressive in pursuing you.”

My mind was a chaos of mixed emotions. Fear of the thunderstorm, confusion about Jamie, and longing for Harry to come back. I glanced to the sides, hoping someone was watching this. Where was the bodyguard when you needed them?

“Say something,” Jamie pleaded. “Anything.”

I tried to find my voice. What did he want me to say? He didn’t appear dangerous, but then again, he couldn’t be completely healthy since he followed me here. “How’d you get back here?” I asked at last.

“Say anything else but that…” He took a step closer. “Cami, I love you so much. I don’t think I can live without you.”

The look in his eyes told me that he wasn’t kidding. My mouth felt dry, and I prayed that someone would come by and interrupt us—I prayed that Harry would come back.

“Will you go with me?” he asked. “I want to show you something.”

“I can’t,” I said. “Harry… He’s… He’s waiting for me. He’ll be here any moment.”

The smile I received was cruel, and it sent a shiver down my spine. “I doubt that. Just… give me a chance, Cami.”

“The guards…” I leaned closer to the wall, trying to put just a bit more distance between us. “The guards will take care of you.”

“Not if you don’t scream.” He reached out, cupping my face in his palm. “And you wouldn’t scream, would you? I don’t want to hurt you.”

Oh, I wanted to scream. In fact, at the very moment, I was trying to find my voice box long enough to yell out for help. The guards couldn’t be that far away. And even if they were, Harry was on his way back here. He’d be here any moment now. I just needed to stall Jamie.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked. Inhaling deeply, I knew I had to stay calm enough to speak. I pushed the fear to the back of my mind and thought of Harry’s bravery. It gave me an ounce of strength.

“I told you, because I love you.” Jamie met my eyes. “I need to get you away from here—to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” I glanced around. Where was Harry?

“From someone much more dangerous than me. Someone who wants to hurt you.” He reached for my hand. “But we have to go now.”

I gulped. There was no way I was taking his hand. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He clenched his fist and his jaw tensed. “Dammit, Cami.” He punched the wall beside my head hard. “I’m doing this to protect you. You need to listen.”

Flinching, I tried to cower away from him. Now he was looking absolute insane. The wild look in his eyes didn’t give me any comfort, and the earlier comforting feeling I’d gotten from Jamie was long gone.

“Don’t you see,” he continued. “I don’t want to hurt you—I can’t hurt you. I only want to protect you.”

“If you really want to keep me safe,” I said. “Then walk away and leave me alone.” My voice was shaking.

“I can’t do that,” Jamie muttered. “He’ll hurt you.”

“Who?” I demanded. “Who will hurt me? Harry? He’s my boyfriend, and he would never hurt me. You need to leave.”

He scoffed. “Harry? Of course, I’m not talking about him. He’s nothing. And he can’t protect you as I can.”

“I don’t need nor want your protection,” I said through clenched teeth. Jamie flinched at my words, and he took a step back. Taking a chance, I ducked out of the way and began to run.

Stupid heels, I thought.

Jamie’s hand caught my wrist, and he jerked me back.

Fear overtook my entire body as I stumbled into his hold. I took a mouthful of air, hoping that this had been enough time for Harry to get back. Without looking back at Jamie, I clenched my eyes and screamed with everything I had.

“Help!”

A/N: Cut! Was mentioned in an article on Entertainment Wise. All of you made that possible simply by reading and supporting this story. I've sent out the link to all followers, so you can find it on my profile if you want to see it. It's also on my facebook and twitter. I would mean a lot if you shared it around, because you're as much a part of this, as I am. YOU DID THIS! 

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