Chapter Thirty-Four- The Happy Couple’s Consolation

“Okay. Get up.”

I rolled my eyes, tucking a hand behind my head as I lay on my bed, “When I let you past the front door, I didn’t realise you were going to force me into action as well.”

“I could force you into action in another way…” Matt purred flirtatiously, and then blushed as I slanted him a look. “Or not. Thought as much. But I’m not going to let you stay here and mope around on Hogmanay. It’s pathetic.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much.”

“Well, it is, and you know it,” he said primly. Then he moved to my wardrobe and opened it. “Where’s that dark blue shirt you have?”

I frowned, and eased myself up so I was propped on my elbows, “Why…?” I didn’t bother to ask how he knew about that shirt. I had never worn it to school before, but he probably had a better knowledge of my wardrobe than I did.

“Because we’re going out.” Matt glanced over his shoulder with a grin, “You, me and James.”

“You’re turning me into a third wheel?” I asked wryly, seconds before the shirt he had been searching for landed over my head. I pulled it off in annoyance. “Look, Matt. I’m fine to stay in, work on my guitar.”

“Pathetic…” he taunted in a sing-song voice. I scowled at him, and got to my feet.

“Fine.” I went to pull of my current t-shirt, and watched his eyes go wide. Then he blushed as I hesitated. “You can do it. I’ll behave.” But that didn’t stop him from staring with those same wide eyes as I pulled off my top and slid into the shirt.

*****

“I’m gonna go and get a drink. You want a drink, James? What about you, Tom? Want a drink? I’m going to get drinks!” Matt proclaimed before charging off through the club.

I cocked my head to watch him go, “How much sugar has he had?”

James rolled his eyes. “He’s in a club with you,” he called over the music. “Is it any wonder he’s hyper?”

I cringed, “Sorry. If it’s any consolation, I don’t understand it, myself.”

“Don’t apologise. I knew the situation when this started, and I’m fine with it.” James shrugged, “It’s harmless, really. He admires you too much to try anything more than you allow.”

I smiled slightly, “Yeah.”

James nudged me in the side, “So what would you have done if he hadn’t’ve dragged you out? How would you have spent your night?”

I frowned, “I dunno. Watched TV, played guitar…” As soon as the pitying look began to form on his face, I sighed, “I know. I know. I’m pathetic…”

He chuckled and took my by the upper arm, leading me gently off the dance floor to the side so that we could talk with more ease, “No boyfriend?”

“Bolton.”

“Best friend?”

“Australia.”

He bit his lip before taking the plunge, “Ex?”

I averted my eyes; stared out at the dance floor again. I found myself wishing that Matt would get back with the drinks so that I could have something with which to occupy my hands. “That’s awkward right now.”

“Still having problems with him?”

“How did you-?”

“My boyfriend stalks you,” he reminded me with a mocking grin. Then he shrugged once more, “Plus, you told me when we first met.”

“Good memory.” I sighed, “And, yeah, still having problems. We keep…kissing.”

James waited a beat. “Pre or post boyfriend?”

I couldn’t bear to look at him, “Both.”

“Hm… The idol has flaws… This is an interesting development…”

I eyed him evenly now, “I don’t remember ever seriously claiming to be perfect.”

He grinned, unaffected, “That’s never a wise move. So what’s the situation?”

“Okay, but you can’t tell anyone,” I warned him.

“Who am I going to tell?” As my gaze flicked across the club, he rolled his eyes, “Oh, don’t worry. Matt never expects me to know anything.” I snorted, knowing Matt well enough to believe that that was probably scarcely an exaggeration. “Come on. He’s still at the bar and I’m good at keeping up. We have time.”

I deliberated for a moment. I didn’t understand why I just seemed to automatically have faith in James. I had met him a few times now, and we had just clicked from the offset. Something just…worked. “After Matt’s party,” I began. “We almost… This was before Danny was in the picture, mind. But… Dougie was jealous. After that kiss.”

James frowned, “But it wasn’t serious. I-”

“Yes, but Dougie’s always been jealous of Matt,” I cut across him, cautious of time. “I… don’t know why. He’s just never liked him. While we were together, he threatened Matt; told him not to come near me.”

“Not amused by your stalker…” James remarked. “Scared that Matt would steal you away?”

I sighed, “Or distract my focus at least. I dunno. But, anyway, he was jealous and we started to…”

“Didn’t finish?”

“No. The phone rang,” I told him. “Then there were another couple of kisses. And then, last month, at his birthday party… There was an incident.”

“A…discussion?” James asked tactfully.

“Not so much. Dougie’s mouth did most of the work…” I replied, and he closed his eyes in understanding, drawing in a breath slowly. “And, since then, yeah… I’ve just been staying out of his way.”

“Well, that’s not going to solve anything.”

I grinned, “Maybe not, but avoidance is fun!”

“You need to talk to him! The longer you avoid it, the harder it’s going to be to set this straight.” He winced at his own word choice, “So to speak.”

“I have drinks!” Matt chirped, arriving back just as I fished my mobile out of my pocket thoughtfully. There was a message on it, which I hadn’t heard nor felt come through due to my surroundings. I opened it under James’ curious gaze, and was faced with three simple words: