Chapter 21.
Danny's P.O.V
"Are you alright?" I asked you once your crying had died down.
"Yeah." You replied a little shakily.
"Do you want to talk about it or not?" I asked you softly as I wiped away the wet marks that your tears left on your cheeks. You shook your head before standing up straight and wiping away the remaining marks of your tears from your cheeks. You walked out of the bathroom without another word. I followed you slowly, unsure of what to say because I didn't have a clue as to what was said on the phone.
"Doug…" I said while turning and closing the door behind me. I was actually planning on asking you about the phone call but I could tell from the look in your eyes that you weren't ready for that yet. "I don't feel like staring at these same four walls all day so do you maybe want to go out somewhere? Spend some quality time together." You smiled shyly and walked towards me, sliding your hands into mine. I didn't question you silence because I just wanted you to feel safe and at home with me.
We walked down the street, hand in hand, not thinking about what other people were thinking. This time was for us and no one else so I pushed all the thoughts about Becky to the back, I was determined to focus all my attention on you and nothing else.
"What shall we do then?" You mumbled quietly.
"We'll go to the park!" I shouted. "I'll show where I used to play footie when I was little."
"Cool." You said, suddenly sounding happier than before. You looked up at me and began searching my eyes for something, I didn't know what it was you were looking for so I leant forward a kissed you softly on your lips. I let go of your hand and wrapped my arm around your shoulders, I wanted to keep you as close to me as possible.
"I know what I'll show you." I said, a wide grin beginning to form on my face. You looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"What?" You questioned.
"Just come on, you'll see." I grabbed your hand again and pulled you towards the park where I had spent most of my childhood. We ran through the middle of town, past the many shops and over the small bridge with the small river that ran underneath it before eventually reaching the park, which was pretty much empty as it was a cold day. I stopped suddenly when we arrived and looked at you with a large smile, you didn't look too impressed.
"We're at the park." You managed to say in between trying to catch your breath after the long run we had just been on. "What's so good about it?"
"You see that tree over there?" I nodded toward the huge willow tree, it's branches hanging down so you couldn't even see the trunk. "It's a wicked tree to climb." You giggled loudly.
"That's it? You dragged me all this way to look at a tree?"
"Oi! Don't laugh!" I poked you in the ribs playfully with a small smirk on my face. "Me and Vicky used to climb that tree all the time when we were younger."
"Well, let's climb it then." You smiled childishly before taking my hand again and dragging me towards the tree. You pushed all the branches and leaves aside and stepped inside. We were now completely covered by the willow, no one would be able to see inside.
"No one can see us." You whispered.
"I know, that's the reason I thought of the tree thing." I smiled. I wrapped my arms around your waist and pulled you close to me so our bodies were pressed together.
"Aren't you as stud?" You giggled. Then you leaned your lips towards mine and kissed me delicately. I closed my eyes and kissed you back slowly. I wanted to make most of this moment.
"That's me." I laughed as we pulled out of the kiss naturally. "Now then, little Dougiekins. I hope you can climb trees." I raised my eyebrows at you questioningly.
"Ha, you know I can!" You laughed. "Don't you remember when we were in Africa and you couldn't climb that tree? Those little kids were laughing at you, man."
"Why do you always have to bring that up?" I sighed and rolled my eyes. "You know I was tired…"
"Yeah, I believe you." You said sarcastically. "You were crap. Whereas, I was amazing and got to the top in under 5 minutes." You poked you tongue out at me teasingly.
"Oh yeah. Didn't you get stuck up there?" I laughed. "Thanks mate, I almost forgot about that."
"Oh, shut up." You stuck a finger up at me while I continued to laugh at you. "Now, time to climb." You said before grabbing the bottom branch and pulling yourself up. "You need any help, Jones?" You smiled cheekily.
"I alright man." I grinned, rubbing my hands together. "I've done this thousands of times before. I'm a professional at this." I grabbed the bottom branch just like you did but instead of pulling myself up, my hands slipped and I fell back down. You almost fell out as well because you were laughing so much.
"You alright, Dan?" You managed to choke out between your laughs.
"Yeah, I 'm fine." I stood up and wiped my arse clean. "I was meant to do that, you know? It's like a routine I used to have." You nodded your head.
"Yeah, I understand." You said. "I totally believe you, mate."
"Well, that's good." I nodded firmly. I tried a second time, this time managing to pull myself up. "Did you see that? Told you I'm a pro."
"Yeah." You giggled. "Now then." You looked up at the branches about you, biting you lip lightly as you figured out how you would get to the highest branch that was only a little above your head. I couldn't help but smile at you cuteness. You started to stand, slowly and carefully and then quickly moved your hands from the branch you were stood on to the one above your head. You used that to swing on to the higher branch, the highest branch on the tree. You sat down comfortably. "Wow!" You called. "You can see everything up here" You turned to look at me, I was on the branch that you had previously been stood on. "You coming?"
"Yeah." I told you as confidently as possible. I took a deep breath before shakily reaching to the branch above my head. I'd never been really good at climbing and I admit that this was the highest I had ever got. I wasn't going to let you know that though. "Just remember, I haven't done this in ages so I might be slower that I used to be."
"Yeah, yeah. Hurry up!" You rushed me. After a few tries I managed to swing up to the branch you were sat on. You made it look so easy to do, so did Vicky when we were younger, but trust me, it wasn't. I was all worth it though because you rested your head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around you waist, we sat there in silence. I was so happy.
"I brought Tom here once, you know?" I told you. "It was before you and Harry joined the band, he only managed to get to that branch down there." I pointed to a reasonably low branch and you laughed but I know I felt your body stiffen up when I said those names.
"Dougie?" I asked when laughing had stopped. "What's wrong?" You sat up and sighed.
"Nothing." You sighed again.
"Come on, talk to me Doug." I took you soft hand in mine and used my other one to turn your head to face me, you were still avoiding eye contact with me though. "Please, Dougie!" You shook your head slowly and looked down at the ground but I pushed it back up to face me again. "Don't shut me out." You looked in my eyes this time and I looked back, trying to look as concerned as I could. You nodded and I waited for you to speak.
"Everything's just so complicated." You muttered. "I wish I could be more like you."
"More like me?" I repeated. "What do you mean?"
"You don't let it all get you." You shrugged. "All you want is us and nothing else. You're not bothered about what you lose."
"That's not true, Dougie." I whispered. "I just… I just want to be strong for you. You need that." You smiled and stroked my cheek.
"You don't have to be strong for me."
"I do." I told you firmly while smiling back at you. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." You sighed. "I just wish it could always be like this. Just you and me, no one else."
"It will be. Once everything gets sorted out, it'll be me and you for the rest of our lives."
"Really?" You beamed.
"Really." I nodded. "We've just got to get through this."
"I hope Emma forgives me." You whispered.
"I know you do, Doug." I said. "I understand that. You two have so much history."
"Yeah, we do. It's not just that though. It's like, I feel weird when she isn't around. I think I took her for granted."
"Yeah, well. You've got me now." I told you softly.
"I know, but…" You groaned. "This is different. Me and Emma were like…" You trailed off and looked down at your hands. I looked away trying my hardest not to feel hurt. Was I not enough for you? Was there always going to be something I couldn't give you that Emma could. Apart from the obvious.