Chapter Text
“Hello and welcome to Mock the Week. I'm Dara O'Brian. Joining me this week are Ed Gamble, Suzi Ruffel and y/n, James Acaster, Hugh Dennis and Angela Barnes."
At the mention of your name your vains flooded with adrenaline, causing the recording to pass by within seconds. Backstage, the rest of the group were chatting and you were sitting in the corner, failing to recall the nights events. All that came back to you were flashes of laughter and you presumed that was a good sign. This was your second time on the show and you knew the format much better now.
"I thought it went really well." Ed said, matter of factly and Angela agreed.
"Shall we go out then?" Suzi had clearly been stressed before the shoot and you thought she needed to relax. You didn't know her that well, you'd met her once before at an awards show but she had a reputation for being lovely. You agreed, as did Dara, James and Ed.
Throughout the evening, James had permeated the anxious blur with bolts of electricity. His beautiful eyes were soft and warm and you loved the way his cheeks crinkled with laughter at your jokes. You were excited at the prospect of an evening in his company. It also helps that you knew Ed and James due to your friendship with Nish, even if you didn't speak to them that often.
The five of you visited various clubs, allowing the alcohol and the beat of the music to run through your bodies. Crowds heaved and heat clung to you as a collective, bodies and souls jumping in unison. Between clubs, the rush of the cold air reminded you of how drunk you were and you repeatedly claimed this club would be the last. Along the way, Dara had decided to go, leaving just four remaining. You headed into another club and you could tell this was a freeing experience for Suzi, who was dancing in the centre of the crowd with Ed. You decided to head back to the bar for another drink.
James spent much of the evening on the outskirts, watching the rest of you dance. As you reached the edge of the crowd he noticed you, his long frame slanted against the bar. You noticed him looking over your body before making eye contact. The look in his eyes made your breath stop and your heart thump in your ears. It was clear he was checking you out and he looked embarrassed as he realised you caught him. You turned and whipped your arms above your head and tried to be comically seductive, pulling him onto the dance floor. Both of you flopped around, mainly jumping and waving your hands incoherently between bubbles of laughter.
As the song changed, the rhythm of the dancing did too and you were reinvigorated with a sense of confidence. You remembered the look on his face when you had walked towards him and felt your stomach wrench with desire. You turned around and backed into him, grinding on him and looping your hand around the back of his neck. He moaned in your ear as you did this, clearly enjoying it as much as you did. You kept dancing in this way for a while, hips slinking into the swing of the song. You turn to look at him, trying to silently articulate just how much you want him. He takes your hair and pulls it delicately over your shoulder, leaving the side of your neck closest to him exposed. His breath lingers on your neck before he plants a kiss and you moan quietly, one only audible to him. His hand glides over your thigh before a worried Ed comes over. His face registered something was happening between you but he quickly dismissed it.
"Suzi went to the toilet but she hasn't come back. Y/n, please could you look for her?"
Suzi was sat in the corner of the bathroom crying, mascara running down her face. All you wanted to do was dance with James, and more, but you knew you had to console her. She looks up at you and feigns a smile whilst rising from the floor.
"Hey, sorry. Just been a tough day. I'm okay though" she says as she drunkenly slams her shoulder on the way up from the floor. You laugh and help to steady her.
"Are you sure?"
"I just think I need to sleep" she says whilst resting her head on your shoulders and closing her eyes.
"Okay, well maybe you should do that at home Suz."
"Yup"
You place her arm over your shoulder and walk her back to Ed and James at the bar. They both laugh as a clearly inebriated Suzi dozes on your shoulder.
"I'll take her home" Ed offers.
"Cheeky!" Suzi retorts before hiccuping and returning her head to your shoulder. You transfer her over to Ed and they walk out of the club together. Now it's just you and James.
"So.." He said, offering his hand to take you back into the dance floor. You shook your head and he looked almost crestfallen.
"My place?" His eyes widened and he nodded, following you out the club.