☆ trapped under ice ☆

☆ fourty ☆

"im proud of you," ally whispered to me. those words were a rarity in my life. id lost my mother when i was just 16, and my dad had left when i was just 13.

i spent the days living with my older brother, trying to find my way through the chaos that life had thrown at me.

ally's words struck a chord deep within me. she could see beyond the tough exterior id built to shield myself from a world that had been so painfully unforgiving.

"i never thought someone would be proud of me," i admitted, my voice carrying the weight of years of uncertainty.

i met ally's gaze, and in her eyes, i saw understanding, a recognition of the scars that life had left on me.

"when my mom passed away, and my dad left, i felt like i had no one. but you changed that"

she reached out, her touch to heal my wounds that i'd carried for too long. her touch became a lifeline, pulling me away from the shadows of my past.

"you gave me a home, ally," i confessed, my vulnerability laid bare, "when i thought i was alone, you stood by me. and now, seeing metallica rise, feeling your pride, it's like i've found a family again."

tears welled up, surprising me. the weight of those unspoken years seemed to lift as ally wiped them away, her touch grounding me in a reality where i wasn't alone.

"you're my forever james, anything that comes to us we face together" she explained. i smiled at her and replied "im so grateful for you, ally. you're the anchor i never knew i needed."

in that moment, our fingers intertwined, representing a bond that transcended the limits of time, solidifying our connection in our shared journey.

ally had become my home, a constant in the unpredictable rhythm of my life. as we embraced, i couldn't help but feel a profound gratitude for the love that had not only helped metallica but had also healed the wounds of a boy who had once been in a helpless sea of uncertainty.

back to allys pov:

i laid my head back on james chest and continued to trace the contours of his face with a gentle finger like i always did. i could never get tired of his gorgeous physique.

as we laid there together memories of our teenage years flooded back, vivid images of us being idiots together flashed back and forth in my head.

we were no longer the naive high school kids.

as i thought back, i reflected on metallica's future. the new album, a masterpiece in the making, was a testament to the unwavering dedication and non stop passion the boys poured into their music.

names for the upcoming album circulated, but after lots of different ideas and plenty more fights they landed on "ride the lightning".

they had played me some small bits and pieces of the album so far, i marvelled at the sheer brilliance coming from the speakers. the album wasn't even fully done yet and i knew how great it was going to be.

on one particular day, james and i enjoyed having the house to ourselves while the rest of the boys were out for the night. we loved our bandmates, but having a quiet moment alone felt like a rare precious gift.