Chapter 11 ~ Darcy

For the first time in a really long time, I forgot about responsibilities and what I should do, all I cared about was how much fun I was having with Liam until reality came back with my little sister crying for the same reason I did many years ago. I don’t regret any of those moments where there were only Liam and I, it was nice to think only of me for a change. It was refreshing, it was nice, but it’s not the life I’ve chosen. I can’t believe it was so easy to forget that I was there with Lizzie, I guess I really trust Harry to take care of her and the fact that Liam was there making me company probably helped, as well.

I know he feels guilty that Lizzie is crying, but it’s not his fault. She needed this, she needed to see the truth by herself like I did. Yes, it breaks my heart to see her crying and with her heart broken, but she’s a strong little girl, she’ll only grow stronger out of this.

“Why do all these people like to see them, Darcy? Can’t they see how sad the animals are? Their eyes, Darcy, their eyes looked so sad!” Lizzie tells me between sobs, hugging me really tight. Harry and Liam are watching, concern written all over their faces and I know Harry is sad as well. “I thought it was just the giraffe at the beginning, maybe she was ill or something, but the monkeys had the same look, and the elephants and the lions. Every animal I went to see with Harry,” she trails off.

I wonder if Harry and Liam noticed the pain in the animals’ eyes before Lizzie and I told them about it. Maybe they always went with the flow, maybe they enjoyed the zoo before we mentioned this.

“I know, some people just see the animal outside, they don’t see their hearts as you do, Lizzie,” I tell her, hugging her tightly as well. “Don’t worry, we will never come back to a zoo. You won’t have to see them.”

“But there’ll still be zoos with trapped animals suffering, even if I can’t see them. Can’t we do something about it?” She asks and I shut my eyes tightly.

“I wish we could do something, Lizzie, but we can’t right now,” I tell her and my heart twists because I can’t do something to cease her pain.

“When I grow up, I’ll do something, Darcy. I promise. I’ll help all the animals,” she says, solemnly looking me in the eyes and I smile proudly.

“I know you will,” I tell her  as I stroke her wet cheeks and kissing her forehead.

“You’ll save a lot of animals and they will be so grateful,” Harry adds coming closer and stroking Lizzie’s hair in a very father-like way. She smiles at him, hope bringing back her sweet smile.

This is one of the reasons why I’m so proud of my little sister, because if she sees something is not right, she doesn’t stay there, just looking at it or passing by it. She does something, she wants to change it. She can’t be content with things like they are if she doesn’t think it’s right. I think she’s a warrior in that way.

“Now, what do you think if we go to see the boys and give Niall that giraffe you bought him?” Liam suggests and we all look at him. “Is that good with you, Lizzie?” This time he looks right into my sister’s eyes and she smiles widely.

Lizzie claps excited for seeing the other lads, her smile lovely again, though her eyes are still a bit red from all the tears she shed. She won’t forget the pain of this visit, but she’ll go on because she’s that strong. She learned something important today and I know she’ll do something about it in the future. It’s probably that she starts at school, talking to her classmates and teacher about how terrible zoos are.

Lizzie leaves my lap and takes Harry’s hand, I look at Liam with a grateful smile for helping to bring back the joy to my sister. He smiles back, but I still see concern in his eyes and I don’t like to see him sad in any way. I know it’s because he cares already, but I just don’t like that look on him. I like when he smiles the smile that reminds me of a puppy, an adorable puppy that would hurt nobody. I like when his eyes get smaller due to his smile, when his nose crinkles in that adorable way. I don’t like that shadow in his eyes when concern embraces him.

Liam rises to his feet and I follow him whilst Harry and Lizzie go ahead, already talking about what the lads might be doing and how they can surprise them. I take Liam’s wrist to stop him, Greg and Paul keep walking and we stay behind. “Hey,” I call to him and he looks at me. “It’s okay, Liam. It’s not your fault. Lizzie needed to experience this to learn. You can see that she’s fine now.”

“I should’ve thought of something better to do. Maybe going to an amusement park or something like that,” he condemns himself and I slide my hand to his and squeeze it gently.

“You couldn’t know this was going to happen and I didn’t tell you before about my dislike for zoos, so it’s not your fault. It’s okay, you trust me this time,” I request and his eyes are so intense on me, the warmth of his skin against mine, and the way my heart is beating in my chest, strongly hammering against my ribs.

“Next time tell me if there’s a problem with the place we choose, okay?” He asks me this time, and I can’t help my heart from doing a flip-flop in my chest when I hear the words ‘next time’. Just thinking of seeing him again makes this little muscle flutter like a little humming bird.

“Will do,” I promise with a smile realising that I’ve just accepted another date with them and this time, Lizzie is not what makes me accept; it’s the fact that I want to see him again.

He smiles in that way I like and his fingers tangle with mine, giving them a gentle squeeze, his eyes never leaving mine and I feel like the whole world has stopped around us. Suddenly, there’s only us in this place and I notice this force pushing me towards him, but I don’t give in, I don’t move a centimetre. I wonder if he feels the same in this moment. Maybe he does, because he steps closer and my heart starts beating faster. I have to look up to meet his eyes as he’s taller than me, my breathing is uneven, my chest rising and falling quickly and there’s a lump in my belly twisting tighter and tighter as the seconds pass and we keep looking into each other’s eyes.

Liam raises his hand and softly pulls aside my fringe, stroking my skin softly until his hand falls again to his side. “Darcy,” he whispers and I don’t know what I expect, but my heart beats even harder this time. Waiting. “Maybe– uh, maybe next time we can go somewhere alone, you know, the two of us,” he carries on and I feel my cheeks burning, but at the same time a smile plays in my lips.

I want to say yes, I really want to spend time alone with him again. A date. For the first time I’m really tempted to accept going on a date with someone and I know for a fact that Lizzie would be fine with it, that despite her infatuation with Liam, she doesn’t really care if I date him even if it’s just once. I know we are from different worlds, that he has a very special life, nothing compared to mine and it probably won’t work out, but I want to say yes.

He looks at me expectantly, probably believing I’m going to turn him down this time. I see the dread in his eyes and my smile grows a tad bit. “That would be lovely,” I say surprising myself that I don’t think about it more thoroughly and I just go with what I want.

“Really?” He says, surprised as well, and I chuckle softly, looking down for a second. “I mean that’s great. We can go wherever you want and if you want someone to take care of Lizzie while we go out, I can talk to Harry. I’m sure he’d love to spend time with her,” he tells me, rushing his words and I can see his excitement.

“That sounds perfect. We can talk about that later, now Lizzie and Harry are waiting,” I remind him and he nods, his smile big and beautiful.

We start walking and he doesn’t let go of my hand. I think that I should let it go before we meet with Harry and Lizzie, but it’s too late already, because they are expecting us. My little sister immediately notices the fact that Liam is holding my hand.

She squeals.

“Aaaahhh! Did you ask Darcy out?” She asks Liam, bouncing on her heels. Yup. She definitely doesn’t have a problem with him and I going out. Even if it’s just one date.

I look down, my cheeks burning because I see Harry smiling cheekily and that makes me so self-conscious. From the corner of my eye I take a glimpse of Liam and his cheeks are as red as I think mine are. “Uh, yeah I did… hope you don’t mind I’m taking your big sister out for a date,” he says in a soft way, and Lizzie squeals again.

It seems like my sister is the most excited about this.

“Yay! I don’t mind at all! I told Darcy that you two look good together and that I like you for her. No one is good enough for her but you,” she confesses and my guts twist. She’s saying too much already.

Please, God, don’t let her say anything about marriage!

“I know I saw you first, but that’s okay. It’s better if you are with Darcy. I’m too young for you anyways,” she carries on and Harry is laughing this time. Liam squeezes my hand gently again. “But if you hurt her, I’ll stop being a fan of yours and I’ll throw all my One Direction things to the bin,” she threatens and Harry laughs even harder.

“You heard her, mate. You better treat Darcy well or we’ll lose a very important fan,” the curly-haired boy adds in a mocking tone and Liam’s cheeks go even redder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be a good boy,” he promises and he looks at me this time, our eyes meeting for a couple of seconds. “I’ll treat you right,” he adds in a whisper so only I can hear him.

“Okay, let’s go. Maybe we still can find them rehearsing for the flash mob,” Harry states, turning around to walk towards the van that brought us here.

“Flash mob?” Lizzie asks him, innocently holding his hand. She looks at him with adoration in her eyes, I know Harry has stolen her heart already, the same way Carter did.

“Oh yes, Louis is preparing a flash mob for Eleanor. Would you like to be part of it?” He asks my little sister and she jumps excitedly again. That is a definitely yes.

I look at Liam and find him looking at me as well, a lovely smile playing on his lips. I can’t believe I’m actually going on a date with him. I don’t know what he sees in me or why he would like to take me out, but I can’t complain. I feel lucky that a guy like him seems to like me enough to ask me out.

I don’t know if this will work out, probably it won’t, but at least we can try. Give this a chance. I can do that.

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Happy birthday to @LouissWife's mum! I hope she has a lovely day and also to @PrincessKenziiiexo

Bel, xx