Chapter 16 ~ Liam

When I open the door of my flat I don’t only find Brit sleeping on the sofa but the lads gathered there watching a movie, a lot of food around and many drinks. And they don’t even notice my presence there, they are too into the movie they are watching so I have to clear my throat very loudly for them to hear me. Niall is the first to turn around and when he sees me he practically jumps off of the sofa and comes to me running.

“How did it go?” The blond boy asks and I just look at him incredulously.

“Um, what are you all doing here?” I question instead of answering him. “When I left Brit was the only one in the flat,” I add still confused.

Louis stands up and comes to me with a condescending smile. “I may or may not have your key. Emergency,” he hurries to add when I glare at him. “That’s not the point, Payne, we’re here because we worry for you.”

I stare at them all not buying their story for a minute. “Okay, I give up. We’re just curious, okay? We wanted to know how the date went and in case she rejected you again, we thought it would be a good idea to wait for you in case you needed someone to cheer you up,” Zayn explains and that makes so much more sense though I’m not sure if I should be worried that my best mates think Darcy would reject me again. I guess they don’t have hopes on me.

“Well, for your information, it went great. More than great,” I reply and I feel the grin on my lips making me look like a fool, but I don’t care.

It was the perfect date. Everything that happened was perfect and without a doubt, Darcy is amazing. I remember they way she felt in my arms, the taste of her lips, how she looked at me when I told her how I feel and all those memories give me a warm feeling in my chest. All of sudden, I feel my heart racing again and the world seems to fade around me, I can only think of her.

“Woah!” I hear Harry exclaiming and I blink a couple of times in rapid succession to focus again on the lads, they are all looking at me with eyes wide open and even Brit now is awake, at my feet looking me at me as well, though she doesn’t seem surprised, she seems pleased that I’m back. “Look at you! You’ve fallen hard, mate,” the curly-haired boy carries on and I feel my cheeks burning, so to camouflage it I kneel down and start petting Brit.

“C’mon, tell us!” Niall insists but I don’t look up at them. “Liam!”

“Hush! I won’t tell you anything, you pack of old ladies,” I exclaim and this time I look at them to see their shocked and offended expressions. “You’ll only know that it went great, that now Darcy is my girlfriend and that I played to be Nicki Minaj with her and Lizzie after Carter left,” I blurt out squeezing my eyes when I realise I’ve said too much.

“Girlfriend!” Niall exclaims.

“Nicki Minaj?” Zayn questions confused.

“Who’s Carter?” Louis inquires.

“How’s Lizzie?” Harry finishes with a big smile. He really adores that little girl.

“Yes, my girlfriend. Darcy bought some wigs for Lizzie and she made us play with her, that’s why we ended up recreating a video of Nicki Minaj and as I’m the only one who sings, I had to be Nicki. Carter is Darcy’s best friend and Lizzie is fine, really happy with me and Darcy being together,” I reply all their questions and Niall is practically bouncing out of sheer excitement. Louis and Zayn are chuckling and Harry keeps smiling.

“Way to go, mate! Well done!” Niall congratulates me and I feel my cheeks burning again so I hide my face in Brit’s hair. She’s so big now.

Soon I feel all the lads patting my back and talking at the same time, they mostly congratulate me. I don’t think I did something to get such reaction, I mean, I’m just lucky that she feels the same way, that a girl as wonderful as Darcy likes me back. She’s not like anyone I’ve met before, she’s so kind and selfless and I know that for a moment it seemed really hard, but I’m glad she is finally giving in, that she’s thinking of herself as well.

I know her a bit better now and I understand all the things she has done, from rejecting me the first time because of how Lizzie might have felt or accepting going to the zoo just for the little sister. She has this big and beautiful heart, she always thinks of other first and she forgets she matters as well, that’s why it makes me so happy that she accepted to be my girlfriend, to have something because she want it. I know she’s not with me because of Lizzie or because it’s what I want. She’s with me because she has feeling for me, as well.

I remember the reason why Danielle and I broke up, because I wasn’t living my life, I was always running to catch up with her and Darcy is so different. She’s not living her life, she’s going too slow, she putting on hold everything she wants and I don’t think that’s good for her and maybe I can help her. I learnt a lot in these past few months, from to really have fun, to enjoy the moment and that everything has its time in this world, there’s no need to rush things. Maybe I can teach Darcy that not because she will think of herself for a change that will mean she will neglect the other things she cares about. She can do both.

I care about her, therefore I want the best for her and putting on hold her life is not the best thing to do.

“Yeah, guys, thank you very much, but I’m tired and I want to go to bed,” I tell them rising to my feet and they nod. “We have things to do tomorrow, remember?” Cue to my words, they all groan. Zayn seems devastated and I understand him, we have an early interview tomorrow.

“When are you gonna see Darcy again?” Harry asks still smiling at me.

“I dunno. Soon, I hope. Now leave and get some rest,” I instruct and the salute like good soldiers, I just chuckle while they say goodbye and leave my flat.

Brit stays with me and looks at me weirdly, as if she is concerned about something but I don’t see anything wrong. Nevertheless, I take her to sleep with me to put her at ease and she doesn’t leave my side during the whole night, by when I wake up she’s still stick next to me.

I wake up tired already, like it has been for a couple of weeks now. I guess I’ve been working too much and Darcy is right, I should slow down a bit but it’s so hard, there’s always something to do, somewhere to go. I get tired faster and I don’t even want to eat, sometimes. Though almost no one notices that as Niall eats what I leave in my plate.

Maybe I should try to talk to management and see when we can get a week or something. We really need a break, this year has been so hectic with the world tour and everything. It’s impressive all the things we’ve done so far and it’s just October.

When the van comes to pick me, Brit is next to me and she doesn’t want to let me go. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, maybe I should take her to the vet.

“Don’t worry, Brit. Once I come back from work I’ll take you to the vet. I’m sure you’ll be fine,” I tell her scratching behind her ears and by when I walk out, she’s crying.

I can’t stop wondering what’s wrong with Brit so I’m a bit diverted during the whole day and even the lads notice that, so when we’re having lunch in our break before keep rehearsing for the next shows, they ask me what it’s wrong.

“I think Brit is sick, I have to take her to the vet. Last night she didn’t leave my side and when I left her today she was crying. I’m worried,” I explain and they seem concerned as well.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Maybe she’s just jealous now that you got a girlfriend,” Zayn jokes to light up the mood and I smile, Darcy coming to my mind immediately. I bet that if I tell her Brit may be sick, she will be here in a second, dead worried.

“Is she still your girlfriend?” Louis asks and I look at him shocked. “Yeah, didn’t she call to tell you she regrets now and she wants to be single again?” He explains and Niall burst out laughing, but I don’t see the funny side. “Relax, mate, I’m just joking. But she hasn’t called you nor text you so far, am I wrong?”

I check my phone and yup, no missing call or a text from Darcy. “Is that bad?” I question and he looks at me like if he has to break the bad news and he hates that.

“Oh no, just that she’s bored with you already,” he says offhandedly and my eyes shoot fly open.

“Louis!” Harry reprehends the Doncaster boy. “Don’t say those things, that’s mean. No, Liam, it doesn’t mean anything. Don’t let this arsehole tell you otherwise. He just likes to tease you.” Cue to Harry’s words, Louis sticks his tongue out at me in a very childish way.

“Are you gonna eat that?” Niall asks me when he finished with his food and looks at my plate, almost full.

“No, take it,” I answer distractedly handing him my plate.

“Are you feeling well, Liam?” Zayn asks this time and I look at him wondering what he means. “You’ve been barely eating lately. You sure you’re okay?”

So he has noticed my lack of appetite. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just stress, plus I ate a lot yesterday with Darcy,” I tell though it’s not entirely true, I didn’t eat the much yesterday.

Zayn looks at me unconvinced and I smile to put him at ease, but he keeps the same look on me. “Maybe you should go to the doctor as well. Just to make sure everything is right, you know,” he tries again but I dismiss him with a wave.

“I’m perfectly okay. I just need a day off and I’ll be like new,” I state. “What really concerns me is Brit, I really hope she’s not sick.”

“Everything will be fine, mate, don’t worry,” Niall assures me with his mouth full. “But Zayn is right, you should eat more.”

“I thought you were happy with me giving you my food,” I retort and he chuckles.

“I’m always happy with food, but I want you healthy as well.”

“Okay, I’ll eat more and take care of myself as well. You’ll see it’s nothing,” I promise and they smile before someone comes back for us to start rehearsing again.

And here we go again.

-:-:-:-

Dedication goes to @Jilly_Richards because this Wednesday is her birthday!

Bel, xx