Chapter 27 ~ Darcy 

When I’m waiting for Lizzie outside the school I notice something that it’s been happening for the last few days. Exactly, since Liam was cleared up from hospital. People turn to look at me, they whisper and sometimes they even point at me, like I’m something they should be scared of or something like that. I’m not sure, I’ve never been under this kind of situation. I’ll my life, I’ve been just a wallflower. People tended to ignore me and I was happy with that. I’ve always had better things to care about. But know I see how people do notice me, I’m not the wallflower anymore.

I know I’m the same, I haven’t changed at all to bring such an interest. My hair is still plain brown, short like a boy and messy. I don’t take much care of it. My clothes are the same as well, simple and normal, nothing that some other girl wouldn’t use. I drive the same car, I wear the same hat, the same boots, the same gloves. I feel different, yes, that’s for sure. I’ve been feeling differently since I met Liam, but I don’t think other people can see that. I’m happier when I think of him, I feel whole when I’m with him, but those are things that only I can notice.

Then what on Earth is going on?

Girls from last year stop to look at me, they squeeze their eyes as if they are fighting to recognise me, but I haven’t seen them before in my whole life. One of them checks her mobile and then looks at me, I see all this from the corner of my eye and I start to grow self-confident, wondering if there’s something I can’t notice. Maybe my coat has something stick on it or I stood up over something.

I’m so worried wondering why is that those girls are looking at me that I don’t notice when another girl from the other side approaches to me.

“Um, hi. I’m Sally. You’re Darcy, aren’t you?” She asks in a quiet and shy tone. I blink a couple of times to clear my mind and focus on her.

“Uh, yes. I’m Darcy, nice to meet you. May I help you?” I question. I haven’t seen this girl before and when I look over her shoulder, I see another group of three girls whispering as they look at us. They, including Sally, must be twelve or something.

Sally smiles happily as she examines me, which I don’t like. I feel exposed somehow, I don’t know what to do or where to hide. “You’re Liam’s girlfriend, right? Liam Payne,” she clarifies and my heart stops for a second, confusion taking over my body as I try to process how this girls knows this. “It’s all over twitter. He finally admitted it today during a twitcam but I was in class so I missed it,” she tells me cheerfully, like we’ve been friends all our lives. “Anyways, I just wanted to make sure. I knew I had seen you before when I saw your picture. You’re always here.”

“Yes, I come to pick my little sister.” I’m still shocked. I know I told Liam if he needed to admit our relationship in public, I didn’t have a problem with it. Though I would’ve liked him to tell me he was going to do it today.

“That’s so sweet of you. Well, I just wanted to know that. You’re very lucky! I envy you so much, though I’m probably too young for him. May I ask you something?” She talks so fast and catches me off guard, so I nod. “How is he? Is he really nice and mature as everyone says? Is he really Daddy Direction?” Sally asks with dreamy eyes and hope.

As I look at her I start to calm down. She is a fan and now I’m her only connection to her idol. Somehow through me, she is closer to Liam now.

“He’s a great guy, sweet and caring. All the lads are great. He’s not as mature as everyone thinks, though. He can be very childish and immature sometimes, but he’s so responsible. He loves you all, he’s always thinking of the fans and doing everything he can to make you all happy, as happy as you make him,” I tell her and I see her eyes turning teary with emotion.

“I love them,” she confesses and I nod smiling. Without thinking, I raise my hands and put it over her shoulder, squeezing gently.

“I’ll tell him that there’s this sweet girl from Lizzie’s school who really loves them.”

Her eyes are big with surprise and gratitude and before I can stop her, she hugs me ever so tightly. For a moment I don’t know what to do, but soon I give in and hug her back, rubbing her back slowly to comfort her a little bit.

“Thank you so much,” she says pulling back and brushing the tears on her cheeks with the back of her hand. “You’re really nice, I’m happy you’re with Liam. Plus, you’re way prettier in person!”

“Why thank you,” I reply smiling, feeling the heat in my cheeks which Sally notices because she smiles wide.

“Bye, Darcy. It was really nice meeting you!” She waves and runs away to reunite with her group of friends.

I see how everyone bombards Sally with questions, but she never loses her smiles. They are talking loudly and in a moment she looks back over her shoulder, giving me a last smile. Soon, all her friends look at me as well and smile shyly. I wave back at them until I feel someone grabbing the hem of my coat. I turn and find Lizzie looking at me curiously.

“Lizzie! How are you? How was your day?”

“It was fine. A bit boring, but we played new games. Who was that girl?” She asks me motioning with her head to Sally’s group.

“Oh, just a girl who recognised me.” Lizzie looks puzzle and I take her hand to lead her to the car. “Your fellow Directioners now recognise me as Liam’s girlfriend. I guess this will be the first of, perhaps, many other situations like this one. You don’t mind, do you?” I ask and she shakes her head as she gets in the car.

“As long as they are nice to you, I’m fine. But they must know I’m the one who loves you the most. Nor even Liam,” she states matter-of-factly and I giggle. Lizzie can be really possessive when it comes to the things she loves. She can share them, but she will never share her love.

“Don’t worry, no one will ever love me like you do.” She smiles at me brightly and I do the same. “Now, what do you think if we drive to Liam’s home? Would you like that?”

“Yes, please, let’s go see him!” She cheers clapping excitedly, which makes me giggle again.

“But you have to do your homework while we’re there, understood?” She nods avidly and I smile wide. “Good, then lets go.”

With a very cheerful Lizzie, I drive to Liam’s home. Today Karen went back to Wolverhampton, which means Liam is alone at home again, only with Brit to make him company. I’ll try to visit him more often now, maybe even take him out considering that now he has free time. Probably, we won’t have time for us like now in a long, long time, so we may as well make it count.

When we get to his door, the first thing we hear is Brit’s barking and Lizzie squeals excitedly. She really loves that dog. She has a mobile phone –for emergencies– and all the pictures she has are from Brit. Some are pictures of Harry, the other lads, Carter, Liam and I, and of course, Perrie.

The door opens and Liam greets us with a big smile and Brit next to him, she jumps on Lizzie almost immediately as I take a step closer to him. “Hello,” I say softly standing on my tiptoes to peck his lips lightly. “How are you feeling today?”

“So much better now that you’re here. Come in,” he instructs stepping aside so we can walk in. Lizzie rises to her feet and hugs Liam. “What about your day?” He asks us, taking my hand as we keep walking.

“I got an A,” Lizzie tells offhandedly. She only gets excited about her grades when she tells Mum about them. “And Darcy made a new friend today.”

“Really? That’s great,” Liam tells me and I smile.

“I wouldn’t say friend, but I did meet a lovely girl. Her name is Sally and she’s a big fan of you lads. She told me about your twitcam today,” I tell and I feel Liam tensing next to me. “It’s okay, babe, don’t worry. I told you I have no problem with you sharing this. It’s not a secret or something we should be ashamed of.”

“Yeah, but it gets a bit complicated. It is for all of us.” I know this worries him and I don’t want to add anything that could stress him out, so I stop whilst Lizzie keeps walking –jogging, it would be more accurate– with Brit next to her, ready to start playing.

“Liam, hear me out here. Everything will be fine, even if they don’t like me. If your fans are half of what Sally is, everything will be fine. She was really sweet and happy for us. She hugged me and told me I look prettier in person.” Liam smiles relieved at my words and I wrap my arms around him, always looking into his eyes. His arms surround me instinctively as I hear him sigh deeply. “You don’t have to worry for that, okay? It won’t make you any good and I don’t want to see you troubled over something we don’t have any control over. Do you promise me you won’t overthink about this?”

He looks at me, reluctant to give in but I hold his gaze, serious and hopeful, begging him to understand that if he worries too much about this, it will only jeopardise his health, and that’s the last thing I want to do.

“They really seem to like you so far,” he tells me with a little smile.

“See? Everything will be fine. Just promise me that we are going to leave this matter behind us. You have to take care of yourself and this is part of it. Please?”

He closes his eyes for a few seconds before sighing again. “Just if you promise me that if you feel the least bit bad about this, if it makes you sad or anything like that, you will tell me. I don’t want you to push your own feelings behind just for my sake.”

It’s my turn to sigh deeply. I know I won’t tell him if I’m not doing well when I know that it may harm him somehow, but I know why he is asking this. If I want him to be honest and open to me, if I want him to promise me to leave this behind, I have to give in here. That is a relationship, right? To give in some aspects when it’s the best for both of us. And that’s what I’m going to do, because I want not only the best for him, but for our relationship.

“I promise,” I agree with an honest smile and he looks taken aback for a second before a real and beautiful smile adorns his lips.

“Then I promise I won’t worry about the fans’ opinions. We will be fine.” I nod, because I honestly believe this won’t be a problem for us. But of course, this is not the only thing we’ll have to face as a couple.

-:-:-:-

Lovelies, don't worry about the fans. I've used that topic way too much already, so I want to put that at the background now. The problems Larcy will face are different. You'll see very soon.

Dedication to hcb2215 because tomorrow is her birthday. Iluvwhoiam's is this saturday. Both of you have lovelies days!

Bel, xx