Chapter 3 ~ Darcy

One of the most beautiful things in this world is seeing Lizzie happy. Watching her dancing around with a huge smile on her face as she jumps around with all the ballerina moves she knows– that is just precious. She hasn’t stopped dancing around since we got back from the signing. When she went to bed that night she didn’t let go of her copy, and her teddy bear –Mr Cuddles– was left behind. Luckily nothing happened to her album, otherwise she would have burst out crying the next morning.

She is so happy that she met One Direction the other day that she can’t shut up about it. Before that, she usually talked about them, but now it’s all she can talk about. I get it, she’s excited and she loves them, and it’s obvious they liked her too, but I wish she could calm down a bit. Plus, with Carter’s visit things are not improving.

“And what else happened?” He asks her and Lizzie squeals, overly excited again.

“Then Harry asked me to dance and I did! And they all clapped! Then they signed my album,” she practically hits Carter’s face with her copy. “Look! All of their signatures! And Liam is so cute! He drew a happy face, too!”

I giggle as I walk towards them in the living room, our mugs with tea and cookies in hand. There’s also milk for Lizzie. She likes Liam so much and I can see why, he’s really adorable. There’s something about him that has kept me going back to the moment we talked in the shop. His eyes are kind and his smile is honest. I think Lizzie can sense he’s a good guy, and that’s why she likes him so much.

“Darcy also got their signatures!” Lizzie exclaims, bouncing on her tiptoes and then sprinting to my room to get my signed copy.

“She’s excited, isn’t she?” Carter comments when we are alone.

“Tell me about it. And I can’t imagine how’s she’s gonna tell all her classmates about how she met One Direction and how they loved her. I bet her teacher will ask to have a word with me,” I sigh deeply sitting next to my best friend.

Carter is laughing at me when Lizzie comes back with my copy in her hands, running like a monster is after her. “Look, look, look!” She sings jumping like a bunny until she lands on Carter’s lap and hands him my copy. “All their signatures!”

My friend looks at the signatures and I see him frown with a little smile. Wait a second, what does he see? I haven’t paid any attention to my copy, I’ve been after Lizzie all this time. “Not only that, apparently,” he says softly and I see Lizzie getting more excited, if that’s even possible.

“What do you mean?” I ask as I try to get a hold of my copy.

“Well, here’s a number with a special dedication: ‘I’d really love to see you again. Liam’” He reads and my eyes flies wide open. Why haven’t I seen that? I take the album from him and Carter is right, right there next to his signature there’s this message my friend has read. Liam Payne wrote his number on my copy of his album and I just noticed it three days later.

“You have to call him!” Lizzie exclaims, bouncing on Carter’s lap out of sheer excitement. She probably hasn’t realised that the fact he gave me his number and expects me to call him means something else. Not that something is ever going to happen, but even though, there’s a hidden meaning under this message and if Lizzie realises of it, it will hurt her.

“Uh– I don’t think it’s a good idea. You have a lot of homework and he’s probably too busy to hang out with us,” I tell her and she pouts. How am I supposed to say no to that face? It’s like saying no to the Puss in Boots when he does his special face! I can’t!

“Please! I really wanna see them again! I promise I’ll do all my homework early and I’ll study more. Pleaaaaaaase!” She begs and I look at Carter for a bit of help. But he shrugs, though I can see he wants to say something, probably related with the fact that I’m reluctant to call a celebrity that has given me his number.

Any other normal girl would have flipped out, and I probably would’ve done the same if it weren’t for Lizzie. She’s infatuated with Liam, giving in to my impulse of squeaking like a silly girl would only hurt my little sister. I have to control myself. And I’m scared that if I call him and we indeed hang out, he’ll show some other interest and Lizzie will notice it this time. And things will go downhill from then onwards. Nevertheless, I don’t think Liam will see something good on me. I’m plain and nothing special, I honestly don’t see why he gave me his number to begin with.

“Please!” She insists and I groan like a dying animal. Oh, why? I can’t believe I’m wishing this but I just hope Liam gets disappointed in me so Lizzie won’t end up hurt.

I took my mobile out of my pocket, and Lizzie starts cheering and clapping because she  knows she got me. The way that little girl can manage me is impressive. She has this coaxing power and I’m just powerless under her charm.

With the copy in one hand and my phone in the other, I dial Liam’s number and I’m slightly shaking, a knot in my belly and I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. It probably has to do with the fact that this can end up terribly for Lizzie. Yes, that must be, it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m about to talk to Liam Payne.

I hear the calling tone patiently, secretly hoping he won’t pick up so I have an excuse for Lizzie to tell her this won’t work out, but then I hear someone answering and I’m made a mess in one second sharp.

“Hello?” He says and I know it’s him, don’t ask me why, I just know though we have only talked once, but I’ve hear his voice so many times due to the videos Lizzie has made me see.

“Um– Hi, It’s Darcy, from the music shop the other day. You, um– you wrote your number on my copy and–”

“Darcy!” He says, cutting me off, and I’m surprised he sounds so relieved and happy about it. “So that’s your name. I’ve been wondering that the past few days,” he carries on and I feel my cheeks blushing.

“Uh– yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t call before, I just saw your message,” I say, and see Lizzie giggling like she does when it’s Christmas morning.

“It’s okay. Honestly, I was a bit worried that maybe you were going to leak my number. I mean, it was really impulsive of me to just write it down,” he confesses and I can’t help myself from smiling. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of Carter arching his eyebrows.

“Don’t worry, I’d never do that,” I tell him, still smiling.

“I know, I told Zayn that. I just thought you weren’t capable of doing such a thing. When I saw you that day, I just couldn’t picture you harming anyone,” he says, and my heart flutters at his words and the softness in his voice. For some reason, the way he says it makes my belly all tingly, like I have something inside it. Butterflies? Nah, that’s not possible.

“Thank you, I guess,” I say and then my mind goes blank. I don’t know what else to say, and the awkwardness is filling the silence.

“So, since you called and I finally have your number and know your name, would you like to go out?” He asks and for some reason, I think I’m able to sense his anxiety whilst asking me this. I smile, finding it so cute, but then I look at Lizzie who’s waiting impatiently for me to say something. Seeing her reminds me that I’m calling him because she wants to see him, I’m doing this for her. I shouldn’t have all these reactions while talking to Liam, I shouldn’t feel like a teenage girl all over again just because I can picture him in my mind nervous and cute.

For Lizzie’s sake, I have to keep this as a friendship and nothing else. I have to put all boundaries down now.

“That’d be lovely. Lizzie can’t wait to see you all again,” I say and something tells me that was not what he was expecting.

“Uh– Lizzie?” He asks and I can feel the disappointment and confusion in his voice.

“Yes, my little sister. She was with me, remember? She danced for all of you,” I told him as I tried to keep a cheerful tone.

“Yes, I know her name and I remember her. She certainly captivated the lads,” he says and I chew my lower lip, waiting for something else. “But, uh, when I asked you out I meant, you know, only you and me…” he carries on, and for a second I close my eyes. I can see him blushing and moving all awkwardly, and I kind of feel bad for putting him in that position.

I stand up, because I’m not sure how to go on after this. I myself feel very confused at that moment.

“Oh,” I pretend to be surprised. I knew from the moment he asked that what he really meant. “In that case I’m not sure. Our mum is not here and I have to take care of Lizzie all the time. I don’t think I can go then,” I say and I’m not sure why, but my chest hurts a tad bit.

“Oh, I see. Then come with her!” He says quickly and I shut my eyes very tightly. I can’t feel disappointed that he didn’t insist on us going out alone. I can’t. I can’t. I. Can’t. “I’m sure the lads will be delighted to see Lizzie again,” he adds, and I bite my lower bit maybe too hard. I don’t feel the taste of blood, though.

“And I can’t tell you how excited Lizzie is to see all of you again. So tell me, when and where?” I ask, pushing away those selfish desires inside of me. They’re asking me to take this opportunity just for me. It’s the part of me telling me that Liam is a great guy and I should give it a try. He’s obviously –or at least he was until I said that– interested in getting to know me more, but I just closed the door in his face.

“Let me talk to the lads to see when all of them have a bit of time and I’ll call you, okay?” He asks and I nod, then I remember he can’t see me.

“It sounds great. Talk to you soon, then,” I say and wait a couple of seconds until he makes his response.

“Yeah. I’ll call you soon, Darcy.” There’s something about the way he says my name that sends shiver down my spine, but again, I ignore those feelings and just smile politely, even though he can’t see me.

“Great. Bye, Liam,” I tell him and wait for his goodbye before hanging up.

I turn around to see Carter and Lizzie waiting for me. Lizzie is smiling hopefully and Carter is looking at me suspiciously, so I smile wider as I take a seat next to them again and grab my mug with steaming tea whilst dropping my phone on the coffee table.

“He’ll call me again to tell me when we can see them. He told me the lads are dying to see you again,” I tell Lizzie, smiling as I take a sip of my tea. I know Carter sees there’s something else under all this, but he won’t push me to tell him right now. He’ll wait until we are alone and I’m not sure if I want to talk about it yet.

Lizzie squeals like the blonde girl from The Princess and the Frog. “I’m going to see One Direction again!” She cheers standing up to start dancing around the living room again.

“You okay?” Carter asks in a whisper and I don’t meet his gaze, I keep my eyes on Lizzie as I nod and smile.

“Yes, everything is okay,” I answer, though it doesn’t feel exactly like that.

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Dedication goes to @krishnica_1997 because hers was my favourite comment on the previous chapter.

Bel, xx