Chapter 33 ~ Darcy

Liam is taken aback when I kiss him, but he doesn’t take long to recover and soon he hugs me tightly, his arms closely wrapped around my waist as my hands slide through his hair when he kisses me deeper. He cocks his head to the right just to be in a more comfortable position and I feel the change in him, the way his hands are pressed on my back, the way the kiss feels so desperate and rough, but at the same time soft and passionate. It’s like he’s been starving for weeks and he can finally have a bite, but he can’t get enough.

Somehow, Liam starts walking dragging me along until a solid surface stops us and I presume it’s a wall, or maybe the closet. I’m not sure. I’m only conscious of Liam, of his body pressed against mine, of his hands going up and down on my back, of his lips moving in sync with mine, of his teeth softly biting my lower lip from time to time, just to ask me for permission for an even deeper kiss. I hold on to him for dear life, like he is all I need in this moment. Like everything is perfect right now in his arms.

I ignore everything else, Liam is all that exists around me, I even ignore the burning scream of my lungs for a little bit of air. I don’t care about that, I only care about Liam in that moment. That I am leaving doesn’t matter, that probably I won’t see him in months doesn’t matter, that I’m going to a country where I’m not sure if I’ll fit in doesn’t matter. He’s all what matters in my world in this moment.

Liam leaves my lips and I’m about to protest when I feel him leaving a linger of soft kisses through my jaw line until he reaches my ear and breathes slowly. I swear to God I shiver in his arms like a feeble leave in the middle of a storm.

“I love you, too,” he whispers and my heart stops. “I love you very much, Darcy.”

He kisses me again, still crushing my body against the surface with his own body. I never thought of that before this moment, I never though where I was in love or not with him, but looking at him when he said those things… I felt it. I realised I am in love with him, that I started to fall for him the moment he asked me if he could kiss me.

I never thought I could actually fall in love with Liam, but I did. I feel for him and it was easier than I expected. How couldn’t it be? The way he makes me feel, the way he makes my heart beat or how he takes my breath away so easily. Hard would’ve been not to fall in love with him.

I take my hands to his cheeks, caressing his skin softly with my thumbs as the kiss slows down and we finally pull apart, but we remain as closely hugged as we are. I stare into his eyes, his are darker, his pupils are expanded and his breathing is heavy and the only sight of the way he is looking at me melts my body from the inside. It even makes breathing harder, my chest constricting under his scrutiny.

I really, really love him.

I don’t know for how long we stay like that, only staring into each other’s eyes, but it doesn’t seem enough when he parts his lips to say something.

“Maybe you should call your mum,” he tells me and that blows up the bubble, bringing me back to reality.

I remember that I just left. I didn’t tell her anything, I just walked out without uttering a single word, I didn’t even pick my keys. I’m still not sure how I got to Liam’s flat and I’m still surprised that I came to him instead of to Carter, who has been my best friend for all my life. I feel bad for leaving like that, but I don’t feel prepared yet to go back and just accept this new change in my life.

“You can stay here tonight if you don’t wanna go back home yet, Darcy,” he adds as if he could hear my thoughts. “There’re many spare rooms, so you’ll be comfortable. But you need to call her at least.”

I look down, ashamed. She probably is dead worried and I didn’t even take my mobile with me when I left. She probably called Carter but I’m not with him. Probably even he is worried, wondering for my whereabouts.

But I don’t really want to go back yet.

“I’ll call her,” I whisper and I feel him nod, but none of us move, he still has his arms around my waist, his palms on my back while my arms hang loosely around his neck. “And I’ll accept your offer and stay.”

I still don’t meet his eyes, but I feel his lips on my forehead and I breathe deeply, the mere touch calming me down. Next, he steps back sliding his arms from my waist and taking my hands to pull me away from the wall where I was resting my weight on. I finally look up at him and he is wearing a sweet and encouraging smile. Finally, he hands me his mobile and with a deep breath, I dial Mum’s number.

“Hello?” She answers after three tones and I hear her frantic voice, which makes me feel even worse and Liam notices that, because he squeezes my hand gently. “Darcy, is that you?”

“Yes, Mum,” I answer closing my eyes, feeling terrible when I hear her sigh so deeply. “I’m sorry I left like that, but I’m okay now. I’m at Liam’s,” I tell her as I feel Liam’s thumb stroking the back of my hand.

“Goodness gracious, Darcy, I was so scared! You didn’t take your car nor your mobile! Lizzie was even crying and Carter didn’t know about you either! Don’t do this to me again,” she cries out and I feel so terrible for doing this.

“I’m sorry. The news took me by surprise, I didn’t know what I was doing. But I’m okay now. I needed to breathe and to think about it, Mum.” She doesn’t say anything and I know this is not a topic she wants to discuss over the phone. “I’m… I’m staying over. It’s already too late and Liam offered me a spare room. Tell Lizzie I’ll be there in the morning and we can talk about this.”

“Darcy,” she mutters but I have to stop her.

“I’ll be fine, Mum. Everything is fine. See you tomorrow, okay? And don’t worry.”

I know she doesn’t want to accept this, but I’ve never given her a reason to doubt my word or to worry about me. I’ve always been independent and she knows that Liam would never try something that I don’t want to do. But still, as any other mother, she’s reluctant to let me spend the night at my boyfriend’s flat where he lives alone.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Darcy,” she finally agrees and after saying our goodbyes, we hang up and I hand Liam’s phone back to him.

“Everything okay?” He asks and I nod with a smile that he returns. “Great. Then let’s put your clothes in the washing machine so you’ll have them clean and dry for tomorrow. Then I can show you your room. Do you want something to eat? Maybe to drink, like tea?”

I smile at how caring he is and I take a step closer just to peck his lips softly.

“Tea sounds lovely.” He looks at me in that way again, in a way that I can’t describe. It almost looks like he is counting now the seconds we have together or he dreads to let me go. Maybe a little bit of both, I know I’m feeling like that.

We walk hand in hand and I pick my clothes from the floor where I left them when I ran towards Liam and he leads me to the laundry room where I can wash my clothes. After that we go to the kitchen where Brit is sleeping on the floor. I’m not sure when she got there, but when she hears us stepping in, she wakes up and rushes to my side and starts whining, rubbing her head against my leg. I’m not sure if she is trying to comfort me or if she wants something from me.

Liam makes some tea for both of us and just to keep my mind out of this issue, he tells me the plans he made with Andy and that I was invited. He also tells me about his day at the studio with the lads and the interviews and promo they have to do. He makes sure to tell me all the funny anecdotes he can and I’m so grateful that he makes me laugh and keeps me from thinking of what is coming for me… for us.

He asks me if I want to watch a movie before going to sleep and I agree, though I’m tired and probably I won’t make it to the end, but it will help me not to think about my mum’s new job until I fall asleep. I know it’s not okay to avoid something, but I just need this night. It’s all I’m asking for.

That way, we go to the movies room with Brit at our feet and we cuddle on the sofa in front of the big screen whilst Charlie St. Cloud plays.

As I suspected, I don’t make it to the end though I love that movie, specially Zac Efron. I just know I fall with my head on Liam’s shoulder and when I wake up the next morning, I’m in a bed with his arms around my body, my back pressed to his chest and the cover to our ears.

Carefully, I turn around to face him raising my hand to cup his face gently. I don’t remember Liam carrying me to this room and why is that he didn’t leave me alone and went to his room, but I’m grateful. Seeing him now gives me strength to start the day.

“Is time to wake up?” He asks with his eyes still closed and in a husky voice. I chuckle.

“It is, and I have to go back home. I don’t know what you have planned for today,” I answer and he groans.

“Can’t we stay in bed the whole day?” I chuckle again and I lean in to kiss his forehead.

“Nope,” I replied and he groans again but he finally opens his eyes and looks at me, the question in his orbs clear. “I’m fine,” I say before he can even utter the query.

We leave the bed and after taking a shower and having breakfast, Liam takes me home in his car with Brit in the back seat. When he parks in front of my house, I’m still reluctant to get out the car and face my mother and with her, my new future. But I know I have to. I can’t avoid this forever. So I kiss Liam goodbye with the promise I’ll call him as soon as I need something.

When I ring the bell and my mum opens the door, I know the hard part has come. Without saying a word, I step inside and I go directly to the living room where I wait for her. She is not alone when she joins me, Lizzie is next to her and when she sees me, she runs to my side, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.

“You’re home! I was so scared!” She cries out and I close my eyes as I hug her back, burying my nose in her curls.

“I’m sorry for making you worry,” I answer and I look up at my mum so she can know I mean this to her as well. “I just needed a bit of time to think about everything.”

“Why?” Lizzie asks innocently. “Don’t you wanna come with us? Don’t you wanna live with us anymore?” My little sister looks at me, her eyes teary and I know she is about to cry.

“Of course not! It’s just that it caught me off guard and it scared me a bit. I mean, Chile is really far away, isn’t it?” She nods, but she stills looks about to cry. “But don’t worry, I’m going with you. Of course I’m going,” this time I look at my mother.

“Are you sure?” She asks and I open my eyes wide. “If you wanna stay or if you don’t feel prepared to leave, I’ll understand. You’re an adult now, Darcy, I can’t force you to do something you don’t want to.”

The choice is here, it’s mine but when I look at Lizzie, at my little sister, the most important person to me, I know what I have to say.

“I’m going with you.”

Lizzie will always be more important than any other desire I may have.

-:-:-:-

Please, guys, don't get mad at Darcy. Try to put yourself in her shoes. Lizzie is the most important person for her, she has always been, for 9 years. Yes, Darcy needs to think of herself, but she is still in evolution as a characters. There's more way to go, give her time to learn and change.

Dedication to @JaneyBear, @1DfulFanFics_ and @dontouchmyfood for their birthdays today Thursday!

Bel, xx