After a week in the hospital, I was finally free to leave, and just in time for semester finals. As I stood up from the hospital bed, Liam rushed to my side and wrapped his arm around my waist to support my weight. “Liam, I’m fine. I can walk on my own.” I reassured him as I pushed him away from me. “Okay… maybe I lied.” I said as I felt myself falling to one side. I reached out for Liam and swung my arm over his shoulder. I never knew what not moving for a week did to you, and I never wanted to experience it again.

“Alright, love. Let’s get you into the car.” I nodded as Liam wrapped his arm around me once more and lead me out to the car. “Okay… step up.” I did as told and took a seat in the car, moving my legs in front of me and shutting the door. I sat in my seat waiting for Liam to finish talking to Quin and my mom while I looked around in his car. He wore a grave expression as my mom spoke. Liam wiped a hand across his face while Quin scratched her head with scrunched eyebrows. It was obvious that they were discussing what to do with me. Eventually Liam nodded as if agreeing to whatever they said before walking to the car and getting behind the wheel.

“So, who’s on babysitting duty?” I asked slightly annoyed that they were treating me like a child.

He snorted. “Right it is my responsibility to get you home while your mum and Quin grab some things from the market.” Liam replied as he drove away from the hospital.

I nodded turning to look out of the window. “Are you excited to go back to your life?” I asked trying to make conversation.

“What do you mean?” Liam asked never breaking his concentration on the road.

“You were cooped up in a hospital sitting by my bed for a week. Surely you miss the real world and your life.” I turned my head in time to see him shrug his shoulders.

“I was only doing what I needed to do.”

“Liam-” I began to protest, but he cut me off.

“Are you hungry?” He asked turning into a fast food restaurant drive thru. “They discharged you before lunch.” It was clear that he wanted to change the subject. Instead of trying to stay on it I simply nodded. “Cheeseburger, small chips, and a Coke?” Liam asked confirming my usual order.

A goofy grin coated my lips. “As if you need me to answer that question.” I teased as he turned down the radio and ordered our meals. “I can pay for mine.” I informed him looking around for my purse. Realization dawned on me as I groaned. “I don’t have my wallet.”

Liam shook his head. “It’s fine.” He spoke pulling forward.

“I’ll pay you back.” I promised.

“Mel, it’s fine.” Liam countered. “I have no problem paying for my girlfriend.” Liam paused as his words registered.

“Oh so now I’m your girlfriend?” I asked with a smirk.

“I didn’t say that.” He quickly defended.

I shook my head. “Yes you did. You called me your girlfriend.”

Liam turned away from me. “You’re not my girlfriend.” He spoke more sure to himself than to me.

“What if I want to be?” I mumbled staring at the back of his head.

He snapped around, “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” Liam asked a hopeful glint in his eyes.

My arms folded across my chest. “Not anymore.” I turned up my nose looking away. A gentle hand reached over turning my face to the only other person in the car and gently caressing my cheek.

“Melody,” Liam spoke in a soft voice. “I would love to have you as my girlfriend.”

My cheeks reddened as I looked down. “I would love to be your girlfriend.” My voice was low almost inaudible. Part of me wondered if this was too soon.

“Then I guess I’m your boyfriend.” Liam announced almost as if he was proud. He gave me a quick smile before turning to the drive-thru window where the worker was patiently waiting. His chin was covered in subtle and his hair slightly disarrayed. It was clear that he hadn’t left my side for more than ten minutes. Niall had brought him clothes the first night I assumed, because he managed to change every day.

“Can you ask for extra ketchup?” I asked as Liam reached for the bag. He obliged grabbing the food and pulling it into the car. I took the bag setting it on my lap. Liam eyed me. “I can handle holding a bag.” I grumbled. “There’s no need to be an overprotective boyfriend.”

Liam grinned, “I like that word.” He said in a goofy voice before pecking my lips and pulling away from the fast food joint.

~*~

“Liam, you passed the dorm turn.” I said as I finished off the rest of my food.

“I know.” He shrugged and turned three streets down. “Quin said something about you guys looking at the apartments down this way?” I nodded and looked at him curiously.

“Yeah… why?”

“I thought maybe I could look at them with you… you know, see if they’re good enough for my girlfriend.” I shook my head and laughed slightly at him. “What’s so funny?” He asked, resting his hand on my leg.

“Liam, they’re perfect for your girlfriend.” I smiled and intertwined my fingers with his.

“Good… because Quin already moved you two in.” A smile spread across Liam’s face as he pulled into the parking lot.

“She what?!” My eyes grew wide as he climbed out of the car and rushed over to my side of the car and helped me out. “Liam, when did she do this?”

“Two days ago, I think… no! Yes. Two days ago.” I sighed as I leaned against him for more support. Did I already say I was never going back to the hospital? It drains the life out of you.

Liam guided me to the elevator and pushed the third floor button and I patiently waited to see what my new home looked like. As soon as we walked in, my jaw dropped. Quin had literally moved all of our stuff into the apartment and gotten the furniture in place. It looked incredible. “Quin!” I smiled the second my best friend walked from her room. I let go of Liam and quickly hugged her before I could fall to my death (well, serious injury). “It looks incredible!” I smiled and she led me to one of the rooms.

“Wait till you see your room.” She smiled and opened the door. My smile faded as soon as I saw all the posters of Liam on my walls.

“Are you serious?” I glared at my best friend as she smiled proudly at her artwork. “I’m going to see my boyfriend enough as it is without waking up to him on the ceiling…” I stated as I looked up at the three posters placed just over my bed.

“Boyfriend?! Oh my Thor you have a new boyfriend! Liam’s your boyfriend! Why didn’t you tell me he was your boyfriend!?” If she said ‘boyfriend’ one more time… “Have you told your new boyfriend you loved him yet?!”

“We just became official maybe ten minutes ago… can I get a month in to know for sure how I feel?” I asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.

“So you think you love him?” I rolled my eyes as Liam knocked on the door to my room. “Come in!” Liam stepped in and smiled at us.

“I… I really didn’t expect to see my face everywhere.” He said as he looked around the room awkwardly. “Wow… you really didn’t miss anything did ya?” Liam said looking at the ceiling.

“She was just about to take them down.” I smiled, eyeing my best friend as she mumbled something along the lines of:

“I do all this hard work to put up posters and this is the thanks I get?” I rolled my eyes as she slowly took the pins out of the posters and folded them up neatly and shoved them in one of my dressers. “I’m keeping this one up.” She said as she skipped over a poster of Liam in a black t-shirt, loose jeans, and a flannel wrapped around his waist. His smile was covering his face ear-to-ear and his eyes were squinted, almost as if laughing at someone. “Okay. Done. Are you happy now?” I nodded as she rolled her eyes and walked out of the room to leave me and Liam alone for a bit.

“So what all do you remember exactly from the hospital?” Liam asked as he rubbed the palms of his hands on his jeans nervously.

I shrugged as I leaned back on my elbows. “I remember sleeping a lot. I remember everyone coming to visit me, Mitchell included.” I sighed and then I realized what he was referencing to as soon as I heard the sigh of relief leave his lips. “I also remember you drugging me in hopes of my forgetting what you had said.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Well… did it work?” A wide smile spread across his face.

“Liam you can’t drug a girl after telling her you love her! That’s… that wouldn’t look good in court! Sure, I’d never take you to court, but if I did, the judge would see my side of things.” I sat up straight and crossed my arms over my chest.

“So, what you’re saying is that you don’t love me?” He poked his bottom lip out in a small, fake pout.

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“So then you love me.”

“See, now you’re just putting words in my mouth.” I raised an eyebrow at him as he cocked his head to one side. “See, the thing is, you tell me you love me, then drug me before I had the chance to say it back.”

“So you do love me!”

“Not after you drugged me!”

“So, at one point in time you loved me.” Liam stated matter-of-factly. I shrugged and stood up to make my way to the living area (stumbling on my way). “Oh, don’t be like that.”

“You know, most people would call that date rape… if you had raped me… I could take you to court for this!” I joked as I tried to make my way to the couch, but Liam was at my side helping me the remaining two steps. “I could have made it on my own.” I scoff playfully as I sit down.

“You would have fallen on your ass if I wasn’t here helping you. Don’t lie to yourself.” He joked and kissed my cheek. “I love you.”

“I know.” I smiled up at him and turned on the TV.

“Melody…” I looked away from the TV and up at him.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“Okay.” I shrugged, trying to hold off as long as I could just to torture him. I heard him sigh as he lifted himself off the couch. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to raid your kitchen.” He shrugged and opened the fridge. I looked down at his phone sitting on the couch as it lit up, the name Paul covering the top of the screen.

“Hey, someone named Paul is calling.” I told him and held up the buzzing phone.

“Answer it for me, yeah?” I hesitantly swiped my finger across the bottom of the screen and brought the mobile up to my left ear.

“Hello?”

“Liam?” A man’s confused voice said on the other line.

“No… this is Melody.” I said and brought my bottom lip between my teeth nervously. “He’s in the kitchen right now.”

“Okay, can you tell him that he’s going to be late for the studio session in twenty minutes if he doesn’t hurry his ass up?” The Irish man on the phone laughed at something that was said in the background.

“I will.” I smiled and said goodbye.

“What did Paul want?” Liam asked as he sat down next to me on the couch with a plate full of crisps in one hand. He instantly put his arm around my shoulders as he settled in to watch whatever was on the tele.

“He said you’re going to be late for the studio session in twenty if you don’t ‘hurry your ass up’.” I quoted and watched as Liam’s eyes went wide. He nearly dropped the plate as he jumped up from the couch and grabbed his phone off the coffee table.

“Fuck! Shit, shit, shit.” Liam rushed around the living area. “Keys?” He asked me politely as I pointed to the counter in the kitchen.

“Let me walk you to the door at least.” I said and (poorly) attempted to stand up on my own. I grabbed the back of the couch as Liam made his way to my side and took my arm. “You’re walking me.” I pointed out. The drugs were starting to wear off, so I was a bit steadier on my feet. Liam chuckled and let go of me and I grabbed his shoulder (just in case) and followed him to the door. “Have a good studio session.” I smiled and pecked his lips.

“Okay. You take it easy, Melody.” Liam said with seriousness in his voice.

“Yes, father.” I joked and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you.” I whispered and kissed him gently.

“I love you, too.” He said and walked out the door.

3… 2… 1…

The door reopened to reveal a smiling Liam. “Did you…?” I nodded, answering his unfinished question. Liam took a step towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him, bringing his lips to mine before I finally pushed him off.

“You have to get to the studio.” I reminded him.

“I know.” He pouted and I pecked his lips before he backed away. “I love you, Mels.”

“I love you, too, Liam.” I smiled as I shut the door behind him.

Notes

HUZZAH! New chapter! Let me know what you guys think! :)
Xx