It's Not What It Looks Like

Third Person POV:

Liam isn't happy when he finds out that Zayn went to 'visit' Blair. He specifically warned, no TOLD him, not to talk to her. He made it clear that Blair wanted space and all he was going to do was mess with her head by doing anything else. Liam knew that Zayn wasn't one to send subtle hints, only grand gestures.

So when he gets the surprising call from Bridget (whose beyond pissed, too) that Zayn had showed up and upset Blair and she needed him, he doesn't hesitate. But Liam is used to this by now, Zayn trying to get whatever it is that he wanted and Liam having to pick up the pieces afterwards. Does it piss him off? Yeah, of course.

But that's Liam's 'job', it always had been. Everyone looked at him as the responsible one, the parental figure amongst the bunch. Which was fine at first. But after three years, he felt like a buffer. 'Oh this could easily ruin everything. It's cool, Liam can figure it out', 'this might not be a good idea. Whatever, Liam will fix it.' Well maybe Liam didn't want to fix it. But he HAD too! He couldn't just let everything he had worked so hard for go to shit because he was dealing with a bunch of immature wankers.

But he did love the boys, of course, as if they were his own God given brothers. But seriously? Harry calling him saying he's stuck at a male brothel, naked in handcuffs? Louis needing a ride home from the bar because he's too coked out to drive (then wondering why Liam didn't praise him for not driving)? Niall getting so drunk and crying in his bed all night, nearly missing the interview the next morning? And of course, Zayn just being Zayn.

The 'bromance' they used to have had definitely gone to shit. It all started when Zayn began taking advantage of Liam's kindness. Liam had a soft spot for Zayn because he was the one who loved Liam the most at the beginning. Where Louis had Harry and Harry had Louis and Niall had, well, everyone. Liam and Zayn had eachother. They didn't need to feel included in the others antics because they were the closest, even closer than Harry and Louis at first. But then Zayn started ditching Liam a lot, hanging out with Perrie more.

Which of course, Liam understood. Perrie seemed to make Zayn happy, which was all he ever wanted. Like, why would Liam ever want to take Zayn away from someone who made his eyes light up like that? He wouldn't! He loved Perrie and loved the two together. But then it was Liam's birthday night and Zayn got into a fight with Perrie beforehand and he got so trashed he never showed up to his dinner.

There weren't many days that Liam needed everyone's attention, but his birthday dinner was the two hours a year Liam really kind of expected his best friend to be there with him. And he wasn't. He ignored it of course, especially after Zayn bought him a 1st edition Batman comic (which he still doesn't know how he found that), and tattooed the Batman logo on his ass in retaliation when Liam claimed he wasn't angry. But it was all so 'Zayn'. He was used to it by then. Zayn messed up and would over compensate for his mistakes (aka hurting Liam's feelings) and Liam HATED it. He couldn't stand that Zayn treated him like a fragile little child and that everytime he did something mildly annoying he would have to double check that Liam was alright.

That was, until Liam had one of his what Louis calls 'Payno's bimonthly meltdown's and absolutely lost it on Zayn. He told him to piss off and stop treating him like a little bitch. Zayn was furious and didn't talk to him for a week, but then came back and said 'I'm not going to say I'm sorry, because that's like exactly what you don't want me to do. But wanna play some videos games? I miss you mate.' And then they played Fifa for 13 hours straight. Things got a little more normal after that. Zayn was still a dick, but at least he didn't try and pretend he was sorry about it. Liam could handle that.

But then when Blair came into the picture, Zayn started asking Liam to cover for him when he was failing to juggle the two birds. Liam understood the guy code, bros before hoes. 'Watch out for your boy if he's about to get caught by the fiancée with the girlfriend.' But this was Blair, this was his best friend. Blair never asked Liam to cover for her with Zayn when she was screwing around with Niall and knew that if Zayn walked in, Liam wouldn't get in the middle of it.

But Zayn flat out ASKED him to get in between it. Telling him to take her out somewhere nice after he upset her (as if he needed Zayn of all people to tell him how to treat her), or to keep her occupied while he was with Perrie (as if he needed an excuse to hangout with his bestfuckingfriend). It was all just really irritating at first. But a small part of Liam was hoping, no praying, that maybe she'd realize what an arse he was and to explore other options in guys.

But of course she didn't. Which just made Liam even MORE angry, at the both of them! Him for being such a twat and her for being so OBLIVIOUS. Looking back, she obviously wasn't all that oblivious. She knew all along what he was doing, she just chose to ignore the parts that didn't fit into her fucked up little world. Not to mention, she was fucking his best mate, too.

But Blair never committed herself to anyone. She made it clear that she had no interest in a committed relationship and Niall and Zayn both knew it. She was honest. Well, that's a lie. But she was as honest as a girl like her could be. But Zayn had a fiancée! And a girlfriend! Who was his best friend! It was all just so fucked. But Liam didn't have the heart to do anything about it, on either side.

So he took the road less traveled and watched the entire thing blow up in everyone's face. And now he's here, walking up to Blair's door to fix the mess someone else made.

"Oh thank God!" Bridget says as she swung the door open, clearing waiting for Liam to arrive. The stressed look on her face tells Liam enough: that Zayn said something really stupid.

"I'm-" he begins to apologize before Bridget cuts him off and waves her hand dismissively.

"It wasn't your fault a year ago and it isn't your fault now."

He opens his mouth to say 'yes but he's my mate' but she clearly reads his mind, again. Or maybe he's just predictable.

"Don't apologize, Liam. Just do what you always do and pick up the pieces."

She's glaring at him, but it's only because he's one of them. This horrible group of people who have broken her big sister. But Liam can now see how different Bridget is. She's taller, prouder. More of an adult. Clearly no longer a One Direction groupie. Hell, she's probably changed her twitter from 'dedicated fan' to 'faggot brits with shit voices'. Liam's not positive, though.

She pointed over to the couch where Blair was curled up, sobbing into her hands, fighting for breath. Liam's breath catches at the sight. It's kind of rude really, how his eyes sparkle at the sight of someone he cares about crying. But Blair is always the kept together one. Liam has never seen Blair cry, EVER. Too many walls and fake emotions for that. She's always the one who would hide anything other than her two favorite emotions: drunk and angry. She looks so free, so... open. She is beautiful, even with the 'ugly crying face' she would swear she had (not that anyone had ever seen it) and the black makeup running down her face.

He walks over to her and sits down next to her, a safe distance away. The last thing he needs is to scare her off. But within seconds, she turns to him and flings her arms around his broad shoulders, staining his white t-shirt with her salty tears. But Liam doesn't mind a bit. They're her tears. They're a trophy of sorts, proving that Blair wanted to hold him while she cried. It's silly, really. A silly thing to think of. But Liam's blinded, fully and completely. To him, Blair has always been perfect. But now, she's also human.

" I love you," he says before he can even process the weight of his words.

Yeah, he's said it multiple times before. Hundreds, even. But that was before. This is now. It used to be their thing. 'I love you's were specially secured between the two of them. Blair did love the other boys, but she would only say it to Liam as if it felt natural slipping off of her tongue. He was her superhero. His 'I love you's would mend her wounds. They saved her, multiple times. Zayn and Niall's never even got close.

He doesn't expect a response really. He honestly hopes she didn't really hear him at all. But, she does. And unbeknownst to him, she's smiling into his tear soaked shirt, letting her broken heart flutter with warm memories. And just like that, Liam starts fixing another one of Blair's wounds.

"I love you more," she mumbles back, still smiling.

Liam lets our a shaking breath that he didn't realize he was holding. Blair loves this Liam. The Liam from the elevator is the response to her not being around, she just knows it. Whenever she leaves him with those fuckers long enough, he starts to act cocky and rude and down-right ridiculous. But that's not Liam. That's not her Liam. This is her Liam.

"Tell me what he did now?" Liam urges.

Blair groans and pushes him off of her, sitting up to tell her side of the story. She already looks annoyed and frustrated, so Liam knows it's going to be one for the books. And it absolutely is.

Notes

sorry for the lack of updating/baby update. I'm having trouble getting super into this story right now and trying to find some more inspiration to write it.

thank you for your lovely comments and sticking with me :)

xx, elle