Til the End of Time

As I land at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, my mind cannot help but wander to Liam. I made a total fool out of myself that night at the fundraiser. But there is no way in hell I am apologizing. I am much too stubborn for that. I have not talked to Liam since I stormed out of the lounge. It did not even matter. I am moving back to GR.

I walk toward the exit of the airport with suitcases and duffle bags in tow. The rest of my clothes are being shipped to my house. I burst through the doors to find my best friends/roommates, Molly and Jessie waiting for me.

“Cali!” Molly exclaims, running over to me and wrapping her arms around me, causing me to drop my bags.

“Hello, Molly,” I say calmly, putting my arms around her.

“C’mon, guys, we should go. We’re blocking the exit…” Jessie suggests in her quiet voice. She grabs the handle of one of my suitcases and we pack inside our car.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here—back home!” Molly smiles. “I’m sorry I never got a chance to visit you, as much as I love New York…”

“It’s fine, Molly,” I assure her. “Airfare to NYC is super expensive. Anyway, it was only six months!”

“Speaking of six months,” Jessie pipes up, looking me with her rearview mirror. “Did anything interesting happen while you were in the Big Apple?” She raises an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?” I ask, puzzled and trying to hide my guilt.

Molly pulls out her phone, tapping and sliding the screen until she reveals to me a picture of Liam and me at the club. “Oh, I don’t know,” she shrugs. “How about this?”

I immediately turn red and put my hand over my face to hide my watery eyes. I just feel like disappearing.

“Why didn’t you tell us you knew Liam Payne?” Jessie asks, still looking at me from the rearview mirror.

I try to muffle my sobs. “I-I-I don’t know him. I knew… the old Liam.”

Jessie and Molly look at each other. “Oh, Cali, we’re sorry. We didn’t realize there was unrest there. We were just curious. How about we go to 7/11 and get Slurpees? Those always make everything better...”

My tears stop as I suck on my Slurpee straw. The icy, sugary liquid calms me down. I wipe my cheeks and dab my eyes with a napkin, fixing my mascara.

“May I ask what happened between you and Liam?” Molly asks delicately.

I inhale through my nose, and exhale out my mouth. “It all started three and a half years ago…” I told my best friends the story of how Liam and I met, how we fell in love and how the final time we made love was the last time I spoke to him. He went off the X Factor; I came back to the States. That was it. I also told them about the night at the fundraiser. What a blood bath.

“Ohh, honey, I’m so sorry!” Molly consoles me, putting her arm around my shoulders.

“I just feel so pathetic that I’m still in love with him,” I sigh.

“Don’t feel that way! You’re not pathetic! You just… found someone,” Jessie adds contently. She then checks her watch. “We better get back to the house and unpack your stuff. It’s getting late.” She starts the car and we are off.

On the ride to our house, I just stare out the window, watching the familiar streets pass me by. I continue to suck on my Slurpee and watch the sunset reflect on the windows. We brake to a stop but I do not look away from the sunlight.

“Um,” Jessie mutters.

I ignore her.

“Uh, Cali…” Molly whispers, poking my shoulder.

“What?” I hiss, breaking my concentration from the light. I look up toward our front door and realize what the girls are so silent about. “I’ll handle this…” I murmur, unbuckling my seatbelt and climbing out of the vehicle. “What the hell are you doing here?” I roar.

Liam stands from the step on our front porch. He looks like a scared little puppy. “I-I-I came to talk to you.”

“And it couldn’t be done over the phone? You had to stalk me instead? How the hell did you find my address anyway?”

“Sheri gave me it,” Liam begins to explain. I scoff. Traitor. “But that’s not the point. It just wouldn’t right for me to say this over the phone. Now, can I come inside or are we going to have a screaming match outside for the whole neighborhood to hear?”

I cross my arms, thinking. “Fine! You can come inside but you’ve got five minutes!” I look to Molly and Jessie.

“We’ll, uhh, we’ll just bring your stuff in for you…” Jessie says, scared to cross me.

I pull out my set of keys from my pocket and open the front down, leading Liam up to my bedroom. I feel so exposed right now, as if everyone can see inside my brain and control what I am doing.

I sit down on my bed, shooting Liam a dark look. “What do you want?”

Liam pulls my office over to sit in front of me. “I came to apologize… and say that… you’re right.”

My eyes about pop out of my head; what? Are you serious? “What?” Is all I can managed to mutter.

“Since that night at the club, I finally realized how much I truly hurt you. I should have kept in touch with you. I should have been there by your side. I should have let you share my glory. And most of all, I shouldn’t have introduced you as just a friend. I’m so sorry, Cali.”

I am speechless. After spending three years feeling heart-wrenching emotions; longing, depression, despair, anger, hatred. And now he is finally apologizing. I observe him in a way I had not before. He has changed so much. His arms are full with powerful muscle. His hair is gelled to perfection. The facial hair makes me want to take him to bed right now. But something has not changed… his smile.

I eye Liam carefully as a warm tear rolls down my cheek. “I forgive you,” I whisper, barely inaudible.

Liam smiles and my heart melts. He takes my hand in his. “Thank you, Cali. Thank you so much.” He frowns. “But I can see there is still some pain. What can I do to make it up to you?” I shrug. “Will you go to dinner with me?”

I look up at him, my blues eyes meeting his brown beauties. “Sure,” I croak. I clear my throat. “I would love that.”

Notes

Slurpees really do make everything better. Anyway! What do you think is going to happen next? Will Cali and Liam get back together? Give me your theories! And what time periods would you like to see written about? I'm always open to suggestions!

Cali's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/cali/set?id=109408597