Starting Over

*Liam’s POV*
“I’m coming over” *silence*
“No, it’s too late. Samy… hello?” No one’s there. She’s hung up already. She can’t be out this late. She doesn’t know London that well yet.
“DAMNIT!” I scream as my fist connects with the wall. The pain and burning is instant. I refuse to look at it. I know it’s bad. I know it’s cut and bleeding, probably broken. Shit, just what I need. Management is going to have my head. I’m supposed to be the sensible one, the reasonable one. In reality, I’m a train wreck. I was bullied so much growing up that I learned to box in order to defend myself properly and that has always made me a little sensitive and reactive to people. It’s also made me very, very protective of the people that I care about; perhaps too protective. I know what it’s like to be attacked and humiliated so now that I have influence I feel like it’s my job to ensure that no one else feels that way. Stupid and naïve, I know, but I can’t help it.
My thoughts return to the tour. 8 long months away from everyone. Again. I can’t keep doing this. I pick up my phone and dial Simon’s number. It’s 1015pm. He is probably shagging his new lady but I don’t care. He needs to hear this. It goes straight to voicemail, figures.
“Simon, it’s Liam. I can’t do this anymore. You are working us too hard! We just got home and now you have us leaving again for 8 months! This is bullshit. Change it or I quit. No more One Direction for this guy” and with that I end the call and chuck the phone across the room just as Samy clears her throat from behind me. Shit, I had forgotten that the door was unlocked.
“Did I just hear you quit the group?” she says in utter shock.
“No. You heard me THREATEN to quit the group” I correct with utter hostility. I walk over and wrap her in my arms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be hostile or make you worry about me. I’m just so frustrated. It’s not fair! I haven’t even gotten to finish unpacking from the last tour!” I hear my voice starting to rise in frustration again and take some deep breathes.
“Liam, I know, but it’s part of the job. You love your job. You’re amazing at your job. I’ll come visit during all of my breaks and on weekends if you’re not too far. Ok? You’ll always have me and I know that you’re parents will visit too” she says.
God she is so good at calming me down. I feel myself relaxing more and more with every word that she says. I know she’s right. I can’t let everyone down. I can’t let myself down. At that moment, it hit me. I’m not afraid of being away from my family again, I’m afraid of losing her. I’m afraid that the distance will be too much for her and that she will question my feelings for me like the others did. I decide that I have to make a serious move before I leave and start planning things out in my head. Sunday. It has to happen Sunday, that’s our last night together before I leave Monday. Sunday it is. I’ll make the whole week special. I just hope that this works.
*Samy’s POV*
It’s Sunday and the week has been pretty crazy with school and work and my PR stuff for mom but amazing as well all thanks to Liam. He has been surprising me in little ways all week. Monday he showed up at my flat after my first day of classes with roses and the rest of the boys and sang for me. They were two of my favorite songs too, “You Can” by David Archuletta and “Little Things” by them of course. They both made me cry. Tuesday he served me breakfast in bed before my 9am class. Wednesday he had surprised me with dinner by having Nandos delivered to the library at school because I was there all day working on my thesis. Thursday he met me outside of my last morning class and drove me to the mall so we could walk around and talk. Friday he had a whole stay-at-home movie date waiting for me after I got done working at my internship. Last night (Saturday) he had taken me ice skating and for a snow walk along the river. It was perfect. I wonder why he is doing all of this. I guess he is trying to make our last week count before we are apart for such a long time. That thought tears my apart inside but I have to stay strong because I know that it is hurting Liam more.
I walk into my apartment after being at the gym and see a note on the kitchen counter along with a big box. The note reads “Put this on and be ready by 7pm. No questions. Love, your Lion”. I giggle at the note. I had started calling him my Lion after he had started roaring during The Lion King the first night that I met him with Eleanor. The night that I thought he hated me. I look at the clock and realize it’s 545. Shit! Better hurry my ass up! I grab a quick shower, dry my hair, and do some quick make-up. I slip on the dress and some heels before hearing a knock on the door. Right on time!
I open the door to find Louis and Harry standing behind it.
“Um… you’re not Liam” I say.
“I should sure hope not” says Louis sassily.
“We are your escorts” Harry informs me “Liam will meet you at our destination” he says politely.
“If you say so” I respond as I head out the door.
“Right this way, my lady” Louis says taking my arm and leading me to the limo. Wait, it’s a LIMO! I slide in cautiously and stare at them.
“What’s going on?” I eye them suspiciously.
“You’ll see love, all in good time” says Louis sincerely.
“Wouldn’t want to ruin anything” adds Harry. The limo slowly starts to make its way around London stopping at red lights and stop signs every now and then. Eventually we pull up on the side of a small, quiet bridge. Louis opens the door and steps out, asking me to join him.
“Trust me, love” he says sweetly. I get out and see a purple cardboard heart with my name tied to one of the bars of the bridge. I carefully untie it and read the back
“When life becomes too much and your ready to jump, I’ll be right
there to catch you. –L”
Tears start to form in my eyes as Louis pulls out his phone and snaps a picture of me on the bridge with the heart. He texts the picture to Liam and ushers me back into the limo. A few minutes later, we arrive at the London Eye. Harry is the one to escort me out this time. He walks me over to the operator of the ride and motions for me to follow… there’s no way that I’m getting on that thing. No way in hell! The operator hands me another heart, this time it’s blue. I flip it over and it reads
“I’ll help you conquer your biggest fears like you’ve helped me
overcome mine”.
Yep, the tears are really falling now. We run towards the limo, I need to see Liam, now!
“There’s one more stop before we head to Mr. Payne” the driver informs me. AHHHHHHH!!!! I can’t handle much more of this romance. We pull up in front of the skating rink that Liam took me to earlier in the week. The girl hands me a CD with a note from Liam that says
“Listen to this on the rest of the drive. It’s a bit of a journey”.
Great… a long drive. I head back to the limo with the CD in my hand. I pop it in the player and crank it. The first song is Classic by MKTO, I giggle because Liam says it reminds him of me because I’m always so composed and classy regardless of the situation I’m faced with. The rest of the songs make me laugh, cry, smile, and think. I’m trying so hard to figure out what’s going on but honestly, I haven’t the slightest clue.
About an hour later, we arrive at our destination. It’s a gorgeous hillside restaurant. No other cars are around and it looks deserted but standing in the doorway is my Liam. I throw the door of the limo open and race to him. My arms are around his neck and my lips are pressed to his in an instant. He picks me up and twirls me around still connected to my lips. I smile as he sets me down.
“Liam, this is amazing. Everything has been so perfect all week. What’s going on?” I half gush, half question.
“Come with me” he says. We walk through the door arm in arm and I notice that Harry and Louis have already made their way inside. I hadn’t even noticed them walk by us. I also notice his family standing over to the side near some champagne along with Niall, Zayn, Eleanor, and Perrie, Zayn’s girlfriend who I’ve gotten to know. I look around and also notice a camera and computer set up with my parents, Chas, and Stephanie, Raven, and Ashly on the other end watching us with huge smiles. What the hell is going on? Liam and the boys gather around and start singing “Last First Kiss,” it’s my favorite 1D song. When they’re done Liam turns to face me and takes my hands
“Samy, you must be wondering what is going on. I know that we have only been together for 6 months but I’m completely head over heels in love with you. I can’t imagine my life without you and I couldn’t go on tour without making sure that you were mine forever. Samantha, will you please marry me?” He says as he drops to his knee with a ring in his hand. My heart stops. I love Liam, I really do, but this is too soon. I just got divorced. I rushed into a marriage with my ex and look what that got me. I can’t do this right now. I need to get out of here. I can’t hurt Liam but I can’t get hurt again. I have seen Liam’s protective nature and his temper, what if he turns into my ex? I can’t handle this. I just can’t. I feel myself start to break down. I hear my mom gasp before I sprint out the door.

Notes