ZIAM ONE-SHOTS (BOTTOM LIAM)

The Boy Next Door 3

Chapter 3: The Missing Piece

"Liam, about Friday night..." Zayn whispered over to Liam in homeroom, but Liam stopped him before he could say anything to hurt him more.

"It's fine Zayn, just a scam yeah? Don't sweat it." Liam didn't mean to be cold, but at the same time, he felt that if he showed any emotion, his real feeling of utter brokenness would show through, and that was not an option. Zayn had made his feelings clear. Liam spent all night crying over him, what he thought they had, what he hoped their future could be, and he didn't want to waste any more time on it.

"So that's it, huh?" Zayn said, and he seemed honestly put out, but Liam couldn't care. He cared before and Zayn just crushed his heart without thinking twice.

"You need more closure than this?" Liam said, his face stony. Zayn got it.

"No," He said flatly, turning his attention ahead. "Guess not."

Homeroom ended and Liam went over to the recording and filming studio. It was time to film his part for the news tomorrow. Good thing he was a good faker. He was Liam "Spirit" Payne, after all.

Sitting on the stool with the lights and camera on him, Louis gave him the go ahead and he started his spiel, fake smile fully in place.

"Centennial weekend is here! It's time you'll wanna share with a special someone, because it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime event. On behalf of the entire Centennial Dance Committee, we look forward to seeing you there in your formalwear."

"That's a cut." Louis said, smiling weakly at Liam.

"Is that all you need?" Liam asked, and this was awkward, but at least Louis wasn't bringing anything up. He was actually a nice guy, he could see why Zayn was such good friends with him. Better friends then Liam had obviously. He and Winn hadn't spoken since that night, and he didn't plan on changing that anytime soon.

"Yeah, that was great, thanks. These will air tomorrow." Louis said, and then he walked over to talk to another girl, getting her ready for her section. Liam sighed and made to leave the studio when Jade ran up to meet him.

"Hey, that sounded good." she said, and Liam could tell she was trying to be nice, but it was no use.

"It was bullshit." Liam said, " Share it with someone special ? That's not reality." Liam could hear the sadness in his voice and he hated it. He got played again and everyone knew it.

"I'm really sorry about Zayn," Jade said, touching his shoulder, and he could tell she meant it. Jade was different than the others in their group. She was more down to Earth. He wondered why she still stuck it out, but hey, he could ask himself the same question.

"I should've known better. My dad did it to my mom, Luke did it to you ..."

Liam had found out that Luke had fucking tried to hurt her in the back of Niall's car. He'd been drunk and dumb, but according to Jade, Niall had been amazing. A true Hero even, and they were able to safely get her home away from him. This made Liam even more surprised that Jade was still so optimistic about love. "I learned to stop trusting relationships a long time ago. I guess I just forgot myself for a moment. I mean, what's the point, anyways?"

"You can't give up, Liam." Wow, Jade really believed in all of this? In love? In hope? Liam just couldn't anymore.

"Why not?" I'm through with it ... all of it."

"Yeah, but didn't Sophia finally ask you to Centennial?" Jade asked, and she was right. Literally that morning, Sophia had cornered him in the hallway before homeroom and asked him. Like nothing had happened, like she hadn't been such a royal twat for weeks. Jade continued, "That's what you've been wanting all along, isn't it?"