The Champagne Lovers

Twelve

I hated flying.

That probably wasn't fair, normally I had no issue with flying, but tonight as i sat here in my small seat re running the last 48 hours in my mind... I did not love it. 

After leaving Niall in the arena, I'd gone back to the tour office, silent tears still streaming down my face, the edges of my eyes raw, my chest aching from how much I'd bawled my eyes out today, even now, there was still so much emotion flowing out of me, with a lacklustre energy that was stripping the very last of the emotional reserves I had left.  I grabbed my bag, checking that my keys and laptop where there, my head down as I barrelled out of the door, now that the decision had been made, just needing to be out of here.  This situation, this building, this city.

I was still fussing around in my bag as I rounded the corner, not paying attention to my surroundings when BAM... I was stopped dead by a broad solid chest, my bag and its contents flying across the floor, the delicate edge I was teetering on falling away, the tears once again streaming over my eyelashes as Liam's hands instantly gripped my elbows steadying me,

"Oomph sorry Lizzie... I didn't see you there... hey Lizzie what's wrong? are you ok?"

I could hear the concern in Liam's voice as I scurried around the floor on my knees collecting the contents of my bag, stuffing my belongings back in haphazardly in no real order, I couldn't even bring myself look at Liam right now, to ashamed by the the state I was in over something as stupid as dropping my bag

"Yeah... I'm sorry Liam... I didn't... I wasn't watching... I erm... I have to go... I have to get out of here and get my stuff..."

"Hey hey hey... stop... slow down... look at me... please...? let me help you?"

Liam had dropped down, crouched next to where I was knelt on the hard concrete his hands on mine, halting their manic movements, my whole body visibly slumped as I slowed and eventually I looked up at him blearily through tear filled eyes, his brown eyes, soft and full of empathy.

"I just want to go" I whispered, shocking myself at how pathetic I sounded at this point but I really didn't know what else to say

Sensing that I didn't want to elaborate into anything more than that, Liam released my white knuckle grip from the strap of my bag, carefully replacing the last of my strewn property carefully back in the main pocket, placing it over his shoulder as he took my hands pulling me up off the floor and placing his arm round my shoulders, starting to move with me towards door he finally looked down at me, a soft warming smile on his face

"well you happen to be in luck, my drivers outside waiting to go back to the hotel.  lets go"

I didn't even have the energy in me at this point to say anything so I just nodded leaning into his grip over my shoulders, letting him lead me to the rear stage exit to his waiting car.

People took advantage of Liam.  He had the sweetest nature, he was kind, inherently kind and never had a bad word to say about anyone.  Was he as perceptive as Louis? probably not. Did he have the unwavering confidence that Niall had or the intellectual curiosity that Harry had, possibly not.  But he had something that was so wonderful, he was artistic and beautiful, he had the most incredible voice that got overlooked because of who he was, always putting everyone else ahead of himself in all aspects of his life.  He was enthusiastic and excitable, seeing the joy in every moment and the good in every person.  Even now he would step on stage and his eyes would be full of wonder, he was just... good. Yes, Liam was a good man, good to the very centre of his core, something that was always vastly underrated in a person in my opinion. But he's sensitive too and things effected him in a way they didn't the other boys and he struggled to deal with these feelings of hatred and malice that were alien to him, that he just could understand, like why people were cruel, or why people would be intentionally venomous.  He was just good and wonderful and people would exploit this fact and that broke my heart and was just what I needed right now.