Only Fools

Chapter 6

It's been three weeks since I have seen Liam. 

Nothing is wrong, we are just busy. 

We call each other on the phone every night and I find myself awake at three in the morning, peeling my eyes open to talk to him. 

This is a strange feeling. I feel guilty. Dillion hasn't crossed my mind nearly as much as before, which is relieving. And because it is relieving, I feel guilty. As much as Tara, or Tristan, or my mother tell me that this what he would have wanted, I can't shake the feeling. 

However, Liam has brought out a side of me I never thought I would see again. I feel genuinely happy. I feel happy in a school-girls-first-boyfriend kind of way. Last week, Liam sent me flowers to my job, and they sit in the same vase as the ones from our second date. It feels like that date was a lifetime ago, yet also ten minutes ago. The last few weeks have practically run by like a marathon. 

Work has been absolutely draining. It is typically slow this time of year, but it has been abnormally slow recently and the bills are seeming to pile up. Stress is piling up, and classes start back again in two weeks, which means school payments are due. 

Today. 

School payments are due today. 

Therefore, I sit on my bed and sob. 

Thirty minutes go by before Tara cracks open my door and makes her way in, sitting at the edge of the bed. 

"Talk to momma," is all she says. I crack a giggle and cross my legs. 

I tell her how I miss Liam, and how missing Liam makes me feel guilty. I tell her about my money struggles, and how I miss my parents.

"Nell, you have to give it to God." She crawls up beside me and I rest my head on her shoulder. "Do not feel guilty for missing Liam. I know that dating is hard but dating for you is exceptionally harder. Look at all you have overcame. It's been barely a month and you are falling for a man who is falling for you. Trust me, I know. Him and Tristan are friends, remember?" Hearing her tell me that Liam is falling for me as well makes my heart feel like it's going to leap out of my chest. 

"You are a beautiful woman. You are going to do great things. All of these struggles will have a purpose in the end." I hug my best friend, and she wipes the tears off my face. 

"Now quit crying and get dressed, because your lover boy and his brother will be here in ten minutes." 

My eyes go wide. "WHAT?" I shout, pouncing off the bed. I am in sweats and the biggest t-shirt I could find, with the ugliest bun on top of my head. 

"I was planning on telling you earlier, but you were too busy crying over things you cannot control. Brush your hair." She smiles and leaves the room with a quickness. 

First of all, what are Liam AND Harry doing coming here? Liam I could understand, but Harry, too? Why? Where are we going? Are we even going anywhere? 

I have barely thrown together an appropriate outfit when I hear the doorbell ring. I cuff the pair of skinny jeans at the ankle and straighten out the appropriately sized tee, slipping into a pair of vans. Letting my hair down, I run a brush through it before pulling it back into a "neatly" messy bun, letting my baby hairs hang free. 

As I make my way into the living room, I see Liam the same time he sees me and within seconds he has his arms around me. 

"I missed you so much," he whispers into my ear. 

"I missed you," I say back just as quietly. 

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask, my eyes darting toward Harry awkwardly standing in the doorway.