All Over You

Missing A Piece

Life without Liam becomes a reality much sooner than I had hoped. If I'm honest, I'd give anything to start over and have never uttered a single word to this man. Maybe then I never would've progressed to this level, stalking around the studios hanging my head. I had hoped the whole thing was going to get cancelled in some way, he'd turn around and say something stupid about missing us all too much and chuckle, telling us we persuaded him to stay. Losing him is just too painful. I can't fathom why, but it's the closest thing to heartbreak I have ever experienced, and I've been dumped before. 

Liam's departure was announced during our first meeting back. People applauded him for his seven years of work here but I winced at the mention of it. It was really happening. The worst part was having to act unbothered in a room full of people who adored him, whilst I sat amongst those who didn't care. If I'd have truly shown my gratitude for Liam's presence then Keira would have known something was up. I can't risk it after my behaviour in France has probably told Geoff way too much as it is. The rest of the meeting rendered useless to me. I couldn't concentrate. I had been looking forward to this new project for ages, but without Liam it didn't seem quite as magical. I took nothing in. I always said I'd never let a man come between me and my career, but Liam has somehow wriggled his way in. It's almost comical how he's taken this from me without knowing.

The week drew to a close and I actively avoided Liam as much as I could. Every time I thought of the way he touched my face and told me not to ignore him, a painful pang of reality struck me in the chest. I was losing him. I couldn't take the feeling it left me with, so I decided to detach fully. Every time I saw Liam, I kept my head routed to the floor and breezed past him, ignoring his every attempt to communicate with me. All I wanted to do was stop and talk, making progress while I could. Though I knew there was no point. He was already gone.

On one instance, I couldn't ignore him. He came into my office when I was working late, a puppy dog grin plastered on his face when he realised Keira and Geoff's desks were empty. I noticed him in the reflection of my screen and felt my knees weaken. Shutting him out felt so unnatural, all my urges were screaming at me to let him in again. Yet I knew deep down it would only make his departure more unbearable. I logged off immediately, hurriedly throwing my belongings in my bag so that I could leave swiftly. I knew he had realised I was avoiding him, but he had continued to strut around the office without a care in the world. So when he invited himself in I barely offered a word to him. I continued to pretend like he wasn't there even after he strolled over to me and perched on the edge of my desk. My heart was drumming in my chest as I resisted making eye contact, but it felt like an invisible string was dragging me towards him. 

"Where have you been?" He had teased, humour dancing in his eyes.

"Working."

He cocked his head at me, folding his arms over his chest and leaning back further onto my desk. He looked so unimpressed with me and it would have wrenched my heart out of my chest if he didn't have humour laced in his tone.

"I'm having a leaving party tomorrow, down the pub. Throw on a pretty dress and come down." He smirked at me.

"Sure."

I smiled at him weakly, before throwing my bag over my shoulder and marching out. I left him alone in my dark office and shut the door behind me. I wished he got the message and left me alone. I couldn't let his words get to me anymore. It was as if the world was dangling the cruelest carrot right under my nose. 

I ended up making the most heartbreaking decision and did not go to the leaving party. Of course Geoff and Keira weren't interested so I claimed not to care either. A little part of my brain was yelling at me to just do what he said, get dressed up and head down there. He might make a move on me, telling me he felt the same as I did. After all, he was leaving. If he was going to risk it then it should be tonight.