Didnt see it coming || Liam O'donovan

Chapter forty-six

•Riley's POV
"MERRY CHRISTMASSSSSS" I jumped awake and yelled something inaudible as Nina,Jody,Carmen and Tee jumped onto my mattress and buried me under
"OI GET OFF" I barely managed to get out-my mouth barely avoided Jody's foot.
They got off and I sat up and appreciated the once more contact I had with oxygen.
"Merry Christmas you lunatics."

I brushed my teeth and washed my face and went downstairs with the others-no way was I getting out of my onesie just yet.
Seems everyone else felt the same way- Nina and Harry's matching panda onesies were *chefs kiss*
I kissed Mike on the cheek and sat down on the floor,joining Jody and Tyler's game of snakes and ladders. We'd only just gotten up and Frank had fallen back asleep on the sofa-typical.
"Where's Liam?" I asked,noticing the absence of the regular Christmas morning scheming.
"Oh he's in the kitchen getting an early start on brunch! He really has grown up" Gina chuckled

Oh poor sweet innocent Gina. That was enough for me to know that he's planning some sort of prank. I got up and head over to the kitchen,being very careful of where I stepped in case I'd have a bucket of pudding fall on me or something.
Except that didn't happen. Nothing fell on me. I didn't step on anything or have anything explode in my face. I entered the kitchen and there he was...mixing pudding in a bowl. He looked up and smiled
"Merry Christmas"
"Merry..Christmas?" I replied in a quizzical tone
"Something wrong?" He asked
"No. Literally nothings wrong." I squinted my eyes and looked at him very suspiciously "why is nothing wrong?"

He snorted and said "Relax there's not gonna be a bucket of slime or something falling on top of anyone. I'm too old for that now"

"I know you better than to think you'd outgrow Christmas morning pranks"
"What can I say" he shrugged
I didn't say anything and folded my arms and stared at him,trying to look for any clues

He looked up and snorted again "alright fine,there's something."
"Yeah I know there's something genius,what that something is is what I'm trying to figure out"
"Good luck with that Ri" he smirked as he put the milk back in the fridge "let's go back to the others"

"Walk ahead of me I don't trust you being behind me when so little is known"
He smiled and shook his head and walked back to the living room,with me following a few spaces behind.
He leaned against the doorframe and watched Mike struggle with the non functioning TV
"Yeah that one's definitely not you you wouldn't go for the TV" I said as I squeezed past him

•Liam's POV
She squeezed past me and our hands briefly touched, sending a million jolts down my stomach. I tried to ignore them and went and sat down with the others around the TV as Mike finally got it to work

•Riley's POV

The rest of the day was amazing. An amazing Christmas lunch and dinner,many games and movies and mugs of coco,singing and walks at the park. It was all beautiful. Liam and I didn't really spend time together alone,I think we were both avoiding it because of the pending conversation. It was around 8 o'clock in the evening,everyone was sort of doing their own thing when Mike called for everyone in the living room.

"What's this about?" Liam,who was the last person to enter asked as he leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms
"Welll...you lot remember that care home competition we had a few years back right?"
"The what now" one of the newer kids asked

"A few years ago there was this competition between a bunch of chosen care homes and we won a trip to Italy after flattening the others in every round" Johnny explained,as we all smiled at the memory

"Well,think you'll be pleased to know we've been chosen again this year" Mike smiled as everyone cheered
"When does it start?" Tee asked
"It'll start on the 2nd of January and end on the 4th" Mike replied "that one day in between is for practicing for the last round,which they'll only reveal after there are no other rounds left."

"We've won it before we can win it again" Carmen grinned
"I second that" Rick high fived her
"Will you three oldies come and watch?" Harry asked,turning to Liam,Frank and I.

"Course I will" Frank smiled
"Definitely" I said
"I'll be back in Middlesbrough by then unfortunately" Liam said apologetically "but I'll support you lot through FaceTime eh?

"Oh come on! Couldn't you just take the train?" Tyler threw his hands up
"I've got to get back to the music studio Ty I don't wanna lose my internship" he sighed

I slightly shifted on the sofa,checking if my other present that I hadn't given him in the morning was still in my pocket.
Mike gave a few more details,saying it'll take place in Leazes park and the rounds will be in the afternoons and all. That was pretty much it and everyone went back to doing their own thing,and I decided it was finally time to give Liam his overdue present. I was slightly nervous that he wouldn't accept it but I still had to offer it to him. He was still leaning against the door frame,explaining to Nina how electric guitars work,making my heart go all warm and fluttery. Nina's been showing a growing interest in music and drawing lately,and seeing her turn to him and him so warmly telling her what she wants to know,gives me the same sensation as what I imagine magic would feel like. I got up and walked over to them,and smiled down at Nina's awestruck expression
"Woah.."
"Yeah they're pretty great aren't they" Liam smiled
"You've got to show me yours!" Nina exclaimed
"Maybe one day if Riley will bring you over to Middlesbrough"
"She's too lame for that" she huffed
"Oi!"
She shrugged and took Harry's hand as he pulled her away to the kitchen.
"If it helps,I think the best selling novel lessens the lameness" Liam stifled a laugh
"Oh hardy ha ha" I rolled my eyes "come on,I wanna give you something" I said as I gently tugged his jumper
We went up to Nina and Jody's room,and I shut the door

•Liam's POV
I felt so nervous I nearly tripped when walking up the stairs. Being alone in a room with her was all I wanted and terrifying at the same time.
What could she possibly have to give me- she already gave me my Christmas gift in the morning (a gleam guitar stand that was somehow in the same colours as the colourful jacket Mike had given me-I don't even know how she managed to find one with the exact same pattern. The lengths she goes too to make fun of me eh)

She pulled out a folded envelope from her pocket and handed it to me
"It's addressed to you what're you handing it to me for" I asked,highly confused
"Just open it O'Donovan." she replied,as she sat down on Nina's bed.
I obliged and pulled the letter out

Dear Ms.Power,
Congratulations on all your success on your novel,we couldn't have been happier that you chose us as your publishing family.
How ever, we're writing on behalf of our music studio. We've recently hired a well known music producer hoping to start a career with our company,and he has his eye on the vocals of your friend who sang the fan song for your book. We didn't give his name as respect to his privacy,but promised we'd ask you to present him the offer of working full time at the studio. We're fully prepared to help and provide him support to launch a music career.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
Kind regards,
*list of names of the main publishing team*

I folded the letter and put it back in the envelope,not even the slightest bit sure of what to say.
We're fully prepared to help and provide him support to launch a music career.
The amount of resources that studio has,and working with an actual well known producer whoever it may be..
But then there's Jack..

"Liam." I jumped and escaped out of my thoughts,I'd almost forgotten Riley was here.
"So..?" She asked nervously,chewing on her bottom lip. A habit she's always had when lost in thought or feeling nervous. It was adorable. I used to kiss her whenever she'd unconsciously do that and say "something better for your lips to do" and laugh as she'd roll her eyes or snort or go red
Stop thinking about that Liam.
I shook myself out of it and tried to work out an answer
"I don't even- I mean, like-wow.."
She asked for a response not a stuttering ramble O'Donovan I mentally scolded myself,but I truly didn't know what to say

"You don't have to answer straight away" she smiled "it is rather a big decision,moving back here and leaving your own studio and all,but I couldn't not tell you. Take your time"
I heaved a sigh of relief and pulled her in for a hug. She wrapped her arms around my middle and rested her head against my chest. That meant she could most likely feel how fast my heart was beating,and not just cause of the studio offer
We pulled away and she looked up at me,those warm big brown eyes have never not been a weakness of min.