All Over You

Call His Bluff

"Are you sure you're okay to go home?" I ask as I run a brush through my hair.

"I'll just keep myself busy until the meeting." He mutters cooly, his tone unreadable.

Liam has never been the touchy-feely type, but I can't help get the sense that he's keeping his distance. I want to care for him, but he clearly doesn't want to let me in. To toe the line between reassuring him and not pushing him to flee is such a laborious task. With Liam and all his commitment issues, if I was too overbearing when he's stressed I know he'd only withdraw further. With this in mind, I hesitantly drop him off outside his house before heading into work. He reassures me that he'll be fine and will text me if he needs anything, but my stomach is in knots and I assume it will stay that way all day. Something feels so unnatural about leaving him alone there after the state I found him in yesterday. I ignore my conscience screaming at me to turn back and continue to my route. 

Everything around me carries on like normal and it seems people at work are blissfully unaware of Liam's absence. Still, no one knows him like I do. No one else takes a detour past his office each morning just to see that sparkle in his ocean eyes. It always throws me off when I miss that part of my daily routine. His office door being shut with the lights off is such a metaphor for the way he's feeling right now. I am terrified for him, but also selfishly terrified for myself. I remember how miserable I was when the picture perfect man who had captured my heart almost left Bramble Studios. I know there was a different dynamic between us then, but not seeing him at work would still be agonising. Part of the joy of being here is getting to fulfil my career dreams with my favourite person by my side. We've been practically joined at the hip since the day we decided to be more than friends. I search for him in every crowd, wait for him during transmission and long for him with each movement I make around the building. These things all add up to make my day memorable. My job here wouldn't be the same without him. 

The resentment I feel towards Jen also grows. I've never been her biggest supporter based on the way she buzzes around Liam, but now he's risked his career for her I dislike her even more. She probably forced him to do it, batting her thick eyelashes. She's probably used to getting her own way. How dare she take advantage of his warm heart? She doesn't deserve his time. I never put him in a position where his job would be at risk. 

Then again, part of me just doesn't want to accept that Liam may have done it for her willingly. After all, he has been training her up and the thought of the pair working hand in hand makes me sick to my stomach. It doesn't take long for the envy inside me to become more prevalent than the blood in my veins... 

Geoff breaks me out of my trance by walking in and calling a meeting. We wait for Keira while he tells me about his date with Hayley last night. They saw the latest Marvel movie and apparently found it so hilarious that Hayley cried with laughter. It reminded me of the girl I used to know when we were seventeen. She used to find me so amusing that tears would prick in the corners of her soft eyes too. Now she only smiles at Geoff. She walks around the studios with a constant frown engraved in her face and rolls her eyes if anyone ever dared to find an issue with her. Keira wanders in and we begin a meeting with the final copy of the camera script. Keira assigns me as camera supervisor in this months' transmission. It will be the first time I have ever taken the lead and my heart rate shoots through the roof at the thought. I am finally getting a chance to shine out above the rest. Usually, I'd feel slightly guilty for taking over Keira's rightfully earned job. Though the way her smile beams when she announces her decision reassures me that she wont miss it one bit. 

"Are you sure?" I ask, glancing back and forth between my two departmental colleagues. Even Geoff hasn't been camera supervisor yet and he's had years of experience on me.