More Than Love

Chapter 4

The sound of music wakes me up. Way too early. I lift my heavy head and look at the phone to check the time. It is then that I realize that I'm not in my dorm room. After a quick second of panic I remember.

I was eating with my brother when a heavy storm started to build up. He wouldn't let me drive in the weather so I stayed the night.

When I reach my phone it tells me that it is six in the morning. Who the hell puts on music at six in the morning?

I get up from my bed, only wearing a shirt of my brother's and my panties. But the shirt reaches just over my butt so you can't really see anything.

When I walk through the hallway I follow the sound to a room on the same floor as I slept in, but all the way on the other side of the house. When I get closer is hear that it is a piano.

My curiosity gets the best of me and I open the door to the room where the beautiful music comes from.

I freeze as I take in what I see before me. In the middle of the room stands a grand piano. On the bench in front of said piano sits Liam. His back is towards me so he doesn't se me as his fingers aggressively float over the piano keys.

The song he plays is sad and angry. And the way he plays it, it takes my breath away.

As in a trance I stand there. Listening. Watching.

When the song is over I get snapped out of the trance. I stumble as I try to make my way out of the room, but it is too late. Liam has turned around and his eyes are now pointed at me. His hair is messy, as if he just woke up like this. Which does not seem very impossible since it is six in the goddamn morning.

I try to get words out of my mouth but it seems like my tongue has simply stopped working.

He however doesn't seem to have that problem. 'What the hell are you doing here?' He asks, clearly not pleased with my stay at his house.

I seem to have found my tongue back. 'Well a good morning to you too.' I respond with an annoying tone in my voice.

'Answer my question.' He speaks though gritted teeth.

'Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or are you so grumpy because it is so early.' I start walking into the room a couple steps. 'I don't know if you realized but it is six in the morning. Some people do value their sleep.'

He stands up too and steps closer to me. We are now barely five feet apart. 'And pray tell why you are spending your valuable sleep in my house?'

He closes in another feet. 'I ate with my brother yesterday and he didn't let me go home because of the storm.' I explain simply. My pulse raises as he takes another step closer. There is now only one foot distance between us and my breathing turns shallow.

'He should have asked me permission first.' He looks very annoyed. I wonder if it is because of the fact that Flynn did not ask him permission or because of me. But my guess, it's both.

We stand there for a couple more seconds. It feels like his eyes tear right through me and he can see every single thought and secret that is hidden behind my carefully built walls. His head drops a little so we are at the same level.

I am not short, but with my 5'10 and his 6'3 or even 6'4 he is still a lot longer than me.

'Why. Are. You. Still. Here?' He asks slowly, dangerously. His tone makes the arms on my hair scoot straight up.

Without uttering another word I turn around and make my way to the door. I feel his eyes burning on me as I walk to the guest room I slept him. But I don't look back. I definitely don't want to give him that satisfaction.

When I reach my room I immediately get dressed and walk downstairs. The storm has fully vanished and I see a blue sky as I glance out of the kitchen window. I text Flynn to tell him that I left and make my way to my car.

On my way back home I decide to call Sally back. I put the phone on speaker and lay it down on the middle console.

'Where the hell have you been?' She screams as soon as she picks up. 'Where you sleeping with a guy. You know about our arrangements Joy, texting if you're not sleeping home.'

'You're right, I'm sorry.' I start, I know she's not really mad. She's just concerned, especially after what had happened in the past. I have filled Sally in on as much as I could handle another person to know. Which is by far not everything, but she knows enough. 'I was actually not sleeping with a guy. I went to my brother's and stayed over because of the storm.'

'Promise me it won't happen again.' She tries to sound serious but I can hear the relieve in her voice.

'I promise Sal.' There is a short silence. 'So why are you up this early?'

'Well my roommate and best friend actually decided to stay out all night and then call at six fifteen in the morning.'

I laugh. 'Touché. You will not believe what I saw this morning.' I let a small pause. 'I actually woke up because I heard music. So I obviously go look for the source of the music.'

'Obviously.' She comments.

'You remember that hot friend of Flynn's, Liam?' I don't wait for a response, because I know she remembers, so I continue. 'I walk into a room and see him in front of a grand piano. He plays incredible. So I stand there, listening. And when he is done he turns around and it gets al awkward and he gets all mad that I am in his house. It was intense.'

'How do you experience these kind of things when I am not with you.' We laugh.

'I'll be home in half an hour, should I make a pit stop for coffee?'

'Are you really asking me that?' I smirk and hang up the phone while I make my way to the coffeeshop.

'Good morning! What can I do for you today?' The woman behind the counter asks way too cheerful.

'Two caramel Frappuccino and make it quick please.' I say. People that look that happy this early in the morning can not be trusted.

'That'll be sixteen dollars please.' What the hell. These prices should be a crime.

When I start grabbing in my pocket I curse to myself when I remember that my credit card is still at the dorm. And I don't carry cash. Why would I carry cash when I always have my credit card?

I take my time and act like I'm looking for my wallet or something. When the coffees are done I look up at the women.

'O no. How stupid of me. I just remember I forgot my wallet in the car.' I say with a sweet tone. 'Let me just quickly grab it, I'll be right back.'

I grab the two large cups and calmly walk out to my car. When I have placed the drinks on the passenger's seat I sit down behind the wheel and drive off.

I've done it before. It gives some kind of rush. An this would be the moment for the guilt to settle in. It used to. When I used to do stuff like this – or most of the time even worse things – I did feel the guilt. But as you do it more often it kind of... just.. stops I guess.