For Now and Always (Liam Payne)

Chapter 4

When Eva emerged from the bathroom, Liam was lying on the bed in just his white t-shirt and jeans. She tried to smile as he smiled at her and patted the bed. His forearms were covers in tattoos. That was a surprise! Boy bands with tattoos? She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. 'What do you want to watch? I don't have a big selection." She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, wondering what could possibly be on at 5 in the morning besides news. The TV came to life and immediately began to play the classic movie channel. Eva was happy to see that they were playing "Hello, Dolly." As she turned the volume down, she turned to Liam. "Is this okay? I love this movie!"

"You like musicals?" said in a questioning tone.

"Yes," she replied. "I was basically raised by my grandparents and this is what they liked. I got hooked. Weird, right? I have strange tastes in music, too. I guess that is what happens to kids who are raised by old people! I'm really like 60 years old!" She smiled and hoped that Liam liked her joke.

"Why were raised by your grandparents? What happened to your parents?"

"Nothing 'happened" to them." she replied. "They both worked, so every summer and after school, we were with my grandparents. I was extremely close to them. That's another reason I moved here. Life without them became unbearable. They were my escape."

Liam sat up and pulled her into a hug as he noticed her eyes beginning to tear up. She reached up to wipe her eyes as he sat back. "I was close to my grandmother, too." he said. "This tattoo here," he pointed at the large feather on the back of his right arm, "it's for her. My mum used to leave feathers around the house after she died to remind my sisters and I that she was still with us. It's probably the only tat my mother likes." he laughed. He laid back on the bed and opened his arms. "Lay here. We can watch this! It's great."

Nervously, she allowed herself to lay on the side of the bed with her head on Liam's chest. As he wrapped his arm around her, she noticed that he smelled like smoke, scotch and soap. Sighing, she relaxed and turned to the movie.

...........

Eva awoke with a start and couldn't remember where she was for a second. Her neck hurt and her arm was asleep. Blinking a few times, she started to remember last night. She turned her head to be sure she wasn't dreaming. He was still there and asleep. Carefully, she detached herself from his hold. He immediately rolled over and started to snore. She giggled to herself and crept out to the hallway to find Dylan and her cell phone.

"It's about DAMN time!" Dylan yelled through her open door. "Get in here! I know he's still in there! What did you do? What is going on? Can he introduce me to Louis?"

Eva walked into Dylan's room and said "I have no idea. And I didn't DO anything." She filled Dylan in on the details of the past night and asked the time.

"It's 2 o'clock in the afternoon! Here, take your phone! I can hear something moving in your room! GO! And this time, DO something." Dylan laughed.

Shaking her head, Eva returned to her room to find Liam putting on his shoes and coat. "Sorry, Love, but I'm super late. I have like 10 texts asking me where I am, and I still need to go back to the club and find my car. I have to run. Can I see you again? Did you get my text last night? Do you have my number?"

Eva looked down at her phone. "Yes," she said. "It's right here." She turned the phone to show him.

"What is that?" he laughed looking at her phone. It was an older slide phone, but it worked and it was what she could afford.

"My phone." she said.

He shook his head. "If you say so, Evie! Can I take you to dinner tonight?"

"Evangeline." she said. "and yes."

Liam chuckled, leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Whatever you say, Love. I'll text you. I can show myself out." With that, he turned and left the room. Eva stood still for a solid 30 seconds before turning, and throwing herself on the bed, screaming into her comforter.

"SHUT UP!" Dylan yelled from her room. Eva rolled over, looked at the ceiling and smiled.