For Now and Always (Liam Payne)

Chapter 25

Monday, Eva woke up early, determined to get the campus and find out what she had missed in her classes. She'd stayed at Liam's so it was going to take two buses to get there.

"Where are you going so early?" he asked. "Come back to bed."

"I have to get to school, Liam. If I don't leave now, I'll never make it to the bus."

"Just wait, I'll drive you."

"I can't wait for you. I'm sorry. I have to run." Eva said, kissing him and trying to walk away.

He grabbed her hand. "Okay, enough is enough. You are taking the car. You will learn how to drive it and get a license. I hate you riding that damn bus. You can park it here. It will be fine. You are barely ever at your place anyhow." Liam insisted.

"Whatever. I have to go. Now! I'll see you later."

True to his word, when she arrived back her place, he took her out to drive in the mini cooper that he had never returned. It had been sitting in the parking garage all this time, waiting for her to change her mind. She hadn't really changed her mind. She didn't like driving and was never very good at it, but Liam was determined and before she knew it, she was driving back and forth to campus.

Dylan was beyond jealous. Eva let her drive it all the time, but she still wanted her own. "I want a red one. Do you think he'll buy you a red one and you can give it to me?"

"Uh, no. But Liam is leaving for the weekend and I asked if I could have the girls over for "girl's night in." What do you say? Is Marian speaking to me yet? I know Emma will come."

"I'll make her come. She knows it's not your fault. She's just embarrassed. It will be fine." Dylan assured.

It was a horribly rainy March day when all of girls stayed at Liam's. They were all glad that they had planned a night in instead of a night out. Marian started out a bit shy but while they were cooking dinner, Eva threw a carrot at her. She smiled and launched a handful of lettuce at her and before the girls knew what was happening, the salad they were making was on them and the floor and not in the bowl. Emma and Dylan stood well out of the way, letting them work it out. It ended with Marian leaning in to hug Eva. Then she poured salad dressing down her back. Eva hit her in the face with a cut tomato, rubbing it everywhere. Both girls fell to the floor, laughing. "Friends?" Eva asked.

"Friends." Marian said. "And hey, at least I know the rumors about Harry are true, right? You would be believe the size of his..."

Eva covered her ears and yelled, "DON'T SAY IT!" and all four girls laughed until their sides hurt and they couldn't laugh anymore.

Then they decided that Marian needed a blue streak in her hair. "Holy Crap, we are making a huge mess. Liam is going to kill me." Eva moaned.

"Uh, if there is one thing I know, it's that Liam won't kill you. That boy is so in love with you, it is ridiculous." Dylan said. "Seriously, the next time I meet a guy, I'm going to pretend to be shy and adorable and then yell at him and call him a liar. It's worked out great for you."

"Ha, Ha. Very funny." Eva said. "That's not true. He'll still be mad if we can't get this blue out of this sink!"

Finally, all four girls piled into Liam's huge bed. Marian and Dylan on the outside, Eva and Emma in the middle. They watched movies on the "magic" TV until they all fell asleep. Eva was the last to fall asleep, thinking that things couldn't get any better.

...............................................

"Happy Spring Break!" Liam whispered into Eva's ear. "Wake up! I have a surprise for you!"

"It had better not be another car or so help me...."

"Just get up." Liam insisted.

Eva grumbled and sat up. Liam handed her a small flat package. She took it and looked it over. "What's this? What's in it?"

"It's our Anniversary. Six months since our first date. Open it!"

"Uh, we have an anniversary? I didn't know we were counting. I'm sorry. I don't have anything for you!"

Liam groaned. "Just open it. I don't care. What could you buy me that I don't already have?"

Eva knew he was right. He had everything he wanted. He had that tattooed on his arm, that he had everything he always wanted. She sighed and ripped open the paper. Inside were plane tickets. She flipped them over. Paris. He was finally taking her to Paris!

"Surprise!" he said. For once in her life, Eva was speechless.

....................................................

"Look, Liam! You can see everything from up here!" Eva exclaimed. They were at the top of the Eiffel tower, looking out at Paris. "This is amazing!"

"So, where to next? The Louvre is close by. We could walk?" Liam said.

"Oh yes! And then I want to eat in one of those cafes with tables on the sidewalk."

"It's March! It's cold. You can't sit outside and eat in the cold!" Liam told her.

"Uhm, excuse me? Are you Liam? Liam Payne from One Direction? Can we get a picture?" asked a stranger who looked to be around Eva's age, but taller, skinner and prettier. She and another girl were standing there expectantly.

"No. I'm not him. Sorry. Just a guy on holiday with his girlfriend. Nobody important." Liam said.

They walked away, muttering under their breath. The tall one bumped her arm and said "Bitch."

"Liam, you don't have to do that. I don't mind." Eva told him, stinging from being called a name.

Liam sighed. "Listen, baby, if I gets out that I am in Paris, it's over. We will be hounded by every fan in the city. I don't want that. This is you and me time. I'm leaving in a week for 6 months. I'm only going to be able to see you every so often. This is my private time, ok? Boundaries. We need to have boundaries."

"You are leaving for April. You will see me in May. I just need to convince my mom to help me pay for the flat for the summer. Plus, by then, I'll be able to come with you. I'm not taking classes. Stop worrying." Eva pleaded.

"Touring is not fun, Evie. It's long boring bus rides and being trapped in hotels. You won't like it, trust me."

"Stop. Okay? We are in Paris. Let's just have fun." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Come on! Let's take a selfie and send it to Dylan!" He laughed and agreed. He was going to have fun, no matter what the voices in his head were saying.

Returning to their hotel, that evening, Eva checked her phone. Dylan had sent her about a dozen messages telling her to check twitter. #LiamHatesFans was trending. Apparently those girls they met on the Eiffel Tower took pictures anyhow, of Liam and Eva having fun. They had followed them to the art museum and to dinner. Eva was being called every name in the book. Stuck up, band ruiner, bitch, selfish. Dylan told her to say something. To defend herself. Liam was beyond angry. He tweeted "Needed some private time with my girl before big tour. Not her fault. Be nice! I *heart emoji* you guys!" Then he posted a few pictures calling her "the most beautiful girl in the world." And "the reason I wake up in the morning." Eva was NOT pleased with that picture because she was asleep, in his bed. "My mother will see that, you know." she said. Liam just laughed.

"You need to tweet something, Love. Show them that you care about them or something." Liam told her.

She scrolled through her camera roll, looking for just the right picture. She finally found the perfect picture. "Hard to share this hunk with the world, but I know I have to! Have at 'em girls!" she tweeted with a picture of him asleep on the couch, Cheetos bag on his stomach, orange smears on his shirt, hair a mess. Perfect, she thought. Let them see the "Real Liam Payne" and giggled to herself.

From the bathroom, she heard "EVIE! WHAT THE HECK!" Revenge was sweet.