For Now and Always (Liam Payne)

Chapter 26

Two days before he was scheduled to leave, they went for a walk. It was one of those rare early April days when it wasn't raining. They walked hand in hand, neither one saying much. They just wanted to be together. Eva could tell something was bothering him and she knew he'd tell her when he was ready.

They rounded a corner and Eva spotted a small playground. She squealed in excitement and ran to the swing set. "Push me!" she called to Liam.

"Bloody hell. Only you." Liam sighed. He walked to the swings and grabbed the chains of the one she was on. He pulled her back and let her go. He pushed her every time she returned. Higher and higher she went, leaning her head back, closing her eyes, and letting her hair flow in the wind. Liam watched her face. She was so happy. Just a push on a swing set could make her smile. And when she smiled? He felt like the luckiest man in the world. How was he going to leave her for six months? Sure, she'd come to see him, but soon she'd discover that it wasn't fun and only show up for big shows, like Eleanor. Louis wouldn't admit it, but he knew that he missed her and that it bothered him. He also knew that Eleanor was miserable. He couldn't do that to Evie. He loved her and didn't want to be the cause of her pain. Suck it up, Liam, he thought. Suck it up. Do the right thing. Don't be selfish. Think about HER.

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The day before he was scheduled to leave, she helped him pack. He only wanted to take one suitcase, if he could manage. So far, no luck. Around them sat stacks of underwear, t-shirts, jeans and shoes. So many shoes. "You are like a woman. How many pairs of shoes do you own?"

"HaHa." he said. "This isn't going to work. I need two."

"Yes, I agree. And don't forget your makeup bag."

"Okay, that's it." He threw a shirt at her.

"Really? Really?" she said. Eva picked up a stack of t-shirts and launched them at him. He wasted no time. He dove at her and pinned her to the ground, legs on each side of her, his hands holding hers to the ground. She screamed and tried to fight him off. He lowered his head and kissed her. "Oh, Liam." she whispered, running her hands threw his soft brown hair.

"I'm going to miss you so much." He kissed her again and again, pulling at her clothes.

"I'm going to miss you, too."

He entered her slowly, taking his time, trying to make it last. He wanted this moment to last forever. He didn't want to leave her. He never wanted to forget her face. As he moved into her, he remembered all the times they had been together. He thought about making love to her in France for the first time, how amazing it was walking up to her smiling face. He thought about when he almost lost her. The thought that he might have failed her haunted him for weeks. He remembered how beautiful she looked twirling in circles in front the mirror, watching her when she didn't know he was there. Before he could stop himself, he had tears running down his face. This was going to be the hardest day of his life. But he had to do this. For her. To protect her. She deserved the world and he was leaving for nearly a year. He had to do what was best for her, no matter how it made him feel.

They lay together on the floor, holding each other. "Hey, get dressed. I want to take you out to dinner."

"Are you sure? Don't you want to just stay here and be together?"

"I'll finish this. Get ready." he said.

"Well, I did just buy this new yellow dress? It's nubby silk and super cute. But, it's at my place. I'll run home and grab it, okay?"

Liam sighed. "Yep. Great."

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Eva had never changed so fast in her life. She didn't want to miss a second with Liam. She parked the car in 'her' space and hurried up the elevator. The door to Liam's flat was partly open. She pushed it open the rest of the way. Liam was sitting on the back of the sectional, suitcases packed next to the door and his head down. "Liam!" she said! "You scared me! Why are you sitting there? Wanted to see me that badly?" she smiled and went forward to embrace him.

"Don't." He held up his hand. "Don't hug me. Please."

"What? What the heck, Liam?" she exclaimed. "What is going on?"

"We are breaking up. I am breaking up with you. You need to just go. I don't want to see you anymore." He stated, in a dead voice.

"What?" she asked. "What? I don't..."

"Just go, Evangeline. Please, just go."

Eva stood still for a full five seconds, staring at the top of his head. "Are you kidding me?" she yelled. "Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?"

Liam just sat there.

"Seriously, Liam. This isn't funny."

Liam just sat there.

"Liam!" she said, stomping her foot.

Liam just sat there.

"Fine. I'll just get my stuff and go." She marched into the bedroom and looked around. She didn't own anything here. She look at her hands. She didn't own anything she had on. She opened her purse and took out her cell phone, HIS cell phone, she thought, and laid it on the bed. Then she looked at the purse. He bought that, too. She set it on the bed. Suddenly, she just couldn't take anymore. She added the car keys to the pile followed by the bracelet he gave her in France. She ripped the necklace he had promised forever with off and threw it on the bed. Off came the dress and she dropped it to the floor. The shoes weren't hers either! She walked out of them and added them to the pile.

She walked to 'her' closet. Going in, she realized that she didn't own anything in here. Wait. She had shoved her old sweat pants under a shelf. They were still there. She pulled them on and grabbed a cheap t-shirt. No shoes? She had to have something. Pushing shoes around, she found a pair of flip flops.

Next, she walked into the bathroom. Nope, nothing in here was hers either. What had she let happen? How did the independent girl, who was going make it on her own, become this? Eva picked up her tooth brush and threw it in the trash.

She walked back out of the bedroom. Liam hadn't moved. He was still sitting on the back of the couch with his head down. She refused to cry. She could feel it coming, but she held it in, hiding her pain. "Well, bye." she said. She waited for him to say something, but he didn't even look up. Out the door and to the elevator, she held it in. Though the lobby and onto the street, she held it in. The doorman said "Have a nice day, Evie." Then she lost it. She burst into tears and ran. She ran until she couldn't run anymore. She ran until it hurt to breath. She ran until she couldn't cry anymore. But no matter how far she ran, she couldn't outrun the breaking of her heart. He had promised forever. He promised to be different. He promised he'd never hurt her. He had lied to her. He lied.