The Other Half Of Me - Liam Payne Fanfic

Chapter Twelve

There's something about small towns in France. Whatever your opinion of it is--cliche, romantic, historic or just beautiful--there's something captivating about it that even the most cynical person can become hopelessly enchanted.  

Picture it. 

Miles. Miles of open countryside, seen through the windows of our van. 

Small town after small town. The beauty and the raw, authenticity of this land lends itself to you. Opening up a part of you, you truly never knew was there to be opened. 

Harry was driving as I sat in the front seat, while the others slept. Cay and Ash were curled up on one edge of the mattress. Liam resting his head against his hand as he begins to nod off, tired from his first shift of driving. Calum and Luke muddle around with something until they passed out nearly three hours ago, shortly after we first got off the ferry. And Madi, curled up on the other side of the bed beside Caylen, she and Harry napped the first half of the trip but was too tired to stay up. So I kept Harry company as we drove the last four hours for the day. 

"Any idea where we're planning on stopping today?" I ask him, turning the music down a little to talk. 

A grin plays at his lips as he starts to reply, "Yeah, I've got a plan. We talked about it earlier and the guys told me where I needed to stop."

His response confuses me though. Such a smile on his face, but such a monotone answer?

"Oh cool," I state, not buying his act, "Where's that then?"

Harry looks at me and states firmly, "You can't tell Madi." 

My eyes get wide and I nod my head, promising not to tell her. He glances back to check if she was still sleeping. Her headphones were in her ears and she was lightly snoring. Smiling again, he turns back to me, telling me all about this one beach town that he and Madi drove through early in their relationship. It was literally almost nothing there--just a quaint small area that sat on the boarder of these amazing white cliffs. That, apparently, was where we were headed today despite the fact that it was nearly an entire day off course. Luckily due to the expert planning of Caylen and Ashton, we can afford this extra time on the trip. I'm excited though because this allows us to see other areas of France that I never would see most likely! The more Harry tells me about this beach, the more I see his eyes lighting up. This must be a really special place for them. 

*****

Madi's POV

The gentle sound of waves lapping the shore wakes me from my sleep. The van was stopped and the sun was shining through the windshield. I rub my eyes and sit up; everyone else was gone and I was alone in the back of the van. There's a sheet of paper stuck in the side of the back window. Scribbled in my love's handwriting was a note for me--

"Love, 

Hope you've gotten a great sleep. When you wake, come find me.

-Harry"

A smile grows across my face and I tie my hair back into a ponytail before jumping out of the back and into the soft morning light. Stretching and working out the kinks from sleeping in the van all night, I look around trying to find a sign of Harry's curls. As I glance around, I have no clue where we actually are. Based on our plan, we were supposed to be further inland than we are, but I'm sure there's an explanation for this detour. 

On the soft breeze coming off the ocean, I catch the sound of a guitar playing. Curious, I follow the notes as the fly on the wind, bringing me to the edge of the world. I step onto a small wooden deck and see exactly where we stopped this morning. The Ivory Cliffs of Étretat. The music sounds like it's coming from the beach below, so I follow the stairs down the massive drop and to the sweet sandy shores of the Atlantic. My bare feet sink into the grainy surface--I didn't even realize I hadn't grabbed shoes before leaving the van, but I'm okay with that. I love the feeling of sand between my toes. 

I close my eyes and breath the ocean deep into my lungs, rejuvenating and awakening my very soul. I smile and start spinning around on the beach, loving every second of this moment, taking life in completely, each tiny little aspect of this moment is falling perfectly in sync with the world. When I stop spinning, unaware of where I even am on the shore, I open my eyes to see Harry standing just ten feet in front of me. 

Yellow roses surround him on the shore. Literally hundreds of roses are sprayed out around him with a path cleared just in front of me. He's standing there in his bare feet, khakis rolled up around his ankles and he's strumming his guitar, playing a melody that I've never heard before. It's captivating, pulling me closer and closer to him, even more so than the rest of this entire scene would already!

His deep, gorgeous voice sings, 

"I figured it out
I figured out from black and white
Seconds and hours
Maybe we had to take some time"

I step closer.

"I know how it goes
I know how it goes from wrong and right
Silence and sound
Did they ever hold each other tight, like us?
Did they ever fight, like us?"

The ocean licks the edges of our beautiful scene, showering my senses with the alluring smell of salt water. I feel the words reaching into my soul--Harry answering every question I've ever had about he and I. Is this it? The forever? Not forever in the sense of a proposal, but his words. 

The love and sincerity coming through the lyric crushes any concerns that were filling my mind from Luke showing up. This is the future, Harry and I. And just on cue with my thoughts, Harry sweetly sings me the chorus as I come to stand just in front of him. 

"You and I
We don't want to be like them
We can make it 'till the end
Nothing can come between
You and I
Not even the Gods above

Can separate the two of us

No, nothing can come between
You and I."

I can feel the smile beaming on my face. My heart is pounding and I feel like my feet are floating above the sand. 

"Harry, this is absolutely gorgeous!"

He flashes that saucy grin of his and his bright blue eyes shine with the sea behind them. A wave crashes next to us and my gaze shifts to the ocean, kissing the pedals of the roses surrounding us.

"Madi?"

I turn back to Harry and see him kneeling in front of me with the most incredible ring I have ever seen. I can't even contain myself and I automatically start tearing up.

"Madison, will you make me the happiest man alive by marrying me?"

*****

Cliff hanger! lol because the Ivory cliffs! Will Madi say yes?? Looks like you'll have to wait to find out!!

Sorry writing has been so terrible. Life kind of gets in the way as I'm sure so many people know. 

I hope all is going well in the world of wattpad!

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Thanks!

Cari