The Switch

Chapter 24 | Departing

c h a p t e r  2 4

d e p a r t i n g

LIV.

Sunday.

The second I awoke, utter dread filled me to the point of where I felt like I was drowning in it. Piper and I were leaving London today, in just a mere few hours from now. I had grown so accustomed to having the four boys in my life, it would be strange not having them there alongside me, with their immature demeanor and fun, loving personalities. It was strangely difficult for me to comprehend that I had only met Harry on the phone a week ago. One week ago. It feels like I've known them for so much longer.

Shuffling over to the opposite side of the room, I nudged Piper, who was still sleeping peacefully. "Piper, Piper..."

She groaned and mumbled, "Five more minutes."

"We need to finish packing our bags," I reminded her softly.

Pack our bags. We had to pack our bags and fly back to Oregon. Back to the states. Even the boys' argot had started to rub off on me- I continuously called America "the states" and started to refer to an elevator as a "lift."  At least it would feel like I'm taking a piece of them home with me. A little reminder of the memories here.

"I don't want to leave," Piper said, her voice strangled with pain. "I...I can't leave him here. Them here."

I hopped into her bed and got under the covers next to her.

"I don't want to leave. I can't leave him, either." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I said this not only to Piper but to myself, for I had never admitted it aloud. For that would of made it real.

I didn't want to leave Niall. I didn't want to go back to America. Because I was hopelessly falling for him. There was nothing I could do to subdue my feelings for him. Nothing. And that absolutely terrified me.

I couldn't possibly feel so much for a person that I was going to leave. I couldn't feel so much for a person that may not feel the same way. I couldn't feel so much for any single person at all, because they had the capability to hurt me. So why was I feeling so much for the blue eyed boy?

My body started trembling as I laid next to Piper. The wave of emotions overtook me, and I started crying, the tears dripping down my cheeks.

"Liv, don't cry. Please don't cry. Crap. Crap, crap, crap. Now I'm going to cry."

The strong face that Piper had kept up so long began to crack as she started to cry along with me.

"Look at us," I laughed bitterly, still crying. "We're such a mess."

"We shouldn't be crying over boys," she hiccuped.

"But we are, gosh dang it. We're right out of a chick flick."

"Stupid boys. Why do you do this to us?" Piper yelled as she shook her fist towards the ceiling.

I giggled and took a shuddering breath. "Okay, we just needed to cry it out. Let's shower and pack. One thing at a time."

She wiped at her tear stained cheeks and managed to give me a weak smile. "You're right."

Walking over to the bathroom, I suddenly stopped and turned around to face Piper, giving her a wicked grin. "Besides, we need to get you lookin' hot for Louis."