certain things

21.

"I almost flew to New York to apologize." Liam admitted after a while and I looked up from my carpet to see him biting his lip.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I mumbled.

"Don't say that." Liam sighed, coming to sit next to me. "I would have done the same thing."

I fell silent, not knowing what to say, and I finally leaned my head on his shoulder. Liam pressed a kiss to my forehead and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I knew that things were going to be weird and rough for a while, but I hoped that we could get back to where we were.

"Can we just take it slow for a while?" I asked quietly and he nodded.

"Whatever you wanna do." He whispered and I looked back up at him. "Are we good?"

"We will be." I offered a smile and stood up from the bed. "Now, I want to have a movie night, like we used to."

"Works for me."

Liam smiled and we walked to the living room. I picked out a couple of movies while he got candy from the kitchen and I popped a DVD in. I watched the opening credits roll across the screen and Liam came back in, handing me a beer and a bowl of M&Ms. He sat down and lifted my legs up, setting them across his lap so I could lean up against the arm of the couch.

"I love this movie." Liam cheered as She's the Man began playing and I smiled a little, taking a drink of my beer.

I watched the movie and laughed at the funny parts, taking small drinks of my beer. I left the candy untouched, not really in the mood, and sat the bowl on the coffee table. Liam cocked an eyebrow seeing as I never turn down candy, but I just smiled. He went back to watching the movie and I felt my eyes begin to droop, jet lag finally hitting me.

On the plane, I didn't sleep at all and now it is really taking a toll on me. I leaned back onto the couch and curled into myself. Liam laughed a little and I closed my eyes, laying my head back. I heard him turn the TV off before my legs were lifted off of his lap. Liam came over and picked me up, bridal style, carrying me to my room. He sat me on my bed and pulled the covers up around me. I snuggled into them, opening my eyes as I heard him begin to walk out.

"Li," I said quietly and he turned around. "Can you stay in here tonight?" I hesitantly asked and he nodded, smiling.

Liam walked over and kicked off his sneakers and socks. I scooted over in the small bed and let him under the covers, pressing my back to the wall. Liam faced me and we just sat in silence, studying each other. I now noticed how he changed in the last six months. His hair had gotten a bit longer on the top and he now had more prominent stubble on his jaw.

"What did you do for your birthday?" I asked, now realizing that I wasn't here for it.

"Mum made me dinner and then I went out with Louis, Harry, Gemma, Justin and Emily." I smiled a little at the thought and he moved himself closer to me, intertwining our fingers under the blanket. "How was the program?"

"Really good." I sleepily smiled and Liam did too. "One day we got to talk with the guy who wrote Humans of New York, and I swear, it was the best moment of my life." I rambled and finally cut myself off when Liam laughed at my excitement. "Sorry."

"No, I think it's cute when you get excited." I hid my face in his chest out of embarrassment and Liam just laughed, rubbing up and down my back. "Did you make any friends?"

"Yeah, a guy, Lucas, who lived down the hall from me was super cool." I shrugged and Liam frowned.

"Well, this Lucas guy better have kept his hands to himself." Liam huffed and I giggled.

"He's gay, Li." I said and Liam flushed, stammering over his words.

"Good." He smiled and I laughed, only to be cut off by a yawn. "Tired?"

"Mhmm." I hummed, letting my eyes fall shut.

Liam wrapped his arms around me and I smiled into his chest. He rested his chin on top of my head and I sighed in content. Liam held me close to him and I took a deep breath, trying to go to sleep. With everything going through my head, it was hard to do.

"Sam?" I hummed to let him know I was listening and Liam drug a hand up and down my back. "Why didn't you ever tell me about New York?"

"I didn't want to leave." I whispered. "With your dad and everything, I felt bad leaving you all alone."

"You weren't going to go because of me?" Liam wondered and I nodded. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

"A few times." I joked and he laughed, burying his face in my shoulder. "I love you too, Li."

Liam began humming some song and I smiled against his chest, happy to be in his arms again. When we were younger, he would always sing or hum when I was sad or tired. I always told him that he could make it big, but he never listened. Liam was content with where he was and didn't want fame or anything.

"I love you so much, Sam." Liam mumbled as I drifted off. "You have no idea."