Chapter Eleven:
Liam’s POV:
“Do you hate me now?” She asked me.
I almost thought I heard her wrong. I don’t know if tears can impair your hearing, but if they can, then that would explain why what I could have sworn just came out of Paige’s mouth came out of Paige’s mouth and into my ears.
“Wha-what did you say?” I stammered.
“Do you hate me?” She asked again simply.
So it wasn’t just me or my hearing impairing tears.
“Paige, love, do you really think I could hate you? I could never! I hate what those men did to you, I hate what your father did to you, I hate that you don’t see yourself as the beautiful and amazing person that I know you are but I could never hate you! Not even if I was forced at gunpoint and my life depended on it could I hate you! Paige, you have to believe me, I know I haven’t even known you a day yet, but I care about you! Please, just let me prove it. Stay here with me. Find out for yourself and if I give you a real reason to not trust me or dislike me or do anything that makes you un comfortable in any way then I will let you leave. I’ll buy you a plane ticket to wherever you want to go. But you have to give me a chance. Please. All I’m asking for is a chance.”
I hope I got through to her. I tried to watch the emotions that danced and skittered across her face but as soon as she saw I was watching her she would look down. She did that a lot.
Just when I thought all hope was lost she opened that glorious mouth of hers.
“Li-Liam, I am so sorry.” She stutters.
She’s what? Why in the world would she be sorry?
Paige’s POV:
“Li-Liam, I am so sorry.” I stammer out.
I didn’t know what else to say after his speech. I know he meant every word and I was beyond touched –literally- but I am still weary of agreeing to stay with Liam. Not that I actually thought he would harm me, but there was still the fact that I could be damaging to his career; and no matter what he said, I know his career would always come first in his life, the way it needed and deserved to.
“What in the world do you have to be sorry for?” He barked out, sounding outraged.
Didn’t he get it? Couldn’t he see the risk he had already taken with me? With each and every second more that I stood here in his living room, I posed more and more of threat to him and his career. And I couldn’t let him do it. I just couldn’t. I had to reason with him like he had with me, and make him see the things he’s blind to.
“Liam, I shouldn’t be here. I know you meant what you said earlier and I really appreciate it but I can’t stay here. I would never be able to forgive myself. Don’t you understand the potential damage I could bring to your career just by me being in your flat right now? Please, just let me leave. I’m so sorry for bothering you again; I promise this will be the last time.”
Gosh, I sounded so weak. And repetitive. Now he’s just going to want me out of his flat just because he can’t take much more of me; and while that may be a bit offensive at least it would resort to him realizing that I shouldn’t stay with him any longer and that I should leave.
“Paige why are you so sure that you’re going to hurt my career? Sure, they might be rumors in the media but they’re they regardless of who’s in my life. To be honest, I’m a bit more concerned of what you being a part of my life is going to do to you. The hate can be pretty intense. But don’t give up on me, Paige, please just let me have my chance.”
Is what he said really true? It would be worse for me? I knew I could take it, and if that really was true and he wasn’t just saying that to make me feel better then maybe I could stay….!
“I-I’m not sure, Liam..”
“How about I call the lads and have them come over and introduce themselves and we can all hang out today? We can all just relax and have a little fun today and get our minds off of things and if you want to stay after that, then you’re more than welcome….deal?” He proposed.
“Hmmm….I suppose.” I sigh.
Besides, we both knew there was like a zero chance that his bandmates would like or even approve of me; so whenever they get here they might as well just leave the door open because I’m pretty sure they’ll want me gone as soon as they set their eyes on me. And how couldn’t they? What international superstars would want some ugly, fat, broken girl around them and living with one of their bandmates? None that I could think of, and they probably won’t be the ones to change that. And that’s completely fine. I wouldn’t want me either; in fact, I don’t want me either.
I looked over at Liam and saw he was on the phone, probably talking to his “lads” as he calls them, so I walked over to a nearby couch and sat down and began to wait for the inevitable to happen.
Liam’s POV:
I was going to tell Paige that I was going to go call the lads to invite them over but when I looked at her she appeared to be in her own little world and I didn’t want to disturb her so I just walked to the other side of the room and grabbed my phone and called Louis.
“Hey, Li.” Lou answered.
“Hey, Lou. I need a favor.” I began.
There was shocked silence on Lou’s end of line for a moment –partially because I’m usually the one who does the favors and partially because it sounded like the lads had just done something pretty noteworthy which may have sparked recognition among the fellow diners.
“Uh..yah Li, sure. Anything. What can I do for you?” He eventually stumbled out.
“Can you and the lads come over to my flat as quick as possible. I have a girl over here who I need you guys to meet. And before you say anything it’s not like that and she doesn’t even know who we are. All I can say right now is she’s having a rough time and she has nowhere else to go and you lads are my last chance at getting her to stay with me so I need you guys to be on your best behavior..please.” I rambled, hoping Lou’s big heart would get the best of him and he would understand.
I could hear his infectious smile over the phone. “Of course, Liam. We’ll be there as soon as Hazza and I get Zayn and Niall free from the mob..” He chuckled.
“Thank you so much, Louis!” I yell, because I could tell he and Harry had already joined the other boys in the crowd, before hanging up.
Now, if all goes as planned then Paige will agree to stay with me before the day is over. Oh, please let the lads be on their best behavior. Please, I think we all need this to go well….
