Humane (Liam Payne)

Chapter 16 ~ Parker

Chapter 16 ~ Parker

The next afternoon, after Liam and I had a silent morning together, I was sitting on the couch watching YouTube videos on my phone. It was frustrating how small the screen was. Liam was on his phone too, except he was in the kitchen leaning against the counter. The apartment was silent and my eyes kept flickering to Liam or just around the room. I felt like a sitting duck, waiting to be taken away and back to my parents.

“You can use my laptop if you want.” Liam said out of the blue.

I blinked at looked at him. “What?”

“You can use my laptop,” he repeated. “I’m going out with Louis and Niall.”

“Um, thanks.” I muttered, grabbing his white laptop and turning it on. When I unlocked his user, the desktop was a picture of him and four other people, who I assumed were his parents and sisters.

They looked so happy. The five of them standing there, smiling together. It truly looked like they loved each other. A lump formed in my throat and the memory of the day that I realized my family would never be able to take a picture like that. Not really. We would never look as happy as that, not on the inside. On the outside, we looked like your ordinary family from Miami. But once you knew our secrets, our past, it wasn’t something you stuck around to see.

That was the main reason that I didn’t have many friends growing up. People wanted to get to know me, but I didn’t let them. I was afraid that if they knew the truth, they would think I needed their help, their pity. But that was the last thing I wanted. Eventually everyone gave up and didn’t bother talking to me anymore, and I didn’t really mind. Sometimes I got lonely, but I could always call my brother, Garrett. He made everything seem alright.

“Are you okay, Parker?” Liam asked, bringing me back to the present.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I lied, and opened up the Internet, and going to YouTube.

I was obsessed with this girl named Emily Harder on YouTube. She makes covers of songs and uploads them. She’s eighteen and absolutely amazing. I was surprised she hadn’t become famous yet. She plays the guitar and lives right here in Miami. Her voice is really something to listen to. The door slammed shut, signaling Liam had left, and I let out a breath. It was a little strange being there alone, but it wasn’t as weird when he was there.

***

Half an hour later, and many YouTube videos later, I got a text from Harry.

R U BUSY? –H

NOPE. Y? –PARKER

As I was waiting for his reply, I got a glass of water from the kitchen, and when I came back, he had already texted me back.

WANNA COME OVER? AMABEL IS HERE BUT SHE IS GOING OUT WITH A FRIEND. WE CAN WATCH A MOVIE. (: -H

I smiled. I still couldn’t believe I was friends with One Direction, and now I was going over to Harry Styles’s apartment.

SURE. I’LL B OVER IN 10. –PARKER

I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my purse, taking the elevator down to the lobby. Since I didn’t have a car, I had to take a taxi to Harry’s apartment building. I thanked the driver, paid him and got out, making my way up to Harry’s apartment. I knocked twice, and I was greeted by a head of long blonde hair.

“Parker! Hey!” Amabel cried, throwing her arms around me.

I smiled slightly and pulled away. “Hey Amabel. Good to see you.”