Liam was the one who had always noticed the changes in his bandmates before anyone else. He had noticed how Harry began to cry himself to sleep every night. He noticed how Zayn stopped eating and sleeping. He noticed how Niall stopped talking to everyone except Louis. He noticed how Louis began to disappear for three or fours hours at a time.
But all that was a year ago. Harry's problem was resolved when Liam admitted that he was in love with Harry. Zayn's problem was resolved after Liam sat down and talked with him; it turned out Zayn was having problems with Perrie, but Liam encouraged him to propose to Perrie. Niall's problem was resolved when Liam cornered Niall after a concert; they hugged it out, but Liam never figured out why Niall had stopped talking. Louis' problem was resolved all on its own when Louis told the rest of the boys that Lottie was in the hospital and he had been talking with her on the phone; she had gotten a lot better soon after Louis told everyone.
But there was one thing that Liam had begun to notice a year later, it involved both Niall and Louis. Liam had already known that Niall got most of the hate and that Louis hated seeing Niall upset, but this was new.
It all started two nights before when a fan came up to all five boys after an interview. The fan asked for an autograph from Louis, Zayn, Liam, and Harry, but not Niall. Before anyone could give her an autograph, Louis stepped forward and asked what her problem with Niall is. She had responded with, "Well, my friends and I think that Niall shouldn't be in the band. He's too unworthy." Louis then told her with a mean glare in his eyes, "If you have a problem with Niall, then I have a problem with you. And I don't give out autographs to people I have a problem with."
Liam noticed Louis' glare and quickly agreed with the older lad. The five boys walked off to the tour bus. Liam then noticed the way Louis had hand on Niall's lower back and the other on Niall's arm. It was a common thing between the two, always had been. Liam decided it was normal. But then, as the two sat down together, Liam noticed something that was definitely new. Louis had moved one arm to wrap around Niall's shoulders while the other hand stayed on Niall's arm. The Irish lad was leaning into Louis. The older lad was whispering into Niall's ear. The latter was nodding gently. Louis pulled away enough to let Niall lay his head on Louis' shoulder. Louis looked down at Niall in the same way Harry and Liam looked at each other - with love, passion, and the "you're all I see" look.
Two nights later, Liam noticed Niall giving Louis the same look during an interview. The two were sitting next to each other as usual. Louis had a big smile on his face as he answered the interviewers question. One of Louis' hands was resting on Niall's upper leg while the other was twirling in the air as he spoke. Niall had one hand on Louis' on his knee and the other on Louis' shoulder. Niall's eyes were following Louis' other hand. The Irish lad had a smile on his face.
While the five boys were in the limo on their way home to their shared flat, Liam noticed another thing. Niall was sitting by the window with Louis on his other side. They were gazing out the window. Suddenly, Niall turned to look at Louis. Their eyes met and Louis leaned forward to place a kiss on Niall's forhead. They shared a small smile and turned back toward the window. Louis wrapped his arms around Niall. The latter leaned into Louis as they both drifted off to sleep.
Later that night, Liam laid in bed thinking about the moments he had seen between Niall and Louis. It seemed as if they were meant to be secret. Maybe they were, maybe it didn't matter if someone saw. Liam was the only one who saw anyway. Liam finally realized that his two bandmates - Niall and Louis - had fallen in love just as he and Harry had.
As to prove it, one week later Niall and Louis came out to the band as a couple. Liam sat on the couch with Harry and Zayn as Nouis stood in front of them with their hands intertwined. Liam felt Harry grab his hand. Liam smiled at the two boys in front of him and said, "I noticed, and I'm happy for you."
