Completed Heart

Chapter 21: Liam

Chapter 22: Liam

We walked into the house, not touching. I turned the corner and into the kitchen, where Liam and Louis ‘casually’ were hanging around. Something was on the stove, and smelled delicious.

“Hey, babe!” Louis greeted, “How was your afternoon?” He asked, turning to wink at me, so Liam couldn’t see. I shot him a look through narrowed eyed.

“It was alright, I guess.” I tried to sound nonchalant about it. I guess it worked because Liam let out a big sigh.

“So, what’s for dinner?” I turned to Liam with a smile. He seemed really excited for tonight, I was too. The more time I spent with Liam, the better I felt. He made me feel like a good person (even though I am not as I had just made out with my brother’s off-limits close friend, behind my boyfriend’s back).

“I found this cool vegetarian cookbook and I threw some recipes together.” He replied, clearly jubilant. I smiled, I loved seeing Liam like that.

“Well, the lads and I are actually staying at a motel tonight, to give you and Liam some private brosis time.” Louis declared as Zayn came into the room with both his and Louis’ suitcases in tow.

“We’re ready.” He turned and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Louis did the same. I followed them to the door where I received a kiss from Niall and Harry, too. Had anyone else noticed that Harry lingered on my cheek longer than the other boys, and how he winked at me when he pulled away? I hoped not. The boys left after that.

“They better not crash my car…” Liam muttered under his breath.

“Don’t put it past them,” I countered. He raised his eyebrows at me and then walked into the kitchen. He finished up dinner as I set the table. We both sat down, across from each other, and smiled. Liam sighed, his smile turning into a thin hard line.

“I want us to have fun tonight, but I need to talk to you about something first.” Uh-oh. I hated it when he went all serious on me. What did he want to talk about? The fact that I practically just made out with one of his best mates? The fact that his little sister is a filthy, cheating whore? The fact that our mother is a fucking, unreliable drunk? The fact that he was going to leave me alone again, to a life that makes me depressed? Or how about the fact that I am completely lying to him, Zayn and Niall?

“We need to discuss a certain problem.” Wow, very specific Liam. Way to give me a fucking heart attack.

“I haven’t seen mum since she came home a couple days ago.” Oh, that’s what we’re discussing. I should have known, he was completely oblivious to the other problems.

“Yeah, and you’re surprised?” I mumbled.

“Is it usually like this?” I paused, I actually had to think about it.

“I don’t know. Sometimes. Usually I see her once or twice more a week, but it depends on her luck at picking up guys at the bar.” That must be where I get my sluttiness from. Liam chewed the inside of his cheek while he thought about it. He was obviously disturbed by my confession, but looked like he was expecting it.

“Come with us.” He pleaded. I shook my head. He was really trying, but I couldn’t. I bit my lip and looked down.

“Susan, it isn’t fair to you. Just come with us and I’ll figure out what to do about mum.” 

“Liam,” I looked up at him seriously, “life isn’t fair. I’ve gotten over that. I need to be here with her. Please, stop asking. Have the boys stop asking. I can’t take much more,” I muttered, holding back tears. He nodded, and patted my hand.

“Call me every day. If ANYTHING, and I really mean ANYTHING, Susan, goes wrong, call me.” I nodded. I had to change the subject quickly, I didn’t want to spend my last night with my brother talking about stuff like this.

“What movie are we watching tonight?” He shook his head at my obvious attempt, but played along anyways.

“I don’t know. I was going to play it by ear, or let you decide.” I laughed.

“Me decide? That’s a first. None of the other boys let me decide!” He looked up at me, amusement in his eyes.

“They are stubborn.”

“I know.” We were laughing together. Even when the boys aren’t in the house, the thought of them made me laugh.

“They love you, too.” He said quietly, changing the mood back to seriousness.

“I know.” I sighed. I got up to clear our plates while Liam cleared the rest of the table. After dishes were done, we settled down in the TV room. I snuggled up to him under the blanket and he put his arm around me. The movie we were watching was a stupid romcom, so it was easy to tune out. We talked the entire time.

“I’m going to miss you a lot, Suze.” He sighed.

“I know.”

“And if for one second, you want to come with us just give me a ring.”

“I know,”

“I want to stay here with you.”

“Liam,” I sighed, “I want you to stay here with me, too. But then in some ways, I don’t want you to. I want you to go out there and show the world what you are made of and live your dream. I don’t want you to be stuck here.” He shook his head.

“I don’t want to leave you alone. It isn’t right. From the moment you were born, I was there, protecting you, watching over you. We were always together, we were best friends. Now, I barely see you. I miss you. It hurts knowing that you have to fend for yourself. I want there to be someone here with you.”

“I will be fine. I have been for the last two years.” I tried to say it softly, but my words had hurt him. He took in a breath sharply. I hated the way he put himself down. He always figured out a way to blame himself.

“Liam. You are, have been and always will be, an AMAZING older brother. You are probably the best. Even when you’re not around, I know you’re looking out for me. I have other people to look out for me, too. Sarah, Leah, and,” I forced myself to say his name, “Tyler. They all protect me, too. Don’t worry.”

“I like Tyler, Susan, don’t get me wrong. But if he hurts you, I swear to god…” Liam breathed out, menacingly. Liam was always the calmest person, the least violent. He was always the mediator, except when it came to me. If someone threatened my happiness, health or well-being, he became a different person. I nodded. Eventually, the movie ended. W e gathered our stuff together and went to bed. He had to help me up the stairs, I was too tired. We went to our own rooms to get ready, shower, change, etc. I was about to climb in bed when I heard a tap on my door. Liam came in and sat down on my bed, patting the spot next to him. I sat down next to him and was pulled in for a hug.

“Goodnight, Susie,” he rubbed my back, “these past few days have been amazing and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” I nodded. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he got up and went to his own room. I fell asleep soon after I got in bed.

I awoke with a start, I had been having a nightmare, but I couldn’t remember what it was about. I tried to fall back asleep, it was only 3 a.m., but I couldn’t. I slowly climbed out of bed and wandered into Liam’s room. I walked over to his side of the bed and stood there.

He opened his eyes and quickly sat up, realizing I was there.

“Susan, what’s wrong?” He asked, worried.

“I had a nightmare, I can’t sleep.” He yawned and patted the empty side of his bed. I climbed over him and settled in the bed.

“Goodnight, Suze. I love you.” He muttered, sleepily. We slept with our backs facing to each other, but I still felt comfortable and protected. I slept without another nightmare.