Perfect. (Liam Payne)

Break The Rules.

Chapter14 – Break the Rules

"You understand that if you break any of my rules, your phone goes away again." I nodded, eager to take my phone from mom.

"Yes, of course."

"I want you home by ten thirty any time you go out."

"Isn't that a little early? Lexi doesn't have a curfew."

"She's responsible."

I rolled my eyes. Lexi was far from responsible. If she hadn't called me to pick her up just weeks before, who knew what would have happened to her.

"We're done negotiating, Olivia. Curfew at ten thirty and I want to know where you're going and who you're with. Is that clear?"

I nodded.

She held out my phone and I took it from her eagerly.

"I think Liam wants to come over. If that's okay."

"Leave your door open." She walked back to the kitchen and I heard the faucet start running.

I ran up to my bedroom and called Liam right away. It rang a dozen times before going to voicemail. Which was weird.

I tried again and the same thing happened.

So I texted him:

Two weeks are over. Do you want to come over?

Nothing. No response or significance that he read the text. It was almost like he was... avoiding me. But... he wouldn't do that. Would he?

I laid down in bed and stared up at the ceiling. I wasn't grounded anymore. I should have been out having fun. Doing something adventurous or exciting. Not lying in bed, wishing Liam would call me back.

My phone started ringing and I looked at it in surprise. Sure enough, it was Liam calling.

"Hey, you."

"Hey."

"Do you want to come over?"

"I-yeah. Yeah."

"Okay. Just a fair warning, my mom's home."

"That's fine. I can't stay long."

"Is everything okay? You don't seem like yourself."

There was a long pause before Liam spoke again. "Yeah, e there soon."

I stared at my phone, listening to the disconnected beeps. Liam wouldn't have been so short with me. He wouldn't have just hung up on me without a goodbye. There was something off. I just... didn't know what it could be.

I left my room and walked down the steps. Mom was watching a dumb Lifetime movie with a glass of wine in her hand and a bottle on the table.

"Going somewhere?"

"Just outside to wait on Liam."

She nodded once then took a sip of her wine.

I walked outside and sat down on the step, waiting for Liam to show up.

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The limo pulled up outside of the house and I got to my feet. Liam got out and said something to the driver. Then he headed up the sidewalk toward me.

"Hey," I said, a smile spreading on my face. "Do you want to go inside? My mom won't bother us."

He stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed. "I-It'd probably be best if we stayed out here."

"Okay, is everything okay?" Liam was never so distant. The attitude he was displaying was starting to worry me.

"No, Olivia. It isn't."

I waiting, knowing he would tell me sooner or later. My staring was sure to bring it out.

"I think we should break up."

A million words rushed to mind but I kept my mouth shut, choosing what was right to say. I had to keep cool or else I'd explode. "Break up? Why?"

"I-I've done a lot of thinking. When I'm not out touring, you're grounded. If it's not one thing, it's something else. We never get to see each other."

"Liam... we can fix things. It doesn't have to be so..."

"But it is, Liv. It's hard. I don't think there's anything either of us can do about it."

"So you're just giving up."

"I'm not... Liv-"

"If you cared at all about me or this relationship you would try. This isn't trying; it's giving up."

"I'm sorry, Olivia."

I crossed my arms over my chest and just stared at him. I wanted to say something tough, make it seem like I was more mad at him than sad. But I was so close to crying that I knew anything I tried saying would come out weak and pathetic.

"Olivia..."

"I'm sorry I wasted your time, Liam." I turned around and walked back inside. I shut the door behind me and stared at the floor, tears filling my vision. I needed something but... I didn't know what it was.

Liam.

No, no. He hurt me. He deserved to be hurting like I was now. Did he even feel upset?

I ran my fingers through my hair before I went upstairs.

"Liv, come here. I have to show you something." Lexi said from her room.

I groaned and leaned against the wall in the hallway just outside her room. "What?"

She walked out and her eyes widened when she saw me. "What happened to you?"

"Liam and I broke up."

"What, did he finally realize he liked me better?" She asked, laughing.

Instead of starting a fight or saying something I'd regret, I walked away from her. I just didn't have it in me to start something that I knew I wouldn't win.

"Wait, wait. I'm sorry. Come back." She said, running after me.

I sighed, feeling overwhelmingly tired all of a sudden. I stayed with my back to her, needing some time to regroup.

"Why did he break up with you?"

"We never see each other. He goes away on tour then comes back and I'm grounded."

"So he's saying that because you won't break the rules that you're not good enough for him?"

"He didn't say that."

"He doesn't have to. If he really liked you, he'd find a way to make this work."

"Does this mean he doesn't like me?" I whispered. I liked Liam a lot. Almost loved him. I thought he felt the same way.

"This means you can do better. You deserve better."

I turned around and looked at her. Why would Lex say I deserved better when she liked Liam? Because she wanted him to pick her over me? Because she'd be jealous from the start? Because she had good intentions and wanted to cheer me up?

"The right guy will come along and fight for you, no matter what the circumstances are."