New Beginnings. (Jiam AU)

Chapter 04.

Jade's POV

2008

"Liam, are you sure we're even supposed to be here?" I squeal as Liam covers my eyes with a blindfold.

"Relax, Jade. It's a surprise, not a geometry test," he remarks with a chuckle as we begin to walk. He then leads me to a car, where he opens the door and guides me in.

"Liam James Payne, I swear to god if you are plotting to kill me I will come back as a ghost to haunt you," I say, trying my best not to laugh.

"Shh," he says, wrapping his arms around me. "Almost there," he adds.

A couple minutes later, I find myself being ushered out of the car. I immediately feel my sandals touch the soft grass, slowly walking as Liam guides me. "Are we there yet?" I ask, holding on to his hand for dear life.

He intertwines our fingers with a chuckle escaping his lips. "Actually, we are."

He lifts up both of his hands to untie the blindfold from around my head, making me open my eyes at the sight. I look around, emitting a small gasp. We are on a field, with a small stream running along the side. There is a small table on top of a little hill, along with two chairs. I look down and see candles illuminating the way to the hill, which was such a beautiful sight to see.

I look up at Liam, a small smile on my lips. "Liam... You shouldn't have," I mumble softly, lifting my hand up to cup his cheek.

He leans closer to my touch, smiling brightly. "Do you like it, Jade?" he asks, taking in a shaky breath.

I give him a nod, giggling softly. "It's perfect."

"That's only the icing on the cake, my love." he says, "shall we?" he adds, taking my free hand in his and intertwining our fingers as we walk to the table, where we sit across from each other.

"Liam... This is just, it's so perfect..." I mumble, unable to find my words.

"It was nothing, Jade. I'm glad you liked it," he says, lifting up the lid from a plate that was next to the candle. "Spaghetti?" He says with a nervous chuckle, setting the lid down on the floor beside him.

My eyes widen at the sight of the heap of pasta, with the tomato sauce smothered all over and meatballs littering the top.

"You don't like it?" He says when I don't respond. "I can go ask the driver to get us something else..." He trails off, nervously scratching the back of his neck.

"No, no! This is absolutely perfect!" I counter, shaking my head. "I was just overwhelmed, that's all."

He nods, shrugging as he places my hand on top of his. "You deserve the best. You really do, Jade."

"Did you make this yourself?" I ask, trying to make conversation with him.

"Actually, I did. I know that you're probably hungry, so shall we eat?"

I nod, diverting my attention to the spaghetti. A small smile is curved upon my lips as he picks up his fork, twirling it around the pasta and the sauce and bringing it up to my lips.

"Say aah," he says, a wide grin apparent on his face.

I waste no time in arguing with him about how I could feed myself, knowing that he would give me a whole lecture about how I deserved the best, even if I didn't. I haven't gone on a date since eighth year, and this was the first time that I felt cared for.

Liam slowly feeds the pasta into my mouth, the sauce tasting absolutely delicious. I chew slowly as he takes a forkful of spaghetti into his mouth, chuckling softly.

"This tastes /so/ good," I say, using my fork to feed myself, as Liam seemed to be busy eating.

"Mhm," was all he could say as he shoved another forkful in my mouth, as did I.

I take the long spaghetti noodles in my mouth, one being longer than the rest. I look up at Liam, who has the same noodle in his mouth. I chew on it slowly, and so does he. The noodle gets shorter and shorter as we both eat it, until our lips are mere centimeters from each others'.

With a small chuckle, Liam slurps up the noodle, taking the rest of it in his mouth and presses his lips against mine.

I don't pull back, like I had done so many times. His lips were so soft, and I just simply couldn't resist.

Liam pulls away with a wide grin on his lips, his cheeks tinted pink. "Jade, I want to ask you something..." He mumbles, looking down.

"Yea?" I say, a smile making it's way onto my lips.

He takes his hand in mine, looking at me with pure adoration. "Jade, I know it's only been a few weeks, but these few weeks have been the best I've spent with you. I know the Judges' Houses are in two weeks and I know that we're both terrified, but I want you to know that I've fallen for you, Jade Amelia." He then pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath and looking into my eyes. "Be mine, little miss Thirlwall?"

I feel my cheeks flush as I nod at him, a wide grin on my lips. "Of course, Liam James."

He gets out of his seat, going to the edge of the hill and looking up. "She's mine! Jade Amelia Thirlwall is actually mine!" he yells from the top of his lungs.

I stifle a small laugh and rush to his side, taking his hand in mine and lifting it up. "He's mine, too!" I giggle, looking at him as he looks down at me.

"I love you, Jade."

2013

"I love you, Jade... I love you, Jade... I love you, Jade..." The words kept echoing in my mind, making me drift away from reality.

"Jade, baba. Are you alright?" Perrie asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nod slowly and give her a slight smile, also looking at the two other girls, who had concerned looks on their faces. "I'm alright, Pez," I start, then look down at the casserole. "Your food's getting cold. The boys are waiting for us, too." I pick up the casserole dish, heading towards the kitchen door.

Perrie gives me a we'll-talk-about-this-later look as I head out, heaving a small sigh.

This was going to be fun.

I exit the kitchen first, followed by Leigh-Anne, Jesy, and Perrie. The boys were seated, waiting for us to come out. Perrie takes a seat next to Zayn, then Jesy next to Leigh, and Leigh next to Niall, and Niall... next to Liam. Great. 

I take a seat next to him, shifting uncomfortably. 

I just hoped I could get through lunch without anything happening.