Reality (Liam Payne) -On Hold-

Chapter 4

It wouldn't be Reality if we didn't have any flaws.

It had been a week since I had went out with Liam. A week full of studying, summarizing and memorizing. I had finished most of exams, thankfully; and I was ready to take on the world again. Not literally, of course. 

"You want to come to the mall?" Grace asked sipping a cup of coffee. "They're having loads of sales for Christmas time"

I shook my head.

"I've got to skype my mum, some of us actually talk to our parents" I teased.

She scoffed and pretended to act offended, but we both knew I was kidding.

"Alright then, I'll just go with Phillipa then, maybe she would be a better friend and accompany me to the sales" She joked.

I shook my head even though I was smiling. 

"I've got to go, I promised mum."

I got up from my seat at the warm coffee shop and made my way towards my dorm room.

My feet lightly tapped the pavement as I took in the familiar surroundings. Trees were scattered around the campus, moving slightly because of the wind; and the sky was its usual grey, wintery colour. Students filled the grass spaces provided by the university for casual outings, making the environment more cheerful due to their chatter. I smiled as I observed the scenery, as much as I hated the university for making me work so hard and take classes I didn't need for my major, I loved it at the same time because it made me feel like home. Home away from home.

I jiggled the keys of my dorm room and opened the door before stepping in. I immediately grabed my laptop and signed in on skype.

"Hey mum" I greeted "How is it going there?"

"Everything is fine honey, we have just been to visit your dad. It's been a year since the incident, so we decided to honour him"

I nodded sadly.

"I wish I was there with you."

"I wish you were here too, but you've got to persue your dreams and make him proud. Just like you used to say when you were little" She declared.

"I know mum, it's just a bit hard when I left all of you there when you needed me the most" I cried.

"You're making us proud hun, that's all we need from you" She smiled reassuringly.

"Did you at least put a flower on his grave for me?"

"Of course, we wouldn't forget it"

We stayed in silence for a bit as my mother needed to sort some of her work papers.

"I'm sorry Natalie, but I've got to go. Grandma's burnt herself in the kitchen and I need to step in" She informed "I promise to call you in a bit"

"It's fine mum, we'll speak later. I love you" 

"Love you Nat, don't worry so much" She said before hanging up.

Worry, something I always did since I was a little girl. Something that would fill my head most of the time, from travelling to studying.

What if the plane crashes?

What if I won't make it?

What if I die?

I couldn't really help it, I was a total pessimist and no matter how good the situation was, I would always find something that could go wrong with it. It was one of my many flaws, unfortunately.

Sitting up from my bed, I reached over the bedside table and grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my camera roll, through all the photos I had saved of me, my family and my friends, smiling.

A couple of minutes later, I switched my jeans for some comfortable sweat pants and layed down on my bed. Switching on my laptop and braiding my hair, I prepared myself for one of my lazy days since I didn't have to go to work today, praise the lord!

I turned on netflix and decided to catch up on some series, and to watch a few episodes, but, of course, a few episodes became a whole entire season, and that also turned into the whole entire series... 

It was like a break from University life, because that shit actually hard. You don't actually expect it to be that bad, but there's always planning ahead, studying ahead... And of course you have the prick students that will sell fake notes so you'll get everything wrong in your exam. College life is a start to the horrible world we got out there.

"You look like crap"

I jumped startled, quickly turning around and glancing at a beautifully dressed Phillipa.

"Where are you going?" I asked "And how the hell did you get in here?"

"I am going on a date and I need your makeup." She informed.

I gestured her to get it.

"All yours"

She smiled at me before digging into my makeup box.

As she rummaged through my crap, I let my thoughts drift to Liam and our lunch date, if it is a date. I wondered what he thought about that. Maybe he just meant it as friends, or as in a start of a relationship, but that's taking it too far. He is an international popstar for heaven's sake! 

"Thanks Nat, Ill tell you the details after I come back" Phillipa yelled rushing out of my dorm.

I shrugged and continued to watch my series. Just another normal day for Natalie Andrews...