The Doll Collection | | Niall Horan

Payne Pain

Ms. P's son wasn't what I thought he'd be. I was expecting a kid. And he was faaarrrr from that.

"Hey! Come on in!" My mom exclaims. After they're inside I ask my mom to help me get the salad.

"What?" She asks once we're in the kitchen.

"What? What do you mean what?! Why didn't you tell me her son wasn't a child?!" I whisper yell.

"I thought it was common sense!" She weakly defends her self.

"Mom!" I whisper exclaim.

"Get the salad and stop being rude!" She says before leaving me alone.

"Unbelievable," I mutter, taking the salad to the table and smiling to everyone.

"Elaine this is Ms. P, but you already know her," my mom says.

"Hi," I say with a sheepish smile.

"And it's Ms. Payne." She corrects nicely. "Oh and this is Liam, my son," I then look to Liam and give him a smile.

"Hi," I say and he smiles back.

"Hi," He replies. After the introductions were over, we dug into our plates and chat after.

"So Ara how's the family doing?" My mom asks.

"They're having a pretty hard time but I'm sure we'll get through it," She says. She told us that her cousins been kidnapped and they didn't know how to find her or where to even start. The police said they had a lead so hopefully it all works out for her. She hasn't been home lately because she's been helping her family out with looking for her and asking people. She even managed to get her cousins college friends involved.

"I'm really sorry you all are going through that," Ara nods in return before continuing to tear through her salmon.

"Elaine?" My mom says. I had a mouthful of fish and it wasn't pretty. Everyone's attention was on me and I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment. Way to go mom.

I swallow my food and take a sip of my water before speaking, "yes?"

"You and Liam look to be the same age, right?"

"Yeah I guess so," I say giving her a look that says cut it out. She mouths a 'no' and I stab my asparagus before shoving it into my mouth.

"And you too are hardworking and single,"

I nearly choke on my food from hearing that and try to get myself together afterwards by saying it went down the wrong pipe. After dinner was over I brought the dishes to the sink and Liam did too to help out. I thanked him and brought out the skillet cookie that was made for dessert. Afterwards, they chatted some more and left. On the way out Liam and I are the first ones out while my mom and his talked about planning another dinner but at her house. Liam has his hands shoved in his pockets as we walked.

"Was I the only one who found that dinner a little awkward?" He asks breaking the silence. I laugh at his response and shake my head.

"Oh yeah, that was very awkward,"

"Yeah for us at least," he says. We laugh it out and before you know it, his mom and mine are out exchanging knowing looks. "Uh oh here comes the awkward twins,"

I laugh at him and playfully hit his shoulder. "Stop it,"

"Nice to know you are getting along," my mom says.

"Yeah really well might I add," Ms. Payne says.

Liam and I exchange annoyed looks before looking back to them. "I think that's our cue to go." Liam's mom stumbled a bit and my mom laughs after she gets her.