This Feels Like Falling in Love

Chapter One

As I said goodbye to Liam, dressed in an old college sweatshirt and shorts, I knew that everything from that point on would be different... I just never imagined that things would be this different.

~July 10th, 2010~

I finished bobby pinning the last one of my freshly dyed ginger hairs into place. I wanted to look as good as possible, considering this might be my last chance to see Liam in a long, long time. The doorbell rang, followed by inaudible mumbling.

I opened the door slowly and suddenly had strong arms wrapped around me. I took in the familiar scent of cologne as Liam gave me a large bear hug, lifting me off my feet a little. 

"Tay! Happy birthday, again!" He chirped, chocolate eyes shimmering. I had moved to Wolverhampton, right next to the Payne household when I was 5, and have been best friends with Liam ever since. Before I had time to reply, Liam chirped, "Hi, Shelby, Hi William!" he waved to my mom and dad, my parents preferred all of my friends to call them by their first names. 

"Liam, you look nice tonight!" My mom smiled. I hadn't even noticed how nice Liam looked in his blue and green plaid shirt, a new one I guessed, as I had never seen that one before. His hair was in it's natural curly state, he knew I liked it better like that, anyway. "Are you all ready to go yet?" Of course, my mom had to shake me back into my sad reality. Liam was leaving on Monday for X Factor auditions, but no matter how hard I tried to deny the fact that my best friend was really leaving me for who knows how long, it was really happening. 

"Almost, I still have to run out and grab some more things tomorrow. Oh, I was wondering, can I come pick Taylor up tomorrow morning and spend the day with her before I leave for X Factor?" Liam wrapped his arm around me and gave me a tight squeeze.

"Of course, Li! Taylor's gonna miss you so much!" I tried to keep all my emotions from showing on my face, because as soon as I even started to think about Liam leaving me I knew I would break down into tears. I really wanted myself to be happy for Liam, he was like my brother, and him trying for X Factor really was an amazing oppurtunity, and I knew he had the talent to make it to the finals, but I really didn't want to give up my Li. 

"I'm going to go get some, uh, drinks, Mom are they in the cooler outside?" I started to slur my words together a little, as I turned to walk out our glass door to the backyard. I felt the burning sensation of tears to my eyes, but I was determined to make my birthday/Liam's going away barbeque a good one. I went out to my old tree house, the one my dad built for Liam and I when we became friends. The tree house was like my sanctuary, no one bothered me here, and I could have some quiet time to think. I held my head in my hands and gave in to the tears that were welling up in my eyes.

The wooden door creaked open. 

"Taylor?" I looked down to see Liam's brown doe eyes. I quickly  turned the other way, I didn't want him to see me like this.

"Go away!" I mumbled.

"No, I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong." Liam sat next to me and rubbed my back a little.

"Seriously, Liam I don't want to talk about it."

"Naw, come on, tell me. I can't let you be sad at your birthday barbecue and not know why!" He joked. I turned around to face him, his cheerful face suddenly serious.

"I-don't. want. you. to leave," I finally choked out. I could see the tears forming in his eyes as well as he embraced me for a long hug.

"I'm going to miss everyone--especially you, so much, I don't know how I'll be able to do it. Maybe this isn't..." His voice trailed off.

"No!" I cut him off. "Liam this might be your last chance! It's what you've always wanted, there is no way I am letting you stay here! Go get at least to finals of X Factor and go do what you're meant to do, sing! That's what would make me happy!"

"Well, if it makes you happy, I'm going to go win the X Factor!" Liam's eyes were filled with determination. "Now, what do you say, can we go and enjoy the barbecue your dad's cooking up now?"