I Promise // l.p.

Chapter 20

•Liam's POV•

It's been 3 weeks that Katie broke up with me and left. We're on the European leg of the tour and it hurts more knowing that I'm somewhat close to where she is. Tonight's show is in Liverpool, barely 2 hours from Wolverhampton.

"Liam." Zayn nudges me from behind, reminding me that I have a solo to sing. I keep finding myself drifting off into thought during the concert. I can't get her off my mind. I've always thought of her 24/7, but this time it's different. It hurts to think about Katie and it distracts me.

The lights dim and the sound of guitar strings signal that we're about to sing Little Things. I nervously wait for my turn to sing. I don't think I'm prepared to sing this.

"I know you've never loved..." I choke and look down. "...when you smile, you've-" I attempt to catch up with the music but I fail.

A few moments pass in silence.

'I can't.' I mouth to Niall who's sitting beside me. I set my microphone down and rub at my forehead while walking backstage.

Shortly after, the music cuts and Louis' voice sounds through the stadium, "We're gonna take a small break."

Harry slips into my dressing room, but I know the other boys are right outside the door.

"Liam," his voice is soft and he places a hand on my shoulder, "what's up?"

"I've lost her." I mumble, looking down at my phone. "I shouldn't have let them-"

"There was nothing you could do, she understood right?" He interrupts me.

"I told her, but it didn't change anything." I sigh.

"Have a little hope, Liam. This is Katie we're talking about right? She'll come around, she loves you."

"You don't understand," I shake my head. "I hurt her in a way she should never experience. She was hurt so bad, she felt like she had to leave! She left and I wasn't there to protect her when that son of a bitch pulled a gun on her!" My words speed up and I find myself yelling at Harry, tears streaming down my face.

"Slow down." Harry puts his hands up. "Girls can be complicated, you know?"

"Katie was never complicated." I wipe at my eyes. Sometimes I would like to think that I know her better than she does.

"I'm sorry, Liam." Harry slumps his shoulders, giving up. "It wasn't your fault."

He's right. It wasn't all my fault.

Anger rises up in me. Anger towards Modest. They're controlling and threatening. We're just their string puppets. Their 'perfect boyband'. If anything is the slightest bit flawed, they make a big deal of it. But nothing could ever be flawless, we're only human.

Harry pulls me out of my fit by wrapping his arms around me in comfort.

"I've made a mistake, Harry."

•Katie's POV•

I keep telling myself how I'm over Liam an better off without him, but it's hard to stay convinced when I wear his hoodie to bed every night. I truly love Liam. I've never loved anyone with as much passion as I do him. I would sacrifice anything for that boy.

But he can't know that.

He has clearly moved on. He's a coward for letting me off by cheating. The worst I thought Liam Payne could do was accidentally trip over you. Now I know he's capable of much worse. I sort of envy Liam. He gets to escape back to that tour of his while I sit at home.

"Do you need a ride there?" My dad shouts from the next room, cutting my thoughts.

"No, Caitlyn's taking me." I set down the mail on the table.

Today's the day. The officers have me the option to see who the shooter is, and some part of me decided to take it. I've been nervous about it and I'm starting to second guess my choice. Caitlyn's driving all the way from London and it'll be nice to see her anyways.

"Caitlyn..?" He drifts off, trying to remember her.

"Harry's girlfriend." I tell him and he nods.

I start to shuffle through the mail and something catches my eye. I pull it from the stack to see an envelope addressed to my father from Liam.

"What's this?" I turn to face him.

"Katie." He reaches for it but I jerk it away.

"You've been getting mail from Liam?" I don't wait for him to give me an answer before ripping the top off and pulling out what's inside. "What the hell is this?" I hold up a check.

"Let me explain."

"Please, explain to me why my ex boyfriend is paying you." I sit down and cross my arms.

A few silent moments pass by before he decides to speak. "Your mother left me."

The color drains from my cheeks. How come he never told me?

"She left me right after I lost my job." He rubs at the back of his head.

Anger flashes through me. She only used Dad for money and that makes my blood boil. "When did this happen?" I try to sound calm.

"A year or two ago maybe." He shrugs.

"And you weren't employed anywhere else?"

"I'm getting old, Katie. Plus, jobs are hard to come by these days." Dad says.

"Why didn't you call me? I would've came home and helped you." I stress.

"I can't do anything for you here. You were better off out with Liam." He explains.

"Dad, I-"

"Liam found out and insisted on helping." He cuts in.

"It's not his place to 'help out' anymore, Dad! Here I am-"

"You're hurt. There is nothing you can do right now."

My phone rings, cutting our conversation short. Caitlyn texted me saying she's here. "I have to go."

I struggle to get out to my driveway with these crutches and climb into her car. I shut the door louder than I intentioned, and Caitlyn takes notice.

"Everything ok?" She cocks her head at me.

"Fine. Lets just go, yeah?"

She nods and the whole ride to the prison is silent. We pull up to the large gray building that has two tall fences wrapped around the perimeter. The pit in my stomach grows more and more the closer we get to it.

"I'm gonna use the restroom real fast." Caitlyn tells me after we talk to the officer at the front desk.

"I'm going to go on in." I swallow.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Just catch up with me." I nod.

I walk to one of the guards who leads me into the room. Panels of glass separate the room in half; one side the prisoners sit, and the other side is for visitors.

"One hour." The guard reminds me once we stop in front of the glass.

I look up to see who it is and freeze in my spot. I take in a deep breath and decide to be smart with him. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Didn't expect you to be." He smirks. His cuffed hands are lightly tapping at the glass between us, trying to get a reaction from me.

"Where'd you come up with enough cash to buy a firearm?" I roll my eyes.

"Who says I bought it?" His voice is scratchy and muffled from all those cigarettes.

Caitlyn appears behind me. She stops for a minute and leans forward, taking a good look at the psychopath in front of me. "Riley?"

"Cait." He scoffs, his voice full of disgust.

"You know each other?!"