I'll Always Just Be The Boy Next Door (One Direction)

Chapter Two

Seven Years Old

Liam was waiting for the bus when Emily approached. Liam smiled at her and quietly complimented her on her first day of school outfit. He didn't want the big kids to hear and possibly make fun of him. 

"Oh!" Emily face lit up. And she reached behind her, fishing for something in her backpack. "I forgot to give this to you yesterday." She pulled out something crumpled in brown paper. She slowly unwrapped it. In Emily's hands were two figures made out of Popsicle sticks. One had long brown hair, resembling Emily, and the other had short brown hair, resembling Liam, made out of felt. They were holding hands. "Happy Birthday, Liam." Emily told him with a smile. Liam reached over and took the figures. He smiled up at Emily.

"Thanks so much, Emily!" Liam said. He placed them carefully in his backpack. "When it's your birthday you'll get a perfect gift too." He told her. Emily just giggled. That's when the bus approached the stop. Liam took his usual place in the front and Emily sat beside him. 

"Oh, young lady," the driver said to Emily. "you're in grade four. You're supposed to be four seats back." Emily nodded and moved back. Liam was alone again. 

*****

Liam was walking home from school three weeks later and it was raining. He had his hood above his face. He was really hoping Emily would be at her grandmothers for a while longer so he can set up his birthday present for her. He pulled the small table in his sister Ruth's room quietly so she might not notice it when he carried it down the stairs. He put it under the awning to shelter it from the rain. Of course it had to rain on this perfect day. He brought out of his backpack the tiny cake he bought from the bakery down the street. He had to smooth out some of the icing but it was relatively in good shape. He set it out on the little table with a white table cloth. Liam didn't really know what Emily would want to drink so he just set the carton of milk out and two glasses. He ran inside and put on his best jeans and his favorite plaid shirt. He smoothed down his hair and sprayed some of his father's old cologne on his shirt. He heard a car door slam and ran to the nearest window facing Emily's house. He saw Emily, dressed as a princess with butterfly wings and a tiara climb out of a van. He instantly smiled. Liam straightened his shirt and walked over to his side of the fence. He grabbed a stone from his mother's landscaping and tossed it up to Emily's window. A lamp switched on and Emily pulled aside her curtains. She was still dressed in butterfly wings and a princess tiara. Liam pointed to the table he set up. Emily's face lit up and she disappeared from the window, clearly running out to her yard. When her backdoor opened she rushed outside. She and Liam looked over the fence at each other and Liam opened the gate for her like a gentleman. When Emily walked over to the table he pulled out her chair for her. 

"Liam...you did this for me?" She asked, awstruck. Liam just proudly nodded and sat down. Emily scanned everything and couldn't stop smiling.

"Happy Birthday, Emily." Liam told her. Emily stood up from her chair and walked over to Liam. She pulled him up by his plaid collar. Emily is still quite a lot taller than him. But Liam and Emily don't notice that. Emily just leans down and kisses him on the cheek. Liam's face flushes a deep red. The Emily pulls him into a tight hug.

"You are the best friend I could ever ask for." Emily whispered in Liam ear. It gave him cold chills. His palms were sweaty and he was shaking. Emily finally released him. She smiled once more and then took her place at her seat. 

"Uh...I-I couldn't get any candles. My mum wouldn't want me to light them anyways." Liam apologized. Emily just smiled.

"It's fine." She said. Liam cut the cake into two slices and gave one to Emily and one for himself. Emily was about to take her first bite but she looked back up to Liam, still smiling. "You really are incredible." She told him. Liam just blushed again. "Whenever you get older and get a girlfriend...she will be the luckiest girl in the world." Emily told him. For some reason...that didn't make Liam feel too good. Who is he kidding. I could never get a girl like Emily. She's older and more beautiful. She's outta my league! Liam thought to himself. He shook it off and just smiled back at Emily. They started eating their cake. 

 As it started to get late, Emily's mum called for her to come back home. She hugged Liam goodbye and then disappeared behind the gate door. 

"Happy Birthday, Emily..." Liam whispered happily to himself. Then he just headed back to under the awning and cleaned up his mess. 

"Liam! What are you doing with my stuff!" Liam heard someone say behind him. He turned and saw Ruth, furious. Looks like she had gotten home from football practice. Ruth chased him around the yard until Liam slipped in the mud. Ruth's expression softened and she felt compassion for her brother. She reached out a hand and helped him up.

"Sorry..." Liam mumbled. Ruth just shrugged it off.

"Just don't do it again." She told him smiling. Liam smiled back. At least his sister was kind about it. Liam and Ruth cleaned everything up and returned Ruth's belongings back to her room. "Night, Li." Ruth said closing her door. 

"Night Ruthie." Liam told his sister. He shut the door behind him and changed into his pajamas. He pulled back the curtains from his window and looked across to Emily's window. Her pink curtains were closed tight but he could barely make the outline of a princess with butterfly wings dancing around in her room.

*************************** AUTHOR'S NOTE ***********************

Thanks for @wuddupitsshannon for the ideas on gifts!! :D Hope you liked it! FEEDBACK PLEASE!!  favorite parts? liking it so far? and again the age at the top will always be Liam's current age(: Thanks everyone! COMMENT! READ! VOTE! thanks lovelys(:

-Kate xx