She // l.p.

4

a/n: check out the trailer from a very good friend of mine on the side bar, I hope you guys like this chapter, it might be one of my favorites

Today’s the day, I have to get up out of this cluster of blankets that somehow smell like her, put on the closest thing to a smile possible, and pretend that I know how to stand on my own two feet with Melissa stomping over my existence with her collected behavior and “wanting to be friends” and what-not. Absolute bull if you ask me but then again I am in denial, I keep imagining that when she says just friends her body language rejects it.

“You better be at Niall’s today or I’ll call your mother and every other reinforcement I have.” My voicemail sounds off with Zayn’s voice as I pry myself from the bed and chug toward the bathroom to pee.

I have an hour exactly to get to Niall’s and transform myself into friend Liam rather than I-still-love-you-why-don’t-you-love-me-pathetic Liam. The earlier I get there the more time I have to scope out hiding spots to avoid interaction with people who actually enjoy their lives. So I shower in less than ten minutes, throwing on a jean button-down and black pants and sneakers before putting on her favorite cologne. Call me crazy but it’ the best shot I have of seeing her smile at me the way she used too.

The same car I arrived in yesterday is waiting in my spot in the parking garage without the driver and I climb in, grabbing the extra set of keys from the visor and twisting them in the ignition to get the car to roar to life. Thankfully there’s no traffic, out of poor judgment I go a little over the speed limit to arrive at Niall’s just as fast as I left with the occasional pause for stop lights and the elderly who shouldn’t drive.

A small headache sets on the horizon when I realize she’ll be here along with an audience in a couple hours to all be a part of the second hand embarrassment when they see my  mouth dry and water at the same time when she looks my way. “Open up,” I say into the voice receiver with reluctance.

There’s a small buzz before the door swings open to reveal Niall with a spatula in his hand and a little sweat on his brow from trying to work his grill. “Before you walk in you should know it’s a new grill and-”

“And the last thing you cooked yourself was a grilled cheese with the assistance of me, yes.” He frowns and shakes his head as I walk inside, heading toward the smell of burnt hotdogs. “Looks like I’ll be handling the grilling to-”

“Niall can I move the chairs around back there toward the table or leave them by the cooler.” I just can’t catch a break lately. My eyes shoot to Niall’s and he swallows hard.

“No,” I say in hopes that he’ll say I was just hearing things and that she’s not here.

“She showed up on her own. She offered to help out man, what was I supposed to say?” Niall tries to defend himself as I pace in front of him.

“No,” I half whisper, “You could’ve said no to her for Christ’s sake. “No Melissa, I’ve got it handled I’ll see you later.” That’s what you could’ve said and you could’ve politely shut the door in her face.” She’s no more than twenty feet from where I’m standing. Just around the corner ad down that hall she’s in the kitchen waiting for Niall to get her the ok to move some chairs.

“Niall,” Mel calls and a few seconds later she round the corner and I’m sure I just gasped.

Her hair is tied back and up in a ponytail, the light from the windows hitting against the skin of her neck. And… I’m imagining it I know it. A thin sweater, my favorite of all her clothes that she always chooses to wear with a lace black, bra-type thingy underneath – the thing is so thin you can almost see through and for once I’m complaining about it. I can’t tell her that I’m glad she wore it. Well I could but we’re just friends and I know in her definition of just friends is different than what I want it to be.