fix you // liam payne

chapter thirteen // winds for the sail.

ellie's pov

Since Liam's sharing goodbyes with his family this afternoon, I was forced to eat my lunch hidden from the other interns, who're still determined to make my days a living hell. I've been avoiding Chelsea with all my might, not sure if I'm more frustrated or hurt by her mean antics. 

As I make my way back down the familiar private hall, taking as long of a lunch break as I could stand, I round the corner to be met with the sniffling pair that are Liam's parents. 

"It was lovely meeting you, Ellie," His mother immediately throws her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug that I instantly melted into. I can't even remember the last time my own mother hugged me like this, "Thank you so much for taking care of our little Liam for us," She pulls away to give me a teary smile, loving enough to bring tears to my own eyes. 

"Thank you," His father nods as he pulls his wife off of me, giving me a warm and gentile smile that reaches all the way to his brown eyes; something I recognize immediately that was passed along down to Liam. 

I can't choke out any coherent words, so I just simply nod in return, smiling back at them, hoping they understand. They smile at me before bodyguards of the boys lead them down the private staircase that leads to our back exit. 

 Watching them exit the building, my mind travels back to Liam, who's probably lying alone in his room. I can't help but to replay the way his face lit up when his parents entered the room; so radiating. I can't even imagine how it must feel to have a family so close knit. The only times I call my parents, is when I make up some ridiculous excuse as to why I'm missing the next family holiday, when it's really because I can't stand being the same room as them. 

So after checking my hair for the millionth time in the reflective surfaces I walk past, I move back in the direction of Liam's room. A few of the nurses try to stop me to chat, but I pretend to be in a hurry so they don't keep me too long. They're lovely old ladies, but for some reason I'm too anxious to sit and hold a conversation about cross-stitching and grandchildren. It's very unlike me, but I don't dwell on it for too long. 

With a soft knock, I open Liam's door, peeking my head in first before intruding. 

I had been expecting Liam to be in a much better room now that he had the chance to visit with his parents, but much to my surprise he's lying there staring at the television with such a blank expression. It causes my stomach to drop slightly, the same feeling of uneasiness I always get when I see Liam less than happy.

"Hey," I say quietly, tip-toeing into the incredibly quiet room. He has the t.v turned down so low that you can't even hear what they're saying. 

He slowly turns his head to look at me and pushes a flicker of a smile on his face, confirming my theory that he's feeling rather blue. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, not even pretending to not notice his melancholy attitude. He furrows his eyebrows together as he looks up at me as I stand at his bedside. 

"What? Nothing's wrong," He shrugs, looking away from my gaze and back up to some rerun of Game of Thrones it appears. My attention is peaked at the dramatic fight scene happening on one of my favorite shows ever, but I don't allow it to distract me from the more important matter at hands. 

I sit down in my usual chair, which I swear has formed to the shape of my butt, letting Liam know that I'm not going anywhere. Quietly I swear I can hear him let out a quiet sigh, which immediately makes me feel as if I were the most annoying being on the planet.

"Your parents are really lovely people," I tell him, watching him out of the corner of my eyes.

He nods, but not very enthusiastically as he glues his gaze on the television. I want to just reach out and give him a big hug, but I don't want to annoy him more than I already am.