The Pianist - One Direction

Chapter 36

I had called Zayn in panic, who called Paul in panic, who called Liam only not in as much panic because he was Paul and he was always calm.

My parents hadn't even waited for a minute at the dinner table before they dropped the bomb.

"Belles, we have great news for you." Dad said, smiling at Mum and Ryan as if all three of them had planned something. They had, actually.

"Okay?" I replied with a tone that could be more excited and kept eating.

"London School of Music and Performances has decided to take you in after all!" Mum bursted with a huge smile. I stared at her without emotion. Of course, it was a huge deal. Those were the words I had been waiting for my entire life, only I wasn't excited nor was I surprised. Of course, they would want a half-famous person in their school, but there was no way I would go back to school now. Maybe later, probably not. I was staying on tour.

"Okay." I repeated, acting like I didn't care even more because I had a feeling I knew where this was going and Ryan was full out staring and I didn't want my voice to break if that would suddenly happen.

Mum sighed and threw her hands in the air. "Don't you understand what this means Issy?" I shrugged. "You're coming home again! You don't need to fly away across the world. You're staying here!" She cried and I swore I saw happy-tears. I looked at her with raised eyebrows, acting completely cool even though I saw where this was going and I didn't like it.

"Mum, I'm not..."

"And the surprises are not even done yet!" She continued, interrupting me. "Guess who's decided to forgive you?" There was a loving smile on her lips and it annoyed the crap out of me. She put her hand on Ryan's on the table and I dared to get eye-contact with him. He smirked, knowing exactly what I thought about all this, enjoying my misery. How did my parents not get it? And they wouldn't give me a second to say that there was no way I would go back to my old life.

They kept talking, trying to talk me into staying at home. Apparently, they had planned this with Ryan already. They said they would "allow" me to live together with him. That they knew I still loved him, because I hadn't been the same since I left him. Wonder why. And they said everybody deserves a second chance. I didn't realise until minutes later that they were talking about me. As if I was the one that had made the mistake. The memories of him screaming that I wasn't good enough was painful enough. I didn't need my parents to say it, too.

Ryan had left the room to go to the bathroom after we all finished eating. After promising my parents that "He'd love to do the dishes for Mr. And Mrs. Bower later." Which caused my mum to actually giggle.

It was clear that I had lost. I wouldn't win no matter how much I tried. How would I survive one day with Ryan? How would I be able to just leave the tour, the entire crew, and go to school? There had to be some way to fix it. I wouldn't stay with him. But after seeing that my parents loved my abusive ex-boyfriend more than they loved me, all the energy had been flowing out of me and I was staring emotionless in front of me. My life was falling apart.

It had been more than thirty minutes since I had called Zayn when there was a knock on the door. Ryan came back from the bathroom and offered to open the door.

"Belle, put away the dishes." My mother told me when she stood up to see who was at the door. I rolled my eyes and walked out after her, only to see nobody but Liam Payne stand at my door, looking scary as hell. He had a white tank-top on which made his muscles look even bigger. When he saw me he walked inside, pushing Ryan away a little harder than necessary making him stumble to regain his balance.

"Take your bags. You're not coming back until after we've been to the states." He said lowly, close to my ear so the others couldn't hear. I nodded numbly and got up to get my bags, that wasn't unpacked yet.