Behind the Mic (Liam Payne fanfic)

Chapter Seventeen

"Rose? Are you in there?" I groaned in frustration, recognizing the voice as Riley's. "I saw your car in your spot, I know you're home." He knocked again, louder. "Rose, open up! I don't have my key on me, but I can find the spare one if you don't let me in."

"Who is that?" Liam whispered to me, pulling his hand out of my underwear and sitting up.

"My ex-boyfriend. I didn't know he was coming here, I'm so sorry," I said, quickly sitting up and looking for my robe to throw on. "I'll make him leave. Wait here for me." I slid out the door, leaving Liam looking dumbfounded. I tied the robe around me and made sure it was secure before opening up my front door a little bit. Just enough to see Riley standing out there with his arms crossed. "What could you possibly want?" I scowled at him.

"I want to talk," he said. "I want my stuff back, too."

"I don't want to talk to you," I said. "And I gave all your stuff to Goodwill already." I lied. "You have no reason to be here. Get out." I started to close the door but he stuffed his foot in between the door and the doorframe so I couldn't close it.

"No, Rose, please," he said. "You have to understand. Violet and I love each other."

"Cool, I hope I'm invited to the wedding so I can not go," I responded. "Move your foot or I'll crush it." He pushed the door open and pushed me out of the way and stepped into my apartment.

"You have to listen to me."

"I don't have to do jack shit," I responded, furious. I felt my nostrils flaring and curled my hands into fists. "But you have to leave right--"

"Is that a hickey on your neck?" He interrupted, stepping up to me and pulling my robe down my shoulder to get a better look. I instinctively pushed him away and stepped back, holding my hand over where Liam had just went to town on my neck.

"I burnt myself with a curling iron," I lied to him, again. "But it's none of your damn business. We broke up. You're not my boyfriend anymore. Get out of my apartment."

"Have you already moved on? It's been two days, Rose!" He shouted. I winced. I didn't tell Liam how recently Riley and I broke up, and now he'd surely hear it, given he was only about ten feet away and my walls weren't the thickest. I didn't want Riley to know Liam was here, though. I wasn't sure how he'd react to that.

"You cheated on me," I simply said, keeping my voice even and low. I didn't want this to turn into a screaming match. Not only did I not want my neighbors complaining, I didn't want Liam hearing or seeing that side of me. "I don't think you have the right to be upset about anything or anyone I might or might not be doing. You don't have the right to set a time limit on me. You moved on before we even broke up."

"You're a bitch," Riley spat. "A selfish bitch, you know that?" My bedroom door swung open and banged against the wall. Riley and I spun around to see Liam in his boxer briefs, hands in fists, eyebrows furrowed, towering in the door frame.

"Lay off her," he growled.

"Who the fuck is this?" Riley shouted at me. "Is this your rebound?"

"Get out, Riley," I said to him.

"I think it's about time you leave," Liam echoed.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Riley shouted at Liam, shoving past me to square up with him. Liam barely had to puff out his chest to stand over and clearly intimidate Riley.

"I'm someone who actually cares about Rose's feelings," Liam replied. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm her boyfriend--"