The Horror Of Love (AU)

Chapter 21

*A/N: hey look another update! Sooo when I dropped off the face of the earth this story was almost over and I did have an idea for a sequel but it was super depressing so I don't think I'm gonna do that. Anyways I think at most five more chapters. Don't hate me please then I will be going back the my other story The Step Brother.*

After dinner Liam decided to take me on a walk.

"I... I'm glad you came." I said after a few minutes in silence. "But I think I need time to figure out who I am." Liam nodded and it looked like he'd been expecting this.

"Yeah, of course. With everything you've been through I wouldn't expect anything else." There was a pause but I could tell he wanted to say something else so I stayed silent while he worked out his thoughts. I led us over to a bench so we could sit. "Could we at least- can we still be friends?" He asked.

"Oh." I hadn't expected that. I smiled. "Course. Every girl needs a supernatural friend." He smiled back and my heart beat a bit faster.

"Friends?" He held out his hand.

"Friends." I took his hand and nodded.
~*~
"He asked to stay friends? After you rejected him? Holy shit he must love you!" Louis exclaimed.

"Calm down Louis." I snorted, rolling my eyes. There was some part of me, though that wondered, hoped really, if maybe he was right.

"I'm just saying."

"Yeah well keep your 'just saying' to yourself." I ate another chip. There was a couple of moments of silence.

"I'm proud of you." Louis said. I looked at him in confusion.

"Of why exactly?"

"Of a lot I things actually. The fact the despite what you've been through, you're still here. That you're taking the steps to make sure you're alright before you put yourself in a relationship." He had this small smile on his face and I blushed.

"Thanks." I mumbled. Not quite sure how to respond to that. It was everything I've been needing to hear, that I didn't realise I wanted.

"Course. Now what movie do you wanna watch before the boys come home and ruin the silence?"

We melted into playful banter and I was glad for that. I didn't want anymore serious talk. Louis always knows what I need. I guess that's why he's my best friend.
~*~
It'd been a month and a half since we'd moved in and I'd hung out with Liam a couple of times but we talked on the phone nearly everyday and texted non stop.

"Did you grab the kettle corn off the counter?" I asked Harry who was coming out of the kitchen.

"Yeah. I invited the rest of the group too so I made some more." He said as he sat on Louis' lap. They were so cute.

"Should I grab the bean bags?" I questioned, looking around the living room. There might be enough room. If everyone wanted to sit on laps.

"I got 'em." Niall shouted from the hall. Then the doorbell rang.

I looked at Louis and Harry who were to busy playfully arguing about something to notice.

"Guess that means I'll get it." I smiled. "If you guys didn't bring me any sweets," I began saying before I opened the door. "I'm not letting y-" I opened the door to find Liam.

"I thought you couldn't make it?" I asked a little breathless. It'd been a week since I'd seen those dark chocolate eyes.

"At first I uh couldn't but then I just- I had to. I missed you." He smiled sheepishly. Liam had slowly been shedding his dark exterior to show the sweet boy he used to be and it made me melt.

"I missed you too." I smiled and looked down.

"Good. I mean, not good, I mean." He huffed. "Good that you know I'm not the only one but not good because you had to miss me." He shyly smiled.

"Come on we're gonna miss the credits. I love them so I can figure out which movie to watch next." I grabbed his hand and led him to the living room.

"Hey Liam I though you couldn't make it?" Louis asked, peeking his head out from behind Harry.

"I uh rearranged my schedule."

"Well I'm glad you could make it." Louis smiled warmly, then went back to cooing about how cute Harry was when he concentrated.

"Those two make me sick." I whispered to Liam, smiling fondly.

"Tell me about it. Ever since you set Zayn and Perrie up they've been stuck at the hip." He groaned. I laughed.

"Sorry." I smiled. "Just kidding if I have to deal with this," I gestured to Louis an Harry. "then you have to deal with that." I made a gesture towards nothing really.

"Whatever you say." He threw his head back and laughed. It made my heart beat a little faster knowing I did that. He gave me a questioning look when he heard my elevated heart rate. Luckily the doorbell rang again and Niall was carrying in the bean bags so I got up to get it again.

"Yo! The party has arrived you may now bow and be graced with my presence." Eleanor shouted giving a grin to the room. Niall actually bowed at her feet just to amuse her. "Why thank you my ever loyal servant." She giggled and flopped down on a bean bag next to Niall. Niall leant against the bean bag. Hmmm something is defiantly going on there.

"Hey guys I hope you don't Mind that I brought Zayn?" Perrie said entering with Zayn in tow.

"The more the merrier." I smiled and nodded in the direction of the living room.

"I'm lonely I am so lonely." Danielle sang as she entered by herself.

"Don't worry Dani we'll find you someone." I patted her shoulder before closing the door and heading back to the living room. It seemed that there were no available places to sit. Harry had decided to sit next to Louis instead of on top of him. Niall and El had one of the bean bags, Dani claiming the other. Zayn and Perrie taking up most of the couch with Liam at the end. There was a sliver of space between Perrie and Liam that I assume was supposed to be my seat.

"Thanks guys." I said sarcastically, shaking my head. I sat in front of the sofa by Liam's legs.

"Alright. Everyone comfy? Good now shut up because we're watching Maleficent." I said and pressed play on the remote. I heard a small huff of laughter from Liam and bit my lip to keep from letting out my own laugh.

Throughout the movie I had somehow moved in between Liam's legs, with my head on his thigh, and him running his hand through my hair. I slowly started to drift off.