The Girl In The Dirty Shirt

Chapter 8

I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and the sun beating in my window making it that much worse.

I sat up rubbing my temples and getting to my feet. I walked through the house hardly remembering how I got here. I knew Liam had brought me home, but he wasn't here now. I looked around the apartment realising something was different.

"He cleaned my apartment" I mused looking around. My sink was empty and the counter was wiped down, the empty wine bottle was gone and there was a note stuck to my fridge.

'Glad I met you too - LG x'

I chuckled to myself opening the fridge finding nothing except an orange. I sighed taking it and closing the door. I peeled it sitting at the kitchen counter opening the paper. The clock in the corner read just after eleven. I sighed again opening the classifieds and reading through the postings.

I applied for a handful whether I was qualified or not before folding the paper back up. "And now we wait". I stood up deciding to take a shower before I had to go to work.

I found myself thinking about Liam while standing in the shower. I wanted to know what he was doing; I wanted to know where he was. I wanted to see him.

I turned the water off and wrapped a towel around myself climbing out of the shower. I changed into my uniform and got ready for work. I looked at the clock and it was three thirty I still had enough time to see Liam and get to work by six.

An hour later I stood on the street up the road from Noel's with the biggest pair of sunglasses I owned. I walked up the street feeling my heart pounding in my chest. I don't know what it was about Liam but every time I saw him or thought about seeing him it made my heart flutter and my entire body heat up.

I walked up the steps to the flat taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. I stood waiting before Noel opened the door looking slightly confused.

"Lyla" he smiled opening the door wider. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hoping Liam was here" I smiled walking into the flat. "I wanted to see him before I went to work"

Noel nodded. "He's here; he's in the shower though."

"Do you mind if I wait?"

"If you like"

I smiled taking a seat on the couch. "Noel?" I asked as he sat down. "Can I ask you something?"

He looked at me questioningly but nodded.

"Do you think your brother is thinking about me?"

"Lyla, I've known Liam his whole life, he's my brother, and to this day I don't know what the fuck goes through his head."

"I can't stop thinking about him" I admitted "it's ....I don't know"

"Lyla..."

I held up my hand. "I already know what you're going to say. You warned me."

"No, that's not what I was going to say at all. I was just thinking that I'm really glad that you met my cunt brother. You're really having an effect on him; I mean, Christ, he hasn't hit me in nearly a week."

I blinked "What?"

He shook his head with a laugh I heard the bathroom door open.  "You need a flat with better-” Liam appeared in a towel, his hair pushed back smiling when he saw me. "Lyla, you're upright"

"Barely, I wouldn't be if I didn't have to be at work"

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you, and thank you for cleaning my kitchen."