Through the Dark (A Liam Payne Story) || Season 5 1D Watty Awards Winner: Best Liam Payne

Chapter Fourteen

I decided to sleep in the living room last night on one of the white plush couches, and I started a fire in the fireplace since I wasn't able to find a blanket to keep me warm.

"Rose?" Valerie says quietly, waking me up.

"Mmm ..." I moan against the inside of the couch.

"What are you doing down here?" she asks and I turn to look up at her.

I yawn and stretch. "I didn't want to stay with Liam last night because he's an asshole."

She laughs. "When isn't he?"

I groan. "I don't want to talk about him as soon as I wake up, Val."

"Sorry. I didn't know that was a touchy subject," she says.

"It just happened last night, so don't worry about it." I sit up and rub my eyes.

She nods and goes over to the other couch then sits down. "Well I'm out of ideas for today ..."

I sigh. "I know ..."

Valerie doesn't say anything, and we're facing each other awkwardly. "I know you're dying to know what happened last night," I say, giving in.

"Yes!" she claps her hands. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, though."

I shake my head. "Don't worry."

"Alright, so what happened?"

"Let's have breakfast first, and then we can talk about this," I say and the two of us get up at the same time.

---

"What the hell is his problem?" Val puts down her spoon in the bowl of cereal. We're sitting next to each other by the kitchen island.

"I don't know ... I thought he'd want me to be involved, but I guess not." I frown. Why can't Liam see that maybe, just maybe, I can try to help, too?

"But that's so weird!" she says. "Why would he tell you all of that and then not want you to be in the meetings?"

"He's strange ..." I trail off and we sit in silence for a few seconds.

"You know what I think we should do?" Valerie changes the subject and I look at her questioningly. "We should go for a nice run. What do you say?"

I nod and smile at her. "I love that idea."

"Great! I'll put everything in the sink while you go upstairs and get ready." She takes my empty bowl and I jump off of the chair to run upstairs.

I run into my bedroom happily because, well, for one day Val and I don't have to be in the house all day. By the looks of it, Liam is probably already with the guys. The covers are pulled back and his usual sweatpants that he wears to bed are on a chair. I don't have the patience to deal with him.

I go over to my bags and take out my workout clothes, and then I take off my pajamas. This is a much needed run. I put on my neon yellow sports bra, black leggings from Lululemon, and my Nike's. I should pamper myself a bit before I go.

I skip over to the bathroom and open the door to a shirtless Liam ... in his black Calvin Klein underwear. Sweet baby Jesus ...

He's standing over the counter and looking at the mirror as he is about to bring the razor to his cheek, but then turns to look at me. He does a double take and his eyes grow wide. "Uh ... H-hey," Liam stutters and runs his free hand through his hair.

"Hi," I say shyly.

"You look ..." he trails off and coughs. "You look great." Great?