Good Enough

T h i r t y F i v e

It crossed his mind to ask for another belting instead of attending the party.

No part of him wanted to be stuck in a room with a hundred other stuck up bitches like his Papa. Being related to one was enough for Liam to contemplate offing himself again. 

Standing in front of the mirror in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs he adjusts his tie, "Pills?"

Liam glances towards Louis that's extending Liam's pill bottle towards him, "I've already taken them today," 

Slapping his backside with a glare, Louis twists the cap open shaking two into his hand, "I'm not an idiot Liam, we counted them. Take them." 

"You're right, I'd love to be so out of it I forget I'm at a terrible party." Taking the tablets from his fathers hand Liam places them in his mouth gulping to act as he swallowed them. Opening his mouth Liam lifts his tongue as Louis scowls at him, "You're on thin ice tonight-"

"You paid my old bestfriend to get information from me," Liam accuses stepping closer to the man, "If anyone is in danger of losing someone again it's you. The minute I'm eighteen I'm gone," Louis smirks having to glance down at the boy that was slightly smaller then him, "Baby I still have two years. Don't make tonight worse for yourself." Patting his cheek mockingly Louis kisses his nose exiting the hall to find Harry.

Stuffed in the backseat between his two fathers, Louis' phone continually rings with texts and calls, while Harry has in his pocket put away. It's a silent ride to the venue for the New Years Eve Party, Liam suddenly regretting not extending the olive branch towards his brothers.

 Or even Niall at this point.

He would've liked to had someone there on his side.

Harry steps from the car first taking Liam's hand pulling him from the car, "Smile," He commands waving toward the cameras, the corners of Liam's mouth lift slightly at the order, it's all he could muster as the pill was slowly dissolving in the roof of his mouth. 

Groaning at the blinding sunlight he's sighing dramatically when the darkness of the room encased the family, "Liam James I don't know what-"

"What my problem is, but yes you do." With an emotionless face in response to his father, Louis suppresses his anger with a grin, "Cute. Love the attitude." Harry inhales deeply taking Liam's hand once more, "Let's go walk," 

"I'd rather sit-"

"Don't make me belt you here," Harry growls, Liam lowering his head as he nods at the warning, he couldn't hate Harry it wasn't his Dad that had done something so cruel. In fact, the dad was going to let Liam go to Californa with Bradley.

Gesturing for Liam to sit across from him at an open booth that had the decorations piled on it, the father sighs running a hand through his hair, "Talk to me,"

"About?"

"Whatever your deal is lately. You're still mad at Papa? Fine. He did something with good intention that hurt you, get over it-" Ignoring most of what his father was rambling about, Liam sticks his tongue in his cheek to suppress a scoff, "Dad when's my birthday?"

"August 29th,"

"Papa doesn't know it,"

"Liam yes he does, he's your father-"

"I turned ten. Ten fucking years old, and went out with Tristan-" Harry's eyes drift to the floor, he's less confident he could make Louis out to be a better parent, "And you went out with Tristan and Connor. I remember Liam, what about that is hurting you now? You're bitter?" 

Nodding, Liam smiles with tears pricking his eyes, "Y-yeah dad, I'm bitter. I'll be seventeen soon and haven't had a birthday in sixteen years."

Harry stands from the booth crossing to Liam's side, he leans down pressing his lips to Liam's hair, "Don't hate him, Liam. He's doing the best he can right now, when you're older you'll see that." 

The guests arrived shortly after Harry's talk with Liam, the boy hadn't moved since watching the event unfold in the comfort of his booth. 

Its when the servers bring out trays of champange and food Liam rises taking a glass of alochol from one in passing, he spits what's left of the pills into the drink leaving it on the table to go hide in the bathroom until he was free to leave.

He can't see his parents in the sea of people, music drifting loudly in the room as drunk celebrities joke as if they don't all hate each other.

Liam sighs scanning the room once more as he's heading to the back when he bumps into one of the servers knocking their tray over, "Shit!"

Offering apologies Liam bends down gathering the food that had fallen, the server meeting him on the floor, "S-sorry man-" Liam repeats lifting his eyes to meet the man when his jaw drops slightly at the familar hazel eyes that stared in shock at him, "Z-Zayn,"

Zayn chuckles at the predicment scooping the ruined food onto his tray, "Come to the kitchen?"

Liam nods mindlessly trailing him to the back where the two could talk, "W-why, why are you here?" Liam asks, "Oh you know, spilling food," 

"I-I'm sorry about that, I-I uh,"

"It's fine Lee, I promise," Zayn assures smiling softly at him, Liam runs a hand through his hair, "H-happy new years," 

"Happy new years," Zayn returns exhaling sharply as he sets his tray down beginning to pile food on it once more, "Are you going back out?" Liam questions, "It's my Job Liam-"

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Zayn's hands freeze at the rushed question he obivously wasn't expecting, "I-I met her when-when I went to your house, u-um she, she asked if-if I was a uh client," Swallowing thickly Liam wishes he had downed the champange before abandoning it on the table.

The song switches to a slower one, Zayn curses knowing he's supposed to be out there, "Liam this isn't a good time-"

"I loved you."

Their eyes meet, sweat beads in Zayn's hairlines as he removes his apron nodding, "Liam, you don't know me," he backs away from the counter, "I-I'm sorry I came tonight, I didn't know you'd be here-"

Liam stifles a sob as he smiles weakly, "I-I think I like not knowing you," 

Zayn turns grabbing his leather jacket from behind the door, he fidgets with it in his hands, "No." Liam nods chewing his bottom lip at answer to an unasked question, "I-I'm sorry," Zayn steps back into the hall before turning fully leaving Liam in the kitchen alone with tears streaming down his face as tries to hide his cries fixing his appearance exiting the kitchen.

Standing in the back hallway, Liam's settled now watching his parents slow dancing with fake smiles glued to their faces. They were good for each other. 

Good Enough anway.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend,"

Flinching at the sudden voice behind him, Liam raises an eyebrow turning towards him, "I tattoo people for money in my free time. Her names Gigi, pleasing her every now and then pays my bills." Zayn's features are hidden by the shadows, Liam turns from the view of his parents caressing his face, "I-I really liked you,"

"You can say love," Zayn mumbles pecking Liam's lips, he moves in for another kiss when Liam leans back, "I understand-"

"I love you, b-but p-please don't lie to me."

Zayn nods extending his hand, Liam places his smaller hand in his being pulled closer as the two slow dance in the dimly lit hallway, "I'll never lie to you,"

>Emma :)