Mark My Words

Chapter 3: Sorry

I saw a Starbucks in the airport and cheered in my head. I tried to make my way over there immediately for two reasons.

One, I was super tired and needed some caffeine. Starbucks was just what I craved and needed.

Two, I had to escape the awkward vibes coming from Liam and his girlfriend, Danielle. Clearly they didn’t want me there.

“Zayn, I think I’m going to grab a cup of coffee real quickly.” I dug through my purse for my wallet.

“I might get one too.” We walked over to the Starbucks together. After ordering some kind of new coffee, Zayn sat me down at a table.

“What’s the deal with you and Liam? Don’t worry, you can trust me.” His eyes travelled from the table to my eyes and then fully focused. Sigh.

“I know I can trust you, I’ll always tell you everything,” the barista brought our orders over to the side counter, so I sprung up and brought them back to the table. On the very first sip I burned my tongue. “But you have to tell me something about him, too.”

“Deal.” Zayn blew the steam floating over the coffee cup. He had the right idea, I followed.

I explained every last detail about my past relationship with Liam. I confessed how I would lie each time he asked me out. I told Zayn every single lie I told Liam. I could not, however, tell him why I did that. I even told him that I thought he was better looking now. 

“No worries, I understand. You were younger then. This is now.” I nodded in agreement. “But Jordin, you do realize that Liam brought his girlfriend with him, don’t you? 

They’ve been going steady for a long time now. They met on the X-Factor just like you and I did. He isn’t going to call off his relationship now just because you finally came around.”

“I never for a second thought he would. I wouldn’t expect him or any guy to. He’s too smart for that, and nice.”

I thought back to all of the opportunities I had to be with Liam. He once had a friend set up a double date so I wouldn’t feel weird about it. He was such a sweetie. I didn’t deserve him. I was the opposite, always making excuses and trying to find ways out of things so I could try to get a guy I had absolutely no chance with. 

There was this unusually long silence after I said that. Louis finally came and rounded us up to board the flight to Mexico. My seat was in between Zayn and Harry’s friend. What was his name? Allen? Aaron? I tried to get him to say it, but he wouldn’t take the hint. He then proceeded to listen to his music. I guess I’d talk to Zayn the whole time, which I didn’t mind one bit.

Liam, Danielle, and Harry had the seats in front of us. When Liam got up to go to the bathroom, I saw it as my chance to talk to him. I had no plan.

He didn’t even go to the bathroom. He walked to the back of the plane and stood there, placing his arms against the wall and looking down at the ground. He sighed. I did, too.

“Hi, Liam.” I had no idea what he would do or what I would say. I just needed this conversation to happen. I needed the weirdness to go away or this would be the longest week I ever had to have the miserably horrible pain to endure.

He didn’t move. I wasn’t surprised at all. I could not think of one reason why he would.

“Name a reason I should talk to you.” He said. That didn’t sound like the Liam I remembered at all.

Again, I couldn’t think of anything. Finally, I got it. “I’m sorry.” 

I thought he turned to stone. He was frozen in the position against the wall. I kept talking anyway.

“I’m sorry for being the stupid, immature, nasty little girl I was to you almost every single day when all you wanted was a few minutes of my time. I’m sorry I never gave you a chance. I’m sorry I’m here on a trip with your band and making you feel this way. Sincerely, I apologize for being such an idiot for even thinking you’d forgive me. I treated you like shit and I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But please don’t make this week terrible for you because I’m here. I’ll stay away from you and Danielle if you want.”

Silence. I swallowed hard and felt my cheeks turn hot. 

Liam finally had the will to look at me. “Don’t flatter yourself.” He walked back to his seat.

I spent the remainder of the flight crying in the back of the plane.

----

Ten minutes prior to our landing, Zayn walked back to where I was crying by myself.

“Don’t let him bother you, he’ll get over it. Like you said, he’s a generally a good guy.” Zayn took a tissue out of the bathroom and wiped my eyes. I looked up at him and hugged him tightly. It felt so amazing to have a best friend like him. “What do you say we head back to our seats? You’re all cooled off now, right?” He took my hand and gestured his shoulders toward our seats. We started walking.

I smiled. “Thank you, Zayn.” 

“It’s the least I could do. If you ever feel out of place on this trip you can always come to me. Or you can acquaint yourself with Frankie. He’s your type.” He winked.

“There’s no need to play matchmaker, thank you. Maybe I’ll try him out though.”

“Welcome to Mexico, everybody.” The pilot said over the intercom. Everyone on the plane cheered except for Liam and me.