Change My Mind (Liam Payne Fiction)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

“This will be your closest town,” the driver said as they pulled into Chester, population 3,743.  It looked very picture-postcard perfect.  Chester had a couple of restaurants and quite a few motels.  

They’d been driving for a little over 2 hours, seeing nothing but beautiful scenery.  Liam saw rolling grass hills that were lush green, charming towns, country farms and ranches, covered bridges, and untouched woodlands and open land, and he was reminded of home.  Wolverhampton was one of Britain’s newest cities but it was next to a beautiful countryside where he frequently went with his family.  I’m liking Connecticut more and more, Liam thought.  He didn’t even have to remind himself to keep thinking positive thoughts so he’d refrain from thinking about who he was up against in the role of a lifetime.  It seemed as if his mind was clearer because the air was cleaner and fresher. 

 The “main highway” turned onto an even smaller one, and the road started to climb.  Soon trees appeared, and then a stream.  Hills rose up, their slopes covered with a dark blanket of trees, and cows and horses grazed the fields. 

The driver turned left off a side road, and in the distance Liam could see the fenced acreage of the Cloverleaf Ranch.  They entered the gate and was greeted by such beautiful landscaping that Liam felt his mouth drop.  The road that led to the huge house that was really more of a mansion was lined with trees, and he knew that if he rolled his window down, he could hear the stream. 

Even from afar, Liam could tell that the main house was well-maintained.  Looking at it, he saw traces of what the old house must have looked like, but he knew it has been renovated because most of the external features were modern. 

When he looked out the opposite window, he saw another road that led up to a stable.  He was craning his neck, trying to get a glimpse of what the horses looked like, when the driver slammed on the brakes.  When the dust settled, Liam saw a boy in front of the car.  He looked about 10 years old, with straight brown hair that reminded him of Louis.  His eyes were brown, but when he turned towards the sun, Liam saw flecks of green.  Liam thought it was strange that although the boy faced the car, he seemed to look completely through it. 

The driver opened the door and started to get out.  When the boy noticed the driver stepping out of the car, he started screaming and covering his ears at the same time.  The driver went back inside.  When the boy saw the driver behind the steering wheel again, he took his hands off his ears and stopped screaming. 

Liam and the driver gave each other questioning looks.  “Try it again?”  Liam asked.

When the boy saw the driver opening the door and stepping out of the car, he started to scream again.  The driver quickly got back in the car, putting his hands back on the wheel in such panic, that he pressed the horn.  When the boy heard this, he started to smile. 

Puzzled, Liam reached over and honked again.  This time, the boy erupted in laughter.  He also started clapping and doing some sort of a dance.  Huh, Liam thought, pressing the horn once again.  When he saw the pure joy on the boy’s face, he started honking the horn longer.  Repeatedly. 

“Beeeeep, beeeep! Beeeeep, beeeeeep!”

********

“Beeeeep, beeeeeeep!”

“What in the world –“Aria took her gloves off but picked up the shovel again, then proceeded to stampede towards the noise. 

The first thing she noticed when she got out of the barn was Max standing in front of a black Escalade.  She couldn’t make out his expression, but she knew he was agitated – he was pacing and gently rocking side to side.