It’s been quite quiet without Liam around, mostly because I can concentrate on my work instead of going on dates and all that pretence. However, it’s a bit boring because I don’t even have a reason to complain or someone to argue with. Odd as it might sound, all that fighting with Liam and annoyance I felt towards him kept me on my toes, hence, amused in a way. But even if he’s touring on the northern part of the UK, that does not mean I don’t talk to him. He calls me, or texts me, asking me how I’m doing and even about the kids at school. He actually acts like a boyfriend and I find myself asking about him and the tour naturally, without forcing myself. We don’t spend hours talking nor we are constantly texting each other, but I hear of him at least once a day.

It’s been five days since he left for tour when someone knocks at my door. It’s quite late and Dad should be on his way but I doubt it’s him. He has keys and never knocks. So I leave the assignments I was marking and go open the door. I’m surprised to find a delivery guy.

“Are you Miss Reed?” the boy asks and I nod, still holding the door. “This is for you,” he says handing me a package wrapped in brown paper with my name scribbled on it. It doesn’t look like it’s gone through the post service.

“Thank you,” I say looking for a nametag on his uniform, but I only find Syco’s logo. Does he work in Dad’s label, too?

“Have a good evening,” he says with a little nod before leaving. I’m surprised he doesn’t ask me for my signature or anything.

Still a bit dumbfounded, I close the door with the package in my hands. I go back to the dinner table where I was working and open the package. Inside there’s a yellow envelope and a book. One of the books I bought on one of those first dates with Liam. Did he send me this?

I open the envelope and find a note that reads.

Belle,

I hope you’re not getting bored whilst I’m not there. I’ll be back soon, don’t worry, love. In the meantime, read one of the books you picked long ago. I still have them all but I’ll be giving them to you moderately. You once said to do things out of consideration, not because I’m trying to buy you. I already bought these books, so I’m sorry about that, but I hope you still think it’s considerate of me to give them to you slowly and not all at once. I’m not sure, it’s hard for me to see the difference. But I’m trying, that must count, right?

Be well, I miss you. Happy reading.

Liam.

I read the note three times to fully believe it’s real, that he did this. I had forgotten about the books and I’m surprised he kept them. After all those fights and whatnot, I thought he would’ve thrown them away. He didn’t want them nor needed them. I’m really, really surprised he’s kept them and that he’s giving them back to me slowly. I actually think it’s cute, not just because he’s sending me book while he’s not here, but also because he is trying.

“Silly Liam,” I say putting the note back inside the envelope and opening the book.

It’s The 5th Wave. One of the books I really wanted to read because it had been highly recommended to me. I’ll start it tonight, once I finish grading all these assignments. I have even more motivation to finish my work so by the time Dad is back, I’m done with all the grading and I have dinner ready for both of us.

“Did something good happen?” Dad asks me and only then I realise I’ve kept the smile on my lips.

“Oh, nothing important. Liam sent me a book to keep me company while he’s not here,” I say because I know that would make Dad happy and feel at ease.

“I’m glad he’s treating you well, Belle. You’re doing a wonderful job. Today Simon told me how happy they seem because Liam’s been behaving better and even the articles about him have improved.”

I don’t think that’s my doing, even if Dad makes it sound like it or even Syco’s CEO thinks so. It’s just Liam trying to improve after some things I’ve pointed out. I’m not changing him or anything, I can’t force a person to change, so if he’s different, it’s all his work and effort.

“Just worry about producing that album, Dad. Leave Liam to me,” I say and he nods happily.

After dinner he retires to his room and I clean. Once all that’s done I can go to my room and open the book, but first, I grab my mobile to text Liam. I’m surprised he hasn’t texted me yet, he always reaches out first.

Thank you for the book. I really wanted to read it. Have a good concert tonight —Belle

PS: I think what you did was indeed considerate —Belle

And after that I can start reading the book without a reply from Liam, but I don’t dwell on that, I get too captivated in the book. It’s almost midnight when my mobile buzzes making me realise it’s this late and I should be sleeping because I have work tomorrow.

I close the book and grab my mobile just to see Liam’s reply.

sorry, i was on stage. I’m happy u liked it :D —Liam

BTW, I’m coming back this Sunday for a couple of days. Would u let me take u somewhere? —Liam

I reply with a quick yes and go to sleep because I have to get up early tomorrow. I don’t give much thought to the plans for this Sunday because there’s nothing out of the ordinary in a date with Liam. I realise on Sunday that there was something special to it.

•••

“Hello, there,” Liam says when I open the door on Sunday. He’s wearing a bright smile with a new haircut. His hair is now shorter with even a small fringe that makes him look cuter, more like a good boy. And with that, he’s wearing brown ankle boots, jeans, a white jumper with turtleneck, and a brown Montgomery coat. He really looks handsome and very, very autumn like.

“Hello, Liam. I like your new haircut,” I say and his smile widens. “Wanna come in for a second?” I ask and he nods so I open the door wider for him.

Inside there’s my father and both men greet each other as I go for my black coat, my scarf and purse.

“Yeah, we’ll have dinner together. I hope you don’t mind,” Liam is saying when I join them.

“Oh, don’t worry, I figured out that much. Take care of my girl,” Father replies and Liam nods.

“Shall we?” he asks me next and now I’m the one nodding.

I say goodbye to my father and so does Liam, and then off we go. Once in the parking lot, he opens the door of his car for me and when we’re inside I ask him, “Where are you taking me?”

“I know I always take you shopping, but this time I’ll take you somewhere you might like. What do you think of antiques?” he questions.

“Very hipster,” is my reply and he laughs.

“Yeah, Harry recommended me this place. But I’m taking you because he said there are many old books and I thought you might find a special edition there. What do you think?” he looks at me briefly before focusing back on the road.

“I think it’s worth a shot.”

I smile at him and we don’t say much about it. Instead, we keep a light conversation in which I ask him how the first days of touring were. He tells me about the audience, the interviews promoting the shows, the meet and greets and some adventures with the other band members. I find myself laughing along most of the time and I don’t even notice when we arrive to our destination and he gets down first, opens the door for me and then takes my hand. I don’t refuse, it’s what is expected of us plus it’s cold and I didn’t bring gloves.

“It’s getting colder by the day,” he says and pulls both our hands entwined inside his Montgomery pocket. “Keep your other hand in your own pocket,” he instructs and I can only look at him awestruck.

His hand holds mine tightly and he looks ahead with a proud and happy smile on his face. I don’t say anything, I just hold on to him and let him lead me inside the antique shop. It is quite big and it has a bit of everything. Furniture, clothes—mostly hats—, instruments like a big black piano, random items and of course, a whole wall filled with books that look as old as my deceased great grandmother. They all have leather spines with golden letters for the titles and now I’m the one dragging Liam with me. I hear him chuckle behind me but he doesn’t try to stop me, or anything. He doesn’t let me take my hand out of his pocket either.

Once I’m in front of the books I tilt my head to the right and start reading all the titles. I can’t help myself giggling when I see a classic I’d really love to have, even if I have read it a million times already. At some point I see a version of Jane Austen’s complete works and I can’t help myself, I grab it, the huge smile plastered on my face.

“You like Jane Austen?” he asks looking at the book with me. He’s really close and I don’t mind.

“You kidding? I love her. At some point I wanted to study Literature and do my dissertation thesis on Jane Austen. I love her to that level,” I laugh and I delight myself looking at the old pages, some illustrations and even the dedication on the front page. The previous owner—Johanna—was a very lucky woman.

I put back the book, happy that I got to touch it, and then turn to face Liam so we can see more things. I’m happy already. He’s smiling at me and I know he’s about to say something but then he gets distracted watching something. I turn around following his gaze and I find a blonde girl who’s also giggling as she holds a book. Is she Liam’s ex-girlfriend or what?

The girl must sense our staring because she turns and our eyes meet, but her face turns pale and then she’s looking everywhere, frantically, almost as if she were scared of something. Liam holds my hand even tighter and I wonder who she is. The girl puts back the book as quickly as she can, even a bit clumsily, and then she leaves the shop in a matter of seconds.

“Liam, you okay?” I ask because I’m beyond curious. “Who was she?” I can’t help myself, I need to know.

“Niall's ex-girlfriend,” he says and by the tone of his voice I can tell he doesn’t like her. “She broke up with him because of some stupid reason I don’t even remember, but not because she didn’t love him, you know? He was a mess after that. He begged her, looked after her and he even went back to the place they met because she disappeared, he couldn’t even contact her. Pitiful, you know? Ella never took him back and considering the way she ran just now I’m sure she won’t ever take him back,” he tells me, and bearing in mind it’s his friend’s story, I’m surprised he sounds so angry. “I hate her, you know? For what she made of Niall and because he doesn’t hate her. I don’t get him. After what she did to him, he still loves her even if he says he’s over her and has dated someone else. We all know he still loves her.”

“Maybe he knows something you don’t know,” I support and Liam snorts. “I’ve heard love is irrational. I mean, look at all those messed up couples. They stay together because they love each other, even if they hurt each other as well. Or look at my father, after he lost my mum he hasn’t been the same. It was like he lost himself.” I’m not sure if my words are comforting him, but he looses up his grip on my hand until it feels nice again. “At the end, it’s Niall who knows better. He’s the one with the feelings and you should respect that. If he doesn’t hate her, there must be a reason. You don’t need to hate her for him.”

“I still do,” he says stubbornly and I chuckle.

“Silly Liam,” I say cupping his cheek with my free hand to make him look at me. “Still, it’s nice to see you really care about your mate. It’s good seeing you caring so much to the point of hating someone else who did wrong to your friend, even if hating is not good.”

I don’t know what takes over me, but I’m actually really happy to learn this about Liam and to see him caring about someone else beside himself. I feel kind of proud. So I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his lips ever so softly.

“Shall we continue with our date?” I ask and all sign of hatred in his eyes vanishes as a new smile appears.

“We shall,” is the answer. And that’s what we do.

-:-:-

Did you see that one coming? Ella has made an appearance! Short, but I couldn't leave her out of this story. Let me know your thoughts!

Also... I didn't think it would take you less than 24 hours to get the 1K votes so I'm raising the goal to give me more time. I'm doing like a billion updates today! So the goal now is: 1.5K votes for a new update!

Bel, xx

PS: I finished Cinder and after two years, it's still one of my favourite books. I felt the same way as when I read it for the first time. So good. Please, if you haven't read it, then do it. The author also has wattpad so you can read her short stories @marissameyer22