I’m surprised to find Zayn in the van, waiting for us. He smiles radiantly at me when Liam and I get in and I look at Liam questioning. I don’t mind he’s here, Liam told me he wanted to join us at some point, I wasn’t just expecting it would be this soon.

“Welcome to Belgium, Belle,” Zayn says and I smile at him. “Did you have a good trip?”

“Very good,” I reply taking my seat next to Liam, across Zayn.

“When I was planning this day,” Liam starts informing me. “And Zayn found out where I’m taking you first, he begged me to be the third wheel I couldn’t refuse. He had to come.”

“I had to come,” he echoes Liam. “I’m sorry for disturbing your time together,” he adds but I chuckle.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind. Yet, I’m intrigued. Where are we going that Zayn had to beg to come?” I question next, looking at Liam and his smile widens.

“Well, you like museums. I like comics so I thought that we must visit the Belgian Comic Strip Centre,” he continues and now my eyes widen in astonishment.

“And I happen to love both so I couldn’t miss it!” Zayn chirps in I can’t hold my giggles anymore, delighted that we’re going there. I’ve heard of this museum before but it didn’t even cross my mind we would go there. I didn’t even imagine Liam would think of taking me there.

“That’s amazing! I can’t wait,” I reply, leaning in closer to him, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.

Liam smiles content with himself, happy that he made the right choice and I swear if Zayn weren’t here in front of us, I would kiss him senseless. I’m very excited because I also like comics and I have no idea what I’ll find there.

So Dean drives us and Zayn offers me his iPad so I can see the permanent exhibitions and the temporary ones, that way we can decide which ones to visit although it doesn’t help much to narrow it down. After this visit he’ll leave and it’ll be just Liam and I to have lunch together, buy chocolate because I was promised chocolate and I now want it.

Once there, it’s like the three of us are kids and we have trouble controlling ourselves, deciding where to go next. Plus, we don’t have much time so we’re practically running. We just wander around, seeing all the exhibitions, delighting ourselves with the all the Smurfs and all the history there. Even if we don’t find the exact kind of comics we like, it’s still so illustrative to be there. We learn a lot about the history of comics and the museum. Summing up, it’s a great place and I’ve enjoyed it very much, and it’s really pretty as if that wasn’t enough.

After that, Zayn leaves us and Liam takes me for lunch whilst Dean drops our friend. We have a good time. We use that opportunity to catch up and organise.

“What are you gonna do for Christmas?” he questions once our food arrives. Nothing fancy but typical nonetheless: Stoemp, which is basically potato smashed with vegetables and served with sausages.

“I always go with my Father to the label’s Christmas party,” I reply naturally, not even questioning the possibility. “You?”

“I normally go to the other party, the one for all the artists they hire,” he informs me and I nod. Ah, the youngsters’ party. I go to the one packed with businesspeople, investor and members of the label. I’m not surprised Liam goes to that other party because in all the years Dad has worked for Syco, I’ve never seen a single member of One Direction present. “Don’t you wanna go with me?”

“Oh, I can’t. I already accepted the invitation to this one. Sorry,” I apologise but he shakes his head.

"Then I'll go to that party, too," he says, surprising me. "I'm sure Simon will be glad to introduce us to the investors and whatnot. Plus, Harry is also going, for what I heard, because Ariel is going to that one."

"Oh right, she mentioned that," I smiled. "Then I guess we have plans for Christmas Eve." Which makes me happy.

After that we go around the city. Liam doesn’t have a concert tonight, so we have all the afternoon for us without having to run to the venue for sound-check. We encounter some fans and for a moment it becomes chaotic, but I help him to stay calm and to organise so everyone can get a moment with Liam. Dean also helps us because he joins us again after dropping Zayn. That encounter with the fans is probably the most stressing moment, but we manage. I know what to do and how to help Liam when this happens, and he also has experience. I don’t have a breakdown, I don’t get nervous or anything. I step aside, I help taking pictures and I even take some with some fans that for some reason think a picture with me is worth something.

“You always handle these situations so well, no one would think you’ve never had to face fans before meeting me,” Liam comments as we see the Manneken Pis, one of the iconic sculptures in Brussels. It’s just a toddler peeing but it’s really popular.

“Maybe I did have fans before. Maybe I’m like Hannah Montana and I have a whole secret life as a celebrity,” I say offhandedly and Liam burst out laughing, passing his arm over my shoulders.

“Do you wear a blond wig?” he questions but I shake my head.

“Ginger. That’s the trend now,” I reply and he keeps laughing before he pulls me closer until his lips leave a kiss on my temple.

I do get my chocolate later and not just to eat as we keep sightseeing, I also buy something for Ariel, Havi and my father. Even for Liam’s band mates.

“I’m glad you’re becoming friends with Ariel. Harry and Niall always mention how they worry about her. They don’t want to be all what she has here, they don’t think it’ll be healthy, especially if Harry has to keep his relationship with her secret,” Liam comments and I smile once again.

I really love when he shows concern for his friends or even acquaintances, like Ariel.

“She’s a sweet girl, and I’ve noticed she’s a bit hesitant to make friends, aside from her shyness. You know she’s eager to overcome her shyness, but at the same time she’s scared to get close to people,” I ponder and Liam nods.

“Harry said something about a friend she had. Like the first friend she made and things didn’t end up well with her so it’s probably that, she’s afraid she’ll ruin things again. I don’t really know. You can ask him if you’re curious, or Ariel herself.”

“Well, I like her very much and I might talk to her about this, to help her,” I reply with a radiant smile that he replies. “Plus, she also likes reading, not as much as me, but that gives me the chance to recommend her books and slowly turn her in a bookworm like me.” I finish with a fake evil laugh that makes Liam burst out laughing as we keep touring the city.

Near sunset we’re at the Atomium and it’s as impressive as I imagined. Liam didn’t warn me we were coming here so when my eyes caught the sight, I almost fainted.

“I knew you’d like this,” he says, squeezing my hand as he guides me inside, to take a tour through the spheres.

It’s so big and different, imposing and shiny.

We go one by one, seeing the exhibitions and buying souvenirs, but mostly appreciating the landscape until we make it to the last sphere, with the panoramic view of Brussels and I hold my breath because it’s so beautiful I almost feel like tears are welling up in my eyes.

The world is filled with amazing landscapes, startling views that are capable of take someone’s breath away and I’ve always longed to see them. I can’t believe I’m here, that Liam brought me here to let me see this. And I approach one of the windows just to take a closer look and it almost hurts.

Liam gives me a back hug and now we’re both watching the same thing, the same view and I feel my heart beating so strong in my chest. I lean closer to him, resting my weight on him and relaxing in his embrace. He holds me tighter and I hear him sigh.

“This is amazing,” he murmurs next to my ear and I have to nod. “I heard this was epic but no words can describe it.”

“I have trouble making my brain process I’m actually here,” I confess and he chuckles. “Thank you so much, Liam. I really mean it. This is… this is wonderful. I’ve always wanted to see the world and now you’re helping me. You brought me here. Thank you so much,” I continue, turning in his arms until we’re face to face. My arms wraps around his waist, hugging him, too.

“It’s my pleasure, Belle. And it’s not just that I like seeing you this happy, this is amazing for me too. For the first time I’m actually being a tourist, you know? Not just passing by in a busy schedule, just working. I’m enjoying the city even if I’ve been here before.”

I lean closer, our bodies fully connected and I let myself enjoy the warmth of his body, the way I feel in his arms. I press my face against his chest, listening to his heartbeats. He hugs me tighter and I close my eyes, feeling my own heart racing in my chest.

I do, I really do fancy Liam. It’s not just tolerating him, it’s not just accepting him. I actually like the guy I’m seeing now, the one that cares about his friends, the one that impresses himself when he’s doing things for others. The boy that wants to please everyone so much that he loses focus sometimes. The guy who just wants to be accepted and loved and who couldn’t handle all the attention and let the fame get to his head. This guy who’s with his feet on the ground again. I really fancy him, I have strong feelings for him that get stronger and stronger every day. I don’t even care we’re so different, I still want to stay like this forever. I wish we could freeze this moment and forget all our circumstances. Forget the contract hanging on us. Forget the lies we’ve told. I just want this moment.

I don’t even know what I’m going to do next, when our time runs out, but I think it’s too late to try to stop myself from falling when the lines between real and pretence have completed merged together. It’s too late, I wasn’t careful enough and I’ll have to deal with the consequences later. In three months, when our time runs out.

I pull back to look him in the eyes, feeling like something will burst inside of me, like there’s been a flame there and by accepting my feelings I’ve just made it bigger, more powerful and it’s incinerating my insides.

His smile hesitates a bit as if he’s seen something different in my eyes. Maybe he’s seen the change, the realisation, but I don’t give him time to question me about it, instead I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him. Slowly but surely, holding on to him for dear life. I don’t want him to know my feelings so I don’t pour them in this kiss, but I’m hoping he understands this kiss, this one in particular that is happening in public, is not part of the job. This is me, Belle Reed, kissing Liam Payne. No contract, no pretence. Just the two of us, kissing.

“Thank you,” I say when we part and his smile comes back, slowly as he puts our foreheads together.

“My pleasure, really.” I chuckle because I know he means it for the kiss and I smile content because he’s also liked the kiss.

I don’t want to wonder if he feels the same way as I do and what will happen. That will make things more complicated than they are. I do think he has feelings for me, I’m pretty sure he’s not pretending at all, but I don’t know how strong his feelings are. He wanted an easy relationship and I don’t know how that bit has changed, but I don’t want to know. Ignorance is bliss and I need that bit for now.

The Atomium closes and we have to leave, but we linger a bit more outside, delighting ourselves in the wonderful view of the illuminated spheres in the dark. Then we have dinner together in a near restaurant and then a night walk before we go back to the bus where we spend our time with Zayn, telling him about the other places we visited and giving him some chocolate we bought for him.

Together, the three of us, have a wonderful time until we can barely stay awake. We make the same arrangement we did in Paris, but this time I change something. I leave the top bunk when I think everyone is asleep and get down as quietly as I can, trying not to wake the other band members. Then I climb into Liam’s bunk, surely waking him up.

“Belle?” he questions confused and groggily but still opening his bed for me almost instinctively, receiving me in his arms.

“It’s cold,” is all I say before cuddling next to him. He doesn’t ask me anything so we just stay there, one laying next to the other until we fall asleep. Simple as that. Warm as that. Comfortable as that.

The next day I have to leave early because it was true I have loads of things to do back at home, so Liam drops me at Bruxelles-Midi before lunchtime.

“I’ll see you for the holidays,” he says and I nod, playing with the lapels of his coat. “Have a safe trip.”

“And you have a good concert,” I reply before standing on my tiptoes and pecking his lips. Then, I look at him with a smile on my lips before I say something that might or might not be a mistake. “I’ll miss you.”

His eyes widen in surprise before pleasure shows in his features, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist. “And I’ll miss you, too.”

His voice sounds so warm and I really don’t want to step back and break the embrace, but I have to. My train is here so I kiss him one last time, I kiss him goodbye and finally step back.

“Bye, Liam,” I bid him.

“Bye, Belle,” he replies and I turn on my heels before he can say something else because it seemed he wanted to add more words to that goodbye. But my train is waiting and it’s been enough for one weekend.

-:-:-

I have a deleted scene that I'll update for free as bonus content. It's from Liam's POV and it's waking up with Belle so wait for that for the next update!

By the way, the prologue of It's Just Ann is up so you can read it. Also, a big shout out to my friend Iris for helping me with this chapter and the landmarks. Love for all my Belgian readers!

Bel, xx

PS: another manip I did for #Lisabelle hehehe