"What do you mean? You sent me this that said to meet you here." Liam told me, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion.

 I didn't say anything as I rubbed my hand over my eyes. I must have switched up the presents and sent Sam the coffee mug. Wonderful.

 Just wonderful.

 "That wasn't for you." I explained, not caring how blunt I sounded.

 "So...so you don't feel that way about me? It's someone else?" He asked, looking down at his shoes.

 "Yeah, pretty much." I said.

 Despite my anger, I still found time to admire the fact that he was letting his hair grow out, and still hadn't shaved off that stupidly adorable goatee. I bit my lip, thinking of what I should say next.

 "I guess since you're here, you should come inside." I mumbled, opening the door wider. 

 Liam nodded, his head down in no doubt embarrassment. I sighed and followed him inside, telling myself that Crystal wasn't young enough to know who he was.

 "Oh my God."

 I was wrong.

 "Crystal..." I warned. 

 "You're Liam Payne." She said, smiling. "He's Liam Payne." She repeated, turning to me.

 "Just give him a break." I told her.

 "It's fine." Liam spoke up, flashing her a smile.

 I seriously doubted that anyone else here would know Liam...unless my boss had some kind of weird boy band fetish. 

 We followed Crystal back to the living room. I grabbed a glass of champagne before entering and drank the entire glass. I sat down next to Liam and refilled my glass. If this night was going to go smoothly, I was going to need something to calm my nerves. I mean, I basically just told Liam that I don't feel the same way he feels about me, and that I love someone else.

 That's an awesome way to start the night.

 "So, what's your name, young man?" My boss asked Liam, leaning forward on his elbows.

 "Liam, sir." He replied, shaking his hand.

 "Are you Diana's boyfriend?" Cora, one of my co-workers, asked.

 I exchanged a look with Liam, his mouth kind of hanging open in search of words. What was he supposed to say? I had expected someone else to be here, not him.

 "Not exactly." I answered, still looking at Liam. 

 I finally looked away and downed another glass of champagne. I couldn't do this anymore, I just couldn't. I got up and walked into the kitchen, grabbing my bag off the table and tripping on a chair leg. 

 "Woah." Liam said, catching my arm. 

 I steadied myself and poured myself more to drink.

 "Diana, what the hell are you doing? You can't drink that much." Liam told me, taking the bottle before I had finished pouring.

 I drank what was left in the glass anyway and walked outside.

 "Where are you going?"

 "I don't know." I replied, slipping on a patch of ice and grabbing onto a car.

 I unlocked my car and climbed into the drivers seat, putting the key in the ignition and blasting the heat.

 "Diana, you can't honestly think you're able to drive." Liam scoffed, coming around to my door.

 "I'm fine." I slurred, waving him off.

 "No you're not. Let me drive." He insisted, taking my arm.

 "Fine...but...we're going straight home!" I shouted, pointing a finger at his chest.

 "Okay." He laughed, helping me into the other seat. 

*LIAM'S POV*

 "Diana?" I asked, gently touching her arm.

 Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the window she was leaning on and her apartment. 

 "Are we home, yet?" She asked, yawning and closing her eyes again.

 "Yeah, we're going to get you right to bed." I said, getting out of the car and going over to her side of the car. 

 I opened the door and helped her unbuckle, letting her use my arm for support to stand. I locked her car and walked with her to the elevator. I pressed her floor number and waited for the door to open.

 "Liam?"

 "Yeah?"

 "You should kiss me." Diana told me, leaning in. 

 I pulled away, leaving her confused and still very drunk.

 "I can't, Diana." I explained.

 "Why not? I thought you liked me. Like, you know, like-liked me." She replied.

 "I do, but you're drunk off your ass and I'm not going to take advantage." I said, taking her arm to get her out of the elevator. 

 "Well, I would never admit this, but no matter what I say, I'm always in love with you." She laughed, hiccuping. 

 I didn't know what to say. I mean, what do you say when the person you love tells you they love you back, but they're drunk and won't remember this tomorrow? It could be complete bull for all I know. I sighed, asking her for the key to her apartment. 

 "Here you go, home sweet home." I said, opening the door to her bedroom. 

 "Thank you, friend." Diana answered, curling up into a ball on her bed. 

 I took off her shoes and placed them by the door, turning out the light on my way out. 

 "Wait, Liam?" She called.

 "Yeah?" I replied.

 "Will you stay here tonight?"

 I paused, not knowing how smart of an idea that was. I looked around the apartment and spotted the couch; it looked pretty comfortable.

 "Yeah, okay." I agreed, leaving her door cracked and walking to the couch.

~~~

 *DIANA'S POV*

 I yawned, opening my eyes to the sun shining on my eyes. My head was pounding, and something told me I had too much to drink last night. That was probably why I didn't remember anything.

 I sighed, and walked into the kitchen to make coffee. I heard someone snore and my body went stiff. Was there someone in my house?

 I grabbed one of the knives from the block on my counter and walked quietly into the living room: someone was sleeping on my couch, his back to me. He stirred, stretching his arms above his head.

 "Diana?" He asked, turning to face me.

 I screamed and pointed the knife at him.

 "Woah, Diana, what the hell?" Liam asked, shooting straight up and holding his hands up.

 I exhaled and tossed the knife onto my coffee table.

 "I'm sorry, I forgot you were here. Which brings me to my next point: why are you here?" I replied, sitting on the couch next to him.

 "I helped you home last night." He answered.

 "Wait...did we...I mean, you know?" I asked, putting two and two together.

 "No. But you did..." Liam said, trailing off.

 "Did what?" I asked, my throat closing over.

 "You asked me to kiss you."

 "Was that all?" I replied, my body relaxing that I hadn't drunkenly spilled one of my biggest secrets. I wasn't ready to tell him. It had to be much nicer than telling him when I was drunk. Maybe over dinner.

 "No."

 My heart stopped again, and all my previous thoughts turned to dust.

 "What else?"

 "You told me..." He started, taking a deep breath. "You told me, that no matter what you say, you would always be in love with me."

 Yep, that was the secret I was scared he knew.

 "Well?" He asked.

 "Well, what?" I answered, plotting my next move very carefully.

 "Well, is it true?"

 I paused, knowing what I was about to do could either be really good, or really bad. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the repercussions, but I did it anyway.

 I took a deep breath and nodded. He smiled and brought his hand to my cheek. He leaned in and kissed me. I thought I would never say I was kissing Liam Payne again, but I was, and I loved it.

~~~

 That was a boring chapter, huh?

 No I'm just kidding, I really do hope you liked it. 

 Just a warning: this book will only have 25 chapters, so only three more until this story ends. No sequels or anything :(

 Please vote and comment. You guys keep me going and without you I would have the confidence I do to write and continue to write (even when the updates are super late).

 Okay enough of the mushy stuff. 

 ~Hayden

 P.S. Natalie, if you're reading this, I miss my best friend like crazy :)