Autographs (One Direction)

Chapter 2: Socialize Again

LIAM’S POV

"The world record was set in Barcelona over fifty years ago." 

Click. 

"And watch as the numbat deftly climbs the tall trees – "

Click. 

"No Marissa, don't go! Stay and save our child!"

Click. 

Sighing, I smoothed my dirty hands over my face, rubbing my eyes and emitting a big yawn. It had been several days since I'd last had a proper good night's sleep – and I hated it. 

"Maybe you should try the entertainment channel," Harry called half-heartedly from the couch next to mine. Rolling my eyes, I pressed some buttons on the television remote. 

We were all sprawled out in the lounge room of my apartment: Harry, Louis, Zayn, Niall and I. Half-drunk beer bottles on the coffee table and empty chip packets strewn on the floor, I lazily rolled over to bury my face in the arm of the lounge. I hoped that if I could just hide away, the pain would ease off. I’d felt so bad that I’d even had a drink; not a big one, but enough to make everything a bit softer. 

But it was starting to fade. 

"You can't do this, mate," Louis suddenly sat up, rubbing his eyes as well. "We've had our guy time, we've had recuperation, but now it's time to move on." 

"I agree," Niall called from his place on the floor. 

"Me too," came Zayn's muffled response as his face was buried in a pillow. 

Sighing, I sat up and stretched my hands over my head, easing out the strains in my muscles. 

"You need to get out of here, Liam," Louis shot me a sad smile. "It's tough, we know, but you have to face the truth. She's never coming back." 

I expected the tears to come. I didn't cry easily - actually, I scarcely cried at all - but over these past few days I'd shed more tears than I had in the past year. 

But they didn't. I strained my eyes, blinked hard, but nothing came out, not even a drop of salty water. I'd used up my tear supply completely. 

On cue, Niall stumbled back into the room, handing me a glass of water. I took it gratefully and gulped it down, not caring if it spilt on my shirt. 

"We only have a few days before we're back to interviews and the studio," Zayn rolled over. "You need to get back on the social scene." 

Grimacing, I slouched back onto the couch, this time in an upright position. "I just... I can't believe it. I thought she loved me. I thought... Jesus." 

I looked down at my hands, biting my lip. Niall sat down next to me. 

"Danielle had to go, Liam," he placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's time for you to do the same." 

Fully chewing on my lip now, I watched as Harry grabbed the remote and started flicking through channels again. 

My girlfriend, Danielle, and I were going great. We’d been together for ages, overcome so many obstacles together – her career and mine – and I honestly thought I was in love with her. 

That was until three days ago, when she’d Facetimed me to let me know that she couldn’t do this anymore, that she’d found someone else to fill my role. 

And so began my breakdown. 

I’d drunk, I’d slept, I’d screamed. To go from being so emotionally attached to someone to suddenly not having any contact can kill even the best people. When you love someone, you expect them to be around forever, but more often than not, they don’t.