While on the Run

Part XX

The next morning, I woke up earlier than need be. I was tossing and turning in excitement throughout the night just thinking about the big show. After checking my emails on my phone and responding to a few family texts, I finally had it in me to get out of bed and get ready for the day.

The sun still wasn't quite up in the sky when I went in my bathroom to take a shower but I was pleasantly surprised to see a warm, pink sky beginning to wake up by the time I was heading downstairs.

As I turned into the kitchen, I was surprised to see a figure waiting patiently by the tea kettle.

"Liam?" I called softly, my bare feet padding against the marble of the floor.

His head rose in recognition and I could see his tired eyes squint as he gave me a small smile.

"Good morning, B," he replied softly.

"What are you doing up?" I asked, placing a hand on the top of his back once I finally reached where he was standing.

"I'm not going to lie. I always have trouble sleeping the first few nights of a new tour." Just then, his tea kettle went off and as he went to move towards it. I waved him off to take a seat while I finished prepping his drink.

"Why is that?" I asked, but quickly added, "Sorry. I'm overstepping." I shot him a sheepish smile as I stirred in his sugar and picked up the cup to bring to Liam.

"No, not at all," he started. "I don't know...honestly, I tend to get in my head that these experiences are ones that I don't deserve and that I shouldn't be apart of. I think that's why my sleep gets damaged so much the first few shows. I'm fine after a few nights, when I get to internally accept that I'm meant to be on stage. But until I get that feeling in me again, I'm in for some long ass nights," he tried to joke.

I smiled sympathetically and took a seat across from him. "I can't even imagine trying to wrap my brain around some of the things you lot go through."

He nodded his head and took a sip of tea. "It can be a very tolling experience, but obviously I wouldn't change it for anything."

"I don't doubt it." Liam and I then sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, long enough for him to finish his tea. "Listen, I'm going to run out to Starbucks and grab breakfast before I wake everyone up. Did you wanna come with?"

Liam perked up a bit. "Yeah, of course. Let me just put on some clothes." I laughed along with him after I realized he was only wearing basketball shorts.

I placed his empty tea cup in the sink and grabbed my purse and a pair of shoes before meeting Liam at the car. It was still early morning, so Liam and I only had the company of one security detail. We chatted in the car on our way there and when I insisted on going into the store by myself, Liam protested. "There's not a soul here, Blake. It's 6am!"

"Alright, c'mon then," I laughed.

It only took around 10 seconds for one of the workers to identify Liam and by the time we left Starbucks, we had gained our drinks and breakfast and the five employees earned photographs with Liam, as well as tickets to the boys' show that night.

"Always a giver," I joked with Liam as we hopped back in the car and sped towards the house.

When we arrived, Liam grabbed the tray of drinks and handed me mine and Harry's. "H has been a cranky lunatic in the morning, lately. You take him and I'll wake up Louis and Niall?"

I laughed at his comment about Harry's crank-ass. "Sure, sounds good. Tell them they need to be showered and ready by 8am, will ya? Same goes for you, early bird." I shot him a wink, watching him walk towards Niall's door as I went to open Harry's.