*Chapter 18: Hanging with Liam*
*Ariel's POV*
*Six hours later*
We are currently on our way to the nearest take out restaurant, all minding our own business. Louis and I were watching some random show on TV. Simon was currently on a conference call. Paul was texting someone. Niall was softly strumming his guitar while his daughter sleeps by his feet. Harry is sleeping on the floor on the other side of the room. And Liam is currently in his bunk, as usual.
"Hey guys, we're here." The driver said calling back to us.
Everyone got up to exit the bus, except for me.
"Hey, Ariel, are you coming?" Louis asked.
"Nah, I think I'm just going to stay here and watch some TV and hang out with Amanda." I replied.
"She's sleeping." He told me.
"And Niall ran off the bus to go get food. What happens if she wakes up?" I told him.
"True. Do you want anything?" Louis asked.
"Yeah, surprise me." I replied.
He just nodded and walked off the bus. Once he was off the bus, I picked up Amanda who stirred in her sleep and brought her back to Niall's bunk. As I was walking back to the TV room, I heard someone call my name and it definitely wasn't Amanda.
"Ariel, is that you?" I heard the voice call out.
I thought about ignoring him for a second, but then decided against it.
"What?" I asked in a rude tone.
"Nothing." He said.
I sighed and turned back around and opened his curtain. And when I did, I didn't expect to see him the way I did. He was curled up in a ball, his blankets all over the place, and his back was to me. But the sad thing was, I heard him sobbing, which broke my heart.
"Liam, what's wrong?" I asked with concern.
He didn't answer.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked him.
"Not really." He replied.
"Well, do you want a hug?" I asked.
"Yes please." He said politely, which surprised me a bit.
I quickly recovered from my shock before he replied.
"Well, what are you still doing laying up there? Get down here and give me a hug." I said to him.
It took him a second, but he eventually got up out of the bunk slowly. And when he turned to face me, my heart broke. His eyes are red and puffy and he had tear stains on his cheeks.
"Liam, please don't cry. You're going to make me cry." I whispered in his ear, which only made sob a little harder,
"I'm so sorry." He said to me.
"Sorry for what?" I quickly questioned, pulling away from the hug.
"For everything. For splitting on the band. For giving up on the fans when they needed me the most. I mean you were really upset for three years." Liam explained, speaking the most he has ever done since I have met him.
"Listen Liam, there's nothing to be sorry for. I understand how you felt when you split from the band. Like you said before, I was really upset for the last three years. Everyone has their own way with dealing with things. In this situation, yours was to pick up everything and move to Ireland, where no one knew where you were. Where you could mourn alone." I told him, which caused him to cry a little bit more.
I gave Liam another hug before I heard a little voice call my name.
"Awiel." Amanda said, in her little, innocent voice, as she peeked around the curtain.
"Yes, sweetie." I asked.
"I had a nightmare, can you sing to me?" She asked.
"Sure, let me just go get daddy's guitar, okay." I replied.
I left the bunk area with Liam following close behind.
"Ariel," Liam said.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Do you mind if I sing to her?" Liam asked, while looking down at his feet, almost embarrassed to ask the question.
I was about to reject, but I saw the look on his face, and I could see that he wanted to change, something to prove he is the same guy he was in One Direction.
"Okay, fine. Just this once." I replied and I saw something that I haven't seen in a very long time and made me feel good inside. I saw Liam smile a genuine smile, even if it was just a small one.
"I'll be right back, I'll go get her." I say with a slight smile before walking out of the room.
After getting Amanda, I walked back into the room and sat on the couch.
"Amanda, my friend Liam here is going to sing you a song tonight. Okay?" I told her.
She just looked over at Liam who was sitting on the couch across from us and tilted her head in confusion.
"What song are you going to sing?" I asked him.
Liam thought about it for a moment, then asked Amanda.
"Have you ever heard of Sam Smith?" He asked her.
"Yes sir." She replied politely.
"What's your favorite song?" Liam asked as she just shrugged her shoulders, causing him to laugh a little bit, which made me smile. I think Amanda has an effect on him that no one else does.
"Don't worry, I have one." Liam told her before whispering the song in my ear.
After telling me the song, Liam sat down on the chairs that were set at the table and had his back to the door.
I began strumming the song, before Liam began singing.
"Another day, another life
Passes by just like mine
It's not complicated
Another mind, another soul
Another body to grow old
It's not complicated
Do you ever wonder if the stars shine out for you?
Float down
Like autumn leaves
And hush now
Close your eyes before the sleep
And you're miles away
And yesterday you were here with me."
It wasn't long after Liam started singing that the whole crew entered the bus. They all silenced and stared at the scene before them. Paul was about to go drag Liam somewhere but Simon put his arm out to block him, as if trying to say let him finish.
Liam didn't even notice they were behind him, so I continued to play as Amanda sat by my feet, hugging my leg with one hand and sucking her thumb on her other hand, watching him intently.
"Another tear, another cry
Another place for us to die
It's not complicated
Another love that's gone to waste
Another light lost from your face
It's complicated
Is it that it's over or do birds still sing for you?
Float down
Like autumn leaves
And hush now
Close your eyes before the sleep
And you're miles away
And yesterday you were here with me
Ooh how I miss you
My symphony played the song that carried you out
Ooh how I miss you
And I, I miss you and I wish you'd stay
Do you ever wonder if the stars shine out for you?
Float down
Like autumn leaves
And hush now
Close your eyes before the sleep
And you're miles away
And yesterday you were here with me
Ooh oh, ooh oh
Ooh oh, ooh oh
Touch down
Like a seven four seven
Stay out and we'll live forever now"
As soon as Liam was finished singing, everyone behind him, except for Niall and Paul, clapped and cheered. Liam quickly turned around and looked in fear. He then got out of his seat and basically ran to the back of the bus.
"Nice job guys, you scared him off." I said in an annoyed tone.
"Sorry." Simon, Ariel, and Louis said in unison.
Niall came over without a word, picked up his daughter, and brought her to the back of the bus, probably putting her to bed.
Simon and Paul also went to the back of the bus, leaving Louis, Harry, and I alone.
"What was that all about?" He asked me.
"Just trying to help a friend out." I said as I grabbed my food from Louis and went to go eat it at the table.
"NIALL GET OFF HIM RIGHT NOW!" I heard Simon suddenly yell.
Louis, Harry, and I both looked at each other with wide eyes before we ran to the back of the bus to find out what was happening.
*Simon's POV*
Paul and I both walked to the back of the bus to find a scene that I've never thought I'd see. Niall had pulled Liam out of his bunk and started punching him, while Liam just laid on the floor in a ball and covering his head, not bothering to fight back.
"NIALL GET OFF HIM RIGHT NOW!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, but I don't thing he heard me. He continued to punch Liam. Paul eventually pulled Niall off of Liam and he dragged him out of the bus.
"Louis, Harry, help him to the other room." I said, noticing that Ariel, Harry, and Louis were standing behind me.
Louis and Harry quickly rushed to Liam's side and helped him up and basically carried him to the other room.
"What happened?" Ariel asked as we walked into the front of the bus.
"That's what I am about to find out." Simon replied.