Take a Good Guess

Liam shot me one of his cheeky grins as I showed him the tickets for their American tour next year. He grabbed those thin papers from my hands and let out a chuckle.

“Told you I’m not lying,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You can’t really trust anyone these days, Hannah,” He said, placing the tickets on the table. “Have you seen Emma?”

“No,” I shook my head; I turned my attention to the cup of coffee in my hands realizing that the conversation was going to be more awkward that I had expected.

“Well, you should see her,” he responded, taking a swig of his caramel macchiato. I only smiled at him and nodded. Maybe seeing Liam wasn’t the brightest idea after all, considering I wasn’t they type of person who could say no to a face like his, taking an advice from Mr. Payne was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Hannah,” He started, “I love you dearly,”

“Liam, please—“

“I beg you, darling,” he said endearing, with his beautiful brown eyes looking straight into mine.

“Stop it, Liam” I sighed, already feeling exhausted with his charm working its way through me. “Please.”

“At least hear me out first, will you?” he laughed.

I said nothing, my eyes bored into him as the edge of his lips twitched creating a playful smile across his face. I hated him when he did that, only making myself frustrated why God chose this flawless creature to be my best friend, of all people. I just couldn’t help but think sometimes.

“You know I can’t stay here any longer, don’t you?”

“What? Are the boys waiting for you?” I couldn’t help but look around the coffee shop, searching for four funny looking boys perched on the corner of the shop disguising themselves as tourists, but the only thing I found was an old man at his 50’s struggling with his apple pie.

“No, no,” Liam shook his head, “They’re at the hotel.” He flashed a funny look to the old man across our table and said, “I won’t be here until January.”

“January?” if I wasn’t mistaken that was three months away, “but this is only October.”

“I know,” I could see the guilt in his eyes as he stared at me; his hands never left his cup.
“But you promised—“

“I know, Hannah,” he cut me off, “This is why I called you.”

So many thoughts were rushing in my head as I watched him taking my hand in his. “Things aren’t really going as planned—“

“Yeah, I know that now,” I was the one who cut him off this time, forcing a fake smile to come across my face to tell him I was okay but I knew for a second that Liam wouldn’t buy any of it.

“I have this idea,” he looked up to me, “Maybe you can come with us.”

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at him, shaking my head, “you know I can’t do such thing.”

“Why not?”

“Liam,” I trailed off, not really knowing what to say to him. I tried to slip my hands off his but he didn’t flinch. I tried to arrange a few words to tell him that I would be fine but I could definitely tell that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Besides, you really don’t have anything to do.”

I couldn’t help but to feel a little bit offended by his words. Well yes, maybe I wasn’t exactly the person who was really busy until you had to make an appointment first to have a lunch with me, but the term ‘unemployed’ didn’t exactly feel very fitting in my ears.

“Who says I’m unemployed?” I exclaimed.

“Who ever said you are unemployed?” Liam raised his eyebrows, “I just said that you really don’t have anything to do.”

“I do have something to do,” I said, defending myself.

“Yeah? Like what?” I could see the smile that was starting to form on his lips, which I hate. I was pretty sure that he knew that he already won the argument and I couldn’t give a good come back for him. “Come on now, Hannah” he laughed.

“You know how much I hate you, Payne?” I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“No, you love me,” He casually said, “now come with me to the hotel and we’ll talk to Paul, our manager and see if we can find you a place in the tour.”

“You sound like this is not a big deal,” I muttered

“It’s actually not,” he smiled.

“I hate the mature Liam,” I frowned, “give me the immature Liam back.”

“I can’t help but to be one for you,” He shook his head and got up, “Come on, Hannah,” he said, patting his hand on my shoulder.

When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted to a massive amount of screaming girls waiting around in case they got the chance to see a glimpse of the boys from their hotel room. I only shook my head in annoyance on how the security assumed myself as one of those die-hard fan girls because I was actually an eighteen-year-old female. Liam actually had to grab me off of them and shouted that I was his friend and we were just trying to get inside the hotel. They finally understood and immediately brought us to the back door to enter the lobby.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, miss,” The security guard later said to me after we entered the lobby safely.

“Make sure it won’t happen again next time,” Liam answered for me, his face flushed with anger. “You can’t just generally assume people like that.”

“Liam, it’s fine,” I said, smiling, “I found it rather funny actually.”

Liam only shook his head and pushed the elevator button to the 9th floor. We waited briefly for five minutes in silence until I was the one who had to break it.

“I never met any of the boys before.”

“You will in two more minutes,” he said, looking at his watch.

“I’ve always wanted to meet them,” I said again, just for the sake of the two of us to have something to talk about. I hated when we fell into an awkward silence especially when he was in a bad mood.

“Don’t push it, Hannah,” he finally let out a chuckle, taking a glance at me. “I know when you are nervous.”

“I’m not!”

“I’m pretty sure they’ll love you.” He smiled, pretending he didn’t hear me.

--

“Stay here.”

“Where are you going?” I asked Liam as I fell down on his king size bed, straightening my hands and yawning as if I was in my own room.

“Paul’s room!”

I heard him shouted and the sound of the door slamming. I only shrugged and casually slipped off my shoes and tucked my self into bed. I refused the urge to come with Liam because I wasn’t exactly in the state to meet new people, my mind wandered about what would happen in the next couple of months if they successfully found a place for me in the tour. I would be going to various different places with my best friend. The thought brought a smile to my face to the fact maybe I wouldn’t have to spend Christmas so lonely anymore, but it immediately changed to a sinking feeling when I remembered that I still had to leave Emma for a long time.

I couldn’t stand being guilty so I forced myself out of bed and went to the bathroom and get cleaned up.