Just a story that I've posted on onedirectionfanfiction.com! Enjoy! :)
Funky Budha has been, and will always be Liam's favorite place to celebrate his birthday. That would explain why he kept coming here year after year to celebrate it. August twenty-ninth was fast becoming a holiday at the Funky Budha.
The music was blasting and the place was filled with people partying it up and having a good time. Everything that made a birthday special.
"Liam!" Niall called out, a few steps away from the lad. "I just got here, happy birthday mate!"
Walking over to one of his best mates Liam smiles and waves a hello. "Thanks Nialler! It's been too long, we need to catch up!"
The boys, men now, of One Direction were off for a couple if months and this was the first time both lads had seen each other in a month."
“Will do!” Niall laughs before turning to the girl on his arm.
Laughing Liam makes his way to the bar and spots Harry.
Clapping his mate on the shoulder he sits down next to him. "How're you liking the party so far?"
Harry takes a sip out of his beer with a smirk, "It'll be epic when Andy gets a champagne shower. You'd think he'd see it coming after three years."
Every year Andy would get completely soaked in champagne by Liam, Maz and whoever decided to join in that year. It was epic every time because he never saw it coming. He was a special lad.
"I know what you mean." Liam laughs, "He's so incredible thick in the head sometimes."
Harry shakes his head with a smile, "Nah, I think he likes it."
"Probably." Liam concedes. He looks at Harry and could see the worry in his eyes.
Leaning closer to the younger lad he tries to figure out what's wrong. "What's bothering you Hazza?"
Harry shakes his head with a sad smile, "Nothing important enough to ruin your birthday."
"Come on mate. Knowing that something's bothering you puts a damper on things. Where's Sarah?"
Harry flinches at the name and closes his eyes, "I don't know." he whispers.
This makes Liam confused, "What do you mean you don't know?"
Letting out a sigh Harry take another pull at the beer his hand and stares aimlessly at the bar in front of him. "She didn't tell me. She doesn't tell me anything anymore and I think she's hiding something."
Now this surprised Liam, Sarah and Harry were the couple that just fit each other perfectly. They never seemed to argue or even disagree on much.
"Have you talked to Sophia?" Liam asked, she was their go to girl for things like these. And it helped that she was cousins with Sarah.
"I already tried that." Harry said frustrated. "She told me that I would have to wait until Sarah said something herself."
He spins around to face Liam with fire burning in his eyes, "She should be able to tell me anything. I don't know what's so different about it this time. And if she wants to break up, she should just say so!"
Liam looked at Harry with sympathy he could remember being in his shoes not too long ago.
Letting out a breath he gave Harry the advice that he wished someone had given him.
"Look mate," he starts off, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Don't give up on he and definitely don't let her go. Find out what's wrong and fix it if you can. Just try."
Harry seemed to calm down at his words, "You're right."
Pushing the beer bottle away he smiles and stands up. "Thanks mate."
Liam nods his head and smiles a little smile of his own, "Don't mention it.
He walks away and leaves Liam sitting there with his left over, grabbing the beer bottle he takes a sip of the cold beer. His head was so in the clouds that he didn’t notice when someone came up behind him.
“Jesus!” he exclaims, turning around at the tap.
Danielle stumbles back and Liam reaches out to catch her.
“Sorry,” she apologizes breathlessly, her hands holding on to his arms.
“It’s fine.” He whispers.
He couldn’t stop looking at her. This was the first time that they had seen each other in years. Sure they kept in connect. They were in the same field of business so it was no surprise. But texts and conversations were few and far in between.
Finally realizing that he was standing a bit to close Liam moves back and smiles, “Hi, I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I know!” she laughs, moving a strand of curly hair out of her face. “You’ve been busy, touring all around the world and what not.”
Liam ducks his head bashfully. He had been in One Direction for six years but a compliment could still make him blush.
“I hear you’ve been doing pretty good yourself. Built your own dance studio, haven’t you?”
Now it was Danielle’s turn to blush, “Yeah, we recently got everything set up and we’ve been going strong for the last six months.”
“That’s amazing Dani.” Liam said wholeheartedly. He knew that she had wanted to do something of the sort since they were together. She had told him countless stories about it.
“I’m glad that everything’s falling into place for you.” He congratulated her.
“Thank you.” She said softly.
He saw her eyes dim with a hint of sadness but before he could ask her what was wrong they were interrupted.
“Hey Danielle,” a muscular man asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Who’s this?”
Liam was surprised, it was very rare that someone didn’t recognize him. But he didn’t take it personally, his type of music wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and he could appreciate a difference of opinion.
Sticking his hand out he smiles brightly at the new arrival, “Hello, I’m Liam. The birthday boy for this evening.”
Something shifted in the man in front of him, he raised a brow and relaxed his body, “So you’re the famous Liam Payne that everyone’s talking about.”
“Excuse me?” Liam asks, confused.
He looks over to Danielle but just sees her duck her head.
The man takes his arm from around Danielle’s shoulder and places it on Liam’s instead. He was a few inches shorter than Liam so he had to look up a bit.
“Oh you know, the infamous 2012 break-up that changed Directioners’ lives forever.”
Liam let out a laugh but quickly swallowed it down when he saw the glare that Danielle was giving the man that currently had his arms around him.
Clearing his throat Liam looked at the man below him, “Uh…what did you say your name was again?”
“I didn’t darling but if you must know it’s Jacques. I’m the manager at Danielle’s dance studio.”
“Not for long,” Danielle muttered. But Liam and Jacques both heard her.
“Oh really,” Liam asked. “Then you should probably not talk about that since she’s your boss and everything right?”
Sighing Jacques stuck his nose in the air and harrumphed. “I guess so.”
He walked away without the information that he was fishing for and helped himself to the appetizers that were being carried around.
“I’m so sorry. He doesn’t know when to shut up sometimes.” Danielle apologized with a shake of her head.
“It’s fine,” Liam laughs. “I’d love to hear more about your dance studio though.”
Danielle’s eyes lit up as she started to talk about her dance studio and Liam couldn’t help but see how beautiful she was. Her hands were moving all over the place and she even made him laugh with some of the stories about how they got everything set up.
It was when she was talking about the actual set up of the dance studio that he remembered something.
“Oh!” he suddenly exclaimed with a snap of his fingers, “I think I have some mirrors in the house!”
“What?” Danielle asked, confused.
“I had brought some dance studio mirrors that I found somewhere when you told me about your plans earlier. I’d never gotten around to give them to you.” He explained. “They’re probably still collecting dust in the basement.”
“Probably? Do you not live in the house anymore?” she asked.
Danielle and Liam had bought a house together, right outside of London’s city life when they had been together. It was a perfect mix of the both of them and Danielle had cried horribly the day that she had packed her stuff and left.
She was surprised that he had kept it.
“No,” Liam replied back, shifting on his feet. “I…uh…stay with my parents whenever I’m in the area. But the house is just boarded up at the moment.”
“You never sold it or anything?” she asked softly.
He stuffs his hands in his front pockets and shrugs, “I could never part with it.”
They stood there for a minute or two, just staring at each other. It wasn’t awkward or anything. Actually it was quite the opposite. Both of them looked at each other in a light that they both thought had faded long ago.
“Hey Liam!” Maz interrupted them. “We’re about to give Andy his yearly shower. Are you in bro!”
Liam snaps out of the trance and spins around to face Maz, raising his hand in the air he nods, “I’ll be over in a minute!”
Maz throws him a quick thumbs up before he goes back to his partying.
He turns back to Danielle but the spell had already been broken. Liam clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck, “So…uh…should I call you to come pick it up?”
“I’ll have to be there to unlock the house and everything.” He warns her.
She smiles up at him, “No problem, just text or call me when you’re free.”
“Same number?” he asks her.
She nods her head, “Same number.”
“Great, mine is the same too.”
They stand there for another minute before Liam gets called once more. He rolls his eyes but Danielle pushes him to go, “Go ahead, they won’t start without you.”
“Are you sure?” he asks hesitantly.
“I’m positive. It was great seeing you again Liam.” she smiles.
“It was great seeing you too Danielle.”
He makes to go for a hug while she sticks her hand out for a handshake. Then he sticks his hand out for a handshake while she makes a go for a hug.
In the end Liam just pulls her into his arms and hugs her. Her body feels electrified from the feel of his hard strong body against hers.
It had been way too long.
It wasn’t until a drunkard bumped into Liam that he let go and looked down at Danielle. She looked up at him and Liam was shocked at what he saw.
Her full, pink lips were parted and her eyes glowed with lust. He imagined that he looked the same.
Running his tongue across his bottom lip, he feels himself slowly leaning down. Danielle’s eyes close in the anticipation of their lips connecting but soon the spell is broken as the both hear Maz scream again.
“Liam! Hurry your ass up!”
Closing his eyes Liam sighs and presses his forehead against Danielle’s.
“You really should go.” She says softly against his lips, a little sadness seeps into her voice.
She pulls away from him and wraps her arms around her mid-section. He sees that she doesn’t want to talk and concedes to her wishes.
“Okay,” he says quietly. “I’ll call you when I can.”
He turns around and pushes himself to walk over to Maz and the rest of the people that were there to help him celebrate his birthday.
What he didn’t see was the tears that ran down Danielle’s face.
For Part Two check here! It may not be up yet but this is where I'll post it!