Lost (Liam Payne)

65 Part

Liam came running up a set of steps that led to his basement. "Why in the hell do you need these now? It's been over a damn year and now you call me? To see if I have your ski boots?" He dropped them at her feet. "Take them and get out."

"You don't have to be such a ass, Liam. Like you said, it's been a year. Get over it."

"Don't start, Sophia. Just take your damn boots and go. Get out of my house." Liam pointed to the door.

Sophia leaned down to grab the boots. "Fine. Act that way. Be an ass." She turned to walk out the door when she realized that she still had the white box the strange girl had given her. "Oh, here. Some fan girl got inside the gate and rang the doorbell. I must have left the gate open. Sorry. Here, she gave me this." Sophia gave Liam the box.

"What? You answered my door?" Liam asked.

She shrugged. "Well, why not? It was just a fan." She walked out the door and to her car.

Liam looked at the box. It looked familiar. He looked at the stamp on the front. Frankenmuth Fudge. Frankenmuth? He ripped it open. Maple Nut fudge. Maple Nut. His favorite. A fan brought this? Who would know to go to that town and get that fudge? Liam dropped the box and ran out the door.

She wasn't on the drive. He ran down to the gate. She wasn't at the gate. Sophia pulled out and drove away. He looked up and down the street. Where was she? Had she taken a taxi? Did he miss her? Was it really her? Then he saw her. She was nearly at the turn that would take her into town. He ran, screaming her name. She didn't stop. "Penny! Pen! Stop! Please!" he screamed, getting closer to overtaking her.

She stopped and turned back. "It's okay. I get it. No big deal. Uh, I should have left this, too, I guess." She took out the other white box and held it out.

Liam grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her body and weeping into her shoulder. "You are here. You came."

Penny was confused. She pushed him back, giving him a questioning look. She held the box out again, trying to get him to take it so she could leave. "Here. Take it." she said. "I can't keep it. Too expensive."

Liam looked at her hand and the box. "What? Don't you want it? But, it's a snowflake. I had it made just for you. I mean...you just came here to give it back?"

"Well, I don't want to intrude? I mean, you and Sophia..."

Liam started to laugh, stopping her from finishing. "She came to get her ski boots. She wasn't there to see me. I'm not...We aren't..." He was shaking his head, not sure what to say. Penny gasped, realizing what he was saying. She wasn't too late? She threw her arms around his neck, letting her suitcase fall to the ground. He hugged her back, muttering, "I missed you, Pen. I missed you."

"I'm so sorry, Liam. I didn't mean it. I'm just so afraid that you will leave me, too, like my dad, and Sam and Tom. I just need to have a little bit of faith and I couldn't do that. I see that now. I meant to send a text saying I was sorry, but the bell rang and I didn't hit send. I am so sorry. I..."

Liam grabbed her face and said, "Shh...I don't care, Love. I don't care." He leaned down and kissed her softly before letting go and grabbing the box from her hand. Letting the piano fall, he took the ring and dropped to his knee, holding up the snowflake diamond ring. "Penelope Jane Peters, will you marry me?"

Penny nodded her head and threw herself back into his arms, swearing to herself that she would let go of her fears, trust that he loved her and to never let him go again. She needed to forget about everything she had lost in life and concentrate on what she had great friends, a family who cared about her and a man who loved her just the way she was. It was time for her to look forward and stop looking back. It was time for her to stop being Cricket, the girl everyone felt sorry for and be Penelope, the girl who could do anything she wanted. And what she wanted, more than anything, was to stay in the arms of the man who found her.