“Seriously, Liam? I tell you that I can sing yesterday and you've already got me performing in front of sold out crowds? Impatient much?” Rose joked, before continuing, completely serious, “Thank you, though. It felt good to sing again. And that was my favorite song, so win-win! I had a lot of fun. Thanks for letting me sing with you!”
They were quiet for a few seconds, before Liam realized that he was still holding Rose close to him in a hug and let go quickly, backing away to give Rose her space. Rose immediately missed the close contact.
“Umm... so, why did you want to see me?” Rose eventually asked, trying to get rid of the awkwardness.
“Oh yeah!” Liam said, perking up immediately, remembering the reason for inviting her back in the first place.
“I was wondering if I could get your number? I mean, it gets pretty lonely on the tour bus, driving around from city to city, waiting for the next show. So I was hoping we could hang out in each new city before I have to set up for the show. I usually have an hour or two to sight-see or just chill before they need me at the arena. I've been pretty bored so far, with the exception of our date the other night, so I would love the company.”
Rose was beyond excited, not because this was Liam Walker, the superstar, asking her, but because her cute new friend Liam wanted to spend more time with her. But she tried not to show her excitement, replying calmly,
“Yeah, sure. Okay. I would like that.”
So they swapped numbers, and Rose said goodbye to Liam until his next show. Or at least, that's what she thought.
Rose had barely made it to her car when her phone vibrated with a text message.
I'm bored already and we're not leaving this city until tomorrow morning. Want to catch a movie with me? -L
Rose was a little reluctant. She only had enough spending money for food and gas and in case of emergencies. She didn't really have enough to spend on things like movies. But she didn't need to worry, because Liam quickly texted her again before she could respond.
I'm buying. Meet me at the tour bus. -L
Rose smiled as she turned away from her car and started toward the tour bus. This summer had already been fantastic, and Rose could tell it would only get better from here.
Chapter 6
“So, now that I've gotten you to sing in public, that means I'll be hearing your voice a lot more, right? Please say yes. Please say yes.”
Rose laughed at Liam's dorky pleading while sitting in the movie theater, waiting for the movie to begin.
“Yes,” Rose responded, then continued, explaining, “That was actually really fun. I've never gotten that reaction from a crowd before. The glee club was definitely not cool in high school. The one time I even attempted a solo, I literally had tomatoes thrown at me. I always thought I was no good, but I loved it, so I did it anyway... at least for a while. You know, I originally just majored in fashion design my freshman year of college, because I always had an original sense of style, but one day my roommate heard me singing in the shower and literally dragged me to the head of the music department. Then Mason backed my roommate up, saying that I could definitely sing. The music teacher had me sing a song for her, just to be sure, and the rest is history. I guess deep down I knew I could sing, but I was just scared of reliving my past, you know?”
“Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore,” Liam assured her. “I mean, don't get me wrong... there will always be haters. No matter what you do, people will look for ways to tear you down. But if you're doing what you love, then you have nothing to worry about. The only person who can bring you down is you.”
And with that, the lights dimmed and the movie was starting, forcing the pair to stop talking for a little while.
Two hours later, at around one in the morning, they exited the theater.
“That movie was awesome! He was all 'I'll save you!' but she was like 'Yeah right! I'll save myself!' and then the battle with the swords and the monkeys and the 'pew pew',” Liam described, faking laser gun motions with his hands.
Rose just laughed. Yeah, she was pretty sure the guy standing next to her was completely and certifiably insane, but it was kind of cute.
“I have to admit... it was pretty cool,” Rose agreed, a large smile on her face.
But Rose was cut off as a bright light flashed in her eyes.
"What the hell?" Rose questioned, looking around, rubbing her eyes so that she could see again.
And that's when it hit them. They were completely surrounded by paparazzi. There had to be at least fifteen of them. This could not be good.
"What do we do?" Rose cried out over the shouts of the paparazzi, who were yelling out commands and questions to them.
"Just stay calm. I'll call the police," Liam exclaimed, wrapping a protective arm around Rose. He knew paparazzi, and he knew they could get a little pushy if they didn't get what they wanted.
"Kiss him!" One reporter shouted, forcefully pushing Rose into Liam, as he talked to a police officer on
his phone.
"Why would he want to kiss her? He probably doesn't even like girls," another reporter to Liam's right shouted.Liam whipped his head toward the photographer who had shouted that, hanging up his phone, ready to throw an insult at him. He wasn't about to just stand by and let someone else get away with insulting him.
But then Rose grabbed Liam's face in her hands and told him, forcibly, “Don't you dare do anything stupid."
Liam stared into Rose's eyes, feeling much safer there, and nodded his head. Liam rested his forehead against Rose's, wrapping his arms tightly around her, holding her close for safety.
"What do we do now, Liam?" Rose asked quietly.
"I don't know," Liam answered. This crowd of photographers reminded Liam of the time he tried to get to Rose outside of his show, only to be swarmed by excited fans. Except, this was actually a little worse. The paparazzi were aggressive, all shouting at them, and flashing lights in their faces, reaching out and grabbing at them.
"Surely someone will be here soon. It's loud out here. Security has got to know by now that something's up. Just hold tight. We'll be okay," Liam attempted to reassure Rose, gently stroking her hair.
But right then, the same photographer who had lashed out at them, just a few seconds before, pulled Liam away from Rose, trying to force him to face the camera. Liam jerked back out of the man's grasp and, consequently, slammed his head right into a camera that was behind him.
And then, just like that, Liam hit the ground.
Chapter 7
As soon as Liam hit the ground, security came rushing out of the movie theater and cops pulled up, just a second too late.
The police called for back-up and were able to break apart the paparazzi, threatening to have them all arrested. Rose was pulled away to safety while the police tended to Liam.
Liam was unconscious and Rose could see a little blood around his head on the ground.
“Someone call an ambulance! Don't you see he's bleeding? Please, help him!” Rose cried out as she was being forcefully dragged away by security
A security guard looked down and, sure enough, there was blood beginning to pool around Liam's head. So he called an ambulance and Liam was carried away from Rose on a stretcher minutes later.
Rose realized, frantically, that she had no way of getting to the hospital to be with Liam. She wasn't allowed to ride in the ambulance with him, and her car was back at the arena, which was a twenty minute walk away. She didn't have that kind of time right now. She ran up to the nearest police officer and shouted at him,
“Take me to the hospital. NOW! GO!”
The officer was slightly startled, but did as Rose asked, too scared of the upset girl to question her.
As Rose hopped into the back of the cop car, she thought over what had just gone down.
Was this something Liam had to deal with regularly? He seemed so calm through it all. Her heart ached at the thought that Liam was used to being stalked and yelled at by fans
and paparazzi. And she had been so helpless during all of it. It was scary. Rose wasn't sure she would be able to handle something like that all the time. Was that what she was signing herself up for by being friends with Liam? Was that what she was signing herself up for by pursuing a career in music?
But Rose didn't have much more time to ponder these thoughts, because the car was now pulling up to the hospital. It had only been twenty minutes since the attack happened. Wow. Had it seriously only been twenty minutes? Those had to be the longest twenty minutes of her life.
She raced inside the hospital, yelling her thanks to the police officer over her shoulder, and looked around frantically, trying to figure out where they could have taken Liam.
She spotted a nurse and instantly began pleading with her to tell her Liam's location.
“I'm sorry, ma'am, but only family is allowed back right now,” the nurse replied, trying to get Rose to calm down.
“I don't care! I have to see him. His family isn't even here. I'm the closest thing he has right now. Please let me back!”
But the nurse wasn't giving in. So Rose decided to do something she promised herself she'd never do. She was going to use Liam's fame to get her something in life. She just prayed Liam never found out that she had used him like that. It would break his heart. Especially considering he had hinted at being used in the past. But this circumstance was different. This was so she could help him.
“I don't think you understand. That in there is Liam Walker, famous singer. I am Rose Moore, friend of Liam Walker. I sang with him at his concert tonight. Just ask anyone who was there. And I am the only person he has right now, and you WILL let me see him, do you understand!?” Rose shouted in her most terrifying voice.
The nurse's eyes widened in shock and she quickly went around to the back of her desk and pulled out a clipboard and began to read information to Rose.
“He simply had a concussion that temporarily knocked him unconscious. There was no swelling of the brain or internal bleeding. We had to give him a few stitches to close up the cut on his head, but, fortunately, it wasn't too deep. That was the only injury he sustained. He woke up in the ambulance and is still wide awake and alert, but we're going to keep him overnight to monitor him, just in case he should lose consciousness again. He should be able to go home first thing in the morning if he does fine through the night.”
Rose was relieved that he would be okay, but still had to ask, “He has a show tomorrow night. Will he be able to perform?”
“I don't think that should be a problem. He should probably perform sitting down for most of the show, so as to not over-exert himself, though. If you would like, you can go see him now.”
“If I would like... you ignorant little...” Rose mumbled to himself, but nodded her head and followed the nurse to Liam's room.
When Rose entered Liam's room, she quickly thanked the nurse, then practically lunged into Liam's arms, who was reaching out for Rose like his life depended on it. Both of them instantly started crying.
“I was so scared. That was so scary,” Rose gasped out.
“I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I kept asking the nurses if you were okay, because I didn't know what happened after I lost consciousness, and I was so scared that I hadn't been able to protect you, but they didn't know anything. And I was just so scared.”
“Protect me?! No! That's not what I was talking about! I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you! I'm so sorry that you got hurt because of me.”
“Don't say that. Don't apologize. It's not your fault. I got hurt because a photographer didn't like who I am. But I am proud of who I am, and I'm proud of you for being so brave during all of that. I don't care what anyone else says. I don't care if I never sell another album because some people don't like who I am. Nothing will change me.”
And that just made Rose cry even harder. She clung to Liam as if he was her lifeline, and Liam held on just as tight.
They were finally able to calm down minutes later, and Rose settled comfortably into the bed next to Liam, wrapping her arms around him carefully and holding him tight.
“Does it hurt?” Rose questioned, reaching out and gingerly touching Liam's head.
“A little. They gave me some painkillers, though. And I feel much better now that you're here,” Liam answered with a smile, before continuing, “I'm sorry to dump this all on you so soon after meeting you. Best second date ever, though, right?” He joked.
“No worries. Seriously. Totally best second date ever,” Rose smiled, then continued, seriously, “I'm just glad that you're okay. Is there anything I can get you? I feel like I should be doing something.”
“Rose Moore, don't you dare get out of this bed. I refuse to let you go right now,” said Liam, holding on to Rose even tighter.
Rose sighed and gave in to Liam's pleas, snuggling even closer to him.
“What happened to the paparazzi?” Liam asked.
“They were broken up. Everyone was let free. But I'm going to find out who pushed you and get a restraining order against him. You better believe it. I mean, jeez, Liam... do you regularly practice getting mauled by fans or something?” Rose joked, lightly shoving Liam's shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah. Quiet, you. Hey, how did you get back here to see me anyway? For all they know, you could just be a crazed fan. I suddenly don't feel so safe,” Liam laughed.
“I have my ways. I can be very persuasive when I need to be. You've never met scary Rose,” Rose replied, trying to put on her best scary face, just causing Liam to laugh some more.
“Well, whatever you did, thank you. I'm glad you're here.”
Then they were interrupted by a nurse informing Rose that visiting hours technically ended two hours before Liam was even brought there, so Rose would need to leave. Rose nodded politely and told Liam goodbye, after making sure he had contacted his security team to let them know where he was.
“I guess I'll see you later tonight at your show?”
“I guess so. See you then. Drive safe!”
And with that, Rose left the hospital room, confused by everything that she was feeling for Liam. It seemed like so much had changed in the course of the night- in the course of the two weeks since tour began, even. There had been an instant connection when they met, and it had only grown stronger as time went on, but something had changed during the night. Something changed as they were swarmed by the paparazzi. She never would have thought that she would end up caring so much about Liam, being so protective of him. She was so scared for him when he got hurt. And she was so relieved to see him awake. And it was all so confusing.
What Rose was sure of, though, was that she cared about Liam. And it seemed like Liam cared about her too, but she could only hope.
Chapter 8
Oh yes. Liam definitely cared about Rose. Rose was no longer just a fan, but a good friend- a beautiful, funny, talented, kind, awesome friend. But he was still scared to trust her completely. Liam had been betrayed far too many times in his life to let his guard down completely. But that didn't take away from the fact that she was understanding and caring and had a magnificent voice. Which is why it hit so hard when he saw the newspaper waiting at the side of his hospital bed when he woke up later that morning.
It was happening all over again.
The headline read: “Superstar Liam Walker's Not-So-Secret Romance”
There were pictures, too. Pictures of Liam's arm wrapped tightly around Rose's shoulder outside of the movie theater. Pictures taken by the same paparazzi who had attacked them last night. Those jerks had bombarded them, put him in a hospital, then still sold their pictures to the newspaper? Seriously?
But that wasn't even what made Liam most angry. It was the fact that Rose was in the newspaper. Rose, his friend of only a few weeks, was already being dragged into all of his drama. Rose was going to be famous now. And that's what hurt the most.
Across the Miles Page 4