an: hope i did him justice @ldygliterz! hope you don't mind the tag lol. i went digging through liam's moodboard on pinterest for i think 2(?) pictures above. also would you believe most of my time spent making this was looking for text dividers

warnings: swearing, obsessive behaviour, small fluff, Liam being a gentleman, smoking, feminine compliments, mentions of murder, mentions of stalking, kind of a mention of spooky premonitions (you'll see what i mean), shitty writing

Your phone buzzed loudly in the silence of the night, casting dark shadows in your room. Blearily, you rolled over and saw a single text from Liam on the screen.

Hey.

Your eyelids struggled to stay open at the harsh awakening and sleep overtook you for a few seconds.

I know it's late and I'm sorry abt waking you up but I wanted to ask you something Hey Did you fall back asleep?

"Shit!" You gasped. Frantically, you type back and sit yourself up more in bed.

Sorry sorry What's up

Liam had never texted you this late before. In fact, he was adamant that you got a good amount of sleep, always saying you went to bed too late. You smile warmly at the thought. At least you know he cares! Although, it was because of a late night excursion that you met in the first place. Three text bubbles appearing rapidly after the other steal you from your thoughts.

Do you want to go on a walk with me? I know it's late but I'll pick you up

Frowning, you looked out your bedroom window. From the small gap in the curtains, you could see how black the sky was outside. It was well past midnight. What kind of boogeymen were out there at this time of night? You shuddered at the thought and sent a quick reply.

What about creeps and weirdos??

Liam's reply makes your cheeks flush.

You don't have to worry about those I'll protect you ;)

A small grin breaks across your face as your thumbs fly across the keyboard. At the offer of a midnight adventure, you weren't too mad about being woken up. Liam's company made it all the more sweeter.

Okay I'll bite lol

The night you and Liam had met was a recurring memory; the blazing heat of the bonfire you sat round, his curious eyes, how attentive he was to the problems of a girl he had just met. In all your life, you hadn't met someone like Liam.

Vanessa still wasn't sure if he had good intentions, warning you to be careful. You understood her concerns and appreciative that you had a good friend like her to look out for you like that, but you were determined for Vanessa to like Liam. Maybe the story of tonight would be what would finally make her come around to him.

Your phone buzzes, lighting up once more.

See you in ten.

Liam actually arrives in front of your house in 8 minutes.

The soft, yellow headlights of his car cut through the night and flash across your house as he turned his car around. Meanwhile, you panicked at his early arrival. In the biting winter cold, pyjamas definitely wouldn't have kept you warm enough, leaving you rushing around your room as you struggled to get your jeans and jacket on.

Liam leant against his car and lit a cigarette, a whirl of grey smoke floating around his head. Finally, your front door opened. There was a harsh chill in the air, so you pulled your coat tighter around your body and put your hands in the pockets. Liam offered his cigarette to you as you got closer.

"Smoke?" He asked.

Nodding, you quickly took it from his hands, took a drag and gave it back.

"My hands are freezing! It's too cold to smoke a whole cigarette," You laughed. Puffs of smoke escaped your mouth as you spoke, floating up to the night sky.

Liam nodded, placing it back between his lips and opened the passenger door in one swift movement.

"Get in, I left the heater on for you."

The warmth of the car enveloped your skin and brought life back to your cheeks and nose. Liam gave the door a light push, preserving the heat. After a few moments of silence as he finished up outside, you realised he had left the radio on - a slow but calming rock song played in the background, perfect for the vibes of the night.

As Liam got in, a rush of the cold came in after, briefly making you shiver.

"You ready? All buckled in?" He asks.

"Yeah," You nod. "But where are we going?"

The fastening of his seatbelt makes a soft click and he adjusts one of his side mirrors. He gives you a reassuring smile.

"I have a place in mind that I think you'll like."

Eventually, the car comes to a rolling stop. Liam pulled into a dirt and gravel-laid park, with a wooden gate and footpath on your side.

Thick forest surrounds the car. You imagine it must be lush and green in the summer, but now only bears fruitless trees and densely packed snow.

"We're here," He announces, his eyes shining in the moonlight. "I hope you like this walk as much as I do."

Your heart aches a little at his comment.

"It looks beautiful," You say in awe, opening your door and stepping out into the night. It truly does; the sky is completely clear, letting the moon cast over the dewy, glittering trees that are laden with snow. It's glow beckons you to venture further into the woods.

The car chirps as Liam locks it, yellow lights flashing against the underbrush of the forest briefly. He makes his way to the gate and opens it, the hinges making a soft squeak.

"After you," He grins, gesturing an extended hand behind him.

The gravel path crunches softly underfoot as you make your way along it. The trees could probably be seen through in the day, but now they hold a darkness that makes you step closer to Liam. Who knows what lurks in there?

The thought makes your skin crawl at the amount of eyes watching you right now, but you haven't noticed how many times Liam has looked at you since you got in his car. After all, he couldn't resist looking in the mirror to see you sitting so pretty in his passenger seat, an image he hoped would be burned into his brain.

He cursed himself for not having a photographic memory.

The streetlights had flashed over your face every few seconds, illuminating your face and thrusting it into darkness just as soon as he saw it. Liam hoped you hadn't noticed how often he almost drifted into the middle of the road. He was nervous. Spending any amount of time with you made him so, so nervous.

Liam thrust his hands into his pockets, looking up at the night sky.

He didn't want to fuck this up.

He couldn't fuck this up.

You had been walking for some time now, and came to a bridge overlooking an icy river.

At the sudden weight of you both leaning on the railing, the bridge groaned in protest. After a few seconds, Liam spoke.

"Do you ever feel like there was a moment in your life that changed everything?"

The question catches you off guard.

There hasn't been a moment like that for you, yet. Maybe a handful of events had changed the trajectory of your life, but no singular moment had had an impact that monumental. Before you can answer, he speaks again.

"That night, at the party. I can't imagine that night going any other way, y'know. I can't imagine not meeting you."

The confession warms your heart against the chill of the air. You shifted closer to Liam, your shoulders brushing against each other. His body is warm and comforting through the canvas jacket he wears.

"I'm glad we met too, Liam. Who else would be my companion in midnight escapades?" You tease him.

You turn your body towards him, meeting his eyes. There is a serious weight behind them, making your stomach dip slightly.

For what feels like eternity, he just stares at you with a piercing glare.

"You have changed.. everything for me," He says, his voice low.

He moves in front of you, trapping you against the rail with his arms.

"I can't be without you. You are my life. The reason I breathe, the reason I eat, the reason I live. I don't think I can stop myself from being away from you anymore."

Your eyes widen in shock. You hadn't realised the extent of his feelings for you. It's sudden and a little overwhelming with his seriousness, but it's sweet. Your own feelings had developed slowly since meeting him at that fated party and you start to talk to tell him.

"Liam, I-"

"Do you know how long I was watching you before we met?"

The air leaves your lungs.

"Do you know that I dreamt of your face for months before that night?"

The blood runs cold in your veins.

"Do you know that I have killed for you?"

Liam's eyes were dilated, his pupils appearing to devour his iris. His breath fans over your face as he draws closer to your lips, stopping until they are hovering above yours.

You never noticed how scary he could be until he was towering over you, trapping you between himself and a splintering wooden bridge that led to an icy drop.

His eyes dart from your own to your lips, and back again. Suddenly, he moves to the shell of your ear and you flinch.

His voice reverberates through your skull.