Serena

It had been a week and a bit, since Will and I had broken up.

That very night we called things off, Will had left the apartment. He thought it would be best if he left and for me to stay stay at the apartment. Only thing, he didn't realise that we got this place together and without him, it was suffocating to know I was just alone here.

Sara and Danny came over the first night, basically running over to me when I told them that Will and I had broken up.

They didn't believe it at first, which made sense because Will wasn't the kind of guy that you would break up with. He was someone you would hold onto.

I was still doing the same, but now, just as friends.

When I told Sara and Danny the full story, a range of emotions were in motion, mostly anger from Danny. He was both mad at me and Will, but I felt as if I made the right decision.

If Will had come back from meeting Lola and he was still the same, I wouldn't have thought anything. I would assume that he didn't have any kind of lingering feelings for her.

However, after seeing him almost broken up after seeing her and then confessing that he wanted to kiss her, it was clear enough who he was meant to be with. Or at least who he wanted.

I didn't regret our journey together.

Will made me laugh and smile at times where I wanted to either remain angry or cry. He made me feel loved and special. He was always true to me. Someone like that, wasn't someone I could just let leave.

Somehow, I always end up losing and I was tired of it.

When Will told me about his past, I knew that he loved Lola a lot. I knew that it hurt him when she left, but when we got together, I had assumed since he was in love with me, I didn't need to worry about anything. I didn't have to think, if she were to come back would he leave me.

I liked that with Will, I didn't have to think about that stuff, especially knowing that it would eat away at you.

It didn't really bother me to be with someone, who had fallen in love before, since that was realistic. The only thing that I wanted, was that they'd they'd fall a little harder for me. Smile a little brighter. Heart beating a little faster. All of that. I wanted that.

With Will, I thought I had that, until I didn't.

Now, I was left with an apartment to myself, one that was meant to be ours.

When I heard the sound of someone knocking at my door, I was jogged out of my slightly depressing thoughts.

Still wearing my joggers and loose sweatshirt, I went to open the door.

To my surprise, Liam was standing on the other side, his hand held up in mid-knock, as he gave me a slightly guilty look.

"Uh, hey," Liam greeted me at the door, even waving slightly.

"Hey?" I said in a questioning tone. "Not that it's not nice to see you, but what are you doing here?"

He didn't seem offended by my direct question.

"I came to see you," he stated.

"Because...?" I then dragged on, waiting for him to give me a reason for coming to see me.

In all the time we'd met each other again, he had never just come over to my place like this. Not even with purpose, let alone randomly.

If he asks for a favour, I'm punching him in the throat.

He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, accompanied with that guilty look.

That's when it clicked.

"Who told you?" I asked, sighing.

I opened the door a bit more and moved aside for Liam to step in.

"Um-" he stuttered.

"Liam." I glared at him, turning around.

His face contorted, as if it were an internal struggle to speak, but then finally he sighed.

"Your Mum was talking to..." he started to stay and I let out an annoyed groan.

Pressing my fingers to my head, I exhaled deeply, trying to keep my anger at bay towards my mother.

"I swear, she can't keep anything to herself. Is she just announcing it to everyone?" I then looked at Liam. "How did she even tell you? Did she send a carrier pigeon?"

He looked amused by my words.

"Hey, relax," he tried to calm me. "She didn't tell me directly. My Mum came to see Bea. She said that she'd called up your Mum and then your Mum called and told her, then I got told. She was also the one who gave me your address, well gave it to my Mum, who then gave it to me," he explained.

"Great. Just great," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

It was that I minded that Liam or Emma knew about the break up. But I'd rather be the one to say it, than my mother.

Moving towards the sofa, I collapsed onto it.

My head was leaned back against the sofa, as Liam took a seat next to me.

"Are you okay?" He asked the question, that I really hated being asked.

No one had really asked that question, I could tell that they instead of tiptoed around it, avoiding it. But of course, Liam would ask. He probably didn't know how much I hated it.

"Honestly?" I let out a laugh, despite not finding this funny at all. "I don't know," I confessed.

Liam turned to look at me curiously, as I continued. "It doesn't really feel like I've lost anything, because I know Will is still going to be in my life and I wouldn't want it any other way. But then, it still feels like something is missing. I just can't help but think that one moment I was happy and engaged. Now everything's just...ended."

When I looked at him, I could see the frown on his face. "Why did you end things?"

"Lola happened," I stated.

"Who?" Liam asked, looking more confused than ever.

"Will's first love," I told him. "She got sick and so went away, without telling him. She recently came back and his feelings were still there."

Liam frowned. "What about his feelings for you?"

"He still loves me, but I guess he loves her a little more. I'm just not the one for him," I said and the laughed to myself. "Maybe I'm not meant for anyone."

Liam gripped my hand, giving it a small squeeze. "Rena, no. You can't think that."

From the tone of his voice, it made it seem like I had just said, I think the sky is green. He just looked like I'd said the most implausible thing ever.

"I don't really-...it's just hard to not feel a little dejected. Especially since he was a good guy," I said.

"He was a good guy. Really nice," Liam nodded.

I let out an ugly snort at his words. I really don't think he'd ever been in this situation before, of comforting someone after a break up.

"I feel like things may be easier, if he wasn't," I commented.

Liam looked at me a little concerned, his brows furrowed together and head tilted to the side a little.

"I mean, if he wasn't a good guy, it would make it easier for me to hate him. To curse at him. To not miss him. My friends would be telling me he was the worst, I was too good for him and better without him. But they can't. I can't. Because he was perfect," I said.

The entire time I spoke, I hadn't even realised I had looked away from Liam and seemed to be staring into oblivion. It was only when I felt Liam squeeze my hand, did I look back and him. That concern on his face remained and I just wanted to not think about this for a moment.

"I don't want to talk about this," I sighed, shaking my head.

It's been a week and I really still haven't come to terms with it all. All that was in my mind, was that one moment I was engaged and the next, I wasn't. We didn't even have a messy break-up, it was more of a conversation.

"Rena-" Liam said and I took my hand out of his hold, raising both to stop him from trying to get me to talk about it any further.

"No. Please. Talk to me about anything else, just not this. I don't want to. Not right now," I said, taking a deep breath and closed my eyes.

When there was nothing but silence, I had assumed Liam would just stay quiet instead of trying to push me on the topic any further. But to my surprise, he spoke up.

"Bea wants to buy three more turtles," he said and my eyes opened to look at him.

He was really trying to distract me.

"What?" I had to ask.

Liam nodded. "I made the mistake of showing her the ninja turtles. Now she feels bad for Leo and wants all his brothers."

I raised my brows at him. "You're not actually going to get all of them?"

As far as I knew him, he'd do anything for Bea, which was expected of a father. But I don't think buying her three more turtles was the most appropriate parenting choice.

"No," he denied, before a little sheepish look came over his face. "Well, it's hard to say no to her."

"Liam," I said and he shook his head.

"I won't," he told me, but then frowned. "I am a little scared she'll ask for a sewer rat as Leo's master."

His words caused me to laugh. It actually felt nice to laugh and feel some other kind of emotion that was depressing or that made me feel lonely.

"She's at school, I assume?" I asked.

Liam nodded. "Yeah."

"You didn't have work?" I then questioned, realising that it was mid-day and whilst I had taken some time off from work, Liam should be at work.

"I'm working from home for some time," Liam told me. "My office is getting renovated."

"So are you on lunch?" I wondered.

Liam shook his head. "Well, today I'm off. I had some annual leave days remaining so I took one to come and see you."

My eyes widened in surprise at his words. "You didn't have to-"

"But I did," he cut off my words and I smiled, the gesture was really sweet.

He held eye contact with me for a moment, like he wanted to say something but held back. Instead, he cleared his throat.

"I see the suitcase," he gestured over to the bag by the door. "Are you going somewhere?"

I nodded. "I'm going to stay with my parents for a little while and then I'm moving to Sara and Danny's place, until I find something of my own," I informed him.

After I told my parents about what happened, my Dad wanted me back home with them. He wanted to know I was okay and see me with his own eyes and I just wanted one of his hugs.

"You're moving?" Liam asked.

"Will wanted me to stay here, but I don't want to. Moving here was meant to be an us thing, a new, big step for us. Living here alone now, just feels weird," I told him.

I thought I could stay here, but every time I just thought about how happy I was when I moved in here, about to start a new life. Now it just reminds me of the life I had missed out on. The one that slipped through my fingers.

"I feel like I don't even have a home," I whispered, starting down at my lap.

I've always been moving around. From the first time that I Mum wanted to, then college, then to New York. I honestly thought this apartment was the last move I make, at least for a very long time. Apparently it was only another pit-stop. I just wanted something permanent now.

"That's not true," I heard Liam reply.

"But it is," I told him, that stinging pain in my eyes again and I just blinked it away. I was not crying. Not right now. I was not losing it. "This is just an empty place now. I'm moving back with Sara and Danny, but that's still their place. With the baby coming, they're going to need the space, not to mention their own privacy. I can't go back to my parents, since I've got the shop here. I don't have a home."

My little rant left me breathless and I hadn't even realised how hard my fists were clenched, until Liam covered my hands with his, and they loosened.

I could feel the slight pain of my nails digging into my palms and Liam flipped my hands around, gently touching the marks, as if trying to sooth them.

"Rena," he said my name softly, like any louder and I'd fall apart.

"I've never lived alone, so it'll be an experience at least," I tried to smile, but I knew I failed miserably. "I just can't be here," I said and looked at Liam, who just smiled back.

He didn't say anything, but just hold my hand and smile.

"I'm doing the right thing, right?" I asked him, fearing that I was just doing everything wrong.

Liam squeezed my hand and smiled. "You doing what feels right for you," he told me. "It's okay. You'll be okay."

All I could do was try to smile back and hope. I will be okay.