Neighbors (Liam Payne AU)

Part 32

Liam pulled up to the front entrance and gave Eva's name. They were waved through and told to get their keys at the store. Liam drove forward, Eva giving him a mini tour. "Okay, right here?" Eva pointed out of the driver side door. "That is the lake. The entire campground is built around it. It's man made, obviously, but it's still great. This is one end, with the first beach right here. Keep driving to the building." Not far ahead of them was a small white building. "Okay, stop. I'll get the key. Look behind the store. That is boat rental." Eva hopped out of the car and hurried inside the building. Inside looked like any convenience store, selling everything from bread to aspirin. She walked up to the counter and gave her name one again. Behind the man working the counter was a rack full of keys. He reached behind him, grabbed a set and handed them over while she filled out paperwork.

"Great. Check out is Sunday before noon." he said.

Eva grinned and hurried back out to the van. She jumped in and pointed Liam forward. "Okay, the road is one way only from here. Drive." As he drove, she pointed to the bridge that led to the other side of the campground. "We can't drive over, though, even though the cabin is like right there. One way. Look!" She pointed out the window. "That is the main lodge. It is where all the activities are held. Also, the indoor pool, the gym and child watch are all there. Up ahead you can see the start of the camp sites. They are on the opposite side of the lake. All along the lake are the cabins. See?" She pointed to a row of small cabins that lined the lake. They went around the entire lake. "The lake is about a mile long? Not very wide, though. Look, there is the snack bar and the outdoor pool. Across from it is the playground and putt putt golf. More campsites behind it. Keep going." Liam drove forward, passing more cabins and campsite, going around the far side of the lake. "Okay, Northside of the lake. Beach 2. Also, the second lodge. It's smaller, but the pool here has a kid pool and a lazy river. Every Friday there is a dance? It's held here. We are in cabin 38. Drive." They drove past cabin 60 and kept going. There were cabins on the lake side and campers on the other. They found cabin 38 almost in the middle, between the bridge to the south side and the north side lodge. They would be able to easily walk to everything.

Liam parked the van and the kids piled out, excited. The cabin was long and narrow with a patio on the front, facing a picnic table and a fire pit. There was a fence between the cabin and the lake, with signs warning that swimming was only allowed at the beach. There were also wooden two person lawn chairs scattered up and down the fence, inviting people to sit and watch the boats pass by.

Liam opened the back of the van and started to take things out while Eva let the kids into the cabin. The living area was small, holding a love seat and a chair with a small TV mounted in the corner. On either side of the couch were doors. Arden open the first door and pulled Jamie in, screaming "This is our room!" The room was narrow, with a ladder leading up to a bed. The other room had the bed on the bottom. It was a bunk bed, but you couldn't see the other bunk. Two bedrooms, sharing one tiny space. Other than that, they were identical. A built in dresser and a full size bed. Liam and Ava would share the other room.

Eva left the boys and walked into the kitchen. It was open to the living room, no walls in between. It had everything a modern kitchen did, fully stocked with dishes, pots and pans and all of the appliances she had at home: stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. They even supplied the soap. Down a short hall there was a door that led to a full bathroom and at the very end of the cabin was the master bedroom. Liam walked in and laughed. "This is camping?"

Eva turned and smiled. "Yes. There is only one bathroom and five people. Camping."

Liam laughed again and set down the bags he was carrying. "Whatever you say. I'll be back with more." Eva took the bags into the bedrooms, giving the boys theirs and putting Ava and Liam's into the other room. Liam walked back in carrying the cooler. He set it by the fridge and went back out. Eva walked over to it and opened it, starting to put everything away.

"Mom!" Arden called. Eva looked up, pushed the cooler out of her way and went to see what Arden needed. He was in the bedroom with the bed that was up. Ava was afraid to get down. Eva lifted her down as Liam walked into the kitchen carrying another cooler. Eva turned and watched as Liam bumped into the first cooler, surprised because she had moved it into the middle of the kitchen instead of the side. He tripped, the second cooler flying out of his hands and crashing into the ground, opening, spilling all of its contents onto the ground. Liam fell, too, his legs hitting the cooler, knocking him sideways.

"Jesus Fucking Christ! Who left that there? God dammit!" he yelled.

Eva ran to the mess, crying and apologizing. "I did. I'm so sorry, Liam. Please don't yell. Please." She started to frantically pick up the mess, scooping ice into the cooler and setting things upright.

Liam sat on the floor, watching her. "Stop, Eva. Stop. Relax." Liam grabbed her hand and forced her to stop cleaning. She snatched her hand back and recoiled away from him. Liam moved closer to her. "Stop. I'm not going to hurt you, Eva. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry I fell." Liam grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." He stood her up, walked around the mess and took her into the bedroom, sitting her down on the bed. "Just breath." Liam rubbed her back, repeating his words, over and over.

"I'm so sorry, Liam." Eva said, again. She looked down. "You are bleeding!" Panic set in again as she saw the blood running down his leg.

Liam grabbed her shoulders. "You are overreacting. I'm not mad. I swear."

Arden came into the room, standing next to his mother. "Daddy yells and makes her cry. You yelled." he said, looking at Liam accusingly.

"God. You are damaged. Jesus. I am so, so sorry." Liam stood and told Arden to watch TV. Then he went into the bathroom and grabbed toilet paper to stop the bleeding on his leg. He returned to Eva, who was collecting herself. "Are you okay, now?" he asked.

"Yes." Eva nodded. "Sorry. I'm sorry. Let me." She took the paper from him and started to mop up the blood on his leg.

"Stop. I'm fine." Liam said. "Are you calm now? Can you talk to me?" Eva nodded. "Okay. Can you please not freak out if I get upset?"

"I can try, Liam. I'm just so programmed for a huge scene. I just expect a fight that will evolve into screaming about everything. For hours."

Liam put one arm around her, pulling her close. "I'm not Harry. Okay?" Eva nodded. "Okay. Let's go clean up that mess, okay?"

Eva started at him. "You are going to help me?"

Liam nodded and took her hand. "Yes. I dropped the cooler."

"But I moved the cooler..."

"But I dropped it. Funny. At my house, I'd be cleaning it up myself." he laughed. "It's nice to have a real partner." She smiled back, thinking the same thing.

Okay, so the next part is so dirty, I can't believe I wrote it. Publish or rewrite? - Eva.