XIV

                                    

                                          
 The music bounced out of the small stereo in the corner of the room. “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang was playing, which seemed appropriate as Louis and Harry danced around the room, their families surrounding them.
                          
 Liam watched on from the edge of the room leaning against the wall, he cradled Perrie in his arms bobbing to the beat of the song. Perrie smiled as Liam made goofy faces at her while singing back the words of the song.
                          
 Niall stumbled over with his loud laugh trumpeting in front of him, he watched Liam growing increasingly more attracted to him as he swung Perrie around him.
                          
 “Leemo!” Niall shouted as he took the last two steps before him. Liam smiled at his nickname; it had been a while since he’d heard it and only Niall could properly say it to give Liam those butterflies in his stomach.
                          
 “Nialler!” Liam sing-songed back as he held Perrie out for him to take a hold of her. Niall bent down burying his face into her tummy as he blew kisses on her belly to make her laugh and squeal with joy.
                          
 “Would you like to dance?” Liam asked abruptly startling Niall as he looked up from the now dangling Perrie, whom Niall had turned upside down and was now holding her by her ankles as her blond locks hung down and her laughter escaped her lips.
                          
 “NIALL!” Zayn shouted as he quickly crossed over the room tugging Perrie out of his grasp and to safety. He put her right side up before placing her gently back to the ground. Niall looked at Liam holding in his laughter as Zayn steered Perrie away mumbling under his breath. Niall caught only two words: “Unsafe and irresponsible.”
                          
 “Someone’s uptight!” Niall scoffed after him but stopped feeling Liam’s hand press against his chest.
                          
 “This is probably hard on him,” Liam said softly, his hand still pressed warmly over Niall’s heart. “The last wedding he was at was his own.”
                          
 Niall nodded suddenly understanding how Zayn must feel. He missed Perrie a lot, she was always kind and Niall thought of her as a part of their unorthodox family, he couldn’t imagine how Zayn managed to keep it together every day.
                          
 Shaking the thought from his mind Niall drew himself back to the present as he smile at Liam. “So how about that dance?” He smirked as he took Liam by the hand tugging him away from the wall.
                          
“Hi handsome.” Perrie whispered as she materialized next to Zayn, he smiled without looking down at her, purely holding on to her voice, allowing it to fill himself whole.
                          
 “Hello beautiful.” He whispered back dropping his hand to his side as he felt her fingers slip in between his own. The warmth from her touch pooled its way into him making his skin tingle all over.
                          
 “So Larry Stylinson eh?” Perrie questioned with a hint of laughter. “Who would have guessed? Oh right that was me!”
                          
 “Humble isn’t your strong suit my love.” Zayn laughed as he felt Perrie wrap her other arm around his leaning into his side.
                          
 “That was always your demeanor remembering?” Perrie said. “You married a bit of a diva, honey.”
                          
 Zayn laughed as he bumped her shoulder with his.
                          
 “Oh I miss your laugh.” She admitted.
                          
 “I miss you.” Zayn countered.
                          
 “It’s been almost a year love. You’re allowed to move on you know?”
                          
 “And if I don’t want to?” Zayn snapped back knowing where this conversation was going.
                          
 “Z I can’t love you like I used to, you deserve more.”