Liam Payne
Liam Payne, singer with British boy band One Direction, leaves the recording of the Band Aid 30 charity single in west London November 15, 2014. Singers came together to record a new version of the Band Aid charity song to raise money to combat Ebola in Africa. The single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", was first recorded 30 years ago after musician and philanthropist Bob Geldof inspired a host of stars to come together under the Band Aid name to help those affected by famine in Ethiopia. Reuters/Neil Hall

One Direction’s Liam Payne and long-time girlfriend Sophia Smith break up. The news was confirmed by a source who told People magazine that Payne and Smith have split up after a two year relationship.

The One Direction band member knows Smith since they were students in Wolverhampton in England. In the September issue of Attitude, Payne recounted how he “didn't actually go out with her at the time.”

Payne shared how he used to see Smith at school and they would “kind of chat” together. He revealed how he asked Smith’s sister for her number and that Smith was very shy. However, he wasn’t sure if Smith liked him since she didn’t give any indication that she was interested in him. He recounted, “[She] didn't give much indication that she liked me, so I just assumed that she wasn't interested, as well as thinking, she was way too hot for me anyway." However, the two started dating in May 2013.

The One Direction singer also told Attitude magazine that he and Smith used to talk about marriage. It was something that they both thought was too early for them, given that both were only 22 years old. Payne said, "We have talked about marriage, but 22 seems a bit young for us. Sophia needs to go off and do what she wants to do. I don't want her to be one of those stay-at-home girlfriends who doesn't really do much."

Meanwhile, Payne and his other One Direction band members will be taking an extended break beginning March next year. However, Payne’s co-band member Louis Tomlinson told Entertainment Weekly that he’s looking forward to writing more songs during the break. He even stated that he wants Payne as his songwriting partner.

“I enjoy that, with Liam,” he said. “But it’s all kind of up in the air at the moment… We definitely will. I’m sure we will.”

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