I'm fine, We're fine [boyxboy]

Twenty-Eight

Zayn's POV

"Be still, Louis." I watched Liam grab his chin and turn him back as Louis winced away from him again. Liam held a dripping rag in his hand that left a dotted damp trail across his jeans when he moved it and began wiping Louis' mouth and chin again. Louis' face drew up when the clotted scab was pulled from his lip, releasing another trail of blood. I heard Liam's uttered "Shit" and follow-up, "Sorry, Lou. He got you good this time..."

This time. The first time. Every time. Everything Harry did got Louis good. When he hit him, when he smiled at him, when he told him he loved him: all of it did something to Louis that, for some reason, kept him running back. It did something to me, too, but not in the same way.

"You wanna tell me again what happened this time?" I remarked. It wasn't even a question. Louis had told his little story less than ten minutes after he had arrived, but I needed to hear it one more time before deciding what I was going to do.

Louis looked over at me from his perch on the counter. His eyes were clouded, somewhat distant. Liam still cleansed his face and was using a new cloth to dab at his rosy cheeks and neck. It didn't seem to phase Louis, especially not after the scab had been torn away. I think even that wince had just been his body's natural reflex. I doubt he felt it. Still, he studied me, looking but not quite seeing me. I felt like a hunk of glass he was peering through. Eventually, he blinked and I saw his throat constrict when he swallowed. Louis recounted the tale again, beginning from that morning, to when his father arrived home, and finishing with the monster he left writhing on the asphalt as he drove away with Mac in the rear view mirror.

He left that detail out  in the initial retelling. This was the first time Mac was mentioned, but he was the least of my concerns right then.

"Mhm..." I nodded and walked off the down hall to mine and Liam's room. When I came back, I had my keys and my coat.

"Where are you going." Liam looked up at me, a frown tugging his pretty lips down.

I kissed his head and tipped his chin up to kiss his mouth. He tasted sweet, like he had been eating chocolate recently. "Look after Louis." When I let him go and headed away, his hand caught mine. The water had made the tips of his fingers warm.

Liam was staring at me with wide, knowing eyes. "Zayn, don't..." he said quietly.

"Someone has to, babe." I nudged his hand away and gave a quick squeeze before looking back at our battered companion. Louis was forlorn. "I love you." Liam reached for me again but I shook my head and slipped through the door before he could use another tactic to get me.

The anger I harbored towards Harry had been bottled up for Louis' sake. I tried my best to smile and welcome him, but I'd swallowed no water that doused that fire inside of me and now it burned brighter than ever. I could feel the flame licking the back of my throat when I got in my car. The closer I came to the hospital, the hotter it became. It began as a warmth radiating in my stomach, slowly working its way up my throat and to the tips of my fingers. They tingled, my palms became sweaty. But I kept my cool and walked into the ER with a small, unstable smile.

The nurse behind the counter tucked her hair behind her ear and gave me a look that was almost bashful. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"Harry Styles. Is he here?" Saying his name was worse than swallowing vomit.

She held my gaze for another moment before looking down at her computer. I listened as he nails tapped at the keys. It was an aggravating noise and I'd never understood the appeal. I shifted my weight back and forth on my heels. Hurry up... After what felt like ten minutes, she cleared her throat. "Mr. Styles left AMA."