Daytona Baby [N.H]

42

Niall Horan

The low wooden back of my uncomfortable chair in the waiting room has me starting to wonder if I might need medical attention before the night is over. Liv is sleeping peacefully, using my lap as a pillow, so I suck it up and deal with the dull ache so as not to disturb her.

We've all been here a few hours now with no word on how Harry is doing. He could be dead for all I know.

I've never really thought until now about how many times I've found Harry like that—passed out on the floor, unresponsive, empty liquor bottles and unlabeled pills. Too many times to count. But it was just our lifestyle, nothing out of the ordinary. I'd toss him in bed, tidy up the room and let him sleep it off. He would always wake up in the morning, feeling like absolute shit of course, but he was fine. I almost expected to find him like that after every show. Most days I did.

The thing that really haunts me is that this time he locked the door. He didn't want to be found.

I know I should be thinking positive or whatever, knowing he'll come out of this like he always does. But I'm mostly just fucking angry that he was gonna leave us like this—leave Aven like this. She doesn't deserve that and neither do we. Even if he thinks this world would be a better place without him, he's wrong.

We are all shitty people here, it's not hard to see. We just have to learn to live with it and know that everyone in our life will find out eventually—and they'll leave.

I looked down at Liv asleep in my lap, sighing as I reach down to move her hair away from her face. She doesn't deserve to be caught up in our mess. Things are starting to really pick up, even more now that Aven knows everything we lied to her about for months. We are all tense as we wait on Malikai to eventually make a move—knowing his character, it's inevitable. I just hope Liv doesn't become collateral damage.

"Why don't you guys go back to the hotel and get some proper sleep?" Liam's softspoken tone pulled me from my dooming thoughts. "I'll text you if anything happens."

I shook my head immediately. "I'm not leaving him." I remember how shitty it felt waking up after I was stabbed to see everyone there except Harry and Aven. They said they were there before when I got out of surgery, but I couldn't remember a thing since I passed out. I'd hate to do the same thing to him.

"It's been a long day, mate. You need it." I thought about it for a second and Liam continued to press. "At least take Liv back. She doesn't need to be here all night."

I sighed in defeat, knowing he's right. I probably shouldn't have dragged her along in the first place when none of this has anything to do with her.

"Yeah, alright. But I'm coming straight back." I hesitantly agree.

My attention pivots when Liv inhales deeply and shifts her body slightly as she starts to wake. Her eyes barely open but she looks up at me and mumbles a soft "sorry." I'm not sure if she meant for laying in my lap or for falling asleep but she doesn't need to be sorry for either.

"Don't be." I smile for the first time in hours.

"C'mon, let's go back to the hotel so you can get some real sleep."

Liv sits up and her eyes widen with worry. "Niall, no, I can't make you leave Harry."

"It's okay," I insist, although I appreciate her concern. "I'll come back after."

"I can't make you do that. I'm fine here if you'd rather stay." Liv suggested further. I'm sure she'd rather sleep in our bed than a hospital chair, but it's obvious she feels bad thinking I'm going completely out of my way for her.