Never Give Up: Harry Styles/One Direction Fan Fiction

14

Chapter 14

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Niall had eventually left because his hunger got the better of him. I told Louis that it was okay for him to go if he wanted to, but he refused to leave my side as I sat in the chair next to the hospital bed. I couldn't cry anymore, my tears had run dry. But I still felt like I was crying on the inside. I kept my hand grasping Rae's as she laid in the bed to keep my own from shaking. My other hand held my head. Louis kept trying to comfort me, a gentle hand rubbing my back softly.

"Whoa," Louis said, looking up at the bed. "Harry, did you see that?" I glanced at him over my shoulder, my head still in my hand.

"No," I responded. "What?" Louis started bouncing up and down slightly.

"She's moving!" A smile started to creep up his face, and I could feel one starting to come on as well. Thank God. I had been terrified this whole time that Rae wasn't going to wake up, and she was just going to die in her sleep. I didn't want her to go before I had a chance to tell her how sorry I was. I had to tell her how much she meant to me, I had to tell her how I felt. "I wonder if she'll wake soon."

"Rae, can you hear us?" I asked her in a gentle tone, ignoring Louis' speculation. I grabbed her hand even tighter, afraid to let go. I squeezed gently hoping for some kind of response. Anything. Her beautiful blue eyes fluttered open, and gazed directly at me for the first time in hours. I loved her eyes, and I didn't realize how much I'd missed them. "Oh thank God," was all I managed to squeak out.

"What are you doing here?" Rae asked, looking from me to Louis, and back to me. She looked upset and scared, but not angry. Why wasn't she angry like she should be? She slowly sat up straighter in the bed, and to my dismay, removed her hand from mine.

"We're here because we care about you, Rae," Louis responded, trying to reassure her. For some reason she seemed a little relieved that it was Louis speaking and not me. 

"Are you feeling alright?" I asked, finally mustering the courage to look up at her from the floor, my curly hair quivering in the breeze. Our eyes connected for just a moment, her crystalline orbs were filled with tears. A look of absolute rage crossed her face for just a moment, but dissipated before she acted on it.

She said nothing.

"Please, please say something," I choked out in a whisper, nearly beginning to cry again. All I needed was to hear the sound of her beautiful voice, to see the way her pink lips curved when she spoke, the small dimples forming near the corner of her mouth. 

Silence.

Why wouldn't she talk to me? I knew, but I didn't want to acknowledge it. She was terribly angry, and I didn't blame her. Rae had every right to be mad, and then some. All I wanted was to tell her what I felt, and have her believe it, but somehow I knew that she wouldn't. 

"You have every right to be mad at me, Rae," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I could see her gaze snap back to look at me. "I'm so sorry for being such an arse, and not defending you when you needed it. I'm sorry for not immediately coming after you. I'm sorry that you got so injured. Most of all, I'm sorry that I ever hurt you." I swear I almost saw her mouth drop open, as she just stared at me. Louis just glanced at me, also clearly surprised at what I said. "I know that you probably hate me right now, but I think I love you, Rae, and I just want you to know that in case I never see you again." My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, and I couldn't be in the room anymore. I had to get out. I stood up, covering my eyes with my hand so Rae didn't see my tears.

The tears I shed for her.

For us.