Never Give Up: Harry Styles/One Direction Fan Fiction

15

Chapter 15

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I stared after Harry as he left the room. I didn't know if I should speak up now before it was too late, or just let him go. After all, they say if you love something, let it go. I never expected him to say what he said. I don't know what I expected. 

"He's really hurt, you know," Louis spoke up once Harry was gone. "Almost as much as you are." I couldn't do anything except gape at him.

"How do you know?" I asked, my fingers growing restless. I lifted my one uninjured hand to the gauze that was snaked around my head. I toyed with the ends, picking and splitting them apart nervously.

"Because he's my best friend," Louis replied, sounding a little irritated, his voice starting to rise. "He's been crying over you all day, in public. Harry just doesn't do that, ever. I know because I had to go to the police station to get him after he assaulted two police officers trying to get to you after the accident. I know because he talks about how much he loves you until he falls asleep, and wakes up talking about you. I know because I've caught him doodling your names together by himself instead of watching Spongebob with me. I know because I can see it in his eyes. Why don't you see it?" Louis' shoulders were starting to tremble with his anger. I'd never seen this side of him, and I was frightened. 

[Author's Note] Play L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole from the sidebar when you read this section.

"He really did all that?" I asked, still a little bit shocked at Louis' sudden outburst. Louis just nodded silently. I guess it was my turn to feel stupid, and I did. Harry was really an amazing guy, and he deserved so much more than me. He'd felt awful, and I was the reason why. 

"I'm going to go see if he's okay," Louis said gruffly, as he stood up and walked out of the room. As he left, Niall brushed past him into the room, his hands full of cafeteria food. 

"What's up, sleepyhead?" he asked me, a big smile on his face. Niall put me slightly at ease, the way he acted like nothing was wrong. I could feel myself smiling like an idiot, his happiness infecting me. 

"Just breaking hearts," I replied, the smile immediately falling from his face.

"What happened?" Niall asked another question, giving me a concerned look. I readjusted myself, shifting my stiff, sore body to a more comfortable position. 

"I was so mad when I saw him that I didn't speak a word," I started explaining. "Harry hadn't defended me at the studio, and I was so hurt that he didn't stand up for me against those rude fans. That's why I ran and ended up like this in the first place." Niall looked up from the muffin he was devouring for the first time since I started speaking.

"All I know is that he really likes you, Rae," he said. Harry doesn't act this way with just anybody." Niall took another large bite of muffin. "L is for the way he looks at you, O is for the only one he sees. V is very, very, extraordinary, E is even more than anyone than you adore," Niall singsonged with his mouth full. He continued humming as he started to crunch a cookie. 

"This is crazy, Niall," I said, after I giggled at his parody of Nat King Cole. He paused from his cookie that he'd just picked up for a moment to nod at me slowly.

"Yeah," he replied, another huge smile growing on his face, "But it's worth fighting for, even if it's with each other." He laughed before getting up to throw his trash away, and leaving me smiling like an idiot by myself. 

I'd still fight for you, Harry, I thought to myself as I willed him to come back so I could apologize.