Never Give Up: Harry Styles/One Direction Fan Fiction

16

Chapter 16

[Author's Note] Don't forget to play the music when you read!

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I wasn't really sure where I was going at this point. I just rushed out of the hospital room and back downstairs as soon as I could. I was comfortable with hurting now. After all this time it was starting to feel normal. I was so upset and angry at myself for being an idiot, and Rae for being so stubborn. Maybe this wasn't going to work out. Maybe I was wrong for asking to see her again yesterday. I was sure that I loved her, and I silently cursed myself for always falling in love so quickly. I heard quick footsteps following behind me, and a strong hand grabbed my shoulder. I wished it would be Rae, but I knew it wasn't.

"Harry, wait," Louis said from behind me. I whirled on him, suddenly cracking under the pressure of all my anger. I felt myself turn into a cold, heartless monster as I unleashed all my fury on him, a powerful blow connecting with his jaw. Louis released my shoulder as he fell backwards from the power of the punch. He rolled over onto his side on the floor, whimpering softly, clutching at his jaw. Instantly my anger was gone as soon as I saw what I'd done. What the hell was wrong with me? I'd just punched my best friend in the face, and I wasn't even sure why! 

"Oh my God," I breathed. "Oh, Louis, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I kept repeating myself hoping that would make everything better. Louis didn't cry, he just glared up at me from where he'd fallen. 

"What in the bloody hell was that for?" He almost shouted at me. I didn't have an explanation. I couldn't say it was because I was angry, that wasn't an excuse. 

"I thought you were someone else," I lied through my teeth. 

"I think we both know that isn't true," Louis said, still glaring at me through the pain of his jaw. 

"That was the best I could come up with," I responded. "I thought I'd give it a shot." I stuck my hand out to him, and he grabbed it reluctantly. I pulled backwards hard to counterbalance him as he stood up. Before I'd realized it, Louis' fist was connecting itself with my upper lip, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

"Payback," Louis said, when I stumbled backward and grabbed at my jaw, pain exploding into my tissues. I stuck one of my fingers just inside my mouth and withdrew it, my fingertip a bright crimson. I stared at it for a moment, trying to rationalize what had just happened. I glanced up at Louis, a smug and angry expression on his face. We both just stared at each other for a moment holding our jaws, painful bruises beginning to form. 

"What do you want," I muttered, trying to move my stinging mouth as little as possible.

"Rae wants to talk," Louis said, glancing up at me from the floor once again.

"Walking into traffic would be more preferable," I retorted. "It'd probably be less painful anyway." It would be easier too, I thought, although I didn't say it. 

"Would you please just go try to work it out?" Louis pleaded. "I think we both know that you'll be miserable later on, and I want my Spongebob buddy back, so you either need to fix it, or end it. You're ugly when you're emotional anyways." I gave him a mock glare, a smile starting to form on my lips again.

"I have never," I faked being offended. Louis returned my smile, and I knew that he really wasn't taking the outburst to heart. He wasn't holding it against me, for now anyway, but he would probably tease me about it later. 

"Are you coming?" He asked, beginning to turn around to head back to the room. I didn't budge. I wanted Rae in my life, but I didn't want anyone to have to be hurt. Why did love always have to be so hard? "Come on, Haz." Louis stuck his hand out behind himself for me to take ahold of.

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I'd sat thinking on what I was going to do about the whole Harry situation for a moment or so before I realized that it was my turn to go after him. I bolted straight up out of bed, quickly shoving blankets around and making quite a racket. I swung my legs over the rails of the bed, nearly knocking over a large vase of flowers along the way. I looked down at my casted arm. Only my fingertips were exposed. I used them to pick at the surgical tape on the back of my hand trying to get the leads out. How long had it been since Harry left? What if he was already gone? Finally getting the IVs out, I turned for the door. I poked my head out, making sure nobody was around to see me leave, and I made a mad dash for the elevators. My legs burned like fire, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I'd find Harry, and tell him I loved him. The tiles of the hallway were ice cold, making me shiver. The only clothes I had on were a thin hospital gown that waved in the breeze as I raced down the hall.

I reached the elevator and hit the button again and again, hoping it would come faster. Hurry up! Harry could be anywhere. The elevator wasn't coming fast enough. I whipped around to see a set of stairs across the hall, and I made a run for the door. I bolted down the stairs, my feet barely touching the ground as I went. I had to find Harry before it was too late.