Misadventure

72

Harry's POV

I couldn't fall back asleep.

The time on the bottom corner of my screen read 1:09 AM. I was in bed, still cocooned in the blanket I had been tucked in with whilst asleep. Only now, my head was propped up by pillows.

My little corner was bathed in the soft glow of my laptop screen, the room enveloped in the quiet of the dark evening.

I absentmindedly scrolled through google search results for rehabs nearby, but my mind was preoccupied by its own selfish thoughts.

Mainly thoughts of what Louis' addiction would mean for our future together if he refused to get help.

I wanted him to live. That was the bottom line. But I couldn't even pretend that I didn't care if we ended up together. Of course I cared. Of course I wanted him to love me, and to not push me away. That was the problem. I was terrified to push him too far and wind up pushing him away. If I kept bringing up the topic of rehab, would he eventually just shut me out completely?

The sound of a gentle knock on my bedroom door broke the silence, causing me to look up, brows furrowing in concern.

"Holly?" I called out, concerned. What was she doing still awake? "Erm... Come in."

It wasn't Holly.

The door creaked open, revealing Gemma, her tear-stained face illuminated by the hallway light. She shuffled into the room, her trembling hands clutching a crumpled tissue. My heart sank to the floor.

"Are you okay? How long have you been at the house?" I asked, his voice laced with concern as he closed his laptop and set it aside. "I didn't even know you were here."

"I got here hours ago. I came up to your room to talk awhile ago, but you were already asleep."

"You tucked me in?"

She nodded tearfully.

"You could have woke me up," I said, feeling a bit guilty. "Clearly something's really bothering you? What is it?"

Gemma collapsed onto the edge of my bed, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I moved closer, wrapping my arm around her, offering her comfort and support. I waited patiently, allowing her to gather her thoughts and find the strength to speak.

She didn't have that 'pregnancy glow' people always talked about. She looked worn down and faded, like she'd aged several years since I'd last seen her.

"It's... it's Evan," Gemma choked out between sobs. "He's been... he's been hurting me..."

A mix of anger and protectiveness surged through every part of me. But as awful as this revelation was, it didn't surprise me. "I'm gonna kill him," I stated, holding Gemma tighter.

I expected her to scold me for saying that. She always defended Evan. Always. Her silence screamed just how severe the situation had to be. It made me realize just how badly he must have hurt her.

"I don't know what to do," she cried into my shoulder. The fabric of my shirt grew damp, clinging uncomfortably to my skin. Right now, that was unimportant.

"You can't stay with him," I said.

"We're engaged."

"You don't have to go through this, Gem. You deserve so much better."

"I'm pregnant," she argued. Her throat made an awful, strangled hiccuping sound as she choked on a sob.

"You and your baby deserve better."

Gemma looked up at me slowly, her eyes filled with what looked like hopelessness. "But what if I can't leave him?"

"You can. I promise you can," I insisted. "You can stay here. We'll help you with the baby. Um... do you still want to keep the baby?"