Half a heart ( Book 1)

Chapter 49

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Niall's POV

The drive to the hotel was quiet. The weight of the evening's events hung heavily in the air, thick and suffocating. Charlie remained asleep, his head resting against Liam's shoulder, his face still hidden from the world. None of us spoke much. We were all lost in our thoughts, trying to process what had happened and what it meant for the days ahead.

As we pulled up to the hotel, the lights from the entrance cast a warm glow on the pavement, offering a semblance of normalcy. But nothing felt normal anymore. The fans knew about Charlie now, and that changed everything.

Paul and Jacob were already outside, waiting for us. Their faces were set in serious expressions, eyes scanning the area, making sure everything was secure before we stepped out of the car. They had been our protectors for years, but tonight their presence felt more crucial than ever.

"Everything's clear," Paul said as he opened the car door. His voice was calm, reassuring, but I could see the concern in his eyes as he looked at Charlie, still asleep in Liam's arms.

Jacob moved to the other side of the car, opening the door for Liam. "Let's get him inside," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "We've already arranged for a private entrance, so we won't have to go through the lobby."

Liam nodded, carefully shifting Charlie in his arms before stepping out of the car. The rest of us followed, moving quickly but quietly, wanting to get inside without drawing any attention. Even though the fans outside the venue had been contained, there was no telling who might be watching here.

"Stay close," Paul instructed as we walked toward a side entrance. "We'll take you straight up to your rooms."

The hotel staff had done a good job of keeping things discreet. The entrance was empty, save for a few security guards who nodded at Paul and Jacob as we passed. The quiet was almost eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos we had just left behind.

As we entered the elevator, I caught a glimpse of Harry's face. He looked exhausted, the worry lines etched deep into his features. I wanted to say something, to reassure him, but I didn't know what to say. Everything felt so fragile, like one wrong word could shatter the thin veneer of calm we were trying to maintain.

The elevator ride was short, and before I knew it, we were stepping into the suite. It was spacious and luxurious, but I barely registered any of it. My focus was on Charlie, who still hadn't stirred since we left the venue.

Liam carried him to one of the bedrooms, laying him down on the bed as gently as possible. I stood in the doorway, watching as Liam pulled the covers over him, making sure he was comfortable.

"Is he still asleep?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," Liam replied, brushing a hand through Charlie's hair. "He's out cold. Probably for the best."

Jacob and Paul lingered in the hallway, waiting until we were all inside before speaking.

"We've got extra security stationed on this floor," Jacob informed us, his voice low. "No one's getting near this suite unless we say so."

"Thanks, Jacob," Harry said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We can't take any chances right now."

Paul stepped forward, his expression softening. "You all did a good job tonight, handling everything. I know it wasn't easy."

I nodded, appreciating the words but still feeling the tension gnawing at me. "We just want him to be okay."

"He will be," Paul assured me. "But it's going to take time. You all need to stick together, keep him close, and make sure he knows he's safe."

"We will," Zayn said, his voice resolute. "We're not letting him out of our sight."

"Good," Paul said, giving us all a nod. "We'll be here if you need anything. Just focus on Charlie. We'll take care of the rest."

With that, Paul and Jacob left the suite, leaving us alone in the quiet. I turned back to the bedroom, where Liam was still sitting on the edge of the bed, watching over Charlie like a protective big brother.

"We should try to get some rest too," I suggested, though I knew sleep would be hard to come by tonight.

Harry, Zayn, and Louis nodded, all of us too drained to argue. But before we could move, Charlie stirred, letting out a soft whimper in his sleep. Liam immediately leaned closer, whispering soothing words until Charlie settled again.

"Maybe we should stay with him tonight," Louis said quietly. "Just in case he wakes up."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, already moving to grab a chair from the corner of the room. "We can take turns."

I grabbed another chair, placing it on the other side of the bed. "We're all here, Charlie," I murmured, even though I knew he couldn't hear me. "You're safe with us."

One by one, we settled around the bed, creating a protective circle around Charlie. The weight of the day's events still pressed down on us, but being here, together, made it feel a little more manageable.

As the night wore on, the exhaustion finally caught up to us. I felt my eyelids grow heavy, my body sinking into the chair. But even as I drifted off, I kept one ear open, listening for any signs that Charlie needed us.

Because no matter what, we weren't leaving him alone. Not tonight, not ever.