Half a heart

Chapter 81

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Niall's POV

It was still early when we pulled into the venue, the first light of morning barely peeking through the bus windows. I stretched, my muscles sore from the night, but the excitement of the day ahead quickly shook off any fatigue. It was another city, another crowd, and another performance-but today, my mind wasn't on the concert just yet. It was on Charlie.

Louis had been up with him last night, and I could hear him and Harry talking quietly to Charlie, trying to keep him calm. Poor kid. The nightmares and the anxiety had been hitting him hard lately, and though we were doing everything we could to make him feel safe, I knew it wasn't easy for him.

As we came to a stop, the hum of the bus engine faded, and the sound of everyone shuffling to get ready filled the space. I glanced back to see Jacob, Charlie's bodyguard, moving over to where Charlie was still wrapped up in his weighted blanket, headphones covering his ears. Charlie was fast asleep, his face peaceful, even though I knew it wouldn't take much to wake him.

"Jacob, you good with him?" I asked, grabbing my backpack and slinging it over my shoulder.

Jacob nodded. "I'll carry him in. No point in waking him if he's finally resting."

"Right," I said, relieved Charlie was getting some rest. I watched as Jacob bent down carefully, lifting Charlie into his arms like it was second nature. He was careful not to jostle him too much, adjusting the weighted blanket so it covered him completely. It was almost like watching someone carry a fragile piece of glass, the way Jacob made sure Charlie stayed comfortable.

I fell into step behind Jacob as we left the bus, the morning air crisp and cool as we walked toward the entrance of the venue. The weight of the day ahead sat in the back of my mind, but my focus stayed on Charlie. Seeing him like this, needing that much comfort, made me realize just how much he relied on all of us.

"Make sure he stays warm," I mumbled to Jacob as we walked through the wide hallways of the venue. The last thing Charlie needed was to catch a cold on top of everything else.

"He's alright," Jacob assured me, his voice low. "I've got him."

I nodded, trusting Jacob completely. He had been looking out for Charlie since all this madness started, and he knew how to handle it better than any of us. As we made our way deeper into the building, the rest of the boys followed behind, their usual morning chatter softer than usual. Everyone was just as concerned for Charlie as I was.

We finally reached the dressing room, and Jacob gently laid Charlie down on one of the couches. He made sure the weighted blanket stayed snug around him, tucking it in at the edges, and adjusted his ear defenders so they didn't press too hard against his head.

"He'll probably sleep for a bit longer," Jacob said, straightening up. "Sound check's not for a while, right?"

"Yeah, we've got time," I replied, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Let's let him rest for as long as he needs."

The dressing room was quiet, the atmosphere calm despite the usual pre-show buzz. Harry sat down beside me, his eyes flicking over to where Charlie was curled up, a worried crease between his brows.

"Think he'll be alright?" Harry asked softly.

I shrugged. "He's tough, but... I think this break is good for him. Tour's stressful, but at least he's with us. We'll look out for him."

Louis wandered in, plopping down in one of the armchairs. "As long as we're around, he's got nothing to worry about. We've got him."

Jacob gave a nod before stepping back, leaving us to talk quietly while Charlie continued to sleep. I could see the steady rise and fall of his chest, his small frame barely moving under the heavy blanket. He looked so peaceful in that moment, and I hoped that whatever was weighing on him would ease, even just for today.

Sound check would come soon, and the adrenaline of another concert would follow, but for now, we had a bit of calm. And that was exactly what Charlie needed-calm, safety, and the certainty that we were always here for him.