"Lovely"

Part Forty Four (Louis)

Part Forty Four (Louis)

Despite my strongest protest, the next morning I was back in school. It was, after all, pushing the end of November, and Mid Semester finals would be coming up soon. It was in my best interest to be in class.

Dad drove me all the way up to the front door of the school, and got my crutches out, and got me out of the car, and got me standing on my crutches with my bag and everything. God, I hated being so dependent on other people for help with silly little things like getting around. Last night I had texted Leigh to meet me outside the front steps around this time; and, true to her word, there she was. After my Dad had left to go to work, Leigh walked with me up to my locker and all the way to our first period class.

"You're alright?" she prys, though I know she means well.

"I'm okay, could probably be better but you know, it's going"

For her sake I'm doing my best to ignore the pain running through my leg. The arms not so bad today, but even though I'm on some serious morphine, I can't help noticing the throbbing in my shin and my femur. At the hospital the doctors had told me that when I was in the accident my femur had broken through my skin, and that they had had to force it back in. I now wore elastic bandages over my thigh and under the cast to hold everything in place.

Leigh pulls my chair out and helps get the crutches under the seat for me. She goes as far as to move her seat next to mine, and pull my books out from my bag.

"Honestly Leigh," I laugh, "I'm broken, not paralyzed. I'm able to move you know."

"Oh hush," she closes up my bag and leaves it hanging on the back of my chair, "I'm always around for a friend in need."

Ah, the girl scout code. Leigh had been really into the girl guides right throughout grade school, and now that she was of age she was a troupe leader for s group of seven year olds. She had all of these strange codes about friendship and being a good person and what not. Though it was cute, it's easy to see how one would easily get annoyed.

Ms. K droned on and on about this and about that, but I couldn't seem to get a good focus on the lesson. I was just out of it today, and I knew exactly why.

I hadn't heard from Harry since I got home.

Strange, he was always the first one around for me when I need someone.

I shoot him a quick text

Are you at school today? I didn't see you before class started... Just wondering how you're doing. I love you

An hour passes and I get no response.

Leigh walks me all the way to second block, which is on the other side of the school, and I don't get a response, nor do I see him in the hall.

"Do you think he's alright?" I almost stammer, "This is so unlike him, he's.. he's.. he's always so good about talking to me. Why would he just ignore me like that?"

I feel my chest tighten up and my hands go clammy, moistening the handles of my crutches, I let go for just a moment to try and wipe the sweat off on my pants, but instead I lose my balance and topple over into the wall.

"Louis!" Leigh cries, grabbing me from the side and standing me up, "Are you alright? What's the damage?"

I mumble, and Leigh helps to steady me back up with the crutches under my arms.

"I wish- I wish, I wish he were here." I nearly sob, fighting back tears. "He was so-so-so good about everything at the – at the hospital, and now he's just gone."