Cassidy's POV
I screamed in pain as my step-father hit me again in the stomach and then made for my arms. I buckled over screaming, "I'm sorry!" My mother stood in the corner of the lounge crying and yelling "stop!" as the twisted old man spat at me. After a while, my step-father got bored of hitting me and collapsed onto the sofa with a cold beer. I thought i had time to get out so i started crawling out of the door. I stopped partially because my stomach but mainly because my drunken step father grabbed hold of my legs and dragged me backwards to continue hitting me. I looked towards my mum who had also been abused earlier to see her dialling a number on her mobile. She saw me looking at her and out a finger to her lips. I let out a cry as he kicked me again and again. "Shut up brat!" My step-father yelled in a slurry voice. Then he picked me up high over his head and started carrying me upstairs. "Please not the attic! Please! Anywhere but the attic
k! I cried.
"Ok. If you say so", The old man chuckled as he carried me into my parents room and opened the window. A surge of fear forced through me as I realised what he was about to do. Then, he dropped me...
Liam's POV:
"Look where you are going, Lou" I yelled as Lou swerved into the opposite lane "Sorry Li but there was a pigeon in the road and i couldn't exactly run it over now can i?" Louis replied rhetorically. "Quit bickering you two" Niall and Harry scolded with a laugh. As we drove into Westbridge Road I turned the radio on but quickly turned it off when i saw a girl scrunched up on the floor with blood around her lying in the front garden of a run-down house. "OMFG LOU STOP THE CAR NOW! I MEAN IT LOU STOP THE FRICKING CAR!" I screamed. Louis gave me a confused look but immediately stopped the car. "I knew my driving was bad but not that ba..."He stopped speaking as I practically flew out if the car and started sprinting. Good job i'm quite athletic. "OMG!" The boys yelled in unison as they chased after me. When i arrived at the girl i realised she was unconscious and had bruises up her body. "NIALL, HARRY AND LOUIS HELP ME GET HER TO THE CAR NOW" i yelled as i heard cursing and smashing glass from inside the house. Immediately they all ran towards me and we picked her up and we put her in the car between Harry and Niall. Lou and i jumped in the front of the car and Louis started driving. "For F's sake put your foot down Lou!" I said angrily. "Calm down mate, she is probably gonna be ok" Harry said nervously.
Harry's POV
The night was going amazingly well as we had launched our new perfume "Between us" and from the reaction of the directioners, they loved it. But things took a turn for the worse when We were driving down Westbridge Road when Liam saw a girl lying on the ground in a front garden. He totally lost it! We all ran and helped Liam, who was in a state after what he had saw. We all picked her up and took her to Lou's Range Rover. We placed her in the middle of me and Niall and i took my jumper off to wrap around the girls bleeding head. I had thought about telling her parents but from the sound of the screaming inside the house, i was certain they were to blame. I lay the girl on my lap and stroked her hair as Lou and Li argued in the front of the car. Omg what a night!
Cassidy's POV
I woke up to a steady beeping noise to the left of me. I attempt to look to see what it was but I suddenly felt a sudden dizzy feeling and someone touched my hand. I immediately flinched and started crying. "I am so sorry! Please don't hurt me!" I cried recalling the previous incident i had had with my step-father. That's when i noticed i wasn't in my own bedroom. Overwhelmed by everything i started crying harder but immediately stopped the person who had touched my hand jumped up and ran to the door. "Please someone help me" they yelled "She is awake. Boys she is awake!" Boys? Who is this person and why are they screaming? Suddenly a group of about 10 nurses ran in holding clipboards and medical equipment. Then followed 3 other boys in casual clothing. Who were all these people and why are they in my room? "Cassidy darling my name is Liam Payne and you have been in a coma for almost a month! You are in hospital" All of a sudden i felt like puking. What! I have been in a coma for a month! "Cupcake these people have been looking after you." A curly haired man said with a smile. As all the nurses poked me and pulled my ths way and that. The nurses worked down my body. Poking pins everywhere and asking if i could feel it Finally they got to my hips but stopped poking me with pins. "Do you feel it Cassidy?" A strange looking nurse asked"
"I will feel it when you put the needle in" I laughed rolling my eyes. All of a sudden, Everyone fell into a deep silence and starrted sharing fear stricken looks with eachother and then glancing at me. "What is it?" I asked and then immediately after realised what was going on. The nurse then started prodding at my legs too. I didn't feel anything. "I am so sorry Cassidy, but you are paralysed, from the waist down.
When all the nurses had left, I burst into tears which left me being reassured by four rather sympathetic looking boys. "Glad to see you have finally awaken from your slumber then sleeping beauty!" Laughed the blonde one in a thick Irish accent awkwardly. Then in a surge of anger I screamed "Who the heck are you and what are you doing here!"
The four boys looked at each other and then finally Liam said, "First of all I'm Liam, as you know, this Irish legend over here is Niall, the curly haired dumb-ass handsome one is Harry and the quiet one over there is Louis. Oh we are here because we found you, that night" Liam coughed, "and we brought you to the hospital. When we arrived and knew you were safe Harry and I drove back to your house to inform your parents what was going on but they were not there. So we came back and had to inform the authorities. If we don't find your parents by the time you are aloud to leave then you will be put into care. We felt like we should stay here until we know what is going to happen.I gulped uneasily and said on the verge of tears, "I-i need some air" i said as i tried to sit up. Immediately a wave of pain rushed through my head and I collapsed into tears of pain and grief. Then i started to hyperventilate and i couldn't breathe. Liam quickly and nervously poured me a glass of water and helped me sit up. My head was spinning and i felt sick but i held the pain in.
Liam passed me a glass of water but my hands were shaking vigorously and i dropped the glass of water all over me. Again i started crying harder as Liam sighed sympathetically and started stripping the sheets with Liam and Niall's help whilst Louis sat and comforted me. As they pulled back the sheets on my legs, I started staring blankly at them. They were there but served no purpose to me. I then let out another cry as i started to realise what a state i was in...
Two weeks later
Liams POV
It has been like two weeks since Cassidy woke up and i have seen her improve so much. During the day she puts on a fake smile and laughs at the boys jokes but during the night i hear her cry softly into her pillow as she has a nightmare. From where i sleep (on the chair next to her) i hear her say stuff like, "I am sorry dad" or "please don't hurt me!" And i know she is remembering that night. I sometimes subtly ask her questions about what Happened to her but she always changes the subject...
Me and the boys where sitting with Cassidy when I got called out of the room by a nurse. I told Cassidy i'd be back in a sec and i left the room. Outside was Simon looking quite serious. "Whats up Si?" I asked to lighten the mood. "Liam listen. We cant find Cassidy's parents anywhere and the nurses said she can go home in a few days, So we where wondering, as you and her have grown so close, why don't you and the boys adopt her? Simon said sternly "It'd make great publicity for you and the boys. Maybe even larger than when Zayn left"
I stared blankly at the man who was in charge of every step i take. "What about the tour? She is gonna be in a wheelchair for fuck sake. She can't exactly come travelling with us can she?!"
"Yes i know that and i have thought greatly about it. You and the boys will have to go on a hiatus for two years or so. You know to help her settle down."
I slowly took in the information. "How will the fans react if we say we are going on a break. They will hate Cassidy and blame her for us not performing anymore. What about after the break anyway?" I sighed.
"It is not official yet, but Zayn said he could take her on sometimes. It is the least he could do. I did a live interview with Capital FM this morning to tell the fans why their beloved band had disappeared and they love you more so don't worry" Simon said, patting my shoulder. "Be ready for 6:30pm. A limo will be waiting to take you to the o2 arena to do your gig. Bring the girl along if you want."
I turned around without replying and walked through the double doors back into Cassidy's room.
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