Save Me (A One Direction Fanfiction)

XXIV

Zayn and Harry walked back into the flat to the somber atmosphere and glum faces of the rest of the lads. Zayn walked straight over to Perrie and planted a massive kiss on her lips, Harry watched them through watery eyes until his eyes fell on to Louis who sat on the counter top in the corner of the kitchen. He smiled his crooked smile as Louis’ bottom lip trembled as he tried to keep his emotions in.

Harry crossed the kitchen and stepped between his legs as Louis wrapped them around the waist clinging on to him as tightly as possible. Even with Louis sitting on the counter top Harry’s nose still reached his lips as Louis kissed it his eye lashes fluttering against Harry’s forehead. The weight of his peppermint breath sent shivers down Harry’s spine as he felt his body open up and the floodgates collapsed against Louis’ shirt.

Everyone wept, together in time until there was no more to escape.

Several Hours later…

Liam shifted under the weight of his blond band member as he played with his hair. Occasionally a sniffle rang out in the silent room, but right now all was quiet. Liam felt Niall’s heartbeat mirror his own as their chest rested against each other stealing the heat of the others. He rubbed his back thankful that Niall had finally calmed down and the tears had subsided, his shirt was still wet but Liam didn’t care about that now.

He closed his eyes trying to fall asleep, he felt so tired and yet something inside him kept him awake. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Harry it was all he could do to shake his words out of his mind he just wanted to go back in time and forget it all.

Niall moved against Liam’s chest shifting his legs between Liam’s as the settled farther into each other’s arms. Liam watched the top of the Irish lads head as he slept thinking that he looked so small and childlike. Liam let his mind wander once more.

How am I supposed to protect him? How am I supposed to protect any of them? I can’t fix this… how am I supposed to fix this? How are the fans going to react? The press? Is Harry going to be alright? Fuck what happens if something goes wrong? If Harry gets sicker. What will happen to Louis? Niall? Zayn? Me? How am I going to fix this? I can’t do anything. I can’t help anyone.

He felt his cheeks burn as his chest rose and fell unevenly, his breaths more and shakier. Squeezing his eyes shut Liam felt a trickle of water pour out of the corner of his eyes as he tried his best to hold them in. Relentless water now flowed down his face landing in drops on Niall’s head as Liam finally broke down in the silence of the room.

“Li?”

The voice rang out in the darkness as Liam froze. His breathing slowed but the tears still silently leaked from his face, suddenly thankful that the room was dark Liam tried to wipe off his eyes.

“Liam it’s okay.”

Liam didn’t say anything as Zayn walked over to him sitting on the ground beside the couch. Niall slept on.

“Liam, you don’t have to be so strong all the time.”

“Yes I do.” Liam croaked out his voice rocky under the pressure of Niall and from the crying.

“You know what the worst part of being the strong one is Liam?” Zayn asked looking into Liam’s eyes. He could see the stubbornness behind the chocolate brown eyes looking back at him. “No one ever asks if you are alright.”

Zayn brought his hand up rubbing it through Liam’s hair, his touch gentle but meaningful. Liam shook his head worried that if he opened his mouth nothing would come out or worse everything.

“It’s alright to let people in mate, it doesn’t make you weak.”

“Yes it does. I can’t fix this Z, I can’t protect anyone from this.”