Elle's p.o.v
I don't know what came over me when I kissed Harry.
It wasn't until after the kiss that I saw Liam standing in the doorway looking heartbroken.
I felt so bad that I'd kissed Harry when he was standing there but I don't see why Liam looked so upset. I assumed that he just thought of us as really good friends. I've never really thought of Liam as more or as less than that.
I quickly excused myself from my hospital room and told Harry I would be back in a second. He looked confused and a bit upset, but nodded anyway.
I went into the waiting room and asked my family if they'd seen Liam but they said that Joe went after him 'that way'.
The doctor suddenly appeared, looking annoyed.
"Eleanor, please come back into your room, it's dangero-"
I ran out of the room ignoring the doctor and eventually heard Joe's voice coming from inside the men's bathroom.
Liam sounded like he was crying and Joe was trying to comfort him. I carried on listening to their conversation until Liam got angry and insulted me.
He said that I was out kissing lots of people? That was rude and I was glad that Joe stood up for me.
I heard Liam apologising and Joe telling him off before the door opened and my brother stomped out.
He saw me and looked concerned, "Elle, you're not allowed out of your bed, let alone your room. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I came to find Liam. He looked pretty upset earlier. I heard what he said to you though. It was unnecessary for him to get so angry at you when you were just trying to help."
"Did you know he... liked you? Loved you even?" Joe lowered his voice, because Liam is still inside the bathroom next to us.
"No. I thought we were just really good friends. Are you sure he said that?" I whispered back.
"He just shouted to me that he loved you, I'm pretty sure. He seemed upset because he thought you kissed that Henry guy. Is he stupid?" Joe questioned. I internally laughed at 'Henry'. "You've only been free for a few hours and he thinks you're going around kissing-" he stopped when he saw my face, slightly pale.
I stared at the wall and Joe looked at me in disbelief.
"Elle? You kissed him didn't you?"
I nodded, feeling embarrassed.
"I'm sorry Joe. I don't know if it is my kidnapped mind speaking but I think I love him. I didn't know Liam was standing there."
Joe looked disappointed but understanding. "All I want Elle is for you to be safe and happy. If it is with Henry then let it be." The corner of his lips tilted up.
"Harry." I smiled.
"What?"
"His name is Harry, not Henry."
"Whatever." Joe laughed.
Liam walked out of the door next to us, looking like he'd calmed down.
"Are you alright Liam?" I asked.
He sighed and nodded before walking away without saying a single word.
Well...
Harry's p.o.v
I felt so relieved when she kissed me. I was worried she'd reject me.
But now she's gone...
And she went after Liam.
That can't do any good to a man's ego. Kissing you before she runs to another man.
I just sat on the hospital bed silently and waited for her to return.
I was surprised when not Elle, but her cousin Chris entered the room. He had a stern but kind look on his face.
"Are you okay, Harry?" He asked me.
"Yeah. She just left. I-"
"Thank you. For looking after her while she was gone. She means so much to me and I can't believe she's finally safe. Thanks dude." He smirked.
Chris and Jamie seem like great people, just like Elle I suppose.
"It's okay. If I'm honest, she cared for us more than herself.
She got us out of there and took so much for us. I feel really guilty actually. "I told Chris. I don't know why I'm telling him so much, I only met him a few hours ago.
"Don't worry about it Harry. She assures me that you are all good lads. By the way... is there something romantic going on with Elle and one of you? She seems infatuated if you know what I mean." He rose his eyebrows, smirking.
I laughed. "Well yeah actually. I hope you support it?"
"Oh yeah! She deserves a good guy and I'm glad she's fallen for Liam."
WHAT?!?
Liam?
Surely she didn't tell Chris she liked Liam? The tattoo... and the kiss.
"L-Liam?" I stuttered, afraid of his reply.
"That's the one with the chevron tattoo, right? I met him about a year ago at a party. Seems pretty cool and he obviously cares for my cousin"
I felt sick to the stomach. I honestly thought that Elle had feelings for me.
"How...why...did she say she liked him? To you?" I had to refrain from screaming.
"Well, no. Not exactly, but I saw a bit of romantic tension between you lot and she just went running down the hall after him. I just assumed-"
I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I started laughing in relief, "Mate, you've got it all wrong. It's ME and Elle. Liam just has issues." I felt a bit mean for saying that about my best friend but I can't have anybody try to steal my girl.
"Oh! That makes more sense. So that tattoo you had. The ones that Elle wrote? What does yours say?"
I could tell my face had reddened. "She didn't do them. Reece did, that bastard." I lifted up my sleeve and showed Chris the 'I love you' in black ink on my forearm.
"But she told him to write that?"
"Well, I assume so... That's what she said."
"Well, I'm happy for you man. As long as you can prove to Joe that you deserve her, you'll be fine. He's the hardest to convince."
I smiled at him and he left a few minutes later.
Elle came back with her brother and a doctor giving her a stern look. It looked as if she was telling Elle off.
"Eleanor, I really can't have you running around when there are other patients nearby and you are not well enough yourself. I have made the decision that you aren't leaving today, you shall stay the night and see how it goes from there."
I ignored the pang in my heart from knowing that Elle went 'running' after Liam and ditched me and focused on what the doctor was saying.
"Oh please can I go home?" Elle pleaded like a little child, "I haven't been home in months. I promise I'm well enough."
"I'm sorry but your overall health has deteriorated since you were taken and it's my job to get it regular again." The doctor smiled more kindly before walking out of the room.
I felt sad that Elle would be all alone here tonight but at least she will be in safe hands.
"Are you okay, Elle?" I asked her once we were alone.
"Oh, yeah of course. Sorry for running like that after we, you know... kissed. Liam is a good friend of mine and I didn't like to see him upset." She smiled, showing off her perfect teeth.
I grinned back and took her into my arms.
"What does it mean for us now? What are we?" I questioned.
She hesitated, "Whatever you want us to be."
"As in, boyfriend and girlfriend?" I asked before cursing under my breath for sounding like a twelve year old.
She chucked, her laughter like music to my ears.
Cheesy, sorry.
I leant in even more, and I could feel her breath lightly on my neck.
"I would like that very much." Elle nodded.
Then, we kissed. Nothing too steamy. I gentle kiss to show the passion that we have been waiting for.
It's funny really. If Elle would have been part of the kidnapping gang like I assumed at first, would I have still fallen in love with her?
Is that what it is? Love? I can't remember feeling this way about anyone before.
But it would have been like Stockholm syndrome. I'm so glad things didn't turn out that way. She is too kind to be a kidnapper. She would never want anyone else to feel the way she felt; used, abused, hurt and terrified.
"Baby, look what you've done to me." I said to her jokingly, nuzzling my face into her neck. She giggled again.
I then realised that there was practically no way that she would get my reference to the Stockholm syndrome lyric.
She wasn't here when it was released.
She must have missed so much while she was gone.
