All Along

Chapter One

Chapter One

I suddenly woke up to someone pounding on my door. What in the world, I thought. It was almost two o'clock in the morning and I'm home alone. My aunt was at work so this was a bit scary. I was used to sleeping alone in a quiet house but this pounding and the simple fact that it was storming outside was not helping.

I got up and traveled to the door, sneakily peeping out of the window. It was Harry. I quickly opened the door.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" I asked extremely confused. He just stood there completely drenched. His brown curls were pressed all around his face from the rain. I looked at his normally gleaming green eyes. But tonight they just looked tired. Tired and sad. He looked like he had been crying too but I couldn't tell because of the rain.

"Ellie, get your jacket. We have to go." He said not fully looking at me.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Ellie, please. Let's just go." He whispered.

"Harry please." I pleaded worried. I wasn't going anywhere until he told me what was wrong.

He finally really looked at me. "It's Liam."

With that I sprinted back to room, grabbed my jacket, stuffed my bare feet into boots and ran back to Harry still waiting for me in my doorway. We ran towards his black car and jumped in. He quickly put the key into the ignition and we drove away from my house.

The car ride was silent with only the radio playing softly in the background. I fidgeted around with my hands. I couldn't stay still. I looked at Harry, he looked so tense. He was holding the steering wheel so tight, holding on for something. Like if he let go something would happen. Something horrible. I didn't know what to think. I didn't want to know where we were going and I didn't want to know why. I just knew Liam was in trouble and that was enough for me.

He had to be okay though. He just had to. There was no way he couldn't be. But when we pulled into the hospital I felt this huge weight in me. My stomach dropped.

"Oh my god." I whispered.

"It's going to be okay." he said, taking my hand.

Suddenly there were flashing lights all around us. I guess the paparazzi already found out. We had to push our way through them, towards the front entrance. It was ridiculous. They had no respect. Something was wrong and all they wanted was a story. It all made me sick.

When we made it to the waiting room I saw the boys immediately. They all sat together incredibly close. Zayn looked extremely serious, pouting and looking straight ahead. Niall was next to him. He had his head in his hands, clearing crying. Louis was at the end. He was composed but very distant. It didn't look like he was even in the room. His mind was elsewhere.

Niall was the first one to see us. He looked up and attempted to smile, trying to wipe his eyes. Without hesitating I ran to him, he stood up and I hugged him. I patted his back. I couldn't stand to see Niall like this. Although Harry was the youngest, Niall was the baby. Louis stood up and scooted a seat over so that I sat between both of them.

"Any news?" Harry asked.

"No, none. You think they'd tell us something by now." Zayn answered.

We sat there for a few minutes, waiting. Niall was trying to keep himself together but the longer we waited the more he cried. I kept my arm around him as he laid his head on my shoulder. I realized I still didn't know why we were here. I kept telling myself that he probably broke a bone or had stomach pain but I knew deep down I was wrong. I was terrified of the real reason.

I leaned over and softly asked in his ear, "Louis... what happened?"

He looked at me, confused. "He didn't tell you?"

"No, I don't think I asked."

"He got into a car accident. It was a drunk driver. He got him by the side." He responded quietly.

I looked away but then looked back at him, "How bad?"

He didn't answer right away. "It doesn't look so good, Ellie".

After what seemed like endless hours of waiting, a doctor came walking towards us. We must have all seen him at the same time because we all stood up. He was middle aged with gray already in his hair. He looked tired too. Everyone looked tired.

"Hi guys." He said when he got closer.

"How's he?" Zayn asked.

"When can we see him?" Niall questioned.

"I'm so sorry boys. I did all that I could. We all did. We are truly sorry for your loss."