only for you // l.h.

|10|

Another few days passed. I got better, growing stronger with each passing day. I could walk normally now, just really, really slow. No running. No stairs. No sports. Those were the rules.

Luke had texted me the date of their arrival. In order to avoid suspicion, they'd scheduled a quick show to make up for the one I'd interrupted before. They'd check in with me at some point, and then they'd leave. In and out. Nobody got hurt. 

Calum had somehow gotten ahold of my number. We'd texted a few times. He'd apologized for coming back even though they weren't technically breaking the promise they'd made.

I told him to shut up.

He told me that he was pretty great and that if he was coming to San Diego especially for someone he'd be excited.

I had rolled my eyes but had laughed. Count on Calum for comedic relief. 

But I hadn't heard from any of them in a while. I assumed they were busy.

I was sitting in the waiting room of the physical therapists' office, listening for my name so I could go and do leg and arm exercises for half an hour.

Maria texted me.

Maria: are you bffs with 5sos yet?

Em: Really? Of course not.

Maria: aww but you're the greatest person ever why not 

Maria: WAIT DID YOU GET THEIR NUMBERS?

Maria: Give them to me if you did

Maria: Em?

I stopped here, letting her texts come into my phone without reading them.

"Should I tell you, Maria? Should I tell you that I have Luke Hemmings' and Calum Hood's numbers in my phone?" I asked out loud.

I went to war with myself. Maria was my best friend. There was nothing I ever hid from her.

"Except that private conversation with Luke," I corrected myself. "But other than that, no."

But they'd given me these numbers trusting that I would not share them all over the Internet, or even give them to my best friend.

I'd promised, too.

Sort of.

Em: Are you kidding? We spoke for 5 seconds.

Maria: of summer? 

Em: Dude 

Maria: <3 sorry not sorry you're the only one who appreciates that joke btw 

Em: What are best friends for? 

Maria: you're a good best friend then :) but numbers? 

Em: That's not a sensible reason for me to get their numbers.

Maria: Oh. Sorry. i should've been more polite. thanks for not getting angry with my 5sos thirst, you're the best :)

I felt a little guilty as I put my phone aside, but the fact that I was keeping a bunch of people safe and stress-free kept me from breaking down and telling Maria everything.

"Emerson Scotts?" I looked up at my name. It was my physical therapist, Denny.

"Hi," I said, standing up. I hobbled over to him. While I did still walk with a slight limp, I was out of my wheelchair.

"You've got visitors inside," Denny said with a wry grin. "It's those people from Starbucks again."

"You're not supposed to let them in," I said, but knew Hannah wasn't to be stopped.