Chapter 3.
(Charlotte's POV)
The flight to LA was pure hell. Riley would not stop fussing. My body was hurting so bad I had Liam be with Riley while I tried to rest. There was tons of turbulence. It was just not a good flight what so ever. Harry kept trying to comfort me, but it didn't work. I was trying to keep a positive attitude about it because I don't like the feeling of being pittied. I don't like it when people feel sorry for me.
When we got to the hotel we were staying at, me and Harry had to leave to head to the doctor.
It would've just been me, but Harry insisted on going with. But, it's not like I minded.
***At the doctor***
"So, Miss Gomez, Dr. Benson sent over a referral for you to get X-rays and an ultrasound, is that correct?" Dr. Boeman asked.
I nodded. I was nervous.
"Alright. We're going to do the x-rays first. so hop on this table and lie down on your back first and then flip onto your stomach when I tell you to. Okay?"
Once again, I nodded. Harry helped me lay down, making sure I was okay.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir, but you're going to have to leave for the x-rays. We'll call you back when she's done." Dr. Boeman said.
And then Harry left.
The x-rays went quick and soon enough Harry was back and I was getting ready for my ultra sound.
They didn't say anything about my x-rays yet, which kind of freaked me out.
And having an ultra sound made me feel like I was pregnant again.
"How are you feeling, Charlotte?" Harry asked randomly.
"Oh, uh, I'm alright. Just nervous about the x-rays and the ultra sound. I don't want anything serious wrong with me. Ya know?" I said back.
"You'll be fine. And if you aren't right now, you will be soon. I promise." Harry said reassuringly
I nodded and looked down at my lap. Just then Dr. Boeman walked in, holding papers in one hand and coffee in the other.
"Alright, Charlotte. So we reviewed the x-rays and the ultra sound. The ultra sound was normal. Nothing is damaged internally, but you do have 4 broken ribs and a hair line fracture in your shoulder blade." Dr. Boeman stated.
Ugh. I knew it. Bad news.
"So what's going to happen?" I asked.
"Well, we're going to put you in a brace for your ribs, but unfortunately, there really isn't anything we can do for your should blade. Since it isn't broken, we just have to let it heal on it's own. But I'm also going to prescribe you some pain killers, just to ease off some of the pain." he said.
"How long will I have to be in a brace? Because I have a baby and it's going to be hard to take care of her in a brace..." I trailed off.
"Uh I'd say 6-8 weeks at the least. I'm sure you have other people around to help take care of your daughter. Maybe the father? Or your parents? But, you have to be in a brace. I'm sorry, Miss Charlotte." He said firmly.
"Oh, uh right." I said.
I heard Harry sigh and could feel his eyes on me. He probably wanted me to tell Dr. Boeman what had happened, but I wasn't going to.
"So let's get you in the brace and then you'll be on your way. Along with some pain killers. Haha." Dr. Boeman said.
Let's just say, that was one of the worst things I've done in my life. When we left, I was in tears. I never knew broken ribs would hurt like that. But, Harry stopped and got me ice cream. How sweet of him. But in all honesty, I didn't want ice cream, I wanted Riley.
"Thank you for coming, Harry. I really apreciate it." I finally said.
"You're welcome Charlotte. You're a brave girl. And I'm glad I went." He said back.
After that it was silent. Harry looked like he was in deep thought. I wanted to know what he was thinking about, but I didn't want to ask.
(Harry's POV)
I felt Charlotte staring at me. She probably thought I was ignoring her or something. But I just couldn't stop thinking about how someone so small and fragile, could be so brave about what she went through. It was beyond me how she was doing it. She was only 18 and she had gone through so much. And now, she has 4 broken ribs, a fracture in her shoulder blade and bruises everywhere because of an asshole she calls "the father of her child" And I only knew her for 3 days, but I feel an attatchment to her and Riley... which was weird. I mean, me? Harry Styles? Attatched to a girl and her daughter he just met? That was not like me at all. I mean it was safe to say that I wanted to be her friend.
When I asked Stacy to let Charlotte and Riley come with us, she was shocked. I rarely ask for anything. But when I told her what had happened, she kind of softened up a little bit and agreed. And then when I told the boys what happened, they told me that I better watch out because she could be a danger to us. But how? I think that was just rubbish.
When I saw her crying today, at the hotel and at the doctor, it killed me. No one should ever go through that.
I snapped out of my thoughts and focused back on driving back to the hotel. I wanted to ask Charlotte some question's though.
"Charlotte, can I ask you something?" I asked.
"Sure." She replied.
"Why did you stay?" I questioned.
"What do you mean?" she asked back.
"I mean, why did you stay with... Zach? You always say that this isn't the first he-he hit you so I-I-I was just wondering... why?" I trailed off.
"I had no where else to go. I mean, where do I go when I have a baby? My parents want nothing to do with me. And if I stayed with my friend, she would only say I told you so. And he knew where she lived. I felt like I had no way out." she stated.
Wow.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I replied quickly.
"No it's okay, Harry. You deserve to know. I mean, a strange girl and her baby asked for your help. I get it." she said.
Thank God she understood.
Before I knew it, we were at the hotel. I had to help her out of the car because she could barely move in the brace she had on.
But of course there were paparazzi. Snapping photos of us as I helped her inside.
I swear they ruin everything.
