White Board Lyrics (Harry Styles)

Chapter 7

(Harry's POV)

It had been a week since I had that nightmare and it still haunted me. I moped around my apartment for most of the week. It was hard to move around with a cast on my leg. It was up my thigh and impossible to walk, or even hobble, around my apartment. Also, showers were hard to accomplish. I was told not to get water in my ears, so I had to invest in some earplugs. Oh, and the worst part of it all, I still couldn’t hear a thing.

I had Paul talk with my doctor about my concerns with my hearing. The doctor reassured me that I would hear again, it would just take some time. Eventually I would be able to hear muffled noises and then have my hearing back, but in the mean time, I would be deaf. No sound. Nothing. It was going to be hell.

I was already running out of markers for my white board. I either used them up or misplaced them. I found some in between my couch cushions. I scribbled a few words onto my white board and showed it to Paul who was sitting on my other couch in my living room. I had grown accustomed to not speaking, when I did, it felt weird. Plus, speaking led to singing in my mind, and I knew that was impossible.

Paul looked up and read my message. He pursed his lips together and sat up straight; setting down the newspaper he was holding. He was there at my apartment because the guys wanted to go out. Preston was with them, but someone needed to stay with me, since, well, I was pretty incapable of doing anything at the moment.  I was glad that I could take a piss by myself though. That would be embarrassing if every time- ‘Oh hey Paul, want to hold my wanker while I take a leak?’ Thank god that wasn’t the case.

I raised an eyebrow at Paul as he grabbed for a white board on the coffee table. I could tell he was thinking about the words he was writing, probably to ease the information onto me. It was best to just rip the bandage off and pour salt into the wound. He raised the board and I frowned. It was just as I thought.

Today, after the boys get back.

My heart sunk. It didn’t happen often, but we did meet with them when they really wanted to talk to us about something. We all knew that they wanted to talk about the incident with the car. They could probably care less if we were all together in one piece. Publicity. Publicity. That’s all they cared about.

Who was they?

Management.

My grimace received a nostril flare from Paul that I could only believe was a humorous snort. I groaned, and he just smiled, shaking his head. Paul knew that none of the guys, myself included like management. They were just a protective, overbearing parental figure that we all wanted to escape.

And there was no escape sadly. At least not until out contract was up.

I laid my head back against the cushion of my couch. I winced when I hit a sore spot. The bruises were still there from the crash, healing, but still there. I watched the clock on the far wall of my flat and counted the minutes that passed. The boys said they would be back within the next few hours. Niall promised to bring back Nandos for me since they basically ate everything in my apartment, and I hadn’t gotten around to ordering groceries to be delivered. My mind wasn’t exactly focused on the lack of food in my cupboards. I was more focused on the fact that- well- I had suddenly become deaf.

After a while of staring at the clock I must have dozed off. I felt a tap on my shoulder and opened my eyes to see Paul. I sat up, rubbing my stiff neck. I suggest not sleeping on a couch when you are already sore to begin with. I yawned and it was weird to not feel my ears pop. Apparently there were literally holes in my eardrums and if I tried to hold my nose and try to blow air out, I would feel the air through my ears. I wasn’t going to try.

A bag was shoved into my lap and I sniffed the air. My mouth instantly became wet with saliva. Nandos. Sweet, sweet chicken from Nandos. “Tha-nks.” My voice cracked from not using it often. I smiled at Niall and dug into my food. He plopped down next to me on the couch and gave me an accepting pat on the shoulder. I looked around my flat for the others and smiled, with a mouthful of food, when I saw everyone in my kitchen. Liam was putting away boxes in my cupboards and Louis was handing Zayn produce to put away in my fridge. I didn’t even have to ask or even mention the lack of food. The boys just went ahead and took care of it. I was relieved to have such good mates.

(Zayn's POV)

 Thinking management would lay off was a bunch a bull shit. They had been calling for the most part of the week ever since they found out that we were in a car crash. Paul had been keeping them away, thank god, but it was getting to the point where we needed to give in and go see them and plan our next move with the public. Also since we went out in public and caused… a commotion, they probably wanted to have a little chat with us.

By commotion, I meant that we sort of- well we- yeah we yelled at some dumb, camera-crazed blokes that were in our faces. And I might have taken one of the cameras and threw it to the ground.

My bad.

They deserved it anyways. Not only were they pulling on Liam who was still recovering from his dislocated shoulder, but also they were going on and on about one of us causing the crash, when that wasn’t the case. Yes, I was drunk along with Louis and Niall, but none of us were driving. Preston wasn’t under the influence. The dumbass that smashed into us was.  The rumors were just getting too crazy, and my rage got the best of me. Sorry, not sorry. I offered to pay for the paparazzi’s camera, but he just said the money for the story would be good enough. Management wasn’t going to be pleased.

“So, Paul….” I called from the kitchen as I placed the last bag of produce into the fridge and shut the door. “What do we do now?”

Paul looked over to me and he sighed. He had heard about the whole ordeal through Preston within minutes of it happening. Being our manager an all, he wanted us all back at Harry’s flat to discuss some things. He cleared his throat. “We’re getting into the car and no one is going to say anything until we get there and talk with Modest.”

“Oh, okay.” I silently gave in and decided to text Perrie about what happened if she hadn’t heard already. I was just going to give her a heads up about the situation because I know someone out there is going to tie my little outburst to our relationship. They always do.

We let Harry rest a little longer before we all piled the large black SUV. We were given a new one for obvious reasons and this one had that new car smell. I would have wanted to take the Mystery Machine, but Paul wouldn’t let us. He didn’t want to draw any more attention than we already had done.

“Almost there.” Louis hopped his legs nervously.

“Wonder what we’re going to have to do.” Niall mumbled.

“Probably some interview or public apology.” Liam shrugged. He winced and rubbed his shoulder. I knew it must have been hurting him, but he wouldn’t take his pain medication for god knows what reason.

“I’m not apologizing. Guy deserved it.” I said angrily. I turned to Harry who was lost within our conversation. I grabbed his white board and scribbled down some words.

Typical management stuff was all I could think to write. It was a hassle to write down everything for Harry, but leaving him out felt even worse.  Harry frowned and went back to rubbing circles on his forehead, most likely to get rid of a headache.

“Well this is it.” Louis clapped his hands together as the SUV pulled into the parking building. We filed out of the car; Harry was last to get out. It took Niall and myself to get him out and get him in a wheelchair. Before we could even get ten feet away from the car, Niall already popped Harry’s wheelchair into a wheelie and had his pushing rights taken away by Preston. I shook my head and checked my phone for messages before we walked into the large building to face management.

I could say that even I was nervous.

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