Pride {l.s.}

31- Didn't Lose Me

The story so far:

Zayn and Liam are together. Louis and Harry confessed their feelings for each other. They kissed. Eleanor set Louis's bed on fire because she saw him with Harry. Louis blacked out.

I open my eyes when I hear crying. It's human nature to help someone who is crying I feel like, but I wake up more confused than helpful. The whole room is bright, so I have to squint. I feel like I've just walked out of Plato's cave. I become aware of the IV in my arm and the plastic mask covering my nose and mouth. I feel a itch in my throat. A small rack of coughs make my whole chest vibrate. I hear someone moving beside me.

Once I can finally see what is going on, I see him first. His eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep and crying it looks like. His face looks paler, and his hair looks greasier. I want to talk to him. I want to make sure he's okay, but he puts his hand over mine as if to say don't speak.

"You're in the hospital, Boo." No duh, Harry. "It's from smoke inhalation. A police officer will be here later to get the details on how it happened. You'll be heading up for a chest scan soon to make sure there isn't permanent damage. You'll be able to leave tomorrow once they decide that you're stable enough."

I nod my head so that he knows that I'm taking all of the information in even if I'm slightly groggy.

Harry sniffs and lets out a sad laugh. "You scared me. I got a call from Zayn. He's the one who found you. You passed out from smoke inhalation, and you look so small in this big bed. I was so scared. I read that some people fall into comas after smoke inhalation. I don't know what I would've done if you never woke up."

I find my own eyes tearing up at his confession. I still find it odd to affect a person this much, but that doesn't stop me from pulling Harry's hand closer. He understands what I'm saying without words, so I scoot over. He slides into the bed next to me. He wraps an arm around me and gives me a soft kiss on my forehead.

"This is all my fault," Harry continues after a moment. "I'm the one who made you stand up to her in that moment. I didn't realize she was so crazy."

I put my hand up to Harry's face and force him to look at me. I simply shake my head. I'm trying to tell him that it's not his fault. I was going to tell her soon anyways. It was getting too much for me.

"Okay, but we'll talk about this later. You need as much oxygen as you can get right now, so keep the mask on. I'm going to go grab the doctor and tell him you're awake." I shake my head. I wrap my arms around his arm and hold him down. "You want me to stay?" I nod my head. "Okay. I'll stay. Try to fall back asleep, Boo."

Harry doesn't need to tell me twice. Even a short one-sided conversation makes me drowsy. I ignore any pain I feel in my body at the moment from the burns and the smoke inhalation. I work on focusing on the sound of my heart monitor and Harry's breathing as I drift back to sleep.

***

When I wake up again, they send me up for a quick chest scan that comes back negative. They tell me there will be no long term effects from the smoke inhalation except maybe coughs and shortness of breath for awhile. I answer as many questions as I can about the incident with Eleanor. Harry doesn't leave my side the entire time as I recount the crazy story. The police leave, and I assume they'll probably arrest Eleanor, but I'm too tired to ask.

A nurse forced Harry to get off of my bed, so he pulls up the plastic chair beside my bed. They allow me to take the mask off to talk to him at least.

"It's not your fault," I reply. My voice sounds more hoarse than usual. "I was going to tell her anyways."

"That doesn't make me any less sorry," Harry replies with a sad smile. "I'm just happy you're okay."

"Look who's awake!"

I look up to see my best friend walking in. I pull Zayn into a tight hug. I ignore the redness of his eyes. Apparently everyone has been crying over this. Niall and Liam follow. They both give my quick hugs. Niall's usual happy spirit is gone as he looks down at me.

"I'm so happy you're okay," Niall says quietly. "You scared us, Louis."

"We all thought you were dead," Liam adds on. He won't even look me in the eyes. I turn to Zayn. I suppose it's his turn to say some sappy comment.

"Do you mind if I talk to Louis alone?" Zayn asks quietly. Niall and Liam nod their heads in understanding. Harry gives my hand a squeeze before following the others out of the room. They all understand how close Zayn and I are. They know that this is a private moment.

I also know that Zayn doesn't like to cry in front of people.

"You were barely breathing when I found you. The smoke was everywhere. I pulled you out of there the fastest I could," Zayn mentions solemnly. I see the tears forming in his eyes. "I thought you were dead, Lou. I thought that I was never going to see the blue of your eyes again. I thought I wasn't going to hear you laugh. I was never going to see a new piece of art you made. I always told you how you were my favorite artist."

Zayn loses it. He collapses into my arms again. The tears stream down his face. I wrap my arms around him tightly. The thought of losing each other has always been a major fear of ours, but we've never had it shown so blatantly until now.

"You didn't lose me, Z."

"I almost did. I almost did lose you..."

A/N

This fire thing definitely adds a different dynamic to the book that I hope you guys are okay with.

And so sorry for not updating yesterday! I was on a date, and I completely forgot. Sorry, guys.

xoxo raindropkiss1