Switching Bodies *2024 update*

10.

Like the windscreen wipers, Harry's head was turning and he wondered if he was asleep or trapped on the brink of wakefulness. The car's engine was soothing even though it stopped everytime Dan pushed back on the breaks, and Harry took all he could from the low rumbling sound. The side of his forehead was roughly scrapping the door's leather frame, his shoulder and arm also wedged against it. Harry knew he would later regret sitting this way, yet he had not the heart to move, as Liam's sleep somehow mattered more than obtaining bad muscle aches.

He had always been told he had a soft heart and that if he loved, he loved hard. Not only with the 'falling in love' love, but even the brotherly friendship love that he shared with all his band members. He respected them a lot; always inspired and astonished by the way they did things, even the simplest of things amazed him about them. Like the simple way Louis would rush to find anything, even a toilet roll, to scribble lyrics down when hit with 'on the spot' inspiration. Or how Niall would stick up for their fans even on a bad day, and keep the fans' spirits up, with his bubbling, infectious laughter sounding loudly. And how Zayn could transform a plain, white wall into a display of smoky, graffiti art, spraying it with sploshes of vivid, leaking colour. Oh, and Liam with his presence alone could settle anyone down; the boy had a huge heart and a way over words, calming and sincere, he'd put a smile on anyone's face.

Harry found little inspiring about himself however. He didn't particularly enjoy his own company, so why would or should others? He was nothing special, yet he did get attention from the fans. The fans were his everything and he found it torturous to not me able to meet and spend with each and every one. They were the boys' 'best friends', as Niall would always call them to be. And he was right to call them that, because they were their best friends, well... at least the best friends they'd never had.

Harry had never gone into detail about his teen life-hood back in Cheshire and he never felt the need to either as it was all in the past now, and he was living the dream life now. It wasn't all fun and games back then, he was a victim to bullying and at the time he felt utterly defenseless, as though a knife were piercing his heart, digging deeper and deeper. The memories of those years had never completely left his system, however, and he reckoned his grandmother's passing only twisted the knife in his heart, leaving a painful empty, slot.

"Just place it in the front slot of the car," Liam's voice rung out. Harry noticed the cold spot by his right shoulder and felt the weight that had been Liam's head, removed.

"Yeah I'll do that."

Liam turned and smiled his way, briefly yawning and popping a few knuckles, cracking them loudly, as he moaned also stretching out his back. Harry involuntarily shivered at the cracking sounds. He hated the grinding noises, as they brought gory images to his mind, of bones grinding and massive amounts of gushing blood. He had no idea why, but he felt the sudden urge to throw up.

"We're here," Mark spoke as the car came to a slow stop. Dan reversed back and forth a bit, before feeling content with the parking.

Without a moment to lose Harry and Liam both stumbled in the backseat, pushing each other to leave the vehicle. The doors flew open and both boys almost toppled out in a twisted heap, arms and legs flailing to gain speed and balance. The weather had cooled down a bit and now it bit at their skin instantly forming goosebumps. A thunderous raw then broke out, and the four males realised what was happening. They hadn't noticed before as the other side of the hotel had been pitch black, but now it was as clear at daylight. Fans were gathering around the perimeter of the hotel, some squealing, others jumping with huge smiles. Harry stopped frozen, feeling his headache build up, stomach churning painfully. The number of fans were growing rapidly, cameras high, flashes going off in milliseconds. Liam seeing his band mate shocked into silence, grabbed Harry's arm, edging him into a sprint. Using the situated street lamps, Harry and Liam ran towards the entrance of the hotel lobby, Dan and Mark right on their heals.