MiniZerk - You Could Follow Your Heart

Chapter 16

The more Ethan's health declined, the more it looked as though he wouldn't end up recovering. As the situation grew bleaker and bleaker, all of the lads stopped their normal video output. It didn't feel right without Ethan around.

They continued to visit him in the hospital, and he was never without one of his family members or one of the lads. No one wanted to leave him alone. They wanted to be with him and assure him that they all cared about him. And they did. They all loved Ethan, and there was an aura of regret that they never showed it as much as they should have.

Simon and Harry stayed with him the most, and even when Simon left at night, sometimes Harry would stay and still be there when Simon came back in the morning. Harry appeared to be taking this the hardest, and Simon wasn't sure why. He knew the two were close, but he never thought they were this level of close. Simon felt bad for Harry, and even more bad for Ethan, but he knew that neither one of them was looking for pity.

Harry seemed to never want to be torn from Ethan, but it became inevitable when the lads insisted he go home to take a shower. In that time, Simon and Josh stayed with Ethan. Josh held Simon's hand, and this seemed to please Ethan.

"So, you guys are back together...?" he croaked, clearly tired from being doped up on pain meds. Simon was hesitant, but Josh nodded, and the ghost of a smile appeared on Ethan's lips. "I'm glad. You guys deserve each other...how is Harry doing?"

Josh looked confused. "Hmm? He's okay, I suppose. Just worried."

Ethan smiled, dazed and confused by the looks of it. "We're going to get married this summer. Harry promised."

Simon and Josh exchanged puzzled looks, but chalked it up to Ethan being tired and confused.

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Turns out, Ethan wasn't tired nor was he confused.

When Harry came back later that night, Ethan was fast asleep, but Josh and Simon had yet to leave. They had promised they would stay there until Harry came back so that Ethan wouldn't be alone.

Harry was freshly showered and dressed, but he still looked tired and concerned. "How has he been today? Has he eaten?"

Josh's eyebrows furrowed together. "Uh, yeah, he ate some soup when the nurse came in...held it down fine. He was talking some mad shit, though. They must drug him up pretty good, eh?"

"He takes painkillers," Harry deadpanned, clearly finding no amusement in the statement. Simon felt uncomfortable. "What did he say? He blabbers when he's tired."

Simon interjected, fearing that Josh might misspeak and offend Harry further. "He seems to have this idea that you two are getting married. This summer."

Harry didn't so much as blink. "Yeah. And?"

Simon and Josh exchanged looks, uncertain of how to approach the situation. In Josh's mind, Ethan and Harry seemed like an unlikely match. They were great friends, yes, but the idea of them as a couple just didn't jive. In Simon's mind, the only thing that he found confusing was the concept of marriage, considering that the two hadn't even come out as a couple. He wondered how long it would have taken them had Ethan never opened his mouth.

"So, um..." Josh stuttered, standing up to let Harry have the spot next to Ethan's bed, still holding hands with Simon, he pulled him up as well. "When exactly were you guys planning on telling the rest of us?"

"Why should it matter? You and Simon are together. Why can't Ethan and I be?"

"I don't think that's really what he meant," Simon quickly interjected, fearing that Harry was getting the wrong idea. "I think he's just...confused. It's kind of a big thing that you're getting married...you never really mentioned that you were even dating."

Harry was silent for a moment before tears started welling up in his eyes. "Well, he's really fucking sick, you know. They're stopping his first round of chemo in June so I told him we could go somewhere, anywhere, and get married. It's what he wants."

Simon reached over to pull Harry into his arms, and the younger lad immediately nestled in, tears streaking down his cheeks. Simon had seen Harry cry very few times but it never ceased to be upsetting either way.

"It's okay. Don't cry," Simon consoled, rubbing gentle circles into Harry's upper back. "It'll make him really happy, and we'll all support you guys. It's okay."

Harry clung onto Simon, and refused to let go for the remainder of the night.