One More Time

Chapter 32

(FYI every chapter starts with Taylor's point of view unless I specify otherwise. As the following text demonstrates)

~~Nialls POV~~

When I didn't see her I gave Kelsey a funny look. She mouthed 'bathroom' and I nodded.

I turned back to the lads. "what's next?"

"I think that would be your girlfriend's favorite." Liam said... 'Teenage Dirtbag'

"Right." she isn't here. She would hear it... from the bathroom.

We sang through it and I sighed after it. Placing my hand on my pocket, I felt the box. I pulled it out to look at it, running my finger over the velvet. What better way to make up for missing our anniversary than this right?

I closed the box before anyone saw the ring. But I never put it back in my pocket. The concert went on for a little while longer. Where is she?

I lifted a finger to tell them to give me a minute as I walked to the side of the stage with my phone. I dialed her mobile. She's been gone for almost 30 minutes.

She picked up after a few rings. "Taylor?"

I heard a voice. Not hers, definitely. "If you don't put the gun down we will shoot you."

"What?!" I said more worried.

All I could hear was breathing and a few footsteps. Then finally a sound, but not a sound I wanted to hear.

A gunshot.

And a scream that could only have come from her. "TAYLOR?!" I screamed as the phone line went dead. I didn't realized that in my shock, I dropped the box, and the ring inside. I stayed there and waited for a call. Around 5 minutes passed with me standing here.

I knew if she was taken to the hospital I would get a call. I looked over at Kelsey who had her phone in her ear. I felt a tear fall down my cheek but wiped it and ignored it.

My phone rang, the hospital.

"Mr. Horan?"

"Yes." I heard my voice for the first time, it came out shaky.

"You are one of Miss. Nelson's emergency contacts-"

"What happened to her?!"

"The police have informed us... she has been shot."

"Who did it?" I paced a bit.

"It seems.. the escaped convict..." I could hear her shuffling through papers. "Damian Trevis."

I fought tears but they fell. I ran my hand down my face.

"Will she be okay?" I said through tears.

"The doctors have not said-"

"I'll be there as soon as I can." I hung up. I walked back onto stage, still crying.

"What happened?" Harry asked and Zayn walked over.

"T-Taylor... Damian found her." The audience gasped and I pulled the microphone off my ear. "I called her.. I don't know how she picked up. All I know," I tried not to sob. "Is she was shot and in the hospital, what do I do?"

"Niall." Louis said. "Your girlfriend was just shot and you are questioning staying or leaving?"

I nodded and looked at Kelsey, but she was gone. I turned and ran to the side of the stage, grabbing my jacket. Security tried to stop me. "Taylor needs me!" I pushed through.

I didn't have a car. I ran. I ran all the way down the street to the hospital.

I was out of breath by the time I got there. I walked to reception.

"Where is she?"

"Who, sir?" A woman answered.

"Taylor... Nelson." I wanted more than anything to say Horan.

"She is in surgery, you cant see her I'm sorry. "

I shook my head and sat down, burying my face in my hands. I cried silently for almost 20 minutes and shes been here for longer than that. Kelsey got here, god knows why it took so long. She rubbed my back, I knew she wasn't one to cry.

We sat there for a while. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if she was okay. I just wanted to see her.

"Mr. Horan?"

I looked up.

"She is asleep but if you want-"

"Yes." I nodded and followed him to her room. She was sleeping so peacefully in the bed. I pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down. I could hear the beeping of her heart beat still going.

"Please wake up." I whispered. Her shirt, was pulled to just above her waist, below her... chest. Um... Anyway. There was a darker red staining the bright red. The corner of her white shorts also stained red. The... wound, had bandages over it, but they were also stained red.

I would never forgive myself if she died. No. She wont. She cant. That wont happen. Not today, not as long as I'm here. I hope.

All I could hear was the beeping of the heart monitor.

But then I didn't.
It had flatlined.