Stronger

Chapter 15

A/N 

SORRY GUYS THAT ITS TAKEN FOREVER BUT YOU KNOW, LIFE.  ANYWAY I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER OKAY? OKAY.  DONT FORGET TO VOTE BYE I LOVE YOU ALL xx

"Do we have everything we need?" Paige was frantically running around, trying to grab any and every unnecessary object that seemed like it might be helpful.  Charlie, along with Seren and Lily, had already headed for the hospital.

"Paige," Niall intervened, putting his hand on her shoulder, "you need to calm down, you're freaking out more than Charlie is."

Paige sighed, looking around at everyone, "I guess, I'm just preparing for, well, you know."

"Yeah, I do, now let's join them. Harry," Niall turned to look at me, "are you coming?"

Before I had time to rebuttal Paige had already answered for me.

"No, I think he better stay here, to watch over Louis."

"I think I should go-"

"No," Niall interrupted, catching me off guard, "I think she's right. He isn't in the best shape right now, plus, I think you're one of the only people who can help him."

Paige looked to Niall, an appreciative gleam in her eyes which showed she was thinking the same thing.

"Fine," I sighed, "I guess I'm staying."

*

"Shit."

I woke up to the sound of someone dropping something; a plate I assumed.

I looked around aimlessly, rubbing my eyes to coerce my vision to regulate.  Once back in focus, I spotted Louis on the ground in nothing but some boxer shorts and a T-shirt, picking up pieces of chicken that had scattered around on the floor from the fallen plate I had heard.

Standing to my feet, I stretched and made my way over to where Louis was scavenging for the loose pieces of food.  I stopped before reaching him and realized I was setting myself up for a confrontation I didn't think I was ready for.

I just stared at him. Watching as his bird tattoo exited and reentered my vision as he reached for the chicken.

I still haven't grasped the concept behind a simple tattoo, but it seems to have a broader significance than I could understand.

Realizing that I was just standing there and not helping him, I edged my way to his position and bent down, grabbing the last piece of chicken for him.

"I, uh.. thanks," he hesitated, seemingly uneasy at my sudden appearance.

"No problem," I stood, reaching my hand out to his.

I don't know why I'm so confident on the outside when on the inside, I'm fantasizing about running away.

He looked at my hand, unsure of whether he should take it or not, and slowly reached for it, jumping a little when I pulled him up.

"So, uh, what were you doing?" I asked, not positive on what I was trying to accomplish.

"I've been crying all day and I got up to get some water, then I saw chicken," he explained, pointing to the plate in his hand.

"Oh."

"Yeah, sorry to um, wake you."

"You're fine."

His body stiffened at my words and I knew I hit some type of nerve. A nerve that, I knew, was the reason for his sullen attitude.

"Am I really though? Am I really fine? Shit, I didn't know."