This Time

Chapter 8

There was a slight beeping sound and I tried to turn over but something tugged on my arm.

I felt around and grasped a tube, pulling it away. A hand grabbed my own and I felt something slide into my flesh.

Opening my eyes, I saw the blonde boy leaning over me fiddling with the needle.

I tried to ask what happened but all that came out was a slight wheeze.

Niall looked at me and I could see the dark circles under his eyes. His face was full of fear and his eyes were sad.

I looked up at him questioningly and he sat back on the chair next to the bed. I glanced at the florescent lights overhead, the pale curtain and tightly tucked bed sheets. I was in the hospital wing.

He took my hand and kissed it softly.

‘Lucy, you were poisoned. The bread roll had something in it.’

My eyes widened in fear but he shook his head manically.

‘You’re body fought it off though; you’ve only been unconscious a few hours. We don’t know who tried to poison you or why, but the important thing is your safe now.’

Although his voice was relieved, there was still the crease between his eyebrows. Something else was worrying him.

I opened my mouth to ask but he put a hand to it.

‘Now, I have to tell you something but first I just want to say this.’

He bit his lip and blushed slightly.

‘Rachel told me that you thought I would freak out, and that’s why you didn’t tell me about our future. Or past, or whatever.’ He closed his eyes for a second

‘But, now that I know. I couldn’t be happier.’

He opened his piercing eyes and looked at me. I felt my heart rate quicken and the monitor beside me beeped faster.

He grinned.

‘I love you Lucy.’

I smiled weakly and squeezed his hand to let him know how happy I was.

But there was still the worry.

‘What do you need to tell me?’ I managed to cough out.

My throat was scratchy and hot, damaged from the poison.

Niall’s smile faded and I saw his jaw clench.

At that moment, I heard a voice from behind the curtain that covered my bed.

‘No progress so far, but there’s still hope.’ It said in an authoritative tone

I motioned for Niall to pull it back, and I caught a glimpse of the white lab coat as it whooshed out of sight.

Then there was another body, slumped down in a chair. Louis had his head bend over and his hands were grasping another person’s.

With every ounce of strength in me, I lifted up my head to see who lay there.

It was Harry.

‘Arreh?’ I croaked out, making my throat feel as if somebody was dragging sandpaper across it.

Louis looked up and around at me, smiling with his mouth but not with his eyes. Getting up slowly, he crossed to my bed and grasped my hand tightly.

I looked down at his fingernails which had been bitten back so far, that a few were bleeding.

I looked at Harry meaningfully and even though Louis didn’t understand, Niall did.