How To Save A Life

Chapter 8

Harry had been up all night trying to figure out a way to tell Gemma about it all. He had decided to just go for it. If she decided to flay him, then that was his destiny and he had to accept it. He was about to enter the locker-room when he spotted Louis down the hall leaned up against the wall. He stopped, took a deep breath and bit his lip. The guy he remembered as the chief was standing in front of Louis seeming to be lecturing him or something. He gesticulated wildly, slamming the side of his right hand into the palm of the left one repeatedly. Harry took a deep breath and walked into the locker-room. Maybe Dr. Nelson had told on him, maybe the chief was lecturing him on professionalism in the workplace.

"Any good cases today, Styles?" Michael said as Harry walked in and sat down on the bench in front of the lockers.
"No, I'm doing scout... and now I'm heading to lunch with my sister." He replied as he pulled his phone out only to discover Gemma had texted him that she was already in the hospital.
"Didn't know you had a sister, is she hot?" Michael replied as he put an apple he had pulled out of his locker into his mouth.
"I don't think I should answer that..." Harry replied as the door went open, he turned to see Gemma standing in the doorway.
"Hey, noodlehead." She said and waved at him.
"Well, she is." Michael whispered and looking her up and down with a stupid grin on his face.
"Never in your wildest dreams, Clifford." Harry replied and turned to Gemma.
"I'll just change, and then we'll go." He said and smiled.

...

Harry walked with Gemma to the cafeteria. She had cut her hair since the last time he had seen her. It now reached her shoulders and was a shade blonder as well. He had complimented her on it which had just lead to her telling him it was time to cut his as it was longer than hers, he hadn't replied.

"So, baby-brother, what is that you've managed to drag yourself into this time?" she said cheerfully, but Harry could still hear the sarcastic undertone. He pushed the cafeteria-door open and directed her over to a table by the window before he decided he might as well not reply. He didn't really know what to say, he didn't know how he should explain what a brainless idiot he was. Gemma put her brown leather jacket on the chair before she sat down and smirked at him.
"You get me something." She said and put her elbows to the table and rested her head in her palms.
"What do you want?" he halfway-stuttered. She smirked wider and bit her lip and pretended to think really hard.
"Surprise me." She said. He nodded and turned as he walked over to the food trays. He was about to take one of them as Louis stepped in front of him.
"Hi." He said and grabbed the tray he had been reaching for.

"Hello..." he replied stutteringly and looked away. He couldn't deal with him right now.
"What are you getting?" Louis asked like he was trying to make a conversation.
"Excuse me?" Harry said, still remembering how he had said they wouldn't be talking in public.

"What are you getting for lunch?" Louis continued and smiled. Harry wanted to roll his eyes. What was his problem anyway?
"Why do you care?" he spit a bit more hostile than necessary.
"Jeez, I was just trying to make small talk, mate." He said and cut in line before him.
"Why?" Harry replied. Louis turned around and looked at him through his eyelashes.
"Because I want to."

Harry sighed.
"Well you can't always get everything you want." He said as he spotted Leigh-Anne in the front of the line. He walked away from Louis and stopped when he reached her.
"Oh, hi! I didn't see you there." She said as she turned.

Harry came back to the table by the window with two cheese and ham baguettes and two cans of coke.

"They were out of coffee." He mumbled and put Gemma's food down in front of her.
"Well, coke is fine I guess." She giggled and took a bit of her baguette. Harry did the same and smiled at her.
"So how you've been, Gems?" he said after a few moments of eating in silence.
"I've been fine, but we're not here to talk about me, remember? But as you mentioned it, the reason I'm in town is because I'm applying for a job at a law firm here in Seattle." She said and smirked. Gemma was a lawyer and up until now she had been working in Portland.
"Seriously? That's amazing!" Harry shot and felt an enormous grin fill his face.
"Ah, that's adorable, Haz, but don't get too excited, it's a pretty hot shot firm and I'm probably not posh enough for them."
"Gemma, you're amazing! They'll be lucky to have you!" he nearly shouted. He really hated it when she seemed to be doubting herself.