The Runaway - N.H.

[45] Bad news

"Bee, it's okay, I promise." Louis tells me holding me tightly. I groan from the pain, which seems to get worse by the seconds.

I can faintly hear the ambulance coming but it's not close enough. Tears are streaming down my cheeks and I wish I'd stop, I look weak.

"Ow!" I scream through sobs. I've never been in this much pain in my life and I just want it to stop.

"Back up!" Liam shouts when two paramedics come running through.

"Miss Tomlinson?" The female asks and I nod. "What's happened?" She asks.

"I had surgery on my knee last year and they said this might happen, I just collapsed." I tell her and try to calm down.

"Okay, can you walk or-"

"I'll carry her." Louis says and the paramedic nods.

He picks me up, one arm supporting my back and the other under my knees. I gasp at the sudden pain from being lifted and Louis looks at me apologetically and I nod so he doesn't feel bad.

We get to the ambulance and Louis puts me down on the stretcher carefully. "Sorry sir, family only." The male paramedic tells him.

"I'm her brother." He says and takes a seat. He nods and shuts the door. I lie down on the stretcher and shut my eyes, trying to ignore the pain coming from my leg. "Why didn't you tell me you had surgery?" He asks and stares down at his hands folded in his lap.

"You never asked." I say angrily and he nods sadly. "The four of them were the only ones who knew, I forged mums signature on the form." He looks at me pissed.

"Braeden what if something had gone wrong? What if-" He says and I suddenly sit up.

"If something went wrong do you seriously think you would fly down to see me? If I had died on that hospital bed - which was completely impossible - would you have gone to my funeral? Would you have even cared?" I say and lie back down putting my hand up to silence him before he can defend himself, or make me feel shittier.

It feels like we've been driving for hours when the doors open and I'm wheeled out, despite my pleas that I can walk or Louis can carry me.

They wheel me through the hospital and Louis stays right beside the stretcher the entire way. I'm in the ER which isn't really necessary since it's only my knee, but it's just a precaution, I guess. A doctor comes in straight away, which is weird considering it usually takes hours for me to be helped.

"Miss Tomlinson," the doctor says while he stares at his clipboard, "it says you had a panic attack yesterday, I read your file and it says you've been okay the past year, what's changed?"

"I've just been under stress lately." I tell him hoping he'll drop the subject.

"You haven't been taking your anti-depressants or Adderall have you?" He asks flipping through a few pages on his clipboard. I shake my head, no.

"I don't need 'em." I say and he frowns.

"Yes you do." The doctor says and hands me a prescription. I look over at Louis who looks like he's about to burst into tears. "Now, your knee... it looks like you won't be able to play hockey anymore, your surgery... even though it worked, it was never going to be a permanent help." He tells me and my body sinks.

"What?" I say too loudly and Louis walks over and grabs my hand to hold it. I'm happy he's here but I'm so, so angry.

"I'm sorry Miss Tomlinson but there's nothing we can do, you've pushed yourself too hard." Tears start to prick my eyes. I nod.

"Can I leave?" I just want to go home.

"We have to do an X-ray but yes you can leave." He tells me and leaves the room to get my X-rays started.

"Bee-" Louis says but I hug his stomach before he can go on. "It's okay, Braeden. Shh." I start to sob and he hugs me back.

"I can't not play hockey Louis." I tell him and let go. "I can't."

"It'll be alright, Bee, I promise." He says and puts a hand on my shoulder.

I shake my head. "You don't get it." I tell him and he stays quiet.

"Miss Tomlinson?" A blonde female nurse asks and walks into the room. "Your X-Ray is ready to be done." She says and smiles. When she see Louis her smile brightens and she twirls her hair around her finger. Slut.

"Okay," I look over to Louis who's staring away from the prostitute, "I'll be back soon." He nods and I walk out.

I've always hated X-rays, I can never stay still for that long. I try to focus on the task at hand or I'll start to think about one of the three boys that have hurt me so much. I trusted them with my life and they let me down so much, I hate liars. I can never fully trust someone again after they lie to me. I just don't understand how someone can lie to the person they love. Hypocrite. My subconscious reminds me and my heart starts to hurt.

"All done." The nurse says and I quickly get up so I stop thinking about things. "You can leave now but you'll need to book an appointment for a check up soon." She tells me and I nod before going back to the room to fetch Louis.

My knee still hurts but it's bearable and I'm not letting him carry me again. "Lou let's go." I say as I open the door, but when I scan the tiny room he's not there. I grab my bag and head out the door. Probably left. I tell myself and I start to feel sick.

"Braeden!" I hear a hushed yell and I look around to see who it came from. Louis and the other seven sit in the tiny waiting room, sitting on top of each other from lack of seats. I'm happy he didn't leave and even happier they've all waited this long for me. "How's your knee? Still hurt?" He asks and gets up so I can sit down. I wave him off, I'm fine with standing.

"Um a little bit, but I'll live." I pull out my phone to check the time but I have a spam of messages from Anna:

ARE YOU OKAY

BRAEDEN

ARE YOU DEAD

BEE ANSWER ME

ARE YOU A GHOST

SEND ME A SIGN

But legit, you okay? Please text me back :0

I giggle a bit reading them. She's such a good friend, I text her back to put her out of her misery.

Bad news :( no more hockey

"Can we go?" Louis asks me and I nod. They all stand from their cramped seats and we make our way out the door.

The limos there, great. I spot my SUV parked behind it and I almost run to it. "Oh no, you're not driving." I hear Niall's rich accent say behind me. I groan.

"Why not? Oh, right. Fuck me." I say and get in the passenger side. Niall must have driven my car here because he has my keys still. He jumps in and starts the car. "Can you take me home?"

"Nope. I have a surprise for you." He says and smiles at my sad face. He grabs my hand to hold it, "you'll love it. Promise." He leans over and kisses me and I can't help but to kiss back. You need to tell him about Calum, my subconscious reminds me as he pulls away and drives off.