Mute [A One Direction Fanfic] -Amy's Adventures Book 2-

Chapter 21

~Harry's POV~

One somewhat major thing Liam forgot to mention when we were packing is the fact that our first show is in America. Across the ocean, with a big metal gravity-defying box to take us there. Now, I wasn't scared of airplanes before, but if Trent found a way on the plane, or a way to do something to the plane, we'd all be lost in the Atlantic. I think we'd be safer if we stayed home. Right?

"Harry, stop imagining everything that could go wrong. Trent isn't going to destroy the plane and make us crash into the Atlantic, and we aren't going to be abducted by aliens either. Just sit with me, I promise we'll be fine." Louis says, grabbing my arm and pulling me up the steps and into the plane. We both take our seats, waiting for Niall, Liam, and Zayn to get on. Amy is going to stay with Louis' family for the duration of the tour, instead of coming with us like she did last time. But she'll go to all of the shows in England, maybe Ireland too.

"You two ready?" Liam asks, sitting down across from me. Louis and I both nod, waiting for the plane to take off. As soon as I'm allowed to, I take my phone out, opening my Twitter and scrolling through my newsfeed. Liam is bored, so he's tweeting a bunch of random crap... Ashton misses us and wants us to show up in America faster... Michael dyed his hair again... Trent was spotted near our house minutes after we left... Some random messages from- Wait what?!

I click on the link in the tweet and read through the article, looking at the pictures in shock. Trent was at our house right after we left. What was he planning?

I basically shove my phone into Liam's hands, making him read the article. He's coming after me still, he's going to hurt me again, or I'm going to do something stupid and he'll hurt Louis again.

It doesn't take long for me to go into a full blown panic attack. My mind is filled with images of the one night I wish I could forget, joined by pictures of Louis, his chest barely moving and his face paler than a ghost. That's how he looked after they saved him from Trent. According to the doctors, he would have died within the next day, maybe less. He was so close to death, and I don't want that to happen again. It can't happen again. But what if it does? What if he dies? What if I can't protect him? What if it's my fault?

"Harry, please..." Louis pleads, hugging me tightly. I bury my face in his chest, wishing all of this stupid Trent stuff would just disappear. The panic attack disappears as quickly as it came on, and I'm left thinking about how messed up I still am.

Why us? Why does Trent have to target us? Why did Greg have to target us? Why can't I make myself talk, or sing? Why do I have to be so unstable, having panic attacks and depression and being scared of everything?

Louis starts swaying back and forth, humming a song I don't recognize, trying to calm me down. I bury my face deeper into his chest, wanting to hide from everything bad that's happening, wanting it to disappear. After a while, the humming fades away and I fall asleep, my dreams filled with the happy times before Greg came around, when we were just five lucky lads in a boyband.

~Louis' POV~

I can tell when Harry finally falls asleep because he relaxes. His body stops being so stiff, and his head presses less into my chest. I don't stop hugging him or humming, though, instead looking up at Liam, who is watching Harry with a frown on his face.

"I just wish there was some way to go back in time." He says, sighing. I think back, farther than usual, and my mind is suddenly filled with guilt. I never really thought about it, but now I realize that Harry would have never left the recording studio in the first place if it hadn't been for me.

"We were arguing over something stupid, I can't even remember what anymore." I say, looking back down at Harry. "I told him I... hated him." I continue, my voice full of regret. "He stormed out of there, and when he came back he was like this. It's my fault." A tear slips down my cheek, landing on Harry's back. He stirs in his sleep, mumbling to himself.

"Don't... don't hurt him..." Harry says, his voice surprising me.

"I guess when he's asleep he's not afraid." Liam comments, smiling a little.

"Yeah... I miss him." I say sadly, and Liam sighs again.

"Louis, don't start blaming yourself. That seems to be a problem in our band, everyone blames themselves for things that are out of their control. Trent was probably planning that forever, waiting for Harry to do something stupid, to go somewhere on his own. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered who it was. If you had gone out there instead, you might have been the one in Harry's position, curled up in his chest, mumbling about protecting him. And he'd be doing exactly what you are, blaming himself and comforting you." Liam says, crossing his arms.

"But it is Harry. He's the youngest of us, and I feel like we failed to protect him. Anne should have us killed." I protest, wondering why she hasn't chewed us out yet.

"She probably should have us killed for not watching Harry better, true, but at the same time she knows that we're probably the only people who can get the old Harry back. We just have to be patient and very careful. I know Harry is strong enough to get himself back, we just need to give him time." Liam pauses, his eyes glossy. "That was me once, remember? Terrified that one of you was going to be hurt, scared out of my mind that one day someone would find Niall's body in a ditch, dead because I did something wrong. And you have to remember when Trent had you. Harry wouldn't move, wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep until you were found. He blamed himself, and he wanted to make it up to you." I nod, and Niall walks over. I bet he listened to the entire conversation.

"Remember what Jason told us? Harry wants to make you happy, Lou. He wants to make up for the pain he thinks he caused you by making you happy again, by becoming himself again. Every time he fails to write something or say something, it tears him apart because he thinks that you'll be disappointed." Zayn joins the conversation then, smiling to himself.

"Some people are like skyscrapers. You can knock them down, but they'll build themselves right back up again."