If You Would [h.s.] HOLD

Thirty-Seven

So sorry for not posting for two weeks! I literally have had so much going on. I've been on vacation, I'm moving in a week... other things.

But...

WE HIT 1K READS!?!?! That's crazyyyy. Thank you for staying.

___

Harry

Shannon and David, Evelyn's parents, should be here within the hour. In the mean time I've locked myself away in another hotel room, a gift from the hotel we were staying at.

I told the boys that we could still finish the tour, after all we only have one concert left. But they insisted on just calling the whole thing off and giving the fans a refund. Mak is in another room with Louis I think, shocker. But if that's what's giving her some sort of comfort then I can't and shouldn't stop her.

Normally I like being around people when I'm sad or anxious, but right now I want to be left alone with my thoughts. I lay on the hotel bed, my feet dangling off the end, and stare at the ceiling. I study the cracks and speckles as if I'll be tested on it. Anything to get my mind off the fact that Evelyn, my Evelyn, is gone. And that's just it. We know she was kidnapped but it's not like I saw it. To me she's just... gone.

There's a pressure in my chest, an undeniable burn in my heart. Whenever I inhale it travels into my stomach and lights my limbs on fire. I never knew that I was addicted to her, that I needed her to breathe and walk and speak, until she was ripped away from me. It's like I was strung out on heroin and then locked in an empty room, left to withdrawal and suffer alone.

My phone dings beside me, I almost don't check it, I don't have the energy. But I reach over and look at the message.

Shannon: Do you want anything to eat? We're almost there.

How could she eat? That's such a casual question for such a bizarre situation. I sigh and reply back.

Me: no

She doesn't reply and I toss my phone behind me.

I've never been this... empty before. If it weren't for the nagging feeling in my muscles I would feel almost bored.

I stare back up to the ceiling and begin to study the cracks again. There's no use to do anything else. The concert is cancelled, the police are doing their work, the boys are doing their own thing and I don't want to bother them.

Knock knock knock

I shoot up and walk towards the door. I wasn't surprised to see Shannon and David standing their with sorrowful expressions on their face. They hold a bag with fast food in it and come in without a word. Shannon is the first to speak.

"I know you lied to us Harry." I cringe backward and my stomach twists in guilt.

"I-" I begin

"Why would you do that? Do you think Mak doesn't speak to us? You think she'd be capable of lying?" Shannon presses forward. She comes closer to me, it was then that I saw her stomach and how it started to protrude, showing a sign of life. My heart was warm for this aspect of her life.

"I'm sorry, I didn't tell her I lied. I just... I didn't want you to blame me!" I let out my excuse, it was the honest truth, but am excuse nonetheless. She shakes her head and David stays silent. He doesn't speak much I've noticed. Shannon is always the one taking the lead and making the decisions and lashing out the punishments.

"Well I didn't until you lied. Now you're just god damn suspicious!" She shouts. My eyes widen. Was that an accusation? She can't be serious. My mouth gaps open in surprise.

"What did you tell the police Harry?" David asks. His face is blank but I can see something brewing behind his eyes.

I step back from them and sit on the end of the hotel bed.

"The truth." Is all I say. And I did. I told them I was asleep when she was taken. I told them my whole truth. I look down at my hands which I didn't realize I had gripped into fists.

"And what's the truth Harry? Because the first thing you did to us is lie. Now I like you, and I've trusted you with our daughter, and the first time where we expected you to be honest with us you failed us. So what's the truth Harry?" Shannon's voice cracks as she speaks. I look up at her and see she has tears running down her flushed cheeks. David pulls out a chair for her and she sits down in front of me, she looks deep into my eyes like she's searching for answering in my soul.

I can't tear my gaze away, and I tell her the truth. I told her I was sleeping when she was taken, how I heard the door open and thought it was Mak coming back but it might not have been.

She closes her eyes and a few more tears fall away. Her head nods and she buries her face in her hands and lets out a few frustrated sobs and sniffles before untangling herself and wiping her face.

"Thank you for telling me. I'll be getting in contact with the police so they can give me updates. Thank you for telling us the truth." She stands up.

"And Harry," She continues as she grabs the fast food bag, "don't lie to us ever again." She finishes and David escorts her out of the room.

I sigh and flop back down in the bed, in the same position i was in before.

I start counting the cracks again.