Exception (Harry Styles)

Chapter 22

Avery's POV

"Harry kept asking for you." The doctor told us, and I swear everything froze in time. He was asking for me? Why me?

I watch as the doctor walks off after giving us an encouraging smile. I feel a soft hand rest on my shoulder comfortingly, and I turn around and meet Louis' eyes. I don't have to say anything, because Lou knows exactly what I need. He pulls me to his chest and holds me close.

His arm is on my back where the cuts are at from the bottle, and I know it should hurt, but it doesn't. Physical pain doesn't hurt me right now. It's all on the inside, and I hate it. I shouldn't have left Harry at that stupid party. I should have listened to him.

"I shouldn't have left him Lou." I say through sniffles.

"Shhhh it's okay sunshine, it's okay, he is okay, he is going to be okay." Louis says in hushed whispers in my hair.

I feel another body on my left and look up to see Zayn joining the hug. Not a second after Liam joins in on my right. We probably look crazy huddled up crying like this in a hospital after hearing news that it supposed to be good, but frankly I don't care. These are my friends and I can't explain how grateful I am that I met Zayn and Liam this year.

I don't know how much time pass with us just standing there, the boys holding me like I'm going to fall apart, but slowly we part and I look up at Louis and notice small tear rolling down his cheek.

"Avery please don't cry anymore." He whispers as he takes out a tissue from his pocket and uses it to wipe my eyes.

"I'm sorry Louis." I say back and he shakes his head.

"Stop saying sorry and blaming yourself. Just go see him; he needs you right now Avery." He says and I am a little taken back by Louis confession.

"I thought you didn't like him after what happened at the party?"

"Well... Aves this was an eye opener. There is something about you that keeps Harry intact." He replies.

What Louis is saying seems true, but it's so hard to believe. I'm just an average girl... not even average really. I'm broken, shy, scared all the time, and foolish. How can a guy like me? A guy like Harry Styles at that? I thought junior year was going to drag by miserably, like it has in the past, with only Louis there to keep me on my feet, but I was completely wrong.

Junior year started out normally, well normally for me, but then it changed. It changed the day a certain green eyed boy showed up on that bus for the first time. That boy changed my life, I just don't know if it is for the better or the worst yet.

"You ready?" Zayn's voice says. He sounds better than what he did earlier, but I can still hear the weakness in it. Harry must mean a lot to Zayn. They must be pretty close because I have never seen Zayn so upset, ever. Even before I knew him.

I nod yes and we make our way to the elevator. Louis' hand stays on my lower back. I feel his fingers rubbing comforting circles and it calms me a bit. The ride up to the third floor seems to take forever. I feel my stomach turns at the thought of seeing Harry so helpless. I don't know what to expect, or exactly how bad it was, so I do what I know to do.

I mentally prepare myself for the worst.

312....313....314.

"This is it." Liam says. Before knocking slightly and opening the door slowly. We follow him in and my heart feels like It breaks all over again at the sight I see in front of me.

Harry is asleep, probably from the pain medicine they have him on. He's in a hospital gown with the front opened slightly showing a bit of his chest. Wires are hooked to his arms and the steady beat of the heart monitor beeps beside his bed, his left arm in a blue cast with a sling holding it up, and his head is wrapped in a white cloth. His curls are pushed up away from the bandage and look messy from the stress he has gone through these past few hours.