You Can't Sing Without Air- Harry Styles Fanfic

10. Ignoring Reality and Failing Miserably

I stay in bed as long as I can. When I finally open my eyes there's a note by my head.

"Didn't want to wake you. Sorry for being a prick. Love you.- Ny" 

I take my time doing my treatments, watching a few episodes of FRIENDS while I do my vest and nebulizers. I take all my pills in two gulps, washing them down with a can of cranberry juice. I scroll my phone absentmindedly, deliberately ignoring a Snapchat from Sean. I'm trying to avoid reality. 

Unfortunately, my stomach doesn't get the memo. It growls angrily. I check my phone. It's almost lunchtime and I haven't eaten anything yet. No wonder.  

I switch out my IV without ever leaving the bed. Today I have a regular IV fluid bag so I hang it from my rolling IV pole and sling my oxygen tank over the other side.

Without bothering to change from my pyjamas, I pull my hair into a bun, grab my IV pole, and make my way into the kitchen.

"Good morning."  

I almost jump out of my skin. Harry is sitting at the table eating a plate of beans on toast and scrolling his phone.  

Shit. 

"When did you get here?" I ask, painfully aware that I look like a deranged hospital escapee. 

"I dropped Niall off at the airport so uh...." he checks the time on his phone "...about four hours ago." 

So he probably heard my morning cough-vomit-repeat ritual. Double shit. 

"I made coffee." He says, pointing to the counter. 

"No thanks, I prefer tea."  

He shakes his head disappointingly.

"Such a stereotype Ay." 

"Look who's talking Mr. 'Beans On Toast'!" I counter.

He chuckles. I feel some of the tension release from my shoulders. 

I grab a box of cereal from the cupboard and pour myself a bowl. I grab a handful of enzyme pills and toss them back with ease. 

"I thought you said I wouldn't even notice you were here. You're very noticeable." I say, pulling my IV pole and sitting down in front of him at the table. 

It's true. He's wearing another vintage tee tucked into a pair of royal blue trousers. It's impossible not to notice how handsome he is. I guess I'm a bitch for a casual rock star. Fuck.

"I thought you'd be asleep for a while." He shrugs.  

He's lying. I know how loud my cough is. He's aware that I've been awake for the past couple of hours. He's been sitting in the kitchen listening in on me.  

"Liar. You were worried about me." I say. 

He's silent. 

"That's a normal morning for me now." I say, "If you keep checking up on me every time I cough you're going to lose your mind." 

He looks up at me. "Good to know." 

I feel a little bad for being so harsh with him. Even though he's known me for ten years, most of that time I've been able to pass as healthy. I even played sports in 5th year.  

"What's the plan for today?" he asks, taking a sip from his coffee. He drinks it black. 

"This." I say, gesturing toward my IV pole. 

"She's grown." He says, looking up at it. 

"What?" 

"Didn't you have it in a little bag last night?" he asks.