fireproof {l.s}

chapter eight

11:20 a.m. (2 hours earlier)

Louis

After my conversation with Anne, I left the hospital and decided to go pay Harry's sister a visit. I was still confused, especially after discovering that his mum was just as clueless as me. I hoped this visit could help.

My heart still hurts for Harry. I hate that he feels like he can only talk to his sister. And now his one lifeline isn't here when they need each other the most.

I've always had a great relationship with Harry's family. His mum started dating some new guy, David about 7 months ago. I've met him three times when Harry had invited me to dinner with them. We invited Niall, too, but I'm sure he was too distracted by his food to pay attention to David. I, however, despise the guy. I can't explain it. I just do. I never told Harry that. Now, apparently, he's stuck in Russia on some sort of business trip.

Convenient.

After driving for almost an hour, I reached the small building. I looked up at the address and it matched the numbers on the piece of paper Anne gave me.

17789

I sighed and turned my car off. There were only 10 cars in the parking lot and I felt awkward and alone as I pulled open the singular wooden door. I took in my surroundings. It looked like I was in some sort of waiting room. The walls were a light yellow and there were a lot of weird paintings.

"Can I help you, sir?" A young woman stepped out from some door behind the check-in desk and I turned to face her. "Woah... are you Louis Tomlinson?"

I laughed and smiled kindly, "Yeah, um-"

"You must be here to see Gems, then right? Harry's sister? I'm not supposed to tell anyone that she's here for privacy purposes but I don't know why else you would drive all the way out here," she said.

"You're right. I'm not sure how this works. I've never been here before. Anne told me that she should be able to see me." I replied, nervously.

The girl couldn't be more than 25 years old. She had long, blonde hair and green eyes. She was tall, but shorter than me.

"Yeah, we let her see anyone she wants. Harry comes like 3 times a week, but that's it. She never sees anyone else... until now, I guess. You can have a seat over there," she points to a chair, "and I'll go tell Gemma that you want to talk to her. She talks about you a lot, actually. I'm Kate, by the way."

"Thanks, Kate," I breathed and took a seat. I looked back up and she was gone.

She talks about me? What could she possibly have to say about me? I pulled out my phone and called Niall.

"Niall? How's Harry?"

"He's fine, Anne just went in there to sit with him. The doctors said he's actually really calm, right now. Where'd you go?"

"I just went... out." I lied. It's Anne and Harry's decision to tell other people about Gemma.

"Out? What the fuck does that mean?"

"Calm down, there's no need to cuss me out, mate." I chuckled.

"Louis, what's gotten into you. You were like bawling an hour ago. Are you drunk?"

"No! What? Niall, I'm not drunk." Kate came back into the room just then. "I have to go. Call me if anything changes with Harry."

I hung up and stood. Kate waved me over and I followed her down the hall. "I saw on the news that Harry's in the hospital. Is he okay?"