WHAT IF [L.S]

SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
- Edited -

"So, I think I'm going to spend the night outside in the corridor tonight." - I said.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not letting your dad sleep on a chair. He can take this couch, I'll sleep in the hallway."

"Ok. Are you ok?"

"I think so, why?"

"Because you always act impulsively when you are alone, anguished and angry. So I'm making sure you don't do anything stupid without my watch."

"I don't need your watch, Louis." - I rolled my eyes at him.

"So, I was right. You are still mad."

"I'm fine. You should be asleep by now. Is almost one a.m."

"Don't tell me what to do." - He pointed out. - "I know I won't stop you from doing anything because I physically can't, but please think before doing it."

"I'm not going to do anything."

"I don't trust your gut." - He replied with a shrug.

I gathered my things and got out of the room, searching for Mark. When I found him, I sat by his side.

"You can go inside. I'm staying here."

"You sure?" 

"Yes, you should get a better sleep, chairs inside are better than these."

"Are you calling me old, Harry?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

"I'm messing with you." - He laughed a bit and stood up from the chair, tapping me on the shoulder.

After that he entered Louis' room and I was left alone in the hallway.

I knew what Louis meant by acting impulsively, and unfortunately he was right. I was already thinking of something. But first I needed to get some sleep.

__________________________

I woke up with a shake on my shoulder. I slightly opened my eyes to see Louis' doctor in front of me. I didn't know what time it was, but the only thing I did know is that the chair I was sleeping on, was fucking uncomfortable.

"Sorry, Mr. styles. Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Yes, sorry" - I let out with a yawn scaping my lips.

The doctor sat on the chair next to me.

"I have some news about Louis, and I thought I should tell you first, instead of him."

"Sure. What is it?"

"You remember he had a punctured lung?" - I nodded. - "Well, we fixed that last time, but today when we ran new tests I could see that the walls of his lungs are really compromised, and that's because of his smoker condition."

"But he came in here because of his stomach ache." - I said as I tried to understand what I was hearing.

"I know, but that was nothing, just his musculature resentment after the surgery. It is normal. That ache will stop on his own."

"Ok, I'm glad to hear that. But what about his lungs?"

"I just need to warn him that if he keeps smoking, his lungs aren't going to last much longer. What we fixed the other day is temporary, but he needs to take care of himself. Even more if he wants to keep singing, because his breathing capacity is reducing, and eventually the lungs will collapse."

"He needs to quit smoking?"

"For his own sake."

"I'm not sure he'll accept that."

"That's why I came to you first. Of course I'm going to tell him this very same thing to him right now. But maybe you can help me convince him."

"We can try." - I said, not very convinced myself.

The doctor stood up from the chair and I followed him, he led the way to Louis' room.

______________________

Louis didn't take the news very well. Me and his dad tried to make him come to his senses, but he ignored us.

"There isn't anything else I can do?"

"No, smoking is what's making your lungs lose capacity, Louis."

"I don't know."

"Baby, you can quit it. It's for your health." - I said.

The doctor looked at me with benevolent eyes.

"I'm gonna leave you to talk, if there's anything you need you can always page me."

I nodded and gave him a little smile as a thank you. Shortly after, he left the room.

"Don't talk to me." - Louis said.

"Why?" - I asked, trying to reach for his hand, but he pulled it away from me.

"Because the only thing in my mind right now is that I want a cigarette, and it's the only fucking thing I can't do. So no, I don't want you to speak."

"Louis, we understand, but you don't have to be mean with Harry." - Mark said.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Lou, we are just trying to help you." - I said as calm as I could.

"I don't need it. Please stop talking and just leave me alone."

"Ok, you don't want me here. I get it. I'll leave."

"Harry, wait." - Mark tried to stop me.

"I'm just a call away. But I'm not staying."