HARRY’S P.O.V

The next morning I woke up with Mia’s body next to mine, our legs entangled. She stirred next to me, untangling our legs. I looked at the time on the clock and it said 8:00. I couldn’t sleep anymore so I decided to get up and go for a walk along the beach as I waited for the others to wake up.

After walking around aimlessly I decided to sit down and watch the early risers surf. The breeze on my face was beautiful as it lightly caressed my bare skin. I heard the sand behind me being crushed under the weight of someone’s feet. Thinking it was just a random passing by I didn’t pay any attention to them until they stopped next to me and sat down.

“Morning mate. Australia is beautiful, hey?” Louis spoke in a quiet voice, keeping the peace and tranquillity of the early morning. In the brief moment of silence between us all I could hear was the sound of the waves crashing down on the shore.

“Morning Louis. It is beautiful. I could get used to being here.” I smiled. It really was beautiful, everything and everyone was so laid back and chill. It was nice seeing as my life had been full of chaos all these years. I guess that was one of the main reasons I fell in love with Mia, she was calm. She didn’t force you to do anything and she was so laid back. She was my break from the life of a singer and she made me feel at home where ever we went.

“Well you just might have to get used to it if you propose, unless she wants to live in the UK with you.” He laughed, nudging my shoulder. Louis was the best person to talk to and I was glad it was him I had next to me at this moment. He was like a brother to me, all the boys were but Louis and I were closer than the rest. It had been like that since the X Factor. I had nothing against the others, we just didn’t get along the way Louis and I did.

“Louis. Do you think I am making the right decision? What if she says no?” My eyebrows came together and my mouth went into a little pout. Why was I having doubts? My train of thought was interrupted by a loud outburst of laughter from Louis.

“What? What is so funny? Did I say something…?” He continued laughing. “Louis! WHAT?!”

His face became serious as my voice became angry. He coughed before speaking. “Mia is not going to say no. Trust me.” I looked in Louis eyes and I could tell there was something he was keeping from me.

“What Louis? I know that face. There is something you aren’t telling me.” He looked around at the ground, trying to avoid my eyes. “Louuiisss!”

“Fine! But you have to promise you won’t say anything! Okay?” I nodded. “Well, Mia has been coming to me a lot lately asking me if I think you want to marry her. Which I’m taking as a sign she wants to. So, that’s why I know for a fact she won’t say no. You guys are perfect for each other anyway. You’re in love.” I nodded my head again. It was good that I know had reassurance.

All of a sudden both of our heads snapped up as we heard a loud crash from inside.

Louis looked at me concerned, “What was that?” Before he could finish his sentence we were both up and sprinting into the house. My eyes darted around the room to see what it was and as I looked to the kitchen I saw Mia clinging onto the bench as if her life depended on it. Around her on the floor was a puddle of water and glass shattered into pieces.

“Mia. Mia baby, are you okay.” I pulled her up onto the stool and held her face in my hands.

“Oh my gosh!” My eyes widened as I saw her face.

“What?!” She started freaking out and tears started to fill her eyes. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Breathe sweetie. It’s nothing. You are just very pale today. Are you feeling okay?” I put the back of my hand to her forehead. “Crap!” I hissed. “Sweetie, your forehead is boiling.”

She looked at me and before I knew it she nearly fell off of the stool. Thanks goodness I was there to catch her.

“Louis, carry her to the couch. I need to get Tracey.” I watched Louis as he carried her limp body to the couch. I hated seeing her like this, it terrified me. Louis sat there with her head in his lap trying to wake her up. I pulled myself away and ran down the hall into Tracey and Rob’s room; who looked as though they just opened their eyes.

“Harry, what is it?” Rob asked, calmly.

“It’s Mia. She passed out. Louis is looking after her.” They both immediately rushed into the room Mia was in, and as we got there she was still lifeless on Louis’ lap.

He looked up at us concerned, “Is she going to be okay?” I heard a quiet groan and as I looked down Mia stirred in Louis’ lap. He grabbed a pillow and put it under her head.

She groaned again before trying to sit up. I pushed down lightly on her chest, “Mia. Baby, you need to lie down. You just fainted.”

She looked confused. “What happened guys? All I remember was going to get a glass of water and then I got the worst pain in my stomach, and then I felt dizzy. Then someone was talking, Harry. Telling me to breathe; and he asked me if I was feeling okay. I tried to answer, but nothing came out. Now I’m here… in Louis’ lap.” Her eyes wondered up to where Louis’ face was and he smiled down at her.

“Okay! Let’s see if you can walk sweetie.” We pulled her up off of the couch and as we did she fell into me.

“Don’t let go of me Harry. Please.” I pulled her up so she stood straight and I felt her breath hot and unsteady on my chest. “I won’t baby, I’ve got you.”

“Walk me over to Tracey.” She instructed me and I did as she said. We got to Tracey and Mia latched herself onto her Aunty, gripping her arms to keep her balance.

“What is it Mia?” She looked at her, examining her face as she did. Mia leaned into Tracey’s ear and I only just heard their conversation. “I need to go to the hospital. I think it’s back.”

“Sweetie are you sure?” Mia nodded and I walked over to her.

“Mia. What’s wrong?” She looked up at me; her eyes looking tired and lifeless. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this.

I picked her up and cradled her in my arms and she nuzzled her nose into my neck.

“Harry. Please know that I love you, okay?” I was really worried, not know what was wrong scared me.

“I know sweetie. I love you too.” She felt limp in my arms. I had a terrible feeling in my gut, but I tried thinking positive.

“It’s probably just from the shock she got yesterday in the ocean. It’s probably just from the accident yesterday.” I breathed in and out as slow as I could to calm myself down.

“I think we should drive her there in her car. So she can sleep in the back on the way there.” Louis opened the back and I placed Mia on the mattress, covering her with a blanket.

I turned to Louis while running my hands through my face. I felt his hands lightly on my shoulders. “Mate. Breathe, please. It’s going to be alright.”

I wrapped my arms around him and broke down sobbing. I rarely cried. I felt weak when I did, but I didn’t care right now.

“I’m sorry.” I apologised as I saw tear stains on Louis’ shirt. He laughed which made me smile.

“I’m going to stay here so when everyone else wakes up I can tell them what’s going. Text me what happens, okay?” I nodded. I knew if I spoke I’d cry again.

He hugged me this time, it was comforting. “Love you, mate.”

I jumped in the back of the van with Mia, who was still fast asleep. I wrapped my arms around her waist, burying my face in her neck. She smelt like soap and strawberries from her shower the night before.

The drive felt like it went forever while I was left alone with my thoughts, but I felt the car pull to a stop. The doors flung open and as I looked up I was blinded by the light.

“Come on Harry.” Rob pulled me up and then helped me get Mia out of the back.

I carried her into the emergency room and I felt Mia wake up.

“Harry, where are we?” Her voice sounded so sexy when she had just woken up. I kissed her forehead.

“We are in the emergency room my love.” She looked around confused.

“What? Why?” Now I was confused.

“You asked your Aunty to take you here?” She nodded.

“So I did.”

“Harry!” It was Tracey, and she was waving me over to where she was.

“They are taking her in now. Here, we have a wheelchair.”

Mia looked up at her Aunty pouting. “I want Harry to carry me.”

“I know you do sweetie, but he needs a break.”

I sat her down in the wheelchair and we pushed her into a bright, white hospital room.

A doctor walked in and as he saw Mia he smiled. “Mia! So good to see you again. I mean, not good to see you here again, just good to… uh… yeah.” Who was this guy?

Mia looked terrified of this guy and Tracey saw my confusion.

“That’s Mia’s ex-boyfriends dad.” My eyes widened. This is just fantastic.

He looked at me, “Who’s this?” I straightened up.

“I am her boyfriend.” He nodded.

“Ah.” My eyes turned to slits.

He started examining Mia. “So Mia, what exactly happened?” Mia shook her head. I knew she didn’t have the energy to speak so I stepped in.

“My band mate and I were outside the house when we heard a loud crash and when we walked in she was standing there white as a ghost. She said she felt a sharp pain in her stomach… and…” he interrupted me.

“Where exactly was this pain in your stomach Mia?” She lifted her hand and pointed to a point that was just under her chest. He nodded. “Okay, continue.”

“She also said she felt extremely dizzy and when I sat her on a stool she fainted. She had an accident yesterday on her surf board but I don’t know how that could’ve affected her this bad.”

He furrowed his eyebrows in pinched in between his eyes. “Crap. Okay. Tracey, I am going to do some tests on her, but for now I think it’s safer for her to stay a couple of nights so we can monitor her. If it’s the same as what happened a couple of years ago we need to make sure we get it early.”

Now I started panicking. “Tracey. What the hell is going on?” Tears filled my eyes, “please tell me. What happened?”

She placed a hand on my shoulder and wiped away a tear from her eye, “Mia had breast cancer around the same time as her mum. Hers wasn’t as bad though and they got it before it all spread so she was fine.”

“Cancer? Mia, why didn’t you tell me?!” I looked at her and I could tell she was exhausted but I needed answers.

She grabbed my hands. “Harry, we barely knew each other when I had it. The day after my prom you came to I had it removed. We had known each other for a couple of days; it didn’t feel right to tell someone who I had just met. It was gone by the time we started dating anyway… Harry, please don’t be angry at me.” I pulled my hands out from hers.

“Mia! You had cancer! You still should’ve told me!” I was biting my lip trying to hold back the tears.

“I’ll leave you guys to deal with this.” The doctor said as he left the room.

“I didn’t want to Harry!” I watched as she tried to stand up and her Aunt tried pulling her back down but she pushed her away. “Harry! When I had it everybody was looking at me all the time, worried that something bad was going to happen! Afterwards, my whole family and my friends kept worrying as if it was going to come back! I hated it! I hated feeling like I had something wrong with me! Not to mention it was the reason my Dad left. I hated being reminded of it! He left because he couldn’t handle my mum and I’s ‘imperfections’ as he liked to call them, but he didn’t understand this wasn’t an imperfection, it was an illness. Every day, I was reminded of what I had, than it reminded me of my Dad leaving because of ME. Do you understand how hard that was?” She started swaying and I watched her hands as they grabbed for something to stop her falling.

I gasped, “Mia!” I caught her before she hit the ground, but as I did she hunched over my arm and started coughing.

“Crap! Someone get the doctor! Please.” I looked at her hand where she had coughed and splotches of red covered it.

“Mia! MIA! Don’t, Mia. Stay awake!” I held her face in my hands as she lay there, passed out again. “DOCTOR! SOMEONE HELP!”

Before I knew it a line of Doctors and Nurses came in through the door and they had Mia on a stretcher ready to take her up stairs to get checked out. I followed behind them, almost zombie like. It was like, my body was there but my mind wasn’t.

After an hour Mia was settled into a bed and the Doctors had tested her to figure out whatever it was that was going on.

Tracey and Rob had left, but I wanted to stay. I couldn’t leave her, not like this. I had to apologize for getting mad. I felt so terrible.

I had my head in my hands when I felt my phone vibrating; it was the boys ringing to check up on what was happening.

MIA’S P.O.V
When I woke up I heard a low mumbling next to me and as I turned my head I saw Harry sitting there head in hands, but he was on the phone to someone. I tried to listen in as best as I could.

I couldn’t tell who was talking on the other end of the phone but they sounded concerned, I didn’t understand why until I noticed my surroundings. I was in a hospital bed, with tubes in my hands and up my nose to help me breathe. I tried remembering what happened but I couldn’t. I listened to Harry talk in hope that he would say something to jog my memory.

“She’s sleeping now, the poor thing.” Low mumbling on the other end of the phone. “They think she has cancer, and she has apparently had it before.” I could tell he was crying from the tone of his voice, I wanted to so badly reach over and stroke his hair but something stopped me.

“Guys, I am the biggest asshole. I got mad at her, I yelled at her. I mean, I shouldn’t have, she had it before we started dating! Oh my gosh. I’m such a jerk.” Ah, that’s what was stopping me.

I did it anyway, reaching over to him so I could entwine my fingers in his hair and I started rubbing it.

“You’re not a jerk baby, I am.” Harry looked up at me and his eyes were red. I felt awful.

“Guys, can I call you back? She just woke up.” I muffled sure, then a click at the other end of the phone.

“No love. I shouldn’t have gotten so mad at you. Trust me. I get it. It’s hard telling people things sometimes. I understand baby. Please don’t beat yourself up about, you need rest.” He started stroking the back of my hand with his thumb.

He stared at me smiling before speaking, “Scoot over bub. I’m going to get in here with you.” I laughed before moving over a little bit and pulling the blankets up so he could get in. As he did I pulled the blankets around us both and moved in as close as possible. I had my hand rest on his hip, and he had his on my arm and he slowly caressed it.

I smiled. “Doesn’t this remind you of the end scene in The Notebook?” He laughed but then turned serious.

“Unfortunately yes.” I frowned.

“Why is it unfortunate?” He looked me dead on the eyes.

“They both die Mia. It’s horrible. I don’t want to think about death. I don’t want to think about your death, or mine.” I put my hand on his face and I looked at him in the eyes like he did to me.

“They had an amazing love story though, and they were old anyway.” A tear fell down his cheek.

“I’m not done with us yet, I want to grow old with you. I want to have a family with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I smiled then let out a small giggle.

“I was thinking, my life really does feel like a movie right now. I’m the girl who gets the guy totally out of her league, but through all of this drama and crap we still manage to create the perfect love story.” Harry was smiling.

“It kind of it, isn’t it?” He laughed, “Except I got the girl who is totally out of my league.” He smiled but I could tell he was still upset.

I wiped away his tear the escaped down his cheek and I put my forehead against his. “Harry, I’m going to make it. Nothing bad will happen. You just need to have faith,” and with that we fell asleep, cuddled together on a hospital bed. Not the most romantic place you want to spend with your better half but having him there made me feel safe. I didn’t feel scared. He made me feel normal, like there was nothing at all wrong. I need Harry. He was what kept me alive all these years. I had to fight this thing; I wasn’t going to let it win like my mum did. I was stronger than this. I needed to do it for Harry, for myself and most importantly my mum.