In a Heartbeat

I stood staring at the flight monitors hanging from the ceiling of Hector International Airport, watching Harry's flight slowly blink across the screen.

I get why he wanted his flight to come in really early. I really do. But 2 AM is NOT acceptable. I have been slowly transitioning into a nocturnal beast for months, but I've been trying to get out of the habit and now I have to go back to being a friggin' owl just to pick the band up from the airport.

Harry and Niall's flight was coming in first. Then Liam, Louis, and Zayn were all coming in on the same plane two hours later. Why space the flights apart and volunteer me to be their chauffeur, I have no idea. But I'm NOT happy with this arrangement.

I stared dejectedly at my now-empty coffee cup, squishing the paper sides in boredom. Despite the extra shot of espresso and all the chocolate I made the sleepy-looking barista put in it, I was still falling asleep standing up. I am in no condition to drive whatsoever.

I should take a nap.

I look over at the inviting bench. It's certainly not the most comfortable thing I've ever wanted to sleep on, but it wouldn't be so bad. I have my thick winter coat on, so it should keep me pretty comfortable....

No. I will not sleep.

Screw it. I'm sleeping.

....Ooooooor not.

I'm probably going to kill some people driving ten miles to the hotel, but I'm not going to sleep.

Harry's POV

Niall and I walked out of the airport terminal and looked around for Melody. She's supposedly picking me up, but I can't seem to find her.

Oh, wait. Never mind. There she is. Asleep on the bench.

She's gonna be a bitch to wake up.

Aaaand there she goes... rolling... off... the bench.

Great. Now I have Niall falling asleep on his feet and Melody rolling off benches.

I ran over, worried that she hit her head too hard on the marble floor.

“Mel? Melody. Wake up,” I said, putting her head on my lap and poking her cheek.

She swatted it away. “I’m sleeping,” she mumbled. “Have to sleep... drive to place. Kill people, you know?”

I chuckled, not understanding what she was talking about.

“Melody. Uppy time. Now.”

“Not now, Harry. I sleep.” She froze for a second, then her eyes flew open. “Harry!” she exclaimed, fully awake now. She sat up and threw her arms around my neck, wrapping me in a bear hug. “Thank God you’re here. Now you can carry me everywhere.”

I laughed. “Is that all I’m for?”

“Yeah. You steal my food, make me drive you places at fucking two in the morning and shit. Of course I’m going to make you carry me. And don’t act like I’m a fat lard because everyone here knows I’m just this twig bitch that weighs less than a feather.” She stood up and motioned for me to do the same.

“Well, you definitely weigh more than a feather.”

“Well, duh. I weigh a little more than your average backpack,” she said, then held her arms up. “Uppy,” she said.

We were silent for a moment as I piggybacked her to baggage claim and grabbed my suitcases. Niall followed silently, swaying slightly on his feet.

“Niall wake up,” Melody said. “Harry, are you like, moving in or something? I could fit in that suitcase.”

“You could fit in my carry-on.”

I felt her shrug. “Good point. Onward, my faithful steed!” She pointed toward the exit and I sprinted for the door, making my bodyguard pull the suitcases.

“What are you doing? Go back and lug your own shit, you lazy ass. Don’t make him do it for you!” she shouted, pulling on my ear to make me turn around.

Melody’s POV

I slammed the trunk closed and got in the driver’s side of my car.

“Notice how I’m driving the car with uncomfortable seats,” I said. “That’s for booking a flight scheduled to land in the middle of the night.”

He rolled his eyes at me. Niall fell over in the back seat. The sound of his snores filled the car.

Just as I started the car, my phone started to ring. I answered it without looking at the caller ID.

“Melody?” Natalie’s voice said through the phone. She sounded worried.

“Natalie, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Melanie. She keeps gagging and throwing up. She hardly ever even spits up! I don’t know what to do! She can’t breathe!”

“Call 911. Wait in the lobby. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Where are you and why are you awake?”

“Airport. Picking up the band. I’m putting you on speaker.”

I put the car in gear and backed out of my parking spot, then sped out of the lot and down the road.

“You’re twenty minutes away!” she said, sobbing. “You’re not going to make it in time!”

“I’ll make it there in five!” I insisted, speeding up. “I’m hanging up. Call 911 and if you’re gone when I get there I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

I flicked my hazard lights on and started mapping the fastest way to her building without taking any main roads.

I made it to her apartment building just as the ambulance did.

Natalie came running out of the building, holding a bundled Melanie in her arms. The paramedics took the small bundle of blankets from Natalie and immediately took her to ambulance where it was warm enough to unwrap her.

I ran up to Natalie and when she saw me she started sobbing. When I reached her I wrapped my arms around her and held her as she cried. Everything happened so fast. Soon, the paramedics were closing the ambulance doors and driving away. Sans Natalie.

“Natalie,” I said, trying to get her to walk on her own. “Natalie! We have to go!”

She blinked and nodded. I pulled her to my car and shoved her in the back seat. “Buckle,” I commanded. “My driving certainly isn’t the safest right now and I don’t want you to end up in the room next to Melanie.”

I put the car in gear and speed after the ambulance.

Notes

Aaaaaaand IAH is officially off hiatus. For now.
"Mainstream" is on hiatus now because I have a major case of writer's block for the last 500 or so words. I know EXACTLY what I want to type but for fuck's sake it WON'T TURN INTO WORDS.
So that's kind of the same thing that's going to happen with IAH again. So I'll be writing in most of my free time, but I'm failing geometry and I have to get all Bs by the end of the semester or I don't get a cat. And I REALLY want a cat.

Did anyone else cry at the ending of "Love at First Type"?
If anyone else reads it.
If not, it's written by my best friend @ThatRandomUnicorn and you seriously need to go read it.

I bitched her out about the ending.

Anyway, enjoy this because it'll probably be awhile before another chapter gets posted. Sorry :(