The Love Countdown
twenty two;
Three days.
Three days, two hours and forty-five minutes.
That’s how long she’s been sedated.
The cool, crisp air of a morning enclosed my body, sending shivers down my spine. It’d been a stupid idea of me to open the window of her hospital room, the thick winter air whipped through the room like a hurricane.
I sat curled up into the chair beside her bed. Hopelessly waiting till she wakes up. I refused to think whether she would make it or not. I couldn’t bear to think of what would happen.
She looked so peaceful. Over the past few days I had made myself believe that she was only sleeping. Sleeping for a long time.
Liam had texted me this morning, telling me they’d be visiting today. I didn’t know whether or not I wanted them to. I didn’t like them seeing Liberty and I like this. They would be here at 11:30, and it was now 11:15, which gave me enough time to go to the bathroom and wash my face and go and get something to eat out of the vending machine. The nurses insisted I ate something properly cooked but let’s face it- hospital food is gross.
I stood up from the chair and heard my knees crack, which didn’t sound very good. I hadn’t left her side in three days- this would be the first time.
“I’m going to get something to eat okay,” I said to her. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. I promise. “
My heart ached as I said the last words. I’d do that all the time. Promise her things I couldn’t keep. I tore my gaze away from her body and walked out of her room, glancing back every few steps to make sure she was still there. I made my way to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. I looked terrible.
My eyes were surrounded by dark rings and my skin was dry. My hair was greasy and the clothes I wore smelt of hospital and sadness, if sadness was even a smell.
I turned the tap on and filled my hands with water, splashing it over my face for something to perk me up. I dried my hands and tried to do something with my unruly hair- but it wasn’t going very well. I sighed and walked out of the bathroom and down the hall, where the vending machines were.
There wasn’t much to choose from. Different packs of crisps and some chocolate bars. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a five pound note, sticking it into the vender and pressing the buttons to get a packet of crisps. It was silent in the hallway. A cough could be head every few minutes, but that’s about it.
I sniffed and picked up my crisps and started to walk back to Libby’s room.
When I got there; Liam, Louis, Zayn and Niall were standing in front of her bed, and for once that week I felt happy to see someone other than Libby.
“Hey,” my voice was hoarse and I was surprised when I spoke, I didn’t sound like me.
“Hey, Mate.” Louis said and stood up from the chair; he walked over to me and engulfed me into a well needed hug. “It’s good to see you,”
“Yeah,” I mumbled and looked over at the other boys, who just smiled.
NIALL’S POV
“So, how long has it been?”
“About three days,” Harry said and he curled up into th chair next to her hospital bed. Liam, Zayn Louis and I were all surrounding Liberty’s bed. She looked pale and skinny.
“Do the doctors know whether she’ll make it?” Louis asked and Harry just shrugged. He hadn’t left the hospital since Liberty was admitted, we’d asked the hospital to give him blankets and spare clothes yesterday, so he didn’t have to stay in his clothes for another week.
“He said it’s a fifty fifty chance, she’ll either respond to the antibiotic…or not.” I could feel the tension rise between the boys and me. We didn’t know whether to say that she was going to make it through, because we were slowly believing she wasn’t.
“Don’t worry, Mate.” Zayn lifted a hand and brought it to Harry’s shoulder, patting him on the back. “We’ll get through this together, we’re a family.”
We all mumbled in agreement and then the room fell silent.
“The girls we’ll be here soon,” Louis said and checked the time on his phone.
Perrie and Eleanor were visiting today as well. God knows what will happen when they come; probably lots of tears and blubbering.
And right with Louis said it, the girls burst through the room with balloons, teddy bears and flowers.
“Is she alright!?” Eleanor’s voice shrilled through the room and Zayn rolled his eyes.
“Oh my goodness,” Perrie gasped and pulled Harry from his chair and into her arms. “I’m so sorry, Haz.” She cried and Harry shrugged, like every other time.
“We brought her teddies, because she told us she likes teddies.” Eleanor said and the look on Harry’s face was heartbreaking.
“I know,” His voice wavered and I could tell he was on the verge of tears. “She had a million of them in her room.”
“Oh.” Was all Eleanor said and looked down at her shoes.
The whole room was silent- once again. And it stayed like that for a few minutes.
The silence was eating me alive, so I had an idea.
“You should come out with us tonight,” I spoke to Harry and his head shot up.
“No.” Was all he said, his eyebrows knitted together and he stood up.
“I can’t leave her here by herself.”
“There’s doctors here that can’t take care of her, c’mon, just come out and have a drink with us,”
“No one can take of her except me!” He yelled and I took a step back, raising my hands up in surrender.
“Niall’s right,” Liam said. “You need to relax.”
Harry sighed deeply and fell back into the chair and rubbed his eyes. “I guess so,”
*****************
HARRY’S POV
The bass of the music and chattering people made my head ache.
I wanted to go home.
Not home, home- but back to the hospital. I didn’t want to be invaded by fans and people with camera’s, asking me questions like “Was it because of you?” or “How many pills did she take?” I was so angry and upset at these people. No, it wasn’t because of me or the boys, it was because of you.
“Just ignore them, “Liam yelled over the music and I nodded, following them to a secluded area at the back of the night club.
I guess, if I wanted to forget, I might as well get drunk.
Various amounts of drinks later.
My vision was fuzzy as I pushed my way through the people on the dance floor. My mind was in a daze and I felt like I was on Cloud 9.
“Harry, stop drinking!” Zayn yelled into my ear but I pushed him off, continuing my journey to the bar.
We’d been here over half an hour and I was already drunk, just like I had planned. I’d put some new clothes on and did my hair all nice and fancy and sprayed some dry shampoo in it to make it look less greasy.
“Jack Daniels, please.” I slurred to the bartender and he obliged, filling up a glass to the brim and handing it over.
I walked back to where we were sitting and plonked myself onto the seat next to Niall.
I was about to take a sip of my drink when it was pulled out of my grip. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned my head to see that Niall had set it down on the table furthest away from me.
“Yerno fun” I slurred and reached across from Niall to grab my drink, but Louis took it away.
“Stop!” I groaned and slumped back into my seat.
“No more,” Niall said and I rolled my eyes.
“Thought you said to relax.” I giggled and rested my elbows on my knees.
He huffed, “I didn’t mean get piss drunk. I meant chill out.”
“You’ve got to stop going to the hospital and seeing her, it’ll only make it worse.” Liam came out of nowhere and sat down on the other side of me.
I shook my head. “No it won’t.”
“Harry, it is.” Louis pleaded and I grabbed at my hair.
“No!” I cried. I was on the verge of tears, and didn’t know what to do.
“She wouldn’t want you to do th-“
“I’m in love with her!” I screeched at them and they shut their mouths. “There I said it. I’m in love with her.”
I took in a sharp breath and they stared at me wide eyed. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t hide it anymore; I needed to tell someone who was actually awake to hear it and it felt good. Good to finally say it out loud.
“Mate, we didn’t kno-“
“Yeah, well now you do.” I folded my arms together and blinked rapidly.
The boys fell silent and it was eating me alive.
“Let’s go home,” Niall suggested and we all stood up. Zayn put his arm around my shoulders in a comforting gesture; it made me feel a little better.
We piled into the car one by one and out our seat belts on. Camera flashes were everywhere and I was about 300% sure that these pictures were going to be in a magazine tomorrow.
We drove off onto the main road and on our way back to hospital.
All heads turned to me and Louis smirked.
“So,” He started.
“You love her, aye?”
Three days, two hours and forty-five minutes.
That’s how long she’s been sedated.
The cool, crisp air of a morning enclosed my body, sending shivers down my spine. It’d been a stupid idea of me to open the window of her hospital room, the thick winter air whipped through the room like a hurricane.
I sat curled up into the chair beside her bed. Hopelessly waiting till she wakes up. I refused to think whether she would make it or not. I couldn’t bear to think of what would happen.
She looked so peaceful. Over the past few days I had made myself believe that she was only sleeping. Sleeping for a long time.
Liam had texted me this morning, telling me they’d be visiting today. I didn’t know whether or not I wanted them to. I didn’t like them seeing Liberty and I like this. They would be here at 11:30, and it was now 11:15, which gave me enough time to go to the bathroom and wash my face and go and get something to eat out of the vending machine. The nurses insisted I ate something properly cooked but let’s face it- hospital food is gross.
I stood up from the chair and heard my knees crack, which didn’t sound very good. I hadn’t left her side in three days- this would be the first time.
“I’m going to get something to eat okay,” I said to her. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. I promise. “
My heart ached as I said the last words. I’d do that all the time. Promise her things I couldn’t keep. I tore my gaze away from her body and walked out of her room, glancing back every few steps to make sure she was still there. I made my way to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. I looked terrible.
My eyes were surrounded by dark rings and my skin was dry. My hair was greasy and the clothes I wore smelt of hospital and sadness, if sadness was even a smell.
I turned the tap on and filled my hands with water, splashing it over my face for something to perk me up. I dried my hands and tried to do something with my unruly hair- but it wasn’t going very well. I sighed and walked out of the bathroom and down the hall, where the vending machines were.
There wasn’t much to choose from. Different packs of crisps and some chocolate bars. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a five pound note, sticking it into the vender and pressing the buttons to get a packet of crisps. It was silent in the hallway. A cough could be head every few minutes, but that’s about it.
I sniffed and picked up my crisps and started to walk back to Libby’s room.
When I got there; Liam, Louis, Zayn and Niall were standing in front of her bed, and for once that week I felt happy to see someone other than Libby.
“Hey,” my voice was hoarse and I was surprised when I spoke, I didn’t sound like me.
“Hey, Mate.” Louis said and stood up from the chair; he walked over to me and engulfed me into a well needed hug. “It’s good to see you,”
“Yeah,” I mumbled and looked over at the other boys, who just smiled.
NIALL’S POV
“So, how long has it been?”
“About three days,” Harry said and he curled up into th chair next to her hospital bed. Liam, Zayn Louis and I were all surrounding Liberty’s bed. She looked pale and skinny.
“Do the doctors know whether she’ll make it?” Louis asked and Harry just shrugged. He hadn’t left the hospital since Liberty was admitted, we’d asked the hospital to give him blankets and spare clothes yesterday, so he didn’t have to stay in his clothes for another week.
“He said it’s a fifty fifty chance, she’ll either respond to the antibiotic…or not.” I could feel the tension rise between the boys and me. We didn’t know whether to say that she was going to make it through, because we were slowly believing she wasn’t.
“Don’t worry, Mate.” Zayn lifted a hand and brought it to Harry’s shoulder, patting him on the back. “We’ll get through this together, we’re a family.”
We all mumbled in agreement and then the room fell silent.
“The girls we’ll be here soon,” Louis said and checked the time on his phone.
Perrie and Eleanor were visiting today as well. God knows what will happen when they come; probably lots of tears and blubbering.
And right with Louis said it, the girls burst through the room with balloons, teddy bears and flowers.
“Is she alright!?” Eleanor’s voice shrilled through the room and Zayn rolled his eyes.
“Oh my goodness,” Perrie gasped and pulled Harry from his chair and into her arms. “I’m so sorry, Haz.” She cried and Harry shrugged, like every other time.
“We brought her teddies, because she told us she likes teddies.” Eleanor said and the look on Harry’s face was heartbreaking.
“I know,” His voice wavered and I could tell he was on the verge of tears. “She had a million of them in her room.”
“Oh.” Was all Eleanor said and looked down at her shoes.
The whole room was silent- once again. And it stayed like that for a few minutes.
The silence was eating me alive, so I had an idea.
“You should come out with us tonight,” I spoke to Harry and his head shot up.
“No.” Was all he said, his eyebrows knitted together and he stood up.
“I can’t leave her here by herself.”
“There’s doctors here that can’t take care of her, c’mon, just come out and have a drink with us,”
“No one can take of her except me!” He yelled and I took a step back, raising my hands up in surrender.
“Niall’s right,” Liam said. “You need to relax.”
Harry sighed deeply and fell back into the chair and rubbed his eyes. “I guess so,”
*****************
HARRY’S POV
The bass of the music and chattering people made my head ache.
I wanted to go home.
Not home, home- but back to the hospital. I didn’t want to be invaded by fans and people with camera’s, asking me questions like “Was it because of you?” or “How many pills did she take?” I was so angry and upset at these people. No, it wasn’t because of me or the boys, it was because of you.
“Just ignore them, “Liam yelled over the music and I nodded, following them to a secluded area at the back of the night club.
I guess, if I wanted to forget, I might as well get drunk.
Various amounts of drinks later.
My vision was fuzzy as I pushed my way through the people on the dance floor. My mind was in a daze and I felt like I was on Cloud 9.
“Harry, stop drinking!” Zayn yelled into my ear but I pushed him off, continuing my journey to the bar.
We’d been here over half an hour and I was already drunk, just like I had planned. I’d put some new clothes on and did my hair all nice and fancy and sprayed some dry shampoo in it to make it look less greasy.
“Jack Daniels, please.” I slurred to the bartender and he obliged, filling up a glass to the brim and handing it over.
I walked back to where we were sitting and plonked myself onto the seat next to Niall.
I was about to take a sip of my drink when it was pulled out of my grip. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned my head to see that Niall had set it down on the table furthest away from me.
“Yerno fun” I slurred and reached across from Niall to grab my drink, but Louis took it away.
“Stop!” I groaned and slumped back into my seat.
“No more,” Niall said and I rolled my eyes.
“Thought you said to relax.” I giggled and rested my elbows on my knees.
He huffed, “I didn’t mean get piss drunk. I meant chill out.”
“You’ve got to stop going to the hospital and seeing her, it’ll only make it worse.” Liam came out of nowhere and sat down on the other side of me.
I shook my head. “No it won’t.”
“Harry, it is.” Louis pleaded and I grabbed at my hair.
“No!” I cried. I was on the verge of tears, and didn’t know what to do.
“She wouldn’t want you to do th-“
“I’m in love with her!” I screeched at them and they shut their mouths. “There I said it. I’m in love with her.”
I took in a sharp breath and they stared at me wide eyed. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn’t hide it anymore; I needed to tell someone who was actually awake to hear it and it felt good. Good to finally say it out loud.
“Mate, we didn’t kno-“
“Yeah, well now you do.” I folded my arms together and blinked rapidly.
The boys fell silent and it was eating me alive.
“Let’s go home,” Niall suggested and we all stood up. Zayn put his arm around my shoulders in a comforting gesture; it made me feel a little better.
We piled into the car one by one and out our seat belts on. Camera flashes were everywhere and I was about 300% sure that these pictures were going to be in a magazine tomorrow.
We drove off onto the main road and on our way back to hospital.
All heads turned to me and Louis smirked.
“So,” He started.
“You love her, aye?”
Notes
don't know how i feel about this chapter??idk good stuff will happen in the next one
;)
soz for not updating on thursday, my computer got taken off me and my school one doesn't allow this website to be open- they blocked it.
But yeah, please comment, vote and subscribe!
I also have a new book thingy, it's where you guys can share your stories with other people!
just go to my profile and it should be there :)
love you guys
-Hanna x
P.S GUYYYSSS IT'S THE 1ST OF DECEMBER IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [SLEIGH BELLS RING IN THE DISTANCE]
AND I REAAALLLLYYYYY WANT SOMEONE TO WRITE A CHRISTMAS THEMED ONE SHOT FOR HARRY AND LIBBY!
PLS PLS PLS. SEND IT TO MY EMAIL! hannabolton101@hotmail.com PLSS I REALLY WANT A CHRISTMAS THEMED ONE SHOT!
IF I LIKE IT (which i probably will) I'LL POST IT ON HERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEEEE :)
Yaaaass! I can't wait for the sequel! Congrats on the seats! Have fun at the concert!
2/10/15