Run(a)Way S.T

I cannot believe he isn't coming. I feel myself start to shake the panic building up in me. How is this happening? How is he not on that flight? How is it he is cross with me? It should be Ellie and Harry against the world.
"Ellie- deep breathes," Niall orders when he spots my state.
"I need air," I say in a shaky voice.
"So let yourself breathe darling," his tone is soft and comforting so I focus on him.
"Ellie.. I'm sorry. . Is there something I can do for you? Please?"Liam questions, however we both know the only thing he can do is get Harry over here to talk to me, and that is not happening.
I shake my head.
"I think.. I think I just want to sleep."
We make it back home and he follows me to my room. I climb into bed and pull my duvet up.
"I'll let Dean know you're feeling under the weather and he should cancel all he has scheduled for you," Liam decides. I don't reply. I just lie back and cover my head with the duvet.
I know Harry needs the time to calm down and probably so do I. However I can't. When Liam and Niall leave me alone I get up and reach for my phone. I dial and wait for an answer.
"I was wondering if I'll hear from you," the voice answers.
"How could you?" I accuse him.
"How could I not?"
"You not only made things bad for my relationship with Harry Mike! You made things difficult for him in his own life, you did a lot of damage and not only for me- how can you live with yourself?"
"How can one say no to a king?" Mile finally asks me.
"So he did set you up for it.." I mutter to myself.
"I was offered a lot of money and frankly I'm not as rich as you-"
"I'm not rich Mile! My dad is! And no amount of money is worth ruining someone’s life like that!"
"Come on Ellie, tomorrow some famous someone will do something stupid and it will be forgotten. . Calm down it’s not such a big deal.." He sighs.
"Yes it is! It is to me! I cannot believe I stayed with you for so long! You disgust me!" I hiss.
“How could I have said no?” He asks again.
“The same way I say no to him! He’s not your king- An we were together for a long time- enough for it to mean something to you! I hope the money will burn a hole in your pocket- since it’s blood money and you should be all about saving people being a doctor and all.. not ruining their lives,” I end the call.
I'm not sure what I should do now.
I try and call Harry again but it goes straight to voice mail. I decide to call Lila instead.
"Hi honey," she answers sympathetically.
"Please tell me what's going on," I beg.
"Anne is furious," she whispers. I guess she is at work right now, keeping her voice low.
"Truth be told I thought she knew about this side of her son," Lila adds.
"Well of course she does, but it's one thing to keep it under wrap and another to have it as headlines," I reply.
"But those stories are always headlines," Lila states.
"Yes.. But in tabloids. . You can never know the truth, but this time it's in the actual paper and interview with someone who was kind of part of it all.. also it didn't help having my dad push the story and me stuttering all over it," my voice turns whiny.
"Oh no! Are you serious? That is horrid! What are you going to do?" Lila is beside herself.
"I first want to know what is going on your end.. Are you lot on full damage control mode?"
"Yes.. Harry is kind of grounded to Anne's couch while she is on the phone with everyone trying to find a way to fix this," she explains.
"Can you do me a favour? Can you find him and try and get him to speak to me?" I ask desperately.
"Yes of course... Ellie.. Is it true? Did you call your ex boyfriend to help Harry?"
"Yes.. But you've got to understand! He was running a high fever and he had a rash and smelled like a bar and Mike is the only one I could think of to help- him being a doctor and he owed me! If I would have known there was a chance of him running his mouth I would have never in my life ask for his help!" I promise swiftly.
"Hey! I'm on your side Ellie.. You don't need to convince me," She says softly.
"So will you speak to Harry?"
"Yes I will!"
We end the call, promising to keep each other posted.
I try Harry one more time but it is no use. I decide to text him. He cannot stay cross with me forever.

Harry please talk to me. I'm sorry this got out of hand and got you into trouble but we can fix this. We can work this out together.
X E

I then get back under the covers and go to sleep knowing there is nothing better for me to do to shut everyone out.
When I wake hours later it is dark outside. I'm not sure what time is. I glance at my phone. It is half past 11. There is no call or text from Harry.
I get up and shuffle across the room to the door. I am going to make my way to the kitchen for some water and maybe something to eat. As I reach the door I can hear whispering. I can make out Liam's voice. I listen carefully for the other. It's a female but not Eva.
"Zoe!"
She is stood with Liam and Niall right outside.
"Oh honey! I came as soon as Liam told me what was going on! I'm so sorry!" She reaches to hug me which immediately makes my eyes leak.
"Oh don't cry baby, everything happens for a reason and it's Harry! He'll come around.. you'll see," she pets my hair.
"I'm so happy you're here!" I wipe my eyes as we break apart.
"Of course! Where are you off to anyway?"
"Well.. To the kitchen," I shrug, making both Liam and Zoe laugh.
"That is a wonderful idea! Zoe you must be famished," Liam remarks.
We move along to the kitchen which is big and roomy.
"What do you feel like eating?" Liam opens the fridge showing it Constance to us.
"Oh wow, that is one full fridge," Zoe's eyes bulge with amazement.
I reach and get a can of fizz, passing one to Zoe and one to Liam.
There is a pie in there as well and I pull it out with a can of whipped cream. I place them on the high table and look around. It dawns on me I have no clue where the cutlery might be.
Liam chuckles and shifts to one of the cupboards. He gets out plates and forks.
We sit down and I start to cut through the pie.
After dishing out pieces to everyone I settle down.
"So Ellie.. Put aside the last day.. How’s life?" Zoe asks, licking cream off her spoon.
I glance around before speaking.
"I keep busy," I gaze down at my pie.
"She is miserable!" Liam claims.
"No I'm not! I'm just... I miss my old life that is all.." I explain.
"Well that makes sense. . You had a damn good one too," Zoe sighs.
"Not helping love," Liam says sharply.
"Sorry.. But I cannot see you like this.. You look like a lost puppy and it is breaking my heart!" She exclaims.
"Ellie.. You could do with a holiday," Liam agrees.
We are quiet for a while before Liam pushes back.
"Well I'll leave you both to it.. let me know if you need anything," He tells us before leaving us alone.
"He turned out to be a life saver ha?" Zoe watches after him.
"I don't know what I would have done without him," I confess.
"Come! Let's go change into comfortable pyjamas and jump on your bed," Zoe pulls me after her.
We change and get into bed snuggled under the covers.
"So poppet.. tell me all," Zoe faces me, both hands tucked under her cheek.
"You saw the interview.." I whisper.
"I did... and yet I don't understand how they found out about Mike.. He's such a git," she replies angrily.
"He is.. and king dick paid him.. That's how this all went down," I explain, feeling the hurt and betrayal burn at my throat.
"I still don't understand why though.. I mean this hurts you and your image," Zoe responds.
"No it doesn't. .. He got what he wanted.. He made me look like the saviour and Harry like a drunken trouble maker, and to top that Harry is so cross with me right now that he even won't take my calls.." I'm so lost I don't know what to do anymore to make him understand.
"Did Harry know about Mike?"
"No..." I pout. "But why would he? He was passed out and he was so ill and he never asked and we never spoke about it again," I hurry to clarify.
"Huuch.. If he would only stop and listen," Zoe huffs.
"I know."
We lay in silence for a while longer.
"How's it been here Ellie?" She asks again in a low whisper.
"It is hard.. But yet at the same time.. I don't know how I would do all this without Liam.. And Niall and Luke... I mean at first I couldn't move without them and I hated it so much.. Trying to shake them off with any chance I got.. But now.. I won't go anywhere without them.. Things are so crazy.. My life is so crazy that I can't face the outsides without them.. They are my safety blanket," I confess.
"And you parents?"
"I haven't spoken to them since I promised king dick I won't," I sigh.
"I meant the king and queen.." Zoe remarks.
"Oh.. I try my best to stay clear of Philip.. He is terrible. . But it's hard to stay cross with Eva.. She is trying will hard.. And she tries to spend as much time with Liam and me as possible, going out to lunch and accompanying us to our activities. . She is sweet and kind and yet I hate her so much.. just as much as I love her," I say.
"I'm sorry. ."
"Don't be. . It's ok.. You get used to this."
"I don't think you should.. It’s not fair, they not only came into your life and turned it upside down.. But they don't let you keep anything from your passed life in the process," Zoe explains in frustration. And it dawns on me she is right. I have changed everything about myself to please them and the only thing they have done for me is not charge my parents. If I'm their daughter and we are a family.. It should be different. They should be there for me and compromise too.
Sleep comes and it's hunted with bitter dreams about Harry and interviews and king dick. I wake up to whispers.
Liam and Zoe are sat at the end of the room. Their heads close as they speak in low voices.
I watch them and immediately know there is a plan being built.
"What are you up to?" I call out to them, rubbing sleep out of my eyes.
"Good, you're up," Liam says.
"Go get ready. We are leaving," Zoe tells me.
"Leaving to where?" I ask, rolling out of the big bed and untangling myself from the duvet.
"We are going back to London."

Notes

xx