Harry's P.O.V

  Darcy laid in the hospital bed, her eyes closed and features peaceful. She looked like a little girl lying there, all the worry lines on her face temporarily vanished. My eyes were swollen and stung so bad that Darcy's nurse had to get my an ice pack, to my embarrassment.

  I sat next to her in her bed for hours on end. Her hair was a bit of a tangled mess, but thanks to me and a comb I picked up at some drug store a few blocks down, her hair flowed perfectly around her face. My fingers traced some bruises on her arms, and I kissed her cheek lightly.

  "Please wake up for me, please," I whispered. The sun poured in from the giant window to the side of the room. The walls were all completely white. Next to Darcy was an IV machine that made reassuring beeps every second to let me know not to give up. There was a couch against the farthest wall, where my stuff laid. It had become my bed temporarily for the past two days, even though the boys insisted I come home.

  Tiffany was flying in with Eleanor soon. I honestly didn't even want them to come in the first place. All I wanted was Darcy to myself. After believing that she was really gone for the past week and a half, all I wanted was to hold her in my arms all day long. I just wanted her to wake up so I could hear her voice. All I wanted to hear was that voice.

  I let out a quiet sob and held on to her hand tightly. My whole arm was shaking. The intense pain from these past two days has been unbearable. It felt like the wight of the world was on my shoulders, everything was my fault. It was my fault that Paul was lying in an identical bed in the urgent care. It was my fault Darcy was in pain.

  It was all my fault.

  My mum was flying up to stay with me here in London for a few days. The boys had spent hours talking with me for the past few days, but I knew that they were sick of me being in this state. I just couldn't help it. I was so numb from everything that I left my best friend in a vent for crying out loud!

  Darcy's lip twitched slightly, but that wasn't anything new. It was something that she had been doing for the past two days, which always made my heart race uncontrollably and made me feel happier, even though I knew that didn't mean she would wake.

  "Please, baby. Can you hear me?" I called out. It felt like I was talking to a brick wall, which was pretty much true. The doctors said that she was sleep deprived and needed her rest, reminding me over and over 'not to bother her whatsoever'. Was it so wrong that I just wanted to hear her voice?

  I felt around in my pocket for the little black box. After a few seconds of searching, my hand closed around the item. I slipped it out and opened the lid, which revealed a shiny, silver promise ring with Darcy and I's names carved in the inside. I'd had two made after Darcy went missing, and vowed to myself to find her and give it to her.

  I had completely forgotten all about it. My mum found it in my room a few weeks back and had it delivered, but now I was faced with having the guts to give it to her. Would she think it was weird? Does she think it's too far?

  But a little voice in the back of my head kept saying 'You've lost her twice already and she's come back both times. You've got to be doing something right.'

  There was a soft rapping at the door, and before I could say 'come in', Niall was standing before me with the same apologetic smile on his face that everyone else wore. I smiled sheepishly and he sat in the chair on the other side of Darcy's bed, taking a moment to look at her.

  "Paul wanted to see you." Niall said softly. "He's not mad, Harry. It's not your fault that this happened."

  "Yes it is, Niall. This is all my fault, don't you get it? I could have gone after Darcy, I could have saved Paul, it's all because of me!" I cried out, running my shaky hands through my curls.

  "Paul needs you right now, Harry. He- he's not doing so well." Niall admitted. I looked up to him for some sort of answers, but all I was met with was a pair of sad blue eyes. "He lost a lot of blood. The doctors revived him a few times, but now he's just on life support."

  "What are you getting at?"

  "He's not going to live, Harry." Niall said simply. The tears that were threatening to spill over jumped out of my eyes without warning. If only I wasn't so stupid and reckless, if only I could turn back time to make everything okay. Then we wouldn't be in this horrid mess in the first place.

  "What have I done?" I whispered. I felt like I was having a panic attack. My heart was hammering in my chest and there was sweat gathering in tiny beads on my forehead. The room became ten times smaller and all of a sudden I was finding it so terribly hard to breath.

  "Harry, don't say that." Niall pleaded. He was sitting right beside me now, patting me on the back. I shook my head slowly, a pain arising in my forehead and a loud sob escaping my lips.

  "I'm a monster, Ni. I killed someone!" I cried out. Niall stood up the second that I did and gripped my shoulders. His face looked pained and hurt, like when someone did something to hurt his feelings. I trembled under his touch, sobs rocking my body like an earthquake.

  "That's not true. Vanessa killed him, Harry. Don't say that, please," He begged. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to take everyone back in time and undo what I did. But no- there was no such thing like that. I had to face what I did and I would never live a single day without the regret.

  "Vanessa only shot because I was being stupid. It's my fault that Paul is dying, and it's my fault that Darcy is lying here unconscious. I'm a murderer." I murmured. Niall hugged me tightly, and I could feel his hot breath tickling the back of my neck. I looked up to see the girl lying in the bed and prayed that she would wake up soon. Because if she didn't I'm not sure what I would do.

  "We're going to get through this." Niall promised.

  "I don't know if I can believe you." I muttered. "I feel so awful about myself and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I just want her to wake up and be okay, and I want Paul to make it. It seems like whenever I want something, the opposite happens."

  This time, Niall remained silent. To be honest, I was alright with that. My body felt limp and my eyes were starting to feel heavy, which was probably the effects of panic. I felt Niall's arms leave me, and kept my eyes closed as I heard the door swing shut. Never in my life have I felt so alone.

  I knew that I wasn't the one that killed Paul. My brain was telling me that I didn't do it, but my heart was telling me that I did. There was an awful feeling in my chest that I couldn't escape from. It was like I had a devil on my one shoulder feeding me lies, that I did kill him, and an angel on the other trying to speak but getting drowned out by the devil.

  I turned to Darcy. If she was awake right now, she'd comfort me and make me feel better. In a way she was like a band aid, and whenever she was near I felt healed, in a way. But now it felt as if I had no one to comfort me, nobody to hold, and I absolutely hated it.

  "Please, please wake up. Please wake up now." I begged Darcy, sliding my chair over by her bed. I waited for a few seconds, but nothing changed. She was still lying still in her bed, her only movements being the slow rise and fall of her chest.

  I slipped the shiny black box out of my pocket and set it under her pillow before kissing her on the forehead. Apparently, the fairy tales where the prince kisses the princess are lies because Darcy remained unmoved. I gingerly moved some of her hair out of her face before standing up and leaving her room solemnly.

  The hospital halls were the same as the rooms, white and filled with all sorts of machines. There was the occasional nurse or doctor here and there, and the lights above were a faded yellow and had bugs in them that had been dead for months. The floor was also white, but this time there were the occasional grey tiles here and there.

  I had absolutely no idea what I was going to say to Paul. He must hate me right now, because I'd done something that put his life in jeopardy and now he was going to die because of my foolishness. I wondered what his wife and kids were thinking right now. I assumed it was something along the lines of grieving and wishing that I was the dying one.

  I turned a corner, scanning my eyes around for room 223. A few younger nurses waved at me, but this time I ignored them. I jammed my hands deep in my pockets and bit my lip so hard that I could taste salty blood in my mouth. I was what you would call a train wreck.

  My legs felt like jell-o. There were a few people giving me weary looks, like wondering if I was supposed to be in the mental ward, but I too ignored them as I swiftly moved through the halls.

  219, 221, 223

  Standing before the wooden door, I honestly had no idea what the heck I was doing. I felt like crying again, but I knew that I had to be strong for Paul. I knew that if I let my guard down, so would he, and everyone would be upset yet again because of me.

  Before I could think, I pushed the door open and slipped inside. The room was practically identical to Darcy's, only this time there were plenty more machines and get well cards for him. Little did those people know that Paul wasn't going to get better.

  I couldn't help it. The sight of him, lying there all stiff and pale, clinging on to his life, made me lose control. He looked nothing like himself. Liam and Louis were standing at the foot of his bed, and I could hear Liam crying softly. There was a nurse in the corner of the room, and so many tubes attached to his body.

  "I'm so sorry," I cried. Louis's head turned to me, a sympathetic look on his face. I could tell that he had been crying earlier, because there were red dots under his eyes. Liam rushed over to me and gave me a giant hug, which was honestly what I needed right now. I was glad that even though Darcy wasn't here, that the boys were. If they weren't here I'm not exactly sure how I would get by.

  "He'll be better." Louis promised. We all hugged each other tightly and weren't rushing to let go, all overwhelmed with grief and what seemed like a never ending sadness.

  "The doctor said that they'll let him go soon. His wife and mum have said their goodbyes already." Liam managed to say. I just couldn't believe that it was actually happening.

  Paul was supposed to be the one to protect us. He was always the strong one, always the one who held us together. If we did something dumb, he'd cover for us and later we'd hear it again from him, but it was his job. He wasn't supposed to be in this state- weak and defenseless. This wasn't the Paul that I knew.

  "I'm sorry, but we have to ask you to leave." The nurse said, placing her small hand on my arm. I nodded and wiped my eyes, which stung so bad right now. Liam and Louis both left the room, but I ushered myself over by his bed for one last goodbye.

  "I'm so sorry, Paul. If I could fix this I would. I just want you to know that we all love you and we'll miss you. I'm so, so sorry."

  A/N:

Sad chapter, I know :c

There will only be a few more chapters after this, so I'm trying to get over the sad parts. Do you think Darcy will wake up any time soon? What will happen to Harry? Do you think that he was responsible for Paul's death?

  I know this chapter is a little shorter, but it's better than nothing! Thanks for reading this chapter, make sure you FAN, VOTE, AND COMMENT IF YOU WANT A DEDICATION.

  And also, Darcy has a trailer now! You should all go fan @LiveLoveAndSmile because she made me that amazing trailer, which is in the beginning of this story. I will also be posing it on the side.

  ~Delilah