Songs for this chapter:

In the Absence of Everything- Flatsound

Hunnie Pie- Zella Day

Don't Get Any Closer- Bebe Rexha 

Playlist for this book- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TNcirGF1jYBhnlR6HHrTv?si=AM_P9qObSwe44yO5MFRfcA   (if you can't copy and paste the link it is on my message board) 

"Hey Haz," Louis said softly, walking into Harry's hospital room. Of course Harry didn't respond, he still lay there comatose just as he had the past three weeks. It was just another Friday afternoon, and why would it be any different? Louis had faithfully been visiting Harry every day since the accident. After all, the poor boy had no one else. And sure, he wasn't awake or even aware of him being there, but Louis just hated the thought of Harry waking up alone. So religiously, every single day after school got out, Louis would spend the rest of his afternoon in the chair at Harry's bedside. On the weekends, he'd even sleep there. 

"Missed you," He pressed a gentle kiss to Harry's forehead. He looked so stiff and so pale, and it always made Louis shiver a little, but he also looked so beautiful. His purple bruises were fading to a soft pink, hardly noticeable, and the bandage on his head had been taken off. He was looking more and more like himself, and the doctors had informed him recently that Harry indeed, would be waking up.

That was the best news Louis had gotten in a while.

"Wonder what you're dreaming about," He murmured, holding Harry's still hand as he slept. "I hope it's nice whatever it is... I'm so sorry this had to happen to you. And I'm sorry that it took a fucking car crash for me to come back into your life." Louis shook his head, "I should've come back to you ages ago. Maybe you'd hate me less." 

That was Louis' worst fear. Harry hating him. They hadn't spoken in years, and Harry would be waking up to his face. He had no idea what his reaction would be, but he hoped it wouldn't be a negative one. 

He hoped.

"Hi Louis," Harry's nurse greeted  as she walked in to put some feed through Harry's tube, and switch out his catheter bag. They'd gotten to know eachother quite well over the last three weeks.

"Hey Lou" Louis smiled, "Any word on when he's gonna wake up?" he asked, just like always. 

It was a routine honestly. Everyday was always the same. Louis was ready for the day it would all change. Scared, but ready.

"Actually, yes" She replied, chuckling a bit at the way Louis' bright blue eyes lit up, and his mouth turned upward into the biggest grin. 

"When?" The word tumbled out of his mouth quickly, and he started bouncing his knees anxiously. 

"We're going to take him off the sedatives and ventilator in a few hours" she explained, "which means he should be waking up at some point tomorrow." 

Louis' tummy tickled with butterflies and his heartrate picked up a bit. Was he ready for this? He wasn't sure. But it was happening, he'd be conversating with Harry tomorrow, for the first time in years.

Louis stayed that night with Harry, watching him closely. It was different now that he was off the ventilator and breathing on his own. His face had more color, and he could actually hear his soft breathing, rather than just the ventilator. He moved a bit in his sleep too, and Louis couldn't help but smile. 

Harry was finally coming back.

Louis ended up falling asleep somewhere between one and two in the morning, but woke up bright and early. It was seven am, and he couldn't physically sleep any longer. His stomach was in knots. 

"Morning Haz," he whispered, putting his hand on Harry's forearm just like he always did, only this time he moved it a little, and groaned a tiny bit.

Louis' eyes widened, Harry's eyes fluttered a little, before closing again. He honestly looked so cute and cuddly, and Louis wondered how he'd never noticed before. Harry was so pretty. 

Fuck, he was beautiful.

"That's it love," Louis encouraged, "You can do it" He spoke calmly and gently, just wanting Harry to feel safe and at ease. He was going to be waking up to a whole new life honestly. He'd more than likely end up in the foster system, and Louis knew it would be so hard for him. Harry didn't really have friends, and now his family was gone too. It broke Louis' heart. 

Harry's eyelids fluttered again, his long curled eyelashes like a curtain hiding the whites of his eyes as the opened halfway. 

Then, they opened fully. Louis hadn't seen those green eyes up close in so long. They too, were much prettier than he'd remembered. 

Harry whined, squinting at the bright lights. Louis quickly caught on, and went to close the curtains, which seemed to help. 

"Hi Harry," Louis said cautiously, once he'd gotten a grasp on his surroundings. 

Harry looked at him for a moment, as his mind was waking up. Who was this? Where was he? He furrowed his eyebrows and looked around some more. 

A hospital. He was in a hospital. And there was the familiar blue eyed boy he'd grown up with standing at his bedside. 

"Louis." He replied flatly. Why would he be here? It wasn't like he cared anymore. Or at least that's what Harry assumed. 

"How are you feeling? You gave us such a scare.. you've been in a coma for weeks" Louis rambled, grabbing Harry's hand again, but Harry yanked it away. 

"Um.. sore but fine. What the hell are you doing here?" He asked, glaring at him coldly. He didn't even ask what had happened, he  was too confused and upset by the fact that Louis. Louis bloody Tomlinson was the only one in the room. 

"Because I care about you... you were in an accident.. I.. I was scared you wouldn't even wake up" Louis explained tearing up. "I know you probably hate me.. and I'm really sorry. I just.. I still love you. How could I not? We spent 12 years as best friends." 

Harry stayed silent for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts and come up with some sort of response. "I don't hate you." He paused before continuing, "I just don't want you around."

The words were a dagger in Louis' heart honestly, and he couldn't reply because of the large lump swelling up in his throat. 

"I'm fucked up." Harry spoke again, quieter this time, "And it's just not a good idea, for either of us, to be around each other." 

"Why not? We can change things... fix things. I'm ready to change Hazza.. I am" Louis begged, tears threatening to spill.

Tears welled up in Harry's own eyes and he quickly blinked them back. "I'm too fucked up to fix. Trust me. Oh, and don't you dare call me 'Hazza' again." 

"I.." Louis started but Harry cut him off.

"No Louis. I don't want to hear it. Get. Out." Harry said, his voice hoarse, because well, he hadn't sipped any water in weeks. The only thing keeping him hydrated had been his IV drip.

"But Harry-" Louis pleaded.

"I said, GET OUT!" Harry shouted, coughing afterward from how dry his throat was. 

With tears in his eyes, Louis walked out of the room. He wasn't leaving though. He planted himself right on the floor outside of Harry's room. 

He wouldn't leave him. 

Not again.

There's chapter two!! I hope you enjoyed it. Things are going to get a bit intense in the next chapter, you've been warned. Also a heads up the next chapter could be triggering, and I will be adding a trigger warning. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter, comments really help me stay motivated to continue writing and please please vote if you enjoyed (: Have a wonderful day lovelies!