A/N: This is a boring chapter, I'm giving you a heads up. I'm sorry guys. :/ just need to get this out of the way lol

Eleanor

He was here.

Why was he standing in the doorway of my hospital room? What was he doing here?

I continued looking at him, my face devoid of any emotion while the rest of them were shifting gazes between the two of us. I blinked and turned to Louis, who was still looking at me guiltily, and gave him a questioning look. I told him everything, why would he think that I wanted to see Harry?

Liam cleared his throat and spoke, sensing the palpable tension, "Uh, we'll just go outside and uh, do something. We'll leave you guys to talk." they all walked towards me and gave me hugs before going out.

Louis was about to follow them out the door when I called him out, "Where are you going?"

He stopped in his tracks, surprised that I acknowledged his presence, and turned to me. He cocked his head to the side, "Um, leaving you two to talk?" he said, almost goofily.

But I wouldn't have it, I didn't want to be left alone with Harry or I might just lose it, "But you just came here." I noted, an undertone lacing my statement telling him to stay.

He scratched the back of his neck, thinking of a way out, "But you--"

I was quick to cut him off, "No. You stay. Whatever Harry wants to say, he can say with you in here." I ordered. Or he can just go away and never tell me.

"El," he protested.

"No." I responded sternly, cocking an eyebrow.

"It's okay, Lou. You can stay." Harry sighed. I looked at him with a brow still cocked upwards. Did he think we were asking for his opinion? I was going to make Louis stay whether he agreed or not.

Louis sighed, giving up, and remained standing by the door. Harry, on the other hand, was staring at something and I followed his gaze to see that it was at my bandaged wrist. I moved it and placed it on my stomach in uneasiness, catching his attention.

His eyes flickered back at me and he breathed out a quiet "Eleanor," before he slowly walked to me and stood on the side of my bed, scanning my whole being. I writhed under his scrutiny, feeling insecure. I was, after all, in my vulnerable state, but although I didn't want him to see me in such state, I didn't back down and fought on his game of staring competition. I wanted to appear strong even though my entire being said otherwise.

Looking at his eyes, I felt my heart race, just like what it would always do. He looked so beautiful, so stunningly beautiful that the faint flutter of my heart didn't go unnoticed. Or maybe it wasn't faint at all- it was just overpowered by the aching of my, still, shattered heart. I haven't had the time to prepare myself for this encounter, it was too soon. I haven't even had started on picking up my pieces so seeing him standing infront of me, looking so simply breath-taking, just intensified that ache.

But I endured the pain, still staring straight at his emerald eyes. I ignored the dropping of my heart, daring myself not to show any sign of pain, not letting him see through my façade. He might see how weak I was but I just couldn't let him see how I really was defeated. He couldn't see how I, once again, awfully longed to feel completely numb. No, I couldn't let him win.

"You went here to stare at me?" I snapped. "Take a picture, it lasts longer." and even though my voice sounded hollow and humorless, I forced a smirk.

His fake worried demeanor didn't crack though, as, once again, he was eyeing my wounded wrist.

You inflicted me more pain than that, I wanted to say. But I didn't. "What?" I impatiently snapped.

He took few more steps towards me, all hesitant, but bravely reached out to take my bandaged arm, probably to look at it, but I was quick to draw back.

"Don't touch me!"

His face fell as soon as I yelled at him. His mouth fell agape, not expecting me to do just that. My wrist stung at the sudden movement, but I shrugged it off. I pulled my hand away but all I wanted was for him to hold me and take care of me. I couldn't let it get the best of me, though. I shouldn't cave in on my feelings or I'd be back to square one and this would be a never ending cycle.

But how dare he touch me like he cared? He wouldn't even look at me before this happened!

"Eleanor, I'm so, so sorry," he croaked out. His brows were creased and he pressed his lips in a tight line.

Sorry.

I glared at him. "No you're not."

I didn't want his sorry; that wasn't what I needed from him. The sorry I felt for myself was enough and I didn't want any more sorrys from anyone else. Especially from him.

"I am! I didn't know - I never thought you would-"

"Hurt myself? Please, cut the crap, Harry. You were never concerned about me, what's the difference now?" I laughed dryly.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes yet again.

I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest everytime he said those words.

Stop.

But I kept my façade firm on my face.

He rubbed his nose and sniffled a little. Then he looked at me with a glint of something in his eyes.

My blood boiled at this and my breathing came out uneven as I tried to talk myself out of my anger in my mind. I was so close to my breaking point and I might lash out on him so I tried to calm myself down.

But it was impossible as he was two feet away from me and looking at me with sympathy.

I didn't need anyone's sympathy. Not before, not now, not ever.

"Get out." I weakly said as I looked away.

I heard his breath hitch but he didn't go anywhere. He remained standing and looking at me with his green eyes that I always adored but now killed me to see.

I looked back at him, fuming. I was thinking that if I converted all my pain into anger, it would hurt less. That was exactly what I did. But boy, how wrong I was.

"Eleanor, I'm-" he started to say but I didn't let him finish.

"I said get out!" I yelled at him.

His eyes widened and he took a step back in shock. Then he nodded his head before making his way out, never once throwing a glance back on me.

It was the right thing to do. But why was I hurt that he didn't put up a fight to stay?

"...That was awkward. Why did I need to see that?"

My head snapped at him. I almost forgot he was here.

"Louis," I called out, remembering him saving my life.

His face was scrunched up in irritation and his lips was twisted in a funny scowl before something dawned on him and suddenly he cowered away. He gave me a guilty smile yet again and that's when I remembered - he brought Harry here.

"It's fine." I rolled my eyes. It wasn't, but I really didn't want to dwell on it or talk about it.

"No it's not." he shot back while walking towards me and sitting beside me on my bed.

"I know," I sighed. "But I'd rather not talk about it."

He looked at me, searching my face before nodding, letting it go, "How are you?" he asked.

"Thank you." I blurted out.

His brows furrowed, "Aren't you supposed to say 'I'm fine' first?"

I rolled my eyes, "You know what I mean."

"Ah," he drawled before shrugging, "Someone's gotta be the superman and I suit the job very well." he smiled smugly, making the mood lighter.

I scoffed, "How is that?" I played along.

"Looks and might, babe. Looks and might." he winked.

"And you have that?" I cocked an eyebrow with a sly smile.

He huffed, "When did I not?"

I smiled.

He looked at me weirdly but I continued smiling at him.

I couldn't even comprehend how grateful I was for Louis at my side. I didn't know when it started but since he had become a good friend of mine, I could always smile even at times like this. I know I never let anyone see the wrecked side of me but he had anyways, and he didn't leave, so maybe that was the reason everytime I looked at him, I always felt the urge to smile. Maybe.

My heart instantly warmed, quickly replacing the ache I felt earlier. He stayed, the thought making me smile wider.

"Thank you, Louis." I couldn't help myself from saying.

His eyes widened for a while, shocked that I didn't shoot a comeback, but scratched the back of his neck bashfully when he realized I was being serious. "Nah, you already thanked me."

"No, not for that." I said.

He gave me a confused look, "Why else would you be thanking me for? I mean gracing you with my sexy self is obviously to be thanked for-"

I cut him off of his blabbering, "For staying."

He stopped talking all together and just looked back at me.

And for a while that was just it, my hazel eyes meeting his blue ones. No words spoken, just silent conversation through our eyes. Then, I smiled and he did, too, both of us understanding the thoughts words could never explain.

We were drenched in comfortable silence before there was a knock on the door, ending it. Liam's head popped in and he spoke, "Louis, we need to leave. The fans have already found our location and they're starting to block the entrance of the hospital." he spoke in urgency.

"F*ck! I'm going to call Paul," Louis shot up, patting his pockets for his phone frantically, in contrast to the calm atmosphere just seconds ago.

"Don't bother. He's already here and he brought a few others. We need to leave before it gets out of hand." Liam responded.

Louis freezed and looked back at me over his shoulders for a while.

Then he smiled again.

My brows furrowed as he turned back to Liam and spoke, "No, you guys go ahead."

Liam looked confused as I was and both of us stared at Louis as the idiot trailed off for the suspense of it, obviously enjoying our anticipation for what he was about to say.

But he just sat back beside me on my bed and shrugged.

"I'll stay."

**

A/N: Please read.

Okay so since this is "slightly altered" their songs aren't going to be in order of their album sometimes. Just go with it. Again, I'm not a great writer. I just write for fun so there's certainly couple of loose ends on this story but please cut me some slack bc this is the first story I write with passion. All the others were deleted bc I never loved them as much as this. And please, ignore grammars. I literally don't speak in english on a daily basis. Really. But I edit so many freaking times so I should be okay.

IMPORTANT: Please go back to chapter eight and read it then vote or drop a comment bc I hadn't noticed it was not published before. So please do me a favor :)

Thanks for these guys:
@LicuriciXx @EleanorBarderaCalder @yourperfectyouknow @Yazzy54 for voting. And these guys for sweet comments: @rrs1489lovesNiall1D and @Alextheballerina you guys are so nice :) the votes are still overwhelming me like avayabauaja!!!! drop comments anytime and tell me what you think! I read them bc I love to interact with you.

Lastly, it's my birthday yesterday. :)