chapter seventeen

N.J.H.

I'm cleaning out my desk for the winter season when Louis calls me unexpectedly. I decide to ignore it and just call him back when I'm done. My leave is coming up soon, and as excited as I am, there's this sick feeling in my stomach as I gather my things for my time off.

"Niall?"

Harry enters my office with his phone in his hand. I wave and he grips my waist firmly.

"Hey," he says, "So I've been calling a lot of people today..."

"About what?" I ask.

"You."

I stop what I'm doing abruptly and look up at him. Why is he calling people about me?

"What are you—"

"Niall, I'm taking you to the doctor today."

The sinking feeling enters my body. I back away from Harry, slightly offended that he would go behind my back and do this.

"Please Niall," he says, "Don't you think this would be good?"

"No... I, don't even talk to me." I mutter, walking past him and out of my office, the need for fresh air taking over. I push past a couple workers to the forty-eighth floor balcony. I breathe in the city air (not that's it's all that great) and rest my hands on my hips.

"Niall, come on..." Harry comes up behind me and I jump from fright. I distance myself from him and he holds his hands out.

"Babe I know you're scared, but wouldn't you rather get antibiotics for your condition then take a full winter leave?"

He asks me in a timid voice, trying not to frighten me but attempting to convince me. I look down at my fingertips and notice my fingers are violently trembling. I sigh shakily, sulking my shoulders.

"Harry you don't understand. I simply can't go to the doctor. I... I can't. There's no way. I'd freak out, embarrass myself, this fear is untamable—"

"Ni," he says exasperatedly, "Why would I let you walk into something so difficult for you alone?"

My mouth parts and what he says suddenly makes perfect sense; he wants to help me.

"Why?" I ask.

"Why what?"

"Why do you want to help me? Why do you even have these feelings for me?"

He looks at me, his eyes expressing a hint of hurt.

"Why don't you believe you're beautiful?"

My cheeks burn and I shrug, crossing my arms and turning away from him. The breeze is rustling my hair and everything around me. I wet my lips and bite down, my anxiety causing me to shy away from Harry.

"Niall, what do you think I'm here for?"

I raise my shoulders up and down again like a stubborn child. Arms snake around my torso and Harry is swaying my body within a matter of seconds.

"There's nothing else I'm here for other than you. Not for sex, money, power, or whatever douches desire. Niall, I've said it so many times I'm here to be with you. I want you to see me as your significant other."

He spins me around in his hold and looks at me sternly,

"So please, for the love of god, let me take you to the doctor. I'll be there with you the entire time, and I'll do anything to ensure your comfort. I'll hold your hand, suck your thumb, you name it, I'll do it."

I laugh a little and he smiles, pulling me in closer, 

"I just want the best for you."

The smile on his face is wide and I can't help but kiss the tip of his nose,

"Okay. I'll go."

•

L: the doctor? YOU'RE GOING TO THE DOCTOR?! niall that's amazing!

I chuckle and Harry gives me a side glance.

"Just Lou; he's a little surprised I agreed to this."

He smiles at me and squeezes my inner thigh as the driver turns off the highway,

"It's nice to see your smile," Harry speaks up, "I hate to see you so worried and concerned and such..."

"Oh," I say, "Well hopefully my concerned side won't show as much anymore."

He nods and I text Louis back,

ME: yeah lol i'll get back to you later

The car jolts around as we drive on the highway. Memories of my first doctor's appointment come flooding back into my mind and I cringe. My mother had to put me in a straight jacket in order to contain me. It's the only day I can recall from when I was seven.

I only hope I won't overreact like I had before.

"Ni?" 

I look up at Harry and he gives me a warm glance. It's then when I notice that we're in front of the office.

"You ready?"

He holds out his hand and I take it lightly. Harry opens the car door and leads me out delicately. 

"Come back around three," Harry says to the driver, "We hopefully won't be long."

•

"Niall Horan?"

Harry stops playing with my fingers and looks up at the doctor the same time as I do. The office is empty, the only things filling the space being home decorating magazines and tables with outlets.

We both enter the office and follow the doctor, who is leading us through the maze that is these hallways.

"Hey guys, come on in here."

Harry and I both enter the office and the doctor has a wide smile on his face.

"So Niall,"

He shuts the door and I tense up. Harry grasps my hand immediately and lays them on my lap as the doctor begins the check up.

"Will you be staying with us in the room?" he asks Harry who immediately nods his head.

"Niall has a phobia that he's trying to overcome, so I'll be staying." He defends himself and my body heat increases at Harry's act of protection.

"So Mr. Horan, you're having troubles with cold weather?"

"Yeah," I say, "I haven't been able to handle cold weather for countless years, and I've been taking winter leaves to escape the cold."

"Niall what happens when you go out into the frigid weather?"

"Pneumonia symptoms start so arise," I explain, "As soon as I get warm they go away slowly but—"

"And you haven't checked them out? At all?"

"Well, this is my first time at the doctor since... forever."

"Niall," he says, getting up and walking over to a desk drawer, "You're lucky you're alive. So long without a check up, and you haven't caught something?"

"I've been careful," I say.

"Well I have multiple injections for you that you need to take before I assign your prescription."

My heart pounds out of my chest and Harry squeezes my hand immediately.

"Can we have a minute?" He asks for me.

"Of course."

The doctor leaves and Harry immediately cups my face in his hands.

"Niall," he says, "Niall babe I need you to relax."

"Nobody said anything about injections!" I cry, feeling tears slip from my eyes through the creases of Harry's fingers.

"Niall you're so brave, I know you can do it."

"I... I can't!" I whisper, looking away from him and towards the floor.

He's breathing frantically, unsure of what to do in this moment. When his hands slip from my cheeks to my legs I gulp and suddenly the words leave him his mouth.

"Be my boyfriend."

I look up at him with tear stained eyes.

"What?"

"Be my boyfriend Niall, I want you to be my boyfriend. Thanksgiving is coming, and I want you to meet my family when they fly in and... God just be my boyfriend?"

"I... yes Harry yes, oh my God, hell yes."

The doctor comes back in with six injections but all I can think about is the fact that Harry is now my official boyfriend. Within seconds, the injections are complete and I didn't cry once.

guys i'm so sorry ;-;