Hey guys! Welcome to If These Wings Could Fly. I hope you are all well:) Like with my other stories, I am including a playlist. I worked hard on it and would really appreciate it if you give it a listen. If you don't want any loose spoilers, you don't have to listen to it all at once. I will list the songs that go with each chapter so you can build the playlist yourself if you'd like. I just feel like music can add so much more to a story. The link will be listed below to copy and paste, and I will link it on my message board as well, and that will be a clickable link. Also huge shoutout to the amazing darlingharry3 , she came up with idea for this story. You should definitely check out her books! Anyway, here's the story. This chapter deals with some sensitive topics, so read at your own risk.

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TNcirGF1jYBhnlR6HHrTv?si=AM_P9qObSwe44yO5MFRfcA

Songs for this chapter:

Oh My God- Alex Benjamin

Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

Harry and Louis. Louis and Harry. That's how it always was. Until it wasn't. The pair grew up together, next door neighbors in fact, and best friends. They were the kind of friends that would sleepover at eachother's houses more than their own, the friends that would share popsicles in the summer. The friends that would trade comic books in the treehouse, and race bicycles home from school. You know? Those best friends. The ones everyone knew. The ones that couldn't be separated, until the day they were.

It was a Friday afternoon, and 16 year old Louis had just slammed his locker shut, ready to spend the weekend with his best friend of two years, Liam, when he got the call.

" 'ello?" He answered, holding his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he walked. Liam poking him anxiously, wanting him to hurry up. He always walked slower when he was distracted.

"L-Louis" his mum, Jay, sobbed into the phone.

"Mum! What's wrong?" Louis slowed down even more, making Liam groan. Louis shot him a glare, and if looks could kill, Liam would be dead. Liam in return, huffed and crossed his arms.

"Its.. its the Styles" she cried, trying to compose herself.

That wasn't a name Louis had heard in years. Sure, they were neighbors, and his mum was still friends with Anne. But Louis and Harry had had a major falling out a few years back, and well. They hadn't been friends since.

"What about them?" Louis asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"There was an accident..." she took a deep breath. "Last night... a drunk driver. Robin, Anne and Gemma.. they didn't make it out."

Louis' face paled, and he stopped in his tracks. His throat went dry. He felt like he couldn't breathe. "And Harry?" He whispered, his voice hoarse, mouth feeling like it was stuffed with cotton balls.

"He... he's in a coma." She cried.

Louis, in complete shock, let his phone fall to the ground. He sunk to his knees, not even paying attention to all the students walking past, all excited about the weekend, while he was breaking. For years the Styles/Twist family had been his second family. His other home.

"Louis?" Liam quickly crouched down in front of him, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Harry... family..." He choked out, "crash... coma" His thoughts were completely scattered, and he had so much on his mind. He couldn't process this information.

"What?" Liam asked, sort of getting it but also confused, it was only when he grabbed Louis' phone and spoke with his mum a bit that he understood.

"Oh... Lou..." He said sympathetically, as Louis leaned against the lockers, his knees to his chest, sobbing. He wrapped his strong arms around him, and just held him for the longest time. Rocking back and forth slowly to soothe him. "It's alright... it's gonna be okay. I'm so sorry"

They stayed like that for the longest time, until the halls were nearly empty and they needed to leave. "C'mon.." He helped Louis up, and with an arm around Louis' waist, they walked out to Liam's car. He helped him into the passenger seat before driving him home.

By the time they reached Louis' house, his crying had died down and he'd composed himself a bit. "Do you want me to stay?" Liam asked as he pulled into the driveway.

Louis shook his head, "Thanks Li... but I think.. I think I need to be alone right now."

"Alright, well. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything. I'm here for ya always mate." Liam said, reaching over and giving him a side hug.

Louis sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "I know. Thanks Liam. Really." He cracked a tiny smile. Most of his friends were assholes, but Liam. Liam, was a big softie, and Louis could always count on him. Which he was so grateful for.

"Of course. Love ya Lou. Talk to you later" Liam smiled sadly, and Louis nodded, getting out of the car and immediately heading inside and upstairs to his room.

He opened his closet, pulling down an old dusty shoe box from the top shelf. He blew the dust off and carried the box to his bed. Sitting cross legged, he set the box in front of it, opening it up and pulling out one of the many photos of himself and Harry that sat inside. They were around 9, arms around eachother and bike helmets on their heads. Harry had a fresh bandaid on his elbow, and Louis had grass stains on his knees. Both boys were covered in dirt, but their smiles were bright as ever. Life had been so much simpler then.

"Oh hazza..." he whispered, gently rubbing his thumb across the photo, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I'm so sorry...you didn't deserve this. I still love you. I do" He whispered, hoping he'd have the chance to tell him to his face.

Eventually he set the picture aside, and stood up. He grabbed his charger, a book, and a few other things, shoving them in his backpack and heading out to the car. He needed to see Harry.

Louis' thoughts were racing as he drove himself to the hospital. Was Harry going to be okay? If he woke up would he still hate him? What if he forgot everything? He'd heard horror stories about people waking up from comas completely different and the thought terrified him. But then again, a fresh start with Harry sounded kind of nice honestly. He hated the bitter ending that took their friendship.

A kind nurse led a very nervous Louis into Harry's hospital room, and the waterworks started up again. Tears filled his eyes and he tried not to cry in front of the nurse, but the moment she left, the two salty streams made a reappearance on his swollen blotchy cheeks. "Oh Harry..." He took Harry's hand in both of his and rubbed it with his thumbs. Harry was hooked up to so many tubes and wires, and Louis thought that looked so painful. He was all bruised up as well, his cheek all purple and puffy, a cast on his other arm, and a large bandage around his head. His curls still poked through though, and they looked soft as ever. He was completely still other than the slow and steady rise and fall of his chest as the breathing tube kept him oxygenated.

Louis took a moment to just take in his features. Harry's lips looked pink and plump, and the way his dark eyelashes fanned over his cheeks made Louis' belly flip flop in a way it hadn't before. He wanted to reach out and just play with his curls, and cuddle him to his chest.

Wait. What? Louis furrowed his eyebrows. He'd never thought about Harry like that. Harry was Harry. Like. His ex-best friend. They'd never dated, there had never been any chemistry or flirting, none at all. And they'd known each other since they were in diapers.

But. Louis' heart was pounding a little, and his cheeks were flushed.

Yeah. He liked Harry Styles.

There were only two problems though. One, Harry hated him. He was sure of it. And two, he might not even wake up.

So, with that in mind Louis pressed a kiss to his cheek and sighed. The future was so unknown.

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