eighteen: another stand up

But he doesn't make it up for me the next night at dinner, or the night after that either. Harry ends up staying with his sister in Manchester for the rest of the week, calling me up and promising that this time he'll make it even though we both know that's not the case. I try to keep my hopes up, thinking that maybe this time it'll be different... that he'll actually show up and we'll get the chance to talk. 

Tonight was different, Harry asking me to just meet him at the diner in town. It was simple and this was the first time Harry had actually chosen somewhere for us to meet at. I was actually excited, getting ready early and walking down the stairs where I ran into my parents for pretty much the first time in weeks. Dad is sitting in his favorite chair, looking at the paper while Mum is in the kitchen putting away dishes. I think about sneaking out, not wanting to risk them finding out about my current predicament before Harry even knew.... so I try to sneak past them, only to have Dad catch sight of me before I reach the door. 

"Niall, a word please." Dad says, putting his newspaper down. I silently curse, turning around and smiling at my father. 

"What's up?" I ask, trying not to come across as impatient but I needed to get to the diner. 

"I just wanted to see how you were doing, considering I haven't seen much of you for the past few weeks. You've been spending all your time with that Harry boy, he treating you good?" Dad asks, a stern expression which I found a tad endearing. 

"Course he is, Dad. I love him very much, he makes me happy... and I'm supposed to be meeting him in like twenty minutes... so would it be okay if we continue this when I get back?" I ask, earning a sigh from my father.

"When will you be back?" Dad asks, earning a shrug from me as I grab a jacket. It was November after all, it was getting cold. 

"Don't know... Why?" 

"No reason, just wondering... You go ahead and go, have fun." Dad says and I waste no time in leaving at that point, practically sprinting out the door with a quick "I love you" before the door shuts behind me. 

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I make it to the diner with five minutes to spare, sliding into one of the vacant booths before pulling out my phone to send a quick text to Harry to let him know I'd made it. Once I did that, I sit quietly for a few minutes, glancing at the clock and the door every once in a while as I wait. 

Soon it's ten minutes past the official time we'd set to meet up, but I wasn't worried. Traffic was always awful on Fridays... He was coming. 

---

Twenty minutes... He just left late, got caught up in traffic... he'll be here. 

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Thirty minutes.... I've called him twice now, getting sent to voicemail much like I had been since Halloween. 

---

Forty-five minutes and still no sign of Harry, not even a text message saying he's on his way or that he'll be late. 

---

It's been an hour and people are starting to stare, making me feel uncomfortable and self conscious over the fact that it was obvious I was stood up. I called Jamie, Harry left nearly two hours ago.

---

I leave after another fifteen minutes, calling Harry as I step outside but he doesn't answer. I can't even bring myself to leave a voicemail, fighting back tears as I start to walk towards home.

---

"Mum? Dad? I'm home." I call out as I walk through the front door, frowning when there's no sign of either of them being home. Mum must be at the store, but that would mean that Dad would at least still be home... I walk further into the house, flipping on the lights to the kitchen only to be met with the sight of my father unconscious on the floor. I'm at his side in an instant, dialing 999 with one hand while the other is checking for any sort of pulse. This had happened once before, nearly three years ago when his heart had decided to give out on him the first time. 

But that didn't make it any less scary. 

"Dad? Dad! Wake up!" I say desperately once I realize he's still breathing, trying my hardest to get my father to respond but there was no such luck. 

Emergency services show up at the house within minutes, loading my father onto an ambulance and allowing me to climb in beside him. I wouldn't let go of his hand, tears falling down my cheeks as the paramedics do their best to keep him going until we reach the hospital. 

He's rushed into surgery the second we reach it, leaving me standing alone in the emergency room. The first thing I do is call my mother, holding back sobs as I explain what had happened. She shows up not long after that, pulling me into the familiar tight embrace. We sit like that for ages, waiting for news, waiting for anything to make this aching feeling of dread to go away... 

"He's gonna be okay, Mum... He's gonna be okay..." I whisper, trying to reassure us both but I wasn't as convincing as I hoped. I can feel my phone vibrating in my back pocket, but I can't bring myself to answer as I knew it was Harry and he was the last person I wanted to talk to right now. 

"Everything's gonna be fine..." 

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Yoooooo, sorta counting this as a triple update cause it's only been like eight hours since the last one lol.

This will probably be updated again tonight when i get home from work (I don't have any excuse not to cause I have the next like three chapters written.... I didn't sleep much last night lol)

Anyways, qotc: don't got one cause narry is falling to shit (I'm thriving(Connie needs the drama to survive))

Dedication goes to NarrehStylan

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