Can We Fall

Holly opened her eyes to find she was curled up in the back of the boys' SUV. She was wearing a new outfit: A blue and white striped Hollister shirt, and stone-washed short-shorts. She hadn't been wearing that when she fell asleep- in Harry's arms. Holly blushed, thinking back on the sweet moment. She had been crying, Remembering the moments right before the crash, and Harry pulled her close and told her he was there, that everything would be okay. He had been holding her in his arms. Her whole body fit perfectly in his embrace. Holly glanced around in the vacant car and studied the black interior intently. 

Where is everyone?

As if on cue, the back door opened and the four boys piled in, talking and laughing loudly.

"Oh, Holls! You're awake!"

"Hey Holly-Bear! Feeling better?"

Holly moaned and stretched tiredly. Nice of you boys to drop by.

"I'm better. I'm really hungry, though." Holly yawned as she said it, and Zayn smiled at her. He switched seats so he was sitting next to her, and Harry shot him a dirty look.

"Well, we'll have to fix that. What do you say to some Olive Garden for dinner?"

"Woo-hoo! Food! Leggo!" Niall shouted, and bounced up and down in the middle seat next to Louis. Harry was facing Zayn and Holly.

"That sounds good. Where are we?" Holly turned to Zayn, a questioning look in her eyes. Zayn peered down at her and grinned crookedly.

"Wal-Mart."

"Wal-Mart? Why?"

"We had to buy some, supplies. For you. Since you-missed-your-flight-you're-going-to-stay-with-us-until-the-end-of-our-North-America-tour-you're-welcome." Zayn bumbled the last sentence all together, making Holly laugh.

"What? That made absolutely no sense at all. Say it slower." 

"Welll . . . We kind of never booked a flight. And we weren't planning on you going back to Chicago. I mean, there's really no point in going back, now is there?" Zayn said it lightly, but his eyes were completely serious. Holly stared, open-mouthed up at him.

"What the hell, Zayn!? All of you! Why the hell would you do a thing like that? Of course I have to go back! I need to save up for college! How am I going to become a makeup artist? You all are just selfish jerks. Take me back to the hotel, and then I'll book my own flight back since you all are too needy to do it yourselves." Holly crossed her arms angrily in front of herself, and stared out the window. She watched the trees fly by, and tears began to fall from her eyes. Can't they tell I'm hurting? I just want to go back to the way things were. And if that means going back to Chicago and pretending everything is okay, saving for college, then that's all I want to do. I wish I'd never met Liam. I wish Sarah never brought Pippa to me. I wish all of this would just go away.

"Holls?" Harry's voice cut through Holly's thoughts and she realized he had switched places with Zayn. She didn't look at him. Harry scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her. Holly didn't respond. "Holls, I need you to listen to me. Can you please look at me?" Harry's voice was barely above a whisper. Holly grudgingly turned so she was facing Harry, his arm still wound around her.

"What?" She spat. Harry's eyes softened, and he reached his free hand up and stroked her face gently. Holly turned her head away. Harry dropped his hand.

"Holly, listen. That crash changed all of us. Not just the people on the plane. It changed everyone who had family on that plane. It changed the boys forever. They had to watch the media coverage of our plane crashing into the forest, not knowing for sure if Liam and I were dead or alive. So many people lost their lives that day. When I found out you and Liam were okay, I was the happiest man in the world. Knowing Pippa didn't make it . . . It crushed me. Liam talks about it in his sleep, every nght. I've had to wake him it's got so bad. You have to know that we care. And honestly, if you really think going back to your old life in Chicago is going to fix that, then we won't stop you. But I want you- we want you to know that we only lied to you because we want you to be happy. We can pay for school so you can be a makeup artist. We can even give you a job. We don't want you to leave us. Liam and I, we need you. We need you so we can be normal. It's selfish, but it's true. You are the only one who was with us that day. You are the only one we can talk to who knows exactly what we're going through. Please stay. At least for a little while. Until you feel like you can walk again. We're all healing, but we need each other." Harry paused, catching his breath. Holly looked up at him, her azure eyes sparkling with tears. "Please stay, until you're better?"