chapter ten // silver lining.

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louis's pov

I can't help but to curl my lip as I look around the waiting room we've stole as our own personal hotel room for the past week or so. The place is absolutely disgusting. Our suitcases are spilling all over the place as we've rummaged around to find clean clothes, and fast food bags are flowing out of the garbage can because everyone's too focused on Liam to even think about cleaning up after themselves, myself included. 

It's been a hectic time here, that's for sure. I don't think I've ever felt so absolutely stressed before. Even when I go to bed, I have horrible dreams about this hospital and Liam. There's no escaping the worry. And If I'm worrying this much, I can't imagine how the other lads - who are much more prone to worrying themselves sick - are feeling right about now. 

That's exactly why I'm not exploding over how absolutely disgusting this place is. Instead I just plop down on the couch and try to distract myself with anything I can get my hands on. 

My current distraction has been dealing with Tyler, our manager, who is one step away from putting himself into cardiac arrest. Normally Liam is the one that knows how to handle him. I'm absolute shit at making people feel better. 

"I just don't know what we're going to do," Tyler groans once again from the other line of the phone, "You guys know you can't stay cooped up in that hospital. It's too risky. If word gets out that you're there, the place will be mobbed and that definitely won't help Liam's recovery," He continues to go on, repeating what he's been saying for the past half hour. 

I let out an exhausted sigh, knowing exactly what's coming next. 

"I'll just order your tickets now, get you lads back here until we can figure out a plan. It's probably better to give Liam his space and - "

"Tyler, just stop it," I sternly cut him off, causing the other lads to look up at me with curiosity, "We already told you, we're not leaving Chicago." 

I can hear my tone getting sharper, much sharper than I usually am with Tyler, considering he's one of my bosses. I'm just reaching my limit with our management in general. After sitting in that god-awful meeting where they acted like absolute pricks, my patience has become extremely slim. 

"Well, what are you going to do then, Louis? Rent a permanent hotel room and sneak around the city? Do you think that will seriously work? You guys are only creating more problems for Liam. He doesn't need this added stress!" He shouts from the other line, loud enough for the lads to hear and concern to wash over their faces. 

"Yeah, Tyler, that's what we'll do," The idea hits me in the face, making me feel dumb for not thinking about it first, "We're going out to find a permanent hotel room today, close enough to the hotel that we won't disturb Liam. We'll call you when we know the address," I tell him curtly before hanging up on him. 

The lads all stare at me with confusion written all over their faces as I breathe heavily, my anger starting to get the best of me. 

"Let's get out of here," I huff, getting to my feet and throwing on my puffy jacket.

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 We stand there in the coat room of the hotel across the street from the hospital, waiting for our security to secure the area so we can safely and silently get across and back to the hotel. The lads all burry themselves deeper in the hoods of their jackets behind their black sunglasses, disguising us all to look like a group of thugs. 

A ringing from inside my pocket pulls me away from the lads as they begin to plot up creative ways to get across the street every morning and night. Niall must have said something stupid for the other lads burst into laughter as I pull my phone out, a smile tugging at my lips.

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