It Started With A Fire

Chapter 13: Sick

“And you’re going to the pharmacy for that?” Hazel asks, looking straight at me.

“Yeah I guess so. I’ll see ya later mates,” I tell them as I put on some shoes and grab my jacket, walking towards the door.

“Wait, can we all hang tomorrow or something instead since you can’t stay with us?” she asks me and Zayn, looking between the two of us.

“Maybe. I’ll text you or something,” I tell her and rush out the door and start practically jogging to the supermarket. I need diapers and stuff too.

My pace is quick as I am trying to make time, wanting Benjamin to be okay. Oh why couldn’t Shawny be there? I step inside the store, the warmth hitting me immediately as I take out my phone, noticing a text.

~

From: Hazel

Please entertain me tomorrow? Zayn can’t…

~

I smile a bit as I hurry to the familiar aisle of baby products. I grab a thing of diapers and wipes along with formula.

“Well look who it is, in the baby aisle, again,” that damn obnoxious voice says. Groaning, I turn around to see the skank. Joyous. Just what I need right now.

“Shut up. My friend called me because the baby is out of supplies and possibly sick. Do you happen to know any good baby medicine?” I ask her.

“Sure, your friends,” Dakota scolds, a smirk playing across her lips.

“Are you going to help me or not?” I ask her again sterner. She obviously understands that I’m not playing around now by the way she drops hers shoulders a bit, getting in to her work mode.

“What are the symptoms?” she asks.

“I don’t know. It’s not like I’ve seen the kid,” I tell her, suddenly wanting to ask Hazel instead though she could never know. Damn. This shouldn’t be so difficult.

Dakota just starts rambling on about which medicines would be best for Benjamin and I pay close attention, wanting a good cure for the boy. I’m having a hard enough time taking care of him healthy; I can’t imagine having to take care of him sick.

“Thanks,” I tell her, grabbing a bottle that seems to have fit every description that I could think of. I hurry towards the cash register and pay for my items, scurrying out of the store. My mates are heading in to the pub again, but this time they pay me no mind. Good. I’m busy.

I see a bus hurrying down the street, ready to pull up to a station causing my heart to race. I run to the stop, getting there right as the woman begins to close the doors. Sighing, she lets me on. I take a seat near the back and unlock my phone so I can respond to Hazel.

~

To: Hazel

I cnt. Day afr tmrw?

~

I laugh silently to myself at how I responded, knowing that it’ll drive her crazy. I don’t want to hang out with her tomorrow because I want to keep an eye on Benjamin personally. I don’t know what he has, but I want to be the one to care for him. I don’t want to keep dumping him on to Shawny and Harry all the time. He’s my responsibility, not theirs’.

~

From: Hazel

You’ll be the death of me. just us or zayn too?

~

Hmm. I think back to Zayn and I’s conversation earlier today..

~~

“So, you and Hazel?” I ask my best mate while waiting for the lass to arrive. He just stares at me before he starts to laugh.

“Mate, you’re crazy. I have my eye on somebody from campus. Plus, I couldn’t date her. She’s practically my little sister,” Zayn explains. Of course he has his eye on somebody. When does he not?

“Oh,” is my simple response. Suddenly, I feel kind of bad that I flipped out at the girl awhile back.

“Do you fancy her?” Zayn asks grabbing my attention.

“What?” I question.

“Do you, Liam Payne, fancy my lady friend miss Hazel Ethridge?” he asks me. I admit that I’m kind of caught off guard by the question. I haven’t allowed myself to think of her in that way because of Zayn, but now that I know for sure that nothing is going on with them, what do I really think of her?

“I don’t know mate,” I respond.

I want to find out.

~~

To: Hazel

It dn’t matr bt jus us is kewl :p

~

Soon enough, the bus is stopped at my stop and I’m climbing off, remembering the task at hand as I hurry down the street. My phone buzzes as soon as I’m in front of the familiar home, but I ignore it and just want in to the house.

The first thing I notice is Harry struggling with three different kids hanging off of his hip. His head snaps up at the sight of me and I have never seen such relief.

“I thought you were good at this?” I ask him.

“I normally am, but today they’re all hyped up,” he explains. I just roll my eyes before walking away to find my kid. He’s in his normal spot, red nosed and sleeping. Oh he looks so peaceful, but from the sight of snot running down his face I know he’s sick. Damn. I set down my grocery bags and open the wipes, cleaning under his nose and his face. He really needs to be changed too. His diaper is soiled.

“I think I might just take him home now,” I tell Harry, knowing that he won’t take care of my child properly.

“At least wait with me until Shawny gets back. Or tell me the ways as to of how to calm them,” he pleads. I think about my options and realize that I’d rather have Harry take us home instead of riding a bus.

“Fine. I’m watching my kid though,” I tell him, picking up the sleeping child with his newly cleaned clothes. I rock him back and forth, hoping that it’ll help him breathe a little easier. I just want to hold him close and make sure that he’s okay. That’s my main priority above all else.

I owe it to Maura and Hunter.

~~

A/N: hello again! I hope for more recent updates now that the book is going to be picking up a little bit. I want it finished by December so three months. It’s quite a bit and I hope to ration the updates so they’re frequent. The good stuff is about to start happening. I hope to have another chapter up this weekend on Hazel and Liam’s hang out. Love you guys who are still reading this

Alex xx