Cassidy’s POV
“One more?” I begged.
“Fine. You’re going to turn into a cookie yourself if you keep gobbling these things so fast. It’s a wonder you stay so small Missy.” My puppy eyes worked their magic on Zayn and I snatched a chocolate chip cookie from the tray.
“I’ve just been so hungry!” I spoke through a mouthful.
“Geez, you’re eating more than Niall! What did you have, four pieces of pizza last night at the party?” Zayn laughed, standing up from the table.
“Five,” I mumbled, wiping my mouth.
”She seems to be getting tinier if anything,” Liam speculated, narrowing his eyes.
“I don’t know why! I swear it!” I raised my hands in defeat before they could suspect some teenage girl diet craze. I really didn’t though. The last month I’d been so hungry and thirsty, yet I seemed to be losing weight.
“She’s probably in the middle of a growth spurt, mate. And don’t swear, Cass.” Zayn concluded.
“I don’t know… How tall are you, babe?” Liam asked.
“Like 5’9,” Zayn answered, and Liam scowled.
“Not you Zayn! Cassidy.”
“Last time I checked I was like 5’2. But that was what they said when I was in hospital back in The States when I scratched my leg. A couple months ago…”
“Let’s measure you!” Liam found one of the crew measuring tapes and held it against me.
“5’2 and half,” Zayn read off, glancing up at Liam.
“Some growth spurt,” I grumbled, biting into another cookie.
“Cassidy!!” Liam exclaimed, gesturing to cookie.
“Fut?” I asked innocently, crumbs spilling from my mouth.
“I give up.” Liam dumped the tray into the trash.
“Hey! I was eating those!”
“Eat something that will really fill your belly up, like an apple!” Liam insisted.
“Oh, like you guys are the best examples,” I motioned to Niall who was behind the refrigerator door, squirting whipped cream into his mouth.
“Huh? Whoops,” Niall set the can back.
“It’s one thirty already? God, I have to go pick Sofia up from the airport.” Liam said suddenly, the clock catching his eye.
“You guys got Cass?” He asked as he jogged out the door, not waiting for a response.
“I have a business meeting about one of the charity’s we’re working with,” Zayn announced. “I gotta go get one of the crew to pull around a car for me.”
“Ah, lad I need the car, too. Louis, Josh and I were planning on grabbing some beers.” Niall interjected. The problem with being on tour was the lack of resources. We only had so many cars to drive around the city in separately.
“Sorry mate. I guess you’ll have to take security’s’. I have to go or I’m gonna be late.” Zayn grabbed his wallet from the counter. “See ya later, love you Cass.” Zayn pecked my forehead as he exited the bus.
“How about me?!” Harry moped.
“Love you too, Haz!” Zayn called back.
“Can you guys at least drop me off at this golf course around here? I’m meeting up with some friends.” Harry asked.
“You have Swedish friends?” I questioned. We were in Stockholm, Sweden.
“Friends of friends. More importantly, who is gonna take care of you?” He pulled a hand through his curls. I shrugged, hating when they had to find someone to ‘baby sit’ me.
“Well she’s definitely not coming to the pub with us,” Niall pointed out.
“Want to go golfing?” Harry suggested, hugging me with one arm.
“Do I have choice?” I groaned.
“Dress for cool weather, love. It’s pretty cold with the wind.” He smiled, guiding me to my suitcase.
“Yeah, yeah.” I selected my yoga and a Nike jumper. After combing my hair into a pony tail and tying my trainers I met up with the boys.
“Don’t you have one of those golfing skirt thingy’s?” Harry asked.
“Do I look like a golfer?” I countered, grabbing a water bottle and following Louis, Niall, and Josh out to the van. Harry directed them to the golf course and I ducked out of the car when we arrived. He was right; it was freezing.
I was introduced to his ‘friends of friends’ and we piled onto the golf cart- which was the best part I might add. Harry even let me sit on his lap and drive it around a few times. But other than that I was bored to tears. I sat in the buggy most of the time, freezing to death. On top of this, I didn’t feel well at all. As thirsty as I’d been in the past weeks, I felt nauseous of the thought at ingesting anything.
“Probably all those bloody cookies you ate earlier.” Harry laughed it off.
“Harry I’m serious, I really don’t feel well.” His eyes softened.
“I’m sorry love; I’ll try to hurry up the game.” It was almost five o’clock already. As each second ticked by I grew more and more dizzy and nauseous. “You’re awful pale, Angel.” His eyes held worry.
“Just k-keep playing,” I tried to smile but failed miserably. Although I felt, and looked, horrible, I didn’t want to ruin his fun time with his friends. After they’d thrown me the big party yesterday, he deserved some time to himself.
I tried to focus on their game, but I couldn’t. Finally, at around six the game was over. I shivered in the wind and Harry pulled me closer to him.
“Let’s get you back home. I think you’ve caught a case the sniffles.” I nodded weakly. We returned the golf cart and I steadied myself against him to keep my balance. We had to wait for Liam to come pick us up. He said Liam was ten minutes away- ten minutes too long, apparently. I felt my lunch crawl up my throat.
Turning quickly away from Harry, I puked on the grass next to the bench, falling on my knees. “Oh God Angel. I think you have more than the sniffles.” Was the last thing I heard before my world shrunk and I collapsed on the ground.
**At Hospital**
“Cassidy has been diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. Her body has been functioning on very little insulin, which caused her to go into Diabetic Shock. The situation could’ve been much worse. Luckily, it’s a minor case. If not treated, Cassidy would have gone into a coma.” The doctor announced. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, not wanting to see the boys’ reaction.
Louis cleared his throat. “What can we do?”
“Unfortunately, not much. Type One Diabetes is not curable, but it is manageable. She’ll have to take daily insulin. You’ll learn the protocol, and it will become part of your normal routine.” I heard Niall mutter a few colorful words under his breath.
“What caused this? Cassidy’s a very healthy and active girl,” Harry sounded desperate.
“Nothing. There’s nothing you or anyone else could’ve done to prevent this. As long as she stays active and takes insulin a few times a day, she should be fine.” I clinched the bed sheets in my hands.
“It’s not fine. I don’t want to stab myself in the arms every time I eat. I don’t want to monitor myself.” Finally I spoke up. Zayn sat down on the bed.
“We’ll get through this. Together. I promise.”
“There’s also the option of an insulin pump-“
“I don’t want to be a robot either.” I interrupted, rolling over in bed so no one could see me.
“I’ll let everything sink in. The nurse will discharge you as soon as she does a final check.” The doctor dismissed himself. I didn’t roll back over though. Why me? Everything, and now this!?
“C’mon Cass. Talk to us. Please.” Louis whispered.
“Easy for you to say! You’re not the one with a body that’s attacking itself!” I snapped. Before he could reply, the nurse entered.
“Hello, I’m just going to do a quick check of the vitals before you’re discharged, ok?” She asked, wrapping the blood pressure cup around my arm.
“I know the drill.” I remarked.
“Cassidy Beth!” Harry warned.
“Sorry,” I muttered, my face reddening.
“It’s alright sweetheart. I know how hard this can be. My five year old son was diagnosed with diabetes last month. You’ll have time to get adjusted to it. The first few months to a year the symptoms appear to go away. It’s called the ‘honeymoon period.’ It will take a while until it fully takes over.” She explained, feeling my pulse.
“So I won’t have to do anything different for a while?”
“Correct honey. Ok, you’re all set to go. There’s an informational packet at the front desk. I suggest you take a look at it. Good luck!” She smiled.
“Thank you so much,” Niall gushed. He seemed as relieved as I was. We did grab the packet on the way out.
“It’s just one thing after another for you, isn’t it muffin?” Louis sympathized.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“For what?!” Louis objected.
“Causing all this trouble.”
“Non-sense. We love you all the same.” I bit my lip as I smiled. I felt loved. Unconditionally.
**I have a busy week coming up so I don’t know when the next update will be, but hang in there! A lot is to come!**