Different 35 (Patreon)

Author's note: Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well and enjoyed your Thanksgiving! I can't wait for all of you to read the following chapter. It's sooo good! Let me know what you think below. 

⭐️ I'm still trying to gather the money to continue my journey to medical school in January. I've only gotten 1% of my goal. I'll leave the link here in case you would like or are able to help me. Please I am desperate! 🥺 https://ko-fi.com/mariabernal8706

⭐️I'm trying to come up with new ideas for one shots. Pls vote! Help Decide the Next One-Shot!

Y/N stood as soon as she saw the doctor approaching, her legs shaky but steady enough to close the distance. James and Sebastian followed close behind, their expressions tense but silent, letting Y/N take the lead.

"Are you with Mr. Styles?" the doctor asked, glancing at the trio.

"Yes," Y/N said quickly. "How is he? Is he okay?"

The doctor gave a small nod, his face calm but professional. "He’s stable now. When he was brought in, he was in critical condition due to acute intoxication. We ran some tests and found a cocktail of substances in his system, including GHB and cocaine. Both were likely consumed within a short window, causing his collapse."

Y/N’s brows furrowed in confusion and anger. "GHB? That’s... isn’t that..."

The doctor nodded grimly. "Yes, it’s sometimes referred to as a 'date rape drug.' Given the circumstances, it’s highly likely it was administered to him without his consent. The cocaine could have been something he encountered earlier”.

"That’s impossible," James interjected firmly, stepping forward. His tone was calm but resolute, the protective edge in his voice unmistakable. "Harry wouldn’t take anything like that himself. He’s a good kid. Rarely drinks, barely even goes out. This... this wasn’t him."

The doctor looked at James thoughtfully, nodding once. "That aligns with what we suspected," he said.

Y/N’s stomach dropped, her mind racing as she tried to process his words. "You’re saying someone drugged him?" she asked, her voice tight.

The doctor hesitated before nodding. "It appears likely, yes. The substances weren’t ones we’d expect someone to take voluntarily, especially not together. It could have been mixed into a drink or administered otherwise without his knowledge."

Y/N clenched her jaw, her fists curling at her sides as she thought of Ivy.

"What have you done for him?" James asked, his voice calm but edged with urgency.

"We administered medication to counteract the effects of the drugs in his system and monitored him closely during the stabilization process. His breathing and heart rate were dangerously low when he arrived, but he responded well to treatment," the doctor explained. "We also gave him a mild tranquilizer to help him rest and recover. Right now, his vitals are stable, but he’ll need to stay overnight for observation."

Y/N exhaled a shaky breath, relief washing over her in waves, though her heart still felt heavy. "Can I see him?" she asked, almost pleading.

The doctor gave her a small, understanding smile. "He’s resting now, and it’s important we don’t disturb him while the medication does its job. But you’ll be able to see him once he’s awake and alert enough."

Y/N nodded slowly, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying. "Thank you," she said softly.

The doctor handed her a clipboard. "We’ll need someone to stay nearby in case he needs anything or if there are any questions. If he wakes up disoriented, remind him where he is. And if you notice anything unusual, call for assistance immediately."

"I’ll stay," Y/N said without hesitation.

James and Sebastian exchanged glances but didn’t argue.

Y/N sat at the small desk in the corner of the waiting area, the clipboard with Harry’s paperwork trembling in her hands. Her fingers hovered over the form, gripping the pen so tightly it hurt, but no words came to her mind. The lines blurred together, the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a crushing wave.

She stared at the blank spaces for his details: Full Name. Date of Birth. Emergency Contact.

Her chest tightened as tears blurred her vision. She tried to steady her breathing, but it hitched uncontrollably, and she let out a soft, choked sob.

James crouched down in front of her, his hands gently covering hers. "Hey," he said softly, pulling the pen from her hand. "You don’t have to do this right now."

She shook her head, her lip quivering. "I... I don’t even know where to start, James," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don’t have a plan. I don’t even know what to put down. And... I have to call his parents. I have to tell them." Her voice cracked, and she looked up at James with pleading, tear-filled eyes.

James squeezed her hands gently but firmly, grounding her. "Y/N, listen to me," he said, his voice steady and calm. "You’re right. You need to call Anne and Robin. They deserve to know what’s going on. It’s important."

She nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in her throat. "But what do I even say? How do I tell them their son’s in the hospital—like this? They’ll hate me, James. I don’t know if I can do it."

James moved closer, his tone unwavering. "They won’t hate you, Y/N. You’re the reason he’s here, the reason he’s getting help. They’ll thank you for that. Just tell them the truth."

Y/N took a shaky breath, letting his words sink in. She knew he was right, but it didn’t make the task any easier. Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, hesitating for a moment before unlocking the screen.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I’ll call them."

James gave her a small, reassuring nod. "You’re stronger than you think. You’ve got this. And we’re right here with you."

The phone rang again, and this time, Y/N gripped it tighter, her stomach twisting with nerves. She had dialed Anne’s number, but when the call connected, the voice on the other end wasn’t Anne’s.

"Hello?"

Y/N froze at the familiar voice. It was Gemma.

"Gemma?" Y/N’s voice came out shaky, her throat tightening as she tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill again.

There was a pause, then a sharp intake of breath on the other end. "Y/N? What the hell? Why are you calling Mum’s phone?"

"I—" Y/N sniffled, her emotions breaking through before she could get a word out.

Gemma’s voice shifted, laced with incredulity and annoyance. "You’ve got to be bloody kidding me. Did you forgive him? Are you actually that stupid to take him back after—"

"Gemma!" Y/N snapped, the strain in her voice silencing Gemma. Y/N bit her lip, her free hand shaking as she clutched the phone. "I’m not calling because of that. This isn’t about us."

The line went quiet for a moment, and then Gemma spoke, softer now, though still suspicious. "Then why are you crying? What’s going on?"

Y/N inhaled shakily, her voice trembling as she pushed the words out. "Is Anne there? Please. I need to talk to her."

Gemma hesitated. "Y/N..." Her tone softened further, concern creeping in. "What’s wrong? Just tell me."

Y/N couldn’t hold it back any longer. "It’s Harry," she said, her voice breaking. "He’s in the hospital."

The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.

"What?" Gemma’s voice was sharp now, fear overtaking her irritation. "Why? What happened to him?"

Y/N swallowed hard, trying to steady herself, but the tears wouldn’t stop. "He was at a party, Gemma. Someone... someone drugged him. He collapsed, and we got him here as fast as we could. He’s stable now, but..." Her voice faltered. "It was bad. I didn’t know who else to call."

Gemma let out a shaky breath. "Jesus Christ," she muttered, and then there was a rustling sound as if she was moving. "Mum’s here. Hold on, I’ll give her the phone."

Y/N nodded even though Gemma couldn’t see her. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Don’t thank me," Gemma said, her voice tight. "Just don’t hang up. Mum needs to hear this."

Y/N waited as the seconds stretched on, the weight of what she was about to say pressing down on her chest.

"Y/N?" Anne’s warm voice came through the line, tinged with worry. "What’s going on, darling? Is everything alright?"

Y/N’s breath hitched, and she wiped at her tears, though it did little to steady her. "Anne... it’s Harry. He’s in the hospital."

Y/N barely got the words out before Anne’s gasp cut through the line. "The hospital? What’s happened to him?!" Her voice trembled, but there was already a determined urgency beneath it.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, steadying herself against the panic in Anne’s tone. "Anne, something happened at a party tonight," she said carefully, her voice shaking. "Harry... someone spiked his drink. He collapsed, and we got him to the hospital as fast as we could. The doctors said he’s stable, but... he’s been through a lot."

Anne let out a sharp, audible breath, followed immediately by rustling sounds on the other end of the line. Y/N could picture her moving frantically, shuffling things into a bag.

"Where is he? Which hospital?" Anne’s voice cracked, but her focus was razor-sharp.

"Northwestern Memorial," Y/N replied, her voice small. "Anne, I’m so sorry—"

"Don’t," Anne interrupted, her tone softening even as it wavered with emotion. "Don’t apologize, Y/N. I can’t imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t been."

There was more shuffling, then Gemma’s muffled voice in the background. "Mum, what’s going on? Should I get flights booked?"

"I’ll handle it, Gemma!" Anne said, her tone clipped with urgency. Then, softer, she spoke into the phone again, "Y/N, I’m getting on the first flight to Chicago. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Her voice cracked on the last word, and Y/N could tell she was crying.

Y/N’s lip quivered, hearing the emotion in Anne’s voice, but she pushed through. "He’s stable now," she reassured her. "The doctors said they’ve done everything to counteract the drugs. He’s resting. I’ll stay with him until you get here. He’s not alone."

Her voice cracked on the last word, and Y/N could tell she was crying.

Y/N bit her lip, tears rolling down her own cheeks again. "He’s going to be okay," she whispered, more to reassure Anne than herself. "I’ll stay with him until you get here."

Y/N wiped at her cheeks as fresh tears spilled. "He’s going to be okay, Anne," she whispered. "I promise to call you the second anything changes."

"Thank you" Anne replied, her voice trembling but filled with determination. "You stay strong, alright? I’ll be there as soon as I can. And keep me updated on everything. Every detail. Promise me”

"I promise," Y/N said, her voice steady despite the tears.

"Alright. I’ll see you soon," Anne said softly before hanging up.

The call ended with a soft click, leaving Y/N staring at her phone, the weight of the conversation settling over her.

James crouched beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder. "Anne’s on her way?" he asked gently.

Y/N nodded, her throat too tight to speak for a moment. "She’s coming," she finally managed.

Sebastian, leaning against the wall, crossed his arms. "That’s good. Now we just keep him safe until she gets here."

Y/N inhaled deeply, trying to steel herself.

The hours blurred together as Y/N sat by Harry’s bedside, her eyes fixed on him. The steady beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the room, a constant reminder that he was alive, even if he hadn’t stirred. She barely moved, except to adjust her chair or lean closer to watch him breathe. Sometimes, in the quiet, she let herself imagine that none of this had happened—that he was simply asleep, and at any moment, he’d wake up, groggy but with that boyish smirk on his lips.

But every time reality crept back in, her chest tightened, and she gripped his hand a little harder, silently willing him to wake up.

Sebastian and James had stayed with her through the night, but she’d caught them both dozing off in their chairs by the early morning. Sebastian had leaned his head back against the wall, his arms crossed, while James sat slumped over, his chin resting on his chest.

"You two should go," she had whispered, her voice soft but firm.

Sebastian cracked one eye open. "We’re not leaving you alone."

Y/N shook her head, managing a small, tired smile. "I’ll be fine. He’ll be fine. Just go home, get some rest, and come back later."

James hesitated, his brows furrowing. "You sure?"

"I’m sure," she said, squeezing his shoulder gently. "Please. For me."

Reluctantly, they agreed, each pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head before leaving. The silence they left behind was deafening, but Y/N didn’t mind. It gave her more space to focus on Harry.

By the time the afternoon shift rolled around, a nurse gently suggested that she should go home and change. "You’ve been here all night," the nurse said kindly. "You should take care of yourself too. Maybe get some rest and come back refreshed."

Y/N shook her head without hesitation, her gaze never leaving Harry. "I’m not leaving," she said firmly. "I won’t risk him waking up and finding himself alone here. Not after everything he’s been through."

The nurse didn’t press her, only nodded and promised to bring her something to eat later.

Y/N settled back into her chair, her fingers brushing against Harry’s. "I’m not going anywhere." she whispered to him, her voice barely audible. "I’m not going anywhere."

Y/N jolted awake at the sound of the door creaking open, her heart racing as she quickly straightened in her chair. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she braced herself for the sight of Anne or Gemma stepping through, but instead, she froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Ivy.

The audacity of her presence hit Y/N like a slap in the face. There she was, standing in the doorway, holding a cheap bouquet of flowers, her nose bruised and her under-eyes darkened from the blow Y/N had landed the night before.

“Oh, you’re here!” Ivy chirped, feigning surprise. Her tone was light, almost cheerful, as though she hadn’t caused absolute chaos less than 24 hours ago. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Y/N shot to her feet, the sleep-induced haze dissipating instantly as a wave of anger surged through her. She didn’t say a word at first, letting her glare do the talking as she crossed the room in two quick strides. Before Ivy could react, Y/N grabbed her arm in an iron grip and yanked her out into the hallway.

“What the fuck are you here?” Y/N hissed, her voice low and venomous as she shoved Ivy back against the wall. “You have some nerve showing up here.”

Ivy blinked, her eyes wide with faux innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice dripping with sugar-coated lies. “I just wanted to check on Harry. He’s my friend too, you know.”

Y/N barked out a laugh, sharp and bitter. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Are you dumb, or do you just not speak English? You think I don’t know what you did? You think you can waltz in here with some half-dead flowers and play innocent?"

Ivy’s expression wavered, her facade slipping for a moment before she crossed her arms defensively. “I didn’t do anything!” she snapped, her voice higher now, cracking slightly.

Y/N’s eyes flicked to the bruising on Ivy’s face, a flicker of pride warming her chest despite the boiling anger. But there wasn’t time to dwell on that. She leaned in closer, her words sharp and deliberate. “Listen to me, Ivy. You need to get away from here. Far away. Because if you think last night was bad, you’ve got no idea what’s coming for you.”

Ivy’s jaw tightened, but Y/N wasn’t done. “I’m going to sue your ass for everything you’ve got. I’ll make sure you’re behind bars for what you did to him. I’ll use every bit of my family’s money, every connection, every resource to hunt you down. So do yourself a favor: hide. Hide well, because when I find you, there will be no mercy.”

Ivy paled, her bravado faltering. “Are you threatening me?” she whispered.

Y/N laughed again, dark and humorless. “You’re damn right I am. Now get the fuck out of here before I do something I won’t even feel sorry for.”

For a moment, Ivy hesitated, her eyes darting to the hospital room door as though she might still have a chance to weasel her way back in. But Y/N’s glare was unrelenting, and after a beat, Ivy turned on her heel and hurried down the hall, her flowers clutched uselessly in her hand.

Y/N stood there for a moment, breathing hard as she watched her disappear around the corner. When she finally turned back toward Harry’s room, her resolve was steel. Ivy wasn’t going to get away with this—not after everything she’d done.

With one last glance down the hall, Y/N stepped back into the room and closed the door behind her, her heart still pounding as she resumed her place by Harry’s side.