The Dentist
Harry had a life that was pretty busy. He was constantly on tour or in the studio or on the tour bus. Because of this he’d been known to let himself go a little. Not to the point where he didn’t look presentable but he’d let his mental health slip and miss meals and miss appointments.
Finally after a long few weeks Harry was due to go to the dentist. Although he wasn’t feeling any pain and wasn’t having any problems, he knew it was time to get a basic check up. So there he was, sitting in the dentist waiting room.
"Mr Styles?" Called the woman,
"It's Harry." He said smiling as he got out of his seat in the waiting room and headed into the dentist room.
"Hi, Harry. Take a seat," The dentist said with a smile, "So you're here for a basic check-up."
Harry sat down in the chair. Trying to get comfy.
"Okay. I'm just going to put the chair back now" She said.
As the chair started going back Harry took a sudden deep breath and started to grip the sides of the chair.
"Okay, so let's get started. Can you open your mouth as wide as you can please?" She said as she started to gather the instruments that were needed.
She reached towards his mouth. As this happened time started to slow down. Harry noticed the lights dim slightly as his focus went to the silver probe slowly travelling towards him. It looked sharp and daunting.
He felt his chest tighten, because of this he unconsciously tightened his grip on the chair. He blinked two, maybe three times in a second as the instrument continued coming towards him. The lighting dimmed yet again and his focus switched to the small circular tool held in the other hand. He tried to focus on that because it was less daunting but he couldn't help but switch his focus back to the probe. He felt his chest tighten again. As this happened time sped up back to normal and he noticed the dentist pull away slowly and start putting the tools down. She was looking at him, mouthing something. She looked over to the dental assistant who also mouthed something but he didn't know what they were saying. He felt a drop of sweat trickle down his forehead. Suddenly everything slowed down again as he felt more sweat gathering on his forehead. Then he felt the chair start to move. As it moved he tried to take a deep breath but he couldn't. He felt like his chest was made of lead. His lungs were heavy. His eyes dimmed once again as he found it harder to breathe.
Next thing he knew the dentist was crouched down by the chair with her hand on his knee, trying to get his attention.
"I can't breathe..." He said quietly.
"Harry... Harry...." She called out gently.
"I'm going to go to the desk and see if there's someone we can call for him." Said the assistant as she left the room.
"Harry..." She snapped her fingers gently. After doing so Harry's eyes suddenly looked at her.
"You need to breathe." Said the dentist before the dental assistant walked back into the room.
"We called his boyfriend but he couldn't get away from work and so his friend Liam is on his way," She said.
By the time Liam ran into the room Harry was sitting in the chair still and the dentist was sitting next to him rubbing his back gently.
"Oh H... Are you okay?" Asked Liam, coming closer. Harry just looked up.
"I... Is it okay if I say no?" Replied Harry.
"It's okay," Replied Liam before noticing Harry was shaking. Liam took off his hoodie and pulled it over Harry's head.
"Let's go home okay?" Said Liam.
Harry nodded before Liam helped him up and started to walk towards the door.
"Thank you," Said Liam quietly to the dentist,
"No problem" She replied with a smile, "I hope he's okay soon."
Then Liam helped Harry out of the dentist office, through the reception and into his car.
Once they were in the car Liam didn't pull out, instead he locked the doors and turned to Harry.
"What happened in there Harry?" Asked Liam gently.
He watched Harry's reaction carefully. He watched Harry as he nervously fiddled with his hands in the pockets of Liam's hoodie.
"Harry, I can't help you unless you talk to me." Continued Liam, trying to get Harry to open up. "So please Harry. What happened in there?"
"I wanna go home." Said Harry quietly.
"I know." Said Liam putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. He noticed Harry was crying. "Hey, it's okay".
Harry turned out of Liam's grasp, he drew his legs up onto the seat and put his head against the window.
"Harry?" Asked Liam, hopeful that he would open up.
"Please, I wanna go home." Was Harry's response.
Liam turned on the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot.
The car ride was silent. When they got to Harry's, Liam pulled into a parking space slowly before he stopped the car.
"Harry we're here." Said Liam turning to him.
Harry didn't react; he just went to open the car door but his hands were too shaky. He just couldn't get the grip he needed.
"It's okay." Said Liam, getting up out of the car and walking around to the other side of the car to let Harry out.
Harry slowly got up and tried to take a step but it was hard for him to stand on his shaky legs, let alone walk.
"Here Harry, let me help you," Said Liam, placing his arm around Harry to help support him.
"I'm fine." Mumbled Harry,
"Harry. Please just let me help you." Said Liam patiently.
Harry didn't respond, he just let Liam help him. They only got so far before Harry tripped almost making Liam fall.
"I'm sorry," Said Harry as Liam helped him into the building."I'm so sorry."
His eyes continued watering, as he continued to apologise.
"It's okay Harry..." Said Liam, "It's okay, really".
Liam walked with Harry into the reception of the apartment block. They made their way slowly to the lift and pressed the button. Once it arrived the stepped in letting the doors slide closed. When the door closed Liam saw Harry flinch.
"You okay Harry?" Asked Liam,
"Yeah." Replied Harry carefully.
"Harry?" Asked Liam sceptically.
"I just. I'm fine" Said Harry,
"Talk to me, Harry?" Asked Liam,
"I usually... I... I never... " Replied Harry. His breath catching in his throat. He’d paled significantly.
"It's okay Harry..." Said Liam stepping forward and putting a hand on Harry's back.
When the lift opened Harry didn't move.
"Harry... Come on..." Said Liam gently walking Harry out of the lift.
Once they got out of the lift Harry got paler, before he started getting a slight green tinge.
"Li... Li.... Liam!" Called Harry, suddenly stopping.
Liam turned and saw Harry. It was like he read Harry's mind as he suddenly grabbed the bin in the corridor and held it in front of Harry.
Harry tightly gripped the sides of the bin and completely emptied the contents of his stomach into it as Liam kept repeating phrases like "it's okay, you're okay. I'm right here. It's okay Harry."
Harry had tears falling from his eyes as he continued to empty his stomach. Liam started rubbing his back, trying to comfort him as much as possible.
By the time Harry had finished, he was completely drained. He stood, leaning on Liam.
"It's okay. Come on Harry." Said Liam started to help Harry to walk to his apartment.
Once they got into the apartment Liam helped Harry over to the sofa, where he sat down while Liam went to get him a glass of water.
"Here," He said gently as he passed Harry the glass.
When Harry didn't move Liam worried slightly. After another two minutes, Harry still hadn't brought the glass to his lips, Liam decided to take more of a parental role.
"You need to drink the water, Harry." Said Liam sternly.
Harry still didn't move, he just looked down. It took him a few seconds to notice but Harry was crying. Tears were rolling down his cheeks like a river. Liam moved to sit next to him.
"Harry..." He said comfortingly, taking the glass away from him for the time being and set it down on the coffee table, "Please talk to me."
Harry still didn't answer, he just put his head in his hands.
"Harry you need to talk to someone.." Said Liam.
Harry ran his hands through his hair and then went back into the position he was in previously.
"I want Louis..." Said Harry quietly,
"Do you want me to call him?" Asked Liam.
Harry just nodded sullenly.
"Okay." Replied Liam, walking over to the kitchen.
He opened his phone and dialled Louis's number quickly.
"Hello?" Answered Louis gruffly,
"Hi, Louis it's Liam,"
"Look I can't stay, can I call you back later?" Asked Louis,
"It's about Harry!" Said Liam quickly before Louis could hang up.
"What's wrong?" Asked Louis, concerned.
"He had a dentist appointment this morning, but they called me to come and get him. He won't tell me why. So I brought him home and he threw up. He's crying for the third time in the past hour and he won't tell me anything." Explained Liam, "He just told me he wanted you and so I said I'd call."
"Oh. I'm in the studio right now with Niall. Can you put him on the phone please?" Asked Louis.
Liam went to pass Harry the phone but his hands were too shaky to hold it and so instead Liam put the phone on loudspeaker and placed it on the table, heading back to the kitchen to give them some privacy.
"Hey Harry." Said Louis gently.
"Lou?" Asked Harry.
Louis could hear that Harry had been crying.
"It's me... What's wrong Harry?" Replied Louis.
Louis heard Harry let out a heartbreaking sob.
"Please.... come home..." Sobbed Harry through the phone.
"Harry..." Started Louis gently,
"Please..." Cried, Harry.
Louis knew Niall wouldn’t mind rescheduling and at this point he didn’t care what management thought.
"I'm on my way." Said Louis, "Can you put Liam back on please?"
Liam came back in and picked the phone up from the table, putting off the loudspeaker.
"Hey?" Asked Liam,
"I'm leaving work now, I'll be home in 10".
Liam slid his phone into his pocket before turning to Harry.
He looked a little green but he didn't seem to be sick.
Liam sat next to him for what only seemed like five minutes when Louis entered.
"Hey," Said Louis gently,
Liam looked up, towards Louis.
"Hi." He replied.
Louis walked over to Harry to see that his head was in his hands and he was staring at the floor. Louis crouched down in front of him and gently placed a hand on Harry's knee and rubbed circles soothingly. He took note that Harry's complexion was slightly green and his eyes were glassy.
"Harry are you okay?" Asked Louis, concerned.
Harry lightly shook his head.
"He looks like he's going to be sick," Said Liam gently. He quickly got the bin from the corner of the room and handed it to Louis.
Louis gently placed it in front of Harry. Harry shook his head.
"Harry, it would be easier if you just let it out." Said Louis gently moving his hand to rub his shoulder lightly.
Harry just shook his head lightly again. "It will make you feel better."
Harry protested further but he didn't last much longer. He threw himself forward over the bucket.
Louis shuffled to sit next to Harry still holding the bin. He was now able to put his arm around Harry and comfort him.
When Louis was sure Harry was finished he placed the bin on the floor and pulled Harry close.
"Are you okay now?" Asked Louis gently.
Harry just nodded gently against Louis, his tears were still soaking into his shirt.
"Hey man. I'm going to go home now since you're in good care. Bye Harry." Said Liam leaving quietly.
"It's okay.." Muttered Louis running his hand through Harry's hair soothingly. "You're okay."
Soon enough Harry's breathing evened out and Louis realised that Harry had fallen asleep in his arms.
He carefully lifted him and carried him to the bedroom, placing him on the bed gently before climbing in behind him and holding him close.
The two of them slept peacefully because as long as they were together they knew nothing could hurt either of them.