Effie's destiny

“You will walk again Effie. This doctor is the best in England. I promise you, you will walk again” he slowly but clearly said trying to catch her eyes but she kept avoiding him. “Look at me Effie.” When she didn’t he took her chin forcing her to look at him. “I promise you Effie. I promise you the day you can walk and train again I will do a fight with you. You will probably kick my ass so you need to get well soon to prove me you can.” Liam was smiling trying to get the girl he cared about to react.

[…]

“I’ll do it” simple said Effie. “I’ll do the operation” she added to clarify. A huge smile appeared on Liam’s face and he kissed her on the cheek before exiting the room.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. We need to plan this fight” he said just before leaving.
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10th December 2011
The Princess Grace’s Hospital, London
Effie’s room

“Are you ready?”

“I just need to get my stuff from the bathroom” replied Effie. Today was the day she was leaving the hospital after more than 2 months and a half in there.

“I’ll get it for you, sit down.”

“I can do it you know.”

“You still need rest, the doctors didn’t really want you to leave so don’t argue with me.”

“I’m suffocating here. I need to be in my flat, I need to get back to my routine Ella” replied Effie to the girl that had quickly become her best friend along with Perrie.

“God woman you are unbelievable! Good thing I’ll be staying with you.”

“You don’t have to you know. I can look after myself just fine.”

“The doctors said you should not overdo it, you still have work to do and if you want to get back to the studio you need to listen to us. Now stop being your little stubborn self and let it go for once. Now let’s get out of here I hate the smell of hospitals.” Effie had agreed for Ella to come and see her after her operation. The blond girl had been on her side ever since, that is to say2 months. “Liam will be here in a minute” said Effie putting the bag from the bathroom into Effie’s bag.

“Is Harry coming later?” asked Effie.

Harry and Ella were complicated, a bit like Louis and Effie or Liam and Effie but they were just ignoring the signs. Effie is not into the “love bullshit” like she likes to call it but she likes to see the people she loves be in love she sometimes finds it sickening but if they are happy that’s the only thing that matters. Harry and Ella were close to that, they were still playing with each other but it was getting more and more serious.

“No. He is with Niall. They… uh… they are going out, lads night out he said.” Ella was hesitant, she clearly was holding something back but Effie didn’t get a chance to ask what it was because Liam came in the room at that time.

“Let’s go. I’ve parked the car outside the main entrance” he said looking at the two girls. Ella seemed relieved to see him but Effie decided to take no notice of that relief.

“I’ll take the bags there, give me your keys Li” Ella said quickly snapping the keys out of Liam’s hands and disappearing in seconds.

“What’s with her and Harry?” asked Effie.

“She’s just worried about Harry” Liam replied kissing her temple. “Shall we go princess? I know you didn’t want to but the doctor forced me to put a chair in the car. He wants you to take it easy.” Liam took Effie’s hand then lead her to the exit.

“Effie! Liam! Wait up!” They both turned to face Perrie who was wearing her nurse uniform. “Am I still meeting you tonight? Zayn wanted to bring nachos, salsas and chicken wings. What do you think?”

“I think it’s great” replied Effie with a smile. “Come as soon as you are ready.” She waved as Liam and her left.

Effie was walking slowly and needed Liam’s support most of the time. She had crutches but she would rarely use them. Her re-education had been difficult Effie never let go. She was there most of the day, forcing herself, pushing herself quite far as usual. Normally after two months patients only start to stand and do a few steps with support but she could walk. Sometimes, when she is tired she needs her wheelchair but she had finally come to terms with it, it was temporary and she would walk perfectly fine soon. She had convinced herself and she now was determined. Maybe it took them almost 10 minutes to reach the car but at least she has walked the whole time with just a little help from Liam.

“He’s in a bad place you know” suddenly said Liam buckling his seat belt. The three members of the car knew who he was talking about and immediately he could feel Effie tense. He didn’t give her the chance to say anything. “He wants to see you” he added as he started driving. He could see Ella firing hard looks at him in the mirror but he chose to ignore her. “He needs you princess. He feels terribly guilty and wants to make it up to you. He… he is talking about moving back to Doncaster.”

Effie who hadn’t said a word and wasn’t intending to turned her head when Liam said the last sentence. As upset as she was he wasn’t only her friend, he was Liam’s, Harry’s, Zayn’s, Niall’s, Ella’s and Perrie’s. she couldn’t let them lose a friend.

“I don’t want you to lose him. He is your friend too” she just said. Liam took her hand and laced his fingers with hers never leaving sight of the road. It was a beginning, at least she said something positive and did not shut Liam down like she had done every single time he mentioned it over the past 2 months.

“Talk to him. Let him back in. he care about you” Ella finally stepped in.

“How could I? Last time I did I told him I was blaming him for everything that was happening. I blamed him for my accident that happened more than 10 years ago. We have never fought this bad in more than 18 years of friendship.” Effie had finally opened up. Guild had been consuming her over these past few months. Guilt for not being in love with him, guilt for teasing him, guilt for pushing him away, guilt for letting him think it was his fault and guilt for making him suffer. “I… He… I made him suffer. How could he forgive me for that?” she whispered letting go of Liam’s hand wrapping her arms around her thin frame.

“He doesn’t need to forgive you, he isn’t mad at you. He just misses you. We all miss you, the old you” replied Ella making Effie realise that Louis had not been the only one suffering from that situation. How selfish could she be thought Effie as she could see the familiar houses in her street.

“We are here. I’ll get everything up. See you upstairs” Liam said helping Effie out and suddenly pulled her closer to hug her putting his face in the crook of her neck. “I miss you too princess. Get back to me…” he said in a whisper sending shivers down her spine.

“He’s got it bad. What a lover!” teased Ella as she got near Effie once Liam got back in the car to park it. The brunette simply laughed a little linking arms with her friend.

Notes