The Notebook

The path breaks into two, and we stare down trying to figure out which way we should be going.
“This is just perfect,” I mutter.
“Actually- it is,” Dominic whispers into my ear, her voice all smiles.
“I think they went this way- I’m almost positive,” She sings pointing to the right.
“NO- I think we should go left,” I tell her, my eyes wide, understanding her plan, and refusing to go on with it.
“No London.. they went Right,” Dominic says in an even tone.
“There is no service here,” Daniel states looking at his phone.
“So we should go right- it heads up which means we might get service heading above the trees,” Dominic smiles.
“I think you might be right,” Harry agrees with her. I glare at Dominic knowing for a fact she is wrong, but not wanting to be left alone walking a trail, I follow the group hoping for the best.
“Is it that bad?” I turn to find Daniel walking beside me.
“Pardon?”
“The fact she wants to get lost? Let her live out her fantasy and then we’ll get back on track,” He shrugs smiling.
“You knew I was right and still were fine with getting off the trail?” I raise my brows.
Daniel shrugs again. The trail climbs up and up making it harder for me to breathe. I need to stop and catch my breath, using my inhaler again.
“Maybe we should go back?” Ella says, but Dominic ignores her, saying we should have service probably up ahead.
“Just give her a minute alright?” Daniel says sharply kneeling down next to me.
“Are you ok?” He questions in a soft voice.
“Yeah, just a moment please,” I sigh.
“Here,” He stands up reaching for my bag. He slides it off my back and opens it, taking out a bottle of water, opening it and handing it over.
“You need to drink,” He remarks. I take the bottle and bring it to my lips. I sip it for a while and then take a deep breath.
“better?” Daniel questions. I nod. He takes the bottle from me and puts it back into my bag closing it. He then slings the bag over his shoulder.
“I’ll take it for now,” He says kindly and I thank him, happy to get the weight off my back.
We walk for another hour, and I am having trouble keeping up.
“We need to stop,” Daniel calls out to Harry. Harry glances at me and nods.
“Gosh London- are you alright?” Ella hurries to my side finally noticing I’m not doing very well.
“I’m fine let me be please,” I sigh, slightly annoyed with her for siding with Dominic. Sometimes those two can make really stupid choices.
We sit down and Daniel hands me a bottle once more. I give it back to him, not feeling up for drinking, feeling quite sick actually.
“Listen doll, you must drink,” He pushes the bottle at me. I take it and take a sip just to make him shut up, regretting I ever came on this hike to begin with.
“I still can’t get a connection, we should head back,” Harry says.
“We’ve been walking for hours! We should just continue and see where it takes us,” Dominic says.
“I think Harry might be right,” Ella speaks up.
“Do you remember the turns we took? There were three others after the first one- we are better off continuing straight- right London?” Dominic turns to me.
“Does it matter what I think? We all will be doing whatever you want in the end as it is so we might as well stop this stupid debate now,” I snap.
“What does that supposed to mean?!” She inquires coldly.
“It means that we wouldn’t have been stuck here if it wasn’t for you wanting to get lost,” I say coldly.
“Give me a break, you were all up for it,” She rolls her eyes.
“Girls- calm done, let’s not fight.. we’ll continue on the trail and see where it leads ok?” Harry breaks off our bickering.
I let out a sigh, giving up, as always its Dominic’s way or no way. I watch as Harry glances over to Daniel shrugging his shoulders, then turning to follow Dominic and Ella. I roll my eyes and take another huff on my inhaler, before starting my pace up again.
“You alright?” Daniel questions softly. I nod and look straight, not up to have a conversation right now. I guess he understood or felt the same since he walks quietly beside me, listening to the chatter up ahead, Dom and Ella telling Harry about the crazy things they were up to last night.
The trail becomes thinner and there is now a cliff on my left side. I try my best to breathe right and not glance to my right since the way down will make me lose it. I watch my feet instead, making sure not to trip. Daniel is close behind me while Ella is in front of me. Dominic and Harry are having a sing along to an old Britney song, which Ella is begging them to change. Suddenly I trip. I gasp in fright ready for the hurtful fall, however I am caught from behind, which makes me jump and clench my palms at Daniel’s arms which are locked around me, making me lose my grip around my inhaler.
“No!” I gasp eyes full of fear as it falls to the floor and then jumps to the left, off the cliff and down out of sight.
“I got you,” Daniel breaths, holding me close to his chest, which if under other circumstances I would be blushing a bright red, but all I can think of is the inhaler- my only inhaler- falling- out of sight- lost.
“Oh my gosh- London!” Ella who realizes what has happen turns to touch my arms.
“She’s alright- I caught her just in time- you’re ok,” Daniel says again.
“NO- well yes- but her inhaler- it fell,” Ella points.
“What? How did that happen?” Dominic turns to us- forgetting about being upset with me, concern all over her face.
“Well can you see it? Did it fall far?” Harry questions looking over the path and down below.
“I think so- I can’t see it,” I say frustration taking over fast, knowing that without it I will not be able to go much longer.
“Should I try and climb down to find it?” Harry inquires.
“Don’t be stupid Styles,” Daniel snaps at him.
“We’ll walk slower London ok? Make it easier for you,” Dom offers. I nod, since there is no other solution. Daniel finally removes his hands from my waist, however he takes a hold of my wrist, closing his fingers over it gently but firmly.
I gaze up at him, he sends me a glimpse and smiles.
“I’m making sure you don’t fall and keeping an eye on your heart rate, making sure you don’t over work yourself,” He explains shortly, a wicked smile on his lips.
“Are you a doctor or something?” I question.
“Medic, and don’t talk, keep breathing like you’re supposed to,” He orders me.
“How are you doing Lon?” Ella asks glancing back at me after a while.
“She’s doing fine,” Daniel answers for me. I do trip a few times, my clumsiness taking the best of me. Each time though, Daniel manages to stop my fall and keep me on my feet. Thankfully he doesn’t comment on them, which I am grateful for.
“Ladder people,” Harry calls to us, being the first in line let’s him see what awaits us up ahead.
“Just perfect,” I mumble, feeling more and more sorry for myself.
“It’s not that high,” Daniel comments, hearing my words.
“She’s scared of heights,” Dominic informs him.
“Is that why your fingernails are digging into your palms this whole way?” He questions me. I ignore him and look up at the built in ladder. He is very observant that boy.
“I’ll go up first,” Dominic offers. Harry stands at the foot watching her, making sure she is safe while climbing. Then, its Ella’s turn, she climbs up swiftly, making it seem much easier then what it is.
“Harry you go up now, help London once she gets to the top,” Daniel commands. Harry nods, climbing up in a blink of the eye.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you,” Daniel assures me.
I exhale and close my hands over the step. I pull myself up holding my breath.
“I’m right here London, don’t worry,” Daniel keeps reminding me, as I pull myself up a step at a time. My breathing gets heavy, harder for me to control, and I start to panic. How did dad teach me to control it? Two inhales one exhale? I can’t remember, which makes my panic grow.
“London I can hear the way you are breathing- don’t give in to the panic,” He yells at me.
I glance down at him and feel everything start to spin.
“London don’t- look up at me- only at me!” Dominic instructs me.
“I can’t do this.. I.. I.. can’t breathe,” I try telling her.
“Come on London you’re almost here,” Ella tries to encourage me.
“Daniel do something- I can’t reach her,” Harry tries to lean down to me. I clench my eyes closed trying to control my breathing, I hug the railing of the ladder, stuck in place.
I fight my breathing, trying to drawn out my friends who are just making me more anxious.
Suddenly I feel something close over me, pinning me to the railing. I open my eyes. Not something- someone. Daniel climbed over me his right arm placed around my waist while the other is holding on to the step next to my left ear.
“London- listen to me- we are going to move up together- ok- nod your head if you understand,” He orders me.
I nod, feeling my tears burning my eyes, as I try and get some oxygen into my lungs.
“Close your mouth- use only your nose to breathe,” He adds. I try to do as he says but can’t, the panic is riding up in my throat and the only thing I can think about is falling or passing out or just plain dying.
“London I’m holding you- move your hands up to the next step- come on- you can do it,” His voice is strong, demanding. I do as I’m told, but my hands are shaking. I feel his arm pick me up and I try to help him pull me up. A sob escapes my lips and I take a sharp breath of air, making me chock and start coughing.
“Daniel- one more and I can pull her up,” Harry shouts from over me.
“London let go of the railing,” Daniel orders. His body is pinning me in place. I feel his hand pulling at mine. I let go of the step, and feel instantly as my body is lifted up another step.
“I got her,” I hear Harry say, feeling hands grab under my shoulders pulling me up. Daniel helps Harry pushing me from bellow.
Finally I feel ground under me, however it is no relief since I still can’t get myself to breathe, my sobs make it even harder to get air to my lungs and my fear just grows in my belly.
“She’s chocking- you must do something!” Ella screams at them- both she and Dominic are by my sides.
“Move,” Daniel pushes them aside kneeling over me.
Daniel supports my head swiftly and places a hand over my mouth.
“What the hell are you doing?” Dominic pulls at his arm- her voice frantic.
“Let him work!” Harry holds her back.
“Only your nose London- use only that- come on- you can do it,” Daniel says.
It takes a few minutes- long minutes, but I can feel my breathing ease, my chest not burning as it did. My eyes sting from my tears and dirt, but I try to ignore it, as long as I can breathe I don’t care about anything else.
“Look only at me London- Only at me, and continue breathing,” He whispers softly.
I do as I’m told, Daniel being so close to me, gazing into my eyes, holding me up against him as his hand covers my mouth. His eyes are a sparkling blue, a calming blue, and maybe if I wasn’t chocking this could have been quite romantic.
“You’re doing great,” He offers a small smile.
“Harry, check her pulse mate.”
“She’s alright, you’re doing good London,” Harry flashes his cheeky smile.
“Wonderful- I’m going to take my hand away, but I want you to continue breathing through your nose- understood?” Daniel raises his brows at me. I nod, and he pulls his hand away. I am still leaning on him, my upper body resting against his. Supported. I feel him slightly brush away my hair, and wipe a tear that was still on my cheek.
I know for a fact that Dominic caught that, her eyes never missing a thing, but for now she keeps quiet.
“We need to rest for a bit,” Daniel tells Harry who agrees.
“It’s getting dark,” Ella points out.
“Yeah well.. If you don’t want your friend to faint we need to rest,” Daniel scoffs.
“Fine, we rest then,” Ella agrees instantly, not looking to fight.
“Drink this,” Dom leans over me with a bottle of water. I take it with gratitude and bring it to my lips.
It burns my throat making me chock and spit it out.
“What the fuck?!” Daniel gasps, even though I missed him.
“It’s not water,” I chock holding my throat.
“Well yeah! It’s vodka- I thought it will make you feel better,” She explains, her cheeks red.
“I think you’re better off not thinking,” Harry chuckles.
Ella offers me real water and I sip it slowly.
“We should get moving,” Daniel says softly into my ear. I forgot I was resting against him, making my cheeks grow hot.
“You can do this London, I have faith in you, hold it together. We’ll be out of here soon,” He promises.
He helps me up and I Look out at the darkening landscape.
It is getting chilly and I pull on my jumper. I hope he is right, I don’t want to spend the night out here.

Notes

Part 2 is up!!!
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