Chapter 32

(Ian's POV)

I love you.

I thought to myself for the third day in a row. From the moment I saw Wanda lying unconscious in this hospital bed, I knew I'd crossed a line I'd never be able to come back from. I loved this girl. This fragile, sweet, innocent girl… I wanted her to be a part of my life forever, hell, I wanted to be a part of her life forever. If, god forbid, things didn't work out between us, I couldn't imagine not seeing her every day for the rest of my life.

And now here she is, awake, alive, talking smiling laughing. Living.

I could just watch her be like this for the rest of my days and I'd be happy.

Jared was sat next to her when we got to her bed, the curtain were open so we could hear her before we saw her… her laugh rang out through the whole hospital. The second I heard it I felt as though my feet had left the floor, it was like the doctors had pumped something into my veins to make me feel as light as a feather. I'd never heard anything as good as this, I'd never felt as good as this one sound made me feel.

'Wanda‼' Mel's voice went as high as I felt as we came to the end of her bed. She was at her side in an instant, squeezing her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. Wanda's eyes locked with mine over the top of Mel's shoulder, her eyes were shining and I could see tears starting to collect at her lower lids.

'Oh… sorry' Mel said as she budged back towards Jared, a huge smile still on her face. I don't think any of our smiles would be leaving for a long time…

I moved to Wanda without even telling my body too, like I was being pulled in. She was my sun and I was simply orbiting towards her. Her arms snaked around my neck and my hands fell to her waist, trying to be careful of not hurting her, I lightly lifted her to feel her against me. I sighed as I took her in, her familiar smell – somewhat dimmed by sweat and dirt but I didn't care. I breathed her in like she was my oxygen and my lungs had been empty for days. I love you.

'I missed you' was what came out of my mouth; I knew this wasn't the right time to say those three important words that were burned onto my brain. I wanted her home first, to myself… a special moment that we can recall on when were old and grey.

'I missed you too' Wanda's voice cracked and I could feel wet tears soaking into my shirt, but I just kept holding her… I promised myself I'd never leave her again.

Wanda moved a hand to rub at her eyes and I reluctantly lowered her back down to her bed. She smiled sheepishly as Mel handed her a tissue. 'I'm sorry, it's just when I saw you guys… well you know…' she wiped her eyes as a nurse stopped at the end of her bed.

'Wanda? It looks like the doctor's given you the okay to leave here today, he just needs to run through some dressings with you for your foot and ankle, okay?' and with that the nurse left in a hurry, other patients clearly more important than Wanda now to tend to.

'That's great Wanda, I can't wait to see you out of this place!' Mel exclaimed, ever the honest one.

It was awful seeing her in this place, there's no easy way of putting it… it was just terrible. But the news that she'd be going home and out of this place was worth it.

(Burns POV)

She's gone.

No.

That can't be right.

But she's not home.

Mel's barely ever home though… maybe she's going to see her. Maybe she knows where Wanda's being kept. But no… that wouldn't make sense.

It's been days since Wanda was taken from me… I've been searching the whole town in that time. Night and day. 24/7. And I still haven't even seen a glimpse of her. Nothing on any news channel about her disappearance. Nothing.

For the last couple of hours I've been in my usual tree spot outside Wanda & Mel's house, waiting for any sign of them. Mel's just gone inside; it's a little after 3pm so I imagine she's just left school. Her lover boy Jared's been bringing her home for the last few days...but today she walks alone…strange.

And here she comes, right on schedule, not 10 minutes since she got home she's going out again. Only this time she gets in one of her parents cars instead of Jared's and starts driving away herself.

As soon as the car is halfway down the street I hope down and move towards my own car parked a few yards away, hoping no one would recognise it… not that anyone paid that much attention to what I was driving, so hopefully Mel didn't notice.

I could follow her.

See if she leads me to Wanda.

I have to find her… I don't care what I have to do anymore.

Authors Note:

Thanks to everyone who read and commented on my last chapter! I know it's been a while so thankyou for sticking around. I'm easing back into the characters so sorry if the narration/characters seem a little different and the chapters might be a little short to begin with.

Hope you like this one!