Fire alarms blare as people uninjured make their way towards the exits. There's coughing, crying, and screaming with the accompaniment of a crackling fire coming from the first floor. The second floor remains quiet, as if no one was there to begin with. Smoke builds with every passing second and the fire from below builds, consuming books and shelving on its course, flame and heat working its way to the second floor.

Those who can't make it out are either injured, trapped, or were knocked unconscious from the blast. Their only hope is that help will come and when help comes that they'll be able to help before too much damage is done. But, that's the thing about explosions and fire. No one knows what exploded or what caused it so for all anyone left in the building knows, it could be toxic, able to kill in less than a few minutes. But, if it's not that, it's still smoke. Smoke inhalation can be deadly. Most people who die in a fire, die from inhalation, not the burns. And if it doesn't kill anyway, it can cause long term issues. And of course, there's the fire.

Burning alive must be one of the worst ways to go out. A sunburn hurts let alone flesh literally being boiled and torched. It is the worst form of physical pain and there is nothing to be done about it, not against an open flame like this. If it doesn't kill, it sends people to burn units where they have to pick the dead flesh off and there isn't anything they can give the victim that's strong enough to numb the pain. It is an agonizing hell.

So, help has to come soon and they have to be able to get in and rescue those who are left. But, there's no telling if it'll be soon enough. All there is hope.

Sheering pain shoots through Harrison's elbow, bringing him back to consciousness. He groans and rolls onto his back, left arm reaching to hold onto his right elbow and it's not clicking. He's dazed, ears clogged as if he were underwater. His eyes are burning and his throat is already growing sore. His eyes fall on the ceiling, smoke rising above him and the lights of the store completely off. The alarm continues to ring and slowly but surely, it finally hits him.

Harrison's eyes bulge as he sits up, forgetting about his elbow and he needs to get Elli. She was right behind him, hand in hand. The blast had knocked them from their feet, disconnecting their hands and Harrison swears she should have been right there but he doesn't even remember how his elbow was hurt. It happened quick. It was too fast to register the bookshelf coming down and separating the two of them.

The bookshelf is only a few inches away from Harrison, just barely missing him. Lucky for him, too because he can see over it and he catches a glimpse of Elli on her back, not moving. All he can see is from her torso up, nothing more and nothing less. Her face is almost a blur in the smoke that seems to be utterly relentless and Harrison knows he can't waste any time just staring or paying attention to the pain in his elbow as he works on crawling around the shelving to her.

"Elli?" Harrison yells through a cough as he gets closer. "Elli!" It's almost a whine that comes from his mouth before his elbow gives out. But he's close now, able to see that her legs are trapped under the heavy wood. "Hey, Elli."

He can feel the panic wanting to set it. He's fighting against it, knowing he has to remain calm but Elli's trapped. These shelves are heavy and what if he can't get her out in time? What if he can't help her? What if he can't even wake her up? Harrison is her best friend and best friends help protect each other, they're there when the other needs them. Harrison might be right here but he wasn't able to protect her from this and she wasn't able to protect him. And all he keeps thinking is what's going to happen if he can't wake her up and get her out from under this shelving?

What's her family going to think? What's Tom gonna think?

Harrison scoots closer, just using his left arm. Her eyes are shut and there's a cut at the top of her head but Harrison can see her chest moving. "Elli," He moves to his knees and cups her face. "Wake up!" He yells before dodging his face into his shoulder as he starts to cough. "Elli!" Harrison's hands tighten on her face as he gets closer to her. "Wake up." His words are stern, voice hoarse and Elli groans.

Harrison's chest burns as he lets out a sigh of relief. Elli starts groaning, hand coming up to her head while her eyes stay closed and her ears are clogged just as Harrison's were. But, Elli can hear the alarm blaring above them and it just makes her think it's Tom's alarm going off, that is until she felt the warm and sticky liquid on her forehead.

"What the f-" Elli's eyes open as she brings her hand in front of her face.

She sees the dark red liquid, the bookshelf and everything in front of her blurred with her vision focused on her hand. Her heart starts to jump at the sight of the blood and then, just as it did with Harrison, everything rushes back. Her legs ache, pressure building. The room is literally burning and it's hot. Her chest hurts, eyes burning, and her throat feels like sandpaper. The hearing starts to return and sirens can be heard from outside but that doesn't stop the panic from spreading through her body.

"Harrison?" She looks to him, hands coming to the floor for her to try and sit up despite her legs being trapped.

"You're okay." Harrison says with relief. "We gotta lift this, okay?" He says without waiting a beat.

Elli nods and the two of them try to move it off of her but it's too heavy. It's laying horizontally across her legs and they can't physically lift it up. Maybe if Harrison had two working arms, they could lift it just enough to slide her legs out from under it but not now. And it's too heavy to just push off of her. If they push it off, it could cause more damage. It could cut her. Elli's adrenaline is running ramped through her bloodstream so for all they know, she could be cut and not know it and sliding the shelving off her could make it worse. So, she's trapped.

"Go," Elli coughs out. "Get out." The coughing continues as Harrison puts his hand on her back and shakes his head.

"I'm not leaving you." Harrison says and takes off his hoodie.

"Get help!" It's a whine now, a hoarse whine leaving her lips. "You have to get help."

"They're outside." Harrison reassures and gives her his hoodie. "Put that over your mouth, okay?"

"But we don't know how long--" Elli bursts into a coughing fit, making Harrison grab her hands and put the hoodie over her mouth for her. "Please," Elli whines once the coughing subsides enough for her talk. Tears swell in her eyes and she's trapped.

Harrison shakes his head. "No." His voice is soft. "It's gonna be okay."

Harrison says it'll be okay but will it really? She's stuck in a fire after an explosion. She's coughing up a lung, she's bleeding, and both of her legs are trapped. That doesn't sound okay to her. Her chest is burning and it hurts everything in her body to even swallow. Optimism isn't her friend in this moment and she swears this is going to be her end and tears just start falling.

"You have to get out, okay?" Elli pulls the hoodie from her mouth. "Please, just go, okay?"

"I am not leaving you." Harrison grits his teeth, tears swelling behind his own eyes. "I'm not."

"What about Tom?" Elli starts sobbing. "He could be here and we wouldn't know. And if he knows we're here and he's out there, he's gonna--"

"Stop." Harrison cups her face. "Look at me." A few tears fall down Harrison's cheeks. "He wasn't here. He might be outside but no one is gonna let him in here. He's fine and you're gonna be fine and I'm gonna be fine. But you have to be calm." Harrison tries to suck in a breath but all he does is start coughing, hands falling from her cheeks.

"I don't wanna die here." The cries are quiet and weak as she leans forward against Harrison.

"Well, we're not gonna die." Harrison says, tears coating his cheeks freely.

All they can do is wait and hope. Harrison knows it shouldn't be long. Firefighters and rescue work quick but they'll hit the bottom floor first. They'll be the last helped depending on how many hands they have. But, he can't let Elli know that's his concern so he sits with her and Harrison coughs while they both struggle to breathe for another minute that feels like a year. But, by the time the second minute is up, a bright light comes through the front door and people in black and yellow gear come in.

Harrison can see them from his spot on the balcony and he immediately yells for help, gaining the attention of a few of them through the smoke. He can't see them clearly but he can hear them coming closer and he nudges Elli. But she doesn't move.

"Hey." He nudges her again. "Elli, c'mon, they're here." Harrison says, holding back a cough as he nudges her with his good arm. Nothing. "No, no no, come on." Harrison's words rush as two firefighters come to kneel beside him and Elli.

"We gotta get you out of here." One of them says through the oxygen but Harrison just shakes his head, mouth quivering. "We got her but you have to go."

"I can't leave her. I promised." Harrison insists as a third firefighter comes up. "Elli, wake up." Harrison pleads, shaking her slightly and it's enough to pull her back to reality.

Elli's eyes peek open and she's met with two men in fire gear with oxygen masks. Harrison's still holding her but her eyes are begging to close again. Her chest is begging her to just let the smoke win, let it win for a few minutes. But, she keeps her eyes open because Harrison's eyes are the prettiest shade of blue even in the smoke and she knows if she lets the smoke win, those eyes will be drenched in sorrow for the rest of his life.

And she stares up at him and she adores him but Tom flashes across her mind and she has to hang on because the big brown eyes of his are the ones she'd want to see before anything else. And those big brown eyes would never show the gleeful and youthful spark if she loses, the crinkles by his eyes will fade and the toothy grin will never be the same. And what she would give to see the cocky smirk of his. She loves her best friends so she holds on and keeps her eyes open. He's her best friend and so she hangs on for the pleading look in his eyes.

"Alright, we got her now." One of the firefighters says, gently pulling Elli from Harrison and Elli nods at him, barely able to lift her arm to give him a thumbs up.

He's reluctant because how is he supposed to leave? But, he has to. This is the help they've been waiting for and if Harrison stays, he's risking his own life and he's risking getting in the way of them saving Elli's. So, he follows a third firefighter who's come onto the second floor to help. It eats at him, but she's in good hands.

"Your name Elli?" The firefighter asks, looking down at her and she nods. "I'm Kelly and we're gonna get you outa here, alright?"

Elli nods again, eyelids drooping. "That'd be great." She says and Kelly smiles at the remark before turning his attention to the other firefighter.

Outside, Harrison is sat on a gurney, oxygen mask over his face, arm in a temporary sling until he gets the hospital to have it x-rayed. His eyes are set on the entrance of the building, though. His elbow is throbbing and breathing has never been more difficult but his full attention is on the door just waiting for the firefighters to bring Elli out. 

Touches of guilt start to hit him as he waits. It should have been him pinned but he decided to walk first. He decided to lead the way out because at least he could pull her behind him. But, it should have been him and he should have let her go first. Maybe she would have chosen a different direction and they could have gotten out before the explosion anyway. Or if not, maybe they would have been okay to get out afterward. Maybe Elli wouldn't be trapped and maybe Harrison wouldn't be coughing and stuck on oxygen while fighting the paramedics who want him to go to a hospital.

"Your friend will be sent--"

"No." Harrison says. "She's my best friend and she's my best friend's person. 'M not leaving until they get her out."

The paramedic looks back to the building and sighs. "Fine, but keep the mask on your face, please."

Harrison nods and says a quick thanks. His eyes immediately go back to the door and he's sure Elli will be okay. She probably just passed out from the smoke but it wasn't long that she was out. So she has to be okay because if she's not, Harrison will never forgive himself. And Tom will never forgive him.

If Elli dies and Harrison is sitting out here, Tom is gonna blame him. Harrison is going to blame himself and Tom will blame him. It's not anyone's fault and Harrison did what he could but it'll still fall onto Harrison's shoulders. Friends look out for each other. They're there when the other needs them and Harrison isn't there. Not now. He's outside and it's his fault and he needs his best friend. It's gonna suck to say anything but he needs someone because waiting isn't doing anything. It hasn't been five minutes and it's killing him. But, as he stares at the store, relief finally hits him when he sees two firefighters walk out, one carrying Elli.

"Elli!" Harrison rips the mask from his face and jumps off the gurney, trying to make his way to her but he's quickly stopped by one of the cops. "She's my best friend! Let me go!" Harrison pushes against the cop.

"They're bringing her over. Just, calm down and let them do their job, alright?" The cop's voice is calm and steady, trying to cool Harrison down.

Harrison doesn't fight, just watches them bring her over to an ambulance and to a few paramedics. All he can do is watch as they start an IV and put a mask on her, checking things Harrison doesn't understand and all he wants to do is run over there. And luckily for him, the paramedic who was handling him is handling Elli and looks for him, gesturing for him to come over.

The cop lets him go and Harrison runs overs, ignoring the pressure and burning of his chest with every step. "Is she okay?" He asks as they put her in the ambulance.

"We just need to get the both of you to the hospital and run some tests, okay? B--"

"But is she okay? Is she gonna be okay? She's breathing right?" Harrison's panic is evident with every word.

"But," The paramedic brings herself a soft smile. "She should be okay. You can ride with us." Harrison lets out a breath and he can feel the tears swelling again. "And you're going back oxygen." The paramedic states, gesturing towards the ambulance.

"Yeah," Harrison nods and gets into the vehicle, immediately reaching out for Elli's hand once he's seated. It's then that Elli turns her head.

"Haaa, didn't die." Elli mutters through the mask, eyes barely even open.

"You're awake?" Harrison's eyes widen before he's given an oxygen mask.

"Mmm." Elli hums, turning her head back away, eyes closing fully as she squeezes his hand. "Thanks, Haz."

"Don't thank me." Harrison says, thumb running over her hand.

"Thanks." Elli says again before she turns her head back to him. "Call Tom."

Harrison nods. "Will when we get to the hospital, alright?" He sends her a smile with his words, knowing her concern for him is genuine but also a distraction from her own well-being.

------

"You've been dodgin' my damn question for an hour. I was supposed to meet Elli and Haz over an hour ago, would you bloody tell me what the fuck you're talkin' about?" Tom groans, pushing his third cup of coffee away from him.

Jenny has been dodging her own statement about Elli being in love with him. She knows it's wrong to just tell him but her and Harrison share the same view. She wanted Tom and Elli interact. They're a walking tragedy with how they dance around each other and don't just admit it already. Harrison is too good of a friend to the both of them not to say anything but Jenny, she'll do it without question. It's just, she's been gone so she doesn't want to ruin it. She's just been rambling about different times the four of them have spent together, hoping Tom would grab his own conclusion but of course, he didn't.

Jenny sighs. "Alright," Jenny sucks in a breath. "She's in love with you. She had left me a voicemail like a year or so ago and told me, or the void as she said. And hey, I'm telling you right now, that hasn't changed. She never denied it."

Tom just freezes and he feels like his world is spinning with butterflies. "She...she told--why should I believe you?"

Jenny glares him. "I've been sitting here listing everything between the two of you. I broke up with you over it. Tom, you're cute but you're an idiot."

"Hey!" Tom scoffs. "I'm not an idiot."

"Yeah, you are." Jenny scoffs back. "She's head over heels in love with you and you two could be something epic but for some reason you're not telling her you love her? And she isn't saying anything?" Jenny pretends like she doesn't know about Elli telling Tom, that she can keep to herself. "I don't get it. I don't get the two of you. All I know is that you two are meant to be together so why the hell aren't you?"

Tom stays silent, looking to the empty coffee cup and back to Jenny. "'S complicated."

"Oh, bullshit." Jenny rolls her eyes. "What's complicated? Your friendship? Are you two screwing? There's nothing complicated about if you love someone. You either do or you don't and if you do, you need to say it while you can. If you don't, fine but we both know you love her."

"It's just fuckin' complicated." Tom groans. "Just is."

"You're insufferable, you know that?" Jenny shakes her head.

Tom's phone vibrates. He glances at the screen to see Harrison's name and picture before sliding the ignore option. It's the tenth time he's called but Tom figures, if it's important, Harrison will leave a voicemail or he'll text him. So, he grits his teeth but sighs in defeat.

"Why do you assume you'll break up?" Jenny counters.

Tom sits there and he goes to answer but nothing comes out because Jenny makes a good point. Who says they would break up? They could be each other's somedays, each other's person. They could be each other's. A break up isn't inevitable.

"I just..." Tom pauses. "Okay, if we break up."

Jenny shakes her head. "If you break up, you'll figure it out. I know I've missed a lot but..." Jenny stares at Tom and gives him a sad smile. "It's always been her and for her, it's always been you. Friendship or something more."

"You're right," Tom says and Jenny gains a smirk that quickly falls when Tom continues. "You've missed a lot. So, how the fuck would you know?"

Jenny's eyes roll and she licks her lips, leaning into him. "It's just the way you–"

Tom's phone vibrates again on the table and he just glances at it before sliding the ignore option and flipping it upside down. "If you say look at her, I'll walk out." Tom's jaw clenches with the words and Jenny just shakes her head at Tom's annoyance.

"No, I mean, yeah." Jenny's eyes widen. "It's how you look at her but that's obvious. It's the way you talk about her." Tom raises a brow, leaning back with his arms crossed and head cocked slightly to the right. "You don't talk about her like she's something temporary. You talk like she's someone permanent and..." Jenny shrugs and looks to her coffee. "I don't know, Tom, it's different. It's....you just....you don't talk about anyone else the way you do her, not Harrison and if you did, I'd shut up but you don't."

Tom nods, listening and knowing she's right but she's the ex that broke his heart. He doesn't owe her the truth when he hasn't given Elli that same truth. That's not exactly fair or right. The only reason Harrison knows is because he pushed too many buttons. Jenny though? It's not really her business anymore.

"As for her?" Tom asks.

Jenny's expression falls flat as she glares at him. "She literally left me a voicemail that she's in love with you and I don't see that changing suddenly so."

Tom groans and he's about to fight her on it when his phone vibrates yet again. "Fuck's sake." He mutters before grabbing his phone and answering without looking at the screen. "I'm comin', alright?"

"Tom, you need to get to the hospital." Harrison says, voice hoarse and drenched in exhaustion.

Tom's face falls and every bit of annoyance and frustration he felt is replaced with worry. "What happened?" He asks, ripping his coat from the back of the chair, Jenny watching him with a confused expression.

"Have you not heard? You're down the street." Harrison starts coughing and Tom pauses, remembering hearing the sirens but paying no attention while Jenny was talking. "There was a fire and we were in it. Just get here, alright?"

"Is Elli okay?" Tom asks, making his way to the door and ignoring Jenny calling after him. "Are you okay?"

"They've taken her for a chest x-ray and I'm fine but we could both use here." Harrison's voice is quiet but touches of worry and sadness fall through the seams.

"I'm coming." Tom says running to where his car is parked before hanging up the phone.

Fear and panic flood Tom's body as he gets to his car. He fumbles his keys as he unlocks the car and everything in him is shaking and he can feel the burning behind his eyes already starting. He has no idea what happened and now he's kicking himself for not answering the phone. He should have known something was wrong. Harrison wouldn't blow up his phone like that, not without a text in between with an explanation. But, Tom was too caught, too caught up to find out if what he really wanted was true. All he wanted to know is if Elli really was in love with him but now he's on his way to the hospital in panic.

Tom parks his car in the nearest garage to the hospital before running to the ER entrance. His heart rate is beating so fast he can swear the people he's passing can hear his heart. His head is starting to spin but he has tunnel vision. He knows he's passing people but the only thing he's set on is the emergency room. It's the only thing in full focus, in lighting and he's not gonna stop until he reaches it. And when he does, he immediately goes to the counter, not bothering to even gasp for a breath before he starts rambling.

"My friends are here. They were in the fire at Barnes and Noble, Harrison Osterfield and Eliot Summers." Tom finally takes in a breath, both hands on the counter of the nurses' desk.

"I'm sorry," The nurse starts. "We're not letting anyone besides family back–"

Tom groans. "I don't bloody care. I'm the emergency contact for both of 'em, that's 'bout the same, ya? Close enough to bein' family. Tom Holland, just look up their files."

"Well, yes, but–"

"Harrison was here 'bout a year ago with walking pneumonia and Elli was here 'bout six months ago with a kidney infection. I was there both times, both put me down. Elli's my damn roommate." The panic rises in his voice as a security guard starts to walk up to him. "Please, just lemme see them." There's desperation in his eyes as his thumbs tap the wood, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

"I have to verify you as the emergency contact, do you have an ID?" The nurse asks and Tom doesn't hesitate to reach for his wallet. "Just wait in the waiting room and I'll get you when I can."

Tom thanks her and sucks in another breath. His muscles ache as he walks the small distance to the waiting room. His adrenaline is calming and he's feeling the effects of it as he takes one of the last open seats. Everything aches as his head spins and his heart still pounds in his ears, leaning on hope.

A few people throughout the waiting room are crying softly and others are staring blankly at the wall opposite them. Tom's heart aches as he looks at them and his leg starts pouncing with impatience and anxiety. What if he ends up like one of them? Staring blankly or crying? Maybe they didn't lose anyone, sure, but maybe they did and what if Tom ends up like them? He might have talked to Harrison but his voice was hoarse and he had a bad cough, anything can happen. And he doesn't know why Elli took them for a chest x-ray. He doesn't know anything but if he would have just answered his phone, maybe he would. He wouldn't be sitting here by himself in a state of paralyzed panic, praying and hoping to someone out there that his two best friends, the two people he cares about most, are gonna be okay.

"Tom?" The nurse's voice registers in Tom's mind, making him turn to the left. "I can take you back now."

It's the rolling of thunder in his ears as he walks with the nurse. Air can't come to his lungs with anticipation and his face is drained of color. His eyes gloss over and his hands shake at his sides, feeling like they're turning into icicles with every step they make. When the double doors open, nurses, doctors, and patients are scattered about, all of them talking and making plenty of noise but none of it registers. It's all constant pounding to Tom, just the beating of his heart in his throat and shallow breathing, eyes dead set on the nurse leading him to his friends.

The nurse looks over her shoulder and gestures out, still walking and that's when Tom sees them. Harrison is seated in a bed. His arm is in a blue sling and soot decorates his pale face. But his legs hang off the edge casually and he's got an oxygen mask held over his face, and he's facing Elli. And Tom feels like he got sucker punched with a burst of air through his lungs with the sight of her. She's leaned back a little but her head is facing Harrison, an oxygen mask covering her mouth and nose.

Without even a rushed thank you to the nurse, Tom runs over to Elli. Elli sees him out of the corner of her eye and by the time she faces forward, Tom is at her bedside and two don't even have to think before Elli is sitting up, pulling the mask off, and Tom's arms are engulfing her. Elli's chin rests on his shoulder and Tom's face is buried in her shirt, tears already brimming as he breathes.

The very corner of Harrison's mouth tugs into a gentle smile as he looks at them before getting to his feet. "I'll...give you two a minute." An almost chuckle leaves Harrison's lips as he ditches the oxygen mask and goes for a nurse about a bathroom.

Elli and Tom barely heard Harrison over their own thoughts of each other. In the middle of fire, Elli's main thought was Tom, making sure he wasn't around, making sure he wasn't injured. She was trapped and that's her thought. And Tom? He just knows he'd be lost without her and the very thought of not having her, of losing her, could kill him on the spot. He can't breathe without her and it's never been more clear than right now. Right now with him inhaling the smoke that's made its way into her clothes and her arms pulling him as close to her as the bed will allow.

He's in love with her but it's more than that. She's in his best friend and he needs her like he needs oxygen. So, he pulls away first, but just enough to look at her face.

Her face is dirty with smoke stains and her makeup is smeared all over. Her eyes are bright red, likely from crying and the irritation from the smoke. Tom has never seen her hair so messy before, strands sticking up and overlapping everywhere but where Elli likes them. But, every single second of the two looking at each other, both with tears of relief, it's like breathing again for the first time. And Tom has to close the distance between the two of them.

Tom's lips brush over hers, slow and hesitant, making sure it's okay. It's like their first kiss all over again, filled with excitement and anticipation mixed with anxiety but perfect. It's slow and what they needed. And once their lips are connected, over the initial touch, Tom deepens the kiss, hang on the back of her head and pulling her as close to him as possible, neither giving a damn that anyone can see them.

They pull away, burying their heads into the other's shoulders. Elli can smell Tom's favorite cologne and tears start to flow down her cheeks. Tom's hand rubs up her back and he moves his face from her shoulder and kisses her cheek before kissing her head. His heart is swelling and his tears have only stopped for the sake of Elli but he is so relieved that she is here with her arms around him and he's so in love with her, it's painful.

"You can't do that again." Tom mutters through a whisper before pulling away, allowing his hands to cup her cheeks, thumbs wiping the tears as she blinks up at him. "I can't breathe without you."