When I'm Gone ( Nate Maloley AU)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nate's POV:

Cameron was around her all the time, and it made him sick. Watching as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her temple. Nate could see she didn't want Cameron to be her boyfriend, but Nate could see he's fallen for her.

Looking around him, everything has changed. When Nate looks over at Nash, a small handprint lays on his cheek. Hayden slapped him. She did come down fuming and now she's happy with Cameron.

"Yo, Maloley! C'mon we're going outside for a bonfire," Gilinsky says.

Nate follows silently, and watches Cam entangle their fingers. She covers her mouth with her hand, like she does when she laughs. She smiles sincerely at him.

"Nate sit over here," Sam says, where he's seated next to Hayden.

"Okay."

Hayden's POV:

I stare at him as he seats himself beside me. Most of them were shirtless, including Cam, who has his arm wrapped around my waist. I lay my head on his shoulder.

"Hayden," Johnson asks, watching me.

"Yeah?" I ask tiredly.

"Up to play truth or dare?"

"No," I say almost too quickly.

"O-kay," he says.

I remove myself from Cameron's embrace and sit in a lawn chair a few feet from them. Watching as they tell stories from how they all met. I smile and look at my phone in the holder of the chair for cups. I sneak a picture of them and post it on my Instagram. I'm no longer angry with Nate for what he did. I never should've been mad. I hope he knows I can't take him back for my sake.

Immediately likes and hateful comments fill my feed. I sigh and ignore it. Sammy looks over at me, motioning me to come back over. I sigh and walk over situating myself between Cam and Nate.

"Okay, Hayden. You're gonna hate us," Johnson starts, "but, we need you to not freak out."

"What?" I ask staring at the six boys.

Cameron's grip on me tightened before he spoke, "We need you and Nate to be a couple again."

"Why?" I whisper staring at them, all but Nate.

Nate sighs, but Nash explains, obviously as angry and Cameron.

"Because our fans rather see you with Nate than Cameron, and I hate to admit it sweetheart, but you still like Nate. No matter what you say," Nash says obviously still mad that I hit him.

Nate looks at me, and I see behind his tough exterior he's just as broken as me. The mistake ripped us apart.

"Natalie's no longer allowed around any of us," Nate says, "We all filed a restraining order on her."

"That doesn't change what happened, Nate. I don't want to be forced into this."

His eyes plead with me. He has a different reason and I want to hear it. Away from the others. I pull from Cameron's grip and pull Nate into the house. Once I shut the door, he covers the windows.

"Why, Nate? Why should I take you back?"

"You don't have to do this, Hayden. It's not just because I'm not over you, but it's because Natalie ruined everything. I annoyed you that day," he whispers, resting his head against my forehead.

I shut my eyes.

"I know you unblocked me, I see the hate, and what am I supposed to do? They blame you for the breakup. I know you don't be live it, but I still love you."

"You have to promise me this is the last time that I can trust you. You have to promise me nothing will come between us, and not make a drunken mistake."

"I promise, Hayden."

"I'll take you back."

Nate smiles and picks me up. I smile as he sets me down, and kisses my nose.

"Cameron's gonna hate me," I whisper.

"I know."

The door opens and the other five pile in the house. I look at cameron, before looking away. This sucks. He was there when I was broken, and I just went back to the one who hurt me.

"I'm going to bed," I whisper.

I turn on my heels and walk up the stairs. Feeling a heavy feeling on my chest.

A/N: sorry for the short chapter -Dani