Deadfriends (One Direction AU)

Talking To Rachel

*Zayn's POV*

After Misty went home I was watching for that man to show up. I got distracted when Liam and Danielle showed up. I was exchanging funny stories from our living days with Liam and Danielle under the bridge when I heard a car pull into the clearing where Danielle had died.

"Who's that?"I asked and Dani's face turned white.

"That's his car, he murdered me."She said as we watched him pull another kicking girl from his trunk. He dragged her squirming frame into the middle of the clearing.

"Stop please, I won't call the police just let me go!"She sobbed and Dani hid in Liam's chest.

"I can't watch."

"Shut up and do what I tell you and I'll kill you quickly."He said menacingly.

"Please, no."She sobbed. I saw him throw something that looked like underwear aside and next a muffled scream filled the air.

"Dani, did he just?"I stopped there because she was nodding."Oh my good Lord."

*Eleanor's POV*

I just wanted it to end. My entire body throbbed with excruciating pain. Every move hurt. I wanted to die. He pulled his knife out and smiled cruelly. He stabbed me in the stomach and I yelped. He pulled out and dug the knife in again. He repeated it multiple times until I was fading in and out of consciousness from blood loss.

"Good bye darling."He whispered before slitting my throat wide open. I sputtered and it all went black. I welcomed the blackness with open arms as it took away the pain.

*Liam's POV*

"She's dead, he's packing up."Zayn said. Niall walked up and gasped.

"Was that another murder?"He asked and we nodded."God help that poor girl."That's when I noticed a glimmer of light above her body. It slowly formed into a body of a girl.

"Guys, come on."I said running for this girl."Hey, hey."I said waving my hand in front of her face."You're dead now OK, but we are too. It will be fine OK. What's your name lovie?"She gulped tearing her eyes from her body to look at me.

"Eleanor, my name is Eleanor."

"Hello Eleanor, I'm Danielle and the man that killed you killed me too."Dani said moving closer to her.

"Did he, you know, you too?"She asked quietly and Dani nodded.

"Hurt like a thousand sons of bitches."She nodded in agreement.

"I'm Liam and this is Zayn."I said.

"And I'm Niall."

"Now there are a couple things you need to know about being a ghost."

*Zayn's POV*

I turned to see Louis walking up the path. As Liam and Niall explained to Eleanor what was going on I went towards him.

"Lou! I'm not under the bridge tonight."I called and he came towards me.

"Who's the new lass mate?"He asked pointing towards Eleanor.

"That's Eleanor she was murdered about half an hour ago by the same man that killed Danielle."He stared at her.

"She's a beautiful girl."He whispered.

"Go tell her that."He walked towards her. I had a good feeling about this. I had a very good feeling about this.

*Louis' POV*

I walked towards the girl, who I'd been told was Eleanor, with a nervous feeling in my stomach. I hadn't felt this since year 11 when I asked Jenny Peterson out on a date, she said no.

"Hey I'm Louis."I said walking right up to her.

"I'm Eleanor, I like your jacket."I looked down at the multicoloured monstrosity that was terribly outdated.

"Really, it's hideous by today's fashion standards."

"I like it. Vintage is cool."

"It's definitely vintage, circa 1985 vintage."She giggled at that.

"I like you."

"That's good because I think we're soul mates."She laughed some more at that. Her laugh sounded like nothing I'd ever heard before, but I would spend the rest of eternity making her laugh if I had my way. Zayn scoffed.

"You two are worse than Liam and Dani and you've barely met."I laughed at that. I patted my cheek for a kiss and she leaned in to give me one. I turned at the last second to be sure she landed on my lips.

"That was terribly bold!"She exclaimed.

"Now that is something Lou is good at, being terribly bold. I think it might just be his time period."Niall said. Liam smiled wrapping an arm around Dani. I smiled at Eleanor and she smiled back. I could go the rest of my afterlife on the hope of seeing that smile blossom every day.

*Harry's POV*

I knew it was risky, but I had to. If Misty found out I was gone she would probably assume the worst. I couldn't not go, I had to go. I snuck out to Rachel's grave and looked at it.

"Rachel."I whispered sitting in front of the weathered grey stone."I love you so much and I just wish you had moved on. I never wanted you to cry over me forever. I wanted to see your beautiful children grow up. I shouldn't have died. We should've grown old together. I should've been able to make love to you and have children with you, but I didn't and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I left you all alone and vulnerable. I'm sorry I took that bullet to the temple. If I had just stepped out of the way then I could've had the life we dreamed of. Do you remember the plans we had? You wanted a house full of kids and I always told you that two or three would be enough when in reality I wanted a houseful as much as you did. I wanted to hear the stomping of tiny feet echoing off the wooden floors of the house I built with my own two hands. Well, maybe I’d have some help, but it would be mostly me Rach. I wanted to hear little mouths with squeaky voices call you Mummy and me Daddy. I so wanted that. You said we'd have a good size house by the river near both our parents. I wanted to give it all to you. Misty, she looks just like you Rach, and I think I'm beginning to fall for her."I raked a hand through my hair. I looked towards the moonlight sky trying to keep myself from going through the motions of crying. I didn’t want to cry.

"I feel like I'm betraying you Rachel, but I really like her. She's so pretty and smart and so Misty. I want to kiss her more than anything else in the world, but I can't."I took a deep breath and stood up from her grave."Thanks for listening Rach, you were always very good at that. Much better than I was."I pressed my lips against her headstone like I always did before I left her, my love. I spun on my heel and walked away. I walked home and I went up to Misty, who was sound asleep in her bed. I pressed my lips against her forehead and she shivered. I had to concentrate and use a lot of energy to make the simple gesture. I was exhausted, but it was worth it.

"I wish I could tell you how much I love you, but that's one thing you can never know."I whispered disappearing into my room to catch some much needed sleep.

*Misty's POV*

I was dreaming about this woman. She was older, but pretty.

"Lovie, I'm Rachel."Her soft voice said suddenly becoming young again. She looked just like me.

"I was told my Harry is falling for you and I'm glad. He deserves to find someone who can see him. Now that I'm no longer living, I can see all the time he spent watching me and longing for me. He deserves better than that for his afterlife."I swallowed hard and she smiled at me."Could you tell him that Rachel says it's OK to love again?"I nodded still slightly scared of what was happening."Goodbye Lovie, live life to its fullest, you never know when it may be over.”