Ashton's heart dropped, no one could prepare him for those three words. The doctors never mentioned any brain damage. She must've been joking. " mady stop. That's not funny." Ashton's smile turned into a straight face. " no who are you? Who am I? What am I doing here?" Mady sat up, her face filled with confusion. " DOCTORS!!" Ashton called quickly, startling mady. " she doesn't remember who I am?" The doctor came to a sudden halt at the foot of the bed. " mady sweetie. Do you know where you are?" He spoke in a low, calm voice. How was he so calm? Ashton was nearly in tears, he had seen the movies. He would have to force her to fall in love with him again, he knew all of her and she knew not a single part of him anymore.
“well it seems i’m in the hospital” she blinked at the doctor like a baby deer, unaware of anything except that. The doctor walked over to Ashton, asking him politely to leave for a moment while he explained everything to her, so she wouldn’t be alarmed. He submitted to his wishes, and left, his feet weighing on the floor as they took him to the waiting room. The rest of the boys, with Steph rushed in and gathered around Ashton. “Dude” luke almost shouted “we heard Mady woke up! what’s wrong? are you ok?” Luke set his hand on ashton’s shoulder, and that’s when all hell let loose. “DON’T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME” Ashton screamed, yanking Luke’s hand off of him as he stood in front of them. “ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU LEFT ME HERE ONCE YOU WERE OK” He screamed at them, making sure everyone felt his words. “I WAS THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS. EVERY FUCKING TIME” His tears began to fall, but the anger still fumed inside of him. “IF YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST WALK BACK IN HERE LIKE YOU DIDN’T LEAVE ME” He sniffled, his voice cracking as the tears flowed faster. “You fucking left.. they always leave.” The weight of the world pushed him back into his chair, and he hid his face in his hand, every tear from the past month came pouring back into this moment.
" I'm sorry ash" Calum spoke " yeah me too" Luke Michael and Stephanie all said in sync. " sorry doesn't change the fact that she doesn't even know who we are anymore. Yeah go ahead walk in there. Tell her you’re her best friends. See what she says" the tears were falling from his cheeks. Stephanie took it upon herself to go see her best friend, after all it was her other half. " mady?" She spoke softly as she entered the room. " who are you?" The voice from the bed called out. " it's me. Stephanie. Your best friend. Come on mady. You have to remember me." Stephanie sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. " please get off my bed I don't know you. This is so frustrating" mady called out, tears starting to fall from her cheeks. " okay okay. Let me go get your best friends. There's no way you could forget all of us" Stephanie walked from the room to the circle of her friends. " please guys go in there. I know it's heart breaking but, she needs us now more than ever" the tears filled Stephanie’s eyes. " you guys go we will be in there in a second" Michaels arms wrapped around Stephanie, bringing her head to his chest. " I just don't forget how someone can forget all of that you know? I've know her for years now and there's nothing there." the tears were pouring down her face as Michael swayed back and forth, placing a kiss on her forehead.
One by one they all entered hopeful, only to leave the room in as many pieces as Ashton was in. Calum was last, and he shot us all a quick thumbs up before opening the door, and slowly closing it behind him. He walked slowly around Mady’s bed, making sure not to startle her, as her eyes were focused on her hands, tears still streaming down her face. “Uhm, Mady?” he spoke up, and she jerked next to him, startled at his closeness. She squinted her eyes promptly, opening them wide shortly after, a smile spreading across her face. “Calum!” her hands reached out around him, pulling him into her. He pulled away abruptly. “You..you remember me?” he stuttered, making sure it was real. “Of course! You’re my best friend Calpal!” she nudged his arm, talking in a baby voice as if they were in 2nd grade again. But to her, they were. Calum was all she had every known growing up, from Pre-K all the way to high school, Calum was the constant. Protecting her from bullies, walking her home, letting her win at Sonic when they played on Game boy. Her shout had been heard from the waiting room, and the door jiggled open as the rest of the boys and stephanie walked in, all sending a curious look towards Calum as they sat down. “She remembers me” Calum rocked back in his shoes, almost proud of himself. Everyone else jumped up with excitement, making sure not to alarm mady, but sure enough that it was progress. Except Ashton. Ashton sat in his seat, sat in his jealousy as it pulsed through him, burning his veins and singeing his blood. Why didn’t she remember? Did she really love Calum all along?
