Change of Heart (A One Direction & Emblem3 Fan Fiction)

Chapter 52

Second-last chapter, feeling a bit sad, but I expect to be feeling sadder with Chapter 53. Anyways, read on!

Liam's POV

"Hey," I said, nudging Ashlyn. "Can we talk?"

"Sure," she said, standing up, and following me out of the room.

 "What's up?" she asked when the two of us were alone.

"Listen." I hesitated as I tried to think of a way not to hurt her feelings the way Keaton had.

"I'm listening," she said, arching an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"You and me..." I hesitated. "You know how a few weeks ago you were wondering where we stood?"

She nodded. "You're breaking up with me, aren't you."

"Yeah," I said, embarassed.

She smiled. "It's all right, I get it."

"You do?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I do," she admitted. "I've been feeling the same way, at least I think."

"You didn't feel the same way as before," I said.

"Right," she said. 

"So we're cool right?" I asked. "You're not going to run in front of traffic?"

"Nope," Ashlyn said, sadness flooding her face. "I just want her to wake up and to recognize me."

"I hope her memory's returned," I admitted.

"Same here," Ashlyn said. "Though it did affect me more than it did you."

"True," I said, shrugging. "So we're cool?"

"Absolutely," she said. "Let's go back inside."

When we got back in, Niall gave us a weird look. "What went down between you two?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked nonchalantly.

"You just look like you've had a heart-to-heart or something. Are you all right?" 

"I'm fine," Ashlyn said. "The two of us had a change of heart, is all."

Niall smiled. "It's good you're both fine with it." His face changed to one of anger. "When I get my hands on Keaton Robert Stromberg---"

"Niall, calm down, there's nothing you can do about it now," Zayn said wearily from the chair across the room.

"Yeah, well he should've been more careful with her," Niall said miserably. "Now she's in a freaking coma, and my worst fear is that she'll wake up and not remember anything."

"She will," I said.

"How do you know?" Ashlyn asked.

"Trying to keep a positive mindset," I said, shrugging, "I honestly don't know."

"Where's Lou?" Harry asked, coming into the room. "I thought he would be--"

"He's out baby shopping with Eleanor, which reminds me," Zayn said. "The four of us need to get him a shower present."

"A what?" Niall asked.

"A baby shower present," I elaborated.

"Oh."

"What though?" Harry asked, closing the door.

"Well, what do you think is most useful for them?" Niall asked.

"It would help if we knew whether or not it was a boy or a girl," I grumbled. 

"Yeah," Zayn said. "They've been so mum about it."