The Countdown

Reunited and Replaced

(Ashely's Pov.)

I walked along the sidewalk as the cold breeze blew around me. Even though it was November i was making my way to the small ice cream shop to see Ella. They were only open for a very small amount of days before they closed for winter. I ran my tongue over my chapped lips and came in contact with my newly pierced lip. I had waited so long to get this piercing and now i finally had it and i couldn't be happier.

It had been a few days since i "hit zero" and i couldn't get the dark eyed boy out of my mind. I fell for my match. I did the one thing i said i would never let myself do. I spent my whole life telling myself that i would chose my own fate and not end up with the guy that was picked for me. But now here i am, not being able to keep the boy from my mind. I don't even think he knows my name..

These thoughts still rushed through my head as i walked into the quaint shop. The bell chiming and a single person looking up from the corner. A blonde boy. Our eyes met for a moment before i turned away and walked to the empty counter. I stood for a moment, and no one showed. "Ella?" I called out. Shuffling footsteps was my only response. Smiling and nodding towards me Ella started to make my regular. I could tell something was wrong, her smile was forced, her eyes were red as if she had been crying, and her usually bright personality was darkened. I grew worried. "Ella, love what's wrong?"

"Im fine ash, just tired and cold i guess." I saw through her lie instantly. "El, you've been crying i can tell. What happened" Her blue eyes flashed from me to her left wrist. The numbers were frozen and i knew what that meant. "Oh my god Ella." I hopped over the counter and gave her the biggest hug my small frame could manage.

That's when she looked up at the boy in the corner, addressing him as Luke an telling him she would be off shortly. Were they a thing? Ella was never the type to cross the system, well now i guess she had no choice. Then the door chimed again. Ella handed me my ice cream and waved at the person who came in, a fake smile plastered on her face. "You must be the new worker, Niall's replacement" i saw her tense at the name, he must have been her match i heard about the crash a few days ago. That's when i turned around to be met with by the eyes that i hoped i would never have to see again.

"Hello Ashley." He said coldly. Then averting his attention to Ella as she took him in the back to see the manager. I took this as my opportunity to hop back over the counter and take a seat. I placed my head in my hands as i heard a chair squeak, and light footsteps come towards me. I looked up to see Ella standing in front of me and that Luke boy standing next to her. "How do you know Calum?" she asked quickly. I wasn't sure how i would tell her the answer. That i was avoiding my match, who i was growing feeling for by the second. So instead of speaking i pulled my sleeve u and showed her the zeroes.

"He's your match?! Ashley then why are you two avoiding each other?!" I gave her one look and that was the only answer she needed. "Just text me tonight and we'll talk then" i mumbled and she nodded as Luke took her hand and walked her out into the cold air. Out of the corner of my eye i saw Calum had seen the encounter, and i decided to get out of their before he too started interrogating. I stood up and as i walked out the door i heard a voice from behind me say something that stuck to me like glue "You can't ignore me forever Ashley.." and the door pushed the words out into the cold dark evening with me as i walked home.