Expect the Unexpected (A One Direction & Emblem3 Fan Fiction)

Chapter 21

Changing things up a little :) Dedication to a commenter, and it has to be related to the questions I ask you guys at the end of the chapter.

Dedicated to... niallersprincessxo26 :D

Skylar's POV

So...there I was. I'd just gotten saved from my ex-boyfriend/kidnapper/homicidal manic person, then watched him and his house go up in flames, and then taken to the police station. Then I'd come home to find out my supposed boyfriend and my supposed best friend making happy in HER BEDROOM, IN MY FLAT. 

Some day I was having, eh?

I sat on my bed staring miserably at the wall. It was almost 7 o'clock in the morning, and despite my exhaustion, I didn't want to sleep.

I felt betrayed, by the two people I trusted the most. How could they do that to me while I was suffering thanks to that jerkazoid who was now a pile of ashes? Had they not cared at all?

Tears swam in my eyes as I tried to block out the picture of the two of them, both shirtless, cuddled in her bed. I tried not to. But I couldn't erase the memory from my head. It was as if it was permanently engraved there.

"Knock knock," Eleanor sang from my doorway. 

"Come in," I said miserably.

She waddled over and plunked herself down. She was holding a tub of cookies n' cream ice cream, and two spoons. She waggled her eyebrows and patted her stomach. "Babies and I are craving cold treats, and you could use some cheering up. Let's eat."

I smiled sadly at her and took a spoon. I was really hungry. "Thanks," I said softly, digging my spoon into the soft ice cream and pushing the spoon into my mouth. "Mmm."

"So how are you doing?" Eleanor asked after spooning some into her mouth as well.

I swallowed. "Not too good."

Eleanor's eyes flashed with fury. "They're such jerks, especially Niall."

Tears finally spilled down my cheeks. "I know," I said, letting out a sob. "I just...can't believe he'd do something to me. I really thought...he wouldn't."

"Aww, it's all right," Eleanor said kindly, sticking her spoon into the ice cream and hugging me. "You're better off."

"But El, the thing is that I'm not," I admitted quietly. "That year I went to Canada, I was lost without him. He's my rock. He always will be. But now...since he's part of the problem, I don't know who my rock is anymore."

Eleanor was quiet.

I seized the chance to continue: "So now that Ashlyn's mixed up in there too, I don't have a best friend anymore. Or at least, I feel that way. Carter and Vee are starting their own lives, and my parents couldn't care less about my brother and I. Like, I have you and Dani and Sierra and Jenna, and the boys, minus--" I cut myself off. I couldn't say Niall's name-- "you know who, but I don't have anyone...that really knows me."

Eleanor studied me. "I see your dilemna. But Skylar, you're always going to have us. Whether Niall and Ash are part of your life any longer is up to you."

"I just don't know if I can live happily if they aren't," I said quietly.

"Skylar," Eleanor said. "You're one of the greatest people I know. You can adapt to any situation if you're exposed to it long enough. And if you're prepared to do it, I know you can move on without Niall and Ashlyn. Because you're strong enough to. Think about it. You dumped your abusive boyfriend, you overcame the stress and insecurities of dating and hanging out with One Direction, you struggled but survived when you had to part ways with them, and you experienced the same thing when you came back after two years and realized the boy you loved was dating someone else. Then you had the accident, you lost your memory, Keaton broke up with you, you were out for a month and a half, your parents stopped caring, and now this." Eleanor looked serious. "Believe it or not, Skylar, all these things shaped you into who you are today. And all of this happened a little over a span of 3 years, which is incredible. And they've also made you stronger, a lot stronger. So believe me or not, I have a feeling you'll be able to reshape your life with or without your two friends at the moment."

I took a moment to digest her words. I swallowed and smiled. "You're right, El. Thanks."

"No problem," she said, grinning. Then she jumped. "Oops, baby's kicking."

"Which one?" I teased.

"I'd like to hope it's Hadley or Tegan, but it could be Alexander or Ez," she said.

"Personally I'm pulling for two girls. Lou already has so much experience handling girls," I said.

"True, but I think he really wants a boy to influence," Eleanor said, smirking.

"Has it occured to you it could be three girls?" I asked.

"No, because there were two eggs--" Eleanor cut herself off. "Oh, shit." We stared at each other and then burst out laughing. "I guess it's not such a bad thing," Eleanor said.

"I don't know, then you'd have to pick another name and you know how long that took you," I said.

"Ugh," Eleanor groaned as someone else knocked on the door. I looked up. 

"C'mon in, Lou," I said, smiling.

Louis came in and sat down. "Don't feel bad, Skylar. He'll come to his senses eventually."

"Lou, I got a really nice talk to from your girlfriend and I'd like to leave it at that," I said calmly.

"All right," Louis said.

"LOUIS, WE MIGHT HAVE THREE GIRLS OR THREE BOYS!" Eleanor yelled out of the blue.

Louis's eyes popped open. "WHAT?" Then he thought about it. "Oh yeah..."

"This is insanity," I said, giggling.

Someone coughed, and my eyes flicked towards the door.

The last person I wanted to see was standing there.

"What do you want?" Louis asked rather coldly.

Niall flinched. "Skylar, can we talk?" he asked quietly.

I pretended to think about it. "No."

"We didn't do anything," Niall insisted.

"Bull-shit, I saw it in your eyes, plus you were in your boxers and Ashlyn was in a sports-bra," I snapped.

"We didn't have, you know," Niall said awkwardly.

"Did you kiss?" I snapped.

He went bright red. "No, we didn't!" Niall's voice sounded higher than usual.

And I knew the truth.

I turned my back to him. "I trusted you, Niall. Why do this to me, now?"

"It just happened," Niall said.

"NIALL JAMES HORAN!" Eleanor gasped.

"Skylar please, let me explain--" Niall began, but I cut him off.

"Forget it, Niall, there's no way I'm forgiving you. Not this time. Any other girl and it would've been fine. But Ashlyn? My best friend. Forget about it. We're over Niall, don't talk to me."

All of a sudden, the waves of hurt, anger, and betrayal crashed down and I burst into tears.

"Get him out and get Liam in here," Eleanor hissed to Louis.

"I'm sorry," Niall pleaded as Louis shoved him from the room.

Eleanor helped me dry my eyes, but it was no use, as I just broke down again and didn't stop crying for the rest of the morning.

Team Niall or Team Skylar (who's team are you on) and why? 

Dedication to a commenter who answers my question!

<3, Lauren