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

Chapter 27

Dedi'd to @Im_Cupid! Special mention to @jessiebear2000 for her opinion on my new cover and being the final comment (inboxed to me) :D

Skylar's POV

"Ed," I said, smiling. "I...don't know if I like the lyrics all that much."

Ed smirked. "You can do better?"

"I don't even want to be here," I said glumly to the man known as Ginger Jesus. "I mean, I appreciate your help but I'm just not feeling it right now."

Ed set down the sheet of paper and stared at me. "You said you'd written one before, with Niall."

"That was like when we were in high school," I said. "It was ages ago."

"But it means you've got something, even if it means you're not in the mood now," Ed probed.

"Ed, it's not that I can't write, it's that I don't want to be here, period," I said, exasperated.

"C'mon," he said. "It's not that bad, what we've got so far."

"I just can't to this, why did I agree to it?" I moaned.

It had been over 3 weeks since I'd agreed to sing at Simon's party, and he'd kept me in California way longer than I intended to stay. Jenna had flown back to Ireland, and I'd had to stay here. When she'd met Ed a few days ago, she'd nearly fainted because of his very presence. A little overkill, but that was Jenna.

"Did you want me to call Niall?" Ed asked.

"Niall and I aren't on speaking terms," I said through gritted teeth, not really wanting to get into it. Ed knew the whole story of our falling out, but he didn't know about Niall's apology a few days ago.

"Still?" Ed asked, shaking his head. "Stupid boy. He should've known better."

I blushed. "Yes, he should've. But unfortunately for both of us, he didn't."

"How's your friend doing? The girl he, you know..." Ed trailed off.

"Ashlyn's in Chicago, back in her hometown," I said, wincing as I said her name. "I haven't talked to her either. And I don't really plan to."

"You can't just avoid your best friends forever," Ed said quietly. "They hurt you. You had every right to be mad. But it's kind of been almost 2 months since you've talked to them. Maybe you should just accept it and move on."

"I am moving on," I insisted.

"But like, put it behind you and be friends again," Ed said.

"I hope you can understand why I can't do that," I mumbled. 

"Then you haven't moved on," Ed said softly.

My face flamed. "It's hard, you know? Things between us will never be the same again," I said, sounding really upset. "And as much as I hate him...I miss having him around me. I miss my best friend. I wish I could go back to the times when there wasn't any drama, Ashlyn wasn't around, and it was me fighting for his attention when it was stolen by Dom." I realized I'd gone way too far back into my adolescence. "Oops. I mean, I wish--"

"No, I get it," Ed reassured me. "You want things to be the way they used to be."

"Yeah," I said sadly. "But as much as I hope for it...I know it's not possible. Unless Professor Genius invents a Time Machine."

He smiled. "Hey, maybe what you need is a new best friend. Someone you can lean on."

"I'm leaning on Jenna as much as I can, and you too, and Eleanor and Danielle and the boys," I explained. But I frowned. "It's just not the same."

"I know," Ed said. "You can't just erase all those years worth of friendship."

"I understand," I said softly. "I just...I want to forget it all. Forget about all the hurt, all the feelings involved. I just want to start over."

"Are you willing to forgive and forget then?" Ed asked.

 I bit my lip. "I don't know."

"I think you know the answer. And I think we've just found the perfect thing to write a song about," Ed said, smiling at me.

It suddenly dawned on me. "Omigosh, you're right!" I leaned over and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Ed. You're the best."

He smiled. "So I've been told. Now, let's get this song started."

Niall's POV

"How was work at SyCo?" Liam asked as Ed sat down on the couch with a fizzy water.

"Great, actually, S--I mean," he coughed. "the new artist I'm working with, we came up with a great song today."

"Awesome," Zayn said. "Who's the new artist?"

Ed smiled. "Confidential. Song writer's honor," he said. "Plus Simon made me swear to it."

"Boy or girl?" I asked.

He glanced my way, and the way he looked at me made me think I knew something. "I can't say that either."

"Aww," Louis complained.

"Hey," I said. "We ran into Skylar at SyCo a few days ago. Did you see her there today? Jenna said she stayed behind in California."

"No," Ed said, and I felt like he was lying.

"You sure?" Harry said skeptically.

"Yup," Ed said weirdly. "Can I talk to you in private, Niall?"

"Uh, sure," I said nervously.

He lead me to a closet and closed the door. "I did see Skylar. But...not at SyCo." (A/N: Ed is lying to Niall so that Niall won't find out about Skylar and Ed's song). "We ran into each other out in town, and we talked over lunch."

"And?" I asked nervously.

Ed ran his hands through his ginger hair and sighed. "All I can say is that you screwed up, Niall."

"I know," I groaned. "I apologized a few days ago."

"You did? She didn't tell me that," Ed said. 

"Well, I did," I mumbled.

"Did she forgive you?" he asked.

"What do you think?" I asked crossly.

"I'm just asking, dude," Ed said. "I'm assuming no."

"No, she didn't, she didn't even give me a straight up answer," I groaned. "I'm so frustrated!"

"Do you miss her?" he asked.

"More than I feel I should," I said miserably. "I want my best friend back. But I don't think I'll get her back."

Ed studied me. "You've gotta make it right, Niall. Do you still love her?" 

"Of course," I said heavily.

"Then it's up to you. You screwed up, and you've gotta fix it."

I sighed. "You're right. I just don't know how to."

"I'll leave you to brainstorm," Ed said, clapping me on the back and leaving the closet.

When he'd gone, I slid to the floor and put my head in my hands.

What could I do to fix this?

Ending it there. Answer question for dedication: "What should Niall do to fix his relationship with Skylar"?

Love, Lauren.