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

Chapter 39

Skylar's POV

"Never been hurt," I sang softly to myself as I walked into work.

"Hey girl!" Dominique said, smiling at me from the concierge. 

"Hey," I said brightly. Despite having El and Dani as my best friends, Dom, Jess and I were still really good friends as well.

"What's up?" she asked as the two of us headed to the elevator to start the day's work.

"Not much," I said, shrugging. "Just working on my album and trying rid myself of stage fright for...I don't know, Simon's party?"

Dom laughed. "You'll be fine," she chided. "You did beat me out for the Voice-Off."

"That was years ago." Despite my confidence about performing in less than a month, I was having second thoughts about doing this.

It's for Ellie and Louis, I told myself. You're going to go through with this, whether people boo you offstage or not.

I really hated my subconcious sometimes.

"So, when can I buy your single?" Dominique asked, grinning.

I laughed. "In a few weeks. Simon wants to release it before his party."

"I can't wait to hear it," Dominique said warmly. "I'll bet it's amazing."

"Thanks," I said, blushing. "Hey, did I tell you about what Ryan did to me?"

"No, but Jess filled me in a few days ago," Dominique replied. "What a jerk."

"I found out who he was working for," I said in a low voice. "Who he wanted to deliver me to."

"Who?" Dominique asked in hushed tones.

I opened my mouth to speak when the doors opened. "Let's go to my office, it'll be more private," I mumbled.

She nodded and the two of us headed to my office. When we were inside, the door was locked, and we'd both settled in, I sighed.

"It was Ashlyn."

Dominique's blue eyes went wide. "You serious? Oh my god."

"I'm dead serious," I said, shaking my head. "I called the police, and she and Ryan are going to jail."

"Oh my god," Dominique repeated. "I can't believe this."

"I know," I said, shaking my head. "I was shaking. I was so mad at her. We were best friends, Dom." My voice cracked at the end. "I can't believe I fell for her bullsh!t. And she said she kept wanting to "reconnect". What a joke."

Dominique walked over and hugged me. "It's all right," she said quietly. "You're amongst friends."

I smiled gratefully at her. "I know."

"So, let's get to work," she said. 

We had probably been working in silence for a half hour when Dominique's phone buzzed. "Hey," she said, breaking the silence. "Can Jess come over?"

"Uh, sure," I said. "Why?"

"She's bored and her shift is over and wants to hang," Dominique reported.

"Yeah sure," I said, smiling. 

"Great, she's on her way," Dominique said, tucking her phone away. "What are you singing for Simon's party, anyways?"

"I--it's kind of a secret," I confessed. "No one knows, not even Simon. It's not my new single anymore."

Dominique smiled. "Whatever song it is, I'm sure you'll rock the house, Skylar. You were always the better singer."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Hardly. You were stiff competition, Walters."

"And any competition is good competition, Abbott," she mocked. "But seriously, Skylar, you're going to be amazing. Niall will be so proud of you."

Her mentioning Niall made me think back to the conversation I'd had with Ed two days ago. "Niall may love you" was what Ed had said, word for word.

Did Niall really love me? Still? After all that had happened between us. Maybe Ed was just telling me stuff to take my mind off of the singing.

"Skylar?" Dominique asked worriedly.

I looked at her. "Yeah?"

"I asked if you were all right."

"I'm fine," I swallowed, reaching for a water bottle in the mini fridge. "I'm just a little...preoccupied."

"More than a little," she observed. "What's up?"

"Ed told me that Niall loved me," I confessed. "I don't know what to make of it."

"What do you mean?" Dominique asked.

"Ed said that Niall loves me. But I don't know if Ed was trying to make me feel better, or if he was telling the truth and it accidentally slipped his tongue."

Dominique beamed at me. "That's perfect! Niall loves you, you love him, it's a win-win!"

"But Dom," I sighed. "What if it never happens?"

"You can't think that way," Dominique said, standing up and walking over to where I was sitting. "You're going to make it happen."

"How?" I asked, alarmed.

She grinned at me. "You're going to sing, of course."

Niall's POV

"YOU TOLD HER WHAT?" I roared.

Ed shrank back. "It was an accident!" he pleaded. "I didn't mean to!"

"Great, now she's gonna think I'm some c*nt who won't stop trying to get her, and every time I do get her I end up breaking her heart," I grumbled.

"It's your fault, Niall," Ed pointed out. "If you had never slept with Ashlyn, you would still be dating Skylar."

I put my head in my hands. I knew he was right.

"By the way, Ashlyn got arrested," Ed said.

I jumped. "WHAT?"

"She was the mastermind behind Skylar's kidnapping, she bribed Ryan into doing the dirty work for her so that she could get to you," Ed said. "That's what Skylar told me."

"OH MY GOD." was all I could manage before I collapsed.

The last thing I remembered was Ed rushing to me and yelling, "LIAM! HELP!"

Then I blacked out.

Dunh Dunh Dunhhhh.

There you have it, two updates in two days.

Thoughts?

BTW, for those of you curious, there are 10-15 chappies left in ETU. So it's nowhere near ending. 

xxLauren.