What We Are - N.H

Forty Three

Song of the chapter ~ 18 One Direction

MABEL'S P.O.V
"So we'll go on Friday? Meet outside the station?" Katrina asked us.
We'd been in this Skype chat for well over two hours, discussing our plans for going this Friday. A day in Wedfield shopping centre with the girls, and then meeting our boys in Nandos after, Niall's favourite.
Finally, we'll get to meet Freya for the first time. She had recently moved from her home in Bunbury, Australia to the middle of London because her dad has just got a new job.
At least every story of Katrina's childhood that she's told us has involved this Freya girl, but never in my life have I ever met her.
"I'm so exited to meet Freya!!!" Nadia giggled with excitement.
"You will love her!! I've miss her so much and I haven't seen her in like five years so I'm so exited too!!" Katrina said laughing, but I could hear the sadness behind her voice.
"I'm sure she's lovely and ..."
Suddenly an unfamiliar face appeared in the call, interrupting Isabella mid sentence.
From what I could see, the girl who had joined was very pretty and had lovely, glossy looking, blond hair. She had the most beautiful face, and her eyes were a gorgeous deep blue. I instantly knew, this was Freya.
"FREYA!!!!!!" Katrina literally screamed down the phone, making us all jump, not expecting the random outburst of energy.
"KATRINA!!!!!" She laughed jokingly. "God, I've missed you so much!!!!" She said loudly, a slight accent was evident as she spoke.
"Wow we've heard so much about you" I blurted out unexpectedly, causing her to blush.
"All good things" I laughed, awkwardly correcting myself.
"Awww you all seem so nice, you've chosen good friends Kat" she giggled, not embarrassed anymore, "I can't wait to meet you all in person!!!!!" We all agreed laughing.
"I'm gunna be really sneaky and ask if my new boyfriend can come with us please?" She asked, looking slightly unsure.
"Of corse hun!! Can't wait to see you and your lucky man" Katrina laughed and we joined in.
The chat seemed to last forever but it was an enjoyable catch up. I never did manage to pic up the name of her boyfriend, but I'm sure he's lovely.
Fortunately the events of last month weren't talked about. I'm sure Freya will notice my cast, and if she asks I'll tell her, but I'd rather not bring it up, for everyone's sake.
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"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"We all screamed as Freya got of the train, running into our awaiting arms. Although I have literally just met her, I knew this friendship will be a good one.
We walked through the centre of the town and into the main mall. I completely forgot that some of it would be blocked off from the public. Half of it is still open as the boys will only be at Nandos.
We are going straight to Lipsy where we are meeting Freya's boy.
He's apparently recently moved to round here so he wanted to come and meet us.

* * *

"He should be in here somewhere" Freya said as we walked into the empty shop.
"Ahhh here he is..."
My heart felt like it had stopped. I just stared in horror. Him. How can he do this. How can he just start again. He's probably told her nothing about his past. Not even mentioned that he nearly raped me. I looked at Katrina. Katrina looked at me.
"Ethan?" We said at the same time, sounding equally mortified.
"Mabel?" He said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck, "erm... hi?"
How dare he talk to me in that way. How dare he think that he can just approach me like everything's fine, after everything he's done. I've been left in pain, I've left in agony, in a mess from him and he think he can just act like normal.
"Sorry, do you know each other?" Freya questioned, obviously oblivious to the fact of what her boyfriend had done.
"Yeah they do, quite well" Nadia said, her eyes locked on his every move.
"Mabel, can I talk to you please," instantly Katrina stepped in front of him, "alone?" He said, correcting his previous statement.
I knew I probably looked petrified, but I didn't actually care. Well, why should I? The last time we were alone, he aggressively groped me and left me bruised. But, I know that if anything was to happen, I have Niall, he will always protect me.
"Okay" I said with no expression, not even recognising I was talking. I was practically speechless at the fact that this was happening.

He took my arm and slowly lead me out of the shop. I could see in his eyes that he looked nervous, almost scared.

Suddenly, he pulled my body into his and held me there for a while. I was expecting his hands to trail up my thighs, but instead they wrapped around my back.
This wasn't an assault, this was a hug. He was actually hugging me. A feeling I haven't felt from him in forever.
Slowly he let go and I stood back properly on my own feet.
"Shit I'm so sorry" he said quickly, looking at the floor, obviously embarrassed by what had just happened.
"What do you want?" I asked, there was no anger in my voice, just pure anxiety.
Why would he hug me in that way, I actually felt as if he meant it.
"I know that neither of us were expecting any of this to happen, and I know that we are both in relationships, but I just want you to know that I have changed. I'm a different man, I'm a different human. I know what I did was completely disgusting and outrageous, and I understand that you will never forgive me, I just want you to know that I will never forgive myself. I just hope that this won't ruin yours and Freya's friendship." He said, I could hear the emotion behind his voice, I could see the self hatred behind his eyes.
Then, I did something I never thought I would do again, I stepped foreword and wrapped my arms around his torso, not in the way I do to Niall, but in a way that shows friendship. I could tell he had changed, and boy I really hope he has, for Freya's sake. I could tell he loved her just from the way he looked in awe at her as she walked in, the way he's changed for her so that they can love each other. I wish he did that for me, but I know that they are happy together.

"We should hang out" he said and kind of laughed.
"Yeah that would be cool" I said, as we started to walk back into the shop to meet the girls.

"Sorry about that" Ethan said as he strung his arm around Freya's neck and loving kissed her cheek. Nadia, Isabella and Katrina all gave me a stare, but I just ignored them, I will tell them when I can, but I don't want it to ruin the day.

AUTHORS NOTE:
Hey guys x x x
I'm so sorry for the late update :(
I know this seems to be the first sentence of every a/n but yeh u might have got that I'm not very organised :D
Hopefully I am going to start doing weekly Sunday updates maybe.
I hope your enjoying the story so far and I know this chapter hasn't got much of Niall in it, but something bad is gunna happen, so please keep reading. Yayayayyayay FOUR comes out on Monday, and I hope you all enjoy your week.
Ily all so much and thankyou for 4.64k :* x x x x x