Taking A New Turn

Chapter 5

Ashton was so happy he felt like he could do anything. The one tiny problem was what if Horan--that was his last name he assumed, he had yet to discover his first name. He didn't text him yet. He could've just agreed to get rid of him quicker. Ashton's stomach hurt just considering the idea.

Throughout the rest of the day he checked his phone to see if Horan had texted him about meeting up at any time. He only had two weeks to complete the project so he'd need to spend as much time with him as possible, which didn't sound bad, but it might not be pleasant for Horan.

It wasn't until around 3:45 that his phone finally rang with an unknown number. "Hi." His heart pounded lightly in his chest. Please please be Horan...

"Hey, is this Ashton?" The familiar voice on the other line sent relief through him. Horan wasn't going to stand him up.

"It is. This is... Sorry, I don't think I got your name." Ashton got the confidence that he had early. The still unknown named boy was going to follow through with his promise to help.

There was a little chuckle. "It's Niall. Listen, I'm about to go to footie practice, but it ends at 7:30 if you maybe want to meet up? Or if that doesn't work, tomorrow morning is good for me too."

Ashton was so anxious to have a proper conversation with Niall that tonight at midnight would have pleased him. "7:30 is great. My flat? Or Starbucks? Or wherever really..." He knew his place was a bit of a travel from the university, and he wasn't going to make Niall do that.

There was a few seconds pause. Ashton momentarily feared he'd scared Niall off somehow already. "Your place is good. I kind of already had my daily dose of Starbucks." He laughed again. It was officially the most beautiful sound Ashton had ever had the pleasure of hearing.

It was impossible to keep the smile out of his voice. "I live at Woodridge. If that's too inconvenient we can switch."

"No, no that's fine, I've got a friend who lives there."

"Awesome." Ashton's cheeks physically hurt from smiling so wide. Luckily there was hardly anyone in the Subway he was currently in to see him. "My number is 39B. See you then." Not waiting for a goodbye from Niall, he hung up the phone.

If Niall was coming over to his house then he would have to do some serious cleaning in the next three hours. His place was an absolute mess.

He didn't pause to waste a moment and was already walking to the tube to go back to his flat. There wouldn't be any necessary filming today he just hoped they'd be able to talk for a while. He was being a bit rude, shoving people out of his way. Why did he have to be as messy as every other teenage boy ever?

(A/N short chapter, I'm sorry)