Taking A New Turn

Chapter 11

Ashton woke up the next morning very… Confused. 1) He was not in his bed, and 2) there was someone with him. His head was in said person’s lap and one of their hands was slipped under the back of his shirt. He lifted his head and his cheeks reddened because it was Niall. Never had he pictured the two of them in this situation.

  He rubbed his eyes (where were his glasses?) and gently removed Niall’s hand from under his shirt. A soft snore was coming from his mouth. Usually snoring immediately turned him off--his first boyfriend snored and that was why he’d broken up with him--but Niall’s wasn’t very loud and resembled more of a puppy than a man.

  He felt around the ground for his glasses that must’ve fallen off. The clock under his TV, (still on with the How I Met Your Mother screen) said it was 6:27. He’d woken up just in time. He made sure there were still blankets on Niall then dashed to the bathroom so he could shower before class started.

It was 6:50 by the time he was ready. Shit. He’d be late to class. He scribbled a quick note to Niall explaining his absence then did an awkward jog to the tube. It was cold, and he was still mildly wet from his shower.

  He didn’t even have time for his morning dose of coffee.

  Film History was boring as usual. It took all his willpower not to fall asleep at his professor lecturing to them about the first official movie ever made (Fred Ott’s Sneeze, 1894). It was the most boring thing he’d ever heard. It wasn’t even a full minute long. Still, the professor insisted on playing the clip over and over again on the projector. He doubted he was the only one falling asleep.

  Throughout the class he thought about Niall instead of taking notes. He wondered if the blond boy was still asleep on his couch or already gone. He secretly hoped it was the first one.

  Time ticked by so slowly. He could’ve sworn the big hand was purposely trying to piss Ashton off by not moving. He tapped his pen against his blank notes page. He’d look up the stupid film later.

  After what felt like three days instead of 45 minutes, he gathered up his stuff quickly and was the first one out the door. Someone blocked his path.

  His first thought was this is weird, no one ever stops to talk to me but then he saw who it was. It was the boy from the day he’d met with Niall at Nando’s. Liam he remembered. Ashton thought he resembled David Beckham, just younger.

  “Yes?” he asked, in a small voice. He really just wanted to check to see if Niall was still there.

  “Hello. Ashton right?” Liam said in the most polite tone ever. “Louis wanted me to give you some pictures. He’s going to be in class all day, and Niall didn’t show up back at their dorm last night. “

  Ashton’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful! Not the Niall not showing up, the pictures.” He glanced at the box in Liam’s hands. “Thank you.”

  “Would you like to get some coffee with me? I could give my story of Niall to you. Or Zayn and I could, he’s meeting me there.”

  Ashton wanted to say no. He couldn’t because that was rude and also he needed them for the project. Only seven days left.

  “Sounds great.” He did his best attempt at a polite smile and followed Liam down the hall to the on-campus Starbucks. He’d most likely go broke from going to Starbucks so much. Oh well.

  Zayn was already sitting at a table by the window when they walked in.

  “What do you want? I’ll grab it,” Liam offered.

  “Nothing right now, thanks.” Ashton parted ways with Liam who went to the counter and went to sit at the table across from Zayn. “Morning.”