Rachel’s P.O.V.

”Ashton,” I repeated, unsure of what else to say. Here he was, just standing in my room, giving me a half-grin as if he hadn’t completely broken my heart last term.

”Get out,” I said eventually, when no one else broke the silence.

”Rachel, please. I just want a chance to explain-“

“She said get out,” Louis cut him off, his tone cold. I was grateful to have his support as it seemed Skylar wanted me to give Ashton a chance to talk.

”I wasn’t talking to you,” Ashton replied, just as coldly. He was glaring at Louis, but his expression softened as he met my eye.

”Rach-“

”I don’t want to hear you explain, Ashton. There’s nothing you can say that would make it any better, trust me,” I held his gaze, but my voice betrayed a tinge of hurt. There was no way I couldn’t still be hurting, not after all we’d been through for him to just throw it away so carelessly, as if it was nothing.

Louis, now beside me, folded his arms.

“Rachel, I still love you, nothings going to change that and I’m begging you for a chance to -“ my stomach flipped at his words and I felt the familiar burn of oncoming tears. How dare he say he loved me, after he had clearly shown that he didn’t.

Before he had a chance to finish the sentiment, however, Louis cut him off with a loud scoff.

“Love her? Bullshit! You were fucking Delia for what, months?” He exclaimed loudly.

Ashton looked shocked for a second before turnin a glare on Louis.

”Oh get off your high horse, Tomlinson! In case you’ve forgotten, you slept with your ex while dating Rachel, you’re in no position to judge,” Ashton fired back, also crossing his arms.

Louis momentarily floundered, glancing at me quickly.

”Yes, I fucked up, but not like you did. I slept with Eleanor once, after Rachel and I had been fighting - about you, ironically - while you were cheating on Rachel for months, with someone she considered a good friend,” Louis answered, his voice even.

Hearing it lain out like that made me feel a little sick to my stomach, so I again I spoke.

“Ashton, I really think you should go,” I repeated, firmly. He searched my face for a minute, seemingly deliberating what to do, before Louis interjected again. “You heard what she said.”

If anything, this seemed to make Ashton more determined to stay.

”You’re really loving this, aren’t you, Tomlinson?” He narrowed his eyes at Louis.

Louis simply raised an eyebrow.

”Rachel and I, fighting,” he clarified. “Makes you feel like you’re in with a chance, huh?”

Louis didn’t respond but I could feel him tense up beside me.

”Dont think it wasn’t obvious to me, you never really got over Rachel, did you?” Ashton continued. “But she fell in love with me. Our relationship was so much more than your fling ever was,”

“And yet, you threw it away like it was nothing,” Louis reminded him, stepping forward quickly to face Ashton, blocking me from him.

”I made a mistake and I am beyond sorry, honestly Rach, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Ashton admitted, “But Louis, you and Rachel may have fooled around a bit for a few weeks but we were in love. She loved me, and how she felt about you pales in comparison,” he added.

By now, Louis was seething, and I knew this would lead nowhere good.

“Ashton, seriously, you need to go. Now.”

”You heard her,” Louis’ anger was clear in his voice along with his tense stand.

When Ashton made no move to leave, Louis snapped. “Get out, you lying piece of shit! Rachel can do so much better than-“

Ashton had punched him before he finished his sentence. I jumped in shock, as Louis quickly punched him back, delivering a hit to his nose, before quickly intervening, grabbing Louis arm and pulling him back.

”Let’s go,” I told him firmly, before he or Ashton got another hit in.

His eyes were still on Ashton but he nodded slightly, backing up a bit.

“Let’s go,” I repeated, when he made no other move to leave, his gaze still locked on Ashton. He was now holding his nose, which was dripping blood. Louis lip was busted up, bleeding a little as well.

Finally he met my eye, and nodded.

“Great apology, Ashton, thanks,” I muttered, walking back out the door with Louis.

Ashton called my name behind me, but I ignored him.

Louis and I waked in silence back to his apartment. He was power walking, probably a result of his anger and I found it a little difficult to keep up with him. I was glad when we arrived at his apartment, and I followed behind him as he bursted through the door.

However, I was shocked at the sight of Delia inside, seemingly talking to Harry. I felt anger and upset flare up at the thought of them rekindling their previous friendship. It was childish, but I couldn’t help but feel betrayed, Delia had seriously hurt me and Harry was my brother.

“What happened?!” Harry exclaimed.

”Nothing for you to worry about, you seem busy,” I grabbed Louis hand before he had a chance to protest, pulling him into his room.

”We should get you cleaned up a bit,” I told him, heading into his bathroom. He followed me wordlessly, sitting down on the toilet seat when I instructed him to.

I wet a face cloth in the sink, then moved closer to him, gently wiping the blood away from his slightly swollen lip.

”Sorry Ashton punched you,” I apologised softly, without meeting his eye.

He shrugged.

“It’s not your fault. If I’m honest, I’m glad I got a chance to deck him. He was a total dick to you,” he admitted.

I couldn’t help but grin a little at that.

”Either way, thanks for standing up for me like that, it was really sweet of you, I really appreciate it,” I told him, catching his gaze.

”Anytime,” he responded, his voice husky.

Our eyes remained fixed on each other and I could feel heat building in my cheeks and fluttering in my stomach. Louis truly had beautiful eyes, and the way they were fixed on mine intensely made me feel a little weak. Without realising, I dropped the facecloth, running my thumb over his cheek softly. He titled his head up slightly, and I felt myself inching closer to him.

As his his eyes dropped to my lips, I suddenly realised what I was about to do. I pulled back like I had been burned, nearly tripling in the process.

“Louis,I’m so sorry, that was - I was -“ I began rambling, but he quickly cut me off, after shaking his head swiftly.

”It’s okay, you just spoke with Ashton for the first time in months, you’re angry and confused right now, it’s understandable,” he reassured me.

“Exactly, I’m confused, and upset. And my god, what is Delia doing here? Since when are her and Harry best buddies again?” I exclaimed quickly.

”I highly doubt they’re best buddies. I don’t know why she’s here though, we should go find out,” he suggested.

I nodded in agreement, glad he wasn’t focusing on our slight moment from before. Honestly, what had I been thinking? Was I actually about to kiss Louis? Especially when his lip was swollen and bleeding. Talk about dreadful timing.

I followed Louis back out to where Harry and Delia were, still unable to squash down the feeling of betrayal at seeing them talking.

They both looked at us immediately as we walked into the room.

”Seriously, what the hell happened?!” Harry demanded, scanning both of us suspiciously.

“Well..”

Notes

Okay soooo...
This update isn’t great, it’s like 3am where I live and I can’t sleep so I figured why not just write a chapter.
I hope you like it all the same, and please so comment below what you think of it, if you’ve read it. Honestly, it makes my day to hear people’s opinions on characters and their relationship dynamics and just the general plot so if you have anything to say, negative or positive, please do comment below!

Xox b