Pretty Girls Lie

- Why are you sad, why don't you go over there? - Ashton was confused.

- I've never met them... - She told him. - My mom's family didn't want anything to do with her after she got pregnant. I don't even know what they're doing here.

- What do you mean?

- They are from Johannesburg, and so is my mom. - She explained. - She came here for school, but she was born and raised in South Africa.

- They didn't stay in touch?

- No. - She said, a little louder this time. - I don't even know if they know my mom is dead.

- Maybe they found out, and that's why they're here. - Ashton said.

- They couldn't... I was my moms next of kin. - She told him. - They couldn't have found out.

Ashton was quiet for a few seconds. - You should go over there.

- Are you insane?

- They deserve to know.

- No they don't! They don't give a shit about her...they left her! - Hope yelled and everyone looked at her, but thankfully not the two women she was talking about. - She was 19 and they left her all by herself...

- What's going on? - Luke asked, worridly.

- Nothing. - Hope said, every emotion she had a second ago was now gone.

-Hope... - Her gaze was back on Ashton.

Tears once again filled her eyes. She stared at him for a few seconds before speaking again.

- Fine... - She said, no emotion in her voice. - But can you come with me?

- Of course. - He said and they got up.

Hope was walking slowly and unsurely.

- You can do it. - Ashton held her hand.

Hope looked at her supportive older brother and smile weakly. They aproached the table.

- Excuse me. - The two women looked at them and Hope sqeezed Ashton's hand strongly. - Are you Nina Lucas?

Hope's voice was quiet and weak.

- Yes, can I help you? - The older women answered with a question of her own.

Hope took a deep breath and held Ashton's hand tightly before answering. - My name is Hope, I'm...your granddaughter.

The two women looked at her wide eyed.

- Are you serious? - The older women, Nina, said with a smile and got up. - Where...Where's my Charlie?

- She's dead. - Hope could've said that gentler, but they didn't deserve it.

- What? - Nina breathed out.

- She's dead. - Hope repeated.

The other woman got up and approached Nina, holding her up. Hope still hasn't let go of Ashton's hand.

- What happened? - Nina asked. - How did she die?

- She had cancer. - Hope tried really hard to let go of any emotion she had and she did. - Five times, actually.

They couldn't believe it.

- You would've known if you didn't leave her. - Hope told them.

- How dare you talk to me like that? - Hope's grandmother raised her voice.

- You left her. You didn't even deserve for me to tell you this. - Two could play that game. - Eighteen years pass and you decide to come back into her life...

- You're a bastard! - Nina yelled. - Charlie's my daughter...she's my daughter.

The rest of the guys ran over to them.

- What's going on? - King asked Ashton and Hope.

- Oh yeah, then where were you when she almost died giving birth? Where were you when she first got sick? Where were you when we were kicked out on the street? - Hope was yelling. - Where were you all those years she spent in the hospital? Where were you when she tried to kill herself? Huh, where?!

The two women stayed quiet.

Hope sneered. - Exactly. - She let go of Ashton's hand and stormed out.

- Hope! - Calum called out to her.

- I'll go. - Ashton told him and ran after Hope.

She was sitting on a bench outside.

- Hey. - Ashton said quietly.

- Can we go? - She asked, no emotions.

- Yeah, sure. - Ashton said and they started walking in silence.

They were in the elevator. They still haven't spoken a word. Suddendly the elevator started shaking and the lights started flickering. Ashton and Hope turned towards each other. Finally the elevator stopped shaking, but it wasn't moving either. The power went out completely. They were stuck.

- Perfect. - Hope breathed out with a snicker.

Holding on to the elevator wall for support she took a seat on the floor. Ashton joined her. He fished out his phone from his pocket. After turning on the flashlight app he put his phone in front of them on the floor.

They spent the first five minutes in silence.

- Are you alright? - Ashton asked her. - I'm sorry about your...

- I don't wanna talk about it. - She cut him off and leaned her back on the elevator wall.

Silence returned, but not for long.

- Can you try calling someone to get us out?

- There's no service. - He told her.

Hope let out a deep sigh and leaned her head on the wall as well.

Another ten minutes passed. They didn't say a word. The only light was the one coming from Ashton's phone, their faces were barely seen.

- I guess this is as good a time as any... - Hope breathed out.

- Huh? - Ashton looked at her confused.

- I have to tell you something.

- Alright. - Ashton was curious.

- Promise you won't freak out. - She told him.

- What's going on?

- Promise!

- Alright, I promise. - He said. - Now tell me what's going on.

Hope looked at him for a few seconds without speaking.

- Hope?

- How do you take off a bandage?

- Huh? - She kept confusing him.

She closed her eyes, her head leaned on the wall. - I slept with Calum. - She said quickly.

- What? - He looked at her in disbelievement, his voice a little raised. - When?

- Last night... - She said quietly, now looking at him.

Ashton thought for a second before speaking. - Is that why you wanted to leave early?

- No... - She said. - I mean, yeah, we did plan to leave early, but only to talk about the other night.

- The other night?

- When we were in the music room, after we finished the song...we sorta made out. - She told him.

Ashton's mouth was open. - Why did you have to talk about that?

- I left. - She said. - And I left last night as well.

- Why would you do...that, and then leave? - He asked her, he seemed more disturbed that she left then that his best friend and little sister slept together.

- I don't know, it's just confusing... He's you best friend. - Hope said. - And I've only known him for a few days.

- So what, you didn't want...that?

- No, I did, but...I, I don't know how to deal with that. - She told him. - I've never had a normal relationship, or normal anything.

- Wait, was that your first time?

- No. - It was all she said.

Hope put her knees to her chest.

- Did you talk about any of that with him? - He broke the silence that once again filled the room.

- I told you, we were gonna talk last night, but then...stuff happened.

- I know I'm not the best guy to give advice about relationships, but you need to talk to him. - He told her. - About everything.

- And what do I tell him?

- Just tell him how you feel and what you want. - He said. - You're both adults, you'll figure it out.

- I definitely wouldn't call myself, or him adults. - Hope said and Ashton laughed.

- Well you can pretend for five minutes. - Hope smiled.

- You're not wierded out by any of this?

- Oh, I am... But like I said, you're both adults, you're free to do whatever you want, just be careful. - He told her. - Plus, who am I to stand in the way of love?

- Love? - She raised her eyebrow.

- You know what I mean. - He told her.

- Yeah... - She said and once again leaned her head back.

Notes

I'm so sorry for not updating yesterday like I said I would... I promise I'll post again today to make it up to you.

I hope you like it and thank you for reading.

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