~ It Never Should've Been...Again? ~ Sequel to It Never Should've Been ~

~ Chapter 24 - Ryder's Hollow ~

My jaw dropped and a few bites of cereal fell out of my mouth and onto my lap. I started at the screen in shock. Was it good shock? Bad shock? I don't yet know.

I took a deep breath and placed my bowl back on the side table, just in case my body caught up with my brain and I spazzed out.

I looked at my phone again and kept rereading the message, as though it wasn't true and it was all a dream.

It's as if it was a joke and perhaps Liam or Zayn had stolen Niall's phone right as they had received my text to make me continue to make Niall happy again. To make us both happy again.

My fingers quickly typed a response back:

To: Niall Horan

How do I know it's really you. It's too ironic that you sent that message at the time you did.

I layed my phone down again and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I mean, spending so much time with the boys, it's something they would do. But then again, it is more of a serious topic....

I heaved a sigh. I am over reacting too much. I know I am. But my gut feeling is that I should be reacting this way.

To calm my racing thoughts, my phone went off again and I quickly read the response.

From: Niall Horan

I told you the Peter Pan quote at the airport. I bought you those three dresses. I gave you my shamrock necklace. I flew all the way back from Ireland early when Jayda died. I helped you become our opening act. I'm the one who loved you more than anything and made a horrible mistake.

My heart stopped right there. It was him. It was Niall. I knew it was. I just knew it. I grinned at my phone but my heart immediatly started fluttering. What do I say back? 'Hey, yeah, can we get back together?'

I didn't want to be forward, but I knew I would probably have to be to get anything to work.

To: Niall Horan

Okay, I believe you. So...you read that text I sent to Liam and Zayn?

I bit my lip while I waited for a response. Everything suddenly became nerve racking. Even staring after staring at my phone, I jumped when it went off.

From: Niall Horan

Yeah...

~~~

To: Niall Horan

You weren't supposed to read that you know.

I sighed and layed back on my bed, discarding my cereal as it started to get soggy.

Just as my phone went off and I picked it up to look at the screen to answer it, my bedroom door was flung open.

"Ellie!"

"Yeah mom?" I asked, meeting her worried gaze.

"Have you seen your brother?"

"Not since this morning, no," I answered, slowly sitting up.

"I don't know where he is, Ellie! I haven't seen him since this morning as well!" she shrieked.

"Shh, calm down," I said, standing up and walking over to her, "I'm sure he's just playing with his friends."

"He's not outside and I've called the neighbors already and they said they haven't seen them."

"I'm sure he's around here somewhere, Mum, don't worry. I'll help you look." I slid my phone into my pocket and started for the door.