From Text To Love

Chapter 4

Ella’s POV

It’s been a week since James texted me last and I’m worried that I scared him off. I knew it was too good to be true when I saw a text from someone. I’m pretty sure it was a joke coined by Ashley and Janice.

It’s awful having arch enemies at school who torture you everyday but when those enemies were once your best friends it’s even worse. Firstly it’s because it hurts coming from someone you used to care about and secondly it’s because they know everything about you so they use it against you as their advantage.

Since they’re the popular girls in school I have no power over them all I can do is let them beat me and take everything in, they aren’t even lying anyway. They’re simply stating my flaws which I am aware of already.

Right now me and Lucinda, or what I like to call her the evil queen, are at a meeting with some new band that will be playing at the event but they’re late. I checked my phone again for any messages but I had none.

Get your head out of the water and stop thinking about him. But- No buts I’m pretty sure it was a fake account created by those demons to toy with your feelings.

Yeah, she’s right. Maybe this is their new way of torturing me. They must be tired of having to shove me against my locker all the time.

The door burst open and in fell 3 guys and 2 girls, not just any three guys, one 3rd of One Direction. Okay Ella, stay calm.

Why is there only just 3 of them, where’s Liam?

Great, the one chance at meeting them and my favorite out of all of them, my idol, is not here. Maybe he’s late.

“Sorry we’re late but we just found out about this meeting. Liam normally takes care of this stuff but he’s been busy lately and didn’t have the time for this.” Louis said as him, Niall and Harry sat around the conference table with Eleanor and Catherine beside them.

My heart dropped hearing that Liam isn’t going to make it, why though? If it’s a band meeting why isn’t he here?

Nonetheless, I kept glancing at them, not believing that I’m this close to them.

“Are you even listening to me, you good for nothing bitch.” I blinked and looked over at Lucinda who made a rather loud remark. She sighed when she saw me turn to her blankly. When I realized what she said I bowed my head down and didn’t dare to look at anyone. I could feel their gazes on me though. I can’t believe she just embarrassed me in front of them.

“Just note everything down and add them to the guest list.” She barked and I nodded. “Yes ma’am” I mumbled. Lucinda shook her head and turned to the boys.

“Ignore her, where’s your manager?” She said and I can tell that they stopped looking at me.

“He was suppose to be here before us.” I heard Niall say. Lucinda sighed and rubbed her temples. “All this is a waste of time, go call him and see where he is.” She ordered and again I nodded and stood up. I glanced briefly at the boys and they were all looking at me,

“Do I know you from somewhere?” I heard Eleanor ask and Louis gave me a hard stare almost as if trying to see where he knows me from and I froze, all this attention on me and coming from them is too much. Before I could even reply, Lucinda started laughing.

“How could you know her from anywhere, she’s a good for nothing assistant and I’m pretty sure you know decent people like me and not low lives like her.” She spat and I could see the shocked look on Niall’s face and Harry’s face was pure anger while Louis was still staring at me with his eyes squinted trying to study my face.

Eleanor and Catherine gave me sympathetic looks and Eleanor shook her head towards me disapproving with Lucinda and gave me a cheeky wink, I gave her a grateful smile and blushed looking down again. At least someone in this world has some decency for me.

“What are you still doing here? Go call him.” She shouted and I turned around fast and left the conference room. I could hear Lucinda saying “See what I mean” before I left and I sighed before I started dialing their manager’s number.

After 5 tries I gave up and re entered the conference room.

“And that’s when I decided to adopt her and give her something to do in her life rather than let her cry herself to sleep after her father died. She needed the job and I needed the assistant.” As soon as she saw me enter she stopped but I knew she was telling them the usual sob story of how poor Lucinda had to do me a good deed and take care of me and how kind-hearted she was for doing so.

All Lucinda ever cared about is her image, so she took every chance she got to throw pity at her hard-working and generous self so that she would look like a good person and hide the b***h underneath.

“He didn’t answer.” I said interrupting her, she sighed and stood up angrily. “You can’t do anything right.” She screamed and stormed out of the conference room leaving me and the guys bewildered at her sudden actions.

“Oh my god, how do you live with her?” Eleanor exclaimed right after Lucinda slammed the door. I shrugged and still didn’t look up. I heard someone stand up and approach me and embrace me in a hug. I hugged them back and realized it was Eleanor.

“Thanks.” I mumbled as we pulled away, I haven’t been hugged in a while and it felt different. I almost forgot what it felt like to be hugged.

“I swear I know you from somewhere.” She pointed out again and the others all nodded in agreement while Louis was still staring at me. Then suddenly as if he remembered he jolted up from his chair and rushed over to me.

He grabbed me from my shoulders and grinned widely, “Quick love, what’s your twitter name?” I gave him a confused look and the Eleanor’s eyes widened as if reading his mind.

“Wait is she-?” She started but Louis cut her off, “Tell me love, what’s your twitter name?”

“Uh- I- Uh-” I stuttered not knowing what to respond, all this was very confusing to me. How could they know me ? And most importantly what does Twitter have to do with this? I didn’t have time to answer because Lucinda barged in and Louis let go of my shoulders.

“Let’s go, it’s time for you to cook dinner at home.” I nodded, grabbed my stuff and gave the guys a quick look before leaving.

“Wait” Louis hollered but Lucinda kept walking, I stopped and waited for Louis to run up to me. “What’s your name love?”

“Let’s go.” Lucinda shouted, “I’m sorry I have to go.” I told him and walked quickly to the car.

“What took you so long?” Lucinda whined, “Nothing.” I mumbled as I looked through the window, Louis was still standing there staring at the car with pure disappointment, I gave him a small wave as Mr. Richardson drove away.

----------------------------

Liam’s POV

“Hey Hey, shhh don’t cry baby.” I cooed as I rocked him back and forth but it was no use.

“Hey, give him to me.” I sighed and handed over Ethan to the nurse and she smiled at me. “You’re doing great Mr. Payne. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“Great? He hates me.” She sighed and smiled down at the new born in her arms. “He doesn’t hate you. He loves his daddy. Don’t you Ethan?” She cooed at the baby and I plopped on the arm chair next to his crib.

“This has been going on for weeks now. What am I doing wrong?” I said with tears in my eyes as I put my head in my hands.

“Nothing,” She walked over to me and Ethan’s cries had died down, “He has a fever, it’s not your fault.” I looked up at her and then at Ethan who was crying silently now looking at me. “Here.” She placed him in my arms and he started crying again. I groaned in frustration and she took him back while I stood up.

“He’s been born for 3 weeks and all he does is hate me.” I said kicking the chair in front of me. “Calm down, he’ll be fine. Have you thought about what you’re gonna do when he’s released?” She asked and I shook my head no.

“I have too much on my mind and no one knows about him. No one can help me and I don’t know what to do.” That’s when the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I couldn’t hold it in any longer and I didn’t care if she saw me like this.

“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed you’re new at this but you should also feel proud about what you did for little Ethan.” I couldn’t look up at her right now so I kept my head in my hands and cried. You couldn’t hear me cry over Ethan’s cries and it was making me even more frustrated.

“Let’s try something else.” The nurse suddenly said and I looked up at her with hope in my eyes. “Take off your shirt.” She instructed and I gave her a confused look. “Don’t worry Mr. Payne I’m happily married and this is for Ethan. Babies love skin to skin contact and he needs to cool down for his fever to go down.” I nodded understanding and took off my shirt.

The nurse gave me Ethan and I laid him carefully on my chest. “Lie down and relax, he needs to know that you’re okay for him to calm down, babies don’t do tense.” She giggled and I nodded smiling at her. Ethan’s sobs where slowly dying down, thank god this was working.

“How will I ever tell him the truth?” I found myself mumbling. “All he needs to know is that his dad is a hero and that he loves him. One day he will understand and be proud of his father.” She said patting my shoulder.

Ethan fell asleep and I found myself dozing off as well, “Rest up Mr.Payne. I’ll check on you later.” Was all I heard before I fell asleep dreaming about how I got into this situation in the first place.

*Dream* (AN: Also flashback, he’s dreaming and remembering at the same time. It can happen lol, if you think about something before you sleep sometimes you dream about it)

“I’m not gonna make it, what if the baby does and I’m not here. My parents disowned me. I have nothing to offer this baby or anyone to take car of him or her. I can’t die.” I heard a woman say from the bed next to mine. There was only a curtain separating us so you could hear everything. I couldn’t see her face though but I knew she was scared for her baby.

I limped from my bed to the curtain and cleared my throat, “May I interrupt?” I asked since I couldn’t knock. “Uh sure, come in.” I opened the curtain and found a nurse and a young woman who seemed in her last trimester of her pregnancy. She was plugged to many wires and looked in a lot of pain and drained out of energy.

“I’m sorry to intrude but I couldn’t help but over hear.” I said apologizing, immediately regretting intruding in her life. It was none of my business but something was making me speak it’s like I had no control over my body.

“Come in.” She said as she motioned for me to sit down. I limped to a chair next to her bed being careful with my cast and carefully sat down. “I’m Liam.” I told her extending my hand. “I’m Emily, Nice to meet you.” She said shaking my hand. “What’s going on Em?” I asked and she sighed wiping away a few tears that fell on her cheeks.

“I just found out that I’m not gonna make it out of surgery. It’s me or the baby. I’ve lived a full 25 years, I think I need to give this kid a chance.” She said rubbing her belly as she smiled through her tears. “That’s very brave of you.” I admitted and she sighed. “I don’t know if it’s a good choice though because he or she will end up being taken care of a stranger or stuck in an orphanage. I don’t have any savings or anything to leave for them, I barely made it through the pregnancy.” She said wiping away her tears, I couldn’t help but swallow mine. I wanted to be strong for her.

How can I help her? How can I assure her that dying for her child would guarantee a great life for her child and it won’t be a waste? Well, I have been feeling rather lonely. But will a child fill that void? With my hectic life how in the world can I handle a baby? What the hell are you thinking Liam? Just find a family for the kid.

“How about I assure you that I will find the best parents for your child and make sure that he or she will live a full life” I said and she turned to me with wide eyes. “You would do that for me?” She asked sniffling. “Of course love, I’m not going to let a child enter this earth to a horrible life and I’ll make sure to remind him or her how brave and strong their mom is.”

“You will?” I nodded and she sniffled smiling down at her belly. “Good, now I can go knowing my baby will be happy. That’s all I ever wanted.” She said and I smiled at her.

“Can you do me another favor if it’s not too much to ask?” I nodded and she continued. “If it’s a girl name her Emma and if it’s a boy Ethan.” I smiled at the names and nodded. “I will, those are lovely names.” She smiled again at her stomach, I guess it’s the only thing she can do since she may not be able to see the baby or get to hold it.

“I’ll write your name on the birth certificate. What about the father? If I may ask.” I said and she sighed. “He wanted me to get an abortion but I broke up with him instead.” I was a bit taken a back at her words. I can’t believe how cruel people can be, at least put them for adoption not kill the kid. It’s a human being for crying out loud, give it a chance to live.

(AN: This rant is my anger toward those terrorists in Manchester, I can’t believe how low people can be, taking away people’s lives like that. How do they sleep at night knowing they killed innocents?)

“Oh” Was all I managed to say. “Don’t worry about him, I just don’t want to have unknown father on their birth certificate but I guess I have to.” She said and all I could think of was how to make sure this woman dies with a smile on her face. “How about I list my name?” I blurted out and her eyes widened like flying saucers. “You’re already doing so much and-” I cut her off.

“Look I know I’m a stranger and you don’t know me at all but I can assure you I’m no criminal and I’m doing this from the bottom of my heart.” I said trying to convince her to trust me. “I trust you, I don’t know why but I get a good vibe from you and you seem really nice plus what have I got to loose? You’re my only hope.” I gave her a small smile and she grinned showing her teeth.

Her smile lit up her whole face, it was such a pity that such a beautiful soul is about to die. “Ms, It’s time for your surgery.” The nurse announced and she sighed. Tears were no longer in her eyes, just a simple smile.

“Can you come with me?” She asked and I was a bit shocked that she asked but I could see she needed the support so I nodded. She has no one but me so I’m going to be there for her during her last few moments.

It didn’t take long for them to put both me and Emily in scrubs and start the procedure. I held Emily’s hand the whole time whispering to her encouraging words. As soon as they opened her belly and they got the baby out, cries filled the room and Emily squeezed my hand even harder. “Look Em, it’s a boy. It’s Ethan.” I told her and she smiled, the most beautiful smile in the world as a nurse placed him on her chest.

“I love you son.” Where the last words she said before she passed away. “I’m so sorry sir.” The nurse said with tears in her eyes. I kissed Emily’s hand before they took Ethan off her chest and covered her with a white sheet.

“Would you like to hold him?” I nodded through my tears and as soon as Ethan was in my arms I knew I couldn’t give him away. I knew I had to be enough for him.

I had to admit.

I fell in love.

“What’s his name?” The nurse asked and I smiled looking down at the baby in my arms.

“Ethan.” I said looking at my son.

“Ethan Thomas Payne.”