Rule 15

Rule 15 (Not proofread, as per usual, so please ignore mistakes, I'll fix them in the final edit. Cheeeers).

Sid and I were sprawled on the floor out the back of the bar in nothing but a bikini top and shorts. The sun was making a rare appearance, something that didn't come along often in the UK, so we were taking advantage during our break.

Her newly dyed hair was glinting in the sun and I glanced in her direction.

"Did his opinion really matter that much?" I asked, gesturing towards her red locks. She nodded and rolled onto her stomach.

"Yes, it really mattered that much. He likes violet, I'll go back to the red," she countered. I was referring to Ry and it didn't take her long to click on.

"What happened to make you hate him so much?" I asked and she rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her beer.

"He's my ex?" she offered but I shook my head.

"We've known each other for more than enough time now, come on, spill," I pushed. We'd known each other for about three months and for me, that was long enough. She rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"He was a controlling bastard, the reason I had no friends when you got here," she started and I rested my head on my elbow. "I mean, he was amazing when we were first getting together and then he changed. The day he hit me was the last straw," she finished and I let out a deep breath.

"Like, actually hit you?" I tried to clarify and she nodded.

"Yeah, the cheek. I ran to your cousin because Matt was with him and he told everyone that he dumped me because I slept with Ash and broke his heart," she spat. I narrowed my eyes.

"What a dick," I muttered. She nodded and rolled to the side, grabbing her phone to check the time.

"Tell me about it. Trust me, Al, he's not someone you want to get to know." I didn't know what else to say so I just gave a small nod before leaning back and looking up at the blue sky.

"Oh, and I need you to let me have a go at your hair," she said suddenly, looking at me with a mischievous glint in her eye. I raised an eyebrow and shook my head.

"I have never dyed my hair before, I'm not starting now," I told her but she grinned.

"You're not dying it, though, I am. It'll help towards the portfolio I'm putting together," she replied and I frowned.

"Portfolio?" I turned onto my stomach and picked up my pencil again, resuming from where I left off. Sid didn't respond for a moment, just watched my pencil strokes.

"Yeah, I want to do a hairdressing course in the college," she said as if it was nothing and I smiled.

"I reckon it would suit you. You just need to find someone to practise on," I said absently, finishing the detail on my sketch.

"Yeah, she's right next to me."

Sid and I continued to argue about hair until I finally caved and allowed her one trial, which she said she would get planning during her next shift. As I was done for the day, I said I'd wait for her in the sun, attempting to get more of a tan.

Dev had analysed Ryder's note the night before, finding that it was the same handwriting as Ash's second one. Because the issue was just getting more and more complex, I decided to keep my nose out and just go to work. Ash was back on the bike and was apparently spending the day practising in the arena, trying to get back to normal with the controls.

"You're providing a lovely view," I heard from behind me and when I glanced over my shoulder, Ash was leaning on the side wall of the pub. I rolled my eyes and twisted to look at him properly.

"You're blocking my sun," I replied. Ash let out a breath before walking to the spot that Sid had evacuated not fifteen minutes beforehand.

Ash settled back against the grass and rolled onto his side, watching what I was doing.

"I don't understand why you didn't go to college," he said, his eyes following the line of my pencil. I shot him a sideways glance and shrugged.

"My work is bollucks, nobody at home gave a crap so I don't see why it mattered to them," I muttered under my breath. Ash didn't answer and when I checked to see if he was still there, he was watching me with intense eyes.

"What?" I pushed and he sighed, taking my pencil so that I couldn't draw while talking to him.

"That is not bollucks," he countered and I blew through my lips, dropping onto my chin.

"Asher, I don't need your sympathy," I started but he held his hand up.

"It's Ash, that got serious quickly," he joked and then sobered. "I'm not giving you sympathy, I don't deal in that shit. All I'm saying is you've got a talent." I rolled my eyes and sighed, closing the sketchbook.

Ash watched me as I sat up and stretched, his eyes travelling the length of my body. Suddenly feeling really self conscious, I folded my arms over my exposed chest. The side of his mouth lifted and he pulled my pencil towards his chest.

The white of the top contrasted his skin and the muscle in his arm twitched. Although there was still faint bruising around his collar bone, he was moving a lot smoother. Despite the waxing incident, he'd still put khakis on, just ones that went down to his knees.

"Pencil please," I said and he grinned, leaning back on one arm.

"Come and get it," he teased. My eyes widened and then narrowed. His eyes flickered up to mine when I shook my head, a taunting glint to them.

"Scared?" he pushed and I rolled my eyes. I moved onto all fours and reached forward but he pulled my pencil away and above his head.

"Seriously?" I asked. He replied with a one shouldered shrug and a small grin that made my heart skip.

I tried again but he swiped it from my grasp and I grumbled, moving forwards until we were flush with each other. He looked down, his hot breath dancing on my forehead. I got up on my knees and reached for my pencil. Again he was too quick and chuckled, holding it above his head. I met his eyes just as they flickered down to my lips.

The hand that wasn't holding my pencil moved down and gently cupped my hip, his warm palm sending shivers through my stomach. His thumb brushed against my skin and I looked directly at him. His eyes met mine and I was half expecting Dev to pop up from nowhere and ruin the moment again. Either that or I was going to accidently puke on him again.

He didn't waste any more seconds before his soft lips met mine and his eyelashes tickled my cheek. I leaned up, meeting his mouth with a bit more force and resting a hand on his shoulder. I ran my fingernail against the skin where his neck met his collar bone and he shuddered, gently pressing his tongue against my lips.

Before it could go any further, I reached up and grabbed my pencil, pulling away. Ash didn't let go of my hip immediately. He splayed his fingers out on my back and held me in place. I took the pencil between my thumb and forefinger and wiggled it in his face. He smirked and tried to grab it again but I held it behind me and shook my head.

"I don't think so," I replied and he smirked.

"If I kissed you again would you let it go?" he asked.

"You're not kissing me again," I clarified but he merely raised an eyebrow.

"Not enjoy it?" I rolled my eyes and gently moved away from him, dropping back onto the grass.

"Not the point. Rule fifteen, leave my stuff alone," I commented and he let out a chuckle. Instead of staying on his side, he moved over to me and rested his hands on my knees, which were up in the air. I raised an eyebrow at his action but he didn't move, just stayed there, watching me.

"You know what I'm like with these stupid little rules of yours," he said and I rolled my eyes. I placed my hands on his and moved them from my legs, trying to give myself some breathing room. Whenever he touched me, he sent ripples through my skin, making my pulse race. It wasn't the reaction to him I wanted.

"Yeah, a pain in the arse." Ash smirked and instead of taking his hands away, he laced his fingers together with mine. My eyes shot up to meet his and he raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Words hurt, love," he chided and I tried to pull my hands away but he tightened his hold. The calloused tips of his fingers brushed the top of my hand and I shivered involuntarily. "Why the rush?" he added, cocking his head to the side.

"Because I'm not being a broken rule, Ash," I said and pulled my hands back with such force that he did let go. He let out a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair.

"You think my best mate's cousin would be a 'broken rule'?" he asked and I shrugged, pushing my hair behind my ear.

"I don't know, that's the point." Ash grimaced a little at my words and I shrugged.

"I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said with a wink, quickly recovering.

"Try?" I questioned and he smirked, ruffling my hair as he got up.

"Can' make any promises." His words hung in the air as he made his way out of the garden and towards the road, not looking back as he went. With a massive huff, I dropped back onto the grass and stared at the sky in annoyance. If I was up for a no strings attached type thing, I'd of kissed him again, but I wasn't that girl. I'd only ever had two serious relationships and a few hook ups in clubs, but never anything more than a quick snog.

I was still lying on my back when Sid emerged, holding her bag by her side protectively.

"Come on!" She hollered. Apparently, while I was sunbathing she'd had an epiphany as to what she was going to do to my hair. Before going back to the flat, where she was going to be staying with me tonight, she had to go to hers and pick up some of her hair supplies. She used to make an extra bit of money on the side by doing some jobs involving dye at school so had all the stuff. I didn't know if that made me feel nervous or confident in her abilities.

I decided that I was nervous when my head was in some foil over the side of the bath.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" I asked and she thwacked the back of my head.

"You said before we began that you had trust in me," she said and I swallowed.

"I think I've been sniffing too much of that dye," I muttered. She let out a bark of laughter and leaned back on the toilet seat before checking under the foils.

"Sniffing so much that you kissed Asher?" she said and I felt my jaw hit the floor. I carefully moved so that my hair stayed in position but I could see her. She was wearing a sly grin and a questioning eyebrow.

"He kissed me," I defended and she laughed, shaking her head.

"He's hot, don't get me wrong, I'd tap that, but Asher?" I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"Don't tell me, herpes or crabs?" I asked and she shrugged.

"Probably a mix, have you seen what he brings home?" she enquired.

"Heard them, too." She scrunched up her nose and grimaced.

That was one of my main issues, I knew he was a man whore and so did he, I wasn't sure I was in to that. But it was so easy to forget his annoying attitude and irritable female companions when he was so sweet.

Sid left the colouring on for about half an hour before telling me to lean over the bath so she could wash it out. I was a tad nervous and it didn't help that Sid was mumbling to herself about hoping that she'd labelled the bottles correctly. Apparently, the only colours she had were abstract ones. I didn't fancy another shade of blue.

"It's the right colour," she informed me when she pulled the foils off. I'd of checked the colour of the water if I wasn't too scared to open my eyes. When she washed my hair before colouring it, I had an eyeful of shampoo so I made sure to keep them clamped shut the second time around.

"That's a relief," I mumbled. When she'd dried it and brushed it down, she finally allowed me to look in the mirror.

It really wasn't what I'd expected. Instead of putting some bright purple in it like she'd threatened, she'd put a light shade of red through the under layers of my dark hair. I grinned and threw my arms around her.

"I am never paying for a hairdressers again," I exclaimed and she chuckled.

"I'll start charging you in a minute," she warned and I smirked.

"Better not," I countered. As she was cleaning up, I heard a knock on the door. But instead of finding myself face to face with a pizza delivery man, I found myself staring at my older sister. Again. Oh joys.

A/N: I thought I'd be a busy little bee and take a break from my revision to write  spot of Alex and Ash. I got over my writers block so gave you a faster update, hope you don't mind ;P Also hope the Ash and Alex scene tickled your fancies. Lemme know!

I don't know when the next update will be, please be patient as I will try to update more regularly to give myself a break from revision. Please vote and comment, it'll push me to upload faster!

Till next time, wattpadians!