Rule 17

Rule 17 - Not proofread so please ignore any mistakes.

"Asher!" I yelled. There was no response and I growled under my breath, banging on the bathroom door. Half an hour. Half a bloody hour, I'd been waiting outside for the dickhead to brush his teeth. I hadn't heard the shower the entire time he was in there, so he was being deliberately slow to annoy me.

Since the cupboard incident the night before, he'd been nothing but a bastard to me.  Not in a jerky way, just the completely and totally annoying way. One of these tendencies was to continually brush up against my sister. She was another story. As soon as Ash arrived home with us, she seemed to be more horny than a prostitute turned nun.

"Oh, sorry, love, did you need the bathroom?" Ash asked, holding the door open.

"You know I did, Toms," I hissed, uncrossing my legs. Ash let out a bark of laughter and held the door for me as I rushed through.

"Definitely PMSing!" he shouted after me and I flipped him off.  No doubt he'd gone into the living room to flirt with Melinda. Again. Not that I was complaining, nope, I was on the Anti-Ash project.

I was broken from my thoughts by the itching sensation coming from my scalp when I brushed my hair.

"The hell?" I muttered to myself, scratching my head so hard that I was scared of breaking skin. I wet the comb under the tap and ran it through the strands of recently dyed hair. I hoped to God that it wasn't some kind of abstract allergy. I needed to fake attend college, I didn't want to take a visit to Manchester's general hospital.

Instead of making more of a fuss, I went to get changed. Bad idea.

"Asher Toms!" I yelped, squirming as I made my way to the living room. Melinda was sitting next to Ash with her hand on his thigh and Dev was leaning on the back of the sideboard with a bowl of cereal. I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes on my target.

"What have you done?" I seethed and Ash raised an eyebrow.

"If you're referring to your clothes that have been recently doused in itching powder, then absolutely nothing," he said lazily and I quickly jolted to the left, feeling the annoying itching crawl up my spine again. "And what a shame, you have to be at college in twenty minutes," he added. I looked at Dev for some kind of support, but he was nearly choking on his cheerios due to laughter.

"You what?" I hissed and scratched along my arms. I would've taken the top off if I wasn't in front of Ash and my family.

"Went to Happy Harry's and bought some itching powder. Maybe you'll think twice before waxing me this time," Ash replied and Melinda's mouth fell open.

"You waxed him?!" she exclaimed and I scowled, raking my nails up and down my back.

"Only because he pushed me into a load of cups filled with water," I answered and Melinda's eyebrows rose.

"And who was the one that filled my room with a load of cups of water?" Ash retorted.

"Who was it that dyed my hair blue?" I asked and my sister rolled her eyes. Dev had put his cereal down and Ash was frowning.

"If I remember correctly, you put cling film on my door," he said, folding his arms over his chest.

"I wouldn't have put cling film on your doorframe if you hadn't of scared me with a false spider," I pushed.

"And that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't of my salt in my tea!"

"It was my tea and you tried to drink it!"

"Because you put ice down my leg!" Ash exclaimed and I grumbled, moving my back against the frame of the door while trying to scratch at my arms.

"You were the one that scared me in the middle of the night," I snapped.

"I was strolling  in late and was then greeted with a face full of hairspray!"

"You weren't strolling, you were sneaking." Ash rolled his eyes at my words as I continued. "Either way this is evil!" I retorted and he shrugged.

"And the waxing wasn't?"

"Don't be such a baby, waxing is a breeze," I corrected. All of us jumped when Dev used the fog horn ringtone on his phone.

"That's enough!" he shouted and gave Ash a look. He tried to do the same to me but couldn't keep a straight face. Melinda 's laugh echoed in my ears all the way down to the car and towards the college, where the itching had finally ceased. Dev had given me enough time to run over my back with a flannel and change my clothes. Which was a relief as I'd wanted to rip my skin off.

"Do I need to go in and speak to your tutor?" Melinda asked when Dev pulled up outside the college and I rolled my eyes.

Our plan had been for me to walk to the doors and hope that nobody tried to kick me out while Dev drove Mel back to the flat. I'd have to chill out somewhere in the city and hope that she didn't find me.

"Oh, yes, Mum, how I would love for you to come inside and talk to my tutor about my progress," I grumbled and Dev's eyebrows rose.

"Alex," he started and I kicked the back of his seat.

"No, don't Alex me. I don't need her going in there." I pulled on the handle and got out of the car, slamming the door as I went. I could see Melinda watching me as I pulled my bag up my shoulder and started towards the college doors.

Part of me regretted not giving the place a chance. The people that were walking past seemed friendly enough, the lobby, when I'd entered it, was clean and the teacher at the reception was very polite. But then I remembered how my dad had just looked in annoyance at my GCSE grades and any artwork that I put in my portfolio. I had nothing below a D and an A* in art and textiles, but that didn't matter. I hadn't done as well as my sister.

I waited about ten minutes, just standing awkwardly on the inside of the lobby, for Dev to get Melinda out of the way. He promised to text me as soon as she was gone and told her that I would be home by twelve due to free periods. Until then, I had two and a half hours to kill.

A few strange looks were given to me as I backed my way out of the college and down the steps. It was to be expected, but still made me feel a bit conspicuous. As I was walking along the road to find somewhere to have a drink or something for a couple of hours, I ran into Nate, who was behind the till of a cafe.

He looked like he did at the house party, relaxed and friendly as I approached and ordered a hot chocolate.

"How's the boyfriend," he asked with a wink and I rolled my eyes.

"Back home having the time of his life with my sister," I said dryly as he filled my cup and sprayed some cream on the top.

"Doesn't that sound like an episode and a half of Eastenders," he commented, passing me the cup and taking the money. I managed to find a place in the corner of the cafe, out of sight, and took a seat.

Nate didn't acknowledge me much for the rest of his shift, but I didn't mind. I'd managed to find a 2B pencil on the table, so started to doodle in the notebook that I'd packed to make my trip to college look authentic. I only stayed there for two hours, just doodling and eating some food before heading off home, giving myself half an hour to stroll there.

I just didn't expect Melinda to still be there when I got back in. After closing the door, I heard her talking on the phone, clearly to my dad.

"Yes, I checked the report card, Daddy," she drawled and I rolled my eyes, leaning on the doorframe.

"No, only a C+, what do you expect? She's flunking that just like she did everything at GCSE." I ignored the knot in my stomach as she continued. "I'll be home tomorrow after the conference. Y'know, the one for the council up here?" she continued to ramble on about her conference and I was about to walk away before I heard my name mentioned again.

"What're you going to do about Alexandra?" she asked. Suddenly, my dad's voice came out of nowhere and she started to rustle around. I guessed that she put him on hands free.

"We need to sort something out, she can't stay up there and study creativity," he said and I inwardly corrected him with the word art. "Don't you worry about it, dear, I'll come up and visit her soon to talk to her about her options. I've kept up with this facade of supporting her art career long enough."

"What do you mean?" Melinda pushed and I tensed, frowning.

"I'm enrolling her in a business course down here. I want to be able to keep an eye on her and keep her off the booze and away from the boys," my dad said. "She needs to do something worthwhile, something that'll be worth telling the others at the office," he went on and I cursed under my breath.

Dad, working in the big law firm that he did, liked to have things to boast about. He was a proud man and contained an arrogance that I would never be able to understand. That was why I got along better with my mother. She'd always supported me when I did textiles and stood up for me the first time he'd tried to enrol me in a business course.

"What's Mum said about that?" Melinda's question was cautious and Dad huffed.

"She doesn't know about it yet. She'll come around."

I couldn't listen to the rest of the conversation, threats of tears burnt in my eyes and I blinked furiously, turning around. When I turned, I found myself face to chest with Ash. I didn't know what he'd heard, if he'd heard anything at all. I didn't stop to found out if he did, I just pushed past him and hid in my bedroom.

I was not doing business. In a few months time I'd be eighteen and he'd have no power over me. Dad not being proud or accepting of my art was something that I was used to, but finally having him push me into something else was worrying.

A gentle knock came at the door and Dev pushed through. I looked up, tears playing around the rims of my eyes.

"I'm not one for crying girls," he warned and I offered a small smile. I blew out through my lips and he lowered himself onto the bed, slinging his arm over my shoulder to pull me into a hug.

"How much do you know?" I croaked and he sighed, rubbing the top of my arm.

"As much as you do, little cuz," he murmured.

"I'm not doing it," I said, pulling out of his grasp to look at him with determined eyes. He gave my hair a scruff before nodding.

"I know, and I'm pretty damn sure you won't, either," he offered, getting up.

When I followed Dev into the living room, Ash was scowling at my sister.

"She needs to stay here," Mel argued and I raised an eyebrow. Ash ran his hand through his hair and shook his head.

"Then share a hotel, not my house," he answered.

Turns out, Melinda had a friend staying over so that they could go out the next day, catch the train to the conference, and then leave us alone. Unfortunately, she wanted that friend to stay with us and Ash wasn't having it. Dev didn't seem to mind but Ash and I were adamant against it happening.

"I'm not rooming with Ash again," I countered and pointed towards the sofa.

"I'm not sharing a sofa," Melinda sneered. Dev held his hand up and blew out through his lips.

"I've had it up to here with all the spats. Alex, you're rooming with  Ash. Melinda, you can have the sofa and your friend can have Alex's room. I'm going to get a takeout and Mel, you're coming with me," he listed and I groaned, dropping into the arm chair. Ash scowled and Dev shrugged, twirling his keys around his finger.

Ash didn't speak to me as we prepared the cups and plates, nor did he say anything when we dropped onto the sofa after a job well done.

"Apparently Ryder's in the hospital," he muttered and my head snapped to the side. "And my tyres have been slashed," he informed me. I was still picking up my jaw from the first comment.

"Why?" I pushed.

After Ash and I had gotten out of the cupboard, I'd gone straight home and so had Ash to get some rest. Ryder's race wasn't until later that evening and he'd crashed, just like the note had warned. Ash appeared more irritated by the fact he had to pay for new tyres than he was about Ryder's crash.

Dinner had been awkward. Mel and Dev weren't speaking, neither were Mel and Ash. She'd picked up her friend, who was just as snobby as she was. In the end, I'd retreated early to Ash's room with my pyjamas.

Dev had popped in to warn Ash about any funny business before going off to bed himself. I put the pillow barrier up while Ash was brushing his teeth and laid down under the covers.

"Still ignoring me?" he asked and I sighed, glancing over my shoulder.

"You're ignoring me," I answered. The bed dipped with his weight and he sat up, resting against the headboard. He patted my side through the duvet and I groaned, rolling onto my back to look up at him.

"Bollocks. What's the matter?" he asked and I grunted. I straightened and pushed my hair behind my head. Ash watched my every move, his eyes flickering over my face.

"You know what's the matter. You were there when she said it," I replied and ran my hands up and down my arms. His eyes softened and he sighed, twisting a little to look at me.

"I thought it was me," he admitted and I smirked.

"Not everything's about you, Asher," I taunted and he chuckled. I looked out the window and felt the tears prick at my eyes again. While he'd been in the bathroom, I'd gone through the scenarios of what would happen when Dad found out I hadn't been going college. He was planning to make me do business when he thought I already had an art qualification, what was he going to do when he found out I was working at a bar?

Calloused fingers gently clasped my chin and Ash turned my head to face him. I took a deep breath and he offered me a small, one sided smile that made my heart do a somersault and a half.

"Your dad's an arse," he said and I smiled. His hand moved to gently cup my cheek and his thumb brushed at the space where a tear would fall if I would let it. "And your sister is worse," he added. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead, making my heart race increase even more. If that was possible.

I raised my hand to hold his while it was on my face and I sighed, knowing I would regret it. He looked at me for  a moment before I knelt up and pressed my lips to his, allowing my hands to rest on his shoulders. His hands immediately reacted, holding my hips as I pressed closer to him. His warmth and hot breath made me want to melt when his thumbs brushed on my stomach, just under my top. I opened my mouth to him and ran my hand through the soft strands at the nape of his neck. I'd seen him run his own hand through it many times and had wondered what it would be like.

His stubble tickled my chin and I looped my arms around his neck, pulling away. He rested his forehead against mine and I looked down at his lips.

"Sorry," I grumbled and Ash raised an eyebrow.

"I really don't mind, you can do that again," he teased and I rolled my eyes, trying to pull away. His hands laced together on the small of my back, holding me in place.

"I have a question," I said and pulled my head back. Ash shrugged, making my arms go with his shoulder's movement.

"Shoot."

"How many girls have you kissed, or slept with, this week?" I asked and his brows scrunched up.

"Including you? Two," he said and I narrowed my eyes, pulling back. He let his arms drop and I slumped down into the bed.

"That's why I won't do that again," I retorted and rolled onto my side. Ash grunted and didn't adjust his position in bed.

"I'm not a complete dick, love. If something was to happen between us, I wouldn't go off with other girls," he said and I made a noise from the back of my throat.

"I wouldn't be able to trust you."

"Was you like that with your last boyfriend?" he asked and my heart clenched. I needed to get away from the subject of my last boyfriend quickly.

"No," I said and I didn't hesitate, making Ash take a breath and pause.

"That was fast. End badly?" he asked and I turned, narrowing my eyes.

"Yeah, it did. If you don't mind," I snapped and he frowned at my sudden change in attitude.

"Hey, I answered you honestly when you asked me a question," he said and I raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" he pushed.

"He died," I deadpanned and tried to roll back over. Ash's hand caught my shoulder and he gave me a concerned look.

"I'm sorry," he said and I shrugged.

"It was a while ago, don't worry about it." I couldn't turn my back on him again, so I laid there, staring at the ceiling, feeling my stomach knot itself up.

"How'd it happen?" Ash asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Train," I said simply and Ash frowned. I could tell me was about to leave it, but I continued anyway, knowing that getting it out might make him understand the home situation a bit better.

"We were fooling around on some railway tracks. Drunk off our faces. We were about to get down to it when the police arrived, told us to get off the tracks," I paused, taking a breath. "I did as they said, but my jacket..." I clamped my eyes shut and felt a warm hand on my arm.

"Alex," Ash started, but I shook my head.

"He went back for my jacket and a train came. I'd never seen a train on those tracks," I quickly added, feeling the tears that I'd been holding back all day force its way down my face. "I thought they were abandoned," I whispered.

I didn't feel Ash pull me up from under the cover and hold me tight against him.

"It's alright," he soothed but I shook my head and pulled away.

"It was over a year ago," I said and took a breath to compose myself. "I know it's alright. It's just not alright for his family," I countered.

Only Dev and everybody back home knew about the accident, hence the reason I'd been shipped up for my last year of college.

"Is that why you're here?" he asked.

"That's why everyone hates me so much, yes. My mum didn't want me to have to live around what happened and my dad just saw it as something to mess up his career." I skipped the part where I missed Daniel so much it hurt when there were reminders everywhere.

"Why didn't you say, or even hint?" Ash asked, incredulous.

"I'm not one for sharing, Ash and it's not exactly small talk is it?" I said and he rolled his eyes.

"Just because you're upset, doesn't give you the right to be snarky," he replied with a taunting tone and I smirked, punching his arm.

"So sympathetic," I muttered and turned to get back under the covers and hide my face. Being vulnerable was something I definitely didn't want anyone to see.

I settled down in the covers, taking in the musky smell. I pushed back the memory of the train, the impact and the sound before closing my eyes and clamping them shut. My breathing sped up and I tried to take control over my heart rate. When I went to see a councillor after, that was what they taught me. Another thing they'd taught me was not to repress the memories of that evening, but it seemed to be the only thing that would take the pain away.

"Alex," Ash whispered and I mumbled my response. "It wasn't your fault," he added and pressed a quick kiss to the spot on my shoulder where my collar bone met my neck.

"Rule seventeen, don't pity me," I replied. I heard a snort of laughter before the room went silent and I was left with the very thoughts I'd been desperately trying to forget.

A/N: It got a bit deep at the end, but I thought it was about time everyone found out the real reason Alex left home. Anyway, the comments I've been getting and the votes have all been amazing, so I'd really love it if you could chuck me a vote and a comment, it'll make me write faster.

This, my little wattpad friends, is 14 fricken word pages! *pats back* Lemme know what you think!:)

A/A/N: Additional authors note, see what I did there?;)  Again, my first exam is on MONDAY! Gah, so I don't know when the next update will be. :)