Rule 18

Rule 18 - you know the drill. Not proofread, so please ignore any mistakes.

"Yes, Mum, I promised I would and I am," I said, resting my phone on my shoulder as I threw some of my clothes in my bag. Dev was leaning on the doorframe and sighed as he watched, running his hand down his face.

"Do you want me to meet you at the train station? I know..." she paused, clearly not sure what to say. Trains had made me a little nervous after the accident, but recently, I'd been fine with them.

"It's fine, you don't have to worry," I started and then stopped, sitting on the top of my bag. "Actually, it would save me the taxi fare," I added and I heard her chuckle.

"I miss your bluntness," she admitted before I heard some jingling in the background.

"I miss you too," I answered, checking the clock. "Look, I've got a train to catch. I'll see you in a couple hours." My mum signed off the conversation and I breathed out through my lips, giving my cousin a sad look. As it was the college's half term, before I left home, I promised my mum that I'd visit her for a weekend. That dreaded weekend had come.

"Have you got that false report card?" I asked and he nodded, handing me a folded piece of paper.

"You don't have to go alone. I could always go with you," he offered but I shook my head, giving him a stern look.

"Dev, you have to stop Ash doing anything stupid and you have work. Getting this weekend off for me wasn't easy, it'll be worse for you," I justified and he grunted, glancing into the passage.

Ash's head appeared in the doorway and he frowned.

"Have I pushed you to move out?" he asked and I shook my head, giving him a look.

"I'm going home for the weekend, remember?" I pushed and Ash's eyebrows rose.

"Was that this weekend?" he asked and I gestured towards my bag.

"Clearly." Dev moved himself back from the door and into the living room, leaving Ash standing there with his arms crossed.

"I thought it was next week," he said and I shook my head, giving him a grimace.

"Nope, I'm leaving in a minute." He watched me pack my remaining bits and pieces before putting his hand on the doorframe.

"Are you gonna be alright?" he asked. I raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder.

"Ash, I have a train to catch." His eyebrows rose and fell when I mentioned train and he sighed.

"If you have any problems, just call me," Dev shouted over Ash's shoulder and moved his lodger out of the way.

"We going?" I asked and Dev nodded, grabbing my bag. Dev started out to the car and I looked at Ash before raising my arms and giving him a quick hug.

"Yes, I'll be fine. Be careful with your race, okay?" he nodded and I sighed, following Dev out to the car.

The journey to the train station was quiet and the train journey was even quieter than that. Dev had promised me that all I needed to do was phone him if I wanted him to come and pick me up again, depending on what my dad was like. I assumed that he might mention the whole business thing and it might end up kicking off.

When I got off the train, I was greeted with the usual sight of bustling people and a dirty surrounding. Drawing my bag closer, I tried to shove my way into the open and felt the air rush through my hair.

It didn't take me long to find my mum, who was waiting in the car a little way up the road.

"Alright, sweet?" she asked when I got in the car and I nodded. My mum was the one person in my family that actually seemed to care about me. She'd supported my artwork, taken me out for a celebratory dinner after my results and was the only one to care for me when the accident happened.

I told her a few fake stories about college while she filled me in about a few of the things that she'd done at work.

It was when we passed the train tracks that my stomach dropped and I knew that coming back that weekend wasn't one of my brightest ideas.

I was greeted when we walked in with a bored look from Melinda and bland cream wallpaper. Apparently, Dad was still at work so I had a while to unpack my essentials before we went out for dinner.

Dinner, or as I often like to call it, torture, was horrific. Dad didn't seem to be impressed with my 'grade' and spent the majority of dinner in our local Bella Italia having a go at me about it.

"Honestly, Alexandra, if you can't succeed in something as menial as this, how well are you going to do in something that will earn you money?" Dad asked and I narrowed my eyes, attempting to keep a lid on my patience.

"I'm doing well enough," I retorted but my dad shook his head, putting the paper down on the table.

"No, you're not. You need to build on this or there will be consequences," he answered.

"You've already got the consequence sorted if I pass!" I exclaimed and he gave me a warning look.

"Andrew," my mum started, but my dad held his hand up.

"Business, Alex, is the way forward," he said through gritted teeth and I shook my head.

"I can't do business," I countered and he let out a deep breath.

"You clearly can't draw, either!" he seethed and my mum coughed.

"Andrew," she said again but he ignored her, as did I.

"You clearly haven't got the parenting sussed, should I get you a lesson in that too?" I asked and I swear, if smoke could come out of someone's ears, it would've right then.

"You will treat me with respect," he warned in a low voice and I pushed my chair back, preparing to leave before I said anything stupid.

"What? Like you did me when Daniel died?" I hissed, remembering how he'd ignored me and blamed me for the death of the son of one of his closest friends.

"If you hadn't of taken him to the tracks then it wouldn't have happened. You didn't deserve my respect," he answered and I felt the tears clog my throat.

"That's enough, Andrew!" my mother exploded, but it was too late, I'd taken off out of the restaurant with all eyes on me.

It wasn't long before my mum was behind me, holding me against her as I took a deep breath.

"Ignore him," she soothed and I pulled back, not allowing him to make me cry.

"Why does he hate me so much?" I asked quietly and she sighed.

"He doesn't hate you," Mum started but I held my hand up.

"Please don't make this worse by defending him." Mum's eyes softened and she sighed, blowing out through her lips.

"Take the key to the flat," she said, taking a key out of her bag. "Give him time to cool off, take some time yourself and come back home tomorrow. Do you want me to stay with you?" she asked. I shook my head and gave her a hug, kissing her cheek.

"I'll be fine. I just..." I paused and she nodded, clearly understanding. Nothing had been the same since the train. Mum took out her car key and offered to drive me. Most parents wouldn't even think of doing anything like that, but my mum understood. I was a private person and my dad was like a grenade waiting to go off. I would've much rather stayed out that night than have my dad go off somewhere and Mum knew that.

As my dad was a rich man, he had an apartment that he owned in the middle of town. I used to use it for house parties and things whenever I could sneak the key out. It was also my own hiding place for when everything got too tough.

Mum gave me a final kiss goodbye and I let myself in, greeting Mr Henry, the man downstairs, as I went. As soon as I got inside, I threw myself down on the bed and took a few deep breaths. Going home wasn't a good idea, I knew it when I left, I knew it when I opened the door and I certainly knew it when I flumped down on the bed.

Home, for me, was back with Dev and as much as I hated to admit it, Ash. That was when I made the decision to go home the next day. So I rang Dev's house phone.

"Hello?" Ash answered and I grunted. He chuckled at my disappointed sound.

"Where's Dev?" I asked and there was a pause.

"Out getting beer. Everything alright, love?" he replied and I sighed, leaning back against the pillows.

"Just peachy," I retorted and I could tell he was smirking. "Cat got your tongue?" I asked and he let out a breath.

"What happened?" he pushed and I rolled my eyes.

"Tell Dev to ring me when he gets back," I was about to hang up but Ash cut me off.

"Whereabouts in London are you?" he asked and I narrowed my eyes.

"Just tell Dev," I started but he cut me off again.

"Answer the question, Al."

"In my dad's spare apartment," I said slowly and Ash grunted.

"I'll tell Dev you called." With that, he hung up.

I was left staring at the phone in annoyance. Without another word, I turned onto my stomach and closed my eyes, taking in the scent of new bedding.

After accidently falling asleep, I was woken up to the sound of a knock at the door. If it was my sister, or even my dad, I was going to scream. I clamped my eyes shut and stretched before checking the clock. Eleven O'clock, I was definitely going to scream.

"I don't want to argue anymore," I started as I opened the door. What I didn't expect to find was Ash, standing in my doorway with a bag of chinese food and a horror film. My eyes were wide and he smirked.

"I know, my looks dazzle. Fancy letting me in?" he asked and I stood back. He strolled in and I shut the door behind him, still staring at his back in shock.

"What are you doing here? How do you even know where 'here' is?" I choked out and I watched his shoulders move in a shrug.

"I asked Dev and I'm here to cheer you up. You sounded pissed," he said and then paused. "Plus I've heard that London is pretty awesome," he offered. I couldn't help the smile that plastered itself on my face.

"Well..." I started and grimaced as I said the one word I never expected to be saying to him. "Thank you." He gave me one of his one sided smiles and made his way towards the kitchen.

"No worries."

We'd settled down on the floor with a few pillows to eat the chinese and Ash had leaned back against the sofa, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.

"So, are you coming home tomorrow?" he asked and I nodded.

"Most definitely. Coming back here was a bad idea," I stated, moving to sit next to him.

"Dev said you'd ring," he informed me, slinging his arm around my shoulder, resting it on the sofa behind us.

"He knows what my dad's like," I said and he nodded.

"What did your dad do?" he asked.

"Oh, just accused me of murder after telling me I've got no future," I dismissed and Ash's eyebrows rose.

"Why do you even bother?" he asked and I shrugged.

"Because I thought people could change," I admitted.

"Ryder's changed a bit?" he offered and I chuckled.

"What's caused you to change your tune?" I asked.

"He came over a few hours ago on crutches and said that he thought he knew who did it," he said. I nodded, gesturing for him to continue. "He thinks it was Matt," he said and my jaw fell open.

"No way," I said and Ash shrugged.

"I can't say I agree, but that's what reckons," he told me.

I couldn't say that I agreed, either. Matt was a close friend of Ash's, as was Sid, there was no way he had anything to do with it.

"Speaking of change," he drawled and I raised an eyebrow. "None," he finished. I frowned.

"What?"

"That's how many girls I've kissed this week." I felt my shoulders fall and I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Stop being so cute," I whined and he ran his hand through my hair.

"Rule eighteen, don't ever call me cute," he warned and I let out a bark of laughter.

"You got it."

He was making it borderline impossible to ignore my feelings for him. Ever since he'd arrived, my heart had been doing happy skips and my stomach had been filled with butterflies.

"I barely know you," I said lamely and he raised a single eyebrow.

"You've known me for nearly five months now," he countered.

That was how we ended up with a game of never have I ever using bottle cap shots of fanta.

"Never have I ever said I love you," Ash started and I gave him a look, taking my shot.

"Never have I ever had a one night stand." Ash rolled his eyes at my words and took a shot himself.

"Never have I ever been arrested," he said. I sheepishly took a sip and his eyes widened.

"What did you do?" he choked and I groaned.

"Hit a policeman," I whispered and he laughed.

"Why?" he pushed.

"House party, they were searching us all for drugs or some shit and in my drunk state, accused him of touching me inappropriately and hit him." Ash laughed again and appraised me with a satisfied look.

"How rebellious of you," he chided.

"Never have I ever had sex in a public place," I distracted and Ash took his shot. Before I could ask him to explain, he put the lid on the bottle and gave me a serious look.

"This game is making me look awful," he teased and I nodded, sprawling out on the floor.

"It most definitely is," I agreed.

"I'm serious, though, I'd like to give this a shot," he said casually and I sat up.

"I can't," I started but he shook his head, stopping me.

"You mean you won't," he corrected.

"I don't want this relationship we have to change," I remarked but Ash shrugged.

"You think that I'll be nice to you because you'd be my girlfriend?" he asked with a lop sided grin and I smirked.

"Isn't that in the relationship rulebook?" I asked and he shrugged.

"I'm currently trying to break all the rules in your crappy roommate book, don't make me start on the relationship one," he said and I chuckled, moving to sit on his lap.

"I come with so much shit that it's not worth bothering," I whispered and he shrugged.

"Then we'll get you some laxatives. Al, I don't care." He gently pushed a hair behind my ear and I grunted, leaning against him. He laced his fingers behind my back and let my stay there for a moment before letting out a deep breath.

"I killed my last one, you don't want this," I added and he stiffened, pushing on my shoulders to move me back.

"Say that again and I'll bloody kill you. Don't think like that." I looked him in the eye and sighed. "Stop putting obstacles in the way," he added and I rolled my eyes.

"These aren't obstacles, they're reality. You're not this nice all the time," I argued and he rolled his own eyes.

"That's the point. I'm never this nice to anyone. I like our arguments and your shitty moods and your stupid pranks. Why not just give it a try?" he asked and I breathed out.

"Because I'm not girlfriend material!" I exclaimed.

"I'm not boyfriend material," he said with a shrug.

"I know," I hissed and he chuckled.

"So, let's see if people can change," he offered.

"Okay," I finally said and he grinned.

"Okay?"

"Okay," I agreed.

He moved his head forwards and my lips met his. I could feel his hot breath on my cheeks when he pulled back and checked the clock.

"If I see a pillow barrier when I get in there," he said, aiming his thumb at the bedroom. "It's over before it even starts," he finished. I smirked, getting up from his lap.

"Then I guess we're over," I teased and he got up with me.

"Well, it was fun while it lasted," he said, causing me to grin.

"A whole ten seconds," I offered. He shut me up with a kiss and smirked.

"No pillow barrier," he repeated before taking off towards the bathroom. I watched him go with a knot in my stomach. Whether it was going to work out or not, I didn't know. But if Daniel's accident taught me anything, it was that life's short, so you have to take a few chances. For me, Ash was a massive chance.

A/N: Aren't I good? I have been revising, a few of you have been telling me off (You're all like second parents) But as I have been taking a break from revision, I've been putting this together in 20 minute intervals. Anyway, I'm not one for massive romantic build ups or whatever, so hope this was okay. Please chuck me a vote and a comment, it'll push me to stop revising and write for you all. - You're such a good influence.

A/A/N: There won't be an Ash POV, sorry! Not sure about the date of my next update so please be patient, young grasshoppers.

Until next time, Wattpadians!