Rule 1.

Rule 1.

I’d managed to have a shower, get dressed and sit in dwell in my room for a good 45 minutes before the time came to go into the front room and deal with the consequence of my actions the night before.

Dev ended up dissolving the conflict with distraction, asking Ash about his night. After he let me go, I’d scrambled back into my room and went to bed, knowing that a burglar wasn’t going to end up slaughtering me in my sleep.

When I emerged, nobody was in sight but I could smell some toast burning in the kitchen. Strolling into the front room, I did a spot check for Ash to my right, hoping he was out.

“Unarmed today, I see,” said a voice from behind me. With a grimace, I slowly turned on my heels to face a tall, brown haired, broad shouldered guy.

“I can go back and get the bottle, if you’d rather,” I replied, attempting to look like the night before hadn’t phased me in the slightest. He looked different, probably because it was light and his eyes weren’t red, angry and inflamed from my hairspray.

He cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest, only making him seem larger.

“Most people would retaliate with an apology,” he retorted, leaning one shoulder on the wall next to him. I scoffed and frowned, disliking him already.

“I’m not going to apologise for defending myself,” I sniffed.

“Defending yourself from what? The paracetamol I was getting from the drawer?” His voice was flat and I let out a deep breath.

“Children, children,” Dev cooed from behind me. I felt his large hands on my shoulders as he held me in place and ruffled my hair. Rolling my eyes, I shrugged him off and scooted on top of the table.

“I’m going to need the pair of you to get along,” my cousin continued, running his hand through his sandy hair, which was a few shades lighter than my long, dark waves.

“Did something happen to make you think that we won’t get along?” I asked sweetly, swinging my jogger clad legs on the edge of the table.

“Uh, yeah, you jumped me with a can of hairspray last night,” Ash cut in.

“Get over it! What are you? Five?” I hissed. Ash’s eyes narrowed and Dev let out a bark of nervous laughter.

“I get that you didn’t get off on the right foot,” Dev tried but I shook my head and jumped down from the table, pulling the bottom of my shirt up to show a bruise on my stomach.

“This is what your drunken, violent lodger did to me last night,” I exclaimed. Dev raised an eyebrow while Ash just looked bored.

“I’d have to say that I’m more of a legs man, myself, so you can stop flashing me your stomach,” Ash drawled. I huffed and shoved my shirt back down, practically stomping into the kitchen to cool off.

It took me a while to navigate myself around the kitchen and find the toaster, let alone the bread. The boys didn’t have any order in the kitchen whatsoever. Someone had clearly gone to the shops that morning as there was a bag on the counter. Inside, I found a pack of bacon, which was already open, and a carton of orange juice. Neither of which were very helpful in the contribution towards my breakfast.

Whilst I set about the kitchen, I heard some mumbling coming from the living room. My name was definitely mentioned and I grumbled under my breath. I was beginning to wish I’d behaved and stayed at home, it would’ve been so much easier. At least at home I had some friends.

“Al!” Dev hollered. I stuck my head out of the kitchen and looked over to see my cousin on the sofa and Ash nowhere in sight.

“What?” I asked when he didn’t say anything.

“I’m sending you out with Ash to have a look around the city, the college and the shops. Just to get you used to everything,” Dev replied, leaning closer to the T.V with the remote to change channels. My jaw nearly symbolically hit the floor and I shook my head frantically.

“Why can’t you show me?!” I exclaimed. Dev didn’t even look in my direction when he answered.

“Because I’m working,” he dismissed.

“Devon Alexander Croyland, I am not going on the streets with him,” I argued, walking over to sit on the armchair. I was greeted with a sigh.

“Look, I’m the one that has to live with the pair of you and all you’ve done so far is have a spat and literally assault each other. I’m sending you both out because one: I’m working, two: you need to learn to get along and three: I’m paying your rent so I have pretty much all control over you anyway,” he finished.

I didn’t even notice Ash walk in and then into the kitchen until he walked out holding some toast. Or to be more precise; my toast. The toast that I’d searched endlessly around the kitchen to create.

“If you value your life, you’ll put the toast down,” I warned. Ash took one more bite and chewed slowly, grinning at me when he swallowed. Before placing the toast down on the table, he took another large bite and crossed his arms over his chest. I continued to glare, ignoring Dev’s snigger, until he gulped down his final bite.

“Sorry, was that yours?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. I breathed out deeply through my nose and looked at the ceiling in exasperation.

“I think we need to distinguish some household rules,” I started but he held his hand up, effectively silencing me.

“I don’t,” he cut in but I ignored him.

“Rule number one, if I have prepared, made, or half eaten food, it is not yours! That shouldn’t even be in this metaphorical rulebook, it’s just good manners,” I finished. Ash raised one unamused eyebrow, while Dev just groaned.

“Al, you’ve moved in with two eighteen year old guys, all manners have gone out of the window,” he countered. I gave up on answering them after that, considering that the asshole even had my cousin on hid side.

“Eat my toast, I don’t care. But you’re buying my breakfast,” I retorted and went back to my room to put some makeup on before he could object. Although, I was pretty damn sure that he wasn’t going to be buying me a bagel.

I was also pretty damn sure that I wasn’t going to be getting on any motorbike.

What both of them had failed to mention was that Ash didn’t own a car, he owned a motorbike, and competed in some backstreet races for his income.

Ash had said nothing to me on the way down to the lobby, nor did he even look at me. He did, however, hold every door open for me, so that dulled the hatred a little bit. Well, until I saw the bike. Without a word, he handed me a helmet and swung himself into the seat, nestling comfortably as he waited for me to get on.

“It’s not happening,” I said decisively, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Alex, just get on the pissing bike,” he said through a sigh, running his hands down his face. I shook my head. I didn’t do bikes, I could do horses, jet skis, boats, hell, I’d even ridden a camel, but I wasn’t about to get on the back of his shiny black motorbike. It was a deathtrap, that was one thing that I was certain of.

“No, I don’t like them, I’m not getting on. I’d rather walk,” I countered. He shrugged.

“Walk then,” he sniffed, kicking up the stand of the bike. I smirked, indignant as I set off to my left. I heard a whistle behind me and I spun around, silently begging him to get off the bike and walk, I had no idea where I was going.

“Other way, dumbass,” he hollered. I tried to look as though I still had my dignity when I strolled in the opposite direction, feeling his eyes on me as I went.

I got about three minutes down the very same road before I got to a cut off point where I had to chose another direction to walk in. The houses all seemed to loom over me, making it difficult to see what way I had to go. The streets were confusing and there were several alleys that led down to dead ends. I decided against trying any other alley roads incase I managed to get myself lost even deeper into the city.

30 seconds was probably about as long as I lasted before I plonked myself down on the kerb and called Dev, accusing Ash of ditching me on the side of the road. Dev didn’t seem fussed at all, just recommended google maps before signing off the phone call to go to work. I didn’t even know where he worked. Mum probably did, but I wasn’t planning on calling her for a while, I was still angry at her for shipping me off on such short notice.

It wasn’t short notice enough to leave me out of college, unfortunately. As of four days after my arrival, I was due to attend a college to continue my art course. She wasn’t too keen on my choice in career path, either, making it all the more impossible to impress the woman.

“Calling Mummy?” a voice from my right asked. I looked to the side and groaned at the silhouette of my neglector.

“Dev, actually,” I muttered. Ash rolled his eyes and held his hand out for me.

“Close enough. Come on, get up,” he replied. I went to grab it when he pulled away and I fell right back down on my backside.

“You’re an ass,” I hissed and he chuckled, turning on his heels.

“I know, hurry up,” he threw over his shoulder. I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes, following along behind him.

A.N: For those that don't already know, I now have a blog! Woohooo! Just a little bit of exciting but not at all exciting news I thought I'd share. Anyway, if you liked, vote and comment, thanks!