Rule 19

Rule 19 - As per usual, not proofread, so please ignore any mistakes.

"Where are you off to?" I asked, watching Matt grab his coat. He gave me a curious look and slung it over his shoulder.

"Cash and carry," he said slowly.

Since Ash had told me that Ryder thought Matt was behind the brake cutting malarky, I had been surveying his every move. Dev would've probably backed up my actions if he wasn't still on the fence about Ash and I.

Apparently, Ash disappeared off without Dev knowing where he was going and he didn't find out until we both walked through the door Sunday afternoon. He wasn't happy, and until I assured him that I'd insisted on a pillow barrier, I thought he was going to take Ash's head off.

"Can I come?" I asked and Matt frowned.

"Why?" I scrambled quickly for an answer, unsure of what to say. I was never brilliant at improvisation.

"Because I'm curious as to how this all works. I've also heard that you can buy a box of sixty freddos for only twelve pounds!" I replied and Matt smirked, leaning on the bar.

"You have a shift," he offered, but I shook my head.

"Sid's out back. Come on, Matt," I complained and he chuckled, holding the door open.

"Get in the car," he said, sounding defeated. I grinned and grabbed my denim jacket before following him out.

I hadn't actually intended to go to the cash and carry, which is basically a massive warehouse where shops can buy in cheap merchandise. I'd just planned on trying to find out where he was going. I decided against sending Ash a message as I knew he couldn't improve of my stalking technique.

"I heard what happened to Ry," I replied as casually as possible and Matt nodded, a grimace on his face. He didn't tense or anything, not that I was an expert on spotting liars.

"Yeah, he was alright for the first lap, he flew off the same place as Ash did. They reckon the garage are slacking on the brake tightening," he explained, turning into the cash and carry car park.

The warehouse looked quite small from the outside, but on the inside, there were so many aisles that I had to stay close to Matt for fear of losing him and never finding him again. He picked up some alcohol, some crisps and I picked up my box of freddos. I loved them, but I didn't know what I was going to do with sixty of them.

"I can't believe you actually bought those," Matt remarked on the way out, pushing hard on the trolley to get it over the lumpy pavement.

"I told you I would," I said with a shrug, trying to balance the box on my forearms. It wasn't light. Just as we were unloading the boxes into the car, I heard someone behind us call Matt's name.

"Hey," Matt replied, glancing at me. I would say nervously, but I was racking my brains for Criminal Minds knowledge so could've picked up on anything and said it was a nervous trait. I could mark FBI profiler off my future career list.

"Have you got that money?" the mysterious man asked. I shrank back against the boot, trying not to sound like I was listening.

"Not on me, no," Matt responded, folding his arms over his chest.

"I need it. What you got me to do wasn't easy. It could've cost me my job," the guy hissed. Matt looked over his shoulder at me and leaned closer, whispering something in the man's ear. I raised an eyebrow and looked at my toes in my converse, waiting for the man to go away.

"Sorry about that," Matt told me as we got into the car, rubbing the nape of his neck. I shrugged and lowered myself into the passenger's seat.

"Hey, it's none of my business if you've pissed off someone's pimp," I replied and he chuckled, starting the car.

"I'll drop you off at home, there's no point you going back to work," he said.

"Thanks."

Ash wasn't home when I got back, which was a relief, as I needed to discuss my findings and my new relationship with my cousin.

My parents hadn't been happy about my early departure, but my dad was still sour about my comments and my mum seemed to understand.

"But even if it was Matt, he'd need to have a partner," I offered, giving Dev a cup of tea. He took it gratefully and leaned back against the counter.

"Promise me you'll be careful with Ash," he replied and I rolled my eyes.

"I know what he's like and I'm not a slut, Dev," I assured but he sighed, holding the bridge of his nose.

"Al, I've seen the guy try relationships and I'm not having him hurt my family," he said.

"I know. He's not going to hurt me. Can we please try to sort this death threat crap out?" I asked, desperate to get off the subject of my boyfriend. I knew Dev wasn't happy and I knew full well what Ash was like, I didn't need to be reminded about how he could drop me at any moment.

"I don't think it's Matt. He doesn't have the balls and he's known Ash too long," Dev replied, taking a hearty sip of his drink.

"He hasn't known Ry that long," I countered but Dev shook his head, putting the mug down.

"I'm going to talk to the sponsors of Ash's bike tonight and see what they think. We can't go to the police, it's not legal," he added and I chewed on the inside of my lip.

"Why hasn't he spoken to them?" I was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and Ash bounding through.

"Am I safe or are you still going to try and chop my balls off?" Ash asked Dev, who just raised an eyebrow.

"You're safe for now," my cousin deadpanned, taking a sip of his tea.

"I might try and chop your balls off if you don't stop putting that bloody spider in my bed," I hissed and he smirked, leaning on the doorframe.

"Karma's a bitch, love," he replied sweetly, before pushing off the doorframe and starting towards the passage. "I need to go and brush my teeth," he added in a murmur, almost to himself.

Ash's obsession with having clean teeth gave me the perfect opportunity to play off my next prank. Chilli powder in the toothpaste. Dev had pronounced me a genius when I had come up with it after Ash had left that morning.

Dev smirked and leaned back against the counter, watching my facial expression as we waited for the sound of Ash's agony.

"Shit!" the sound was muffled, clearly by the toothpaste and the sound of the tap filled the air. Dev let out a bark and laughter and I bit my lip, awaiting the wrath.

The wait was only a few minutes before Ash came stalking into the kitchen with an angry expression.

"Milk, please," he muttered and I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, you wanted the milk?" I asked, blocking the fridge.

"My mouth is on fucking fire. Yes I want the milk," he snapped and I grinned, leaning back against the fridge door. He moved forwards quickly and wrapped his arms around my waist. Before I could protest, he'd picked me up and moved me out of the way so he could get to the milk. Apparently, it helps with the heat.

"I'm guessing you need new toothpaste," I chided and Dev couldn't keep in the giggles, so retreated to the living room.

"Yeah, and you need a new toothbrush," he answered. I frowned, watching him as he chugged down the remainder of the milk.

"Why would I need a new toothbrush?"

"Because I accidently dropped it in the loo," he responded, seemingly gaining control of his heated mouth.

"You dropped my toothbrush in the toilet?" I stammered and he nodded.

"Accidently, of course," he said. I rolled my eyes and was about to walk out of the kitchen when he trapped me against the counter between his arms.

"Of course," I said sarcastically and he grinned, looking down between us. The heat of his breath was exaggerated by the chilli and I gave him a look.

"That's what you get for that pillow barrier," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine. His hands started to travel from my hips downwards until I grabbed them and laced our fingers together.

"Boundaries, Toms, boundaries," I warned with a tsk and he groaned, pressing a kiss against my neck. The chilli made it sear against my skin before he pulled away and strolled into the living room alongside my cousin.

When we'd all settled in against the sofas and I'd stopped my raced heartbeat, I told Ash about the conversation between Matt and our mystery man.

"It's not Matt," Ash said, more certain this time.

"Why wouldn't it be? He disappeared during Ry's race to let us out the cupboard," I offered but he shook his head.

"Because he works a shift. Honestly, love, I know him, it's not him."

"Okay," I said, running my hand up and down his thigh, fiddling with the denim. Dev watched my movement and narrowed his eyes. I stared him out until he sighed.

"I have to agree with Ash, Al, I don't think it's him."

We sat discussing the situation when the phone rang and Ry's voice echoed through the living room.

"Devon, I need to borrow your cousin," he replied and Dev frowned.

"Why?" we asked simultaneously.

"Because I think I've got a lead and he's a bit of a ladies' man," he cooed.

"You're not sending my girlfriend out on the pull," Ash sneered and Ry's laughter blasted through the reciever.

"Girlfriend? You move quickly. Weren't you snogging my ex the other day?" he asked. My eyes shot up to meet Ash's but he shook his head, giving me a hurt look.

"No. Who's your lead? I thought you suspected Matt?" Ash asked. There was a pause.

"I'll tell you if you bring your little girlfriend down here. I can't ask Sid, she doesn't talk to me and I don't trust anyone else. I'm at the garage," he replied and hung up the phone. Before I could say anything, Ash slung his arm over my shoulder.

"Remember what I said? Zero," he whispered, before turning to Dev.

"Grab your coats," Dev replied with a bored tone. I sighed and Ash got to his feet. While Dev went to get his jacket, I wrapped my arms around Ash's neck and pulled his head to mine. He let me press a gentle kiss against his lips and I ran my fingers through his hair.

"One," I corrected and leaned back, glancing at his mouth.

"You stink of chilli," I remarked and he laughed, raising an eyebrow at me.

"I'd brush my teeth if some wacky girl didn't put kitchen essentials in my toothpaste," he said and I grinned.

"You got your revenge, my toothbrush is in the loo," I countered.

"Would've worked better if I didn't tell you."

"Rule 19, if you drop anything of mine in the toilet, you have to tell me."

He rolled his eyes at my words and pushed me out in front of him.

"Move your arse, you prat," he teased. He pushed on my butt and I rolled my eyes, following my cousin out to the car. Whatever Ry wanted at the garage, he was going to be disappointed when he found out how much I sucked at flirting.

Information: a Freddo is a chocolate in the shape of a frog that are pretty popular in the area I live in. Hope that cleared things up!

A/N: Hope you liked, please drop me a vote and comment, they shine a light in this horrific exam season and dull British weather and encourage me to write instead of revise and edit... Some of you were asking how my exam went last week, my media exam and the english lit exam I did yesterday went reasonably well, thank you. :)

Not sure on the date of the next update, my next exam is on Monday, so please be patient with me. Dedication for the banner. Thank you, it's gorgeous!

Until next time, wattpadians!