Rule 8

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Rule 8 (Not proofread, please ignore any mistakes, I'll fix them at the end).

            "You should've asked me," Melinda drawled, resting her hand playfully on Ash's arm. Dev and Sid were standing next to me, watching the two of them in disbelief. Ash shrugged.

            "Your sister is... more suited," Ash explained. I raised an eyebrow and Melinda chuckled.

            "Why? Are they looking for unintelligent slackers?" she joked.

            "He's not taking you because he doesn't want to spend the evening with a snobby, callous and shallow little bitch," Sid countered. My sister didn't like Sid very much when she first walked through the door, but she liked her even less now. I, on the other hand, gained so much respect for the girl, I could've kissed her.

            "Right, Mel, don't you have a train to catch?" Dev asked, grabbing the suitcases that were piled near the door. Melinda nodded, sneering at Sid as she went past.

            "Bye," she called over her shoulder, not even looking back. Dev rolled his eyes and gave my shoulder a reassuring rub.

            "Ignore her, okay?" he whispered before backing out and into the passage. As soon as the door slammed shut, I groaned and dropped onto the sofa.

            Sid just shook her head angrily. We'd gone shopping this morning at 9, making it seem as though I was going college. I just didn't expect Melinda to still be here when we got back. She was meant to leave on Thursday, but stayed until Saturday due to some failure with the trains. I took it as she thought she could bed Ash in the four days that she stayed here so stuck around.

            "I've got to go to work, Al, but you're all set for tonight now, right?" she asked. I nodded and smiled gratefully.

            "Yeah, thanks. And thank you for what you said earlier," I added. She smiled in return and gave me a quick hug.

            "No problem. Just do me a favour and hit her next time." I grinned and said my goodbyes, just leaving me with Ash in the living room.

            "I'm not sure how the pair of you are from the same parents," Ash muttered, rubbing his hand over his face.

            "I often wonder if I'm adopted," I muttered and dropped onto the sofa. It had been replaced, mainly because Melinda paid for it out of 'guilt'. Dev and I put money on the fact that it was so she could seduce Ash on the sofa.

            "There is something that I haven't told you about tonight," Ash started, twisting on the cushion to face me. As he leaned, his arm came around the top of the sofa behind me. I tensed, glancing at his muscles forearm. He didn't even seem to notice that he'd done it.

            "This doesn't sound good," I muttered and he grinned, looking down at my jumper.

            "Depends on your view of things," he drawled. I raised a singular eyebrow and he took this as his cue.

            "Everyone there is going to think that we are together," he said quickly. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head.

            "Please tell me that you're joking. You said we weren't going as a couple!" I exclaimed, lying back on the sofa with a grunt. Ash took a moment to watch me lay back, surveying my flexibility, before shaking his head.

            "Well, I lied. Sorry, Simmons," he said, sounding the exact opposite of the word sorry. "I'm going to go and get ready and call my mum to find out when we have to be there," he informed me, pushing himself to his feet. When he walked into the passage, I grinned and got up.

            I hadn't done anything to Ash since the spider incident, which meant it was the perfect opportunity to take my revenge.

            The house was quiet, apart from the sounds of voices from Ash's room, so I went into the kitchen and grabbed the cling film. I'd seen this prank in various YouTube videos and it always seemed very successful. Grabbing the cello tape, I made a break for Ash's door. I'd learnt over the past few days that his door opened inwards, making this perfect.

            I taped the cling film across the length of the door, at a height that was likely to catch his face and his chest. After briefly admiring my work, I leaned on the other side of the passage and shouted to Ash.

            "Ash, my dress and make up is in there, I need it!" I hollered. He grumbled something in return that I couldn't quite make out.

            The door swung open and he stepped forwards, clearly not concentrating and in a rush. He got caught on the invisible cling film and cursed, waving his arms around manically. He calmed himself from the shock after a few moments and I couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter.

            "I hate you," he muttered, but there was a playful tone to his voice as he pulled down the cling film with a single swipe. He passed me the dress and I thanked him, making my way back to my room, which was now mine again.

            The dress was a pale pink, almost beige and hung loose from my chest, flowing in a chiffon material just above my knees. I'd also borrowed some heels from Sid, mainly because I don't have any formal clothing and the only heels I own are ones I used to wear to the odd club. They were also a navy colour and apparently wouldn't suit the dress.

           

            Makeup was relatively minimal, just mascara and a light dusting of eye shadow. When I walked out of my room and past Ash's, I didn't spot him. The door was wide open and I expected him to still be in there.

            "No, that's fine, mother," Ash droned when I entered the living room. He looked up briefly and then looked back, smirking as he looked down at my legs. He hung up the phone and crossed his arms over his chest.

            "Wow, you have legs," he said appreciatively and I blushed, scowling.

            "Yeah, I'd look pretty funny without them," I retorted. Ash grinned and sat down on the sofa, doing up the final buttons on his black shirt. I would be a fool to lie about not finding him ultra attractive in his suit, but I wasn't about to tell him that. His dark blonde hair was tousled and the stubble that he never shaved off made him look rugged.

            "Finished staring, love?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

            "Shut up." He smirked as I walked past him and sat down on the sofa beside him. I leaned down to put my shoes on and noticed him watching me out of the corner of my eye.

            "Finished staring, love?" I mimicked and he grinned.

            "Not quite," he said, not ashamed in the slightest. I rolled my eyes and sat back, crossing one leg over the other.

           

            "What time are we going?" I asked after a few moments and he checked his phone.

            "Now," he said, patting my upper thigh as he moved.

            "Rule 8, don't touch me in intimate areas!" I blurted. Ash's eyebrows rose in surprise and he let out a bark of laughter.

            "That's one rule that I'm definitely planning on breaking," he informed me, holding out his hand to help me up.

            I didn't answer him, I just stood, ignoring his hand. He gave me a measly shrug before we made our way outside to a car. Where he got it, I didn't know. But it was a damn sight better than the bloody motorbike.

            The trip was filled with Ash just ranting about how posh the people were going to be and how uptight his mother was. In the end, I found that we could relate. This party sounded similar to the conventions I was forced to go to a few times.

            When we arrived, the gallery that it was being held at was decorated in the reception with some posters, most of them art. I'd learned from Ash that his mother dealt with many different types of business, the pub being one of her smaller ones. She apparently owned a modelling company, an art company and several pubs around the country.

            Ash's arm went around my waist and he pulled me against him when we walked inside. He gave our names to the lady on the door and dragged me into the room where the event was taking place. I suddenly felt extremely self conscious and wished that he did in fact, take my sister with him instead of me.

            The feeling the searing heat of his hand resting on my waist made me lose my concentration on the room around me. Ash soon fixed that by nudging me forwards and greeting a tall black haired woman. She looked at me expectantly and I straightened, glancing over my shoulder to see where Ash was.

            "Good evening, mother," he greeted and she nodded.

            "Who is this?" she asked, giving me a look that suggested I was nothing but a cheap whore.

            "This is Alex, she's my date for this evening," Ash introduced and I smiled, attempting to thaw her out a little bit.

            "Nice to meet you," I replied, the same way I always did when I went to the conventions with my family. The woman turned her nose up and looked at her son.

            "Alex Simmons," he said, emphasising my last name. The woman's eyes lit up and she held out her hand for me to shake. This is what I hated about people who knew about my sister and the money my family had.

            "Nice to meet you too, dear. My name is Jane and welcome to the celebration of my anniversary," she explained. I tuned out of what else she had to say, but from what I pieced together, they were getting together to celebrate a year of her ownership of her art gallery.

            She soon dispersed and I sighed, glancing around for a drink. Ash had also disappeared with his mother, talking to an elder man who was admiring a piece of art. The room, although spacious and filled with a variety of colours and sculptures, felt somewhat like a prison.

            I didn't know anybody and I was beginning to regret agreeing to this, even if it meant a job. Within the time that Ash had gone and found someone else to talk to, I'd managed to find a champagne glass to sip at.

            "You seem to be enjoying yourself," a voice whispered in my ear, accompanied by a hand on my hip. I turned and glared at Ash.

            "Don't keep leaving me here, I'm standing around like a lemon," I warned. He let out a small chuckle and led me over to talk to some of the people that his mother was with.

            Seeing Ash speak with manners and seeing his rich family made me realise how different he was in the flat. Here, he was like an actor.

            "How is Melinda doing, we met her here just the other day," a man queried. I pasted a smile on my face and answered the question without using a bitter tone. I took effort, but I got there.

            "So how long have you two been together?" the same man asked Ash. Ash's arm was draped over my shoulder and he hadn't let me leave his side since we last spoke to his mother. His hand ran down my arm and clasped my fingers together, holding me tight. If it wasn't false, I'd of probably melted into him right then.

            "A few weeks," Ash answered, placing a kiss on the top of my head. I inwardly sighed and pulled my hand away from him.

            "I need to use the bathroom," I mumbled and excused myself from the people we were speaking to. When I checked over my shoulder, Ash was continuing to talk. I stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes, checking my flushed face in the mirror.

            When I got out, I managed to stalk away from Ash and towards the small bar. Behind it, was a guy about my age, maybe 18, serving drinks and looking bored. I approached the bar and he gave me a smile, greeting me with a strong Irish accent.

            "Alright, what can I get you?" he asked. I smiled and glanced over at Ash.

            "An escape route, please," I replied and he laughed, letting out a bark of laughter.

            "I could do with one of those myself," he answered and held out a champagne flute. "But this is all I've got," he finished. I smiled and thanked him, looking around at the small groups of people.

            "Didn't know Asher had a girlfriend," the bartender replied, looking over me.

            "He doesn't," I admitted and he laughed.

            "This place didn't have a bartender until he talked me into it, either. I'm Nate," he introduced.

            "Alex," I said. He nodded and then frowned.

            "As in Simmons?" he asked.

            "Yes, sister of Melinda," I filled in, taking on an agitated tone.

            "I was going to say as in Dev Croydon's family, but thanks for the information," he said with a wink.

            I stayed and chatted to Nate, taking in his blonde and clean shaven features until Ash appeared by my side, shooting me an unamused look.

            "I've been looking for you, dear," he said in a false sweet tone. I offered a sarcastic smile.

            "I've been over here, snookums," I retorted. Ash rolled his eyes and glanced at my champagne glass. He took it out of my hands and had a swig before placing it down on the bar.

            "Always been one for manners," Nate chided and took the glass away. I, on the other hand, was shooting holes into the side of his head with my narrowed eyes. 

            "Do you not remember rule one?" I hissed. Ash rolled his eyes and then smirked, patting my butt.

            "Nope, rule 8 doesn't ring any bells either. We're leaving in a moment," he said, walking away with his arrogance, leaving me fuming.

            When I turned back to Nate, I caught him sniggering.

            "You seem to get along well," he commented.

            "Like chalk and cheese," I deadpanned, saying my goodbyes.

           

            Ash was true on his word and managed to get us out of there within ten minutes flat, allowing us to walk back to the car and settle down in the warmth of the heating.

            "Thanks for that, I know it wasn't your ideal evening," he replied, starting up the car. I shrugged and sighed, dwelling on the last couple of hours.

            "It's fine. As long as I get this job," I answered. He smirked, ruffling his tidy hair.

            "You will. Now, I don't suppose you fancy a late night dinner?" he asked, reversing out of the parking space. His hand was resting on the back of my headrest, his thumb gently brushing the back of my neck, sending shivers through my spine.

            "Sure, where to?" I asked and Ash smiled.

            "I know a place."

            His place was McDonalds. I didn't mind, but his face when I ordered a big mac was a picture.

            "You're seriously going to eat all of that?" he asked, looking at me in disbelief. We were sitting in the car park, his jacket over my lap with a few burgers and drinks. Ash glanced me over and smirked when I replied with a 'hell yes'.

            "You see, this is why I took you rather than your sister," he replied, taking a bite of his own burger. I scoffed and gave him a strange look.

            "What, I'll sit here and stuff my face with a burger?" I enquired. He chuckled and shook his head.

            "Put it this way, I paid three quid for you to have a burger. I'd of had to pay twenty odd to feed her lobster," he answered. I rolled my eyes.

            "Great, I'm cheap to take out. What a quality," I mumbled before going back to my food.

            "You've got more qualities than that, love, give yourself some credit," he drawled. With a small scoff, I smiled.

            "If that's your idea of flirting, you're doing a crappy job," I taunted. Ash grinned and leaned back in his seat.

            "Trust me, you'll know when I'm flirting." I didn't supply that with an answer, I just appraised him with a glance and continued with my food. 

A.N: Let me know what you all think and any casting ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks!:)

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