“You do know I turned eighteen a while ago, right?” Lucy asked him with a cheeky grin “I will still talk to them about it.”
“Do you think that they would say no?” He asked with concern, but she just shrugged.
“Now, explain the transformation.” Lucy said, as she slapped at his hand that was trying to snatch another chocolate.
“A wig, Belle. I thought that would be obvious.” He rolled his eyes at her, as she laughed.
“That is hilarious! Are they going to do make up for you too? I am going to seriously laugh my arse off that night.” She said around another chortle.
“Thanks so much for your support,” he said sarcastically “And for the record, I’m not wearing make-up.”
“Damn, you just had to go and spoil my fun.” She teased.
“You do know that you owe me a chocolate. I carried you in here, so I expect payment.” He put his hand out, while she avidly shook her head, and clutched the box closer to her.
“No, you should have brought me more.” She argued.
“So, that’s the way it’s going to be, huh?” He declared with a fake hurt look.
Lucy never suspected a thing, until he snatched the box from her, and held the chocolates over his head. With a mischievous grin, he deliberately took one out of the box, and ate it slowly.
“You asked for this, you know.” She told him sternly.
She shoved him onto the couch to try to grab her precious box back. He held it as far above his head as he could, while laughing crazily, as she grouched at him.
She wrestled him down, reaching desperately for his hand, until they tumbled off the couch. Ash’s laugh rumbled through his chest, and Lucy felt the vibration from where she lay sprawled on top of him.
Her whole body tingled with the contact, her heartbeat sped up, and all she could see was his tawny golden eyes, reflecting his humour. It took her a second to realise that he had gone still beneath her, and she watched his eyes darken. He looked to her lips, then quickly back to meet her eyes.
“So, that’s where you… are?” A familiar voice at the door had her pushing herself away from Ash, and straightening her clothes.
She felt incredibly guilty, as her two best friends stood in the doorway watching them. They didn’t look pleased at all. Lucy distracted herself by grabbing her booty back off Ash, as he stood up.
“My chocolate,” she told him possessively. She was disgruntled when he popped a piece into his mouth that he had kept hidden, and just grinned.
“Wait, man, you stole chocolate off her? How are you even still alive?” Ren asked from the doorway in amazement.
“Just lucky I guess,” Ash said, as he gave them a casual shrug.
“What are you two even doing here?” Lucy asked through a mouthful of chocolate.
“You were supposed to meet us, like three hours ago. We were worried because your phone was off too, so we thought we'd better come and make sure that you were alright,” Col explained.
“Uh, yeah, sorry I forgot.” Lucy muttered.
What was going on with her? She never forgot her best friends. She always did what she had planned. Had Ash really messed with her thoughts that much? Lucy felt a bit confused, and wasn’t sure what to say.
“Well, dinner will be ready soon, so do you want to stay and catch up?” Lucy asked them.
She was surprised when they shook their heads. Ren and Col were the last people that would turn down one of her step-mum’s dinners. She was a great cook.
“No, we’ll head home and see you at school,” Ren said, as he pushed Col in the shoulder.
“I’m really sorry I forgot,” she told them seriously.
“That’s okay, don’t worry about it.” Col answered with a grin, as they walked out with a wave.
“Now I feel terrible.” Lucy muttered.
“It’s actually my fault. I didn’t mean to wreck your day.” Ash said with a sigh.
“You did, but you made up for it,” she smiled at him, as she ate another chocolate. “C’mon I have to hide these, so Penny can’t find them, and then dinner should be ready,” She gestured to the box, and Ash just grinned at her.
She was so quirky sometimes that she often felt surprised him. He chuckled to himself, as she looked around the room with analytical eyes. He might have ruined her morning, but he was immensely glad that he was able to make it up to her. He could only hope that their next date would be less disastrous than their first.
Chapter 8 - Fights and solutions
Ash walked into school on Monday feeling more exhausted than when he had left on Friday. He had been trying to organise everything for his date with Lucy for the following weekend, and not having much luck. He pushed a hand through his hair in frustration, and kept walking. He heard a scuffling noise from around the corner.
“What the hell, Rachel? Where do you get off?” He heard Lucy’s voice, and hurried around the corner “She’s a junior, why the hell do you always feel the need to pick on her?”
Ash stopped at the scene in front of him and sighed. Lucy stood defiantly in front of a small girl who was crying, and trying to pick up scraps of paper that were flying away in the breeze.
Tall, almost too beautiful for her own good, Rachel stood smiling smugly at the pair. He remembered on his first day that Rachel had made some snide remark to Lucy in class. He had never really liked her since then.
“Look at her, what a sook,” Rachel laughed callously.
“She’s your sister; you should give her a bit more respect,”
“Step-sister.” Rachel interrupted snidely.
“Step-sisters can get on just fine.” Lucy said, through gritted teeth.
“You only get on with yours, because her mother’s better than your own.” Rachel spat out maliciously.
Lucy's eyes narrowed, as she stalked toward the other girl. She grabbed hold of Rachel, and pulled her close.
"Be a bitch all you like, but don't ever mention that woman to me," Lucy snapped, making Rachel flinch. "Now get lost, and leave Lucille alone."
All he could do was watch Lucy with complete admiration. She never backed down, and always stood up for others.
Rachel let out an overly dramatic scream, as though she had suffered an injury. Lucy let her go, but shook her head in disgust.
“You’ve done it now, McConnell. You threatened me. That will be a suspension for you, right, Ash?” Rachel turned to him, and Ash felt trapped.
“I didn't do anything! You've been bullying Lucinda.” Lucy said calmly, as she gave the little girl a hug.
“Except that Ash saw you threatening me.” Rachel beamed at him, as if she had his full support, but knowing that she had bullied the little girl only fuelled Ash’s anger.
“No, I turned up to see you being mean to a younger student. Then I started helping her pick up her papers that you made her drop,” Ash told her firmly. At his words, Rachel’s face fell into an intense anger, as she marched over to Lucy.
“I hate you, Lucy McConnell! Don’t you forget that, because one day you’re going to get what’s coming to you.” Rachel hissed at her furiously, but Lucy just laughed.
“Yeah, whatever, Rachel.” Lucy just answered with another chuckle, as she smiled over at Ash. With a frustrated squeal, Rachel stormed off, leaving the three alone.
“Are you okay?” Ash asked the little girl, who nodded shyly, and glanced quickly at Ash, before looking away, “Well let’s get all your papers together, so you can get to class.”
“Good timing, Ash, thanks.” Lucy said with a shake of her head, and a furious look to where Rachel had run off.
“Wait, did you write this?” Ash asked the little girl excitedly, as he held out a piece of paper to her. She nodded her head, looking at him with wide eyes. “This is really good Lucinda.” He enthused.
“What are you talking about Ash?” Lucy asked curiously.
“Belle, this girl is a song writer if ever I saw one. I’ve never seen such beautiful poetry.” A
sh said enthusiastically, but Lucy only felt more puzzled.
“Can I please have my things?” Lucinda whispered, and Ash handed over her papers without another word. “Thank you Lucy.” She said shyly, before quickly walking away from them. She glanced back briefly, sending a small smile their way, before heading to class.
“Poor Lucinda. Rachel is so nasty to her. I would have seriously knocked her out, except we’re at school, and I can’t,” Lucy said fiercely.
“She seems like a sweet girl. Definitely talented,” Ash said slightly distracted.
“You okay?” Lucy shoved her shoulder into his side, earning a grunt of surprise.
“Yeah, just this premiere thing is not working out.” He said on a sigh, as they walked in the direction of their homeroom.
“Oh, did I forget to tell you that Mum said her sister will let us stay at her house that night? It’s only about an hour from the city.” Lucy shrugged at him, as they sat down in the classroom.
“Your mother? I’m not sure that I need to meet her.” Ash’s eyes widened at the thought, which only made Lucy laugh quietly at him.
“My step-mum, okay. I call her Mum too. It’s her sister.” She whispered, as the teacher walked into the room. She heard his sigh of relief, and shook her head at him wryly.
It was as they were walking to their next class when Rachel caught up to them. She sent an intense glare Lucy’s way, but she just shrugged and ignored her. Lucy grinned to herself at the jealous look on her face, as Ash stayed close to her.
“So, is that okay if we stay at my Aunt’s house?” Lucy asked him.
“Yeah, that solves one problem. I've organised how to get there, so premiere here we come,” he enthused, as he gave her a quick one-armed hug.
“Are you going to a movie premiere?” Rachel asked from behind them.
“Yes, not that it’s any of your business,” Lucy said with a growl.
“And you’re taking her?” Rachel’s voice rose with disbelief.
“I don’t understand what your problem is.” Ash said with a shake of his head.
“That’s obviously because you don’t know her very well." Rachel smiled snidely, before walking off, and swishing her long blonde hair behind her.
“She is so asking for it! I know she wants me to hit her. She’s just waiting for an excuse to get me into trouble.” Lucy mumbled, as they separated to go to their own classes.
Lucy fumed about Rachel, until she caught up with Ash again at lunch. He smiled across the room at her, and she instantly felt better. His golden eyes beamed at her, as he walked towards her, making warmth flood through her.
“You know, Ash, you really should take me.” Rachel said, as she walked up behind him.
Lucy forced herself not to rush over to them, and snatch him away from her nasty clutches. Instead, she gritted her teeth and watched them carefully.
Ash quickly detached himself from the tall, blonde girl, and stepped away from her with a glower. He had never liked clingy, mean people, and Rachel definitely fit the bill.
“I’m taking Lucy.” Ash told her decisively.
He walked over to the stunned group of people, who sat around the girl that drew his smile back to his face. Unfortunately, Rachel followed him. He sat down on the seat next to Lucy, and picked up some chips from her plate, while deciding to ignore Rachel.
“You’re not welcome here,” one of the other guys told Rachel sharply.
“It’s not like I even want to be here. I just want to talk to Ash about something,” Rachel told them haughtily. “What premiere are you taking me too, Ash?” She asked, sending him her sweetest smile.
Ash felt Lucy stiffen next to him, so he threw a reassuring arm around her shoulders. He gave her a quick squeeze, as he reached to hold her other hand in his own. Whether it was to keep her from attacking Rachel, or to give her support Lucy wasn’t quite sure, but she appreciated it all the same.
“We are going to see Dusk, and you are not invited.” Lucy said tightly.
Rachel sniggered at her and her other friends send Lucy a strange look. Romantic movies were her least favourite, so she could understand those looks, all too well. The fact that the movie was a story of lost loves finding each other wasn’t lost on Lucy. To her, it wasn’t just the movie; it was time that she could spend with Ash.
“Ash won tickets to the premiere. Rachel, just in case you missed it, he’s taking me.” Lucy told her sternly.
For a second Rachel appeared stunned, before she glared at Lucy, “I think that’s up to Ash,” Rachel said in a sweet little voice, turning to him and fluttering her eyelashes.
“And like I just told you, I’m taking Lucy.” Ash told her firmly, which only made Rachel laugh.
“She hates romantic movies. You would do much better to take me.” Rachel argued and Lucy rolled her eyes.
“Please, go away. You are only embarrassing yourself by standing here pleading for something that you’re not going to get,” Lucy said with a wry chuckle. Rachel looked like she was about to argue, so Lucy glowered at her. “After the way you treated your sister do you really think that Ash would come anywhere near you?” Lucy finished calmly.
Finally, Rachel seemed to get the message. She turned in a huff, and marched away furiously, but not before sending the group one of her glares, which Lucy just laughed at.
“Ugh, I’m so tired of her.” Ren said from next to Lucy.
“Yeah, I just wish she’d take that nonsense crap of hers somewhere else.” One of the girls Ash remembered called Milly said.
Ash just munched on a few more of Lucy’s chips, as he watched the blonde girl walk off angrily. He had to wonder if Rachel was going to become a problem that he didn’t want, and most certainly didn’t ask for.
He waited by Lucy’s car at the end of the day, waving as people left. He was buzzing just thinking about seeing her. She surprised him, made him laugh, drove him crazy, but she made him feel whole. No girl had ever made him feel so good about himself.
He couldn’t help but smile, as she walked over to him. She seemed to accept him for his faults, even forgave his stupidity, and they hadn’t even had a proper date yet.
“Hey, Ash, what’s up?” She called out.
“Nothing, Belle. I just wanted to see you before I left,” he replied, as she leaned against the car next to him.
“That’s nice; do you want to go and have a milkshake?” Lucy asked, relishing the warmth of his body pressed next to her.
“Sure, I’m guessing chocolate for you, right?” He teased, so she gave him a shove with her elbow, which just made him chuckle. “What about Penny?”
“Oh, she got the bus home. She normally does that if I’m staying behind for any reason. This will give us a chance to sort out exactly what we are doing on the weekend. Mum, Dad and Daz would like some specifics,” she explained.
“Okay, where do I meet you?” He turned that cute smile her way.
“At the café down on the main street. Do you know where that is?” She asked rather wryly, as they only had one street with any shops.
“No, not a damn clue,” he answered sarcastically, and she punched him in the arm. “Of course I do, Belle. I’ll see you down there.” He said, as he left her to get into her car.
He arrived at the café to find it full of his classmates. He waved at them, but couldn’t spot Lucy anywhere. The café was a cosy place that had an older feel to it, but was still very welcoming. Comfortable couches surrounded the walls while small tables and chairs dotted around the room.
“What will you have, love?” A middle-aged aged lady, with a cheery smile asked him from behind the counter.
“Oh, I’m just waiting for… no, here she comes.” He replied, as Lucy walked through the door.
“Ah, so a triple chocolate shake with as much chocolate and cream as I can cram into it, and you?” The woman said with a grin, which Ash answered. It seemed that Belle’s love of chocolate was well known.
“I guess the same, si
nce it sounded so good.” He told her, as he fished into his wallet for some money.
“Don’t pay for me,” Lucy said sternly, as she rushed up to him.
“Yeah, try and stop me,” he said, as he handed over some notes. This time the woman raised an eyebrow Lucy’s way to which she shrugged.
“He wouldn’t understand.” She told the woman, before she dragged Ash over to a secluded table that was away from most of the other school kids.
“What was that all about?” Ash asked with a frown.
“It doesn’t matter.” Lucy mumbled, looking surprisingly embarrassed. Ash decided to drop the subject, even though he was still curious.
“Okay, what do you want to know about the weekend?” He asked, as he fiddled with a straw on the table, before looking over at her.
“Well, let’s see. How are we getting there? How are we getting from my Aunt’s house to the premiere? What do you have to do to get into your disguise? Where are we…?”
“Okay, enough, geez; I can’t even remember the first question.” Ash finally interrupted her with a chuckle.
“Okay, and last one, is there any chance of your brother turning up and ruining it?” She asked rather sadly looking away from him.
“Belle, look at me. I don’t even know where my brother is.” He told her seriously.
He reached across the table to stroke a finger across her soft cheek. She shivered, but pulled back a bit when she noticed that a lot of others in the café appeared focused on them.
“Really? Can’t you bloody mind your own business?” She told them all pointedly, and they all quickly found somewhere else to look.
“Here you go, you two,” the waitress interrupted them.
Ash stared at the concoction with wide eyes, while Lucy smacked her lips with an intense gleam in her eye. It looked like a mountainous pile of chocolate in a milkshake container. He didn’t think he’d ever seen such an elaborate milkshake in his life.
“Thanks Jolie,” Lucy sent a happy smile to the woman, who reached over and ruffled Lucy’s hair affectionately.
“Anything for you, Lucy girl. And here’s your change.” She turned to Ash and handed him most of the money he gave her originally.
I Met Her On the Balcony Page 8