“Well, I actually invited someone along with me tonight that I need to discuss things with.” Zoe raised her eyebrows.
“It's time to bring her out then. My peeps, let's meet, Crystal Weinburner.” Zoe called out excitedly.
Lucy’s jaw dropped open, and she looked pointedly at her family members. Daz just shrugged, and pointed back to the television. Lucy returned her eyes to the screen, only to see an angry, but rather perturbed Crystal march into the studio.
“What’s with the public forum? If you wanted to talk to me Ashton there are a lot better places,” Crystal smiled suggestively, while Ash just shook his head, and sent her a smirk.
“I thought you needed to know a few things,” Ash replied casually, as the woman sat down opposite him.
“Like what?” Crystal asked, looking at him rather haughtily.
“I wanted all my fans to know that this is my girlfriend’s mother.”
“Oh, and that’s going to hurt me, how?” Crystal laughed snidely, as Zoe tried to interrupt, and get her show back under control.
“What Crystal doesn’t know, is that I’ve had her under investigation since I realised that she had destroyed my girlfriend’s life.” Ash said sternly, and the whole room froze in intense anticipation of his next words.
“No.” The word dropped from Crystal’s astonished mouth.
“Yes, you know Parkes, your little lover boy? He works for me. Johnny, the security guard that you hired a while back. Yeah, he works for me too.” Ash listed off the names with no remorse.
“No.” Crystal’s voice was quieter this time, as her face paled, and her hand trembled slightly.
“Hell, yeah, Crystal! I never found a copy of that video where you put Lucy into hospital, but, boy have I found out a heap of other stuff that I know you will want to keep hidden.” Ash stretched out his legs in front of him, and sent the older woman a triumphant grin.
“What is he doing?” Lucy whispered, as her chest clenched at seeing him in the same room as her dreadful mother.
“Protecting you,” Bill answered, as he reached out to squeeze his daughters shoulder.
“But… she’s going to be after him now.” Lucy felt worry twitch through her that Ash would be Crystal’s new target.
“No, some of the stuff he’s found on her is…. unfreaking believable,” Daz informed her, and Lucy raised a brow in question. “It seems that our mother has a bit of an, um, fascination for guys a lot younger than herself, among other things.” Daz finished on a mutter, and Lucy turned back to the television, when she heard her mother’s voice.
“What a bunch of lies.” Crystal tried denial, which seemed unsuccessful.
Zoe began handing the microphone around to the audience, and some questions thrown Crystal’s way were intense. Her mother appeared intimidated, as questions bombarded her in the same way that she questioned celebrities. Lucy felt a chuckle rise in her throat at how the tide had finally turned for Crystal. She wasn’t happy that Ash had exposed himself to her mother in this way, but she couldn’t deny that it had worked.
Ash, meanwhile, sat under the glare of the cameras, and watched the older woman spluttering, unable to defend herself. He finally felt satisfied. He sent the producer of the show the cut motion.
He had been working on exposing Crystal since the day after the première, where he had seen Lucy’s first black out. The producer had agreed to do the show, after having a bitter experience with Crystal previously. Zoe was sending the show to a commercial break when Crystal turned to him.
Her furious anger barely hid the intense fear. Ash had no worries about having this out with a live audience behind him. If she started anything, he sure as hell was going to finish it. He sent her a smug smile. He had her, and she knew it.
“What was that about?” Crystal glared at him, but Ash remained seated, and just looked at her, as he crossed one leg over the other casually.
“That would be called payback, Crystal,” Ash announced, with a gleam in his eye.
“Payback for what? I’ve never done anything to you,” she snarled at him.
“I do remember you asking me why I liked your daughter, as if she wasn’t good enough for me.” Ash stated calmly.
“Obviously, you are a celebrity, and she’s nothing but…”
“Don’t you ever, ever say anything against Lucy again!” Ash stood up, towering fiercely over Crystal, who backed steadily away from him. He could almost hear the shocked intake of breath from the people in the audience, as they watched and waited.
“She’s my daughter, and I’ll say whatever I like.” Crystal stopped and stood her ground.
“That’s fine, and then I’ll say whatever I like.” Ash sat back down again, looking completely unperturbed, and sent her his cheekiest grin.
“Hump, what about?” She questioned, and Ash’s grin grew broader.
“You, of course. Do you know the great thing? I won’t even have to lie,” Ash turned back to Zoë, who was looking at him with a shocked face “Are we ready to go again, Zoe?”
“Um, yeah…. remind me not to make you mad.” Zoe finished on a whisper, before cheerfully reintroducing the show.
Before long, he was heading out to his car. He could only hope that Crystal received the message loud and clear. Sam marched next to him silently, with George somewhere further back talking on his phone as usual.
He hoped that he could make the quick flight home, before the airline curfew. He wanted to get back to Lucy to see if she was fine. He wanted to see how she was coping with what had happened on the show. She would ring him soon, he could almost feel it, and he needed badly to talk to her.
A cold hand gripped his arm hard in the darkness, and Ash pulled at it sharply. He had made it through the group of fans that looked at him differently, now that he was himself. It only took Sam a second to realise what was happening, before he had hold of the person accosting Ash. Crystal glowering face didn't surprise him, and Ash let out a sigh.
“You are a very stupid woman,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Nowhere near as stupid as you are for liking my daughter,” she hissed back at him.
“Ah, now that’s where you’re wrong, I love your daughter, and I will do anything to protect her from you.” Ash told her harshly.
“Love? Protect?” Crystal let out a choking laugh.
“Yes, I will use everything that I now know about you. From your fetishes to your rather clandestine hobbies that I’ve learnt about from Parkes.” He declared smugly, and Crystal’s jaw dropped open.
“How dare you!” She screamed at him, as she struggled against Sam’s vice like grip.
“I dare, Crystal. If I ever see you near Lucy again, then I will have no problem in telling the whole world your most intimate secrets.” He warned her fiercely.
She finally took a step back, and looked at him fearfully. She knew she had lost this round, perhaps even the battle, but there was no way that she would let him win the war. She wrenched her arm out of Sam’s grip, turned, and marched sharply away.
“You okay, man?” Sam asked from next to him.
“Yeah, fine, Sam. I just want to go home.” Ash answered.
He realised for the first time that Icra Falls felt more like his home than any other place he had ever lived in. It wasn’t just because Lucy was there either. The other day in the café, when everyone had figured out who he was, and it made no difference to anyone. They had acted calm about it; as if they had celebrities live in their town all the time. It had made him feel more welcome than anything else had.
He knew that they were probably going to have to suffer some reporters being in the town, let alone the number of fans that might turn up. He hoped Lucy was ready for the very craziness his world could be.
He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and wondered whether he should ring her or not. He decided to wait. If she was going to yell at him for acting the way he had, then he would much rather do it in privacy.
He scr
ubbed at his eyes, as the plane landed. He felt exhaustion creeping through his limbs, but it had all been worth it to see the look on Crystal’s face.
It was hard to believe that this morning he had held Lucy in his arms, after their intensely passion filled night. He had loved her to the point where he couldn’t think straight for a while. It almost felt like a dream, but he knew it was the truth.
He expected the reporters, so he quickly slapped a smile on his face. He even expected the excited looking fans, some of which he recognised from school. What he never expected was the strawberry blonde that barrelled through all of them to jump into his arms. The fake smile broadened into a real one, as he scooped her up amid camera flashes.
“You are in so much trouble, mister!” She told him firmly, but he could see the smile in her eyes.
“Really? So what do you plan to do about it?” He whispered in her ear.
“You just wait until I get you home,” she poked a finger into his chest.
“I’m not sure that I can,” he teased.
“Okay, how about we at least wait until we get in the car.” She replied with a roll of her eyes.
“Yep, let’s get out of here.” He agreed with a nod.
Darkness enveloped them, as did silence once they escaped the reporters and fled the airport. Ash wasn’t sure where to start, and Lucy seemed too busy watching the road, as they drove through the outskirts of the town. When countryside surrounded them, Lucy seemed to relax.
“Thank you, Ash. When I first started watching, I was uncomfortable and then I felt mad. I was proud of you, the way you didn’t take any bull crap from her,” Lucy finally said into the night.
“So, you’re not angry that I didn’t tell you about it?” He asked hesitantly, and was surprised when she pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Oh, hell yeah, I’m angry. You know that I hate anyone keeping secrets from me.” She sent him a fierce glare, and he felt his heart sink.
“Is this where you start yelling at me?” He asked, as he bit his lip.
“Nope, but it is the bit where you get your punishment.” She looked him over, and then climbed over the console, and onto his lap.
His heartbeat sped up at the very wicked glint in her eye. He could only hope that she would at least kiss him, as she settled herself on top of him.
“Punishment?” He whispered, as she held herself away from him.
“Okay, maybe tormenting.” She teased.
She let out a breath, as she shifted so she could brush her lips against his lightly. He lifted his lips to meet hers more fully, but she pulled away. He let out a groan, as he tried to pull his hands out from where she had trapped them with her legs against his body.
“Uh, uh,” she shook a finger at him. “You have been beyond bad, so you don’t get what you want.” She told him sternly, as she leaned in to nip at his bottom lip, which he had poked into his none too subtle pout.
“Please, Belle, just one little bitty kiss?” He pleaded softly, but she shook her head.
“When did you start looking into this stuff with Crystal?” She asked him seriously, as she slipped her finger down to toy with the button on his shirt. He sucked in a breath, as her finger skimmed across his skin deliciously.
“Answer, and then you might get something you want.” She sent him a smirk.
“After the premiere. I knew there was something… odd going on, but I couldn’t figure it out, so I sent in some guys that I trusted. There I answered, now kiss me.” His last words came out truffle, while his eyes pleaded with her.
“Hmmm, I would, but I still need a few questions answered.” She undid his top button before moving in, and swiping her tongue across his lips. His tongue met hers, but she just pulled away again, and sent him a sultry look as he struggled against her.
“Is she doing anything that is hurting other people?” Lucy asked him, as she sat further back to shake her hair out of its ponytail. He almost began salivating when she undid the top button on her own blouse. He wanted to touch her, and taste her. His frustrations only increased, as she kept him trapped.
“Answer me, my golden eyed lion.” She insisted, as she slipped another button on her shirt free, and Ash felt his thoughts leaving his mind.
“Not that I know of,” he finally managed through his panting breaths. “She’s just a bit… oh damn, Belle, please I can’t take anymore. I’ll tell you everything, but I just really need to kiss you right now.” He demanded, and a fire seemed to light her eyes. She came closer to kiss him. A quick, hard kiss that was over before it began, and he groaned in protest as she left.
“Promise me that you will never keep secrets from me again.” She said sternly.
“I promise.” He told her honestly.
She smiled at him before snatching him closer, cupping his cheeks in her palms, and kissing him. Deep, passionate, and excruciatingly fiery kisses followed. The heat of their kiss swept them away. Long before he was ready, Lucy pulled away, climbed over the console, and prepared to drive off.
“I’m not finished, Belle.” He muttered with a grumble.
“Good, welcome to your punishment.” She sent him a cocky smirk, as she licked her lips, and put the car in gear.
He groaned aloud, and shoved a hand into his hair. She had already told her parents thay she was staying with Ash tonight. She wondered whether she should tease him that little bit more and keep driving towards her house.
“Belle, c'mon, stay with me, please.” He pleaded, as she quite deliberately drove past his driveway. She sent him a quick, heated glance.
“Give me one good reason why?” She asked him, as calmly as she could around her heart that was still racing from their kisses.
“Okay, let’s see,” he moved closer to her, and ran a finger down her arm. She shivered and he smiled. He had her and she knew it. “I want to touch you right now. I want to kiss you until I can’t think straight. Mostly, I want to make up for getting you so angry, and you know that I can.” He said hastily, watching as her breath came in pants, and her face flushed, but she never once looked away from the road.
“I give, Ash, let’s go.”
She spun the car around, and flew back to his house. She had been missing him all day, ever since he left her at the airport. With what had happened on the show, she had been as angry as she was soothed by what he had done. She needed the emotional rush he always gave her. She knew by the wicked grin on his face that she might get more than she bargained for this time.
Chapter 31 – A party for capture
It seemed as if Crystal had disappeared. She was no longer rushing down celebrities to question them madly, or writing bitter articles. Lucy was finally breathing a sigh of relief, a few weeks after Ash had gone on the show. Things hadn’t necessarily been wonderful, but it was much better knowing that her mother was gone.
For the first week, reporters everywhere hounded them. Ash ignored them, so Lucy did the same. The whole town remained tight lipped about Ash’s existence in Icra Falls, which made Lucy immensely happy. By the second week, the reporters had become bored, so they moved onto improved stories. They still popped up occasionally, but no stories ever seem to come from their appearance.
It was Friday, and Lucy felt anxious to see Ash. He was heading into the city for the weekend to spend it in the recording studio. She wasn’t looking forward to being without him. It was the first time since he was on the television show that he was leaving.
She heard his car out the front of her house, and she sprinted out to see him. She was, as anxious, as she was excited when she saw his beaming face. She was in his arms holding him tightly, before she even realised. She tossed her bag on the backseat, as Penny opened the rear door to get in. She grumbled when her sister’s bag almost hit her.
“You know that I love that you outed yourself sometimes!” Penny threw her arms around the seat in front to give Ash a hug.
“Oh, yeah, and why is that?” Ash asked with a chuckle.
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br /> “Because I've got an invite to the party of the season!” Penny raised her hand for a high five. Lucy just rolled her eyes, while Ash slapped her palm. “See at least Ash understands,” Penny poked her tongue out at her sister, who simply sighed.
“Looks like I’m going to a party on the weekend,” Lucy muttered.
“Make sure you two are careful, okay,” Ash looked pointedly between the two of them, and Lucy thumped him in the arm.
“How about you just drive to school.” Lucy pointed to the steering wheel, and he laughed, as he drove off.
Everyone at school still stared at Ash, but they made it discreet now. When he had first come back to school, the craziness of her fellow schoolmates astounded Lucy. There were demands for autographs, and everyone wanted a moment of his time. The girls practically salivated over him, flirted outrageously, and then glared at Lucy the rest of the time.
He still had some fans wanting autographs, or girls stopping him to chat, but because they knew him as Ash first, everyone seemed to accept him back into the school world. The most obvious in her unacceptance, was of course Rachel, who tended to fawn over Ash whenever he was nearby.
The thing that infuriated Lucy was that she always appeared to bump into him when Lucy wasn’t around. Ash always told her about Rachel’s unsubtle attempts with a laugh, which always made Lucy feel better, rather than insignificant.
She had gone to play football with the guys, when she first noticed Rachel creeping towards where Ash sat. He had been careful lately, not wanting to injure himself, so he rarely played with them, but he always sat and watched her play regardless.
There was always teasing, especially from Ren and Col, but Ash took it in his stride. The guys had never treated him any different from the moment they found out who he really was, and Lucy respected them even more for their maturity.
Jealousy sliced through Lucy, as Rachel sat down on the grass next to Ash, and sidled closer. With a grunt, the ball came her way. She quickly snatched it, and ran towards their goal. With a huge smirk, Col raced towards her, but she saw him coming, and quickly kicked the ball.
I Met Her On the Balcony Page 32