Challenge Accepted

Chapter 3

"Hey stop it! No that's mine! Get off! Ashton I swear to god!" Being out with Ashton is like trying to control a two year old that has drunk two litres of coke mixed with about half a tonne of sugar.

He's already stolen my pizza, made too many suggestive comments and thrown pizza at me and the person behind me. We were invited to leave the premises, immediately. I said tonight would be interesting.

"Where do you wanna go?" He asked as we got back into his truck.

"You're kidding, right?" I ask still picking pepperoni out of my hair.

"C'mon.." He whines at me checking his phone. "It's only half nine and I really don't want to go home!" He pleads with me. I want to ask him why he doesn't want to go home, but that's an invasion of privacy. I look at his puppy dog eyes and sigh.

"Fine!" I throw my hands in the air.

"Just let me text my mum to let her know." I pull out my phone.

"How long before you'll want to go home?" I look at him waiting for an answer.

"Is never acceptable?" He jokes and I roll my eyes.

"Fine, tell her I will have you home by midnight." He pauses briefly.

"Hopefully." He smirks at me and send the text to my mum.

To: Mum

I'll be staying out with Ashton for a little while. He said he'll hopefully have my home around midnight ish. Don't worry. I'll see you when I get in.

- Love Aurora x

"There." I turn to face Ashton as he leans on the steering wheel.

"So where are we going?" I look at him expectantly.

"I know the perfect place." He grins at me when my phone buzzes in my hand.

From: Mum

Okay, have fun. I expect full details when you get home. Don't worry if you're late. I'll understand.

- Love Mum

I stifle a giggle at my Mum's teenager-ish response.

"Ready?" He asks putting the truck into gear.

"Ready." I smile as he pulls out of the parking space.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"It's beautiful." I breathe as I step out of his truck. I walk across the grass to the edge of the cliff and look out. I stand with my mouth open in awe. I'm currently stood above the whole town. I can see rows and rows of houses with lights dotting the ground from windows and street lamps. I can see the sea in the horizon with moon reflecting off the waves and there is a gentle breeze.

I look around at where I'm stood. There are trees either side of me and a long dusty road which we just drove down. The grass creeps right up to the edge of the cliff. I go to sit down when Ashton grabs my arm and stops me.

"Wait a minute." He rushes back to the truck.

I put my hands on my hip and look back over the town. I hear the engine roar to life and I spin around on my heels seeing Ashton pulling out of the road! I throw my hands up and scream into the air.

"What the fuck Ashton!" Just as I finish the last syllable, Ashton reverses back onto the grass and stops just in front of me.

"What's up Beauty?" He smirks as he jumps out of the driver seat with a blanket tucked under his arm.

"I thought you were going to leave me here, stranded!" I screech at him as he opens the back of the truck up and flings the blanket open onto the back of the truck.

"I wouldn't do that Aurora." He strokes my cheek and I turn my face away in embarrassment. He taps the back of the truck and gestures for me to get in.

I hop onto the back of the truck and shuffle until my back hits the window into the front seats.

He sits next to me and puts his arm round my shoulder. I wriggle out of his embrace and lay down on the blanket looking up at the stars.

"It's so beautiful up here, without all the light pollution." I smile as Ashton lays beside me.

"I know, I come here to clear my head. I found it when I was driving around after my mother told me- You know what, that's not important." He closes his eyes and brings his arms behind his head.

"Is everything okay, Ashton?" I whisper so quietly I'm surprised he heard me.

"It's not important." He frowned slightly, but covered it with a quick smirk.

"So I've had a thought." He sits up and pulls me up next to him.

I forget about before and try to focus on Ashton now, as he clearly doesn't want to talk about it.

"Oh yeah, you shouldn't think. It's dangerous." I joke playfully and shove his shoulder.

"I'm being serious." He pushed me back and smiles.

"Okay, tell me you're thought." I smile at him, at Ashton. He's come back. My Ashton... My best friend, the one person I could trust with anything. When he smiles at me like that, I remember the boy I grew up with, the vulnerable guy stood on my porch. I remember why I liked him. Why I still like him...

"You want me to stop hitting on you, I can tell." He looks almost hurt but he carries on.

"So I've got an plan." He smirks and I reflect it back.

"Okay, lay it on me." I sort of know where this is going.

"I challenge you to ignore me every time I hit on you." He smirks at me and outstretches his hand. I lean backward on my elbows and bite my lip.

"And what do I get if I win" I ask cautiously.

"I will leave you alone, but if I win and you cave. I get to have sex with you."

"What does caving entail?" I smirk. This is becoming a habit.

"You kiss me, consentingly and you enjoy it."

"Hmm, challenge accepted." He grins brightly at me. Why do I feel like I just made a huge mistake?