Together | A.F.I

⁂ 7 :: home cooked meal ⁂

"So, Ashton, you remember the stuff about my dad, right?" Joelle checked, driving out of the school parking lot "I know you're pretty PG anyway, but this is my dad, and he's important"

"I got it Joey, don't worry your beautiful face. I thought you didn't care about your dad's opinion? Doesn't he know about the alcohol?" Ashton asked, confused at how guarded she obviously was with her father.

"I don't care about him when he's not here, and I hate the idea of being attached to him because of my mother. Anything else?" She asked "Oh and also he's stupidly posh. I learnt french as a child but he learnt latin, if that says anything"

"You know french?" Ashton asked, dumbfounded "That's so... smart!"

"And hot, but I'll take smart" Joelle grinned over at him, sniggering slightly "Do you know french?"

"Joey I hardly know english, c'mon. You don't have to worry about your Dad, we're revising, what could be wrong with revising?" Ashton asked as they took another turn.

"I know... I just don't want you and the boys, my best friends, to be at odds with my father. It's not good. I could barely handle it if he slightly disliked Michael, god knows what I'd do if he even raised an eyebrow at you" Joelle told him, frowning slightly.

"And you'll never know, because your dad is going to love me and want you to marry me instantly" Ashton told her with self confidence matched only by Gilderoy Lockheart.

"Don't really fancy being married at this age, but I'll take it" She shrugged, turning onto another road.

"I would make a wonderful husband and you fully well know it" He pouted, crossing his arms like a petulant child.

"What meals can you cook, Ash? I can only marry a man who makes a good spaghetti bolognaise. Sorry, Ash, I don't make the rules"

"Fair enough" Ashton shrugged, quickly typing 'learn spag bol' into his notes and then turning his phone off.

"Anyway, we're here" Joelle turned off the car, putting her keychain into her bag and hopping out "Need any help with your books, Mercury?"

"Nah. Mercury?"

"For when you wear that costume on stage for me" Joelle reminded him, sauntering towards her front door and unlocking it.

"Joelle, is that you?" Her father called in his impressively monotone voice, walking into the foyer.

Joelle checked behind her and thank god, Ashton was right there with that smile on his face that could melt just about anyone in the world, bag in hand. "Yeah, it's me. Dad, this is Ashton. Ashton, this is my dad"

Ashton smiled and shook his hand, intimidated by the large man stood before him in the tux. "Pleasure to meet you, sir"

"Call me Martin, Ashton. I've heard very good things about you" Martin smiled, shaking his hand and then returning to his normal robot-like posture.

"Thank you" He replied, awkwardness creeping in.

"C'mon then, Ash, let's revise" Joelle reminded him, taking him by the hand and leading him through to the dining room with a smile.

The revision session was as entertaining as always, and they left it feeling extremely well prepared for once. "So, Ash, you really feel ready for your exam on Wednesday?" She asked, carefully packing away the textbooks and pens.

"As ready as I could be, Joey. You?" Ashton asked her, sliding his stuff into his bag.

"Yeah, should be. Whose place are we heading to?" Joelle asked, stretching and flexing like a cat.