As you say

Chapter 17

"So, are you willing to talk now?" Ashton bumps my shoulder as we sit on my couch, too lazy for homework.

"If I must," I sigh.

"You act as if my intentions are not pure," Ashton monetarily jokes with me.

"Is anyone's?" I asked, serious.

He sighs and stares at me quizzically.

"Pictures may not even last long enough for you," I mumble, looking back down at my hands again.

"Nope," Ashton scolds me sternly, taking my hands and holding them in the air each side of his face.

"I could look at something else, you know that right?"

"I will sit on you. For real," he threatened me.

"Fine! What do you want to know?" I scowl at him.

"Okay, 1. Am I being used? Not that it would matter, but I would like to know. 2. What happened between you two? And 3. Why does yo-our Alpha think this relationship is necessary?"

"Okay, 1. Not by me, rather by Alpha, but I would really like to get to know you, Ash. 2. Nothing, except a few hugs here and there and a single temple kiss. That is all. Finally, 3. Our Alpha, you need to remember that. And I tell Alpha about everything, therefore he knows about my... emotions for Blake," I count his questions off.

"So he's like an intense crush?"

"Summer upper," I scowl at him.

"There is a reason I don't need to pay attention in English," Ashton teases me.

"There is a rsason I am top of the grade in English! I explain fully! Being lazy like you never helps," I say hot-headedly.

"Okay, well we can agree to disagree for now,  but back to the point of this particular discussion, what is your plan?" Ashton chases away the mind bunnies.

"I am planning to forget about it Blake. But I refuse to use you as a method to do that, so I was hoping that we could, in the mean time be the good friends, as per your suggestion? I mean, you're a really brilliant guy, and I would love to love you," I blush away. If Ashton took a knife and cut my cheek he would be sitting with a potential tomato garden.

"Promise? Because I already think I care for you, not like lve or anything yet, I mean, we have only known each other for four days, this is no fairytale, but you're like an open crush to be... does that make sense?" he rambles.

"Yeah, and I promise. Thank you, Ashton," I smile at him and hug him tightly. He smiles against my cheeck and hugs me closer, his arms feeling like a protective barrrier.

"You have no idea how it feels to be able to hug a friend without worrying you'll be taken up on it," I say into his ear.

"Don't worry, I know. And being alone was not easy for me," he replies.

"Thanks," I say, and pull away with one last squeeze. "I really needed to get Blake-"I got cut of by the doorbell.

Ashton watches through the window warily and says mockingly, "Speak of the devil, and he shall apear."