The boy next door || a.i.

1.1

"What?" I asked, looking rather puzzled at the Xbox controller.

"Press this one" Calum said, beginning to get flustered.

I can't believe I'm doing this. 10 minutes ago I was saying that the boys needed to get off this thing. Now, Calum's teaching me. unbelievable.

"Ok let's play" I said.

"I'll try not to whip your ass at it though" he giggled.

"Ok.."

We had been playing this game for a while, me not being as bad as I'd imagined though, but still pretty bad. We played for a while longer, and then the level finished.

"Yes!" I shouted as the scores flashed up on the screen. "Who's whipping who's ass now, huh?"

"Beginners luck Em" he scoffed, poking my arm.

"Ok let's play again," I was becoming a bit snarky with Calum and his game.

"Ooh, getting sassy there I see." Calum mocked my tone.

After a few hours of playing, Calum grew more and more frustrated with me, as I continued to succeed in whatever video game we were actually playin.

"Nah, Cal your just crap! I've one every game" I squealed.

"AM NOT!" He fake sobbed "anyway, I don't want to play now"

"Yeah right mate. You're just jealous, because Emma's better than you" Ashton chuckled, rolling his eyes.

We just ended up sitting on the floor eating pizza and talking about nothing for the rest of the night. My phone rang, and I looked at the screen to see who's number it was. No one that I knew, but I did notice that I had four missed calls from that number earlier tonight. It rang yet another time, but this time I answered it. I said a quick 'hello', as The voice on the other end started speaking.

"Come on, I can do heaps better than that curly - haired kid your with, don't you want to go back to all the great times we had-"

I immediately hung up after realising who it was, tossing my phone on the floor.

"Who was it, love?" Ashton asked.

"Wrong number" I mumbled.

Even though it was the right number, Ash didn't need to know that Tom kept contacting me, and nagging me. I got up from my place on the couch, and walked over to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. When I came back, I saw Ashton staring at something in my phone. I sat next to him, kissing his cheek. But he shoved me off, and threw my phone at me as he left the room.

"Wow what's got him all grumpy?" Michael asked, puzzled.

I said nothing. I checked what he was looking at on my phone. It was a text message from Tom's number.

'Hey babe. Why do you keep ignoring my calls? Don't you want to talk to your boyfriend anymore? I had fun last night ;) well, before you had to go see that ass, Ashton Love you xx.'

Oh fuck. What's he going to think now? I quickly walked up the stairs to Ashton's room and knocked on the door, which was locked.

Ashton's POV

"Ashton" I heard someone whisper.

I opened the door very slowly, seeing that it was Emma.

"Can We talk?" She asked.

A sudden rush of anger flowed over me, and how she was smiling, I don't know. At a time like this. "Well we could, but you're too far up yourself to realise what you've done, you know that?! You think you can just go around and let yourself do whatever you want" I yelled. "Well guess what? You can't. Here you are telling me not to hurt you, but look at what you're doing. Ever considered my feelings?" I screamed, slamming the door. But she stopped it with her foot.

"No! I didn't do anything" she choked out.

"Oh stop making up stories. You Slut" I said the last bit under my breath, instantly taking it back though, hoping she didn't hear it.

I saw a flash of hurt cross in her eyes mixed with tears, as she began to speak "Take a step back ok, you don't underst-".

"No I understand perfectly. You don't love me. No one does. You've found someone better to go out with. Haven't you!" I roared, shocking myself for how aggressive I could be.

She jumped at bit at my anger. "Tom texted me He's not my boyfriend, and no one else is. You are. And I love you. And we didn't hang out!"

My expression softened from anger, but changed as fast as it came. None of us said anything for a while. And it was quite awkward to be honest. "You're full of lies! You made me feel sorry for you with that story, but it was all a lie. Fuck Off" I finished, slamming my door.

Emmas POV
"Fuck Off" He screamed, slamming his door.

With that, I ran down the stairs, and back to where everyone was sitting, burying my face into a pillow on the couch.

"Hey are you ok? What was that about" Luke came next to me, putting his arm around me.

I didn't respond, all I did was bury my face in his shoulder, and cry. Luke continuously rubbed my back and asked if I wanted to talk about it.

"It's ok if you don't" Michael said.

" no, it's fine." I shook my head, "my stupid ex boyfriend texted me saying this" I unlocked my phone and gave it to them so they could read the message. "And now he thinks I'm a Slut and that I'm sleeping around."

"It's ok Em, he'll come around he always does, so don't worry." Luke said.

"Well I'd better be going, thanks for your help." I forces a smile, as Luke kissed the too of my head

I walked up the stairs leaving the basement, and I bumped into Ashton. He pulled me into his room and we sat on his bed.

"What" I said blankly.

"So he's back, again" he asked softly.

"I didn't tell you this, but he never really left me alone." I muttered, looking at my shoes. "And then that's why I started cutting again. And I didn't tell you, when I should have"

"I used to have people laughing at my every word. Teasing me for nothing. Hurting me. I just ignored it because it would never really go away." Ashton said "but I can help you..."

I gazed up at his green eyes. "I know you will. And never think that I won't love you. Because that's never going to be true"

"I just.. Well it has happened before." He murmured.

"Well they're not worth any more thought"

"And I promise I didn't mean to call you a slut" he muttered, looking down at his long fingers.

After a while, I still hadn't responded, so he lifted his head to look at me. I store at him blankly, with thoughts swirling my head. I was ready to forgive him for that, even though it made me upset. "It's ok."

He smiled, and hesitantly leaned in to kiss me. I kissed him back, as my hands moved to tug on the ends of his long curly hair.

•*•*•*•*
The next morning I woke up to the sound of someone snoring lightly in my ear. It was still dark, and I couldn't see anything. Where am i? I thought. I tried to roll over, but was stuck in someone's grasp. Then I remembered that I stayed at the boys' house. Memories of the conversation aston and I had before we went to bed came rushing through my mind. By now, a few rays of sunlight started peeking through the curtain.

For a while, I watched how Ashton slept, and how he looked so peaceful, and rested. How he didn't have to worry about all the dramas and issues going on in his life. I kissed him on the nose, causing him to quickly wake up.

"Morning princess" he whispered, in a husky voice. "Did you sleep ok?"

"Morning" I smiled. "And yes, I did. Your T-shirt is very comfy."

"Don't get any ideas, that's my favourite." He smiled, wrapping his arms around my small body.

"I won't, I promise." I said, snuggling further into his chest, as we lay there for a few more minutes