The Cheat

Part 6

I spent a few more days in hospital until they decided that my ribs, cuts and burns had healed enough for me to be able to cope on my own at home. One problem. I had no way to get home. My car had been wrecked in the crash (not that I would be able to drive) and I had no friends in the area. Heck, I didn’t actually know how far I was from the apartment I had decided to rent instead of staying in dorms. I groaned and Cam’s head immediately turned toward me.

“Are you ok Ash? Where does it hurt?” It was cute but slightly strange that he was so concerned about a girl that he barely knew.

“Oh umm I’m fine, I just realised that I have no way to get to London from here.” I bit my lower lip trying to think if I might be able to book a coach seat or if I had enough money for a taxi. As I looked up I noticed Cam’s eyebrows were furrowed and he looked more than slightly confused.

“London??”

“That’s where I'm going to university and that’s where I was last week, sorting my accommodation and stuff out. It took less time then I thought so I headed home early and yeah…” I trailed off not wanting to get into that particular conversation again.

“Oh right well I guess that makes sense. Well lucky for you I actually live in London, hence why I rarely see James, I guess if you ask nicely I could give you a lift to wherever it is you’re staying.” I had gotten used to the teasing over the past couple of days and strangely enough it felt natural.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that I’ll just call a cab”

“No way the fare will cost you way too much, I'm driving to London anyway I might as well give you a lift.” I began to say no again but Cam interrupted me.

“I mean it Ash, that’ it. End of discussion.” I huffed but didn’t say anything else, I guess he was saving me a fair bit of money. Just then the doctor entered my room.

“Here to check up on me again??” I questioned with a friendly smile, as annoying as the check ups could be I knew that they were only doing their job.

“Actually no, not this time. I’m actually here to tell you that your past few check ups have been good and you’re free to go as long as you sign these discharge forms and you don’t attempt to drive yourself anywhere.”

“Sure thing doc, I can’t wait to leave this place. No offense” I mentally face palmed at how bad that sound but to my surprise the doctor actually laughed.

“I know what you mean Ashlee, being couped up in this place can’t be any fun at all.” I smiled in response and signed the forms that he had handed to me, my ticket out of here.

An hour later my stuff was in Cam’s car and we were heading towards London, turns out it would only be around a 45 minute drive till we reached my apartment. After putting my address into hi sat nav Cam decided that I lived about a 5 minute drive from where he did which was apparently going to make his life easier, he still wasn’t willing to accept that after dropping me off he was free to go and live his own life and forget about me. Oh well, he’d soon get sick of me, after all hadn’t I proved that every did eventually. Even my own boyfriend…. Happy thoughts Ash, think happy thoughts.

We arrived at my apartment after a surprisingly fun drive, all we did was chat and listen to music but it was nice. After helping my into the apartment I was renting Cam rung some of his friends to come and help him shift my things into the building, despite my many protests all he asked was that I provided food for the guys coming over. The apartment was already furnished with the bare minimum furniture so I had a bed, a sofa, a fridge, cooker, a shower etc. So I was ordered to sit on the sofa and not move unless it was to pee. Literally, I was ordered. So that’s what I did. Sat and watched as Cam and two of his buff looking friends carried all my belongings into the apartment and placed them in the small living room. The last thing to be brought into the apartment was my guitar and as I stood up to insist that I took it, mostly for fear of it getting damaged, I was met by a bright white smile.

“Uhh hi… I can take that from you if you want?” I was trying to hint without sounding rude after all I don’t know him.

“Relax babe, I’m not going to drop it. Trust me.” Mystery man replied still smiling at me.

“I’d trust him if I were you, everyone knows Chase would protect his own guitar with his life” Mystery man 2 chimed in. Hmm, so mystery man’s name was Chase, it suited him. With light brown hair cut in a shaggy hairstyle that just grazed his eyebrows and light grey eyes he was pretty cute. Not to mention his muscled arms which were on full display due to the grey wife beater he was wearing.

“Shut up dude, so pretty lady where would you like your precious guitar??” Chase spoke directly to me, now ignoring mystery man 2.

“Umm just put it in the corner of the room please. Thanks” I replied quietly. I did genuinely feel bad that these guys had been called to help someone they didn’t even know.

“So what’s for dinner?” Mystery man 2 asked with a cheeky lopsided grin as Chase put my guitar down.

“I don’t actually have any food in” I replied blushing bright red. “How about ordering in some pizza?” The suggestion seemed to please the guys as all three smiled and Cam quickly started asking what pizza everyone wanted.

“Get whatever you three want, I’m not bothered.” That was true, but I was also not that hungry. I knew Cam would have none of me saying that though so I kept quiet.

“Ok Chase? Tris? What do you guy want?” Hmm Tris, short for Tristan I guess. Whilst they ordered pizza I sat and stared at nothing in particular. Next thing I knew there was an arm around my shoulder and as I looked to my right there was a grinning Tristan sat on my couch.

“Chase and Cam are going to the store to get some drinks do you want anything?” I quickly shook my head looking back down away from him. Just then the door slammed behind Chase and Cam as they left my apartment and it was just me and Tristan.

“Guess it’s just me and you for now, what do you wanna do?” Wow he was actually asking me, which meant he kinda cared what I thought even though he didn’t know me.

“Can we hook the tv up and play some xbox?” I got into playing xbox through James but I actually did enjoy it.

“Nope WE can not hook the tv up, I can but you have to sit and watch. I’m under strict instructions to ensure you rest.” I groaned at this and all he did was laugh. Oh yeah the apartment already had a tv in, a welcome gift from my parents which I had bought whilst in London before the accident with money from I was given from then with strict instructions to “not skimp and buy the biggest tv you can”. That’s what I did. I now had a 40” tv in my apartment living room.

“Ok done what do you wanna play?” Tristan asked looking at me curiously.

“You pick” I smiled at him.

“Damn you, dieeeee!!!!” That’s what the guys walked back into. Hmm Cam must have stolen my keys. Oh by the way, Tristan not me.

“Mwahahaha my skills are too good for you.” He groaned as K.O flashed on his half of the screen. Again. We were playing Tekken.

“Wow hi guys, we bought pizza with us. Saw the dude outside about to knock.”

“Hey, I said I’d pay! How much was it.”

“Money.”

“How much Cam?”

“Money.” This went on for a while until I gave up on arguing with him. Childish idiot.

“Ok now that’s sorted everyone tuck in” We turned round to find both Tristan and Chase with pizza in their mouths already. And that’s how I spent the rest of my first evening, playing xbox and watching the guys pig out on pizza.