Bestfriends Shouldn’t Know How You Taste
Chapter 2

Ashley's pov

I sauntered downstairs, already knowing what to expect from hearing the loud shouting from theboys. I groan rolling my eyes when I reach the bottom. “You guys are loud.” I whine walking over tothe three boys on the couch. They were busy watching football.

“Fucking Christ, did you see that?!” Arden yelled, tossing some popcorn at the TV. “Boo!” He gruntbefore taking a handful of popcorn and stuffed his mouth.

"What a fucking loser!” Ryan agreed, his face had turned a shade of red. Either he was mad or hewas currently suffering from the heat in this house.

(“This guy sucks ass!")

"Questo ragazzo succhia il culo!” Blake chuckles. The rest join him and I'm left utterly

confused. Does Arden even know what Blake just said?

Am I seriously being ignored here? Letting out a breath of irritation, I plod over to the kitchen area,leaving the boys screaming at the television. So much for “hurry up and get ready.’

I take off the scrunchie that was wrapped around the bone of my wrist and weaved my silky blackhair through it until the strands were off my back.

Some tendrils still fluttered on my forehead but it wasn't enough to irk me. “Morning mom.” Igreeted her. She was busy cooking lunch, her back facing me as she circled a spoon in the panbefore her.

She turned around just enough so I could see her face to send me a warm smile. “Morning baby,you woke up late. You're lucky I saved you some breakfast, your dad and brother almost finished itall.” She laughed.

I sat down on one of the stools, resting my forearm on the cold marble counter. “Well technically Iwoke up early, I was just busy reading that's all.” I admitted sheepishly.

She puts off the stove, spoon in hand as she twirls around to face me. A red sauce coated thespoon, its scent making my belly grumble. She walks over to me.

"How many times must I say that your stomach comes before books Ashley? Books can wait, I donot want you to starve.” She scolds nearing me.

I chew on my plump bottom lip and looked down in shame, feeling like a little kid. “I know mommy.This one was just-" I looked for a word to describe the book I had yet to finish.

“Interesting.” I finished off with a blush. I prayed mom wouldn't notice my now redden face. Ishould've left my hair down.

She holds out the spoon and gestures for me to taste. I run a finger on the spoon, the sauce coversit. I draw it to my mouth and suck in the delicious sauce. "Hmmm." I moaned, sucking my finger.Mom's eyes widen in satisfaction, a beaming smile plastering on her lips. Her hair falls loosely overher shoulder, the tips softly touching the end of her blue t-shirt. Her eyes crinkle at the corner asshe continues to smile. She hadn't aged a bit. She was exactly the same, beautiful. Explains why dadcan't leave her alone.

“It's good?” She questions though she already knew the answer for this question.

“When have you ever cooked anything disgusting? Well apart from that turkey last year that youburnt.” I jabbed before giggling. She narrows her eyes that were identical to mine. The glasses slidedown my nose a tad bit. I pushed it back into place and smiled at mom. “Now can I have mybreakfast mom?” I ask.

“Mrs Collins can I have some breakfast too?” Blake comes strolling in. He stops behind me, his bodyemanating a roll of heat. His shirt brushed my back and I involuntarily suck in a sharp breath. Stop itAshley, he's your best friend.

“Ley what's the point of eating when we're about to head to Belle’s?” He laughs and tugs myponytail. I twist my head to look at him. Green eyes meet blue and we stare. “What's the point ofasking for breakfast when we're about to go?” I countered back. I turn around and shrugged.“Besides I skipped breakfast earlier and I'm famished.”

“Now who's fault is that?” I could hear the evident amusement in his tone. The way his voice took ahusky edge when he usually tries to rattle me up. “You should really blame Raven for your hunger.If you weren't busy-"

I turn around swiftly, my face said it all. I was embarrassed and annoyed that he would joke aroundnow that my mom was present. For God's sake she didn't even know I owned these books. Isneaked off to buy them in the local library a couple of minutes away.

Whenever dad gave me money to spend, I would save it to buy them. Now my secret was not somuch of a secret anymore and all thanks to the blue eyed boy staring back at me in mirth. He foundthis amusing, what a so-called friend he is.

But you haven't been thinking about him in a friendly way lately, now have you ash? My consciencemocked me. I got off the stool and clutch his hand, tugging him along with me.

“Leave the breakfast mom, I'm going at Belle’s!" I shout over my shoulder.

She answers with a giggle. Great now even my mom found me amusing. Blake's chuckle pisses meoff and leads me to drop his hand. I turn around to glare at him but I'm not so sure I looked theleast intimidating.

His finger came to massage the crease between my eyebrows. “Don't frown Ley, you'll get wrinkleson that pretty little face of yours.”

I step away feeling a slight tingle where his finger touched my skin. I turn around and walk over toRyan and Arden. Their eyes were fixated on the television, both transfixed to realise that I reachedfor the remote.

Their eyes gleam with anxiety as they focus their gaze to the screen. My finger hover over the offbutton before I finally pressed it. The screen goes blank and the boys mouth slacken.

"What the-" Arden started but I swiftly sent him a glare.

“If you finish that sentence I'll tell dad when he comes home from work.” I warned.

He grumbles something under his breath before crossing his arms. He was two years younger than Iyet he acted like he was the older one. He was the younger version of dad. At just the age of fifteenhe was almost the same height as Blake and had girls falling at his feet.

I turn to Ryan, seeing that he still stared at the black screen in obvious confusion. “Let's go Ryan, I'mhungry.” I say and turned around to saunter to the front door.

"Where are y'all going?” I could hear Arden question them.

“Belle’s.” Blake responded.

I open the front door not caring if they followed after. I spot Ryan's red Lamborghini and stroll overto it. My converse hit the pavement with a thud. I could distinctly hear their loud footsteps followingafter me.

"Someone's impatient to head to Belle’s. Though I think you're impatient to get back to yourreading,” Blake teases when he caught up to me.

I ignored him opening the car door and plopped inside. The short ripped jumpsuit I wore showedoff the smooth creamy skin of my thighs. I shift myself to get more comfortably on the seat. Blake'seyes flicker to my thighs before he swiftly averted his eyes, closing the door harder than necessary.Both he and Ryan opened their door simultaneously and closed it. Blake turns in his seat and sendsme a wink.”"Don’'t worry Ley, we'll get you back to your reading. Then we can practice what you'vebeen taught.”

A red blush crawls up my face and coats my cheek. Ryan laughs and mumble somethingincoherent.”Shut up.” I mumble and stare out of the window.

Ryan starts up the car and a second later we are on our way to Belle's. Anxiety creeps up my spineas we near. I hate Belle's, it was too crowded. Reeked of teenagers though I was one I didn't want toassociate myself with them. They were rude and snobby. I only went there because of Blake andRyan.