Rachel's P.O.V.

"Listen you two, neither of you are allowed within 10 feet of the kitchen" Mum said, pointing to me and Louis. Me, him and Harry were sitting on the couch in the living room as she was starting off dinner. "I want to make a good impression on this boy who's coming over Rachel, and if either of you have anything to do with the cooking he'll probably end up food poisoned" she continued.

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Oh darn it Anne, I was really looking forward to helping out" Louis pretended to be upset while Harry just smirked ever so slightly. He had been in an oddly worse mood than usual today and I was getting really worried. He wasn't even being weird about the fact that Ashton was coming over, which was very unusual for him .

Mum just chuckled at Louis before heading back into the kitchen to continue dinner.

"You know, I get that I'm a bad cook but why aren't you allowed in the kitchen?" Louis asked me.

Before I had a chance to respond, Harry cut in.

"She's the most dreadfully awful cook you will ever meet. She literally couldn't make ice" he told him, a small smile playing at his lips.

I was glad he was cheering up slightly.

"There seems to be some kind of family gene that just makes you amazing at cooking and boy have I missed out on it" I agreed.

Louis laughed.

"So what time is he coming round at?" Harry asked, causing Louis laugh to cut off.

I shrugged.

"I told him like 7. Dinner should be ready by then, right?" I tried to ignore Louis' tense state as I replied.

Harry nodded.

"Yeah, I'd assume so" he replied.

"Great, well I should probably go get ready so" I began but as I stood up Harry grabbed my arm, pulling me back to the couch. I turned my head to glare at him but my expression softened when I was met with his hurt eyes.

There was a small silence before he sighed softly.

"Does she really love him?" he asked, his eyes locked with mine. I knew instantly who he was talking about. Skylar. I pulled him into a hug quickly sighing as he hugged me back tightly.

"I think so" I mumbled into his shoulder.

We stayed like for about 30 seconds before he pulled away.

"Go get ready Rach, I'm sorry I'm being such a downer" he told me, leaning back into the couch.

I rubbed his arms comfortingly before standing up.

"You're not being a downer Haz, you're just hurting is all" I replied honestly.

I left then, deciding that tomorrow the three of us would go do something fun. He really needed a distraction from his heartbreak at the moment.

It only took me twenty minutes to have my shower and brush and dry my hair. After drying it I straightened over it quickly which didn't take long seeing as it had been blow-dried down. Now came the task of deciding what to wear. For the next twenty minutes I ended up walking around my room in just my black bra and contrasting pink panties trying to find something to wear. I wasn't sure exactly why it was so difficult for me to choose. Ashton saw me all the time on campus and I never really wore anything too fancy. But for some reason this was different.

I sighed as I tossed yet another outfit onto the floor, deciding it wasn't right.

Before I had a chance to look for another one, my bedroom door opened. Of course it was Louis. He walked in without even thinking about it and then gasped when he saw I was only in my underwear. His eyes scanned my body quickly before he covered his eyes with his hands.

"Shit Rach, I'm so sorry. I didn't realise you would be - you know - I should've knocked and I-" He began rambling but I just chuckled.

"Louis, it's fine. What do you want?" I asked, wondering what exactly he was doing in my room.

He took his hands away from his face but his eyes still remained shut tightly.

"Your mom said to come down and set the table" he told me, his voice still sounding guilty.

"Okay, tell her I just need to get dressed. I'll be a minute" I mumbled, still unsure of what to wear.

He nodded.

"Right, Sorry again about walking in on you, I really should have knocked first" he apologised.

"You're fine Louis" I reminded him.

He left then, nearly banging into the wall as he walked out - eyes still shut.

I spent another ten minutes procrastinating before I finally decided on something to wear. Afterwards I done my make-up.





When I got downstairs Harry was already setting up the table. I gave him a smile which he returned half-heartedly. It was five to seven when the doorbell rang. Louis and Harry were arguing about who was the man house - Louis' argument was that he was the oldest and Harry's was that it was his house. Mum was just starting to dish out dinner, which left it up to me to go answer it.

I walked to the door quickly and paused just before I got to it, taking a small breath. Opening it, I grinned at Ashton's nervous state. He was looking rather formal, wearing jeans I had never before seen with a button up shirt. Over his shirt he had a blue blazer. His hair was flattened down somewhat - as much as it could be I suppose and in his hand was a small bouquet of flowers.

"You shouldn't have" I teased, indicating to the flowers.

He rolled his eyes, leaning against the door frame.

"I didn't, they're for your mom" he replied, a grin playing on his lips, though he still looked nervous.

"Relax Ash, she'll love you" I assured him. I scanned him once more. "You look different" I added.

His eyes widened.

"Does it look bad? I mean I wanted to dress properly cause I was worried that-" he began rambling but I cut him off easily.

"You look great. It's just different seeing you so formal-looking" I replied honestly.

He smiled, seeming to react a little.

"Well are you gonna make him stand out in the cold all night?" I spun quickly to see my mum somewhat down the hallway. "C'mon in dear" she added kindly to Ashton.

He gave me an awkward glance before walking in. She lead him into the kitchen as I closed the door and I could hear her 'You shouldn't have' as Ashton obviously gave her the flowers. He really was nervous the poor thing but I couldn't help but find it adorable. I couldn't fully understand though why he was so nervous. It was just me.

"I'm afraid you won't get to meet the whole family tonight love. Robin is away on a business trip and Gemma is staying with friends" she was explaining as I followed them into the kitchen.

"Just grab a plate there and you two can go take a seat with Harry and Louis" she added, nodding to the plates of food.

Ashton turned to me his eyes wide.

So yeah I may not have exactly mentioned that Louis was going to be here. Honestly it had completely slipped my mind to mention it.

"Louis' here?" he asked my mum, trying to keep his tone casual.

She nodded, oblivious to his shock.

"Oh yes, do you know him?" she asked.

Ashton just shrugged.

"Yeah, a bit I guess" he replied, again his tone light as he picked up a plate.

I followed suit and lead him out to the dining table where Harry and Louis were still arguing, though now they had their food in front of them.

Louis was sitting at the head of the table with Harry on one side of him. I sat on his other side and Ashton sat down next to me, meaning mum was sitting across from him.

"Look Harry for the last time - I'm the eldest and I'm much more sensible than you so really-" Louis continued. Harry scoffed loudly at that.

"Oh hush you two. You'll scare off our guest" Mum interrupted them, giving them a look that clearly said 'shut up'.

The silenced quickly, though Harry did mutter 'More sensible?' under his breath in an exasperated tone.

"So Ashton, what exactly is it you're studying?" she asked, landing her gaze on him.

He cleared his throat before responding.

"Oh, uh criminology and psychology" he replied, taking a sip of his water as he did.

She made to reply but before she had a chance to someone else did.

"Really?"

I was surprised to see that it was Louis.

Ashton nodded.

"Wow, that actually sounds really interesting" he replied, looking somewhat impressed. And that is what started the full dinner-length conversation on criminology and the goriest serial killers of all time. Harry seemed eager to discuss the topic and so the three of them ended up chatting away happily.

Although I wasn't exactly enjoying what it was they were discussing - I was glad they were at least all getting along. It was very strange to see. To see Louis and Ashton talk so animatedly when normally there was an extremely awkward between the two of them. However, I wasn't gonna complain. I exchanged a glance with mum who looked just as disgusted by the topic, but gave me a small grin nonetheless.

Once we were all done eating she asked me to help her bring the dishes to the kitchen. Ashton, who seemed a lot more at ease now offered to help, though she was having none of it. As she insisted 'guests aren't meant to clean up'.

I chuckled slightly at that and followed her to the kitchen, carrying his plate along with my own.

She turned to face me as I dumped them in the sink.

"I like him Rach. He's very sweet and polite. Not to mention, Harry seems to like him. Which honestly I was not expecting" she told me.

Honestly, neither was I. I had been expecting much more hostility.

"So, is it serious?" she continued.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Is what serious?" I asked back.

She rolled her eyes, grinning.

"You and him" she replied as if it should be the most obvious thing in the world.

I sighed.

"Mum, we're not a couple. I told you that. We're just friends. That's all" I dragged out the last two words so she would get the point. However she remained unconvinced.

"Okay, whatever you say" she chuckled, turning back to the dishes.

I went back out to the table and sat down next to Ashton.

"That went well" he mumbled quietly, seeming surprised.

I nodded.

"I told you it would" I replied, poking one of his dimples which were now on display. He swatted my hand away but continued to grin anyways. We had dessert aswell but Harry and Louis wandered off into the living room to watch television to eat theirs, leaving just the three of us. Once our dessert was finished, she started.

"So where'd you two meet?" Mum asked Ashton.

I gave her a glare but she conveniently ignored it and continued looking at him for an answer. There was a slight pink tinge to his cheeks but he answered casually.

"At a beginning of yea party last year. We kinda just became friends after that" he shrugged.

"Friends, hm? And you two have never been anything more than that?" she continued. I literally smacked my forehead as I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Why was she doing this? What had I done to her?

Ashton however just chuckled.

"Oh please, she wishes" he teased. I elbowed him playfully in response.

"You know, your the first boy she's ever brought home for dinner" she went on. I literally felt like kicking her under the table.

Ashtons face turned smug as he turned to me with a smirk.

"Oh really?" he asked.

Mum nodded.

"Oh yes she-"

"You know what" I said, a lot louder that I needed to, to drown my mothers voice out. "I'm gonna go clean these bowls. Ash come help?" I asked.

He looked a little doubtful. Obviously wanting to stay and hear more about my past boyfriends. Or according to my mother - lack of them.

I stuck out my bottom lip, pouting,

"Please?" I asked.

He just sighed as he stood up, grabbing both his own bowl and mums. I walked out to the kitchen with him close behind me. After turning the water on to fill up the sink, I turned to face Ashton. He was still smirking.

"So, the first guy, huh?" he seemed pleased with himself.

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh don't flatter yourself. You know Harry - I couldn't exactly be bringing guys home with him around now, could I?" I replied.

He seemed unabashed.

"And yet here I am" he stated simply.

I scoffed and turned back around to get working on the dishes. He helped dry them so within a few minutes they were finished. I decided then on heading to my room to watch a movie. Although he seemed to get with Louis reasonably well tonight, I really didn't want to push it. And besides, the only reason Harry seemed so calm about Ashton being here was because he was so caught up thinking of Skylar.

It wasn't until we walked into the room that I realised there were clothes everywhere. Ashton raised an eyebrow but didn't seem remotely bothered by it.

I sighed as I began hauling them into the wardrobe.

"I couldn't decide what to wear" I admitted once I had the door shut. I turned to see Ashton relaxing on my bed, his shoes tossed on the floor and his hands resting on the back of his head.

"Well you certainly make yourself at home" I commented.

He just grinned.

"So, what are we watching?" he asked, as I headed over to the television to set the DVD player up.

I shrugged. There's some movies there in the corner. We can watch one of those. Or if you don't wanna watch one of them there's a load more downstairs" I mumbled, focusing on the DVD player.

I heard him get off the bed and head to the corner, flicking through them. It wasn't until I heard a snort that I turned around.

"Rachel, why exactly do you have The Lord of The Rings in German?" he asked, holding the boxset up to me, very amused.

I bit my lip not wanting to sound stupid but grinning anyways.

"There's an English setting on it" I stated.

"That's not what I asked. Why not just buy it in English?" he asked.

"Oh I have it in English" I told him, still avoiding his question.

He looked thoroughly confused now.

"Okay look. One year we went to Germany on holidays and the language seemed really cool so I decided I wanted to take up German. I bought a tonne of movies and books in German while I was there. When I came back I took one class of it and haven't so much as thought about it since" I admitted.

There was a second of silence before he burst out laughing.

"You are probably one of the weirdest people I know" he chuckled, glancing at the DVD's in his hand.

"I never have actually watched The Lord of The Rings though. Is it good?" he asked.

At that my jaw dropped.

"What do you mean you've never watched Lord of the Rings?! Oh my god Ashton! I've literally read it like a billion times. Its one of my favourite books ever. How have you never read it.. or even seen the movies?" I rambled on, completely shocked.

He looked at my funnily for a minute before smiling.

"You're just a secret little nerd aren't you Rach?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes.

"Well since you feel so passionately about it, let's watch it" he decided.

"Though maybe in English" he added as he looked at the cover of Der Herr der Ringe.

"You do realise there's three movies and each of them are like three hours long" I told him. I had a feeling that would throw him off. I really wanted him to watch them. I absolutely loved them and it would be nice to share that with him but I would fully understand if he wouldn't watch them. It was a lot to ask.

His eyes widened at that.

"Three hours seriously?" he asked,

I nodded.

He sighed.

"Well I guess we're pulling an all nighter so" he said after a small moment of silence.

My face broke out in a smile.

"Seriously?" I asked.

He nodded, smiling back.

"As long as that's okay with your mum of course. I wouldn't want to make things awkward. I mean she's only just met me, she might not like the idea of me staying the night" he replied.

I shrugged.

"Don't worry about her, she'll be fine with it" I told him confidently. Mom was reasonably cool so I wasn't worried about her. However there was the slight snag that Harry might flip out.

Ashton's smile widened.

"Great, let's get watching them so" he said happily.

I began setting them up. Harry would be fine. We were going to be watching movies so it wasn't like we'd be doing anything. He'd understand I'm sure.

Once I had set up the movie, I turned off the lights and joined Ashton on the bed.

I grinned as the title appeared.

"Prepare yourself to be completely blown away by the most awesomest thing you've ever seen" I told him as I lay next to him.

He chuckled.

"Nerd" he mumbled as the movie began.

Notes

Okay so I'm never much good at these A/N's cause a lazy ass shizz but I really hope you're enjoying reading the story cause we really enjoy writing it. We'd love for you to comment below with your thoughts on the story and maybe ideas you have for what should happen next :p We love reading your comments :) Thanks so much all of you if your reading this :* xx ♥