Family Troubles || Redlyn

Something's Off

Ashlyn's POV

I stayed at Big Red's again the next night. I had still felt uneasy about going back, and I felt much better with him. Sunday night I slept at my house, and was hopeful they had worked out their issues as I heard no shouting.

The following day went normally, besides lunch. Big Red had told me Madeline attended the party, and I guess it went well, because she was eating lunch with us. I had seen her turn down Big Red's offer to eat with us before, so I was a bit confused, but I guessed she turned out liking our friends.

Madeline was sitting between EJ and I. Big Red, who was on the right of me like always, seemed especially annoyed she was sitting with us, which I found weird since she was his cousin. I knew they were very different and Madeline was rude from time to time, but he seemed to be really upset she was eating with us. Honestly, no one seemed to like it much but EJ.

In fact, I realized that EJ may have been using his common sense for once, because everything Madeline was saying sounded innocent. Obviously she wasn't the worst person ever, but she wasn't a saint.

"Ashlyn. Ashlyn." Seb tapped my shoulder, bringing me back into reality. I realized Big Red and Nini were both gone currently. Seb was sitting where Big Red had been.

"Uh, yeah?"

"What's been going on? Everyone can tell you've been off." He sounded genuinely concerned, but I didn't want to talk about my parents.

"Nothing." I immediately responded. "I've been just fine. No idea what you're talking about. Or anyone else who thinks that."

"Something's wrong."

"Nope." I got up. "Gotta use the bathroom."

"Ash—"

"I'll be back." I felt rude for leaving like that, but I really didn't want to talk and Seb wasn't giving up. It was nice he cared... he just didn't understand.

It was outside the bathrooms where I saw Big Red and Nini talking. I'm not on to spy, but I caught some of their conversation and couldn't help but... discretely listen in.

"What's wrong with Ashlyn?" Nini asked Big Red. I rolled my eyes, annoyed.

"Um, ask her."

"I doubt she'll answer. Seb's trying to talk to her, but we doubt she'll say."

"If she won't say, why should I?"

"Uh... to help?"

"If she needs help she'll tell. And who's to say I would know? There, um, might not even be something wrong..."

Shoot. Big Red's not the best at lying. The rest of us being actors, and having common sense, we could tell.

"So you know, don't you?" Nini accused. "We're all just worried about her."

"Fine. I'm worried about her too, and I do know what's happening, but I can't tell you. That's for Ash to talk about herself." Big Red said. I let out a sigh full of relief and smiled to myself. I love him; how he's always doing the right thing. "I can maybe try to get her to talk about it—" My smile disappeared. "But I don't think she's ready."

Best boyfriend ever. He's so sweet.

"Fine." Nini stubbornly walked away, Big Red following her. I waited for a moment, going to actually use the bathroom, and he spotted me.

"Ash? What's up?" He turned and walked back to me.

"Uh... hey. Nothing's up. I was just, you know, using the bathroom." I say we could all lie better than Big Red, which is mostly true. But I can't lie to him for the life of me, I don't know why. Maybe a part of me just wants him to know the truth.

"Um... that's all?"

"Yeah." I awkwardly laughed. Why would I even laugh in this moment?

"What's wrong?"

"Well nothing's too bad..."

"Okay..."

"I may of listened to you and Nini." I admitted.

"Well... did one of us say something wrong?" He asked.

"Uh... not really. Everyone just wants me to talk about... you know. I just fell bad for listening in." I apologized. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine."

"Okay... but thanks for not telling Nini." I hugged him. "How are you so perfect?" That was a weird thing to say, as I knew no one was actually perfect. But he was to me, and it would be awkward to take it back.

"Maybe to you." He was blushing. "But no one is."

"I know." I nodded.

"Besides, you're as close as anyone comes to being perfect." He added, making me turn nearly the color of his hair.

"Um... uh, thank you." There was an awkward silence as I pulled away from the hug. "We should probably get back to lunch." I talked like I had before we were dating, with our awkward flirting, besides the fact that he just gave me the best compliment. Sure, it might sound basic, but he just really seemed to mean it.