Family Troubles || Redlyn

Party?

Big Red's POV

Ashlyn had been gone for about a week. We FaceTimed and texted all the time. Ashlyn seemed to be doing well considering the circumstances. I was glad.

I called Ashlyn around 7 one day. She picked up after a few rings. "What's up?" I asked her, right before I noticed a tear on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Just a hard day." Ashlyn wiped the tear away. "Not a big deal."

"Well, what was hard about it?" I raised my eyebrow slightly, before deciding it looked less sympathetic and stopping.

"You know, schoolwork. Missing Salt Lake. The usual stuff." She quickly stated.

"That's all?"

She sighed. "You know that thing Madeline said?"

"That you're annoying? 'Cause it's not—"

"Yeah that. I know it's not true." She paused. "It's just that people here seem to think the same."

"I don't understand."

"I don't fit in—"

"No, I don't understand how people think you're annoying. You're sweet, outgoing, loyal, talented, beautiful—" I cut myself off, getting lost in the millions of positive adjectives that could be used to describe Ashlyn. "You get the point."

"I— thanks, Biggie." Ashlyn smiled. "That means... a lot."

"Don't mention it." I smiled in return.

Things with Felicity were still weird. I had informed her I had a girlfriend. This had discouraged her, until she found it my girlfriend didn't live in Salt Lake City, let alone go to East High.

"Hi." Felicity plopped down beside me as I was watching rehearsal.

"Hello."

"Do you want to come over to my—"

"Nope." I interrupted her.

"Let me finish. Do you want to come over to my house, I'm having a party?" She asked me.

"Who's going?"

"A bunch of people. Some theatre people. I know Ricky and Nini are coming." Felicity told me.

"I guess." I shrugged. "When?"

"Saturday." It was currently Thursday. "7."

"See you then." I nodded.

"Great!" She got back up and left. I figured I'd stay as far away from her as I could at the party. She was nice, but I knew a party wasn't the best setting to avoid flirting.