Family Troubles || Redlyn

Sweetie?

Big Red's POV

"You know, we leave lunch a lot." I pointed out as we walked back to our table.

"I guess we have a lot of misunderstandings." Ashlyn sighed.

"But we work them out. It's fine, right?"

"Yeah." She smiled a little.

"Thanks for believing me. Sorry I never told you about Felicity. I just ignored her. I didn't want to add to all your stress."

She nodded and smiled more. "Well, thank you then."

"Oh, um, no problem." I said, surprised she was thanking me in this moment. We sat back down in our seats, beginning to eat again. I held Ashlyn's hand, pulling it up to my face and gently kissing it before holding it like normal. She blushed, making me do the same.

"That was sweet." Ashlyn softly spoke. She immediately went back to eating, her blush getting stronger. Unsure how to respond, I didn't, continuing to eat as well. I saw Ricky give me a thumbs up, and Nini giving Ashlyn one. I smiled.

"You're back? Oh." Madeline said. She was sitting at the table near our doorway, and I had just explained that Ashlyn was back. Ashlyn and I had just arrived.

"Yeah. I am." Ashlyn said dryly. I put my arm around her, getting angry. Madeline has no respect for anyone.

"Bummer." She said. I could tell there was some sarcasm, because she didn't care, but she wasn't upset when she had left.

"You're the one person out of many who thinks so. So shut up." I pulled Ashlyn closer to me. "Don't listen to her. Wanna go somewhere else?" I whispered. Before she could respond, Madeline responded.

"Just expressing my opinions. You two do it. You just happen to like her."

"Shut up!" I shouted, shortly before seeing a tear on Ashlyn's face. "Oh, don't cry, come on." I led her back outside. Unsure where we would end up going, we started walking on the sidewalk. "She's just trying to annoy you." I slipped my hand into hers.

"I know." Ashlyn nodded. "You just never really want to hear it."

"She doesn't like anyone."

"That doesn't mean much."

"She doesn't like me." I added. "And you do."

"Yeah, so?"

"You must think she's wrong then."

"Oh... right." She smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"No problem sweetie— I, um, sorry." I apologized. "Should've asked or not said that or whatever..." I was a bright shade of red. "It just kinda came out."

"Oh, uh... it's not a problem... sweetie?" She responded, sounding unsure of herself as she said the last word. I then noticed she was bright red as well.

"Um, thanks." I nodded, taking my eyes off her and looking forward as we walked for a moment in an awkward silence.

"This is too awkward." Ashlyn broke the silence. "That was sweet, I liked it."

"Good." I smiled. We made our way to the nearest coffee shop together.