Next Door

Up a Tree, In a Window

Big Red and Ashlyn had been friends for as long as they could remember. Their houses were right next to each other and they knew basically everything about each other.

They had gotten feelings for each other recently, but they both brushed them away. They flirted from time to time, but neither of them seemed to be making a commitment. They were both open to dating other people. Or at least going on one date.

Big Red tried to call Ashlyn. It was 8:00, early enough for her to be awake, and late enough for her to be out of dinner. She didn't pick up. He hadn't seen her outside of school in days.

He sighed and walked outside. He had knocked on the front door the day before, and found out she was grounded. He looked up at her window. Sighing again, he started climbing up the ladder on the tree in between their houses. When he reached her window, he tapped on it as he settled on a branch.

"Woah, what the heck are you doing up here?" Ashlyn pushed her window open. "You could fall."

"I wanted to talk." He shrugged. "Why are you grounded anyway?"

"Because I lied about going out with that guy." She explained. "It was a horrible date anyway, so nothing good came from it."

"Horrible how?"

"Don't get me wrong, he was great. Just... didn't feel right." She looked down at her feet briefly, before back at him with a fake smile.

"What about it was wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know." She sighed. "It just wasn't..." Wanting to say 'you,' she paused. "Right."

"Someone will be."

"Oh, hey, uh... you wanna come in?"

"Your parents." He pointed out.

"Whatever, you have to be in a bit of a better spot. You're gonna fall."

"Fine." He playfully rolled his eyes and hopped inside.

"That's better, isn't it?" Ashlyn closed the window.

"By far, yes."

"Good." She sat on her bed.

Ashlyn giggled at a joke Big Red made. He had been there for 20 minutes, and no one had found out. Yet.

He joined in laughing. "I didn't think it was that funny."

"I don't know, maybe it's just the way you said it." She smirked slightly, scooting a little closer to him.

"Ashlyn!" Her door swung open to her dad. "You're grounded, do you want to be grounded longer?"

"No, I—" Ashlyn shook her head. "Sorry, it just—"

"I'm sorry. My fault, I shouldn't have come over. Don't blame her. You can... call my parents or whatever." Big Red stood up. "I'll go..."

"Wait! I mean, um, go... but it wasn't your fault. I let you in."

"Sorry to end your great romance, but you're in big trouble." Her dad stepped in.

"I promise. It was me." He said again before leaving.