Next Door

A Date and Bad News

It was one week later. Ricky and Gina were still the only people who knew Big Red and Ashlyn were dating, despite the fact they spent even more time with each other than usual.

"I'm just going out with some friends, Mom." Ashlyn lied.

"Doesn't matter, be home by 9."

"But it's already 7:30!" She complained. "A bit longer please? It used to be, like, 11."

"No back talk."

"Yes. I know." She nodded. "I'll be back then."

"Good."

"Yeah." Ashlyn walked outside and rolled her eyes. She walked over to Big Red's car, getting in. "Hi."

"Hey." He smiled. "Where d'ya wanna go?"

"Honestly, anywhere. My parents have been scolding me about curfews and dating for the past hour." She sighed.

"Lake it is." Big Red held her hand. "Need to talk?"

"It's normal. I guess I'm pretty used to it." She shrugged. "So not really."

"Okay. Well, I'm here whenever you do need to."

"Same to you." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Of course, I always have been."

"Of course." He smiled. They got out of the car when they reached the parking lot by the lake. He grabbed her hand again and they walked out to the lake. They sat down. "So... what's up?"

"Not much honestly." She shrugged.

"Yeah, me neither." He put his arm around her. "Which is kinda nice, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Tonight was great."

"It always is with you." Ashlyn said. They got out of his car and she hugged him. "Goodnight." She rested her head against him.

"Goodnight." He smiled. They stood in silence for a few minutes.

"Ashlyn Caswell!" Came her dad's voice.

"Oh no." She groaned. "Not this again."

"It's all good." He assured her. "We've got this."

"No, I do. You go inside." She bit her lip and walked away.

"I—"

"Goodbye!"

"Fine." He sighed and walked in his house.

"Hey, what's up?" Big Red picked up the phone. "What did they say?" He asked. No reply came. "Ash?"

"I- I'm not allowed... to see you... like, in any way, friends or more..." Cries came from her side of the call.

"We can see each other at school." He pointed out. "It's not much of a problem. We just... only see each other then until they trust me again."

"It's not you. It's all about my future. The boring future they want me to have with some random rich guy as I go into who-knows-what profession as opposed to what I want to go into."

"Well then until they trust you."

"I'm not really sure that's gonna be any time soon." She admitted.

"It has to be."

"I wish I was as optimistic as you."

"...Yeah."

"Look... I've gotta go."

"Bye." He hung up. He laid down on his bed, managing to hold himself together on the outside. He wasn't near optimistic, he was in denial. He took a deep breath before breaking down crying. Even before they were dating, he would've been crying, but not nearly as much as he was now.