Next Door

Texts

"Sweetie?" Ashlyn leaned on Big Red's shoulder, pausing the movie they were watching. "Can we talk?"

"Uh... yeah? Is this something bad?"

"Kinda, but I don't think it's anything like what you mean." She kissed his cheek. "We're staying the same, it's more... annoying."

"Okay." He smiled. "Then sure."

"You know Hudson?"

"Did he not stop?" He asked, getting mad.

"He didn't." She sighed. "He hasn't talked to me in person but he keeps texting me. He seems to think I'm playing hard to get because I have a boyfriend, but I actually like him."

"He has no respect for you. Or probably any girl." He muttered.

"Yeah. So he keeps telling me texting is fine, because you won't find out, and everything's getting out of hand." She pouted, hugging him.

"Block him."

"He'll talk to me in person."

"Okay, yeah... I don't know what we're supposed to do, actually. You've already shouted at him." He sighed.

"I hate to be someone who can't solve things herself, but can you talk to him for me?" She asked quietly.

"Sounds great." He nodded.

"Thanks." She reached to unpause the movie.

"Can you call him so we can get it over with?"

"Oh, right." She hesitated. "I guess."

"It'll be alright honey, you don't have to talk."

"I know. It's just really weird."

"I know." He tightly gripped her hand and kissed her cheek. She made a small smile and called Hudson. She put the phone speaker on.

"Ash?" Hudson asked. She cringed.

"Since when is it fine for you to call me Ash?" She snapped. Big Red put his arm around her, pulling her closer.

"It never has been." He piped up. She kissed his cheek.

"Who's that?" Hudson asked.

"We've met, I'm her boyfriend."

"Oh, you. Being overprotective? Clingy? She can date whoever she wants."

"Which, as I'm sure she's said plenty of times, is me." Big Red responded. "I'm not being overprotective, I'm caring about someone who's being mistreated."

"Who's she being mistreated by? I'm expressing my want to go out with her, you're the ones making it a big deal."

"It's a big deal because she's uncomfortable. I'm sure if you actually thought she was that great, you'd want her happy, correct?" He asked. "Because as much as my life would fall apart with her, if she found someone else she'd actually like, I'd be happy she's happy."

"I don't think that's gonna happen." She whispered in his ear. He smiled slightly, before resting in an angry expression.

"Then why can't she tell me any of this?"

"I'm sure she has, but all you can hear is what you want to."

"You keep saying you're sure, but what has she actually told you?"

"Does anything she said about this matter besides that you're being annoying and it's out of hand. That's all I need to know, all you need to know, and all there is to it." He ranted. She laid her head on his lap, sighing.

"She's actually only texted me once or twice, how am I supposed to know that?"

"Oh, right. Yeah, faking innocence is really gonna work on me. I know exactly what happened at prom. I know what you've said to Ashlyn, giving her plenty of reasons not to text you back." He said, almost shouting. He played with Ashlyn's hair gently, trying to calm her down, for she was now crying. "We can talk later, because I'm sure there's something horrible going on in your life, or else I don't know why this is even happening. Every step you've taken towards her has been to far, but making her cry is another thing." He hung up.

She shifted. "Thanks for trying."

"He's horrible." He rubbed her back. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm just sick of everyone always getting in the way of us."

"Me too, love. I really think we'll have things sorted out soon though, Hudson can't do this forever. In the meantime, I do think you should block him. Nothing can really happen at school, we can stick together." He suggested.

"You can do it." She tiredly and weakly passed him her phone. He blocked him then set her phone down. "Thanks."

"I love you Ash." He adjusted to lie beside her, pulling her closer. She rested her forehead against his chest, kissing him.

"Love you too." She mumbled.

"Have any homework?"

"Nope."

"Me neither." He smiled. They drifted to sleep.