Next Door

Loosing Track of Time

Big Red kept coming out to talk to Ashlyn, kiss her cheek, then run back to work every once and awhile for the next hour. The shop was so busy he couldn't get off, as much as he wanted to. Ashlyn ended up sitting outside, both for fresh air and to let people who wanted to eat eat.

"Hey." A voice said. She paid no attention to who's voice it was, hoping it would be her boyfriends. She looked up and realized it was EJ.

"Oh, hey." She said, making a small smile.

"What's up?" He sat by her.

"Date."

"Then where is Big Red?"

"Working." She sighed. "He's been working for an hour."

"You must hate that, then."

"Oh, we both do."

"That's good."

"What?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Well it's a good thing he'd rather be with you than working."

"That's not really a high standard, is it?"

"I just think it's good you two don't need to have a talk. Or me, for that matter." He said.

"You?"

"Well you're my cousin, he better love you."

"He does. You know that, we've all been friends for years." She said.

"I know, he's a really great guy. I'm glad Ash." He gave her a side hug. "I was gonna get pizza but it looks way too packed. When does he get off?"

"I don't know, he's been trying for the last hour."

"See if there's a set time, we could do something."

"Yeah alright." She nodded. She walked inside, looking for Big Red, who was also looking for her. He hadn't come out to see her since she moved outside.

"Hey. Once again, I'm so so sorry." He hugged her.

"It's really fine." She kissed his cheek. "Not like it's your choice anyway. Do you know when you'll get off?"

"Judging by the flow of costumers... probably another hour and a half. You don't have to stay."

"I'll be back, I'm gonna hang out with EJ. Love you. Wish our date nights ever turned out."

"Come in, we've had plenty of great ones. Honestly, any nights we're even together are close enough to dates."

"You're right." She smiled. "See you later."

"Lost track of time, so sorry!" Ashlyn said, running up to Big Red who was sitting outside in the same place she had been before. "How long have you been waiting?" She says by him.

"About thirty minutes, but I can't complain. You waited much longer." He said.

"Now we can do whatever."

"Great. Hungry?"

"Not really." She shrugged.

"Alright, then what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. Kinda just wanna talk."

"Is this like a... we need to talk thing or a hang out thing?" He asked, already getting slightly nervous. She could tell, laughed, and hugged him.

"Hang out talk." She smiled.

"That's what I hoped."

"You're cute."

"You're beautiful." He smiled.

"Fine, you win." She kissed him. "Thanks."

"Same here."

"You'd think I don't have a watch." Ashlyn shook her head in disbelief, in the passengers seat of Big Red's car as they drove home. "Can't believe I'm missing curfew. My parents are gonna be livid."

"Maybe it'll be fine. Plus, the fact I worked for way longer than expected probably effected the time thing." He said, holding her hand.

"Probably. But now I've missed my curfew two nights in a row."

"Wow. Didn't know I was such a bad influence."

"You're so misbehaved." She grinned and kissed his hand, trying not to distract him from the road by kissing his lips or anywhere on his face. They drove up to their houses. "Wish me luck." She said. He kissed her. "Luck granted, thanks."

"Night."

"G'night." She waved.