Next Door

Bad News

"Mom?" Ashlyn asked, putting out utensils for dinner. "Is there a reason I haven't been punished for a few days for things I normally would be?" She asked, playing with her hands nervously.

"I didn't notice honey." She smiled, wiping down the table.

"Really?"

"Double the utensils, we've got company."

"Since when?" Ashlyn asked, setting out more.

"I thought I had told you."

"Um, no." She shook her head.

"It's some people your father's now working with."

"Yeah, alright. When will they be here?"

"Soon." Her mom replied. By the time they finished getting ready, the doorbell ringed. Her mom answered, greeted everyone, and they all sat around the table. "This is our daughter, Ashlyn."

"Hello." She forced a smile. Usually, she was friendly, but around people her dad worked with she was shy. They were all so perfect and stern.

"I'm Jack." The son, who was sitting across from Ashlyn, said with a smile.

"He's such a gentleman." Ashlyn's dad said.

"Great..." Ashlyn nodded awkwardly.

They kept talking and eating for the next hour, Ashlyn barely talking unless called upon. Sometimes she had to keep herself from talking whenever anyone said something judgmental, but otherwise she had no urge to.

The doorbell rang. "Ashlyn, could you get that?" Her dad asked. She nodded and opened the door.

"Oh thank goodness." She said, walking outside and closing the door.

"Why?" Big Red asked.

"Because I need an excuse to leave for a minute, this is the most awkward dinner ever." She said, hugging him. "What are you doing here?"

"Apparently your family needs more flour?" He said, handing her a bag. "Though maybe not anymore, my parents didn't notice for awhile."

"I have no idea what for, so maybe." She shrugged. "Now pretend this conversation is more eventful, I don't wanna go in there for a few minutes. Too loud. Too boring." They sat down and she leaned on his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"Some people from my dad's work. I've never met them, but I'm not too fond of them. They're really judgmental. They seem awfully proud of themselves."

"Yikes." He messed with her hair, smiling slightly.

"Yeah." She closed her eyes for a few minutes. "I should go."

"Love you."

"You too." She walked back inside, put away the flour, and sat back down.

"Who was that?" Her mom asked at a whisper.

"Big Red." Ashlyn said. "He said you asked to borrow some flour?"

"Oh, yes, we did ask his parents for some."

"Great." She nodded.

"So..." Ashlyn said, sitting in the den in a chair across from Jack, after receiving bad news.

"I have a girlfriend." He said.

"Um... so I take it you don't like this either." She said.

"It's horrible. Trust me, not the first time it's happened. We just pretend we're dating, act like we did all we could to make it work, then break up."

"You've thought this out."

"Again, not the first time my parent's have set me up with a girl for finance purposes."

"Sorry then." She said. "But sounds like a plan. I've got a boyfriend who I'd rather not break up with so my parents make a little money."

"Then we just pretend to date for a few weeks. Easy."

"But not nearly fun." She sighed. "Excuse me, I should call my boyfriend." She said. "Actually he lives next door, might as well go over."

"See ya then. I'll probably do the same." He waved. Ashlyn went to Big Red's house and knocked on the door.