Next Door

Watching Watches

"Ashlyn, come on!" Big Red whined, catching her glancing at her watch. He had caught her doing it a few times as they walked. "We're not gonna be late."

"I can't afford to get in trouble. We can't afford that." Ashlyn said, putting her head in her hand for a quick moment before returning to normal.

"I hate this." He sighed. "Even away from your parents and Jack we can't be normal?"

"I'm sorry." She took off her watch and put it in her pocket. "I'm anxious."

"Yeah, I know. It's fine, only annoying that this is how we date. Not to mention we have school tomorrow."

"Oh, right. What do we say?" She wondered. "We didn't break up, but—"

"Um... Ash? Does Jack go to East High?"

"Uh... I don't actually know." She said, nervously pulling out her phone. "Do I ask my mom? She might think that's weird. Do I ask him though? We haven't texted yet, not sure if I want to start now."

"Text him, just in case."

"Yeah, alright." She typed and sent the text. Quickly she received a response. "He does." She sighed.

"What does that mean then?"

"Um... oh, I guess nothing?" She shrugged. "Maybe it won't be any different than if he didn't."

"I hope. I love you." He stopped walking, held both her hands, and kissed her. She slowly dropped his hands to pull him closer.

"I love you too." She said quietly. "I wanna stay here."

"Okay."

"No, like, right here, right now. With you." She continued. "You know, like people say they want to live in a specific moment?"

"Oh, yeah, I think."

"Mine's definitely now." She kissed him again.

"I wouldn't be opposed." He smiled, blushing slightly. She leaned in for another kiss, but slipped.

"And moments over!" She sighed, regaining her balance. "Of course."

"One moment is overrated." He held her hand and started walking again.

"Goodnight." Big Red leaned over to give Ashlyn a quick kiss, but she pushed him away.

"My parents are sitting outside." She said, pointing through the car window at them. "Careful."

"Right, right." He nodded, then sunk down in his chair and kissed the palm of her hand. "Love you."

"Love you too." She got out. "Night." She walked past her parents without a word. She had barely talked to them that day, and she wasn't planning on it.