Next Door

3 Weeks

"Ash?" Big Red asked, snapping Ashlyn out of a conversation with Jack during lunch.

"Yeah?" She turned to him with a smile.

"Um... nothing, really." He said, blushing with embarrassment. "Love you."

"You too." She kissed his cheek then went back to talking with Jack. Big Red caught a few words and guessed they were complaining about their parents, but he still couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Big Red trusted Ashlyn, and he definitely wasn't someone who would control the amount of friends she had that were boys. Half of their friends were boys. He didn't trust Jack. He knew he was in a relationship, but feelings can change. It was fake dating, there was no reason for him not to want to be closer to Ashlyn.

He was jealous of anyone opposite Ashlyn, acting or not. He was in pure awe of her, and any chance of loosing her was a chance he didn't want. He was just a random kid who was somehow dating the most beautiful, wonderful girl he could imagine.

"We've gotta go to class." He looked over at Jack's sister's table before kissing Ashlyn's forehead. "Need a ride home?"

"Yes please." She smiled.

"It's been about 3 weeks now since Jack and I started... ya know." Ashlyn said during their car ride home.

"And?" Big Red asked curiously.

"I think we can, er, well, break up sounds like the wrong word since we aren't actually dating. Pretend to break up."

"Really?" He tried to keep back the excitement in his voice, but failed.

"Yeah, I'll probably ask him if it's time tonight or something." She said, smiling to herself at how happy he was. As much as he assured her he was fine with it (he was not), she knew the truth.

"That's cool."

"You're allowed to be happy about it, Biggie."

"Of course I'm happy. We can actually date again." He smiled slightly.

"You can be happy, because you were jealous, and both feelings are valid." She said. He glanced over at her and smiled.

"I'm really happy." He turned his attention back to the road.

"Me too."

"I love you."

"I love you too." She leaned over to kiss his cheek as they pulled into his driveway. "Can I come in?"

"Sure."