Next Door

Last Week of School

"Baby?" Ashlyn mumbled, feeling Big Red's arm around her when she woke up from her alarm. She s gently nudged him awake.

"G'morning." He mumbled back, not opening his eyes.

"Thanks for staying." She kissed his forehead.

"Of course. And sorry, I kinda crashed next to you."

"That's more than fine."

"Good. I would've asked, but you were out cold, and I was soon enough."

"Biggie, would I really make you sleep on the floor or something?" She rolled her eyes. "I love you." She kissed him.

"You too." He kissed her back, smiling. "Time?"

"Uh..." she glanced at her watch. "7:30. We should get ready for school now."

"Right, yeah." He groaned, sitting up with her.

"We can probably spare a minute though." She leaned on his shoulder, yawning. He hugged her.

"Ready?" He asked a minute later.

"Yeah, am now."

"We may have stayed up a little too late for a school night, huh?" Ashlyn laughed, sitting next to Big Red at lunch, who's head was on the table. She rubbed his back. "Tired?"

"Maybe a little." He turned to lie on his cheek, looking at her.

"I think you've gotta eat, get more energy."

"I will in a minute, but if I fall asleep I'd rather not do it in class."

"That's fair, just don't forget." She started eating. He closed his eyes.

"How aren't you tired?"

"I'm really used to staying up. And even if it was a little extra late, that rarely bothering me." She shrugged.

"I don't see the point in staying up, to be honest."

"Studying, sometimes fun reasons, or just distractions."

"Yeah, guess so." He nodded.

"Biggie?" She leaned on his shoulder gently.

"Mhm?"

"You excited?"

"A little."

"It's the last week of school." She smiled. "Only a little?"

"It's kind of a... stressful time."

"I guess you're applying to colleges and all that." She nodded, no longer eating. "That's cool."

"Ash..."

"It's cool, it was always gonna happen, right? So why wouldn't it be cool?"

"Ash, honey, it's another year until I actually go. Now's the time to have fun, mkay?" He held her hands in his.

"I know..." she moved her hands and fidgeted with her bracelet. "I don't want you to move. 4, love, we've known each other since I was 4 and you were 5. It's weird."

"Look, it really will be awhile before I leave."

"But that won't make the leaving any better."

"Hey... we've got this, alright? If my college isn't here, then we keep in touch, right?"

"I just love you so much." She hugged him.

"I love you so, so much baby."

"Yesterday was the best birthday I could've asked for."

"That's what I was going for." He smiled.

"Challenge successfully completed."