Next Door

College

"You coming tonight?" Ashlyn caught up to Big Red as they walked to school. It was the last day.

"Oh, hey." He smiled. "Maybe, I'm not sure."

"You should!" She encouraged, taking his hand. "Anyways, think about it, and what's up?"

"Mm, not much." He shrugged. "You?"

"Same." There was a silence. "You know, there would be something up if you came..." she said in a sing-song voice. "I'll need help setting up. A lot of people are coming, it's the last day of school after all..." she was throwing a party for their friends, mostly to celebrate the end of the school year but also just for fun.

"I'll come." He gave in, but he was clearly happy about it.

"Great!" She kissed his cheek.

"Love you."

"You don't seem that happy." Ashlyn sat next to Big Red in the middle of the party.

"Just... everything sinking in."

"Okay, but why isn't it a good thing?"

"Well... you know..."

"Oh, yeah, that." She nodded, realizing he was referring to college. "But tonight isn't for thinking about that, right? Have fun."

"Ash..."

"I know." She hugged him. "But it's just your senior year."

"I guess that's true." He nodded.

"Come on love, let's join the others. It'll cheer you up."

"Yeah." He nodded. She took his hand and walked back to a group of their friends with him.

"Oh, EJ's here. Be right back." She kissed his cheek and went over to the door where EJ had just walked in. "Hey!" She hugged him.

"Hey Ash."

"End of high school, huh?"

"Yeah, guess it is." He nodded.

"That's... weird."

"Yeah." He agreed. "But I'll still be around."

"Yep." She nodded. "Well, basically everyone's here, so come on in."

"Ashlyn?" Big Red knocked on the door to Ashlyn's room.

"Come on in."

"You good?" He sat by her.

"I don't know. I guess the end of the school year thing's sinking in for me like it has for you know. You, EJ, it's just kind of a lot."

"I know." He hugged her. "But you guys will always be in each other's lives, no doubt about that. And long distance can't split us up, even if it's a little hard." He squeezed her hand.

"I know." She hugged him back.

"I love you Ashy."

"Love you too Biggie." She kissed him.

"I think I'm gonna head home." He told her quietly.

"Oh. Bye." She kissed his cheek.

"Bye baby." He kissed her cheek in return. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Um... why are you leaving?" She asked quietly.

"I'm tired. And all this college talk is... bumming me out."

"Okay." She nodded.

"Are you okay?"

"Um..."

"Love?" He sat back down next to her, pulling her into his arms.

"I don't want EJ to go to college." She cried into his shoulder. "I don't want you to go to college."

"I'm not leaving yet honey." He gently stroked her hair. "And you'll get through everything. EJ isn't too far away."

"But I... I just don't want it change." She cried harder.

"Hey, baby... do you wanna talk to EJ?"

"Not right now." She shook her head, sniffling.

"Okay, then let's just calm down." He cuddled closer to her. "I love you Ash."

"Love you too." She whispered.