Next Door

One Week

"Mom, come on!" Ashlyn complained. "It's summer, I get A's in all my classes, why do I have to take summer classes?"

"You aren't getting out of it. You need to get a good job."

"I'm only 16." She mumbled.

"You're about to start your junior year, it's the most important." Her dad inputted.

"Maybe, but I don't even want to go to a college like what you're envisioning. I don't wanna go to Duke, for sure. Why can't you guys listen like EJ's dad? He's going to a college he wants to go to." Ashlyn ranted.

"You must spend too much time at the Redonovitch's. I can't believe their son's goal is so small—"

"I spend time at his house because of this!" She groaned. "You guys!"

"You know you're in trouble, correct?"

"I don't care! And I don't even care about the school thing that much, it's everything. Everything's about the future I don't even want." Ashlyn teared up. "I'm going to my room."

"You're grounded."

"How long?"

"2 weeks."

"But it's summer, I won't be able to do anything." She complained. "I have to be out of the house at some point."

"Fine, one week."

"Thanks." She confused herself by saying that, but headed into her room. She laid on her bed, sighing, before pulling out her phone. She pulled up Big Red's contact, but didn't call him. It wasn't the time to dump another one of her problems on him. Then again, if she didn't mention her problems, he could still cheer her up. She FaceTimed him.

"Hey." He smiled.

"Hey."

"What's up?" He asked.

"Um, not much." She shrugged.

"How are you?"

"I'm good."

"Don't lie hon."

"I just don't wanna talk about it." She lied.

"That's fine..."

"I just don't wanna pile all my stuff on you, I already—" she blurted.

"I'd interrupt you with a kiss right now if I was actually by you."

"What?" She asked.

"Babe, people can help you, you don't have to hand,e everything on your own. If someone dating you doesn't want to help you out this much, it's a personality difference— I want to help, I like when you're happy and I have the time."

"Thank you." She smiled slightly.

"So what is it?"

"I'm grounded."

"So we were right last night." He frowned.

"Yeah."

"How long?"

"A week."

"Oh. That's... a bummer." He sighed.

"It was gonna be 2, but since it's summer... ya know."

"Yeah. Why, though?"

"Because I talked back or whatever. Well, I mean, I shouted. It's not like I'm proud of it, but— I don't know, I wasn't exactly... wrong?"

"What was it about?" He asked.

"Um, taking summer classes. Which is dumb to disagree with, but it's on top of so much I just... snapped."

"Yeah." He smiled sadly, nodding. "I love you."

"I love you." She smiled lightly.

"I gotta go baby, my family's going out— I'll talk to you later. Text me whenever, call me if you really need to."

"Alright. Night." She blew him a kiss and hung up. She let out a calm sigh. Things really weren't that bad, she had people who cared.