Next Door

Handling Everything

"Mom?" Big Red asked, hearing his mom arrive home.

"Yeah honey?" She replied.

"Can, um, can I ask you something?" He asked hesitantly. He had only just come back from Ashlyn's, and had hardly recovered from their breakdowns. She came over and sat beside him.

"Sure, anything."

"How... how do I handle everything? With Ashlyn? Because, like, obviously I'd be an idiot to dump her and it would hurt so much. I'm not doing that. But... how do I, just, make it easier? For her? And me?" He asked quietly, receiving a hug from his mom. "I'm not sure why I mentioned the break up thing, but to be clear that's not an option. We were just talking earlier, at her place."

"Is r she grounded?"

"Oh, ha... right... that." He sighed. "We just talked on her porch for a little bit. She shouldn't even be grounded, it's so unfair." He muttered. "But sorry."

"No, I understand. It's a lot."

"Really?"

"There's a few rules that can be broken sometimes, if you really care about someone."

"I've done it a few times." He admitted, mumbling. "In the past, only once this time."

"We can talk about all that in a minute." She told him.

"Right. So, um..."

"Why's she grounded, again?"

"Her parents wanted her to take these summer classes. I mean, it's less about that and more about how they always make her do so much when she doesn't want to. They just don't really support her, so... she just argued. No she's grounded for a week. That's totally unfair."

"I mean, it is her parents, but that does seem harsh."

"Were they always like this?" He asked. "I always thought they were great. I always thought things with her family were great. She always seemed so happy. Until... a few months before we got together." He continued. "And I guess she just kept it all in, and that kinda upsets me. It's just hurting her now and she couldn't tell me."

"It's hard to tell people things sometimes."

"I probably just didn't give her a good opportunity though."

"Honestly, I don't think things with them were that bad before you two got together."

"Thanks?" He furrowed his eyebrows. "It's my fault?"

"No. But her parents standards on guys are... absolutely insane. And she was never in a relationship they didn't approve of before, right?"

"Yeah."

"So... I think you guys getting together just messed with things a little."

"She'd be happier without me? Her family would be happier?" He asked,nearly whispering, his voice almost breaking.

"No, no... she loves you so much. I think that, had you to not gotten together, things would've seemed normal between them for longer... but things would still fall apart eventually. It sped up the process, but this is just a rough patch to get over."

"I hope. She deserves the world."

"You both do. And her parents seem content with you two being together, which is great. Now it's just some home trouble."

"But..." he trailed off.

"Yeah?"

"But she's so upset. I mean, we... we have good times, obviously, but... I just hate seeings her cry and being unhappy. It's so often and I just wish I could fix it." He explained.

"You can't, but things will get fixed. Even if her family's a little... tense. Things will get better, for everyone."

"Eventually."

"But you know it'll happen one day, don't you?" She asked.

"Yes, but... I don't wanna wait that long. I want Ashlyn."

"I know. And you're together, and this is... so, so hard. I can't imagine it. But you two love each other so much. You're a light for her, and she loves you."

"Yeah... um, my original question. Were they always like this?"

"I guess so. But you're right, it didn't show much for awhile. We, you know, probably wouldn't have been very good friends."

"Yeah." He nodded. "I think I'm gonna go to my room."

"Wait one minute." She gave him a tight hug. "Do you need anything?"

"N- No." He replied, but the tears now falling down his face proved otherwise. "I hate this. I hate it. I hate things being between us. I hate when she's sad. I hate when she doubts herself. I hate when she doubts us. I hate when I doubt us."

"That's natural. No one wants to be upset."

"I'm just scared it's all gonna be too much and we aren't gonna make it out together."

"You've made it so far because of each other. I've seen the way you look at each other. And the second you asked her out, the way your mood was immediately ten times better. And how heartbroken both of you were when you had to break up. But, I know it doesn't seem like it, because there's no right way to go about this... you're handling this so maturely." She told him. "And I know you're gonna make it through. Because you want to, and she wants to."

"Thanks, Mom." He smiled slightly. "I know we are. I trust our love, I trust that whatever happens we'll find our way back to each other. I just hope not much more happens."

"Of course."

"Now, back to the grounded thing."

"Look, if it was anyone else, I would punish you. But honestly, with Ashlyn and this circumstance, one visit... or a few, I would never know... wouldn't hurt anything."

"Really?" He asked.

"I really disagree with her parents, it makes both of you happy. I'm not saying spend every waking second with her, but if you wanna talk and share a quick hug for a few minutes from time to time..."

"Thank you." He hugged her.

"You're welcome." She smiled, hugging him back.

"Okay, I'm gonna go downstairs now." He smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too."