Painful Love (MC fanfiction)

1 | Boy Next Door

ASHLEY'S POV

"Ashley!" My mother called me from downstairs.

"Yes, mother?" I asked, halfway down the staircase.

"I need you to help me." She says as I walk into the kitchen. She was holding a tray of cookies and a glass of milk. "Send this to our new neighbors."

I grab the tray and kiss her on the cheek. "Anything for you, mom."

I walk out the door, not caring about my clothes. I was just wearing a small Nirvana shirt and knee-length shorts.

I knock on the house opposite mine. The door opened, revealing a boy and a woman.

"Hello. I'm your neighbor. I live opposite of you. My mother wanted me to send this to you. Homemade chocolate chip cookies and fresh milk. We hope you like it." I said, handing over the tray.

"Why, thank you! Such a lovely girl. Maybe you'd like her, Ashton?" She nudged the teenage boy.

He looked up from his phone and his eyes widened.

"You're beautiful." He said.

"Thank you. You don't look all too bad yourself." I said. He grinned and winked cheekily.

"Perhaps you'd like to come inside?" His mother, I assume, asked. "I'm Anne-Marie."

"No, thank you. I want to help my mother with dinner. Have a lovely day, neighbors." I said, shocked at her name. I almost shed a tear but I quickly waved politely and turning around.

"Wait!" A male called. Ashton. "Can I come over and help, too?"

His mother suddenly snapped her head towards his direction and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"I won't mind." I shrugged.

"Can I go, mom?" He asks his mother.

"S-s-sure." She stuttered. He walked out the door and greeted me. I giggled and said hi back.

"So, how long have you lived here?" He asked, starting the walk to my home.

"All my life, actually." I said. "Why did you move here?"

"My mother couldn't afford to stay at my other house. I mean, she's the only one providing income and she has to pay for three children. I understand where she's coming from." He shrugged. We have crossed the road by now.

"If you don't mind me asking, what about your dad?" I asked curiously. We've made it to my porch.

"He left when I was 2 years old." He shrugged. "But she was pregnant with my younger sister at the time. Now I have a younger brother, too."

"Okay." I said. "I can relate where you're coming from."

"Why?" He asked. "I mean, how?"

"I lost my dad, too. But he left when I was 2 months. I'm the only child. I only have my mother with me and I could never ask for a better family." I said.

"Oh." He said. I opened the door and walked in.

"Mother! I have Ashton with me. Our new neighbor's son." I said aloud. He walked to the doorway and smiled when she saw Ashton.

"Hello there. I'm Hannah Frangipane." My mother greeted, shaking his hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Frangipane." He greeted back. "Do you mind if I go up to your daughter's room?"

"No, not at all." She smiled at me. We walked up the staircase. Just as I reached the door, she decided to embarrass me. "Don't do anything naughty, guys."