I Couldn't Protect Her

New Neighbours

Dean put down his newspaper and looked out the window as a man and a woman walked into the house across the road from him

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, that house had been for sale so long, must really need a house, he shrugged and begun making a lasagna to carry over to the new neighbours, because he was taught that since small, always be nice to your neighbours, they're the first respondants.

The lasagna got done at around 7 and he left it on the stove as he went upstairs to get dressed, he put on his blue jeans, a black long sleeved shirt that he rolled up till his elbows and his usual combat boots and sprayed some cologne before he took up the lasagna and locked his front door, crossing the silent street and knocking twice on the door

"Hello," the man from before answered with a polite smile

"Hi, I'm the neighbour from right across the road, I made you a 'welcome to the neighbourhood' lasagna," Dean said, giving the man a smile

"That's very kind of you," the man said, taking the lasagna with a genuine smile

"My daughter's making dinner, would you like to come in and have dinner with us?" He asked and Dean opened his mouth

"Oh no, I wouldn't wanna intrude," Dean said, not wanting to seem rude

"It's fine, come in, come in." He beckoned, pulling Dean in then closing the door

"I'm Kent," the man introduced, putting out his own hand

"Dean," Dean replied, responding to the handshake with a smile

"Ashlyn, princess come here," he called

"Coming daddy!" A sweet voice called back and an oven closing was heard then a girl, possibly the same age as Dean came jogging in

"Dean, this is my daughter, Ashlyn. Ashlyn, this is the neighbour across the street," he introduced

Dean looked away from wher he was observing the house's interior to look at who the man- er Kent, was introducing him to and his eyes widened, what had to be the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on stood in front of him with a straight face

"Sorry what?" He asked as he shook his head realizing she had spoken to him

"I said I'm Ashlyn, nice to meet you." She repeated

"D-Dean," he replied, mentally kicking himself for stuttering

"Pleasure's all mine." He comcluded with a heart winning smile

"Have a seat Dean" Kent told him with a warm smile

Dean sat as they put his lasagna in the fridge and ate what Ashlyn cooked, chicken ravioli with peppered shrimp and it was one of the best meals Dean's ever had

He took a moment to look over Ashlyn, she had brown hair that looked really soft and was a medium length, she had tanned, caramel skin, she was thin but had the right curves in the right places, she had perfectly shaped eyebrows and lips and her eyes were a dark green, like her dad's. God, she was beautiful

"How old are you Ashlyn?" Dean asked

"21." she replied, serving him some more peppered shrimp

"And what do you do?" He continued

She cringed, then straightened up, putting some extra shrimp on her dad's plate

"I work in a flower shop, make good money," she replied, not making eye contact with Dean

"And what about you Dean, what do you do?" Kent asked him

"I'm a neurosurgeon," Dean replied, watching as Ashlyn clenched her jaw then asked Dean if he wanted anything else, he declined and they sat on the patio just talking when Dean realized it was getting late

"I didn't realize it's getting so late, I'm sorry I'll have to cut this night short," Dean spoke, getting up and stretching

"Okay Dean, it was very nice meeting you," Kent replied, getting up and shaking Dean's hand

Dean looked to Ashlyn and gave her a smile when their eyes met, she didn't even twitch as she picked up the empty glasses that she had served the lemonade in and walked inside

"I'm a militant and I leave for work in two weeks, she always gets super depressed when I have to leave," Kent told him, Dean nodded, completely understanding

"Her mom died last year, the flower shop was hers, Ashlyn has a degree in criminology, but when her mom died, she wanted to keep the flower shop as a memory so she works there," Kent explained and Dean fully understood the situation

"I'll see you around?" Kent asked, reaching out his hand

"Definitely," Dean replied, shaking his hand for the last time before turning around and walking to his own home

Dean lay on his bed with his arm propped behind his head, he couldn't stop thinking about Ashlyn, there was something about her that interested him.