Keep the Receipt

Chapter 1

After the play there had been a party, but between the play and the party there had been a kiss. It wasn't exactly like either of them had forgotten the kiss. In the heat of the moment with the bubbly, warm, lovely way they felt about each other the kiss just made sense. It was quick and it was (at risk of sounding cliché) magical and then it was over and done. Then winter break happened and they didn't really see each other. Didn't get the chance to talk things over.

When they texted, they tried to keep it light, they sent memes back and forth, dumb jokes, predictions for the spring musical and a never-ending chain of big red trying to guess what EJ stood for and Ashlyn trying to figure out Big Reds real name neither of them ever came close. They didn't talk about their relationship or lack thereof. They didn't make plans to meet up though they could've and they didn't discuss Christmas, though on their own they each came to the conclusion that they were going to get the other a gift. Neither of them had any idea of what to get and unfortunately their friends weren't much help.

"You're going to have to think big ash. He got you that crazy thing of flowers. Who knows what he'll do for Christmas"?

"You're not helping EJ what if he's excepting something big, I don't know what to get him".

"I doubt he's expecting anything at all Ash it's not like you two are dating don't get him anything if you don't want to".

"But I want to and" ...

"And you want to date him EJ smirked".

"I don't know".

"You don't know; Didn't you kiss him"

"Well yeah".

"I've found that you don't necessarily kiss people you don't like".

"Obviously I like him I just don't know if we're like soulmates, I don't want to get him something that leads him on if I don't even know how I feel yet. I'm just not sure".

"Why don't you write him a song your good at that".

"That is such a Ricky and Nini thing to do he and I are not Ricky and Nini. We don't even know what we are, I'm not going to do anything too forward I just want to get him something that shows him that he's an important person in my life; without him getting the wrong idea about us".

"You're making this way too complicated just get a cute outfit and some mistletoe and try to recreate that magical first kiss"

"Why don't you get out of my house". Ashlyn said crossing her arms.

"Ouch cuz".

"I can't do that cause I don't even know if the kiss was as magical as I want to believe. I don't know how I feel about him, I don't even know how I feel about myself or other people all I know is that 2020 is going to be my year; i'm going to figure those things out I just haven't yet.

"Suit yourself if you're not going to listen to my advice at least remember that you mean a lot to him so anything you give him that's meaningful to you will be meaningful to him".

"Thanks, EJ that was actually sort of helpful".

"You're welcome keep me updated on how it goes this whole thing is way more entertaining than any hallmark movie they have been playing recently".

"Well, I'm glad you find it entertaining". She kicked EJ out of her house and sat down by the piano finally settling on a gift for Big Red.

Big Red was not having as much luck.

"What are you getting Ashlyn for Christmas?" Nini asked as she watched Ricky play video games in Big Reds basement.

He was about to answer when Ricky interjected.

"Why would he need to get her anything? They're not dating".

Big Red opened his mouth once more, but the couple wasn't done yet.

"Yeah, but they're friends besides everyone knows they like each other"!

"Listen." Ricky said "Liking someone doesn't always mean... Well just look at them! They've made no move this whole break to establish anything post-kiss so clearly there isn't a lot going on behind the scenes".

"Hey! While I really appreciate you guys' diving deep into my personal private relationship with Ashlyn but could you not? I have no idea what I'm getting her for Christmas. I know that whatever she gets me is going to be adorable and amazing because everything she does is amazing."

"Wow ok bud well if that's how you feel then I can help you".

"Nini can you help me out, I got her flowers and then she kissed me and I'm worried she felt like she, I don't know, owed me a kiss, because I got her a present and I don't want her to think that because I don't want her to do anything she doesn't want to do because ultimately I just want her to be happy even if that isn't with me."

"Okay first of all, Big Red, all of that is very heartfelt and adorable."

"Second of all?" Big Red asked nervously

"Second of all, you're definitely overthinking this. She kissed you because she likes you in some kind of way. You guys need to actually talk about how you feel about each other, maybe you can even talk about your insecurities so that you know she knows that she doesn't owe you anything. And that you doesn't owe her anything either. You don't have to get her anything if you don't want to."

"I really do want to get her something, I just haven't figured it out. Thanks, Nini." He turned to Ricky, "Nini is my new player two you can give the controller to her." Ricky kissed Nini on the forehead as he passed over the controller.

"She's my player two, not yours."

"Yeah, well now I'm going to her for advice, not you."

"That's fair. She's definitely smarter than both of us."

Ricky and Nini left Big Reds house leaving him with the perfect gift idea for Ashlyn.