AN: Well, the romance begins here. I know that it kind of was a short time with little build up, but I said in earlier chapters that this was not going to be a really long story. Also, Michael is age seventeen. So with those reminders in mind, here you go.

Chapter Three: Something More

Michael awoke with a smile the next morning. He felt as though he could take on the world as he stretched and slid on his t-shirt and sweat pants. He contemplated taking a comb through his messed up hair, but decided against it, because he had to take a shower first. Michael slowly marched downstairs, and looked around for a minute. He didn't see Ashley there at first, and thought that she must have went back to her house earlier that morning.

He went to the refrigerator to get something for breakfast, but as he placed his hand on the handle of the refrigerator, he saw a bag on the counter, with a note attached to it. Curious, Michael took the note attached to the fast food bag, and began to read it.

Hey handsome, I had to go out and handle some business, so here is some breakfast for you.

~ Ashley

Michael couldn't help but to blush as he read that note, and smile like a clown. Michael opened the bag, and took out a breakfast sandwich, some hash browns, and a cup of orange juice. He took a seat at the counter, and calmly ate the breakfast that she bought for him.

As he finished up, his mind went back to thinking about Ashley. He still had a crush on her, and it became all too clear to the teen that this was not a schoolyard crush like that. It wasn't like it was a young man having a crush on his older, more beautiful neighbor.

Wait a minute, it was EXACTLY that. This was not going to go away, and it was not going to end easily, especially due to the fact that she was keeping an eye on him for the time his mother was away on business.

Michael thought about what he was going to do when she got back, and what she was going to say to her when she saw him again.

"Crap." Michael thought, throwing his trash in the trash can. "I am in love with her, great."

Whenever he had something on his mind, and he wanted to clear his thoughts, Michael went to the nearby basketball court, and shot some hoops. He wasn't that good at it, but it helped to clear his mind. He didn't know how long he was there, but it was good enough to help him get some things that he had to off of his mind, especially a buxom blonde that was staying near him, and was taking care of him as a favor for his mother.

He sighed, and began walking home from basketball, bouncing the ball periodically as he walked the street. Michael just wanted to get home, take a shower, and just vegetate in front of the television. Just as he reached his home, it began to rain. As he approached his front door, he saw the note on his front door.

Come to my house.

~Ashley.

"What the hell?" Michael asked himself. He didn't question it, but he did cut across the street toward Ashley's home. It was a short walk, but due to the fact that the sky decided to open up, and drop every stored up ounce of water, he got drenched. He reached her front door, and easily but very loudly knocked on the front door. Soon enough, Ashley answered. She saw how drenched he was, and ushered inside to make sure he did not get sick.

"Alright, get out of them clothes, and get into the shower upstairs." Ashley said, pointing in the direction of her upstairs bathroom.

"Fine with me." Michael said, eager to get dry and clean. He entered her bathroom, and without hesitation, he took off his clothes, and entered the shower.

Well, here I am. I am in the shower of my crush, my secret crush, if it must be known. Michael thought to himself. Michael noted that Ashley entered the bathroom, and placed a robe down, and took his wet clothes down to the laundry room. Michael finished his shower, and stepped out of the shower, and looked at the clothes, or the robe, that she left for him.

"Wow, really?" Michael said, taking the robe, and twirling it around in his hands. It was velvet, and then he saw some black silk pajamas out there as well. He fully dressed himself, and wondered what Ashley was doing now, and being a teen going through a lot of pubescence, what she was wearing.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the bathroom door, and stepped outside.

Michael wondered where exactly did Ashley disappeared to, and began to search the house for her. He was careful not to make too much noise to scare her, wherever she was. As he continued towards the basement, he heard her moaning softly. He was curious as to what he was doing, and saw a nearby door open just enough to see what she was doing.

There she was, pleasuring herself. Michael felt his eyes go wide, and stepped away. He could not believe what he saw. He felt himself smile, and went upstairs without alerting her to where he was.

Little did he know...

If things couldn't be more awkward, Michael and Ashley both decided to watch a movie as the evening came and the night as well. He was sitting there, watching the movie, as was Ashley, then came a love scene out of nowhere. Ashley quickly skipped ahead.

"Hey!" Michael said.

"Sorry, handsome. I can't let your mom think that I was letting you watch some type of pornography." Ashley said.

"Fine then. Fair enough." Michael said, standing up, and stretching. Ashley got a peak at his abs that he had.

"You work out?" Ashley ask him.

"Yeah. Whenever I am not at school or hanging out with my friends, I am playing basketball, or jogging everywhere." Michael asked, smoothing out his pajamas.

"What else do you do? Do you have any friends?" Ashley asked him.

"I do." Michael said. "I hang out with them at school. They live a bit of a ways away, so I really do not go out of my ways to visit them."

"You must get lonely sometimes." Ashley said.

"I kind of do. After dad died, I became the man of the house. Mom is there when she can be, but you are right. It does get lonely sometimes. Thank god you are here." Michael said, giving her a smile.

Ashley walked over, and gave him a hug. Michael stood there, and returned the favor. When they broke away, Michael and Ashley looked into each other's eyes for a moment.

Then, for whatever reason, Michael leaned in, and gave her a kiss on the lips. Ashley did not flinch, or even push him away.

For a young guy, he is one hell of a kisser. Ashley thought to herself. When they broke away from the kiss, Michael looked at her, and then it dawned on him what he just did. Without saying a word, or even looking at her, he ran into a nearby bedroom, and locked the door, cursing himself mentally for what he just did.

Michael found himself sound asleep in the spare room in Ashley's home. Well, he wasn't asleep, Michael was dosing on and off in sleep, still thinking about the kiss that he gave Ashley. He didn't face her after that, and she did not even seek him out after what happened earlier in the night.

Soon enough, the door opened to the room that he was in, and Michael heard someone enter the room. Then the sheet to the bed he was in was pulled back, and someone slipped into the bed right next to him.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Ashley asked whispering in his ear.

"F-fine, all things considering." Michael answered back.

"Listen, I was worried about you, so I just let you have some time to yourself." Ashley said.

"Listen, sorry for kissing you." Michael said. "I just got caught up in the moment, and it just happened."

"Don't be. You really are a good kisser, by the way." Ashley said.

Michael was caught off guard from that, and Ashley could tell. He was moving restlessly around after hearing that.

Ashley wrapped her arms around Michael, and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight, handsome." Ashley told Michael.

"Goodnight, beautiful." Michael said back, returning the sign of affection.

AN: The next chapter, their relationship becomes defined, and it becomes more cemented, so to speak. Thanks for reading.