The next day I wake up and take a very long hot shower. I do feel better and I can’t believe how supportive Ricky was with me.
I get dressed and start walking into the kitchen when I overhear Ricky and Liam. I stop in my tracks to listen.
“Look Liam, I’m going to drive her home because she will feel less awkward not having to answer any questions with me. Ok? If she rides with your parents, there will be an awkward silence the entire way and she doesn’t need that right now.” Ricky argues.
“I think you are taking care of her a little too much Ricky. It’s weird. You are going out of your way to spend time with her…”
“It is not like that at all Liam. I just know how she is feeling and I happened to be there when it happened. Things will go back to normal soon. Seriously I’m just trying to cut her some slack.”
“Fine whatever. This car ride is going to suck.” Liam whines.
I walk into the kitchen, and they both look up at me. I feel myself blushing and avoid eye contact with both of them. I grab a pop tart and while I’m walking back to the room, I ask Ricky, “What time are we going?”
“Whenever you’re ready”
I nod my head and eat the pop tart in my room. I pack up my stuff and sit outside waiting for Ricky. He walks out shortly after me and grabs my bag and my eyes go wide.
“Don’t get used to this. We will be back to normal after your done being sad.” Ricky states.
He walks to his car and puts my bag in the trunk. Heat begins to run through my veins and then I have to remind myself this is the real Ricky, and I should not expect anything else.
I walk to the car and plop down in the seat with my arms crossed. Ricky puts on his sunglasses and starts to drive. He blasts the music and I stare at him from the corner of my eye.
He is so handsome, it’s ridiculous. I always thought he was ridiculously hot, but his personality was so awful I couldn’t ever admit to it.
It seems like he gets more attractive as he ages, which makes me angry as well. We don’t speak as he drives. I actually like the music he has on and it makes the car ride peaceful.
The next song that plays is All I Want is You by U2….My eyes go wide and I look up at Ricky. His body goes rigid and glances at me from the side.
He looks away and concentrates very hard on the road. He clearly remembers but doesn’t want to talk about it….
*Flashback*
I run into the basement crying wanting to be anywhere but upstairs with those people….How can Ricky be so mean? He goes out of his way to make me feel awful..
I turn on the music to make myself feel better and I hear someone coming downstairs. All I Want Is You is playing and I see the devil himself come down.
“Leave me alone Ricky….you’ve done enough for one night.”
“You should be thanking me Scarlett! I did you a huge favor!”
“By stopping Henry from kissing me and telling everyone I have a gross disease?? Do you know what it’s like to have half the school hear something like that and laugh at you?” I yell in Ricky’s face.
“Look you shouldn’t have been playing spin the bottle and Henry is not the type of guy that would be good for you. Who cares what these people think?”
“Easy for you to say Ricky. Everyone loves you and you’re with a different girl every weekend! “
“No one that matters” Ricky says in a low voice. I almost didn’t hear what he said.
Ricky walks up close to me and as much as I hate him right now I feel an odd attraction. I love the way he smells and the beauty of his eyes. I could get lost in them forever.
“Dance with me?” Ricky whispers
I keep glaring at him but my body betrays me when his arms wrap around my waist. We start to sway together slowly. I rub my hands down his back and Ricky nuzzles into my neck.
“Rick” I whisper… “what is happening?”
Ricky cups my face in his hands and his breathing is shaky….
“I’m not sure Scarlett…” Ricky’s voice is husky.
We inch our faces together and our lips meet. The kiss is soft and reserved but it lights up my whole body. I part my lips open to let him in and his tongue invades my mouth.
We kiss each other like we are starving and our kiss is the food. My hands trail Ricky’s stomach needing to feel his skin against mine…
“Scarlett…you are the best taste I’ve ever had…”
We hear the basement door open and someone coming down the steps. Ricky pushes me away and Liam enters….
“Dude come on. Did you apologize? Let’s get back to the party…” Liam asks Ricky.
“Yeah.” Ricky looks at me “We’re all good here right Scarlett?”
“Ummm. Yeah” I stutter.
Liam runs back up the stairs and Ricky starts to follow. I grab Ricky’s hand. He stops and looks back at me.
“Ricky….aren’t we going to talk?”
“Look don’t read into it. I did you a favor. See? Your all better now.”
Ricky turns and goes back upstairs. I gave up my first kiss for nothing…I hate him more than ever….
*Present Day*
Ricky says nothing and neither do I. I hate the memory and wish I could permanently delete it.
“So did you call in any favors to get the job at my family’s company?”
I’m instantly enraged “Absolutely not. I would never do that. I wanted to make it on my own.”
“Well, it’s going to be tough. I hope you make it.”
“I know I will. I hope you don’t make it any harder on my like you did in high school Ricky.”
“Highschool Scarlett? Seriously? We were kids. Just playing games!”
“Terrible, humiliating, trauma filled games.”
Ricky shrugs his shoulders like it was all nothing. I hear a loud pop and before I can even question what it was the car is swerving.
He holds out one arm to hold me back and works to get the car over to the side of the road safely. We stop on the side of the road after a minute.
Ricky looks at me “Are you okay Scarlett?”
I’m shaky but say “yes all good”
Ricky gets out of the car and looks at the car. I open the door slowly and climb out.
“Well, we have a flat tire….I’ll make a call.” Ricky takes out his phone and turns round.
We sit and wait for about an hour for the tow truck. Apparently, there was some damage to the car as well so we are stranded for now.
The truck driver drives us to the closest town, but we are still far from home.
“The mechanic said the soonest he can get the car fixed by tomorrow morning at the earliest so we will need to get a room and stay the night.”
“Great…”
“Think of it as an adventure Scarlett. Your way too uptight about things. 2 rooms or 1?”
“1 room is cheaper…”
Ricky smiles at me “You want to get me alone in a motel room huh?”
“Barf….I just want to save money…Trust me it is not ideal.”
“Sure Scarlett…”
We get into the room and there is only 1 bed. Great….
“Ricky what the hell? One bed???? Ugh…I need to take a shower.”
Ricky laughs hysterically “Lucky us. Honeymoon suite.”
I take a long hot shower. When I come back out it looks like Ricky has gotten us some food. His eyes go wide when he looks at me. I realize I am in a skimpy towel and soaking wet.
“Scarlett…I um bought us some dinner…I got you a burger and chicken strips. I know you like both but I wasn’t sure what you would be in the mood for.”
I sometimes forget how well Ricky knows me. He keeps staring at me like he cannot look away. There is a darkness in his eyes that makes me shiver. I go to grab my clothes and my towel slips a bit.
“Scarlett… your towel…”
Ricky’s voice sounds strained and I am tempted to let my towel drop a little more. My breast is almost completely exposed now, and I can see how it is affecting him. This power is a rush.
“Damnit Scarlett put your clothes on!”
I smile at him and go back in the bathroom to change. Ricky is turned on by me. I don’t even know how to feel about it. I choose not to think about it right now and go back out to eat.
We don’t say a word to one another about what just happened. We eat our dinner and then watch a movie. At some point I must have fallen asleep.
I dreamt Ricky covered me up, put a pillow under my head and kissed my forehead.
