Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

JULIA WASHED up some of the remaining dishes in the sink and stacked them up neatly on a dish rack for air-drying. Nini had headed up to a spare room upstairs to finish up some last-minute homework questions. She said something about having a "surprise" for Julia when she got back to school. Technically, that would be tomorrow.
A loud knock on the main door paused Julia's actions. Her aunt wasn't expected to be home until late into the night - being a practicing nurse and all. As for her parents, their business trips tended to last for months on end. Only every coming home during the holidays or if something important was going on.
With curiosity getting the best of her, she rushed over to the door with a drying towel in hand. What surprised her was when she noticed Ricky on the other side, shuffling around his feet uneasily.
"Wow, I didn't know your doorbell was broken," he laughed with an attempt to clear up the otherwise tense air. Clearing his throat, he began, "Hi, Jules. You look nice."
Julia mustered out a small smile, regardless if the boy really deserved one or not. "Did you need something?"
"Hmm?" He shook his head instinctively but nodded afterward. "I, uh, got you something..." He haphazardly pulled out a bouquet of roses that were originally hiding behind his back. "I know how much you like yellow roses—"
Taking the batch from his hands, she set them down on an empty table a couple feet away from her. Because she accepted the flowers, he assumed things were going properly, that is until she spoke, "what're you trying to prove, Ricky?" Suddenly realizing that Nini could step downstairs at any moment, she came outside and shut the door behind her.
He looked at her confused. "N-Nothing! I just — is it wrong to want to send a friend flowers?"
Julia stared at him incredulously, before shifting her gaze to the floor. "Friends. Is that what we are?"
"Obviously. . . Why even question that?"
She just shrugged. "Lately, I've been questioning a lot of things. What's real, not real. The truth, the fiction—"
"What even?" He chose to ignore her comment. "Jules, look. What happened the night of the dance was nothing out of the ordinary. I'm like that — I tend to get — weird — whenever stuff...." He didn't finish his sentence, instead, he started anew, "you of all people should be more understanding of where I'm coming from."
Julia clenched her fists in complete frustration. Why did Ricky feel like the victim in all of this? Did all of it mean nothing to him? Oh, only if he knew. Only if he knew. Nope though, Julia promised herself to never tell him the truth. This was one thing that he was going to have to figure out for himself.
"Well, maybe you should leave."
Ricky scoffed. "You're kidding, right? I come here asking for — no, I'm giving you an apology, and all you can say is 'leave'?" He didn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it.
Julia rubbed her eyes tiredly, the sense of awakeness was long gone ever since he arrived. She scanned the clearly foolish boy in front of her. "I didn't ask for an apology."
"Yeah right!" He retorted, sizing her up. "Then what'll I need to do to get you to talk to me? I haven't seen you in days. This is not how friends are supposed to work—"
"Were you always this dense?" Her voice was weak, but she cleared her throat. This was no time to act like a glass menagerie. "Who am I kidding? You would never understand."
Ricky took a frustrating breath, moving back his hair with a swift hand. "Then make me understand!"
Julia gave out an irritating chuckle, shaking her head. No matter how much she explained, this boy was the epitome of complete confusion. Afraid that her voice would betray her if she spoke up, she resided to staying quiet.
He had just enough of whatever riddles she was playing. Putting his hands on her shoulders, Julia's breath slightly hitched at the sudden contact. He gently brought her face up by the chin to meet his eyes; there was visible pain behind them.
"Tell me. Please," he pleaded calmly with a speck of pain hidden in his voice.
"If I tell you, will you please promise to leave me alone?"
Ricky reluctantly nodded, muttering out a shallow, "of course."
"I can't believe this!" A loud voice called out, causing the two teenagers to quickly step away from each other because Nini was at the door, looking furious. The girl made her way over to them and pointed an accusing finger to Ricky's chest. "I heard what happened, and might I say—"
Julia quickly came to his defense, "wait, Nini. There's no need—"
Ricky quickly stepped away to go near a tree. He tried to sort out what the heck just took place, but cursed to himself when he couldn't think. Though he knew that Nini was going to Julia's house to give something -- he didn't think she'd still be here, let alone hear about their problems. Oh jeez, he grumbled. Things just took a whole new turn.
"How can you say that, Julia?" When I found you that night, you were unconscious on the ground under what looked like 3 feet deep rain! If I hadn't taken you home on time, who knows what would've happened?"
Julia lightly shook her head, knowing very well that the water had only risen barely a feet high that night. As for her fainting, that just seemed inevitable given the circumstances. Still, though, she understood that Nini was just looking out for her friend's wellbeing.
"I'm fine though, right? There's nothing to worry—"
"Barely!" In this conversation at least, interrupting each other's words would be a normal routine. Nini turned to face Ricky - who still looked very much puzzled. "I've known you since Kindergarten, Ricky. The boy I know would never intentionally hurt someone, but this!? I-I'm not even sure what to think."
"I've bought her flowers and apologized. How is it my fault that she's not even listening—"
"She's not obliged to forgive you," Nini said, staring at something ahead of her. "Even I don't think I've gotten to the point of forgiving you yet . . ."
"I should really get going—" Julia trailed off, awkwardly making her way to the door so she could leave the two to their moment. However, her plans were quickly disturbed when Ricky caught up to her — grabbing her wrist.
"No, you — you can't, no," Ricky struggled to speak, though his voice tried to sound confident. Julia glanced at him, waiting for him to say something to back up his action.
"We are going to fix this," he motioned to her and then to himself. "You, me, and whatever the hell it is that we have."
"I don't really see the need—"
"Just shut up and listen to me for a second!" He didn't raise his voice, but his choice of words was enough to keep Julia from speaking further. "Tomorrow after school . . . be ready. I'm-I'm gonna fix this."
That was all Ricky said before he sprinted off her yard to another direction, far away from any prying eyes. He didn't even glance at any of the two girls, he just left - leaving behind a very open-ended conversation.
Julia flinched slightly when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Glancing up, she calmed down when Nini gave her a comforting smile. The two girls quietly headed back into the house. Julia promised herself that she would explain everything to her friend as soon as they got inside. She already felt horrible for the way Nini found out about it, and she wanted to make sure that there were no hard feelings between the two.
Hoping to forget about the problem - at least for a little while.