Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

JULIA WOKE up early to the sweet sound of silence. Everyone else in her hotel room were still sleeping, and activities wouldn't start for another couple of hours. She doubted breakfast was even being served yet, but she couldn't bring herself to go back to sleep.
Silently getting out of bed, she slipped on her sweater and padded to the door, careful not to wake the other girls.
It was empty in the main lobby, the fire dying from yesterday night, and not even a clerk at the front desk. Well, at least she thought it was empty. Either way, she nearly got a heart attack when she saw a tall, lean figure rise up from the nearest couch and turn to head to the elevators.
The boy turned around and it was indeed Ricky Bowen.
"Jules?" He mumbled sleepily, reaching up to run his hands through his hair. A chill ran up her spine when he said her name. His voice was scratchy and deeper than usual like he'd just woken up. She hated admitting it to herself, but it was kind of hot.
"Morning," she said, sitting down on the couch, expecting him to greet her back and then leave. Instead, he backtracked and sat down next to her, smiling slightly now, although still a little bleary-eyed. She raised an eyebrow.
"Weren't you just headed back?"
He shrugged, yawning and stretching a little. She could see the muscles in his arms and broad shoulders stretch too, and she'd be lying if she said they weren't distracting. In a good or bad way, that was what she wasn't sure of. "Yeah, I was. But I thought I'd keep you company."
She nodded but didn't say anything. For a moment, it was silent before he piped up again.
"So, what's got you up so early?"
She shrugged, pulling her knees up and resting her chin in between them. "Dunno. Maybe just a little down that we'll be leaving today." She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Gosh, her smile. It was so precious, he'd been stupid for not realizing it earlier.
"What about you?" She asked curiously and he chuckled before stifling another yawn.
"Couldn't sleep. The fire over here seems inviting, so I decided to come and clear my head," he admitted.
"Yeah, I feel the same way. I wasn't really sure where I was going at first, but this fire does look comforting," she commented, smiling. Slowly, she looked up at him and they locked eyes, and he felt that electric current run down his spine like...always. He couldn't bring himself to look away, not when she was finally looking at him too.
"What?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, what?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
He smiled light-heartedly. "Because you're nice to look at." His answer was abrupt like he hadn't given it a single thought. She blinked, slightly taken aback but then shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"Not, no. You can't just say things like that."
"I have to disagree."
"Well, I have to disagree with your disagreement."
He frowned. "Wait, I'm confused now."
Julia almost smacked herself on the forehead. "Just forget it, Ricky," she sighed, leaning back against the sofa. Thankfully, he obliged, and she was grateful that he'd at least taken some time off from annoying her. For the past few weeks, he'd been trailing after her like a lost puppy, and something deep inside her told her that it probably wasn't for a good reason. Hell, it was quite peaceful now, something she never thought possible in Ricky Bowen's presence. The sofa was soft and comfortable, and she was suddenly feeling so drowsy. Maybe if she just shut her eyes for a while—
"Be quiet, you'll wake them!"
"I swear, Ricky is going to throw me off a cliff if I don't capture this historical moment in a photograph for him to enlarge, frame and hang in his bedroom."
"That's...not creepy at all."
"Give me the phone, you fucking hoarder."
"You do realize that she's going to be furious when she wakes up, right?"
"Who cares? This is golden. Plus, knowing Julia, she'll probably just shy away like usual—"
"Don't insult my best friend, you scum!"
I thought I was your best friend?"
Julia frowned, her eyes fluttering open slightly. Everything was too bright and blurry, and she felt disoriented like her head was underwater. Slowly, her vision adjusted and she could make out a couple of figures standing over her and the vague sounds of giggling and low murmurs. Must be the girls. She couldn't remember falling asleep last night. What happened? What time was it? Was she, oh god, late for class?
"She's awake, you idiots!" Nini's familiar sharp voice rang out unkindly and Julia felt confused. Who was she talking to?
"She's going to suffocate us with her bare hands," someone else said as they snickered. It was a male voice. Red's? What was Big Red doing in their hotel room?
"Morning Jules," Kourtney said a little too cheerfully, her black curls falling on her face which hovered over Julia. She slowly tried to sit up, and that's when she felt the arms wrap around her waist, insistently pulling her back down into someone's warm body.
What the hell?
Slowly, she glanced down and nearly had a heart attack.
Ricky Bowen, eyes closed peacefully, mouth open slightly in a smile, hair in a stupid mess, as usual, was sleeping soundly next to her, one arm casually but firmly draped around her waist, not letting her go anywhere. He shifted around slightly, mumbling something incoherent as he slept on, the perfect image of contentment.
"Oh, God," Julia shrieked, her face instantly turning bright red as she struggled to get away from him. "What even—"
Nini hurriedly cut in, trying to soothe her. "We came down this morning and just found the two of you sleeping together like that. We were just about to wake you up to ask, honestly."
Red piped up, smirking as he waved his cellphone with the camera app open, in her face. "We took pictures."
Kourtney shot him a death glare. "Not helping," she whispered.
Julia's face was burned scarlet as she buried her face in her hands, completely and utterly mortified. She must have fallen asleep in his arms after their little talk earlier that morning. Speaking of the devil, he still wasn't awake. He still wouldn't let go of her. She tried to helplessly tug on him and removed his arm, but his grip only tightened as he shifted around a little.
"Mmmmm...mine," he mumbled softly, but everyone had heard it. The girls were trying their best to hide in their smiles whilst Big Red snickered. He definitely was not going to let him live this one down.
Julia felt the embarrassment rise up her neck and lightly hit his cheek. "Wake up, Ricky. Let go of me."
Ricky groaned, eyes still shut tight. "Five more minutes," he mumbled sleepily, and the sound that came from her throat was practically a growl.
"In five more minutes, I will literally saw off your arms if you don't let go of me."
One sparkling dark eye opened slowly, blinking to adjust to the golden sunlight streaming in through the windows. For a moment, he yawned, eyebrows knitted together in bewilderment as they rested on Julia's face. At first, he figured it was just a dream. A...lovely dream.
Then he realized.
And gaped, his mouth wide open and closing like a goldfish.
And blushing crimson.
And jumped up.
And tripped and fell to the hard floor.
He scrambled up, pushing the loose fallen hair back up his head, with his face the same color as the school's colors. He was stuttering, unable to form complete sentences, making it almost comical to watch. Red was chuckling loudly, not even bothering to hide it, while Nini had on a look of disappointment on her face. And Kourtney - well, she looked completely livid.
Julia wanted to be mad, really. But now, looking at Ricky, she couldn't bring herself to yell at him. It wasn't really his fault anyway. She'd fallen asleep on him, and chances were that he didn't want to wake her up. He couldn't necessarily carry her up to her hotel room either, and he knew she wouldn't have liked waking up in his bed. In the end, he'd probably fallen asleep as well. It was as much her fault as it was his.
Besides, she'd slept better than she had in weeks. Not that she'd ever admit it out loud.
"Forget it," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes blearily before standing up to trudge back to her hotel room. "I have to go get changed for the trip home."
And then she was gone, leaving a bewildered Ricky staring at her retreating figure, his heart skipping like stones across the lake, unusually missing the feeling of holding Julia in his embrace.