Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

JULIA WAS avoiding him.
Well, more than she usually did anyways.
Ricky hadn't realized it first, but then he started noticing odd things, like how she refused to make eye contact with him if possible, even when they were on stage practicing the script for the play. She'd barely spoken five sentences to him all week, not even any sarcastic or annoyed comments. That was highly uncharacteristic of her, seeing as she rarely missed an opportunity to put him in his place (considering what he'd done to her in the past). Every time she saw him in the halls, she deliberately turned and speed-walked in the other direction, and whenever he did manage to strike up a conversation, she'd hastily make up an excuse and leave as though he had some horrible, infectious disease.
"I don't get it, was it something I said? Or am I just imagining things?" He wondered as he explained his dilemma to Big Red one day when they were clustered in the school's cafeteria, while the seats around them were filled with a dozen other kids. It was a cold, rainy Friday, and the first thing Ricky did when he finished his homework was go hunt down his best friend in the cafeteria for lunch. They'd accomplished absolutely nothing since they'd initially sat down that afternoon.
Red unfurled his legs out and stretched them out on top of the chair beside him, ignoring his friend's protests. "You're probably just being paranoid, dude. Why would Julia be ignoring you? I mean, did you do anything to upset her? Besides what you've done in the past..."
Ricky shrugged, choosing to ignore the last sentence. "No, well, I don't think so. Who knows really? Girls are so confusing."
"I second that." Red rolled his eyes, click-clicking his cellphone, his eyes focused on the screen in front of him. "I'm sure you're just over analyzing the whole situation."
Ricky scowled, folding his arms defensively. "I'm serious, man."
"No, I don't think you are."
He was about to shove Red's face in annoyance, but just then, footsteps sounded and a figure appeared a few tables away from them.
Ricky perked up, nudging Red sharply in the ribs as if to catch his attention. "Watch this, alright? Hey, Jules!"
He raised his hand and started to wave enthusiastically, trying to get her attention. Sighing, Julia's eyes drifted across the room until they landed on the boys and saw Ricky waving at her like an idiot. For a moment, she locked eyes with him, her blue irises meeting his brown ones, and he could've sworn he saw something in her expression flicker, but it was gone the next second. She froze when she saw them and immediately swivelled around, bumping into a random freshman, who was just entering the cafeteria.
Red furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "That was...weird."
"See? Tell me I'm overreacting now," Ricky stated grumpily, folding his arms.
His friend patted him on the back slowly in a half-assed attempt to be comforting. "It's fine, dude. She's probably just sick of your drama. Trust me, I know I am--"
This time, Ricky really did shove Red in the face.
Now where did she put it?
Julia swore she had her algebra textbook in her backpack but when it came around to her needing it, much to her dismay it was nowhere in sight. It wasn't even in her locker, and that was probably the biggest shock for her.
The girl wasn't unorganized, in fact many might say she was anything but. However, now that she was put in a situation where without the book, she wouldn't be able to study for the unit test that was the next day.
Retrace your steps. Come on, where were you last with your bag?
As if stimulated by a quick 'aha' moment, she grabbed her things and shoved them back into her backpack, heading to the drama room right after. She recalled cracking open her textbook during drama club the day before to help Ashlynn with the assignment that they'd received. And well, logically that was the only other place she could've left it.
Well, destiny might just have other plans.
After safely tucking away her textbook, Julia's eyes had caught the sight of a lavish wooden piano further inside the room. It was large, something that she'd never had the chance of seeing before. Or perhaps it was always there, but her busy schooling schedule had never allowed Julia to really notice her surroundings.
It wouldn't hurt to just test out the keys for a little while, right?
It was merely for educational purposes, she had to keep reminding herself. Plus, there wasn't a teacher in sight. What would they even do if they saw her? Fire her?
Right.
Over.
There.
And before she could even decipher her actions or their potential consequences, Julia found herself sitting on the stool, her fingers gliding effortlessly across the keys. Immersing herself with the music, her eyes closed as if she was sitting on a cloud.
The beautiful tone of the piano, she found herself momentarily sliding away from reality. Into a world that she had yet to harness, a world that would be called her own.
Clap! Clap!
Her fantasies were cut short as the loud sound of hands clapping was heard at the doorway of the drama room. Glancing to the direction of the noise, Julia's eyes widened as she saw none other than Ricky Bowen grinning slyly at her from afar.
"That sound was extraordinary!"
Clearing her throat, she stood up abruptly from her seat, trying and ultimately failing to keep her voice at an appropriate level. "What're you -- uh, what're you doing here?"
"I could ask the same thing to you," he shot back, crossing his arms in a mocking manner. "Alone, at that--"
"I was just testing out the keys."
Smirking, he shook his head in mild amusement. "You know what I've learned in the past few months since I've known you? You're a really bad liar, Jules."
"I'm not lying!"
"And I'm not Ricky Bowen."
Mindlessly playing with her fingers, Julia looked around the room uneasily. She really hoped no one would walk in on the two of them. After the events in the storage room, needless to say she was not keen for a repeat. "Just -- just don't tell anyone?"
Ricky raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really now? And why should I do that?"
"Because... because I said so."
"You're going to have to come up with a better reason."
"Just don't, please?"
Ricky had on a look of consideration, the kind that had her wondering that he was seriously considering not being a snitch. However, that was soon replaced. "Oh no, I think I will," he shrugged. "Unless of course, for a small favor."
She frowned. "What kind of favour?"
"Just... sing a duet with me?"
Julia almost laughed, but was relieved that that was all he was asking for. "You're kidding, right?"
"What makes you think I'm kidding?"
"Sure okay," she responded when she saw the way there was an almost pleading look in his eyes.
"I mean it!"
"You're not joking?"
"Does it look like I am?" He complained, rolling his eyes slightly. "It's a small price to pay for going against the rules..."
"Wait..." she trailed off. "It's against the rules? Like me, playing the piano without permission?"
"Uh, yeah -- yes, yes." Ricky stammered with his words, trying to quickly ponder up a way to back up his obvious lie. "Isn't it, err... in the school's code of conduct book?"
That was believable enough, as soon after the two were sat side-by-side on the piano bench, a comfortable distance apart. Without so much as a nod, Ricky was the first one to begin pressing the keys of the centuries old instrument, while Julia joined in afterwards.
It wasn't even awkward after a while. The two friends, or maybe friends, were just sharing a duet with one another. And somewhere in between, Ricky and Julia had begun singing...and it was then that the two found themselves intertwined. Not necessarily with each other, but there was some sort of connection developed.
The kind that was difficult to explain, but never unbelievable.
🎶 Sing to me the song of the stars
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans
That you have for me over again
So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours I pray
To be only yours I know now you're my only hope 🎶
When Julia opened her eyes at the end of the song, she found her blue eyes gazing into Ricky's hazel ones. His hand was on top of hers, but that didn't seem to cause her to look away.
He inched closer, and it was like she was stuck in a daze.
"Is this. . ."
"Rick -"
Their lips touched, a combination of something soft, yet needy at the same time. This was what Julia had been looking forward to for the longest time, and yet she couldn't help but feel that she was leaving something behind.
Ricky pulled her closer, missing the feeling of someone's lips on his. It had been so long, and this was exactly what he needed.
Just as it escalated -
Julia realized what was about to happen, pulled away and quickly stood up from her seat, blushing furiously. "Why are you - Ricky!"
"You're asking me? You're the one who -" Ricky defended, flabbergasted by what just happened.
"Yeah, but you're the one who held my hand in the first place -"
"How was I to know it'd lead to something else?" he argued, standing up as well. "I don't know, I just---"
"Please, I just. Don't, I don't---" know.
Julia's lip quivered from emotion and for a second she thought she would cry, right in front of Ricky at that. He noticed the way she was getting flustered, and there was something like a hollow wound engraved with him.
He was concerned, but before he could even ask what was bothering her, Julia had wiped her tears away, grabbing her backpack and jogging out of the room.
"Wait!" He called out, shaking himself out of whatever had just happened and went after her. As soon as he opened up the door, he was unwillingly stopped in his tracks, confused.
Looking around him, he sighed as she had already left the halls.