Ballad of a Broken Boy

The confrontation (pt. 2)

The rest of the day flew by, and now Kourtney and I were walking back to my house, while she was talking about this new makeup palette that was coming out soon. "Girl, I'm telling you... I will pull an all-nighter if it means getting my hands on that new Tati palette. I can't wait!" She said excitedly, and I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I can't wait until you tie me to a chair and force me to be your makeup model." I mused. She rolled her eyes and gave me a friendly shove, giggling, and for the first time since yesterday I managed to forget all about Ej and Ricky.

I offered to let Kourtney to stay for dinner, and have our annual movie night, but for once, she decided she was going to get some homework done. After we parted ways, I went inside, surprised to find that my mom wasn't home, and grabbed all the ingredients for spaghetti. There was a note from my mom taped to the fridge telling me that she got called into work and that she'd be home late. No surprise there. I ate dinner peacefully by myself... again, and then tried to think of something to tame my boredom since I didn't have any homework. Eventually, I decided to take Mr. Ackles' dog to the park. Mr. Ackles is the sweet old man that lives next door to my mom and I. He has a golden doodle, but unfortunately it's getting harder and harder for him to walk... Mr. Ackles, not the dog... anyways, so sometimes I take him out so he's not cooped up all the time, which Mr. Ackles is really appreciative of.

"Ah, Nini! It's nice to see you! I feel like it's been ages since I've last talked to you! When was the last time I spoke to you? You look so grown up!" Mr. Ackles smiled as he opened his front door. I smiled warmly back, deciding not to tell him that we had spoken just yesterday, when I gave him some mail that had been delivered to the wrong house.

"I'm sorry it's been so long, sir. I was just wondering if you wanted me to take Biscuit for a walk. I have nothing else to do..." I asked him. "Oh, that would be great! He and I have been so miserable lately; I think some fresh air will do Biscuit, here some good." He said, smiling as he stepped aside to allow the little dog to run over to me. I laughed as he jumped up, tail wagging, and pet his head gently.

"Perfect. I'll be back soon; do you have a leash for him?" I asked.

"Oh, yes... it's in here somewhere, I'm sure..." he sighed as he started to search the hat stand next to the door.

"Thank you. We'll be back soon." I told him as he handed me the worn blue leash. Biscuit started jumping up and down again at the sight of the leash, so I quickly bent down to attach it to his collar.

"See you, Nini. And thanks again." He said as I walked away. I waved to him until he retreated into his house and shut the door. I sighed, feeling bad. The poor man was all on his own, with just a little dog for company; I decided that I would visit him more often and maybe even have dinner with him once a week if he wanted the company. I'll ask him about it when I return his dog.

LINE BREAK

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting on the edge of a fountain in the middle of the park, watching Biscuit run around the field. I laughed as he stumbled and fell, standing up again and shaking himself off. Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders pull me backwards. I screamed, before being completely submerged under the water. Struggling against the strong hold, I eventually managed to get my head above the water, and I sat there, coughing and spluttering, in a daze. After I got my breath back, I looked around and saw Ricky sitting there, soaking wet, laughing madly. I looked around, expecting his friends to be there, laughing at me along with him, but to my surprise, they were nowhere in sight.

"What the hell, Ricky?!" I shouted. He just laughed harder.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist." He spluttered between giggles. I rolled my eyes, but felt some of the anger fade, since he didn't seem to have done it to embarrass me.

"Well, look at me! I'm all wet!" I cried, getting to my feet. He raised his eyebrows.

"That's not something you hear every day off someone like you..." he said suggestively. I scowled, slapping his arm angrily.

"You're such a guy." I complained.

"Hmm. Is that why you hate me so much?" he asked me. I froze.

"W-what makes you think that I hate you?" I asked him, blushing.

"I overheard you talking to your friend in school." He admitted, bluntly. I was shocked.

"You what? How much did you overhear?" I asked him, eyes wide. He chuckled.

"Well, I heard you say that you think I'm hot. But you don't like me, you made that part clear. Although, I have to wonder what makes you so sure I would never like you like that... I mean, you seemed pretty convinced, which is strange since we've barely even spoken to each other." He said, standing up and jumping out of the fountain. I sighed.

"I just know, okay? You're... you, and I'm... well, me. It's that simple." I explained. He laughed, although I wasn't sure if he was laughing at what I said or the fact that I was attempting to climb out of the fountain without letting my skirt ride up too much.

"Well, if that's how you feel... but, for future reference, you are pretty hot." He said, winking at me. I blushed again, looking at my feet just in time to see them slip on the wet marble and feel myself go flying. At least, I would have gone flying, if not for the strong pair of arms that wrapped around my waist. I gasped, scared, but then I heard Ricky whisper in my ear.

"It's okay. I got you." He said. It was kind of ruined by the way he was shaking with laughter, but at least he caught me, and didn't let me fall on my face.

"Thanks." I said after he helped me stand up properly.

"No prob. Just don't expect this to be a regular thing. Next time, I'm just gonna let you fall. It'll be a hell of a lot funnier." He promised. I laughed.

"Why did you catch me this time, then?" I asked him. He frowned, looking confused.

"Instinct, I guess." He shrugged, before turning and walking off. He didn't even say goodbye. Rolling my eyes at his strange behavior, I turned around to look for Biscuit.

I managed to drag him away from the rabbit he had cornered and took him back home to Mr. Ackles.

"Oh, thank you, Nini! I'm so glad you found him, I was so worried! Where was he?" He asked me, grabbing the dog and ruffling the fur on his head. I frowned, puzzled.

"I just took him for a walk, Mr. Ackles. You said that was fine..." I reminded him. He looked at me, frowning, and then his expression changed.

"Oh, yes, I did, didn't I? Ah, I guess my memory isn't what it used to be... it's a bitch getting old. Thank you for taking him out for me. I know he gets so lonely... and bored." He muttered as he shut the door. I sighed, feeling terrible. The poor guy was almost ninety, and had no one to care for him. At least, not to my knowledge.

Sighing, I went back home, took a shower, and curled up in my bed watching Mamma Mia until I fell asleep.