here with you | ricky bowen ²

chapter five

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

"okay! listen up. rules of the game. this is important. we need set intentions and be accountable to one another this year." kourtney said over the loud chatter that quickly died down. "all right, resolution number one. anyone's guess." she continued as she drew a piece of paper from the bowl.

the group carefully listened to see if it was any of their own resolutions and guessed with each paper she read. ej's was the first one saying he would remember everyone as he went to duke. leighton zoned out partially as ej kept throwing up air quotes the entire time he spoke. "this one doesn't say anything except the words 'my cows'." kourtney said as everyone laughed.

"you guys, i thought we were writing down what we were thankful for." seb said innocently as he misunderstood the game. "you're so innocent, it's adorable." leighton said as she laughed with everyone. "keep reading them, kourt there's still time before midnight." someone said.

she grabbed another piece of paper that was the same color as the one leighton had. this made her heart beat faster knowing she would need to explain it if that one was hers. "to rise above the little and harder things in life." kourtney said as she looked around the room for guesses.

everyone pulled out names and made no guess for it to be leighton's. "that one is actually mine." she said with a smile and everyone's attention was to her now. she fidgeted on the couch and continued, "there's just been a lot of emotional takes in my life the last few months. so i just want to be fair game with little things. not let anything bother me that shouldn't be worried about. i deserve the better things in life." leighton said and looked around her friend group.

ricky next to her squeezed her side as everyone nodded and complemented her resolution. "i think that is one hell of a resolution, leigh." ashlyn said as people continued to agree. "it's amazing." ricky said and kissed her temple as kourtney smiled and  pulled another piece out.

"i resolve to follow my dreams however far away they take me." kourtney read as people threw out gina's name. knowing she would be the one who wrote it since she moved around a lot. "nope it's not me." she said and nini spoke up from a bean bag that was between ej and seb, "it's me actually." she said and blinked at kourtney.

"back to the game, kourt." she said shortly and rubbed her arm and looked at floor. something about how she was short with her resolution made leighton look at her curiously. something was up but she knew she wasn't one person nini would say stuff to like that.

the last few pieces of paper were from ashlyn and other theatre friends who wanted to have change and clarity for the new year. leighton heard the doorbell ring and big red walked in with several pizza boxes in hand. 'finally', she thought. she was worried he wouldn't be there for midnight to kiss ashlyn, something he had been so nervous about doing the last few days.

there was an awkward moment from when he set the pizza boxes down and dashed to the kitchen. ricky and leighton looked at each other and followed him after a minute of deciding if they should check on him. leighton heard the sink faucet turn off just as ricky started to talk to big red.

"dude what's going on? why did you leave so fast?" he asked standing right in front of him as leighton was to the side of them both. "i need to un-throb myself." big red said and wildly waved his arms. leighton's eyes quickly moved down big red's body and quickly back up as she held her arms out and closed her eyes. "you need to do what?" she asked frantically and prayed that's not what he meant.