𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 • 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴

maybe someday you'll call me

sequel/prequel to 'superstar'

"what did it cost?"

ricky couldn't see a thing. he didn't allow himself to. his eyes were closed, hoping that the girl in front of him wasn't going to snap at him or tell him off for asking something that would imply her life wasn't as great as it looked like. he didn't mean to offend, but something in him just-

"everything."

his eyes flew open.

nini had her own eyes shut, amplifying the anxious expression on her face. she looked unsure, she looked like she was in pain.

ricky instinctively reached out. he was about to gently hold her shoulder when he froze.

this was dangerous.

this was all he ever wanted - nini to be vulnerable with him, for her to tell the truth and to admit what was going on in the back of her head.

but what made her do that? what made her open up to the one person she hadn't spoke to in months, almost a year?

what made her become honest when that was the one thing ricky wanted so long ago?

and what would happen if he accepted her honesty after all this time?

ricky woke up.

his eyes were still adjusting to the dark, but he knew something was wrong. he felt empty, but he couldn't understand why...

then he realized: he was alone. he wasn't even on his own bed.

footsteps drew near and he heard big red say, "you're awake!"

sitting up, he groggily waved to acknowledge the greeting. he forgot... it was the summer before senior year, and he felt lonely being stuck at home with just his dad. not to mention miss jenn was around a lot more, and though he was glad to see his dad happy, their togetherness made him feel isolated. they reminded him of...

well, he'd been texting and calling lily recently to cope even though he really wanted a call from someone else. but today, something felt off. it didn't feel right to rely on lily again. so he went over to his best friend's basement and collapsed on the bed.

"comfortable silence is so overrated," ricky said hoarsely; his words expressing his true thoughts faster than his brain. "i don't even know if we're friends now, if i can talk to her or..."

big red sat on a cushion nearby, pop corn in hand. "did something happen between you and lily?"

"not really. i'm talking about nini."

uncertain silence settled in the room until big red replied, "aren't you and nini on good terms? you gave each other cards after beauty and the beast. you talked then, didn't you?"

ricky scoffed. "that was a formality. she left the room after a minute too... we haven't spoke since."

"we've seen her a couple times this summer. you've been in the same room just fine-"

"just because we're in the same room doesn't mean things are alright!" he yelled unintentionally. embarrassment came over him a second later, so he lay back on the bed.

"... what are you trying to say?"

"... i don't know..." ricky sighed in defeat. he took a deep breath and his jumbled thoughts spilled out. "look, it's just... losing your childhood friend who you thought would stick around all your life is harder than i thought. imagine having so much history with someone only to become strangers with a past... we're fine, but we're not fine. we can stand beside each other but we can't talk to each other, not if it's anything more than small talk. it's killing me. and i wish..."