HEATHER | r.bowen✔️

HEATHER | chapter 8

It's close to 3 when Taylor arrives back home. Much later then she expected to be home, she thought she would be home at dinner, but no it is past midnight and she just walked into her house.

Thank god it's friday, or well saturday.

She frowns as she stands outside her door. She is certain she turned the lights off in her bedroom before she left.

So why are they on now?

Slowly she opens the door, peeks in and lets out a sigh of relief as she spots Ricky Bowen asleep in her bed.

She's not getting murdered today.

He's still dressed in jeans and kinda sitting up against the wall, making her believe he did not plan on falling asleep here.

She shakes her head, quietly opening her closet and getting some clothes to sleep in before entering the bathroom.

After changing she removes het make up and quickly does her skincare before brushing her hair and going back into her bedroom.

"Ricky." She says softly, placing her hand on his shoulder and lightly shaking him to get him to wake up.

He simply groans and turns around.

She rolls her eyes at his actions. "Ricky." This time she speaks louder.

He finally opens his eyes and blinks sleepily to get his sight un-blurry. "Lory?"

"Yeah, what are you doing here?" She asks sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"Uh, me and Nini had a fight."

She sighs softly. "Want to talk about it?"

He shakes his head. "Not now. Cuddles?"

She bites her lip, Honestly she loves cuddles, especially with Ricky, but she knows they really can't. He is in an relationship.

"I don't think we should, Rick. You have a girlfriend." She denies his offer.

He pouts at her words. "Please? I really need it."

She sighs, fucking hell not that face, she can't resist that. "Get changed and we can cuddle."

And so, 5 minutes later they're laying in the dark, her head resting on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around her.

"Nini said something." He breaks the silence.

"Oh?" She signs for him to continue.

"She uh, she thinks that you- she thinks that you like me. like as in romanticly." He admits.

Her hand that was drawing shapes onto his t-shirt comes to a stop.

She knows? but how? She has always been so careful to not let anyone know of her feelings. And now she figured it out?

A girl she met like a month ago figured it out?

"I obviously told her that you did not like me. I mean, we have been friends for so long, that would be so weird." He laughs. "right?"

She purses her lips. "Right."

"I'm Glad that we're on the same page." He hums. "I mean, no offense but that would just never work." Ricky ignores the off feeling in his chest as he says that.

Auch.

"None taken, dude." She forces out. "I don't know why Nini said thatz but it just is bullshit."

"Exactly." He agrees. "There's another thing though."

Another? Seriously? "What?"

"She doesn't like how close we are."

She frowns, sure they are a bit closer then other friends, but they aren't just friends. They are best friens. Childhood friends.

They are Ricky and Taylor.

"You think that too?" She asks.

"I didn't. But then I started to think about it, and realize she might be right. I-i have a girlfriend, we can't be so close anynore, Taylor."

"Then what are you doing here?" She finds herself asking.

He frowns. "What do you mean?"

"You said it yourself, Ricky, you have a girlfriend. So what are you doing here right now?"

"I needed to tell you this." He replies.

"When did cuddling became a part of talking?" As she says that she sits up and creates a distance between them.

A pained look is visible in his eyes by her actions. "Tay.."

"No, Ricky, I litterally said that you have a girlfriend and we shouldn't cuddle. Yet you wanted to, and then you tell me we should be less close."

"I just wanted one last time." He mutters. "Knowing it would all change tomorrow." He admits.

"Well maybe it should change now." She shrugs her shoulders. "You know, get used to it."

"Lory, don't shut me out now." He pleads her, knowing how she gets when she is upset.

"I won't." She lies. "Just, go home Ricky. Please."

He nods his head. Then stands up and collects his stuff before opening the window.

"Just so you know," He turns around. "I don't want to become more distance."

"But there's no other way." She nods her head. "I know."

"Good night, Lory."

She forces a small smile. "Night, Ricky."

And then he is gone.

And she finally allows the tears to spill out of her eyes.

That night both of them fall asleep with tearstained cheeks and broken hearts.