Merch Slinger | Ricky Olson

Chapter Five: Matters of the Heart

It had been a couple of weeks since the events of chaos between receiving the email, finding out she was working with motionless in white, to having a meeting with them.  Malena found herself caught up in the chaos of backstage life with Motionless In White. As the days passed, she couldn't shake the lingering memories of that night, particularly the moments shared with Ricky, the band's charismatic guitarist.

Sitting in her best friend's cozy living room, Malena couldn't help but feel a sense of restlessness stirring within her. As they chatted about their lives and excitement for their respective jobs – Malena as the merch slinger and Richie as Motionless In White's permanent photographer – Malena found her thoughts drifting back to Ricky.

She had always admired Ricky from afar, appreciating his talent and stage presence, but lately, something had shifted. There was a warmth in his smile and a kindness in his eyes that drew her in, sparking a curiosity she couldn't ignore.

As they sipped on their drinks and laughed about past adventures, Malena found herself stealing glances at Richie, observing the way She animatedly shared stories and expressed her passion for her work. It was infectious, and Malena couldn't help but admire him even more.

But beneath the surface, there was something else stirring – a flutter of butterflies in her stomach whenever Ricky's name was mentioned, a quickening of her pulse whenever their eyes met. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, this newfound awareness of her feelings for him.

Lost in her thoughts, Malena barely noticed when Richie paused mid-sentence, her gaze fixed on her with a curious expression. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

Startled out of her reverie, Malena blinked and offered her a sheepish smile. "Yeah, sorry, just got lost in thought for a moment," she replied, hoping she hadn't noticed her internal turmoil.

But Richie wasn't one to let things slide easily. She leaned in closer, studying Malena with a knowing look. "Is everything alright? You seem a little... distracted," She remarked gently.

Taking a deep breath, Malena met her gaze and decided to confide in her best friend. "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," she began hesitantly, feeling a rush of nerves fluttering in her chest.

As she opened up about her growing feelings for Ricky, Richie listened intently, her expression a mix of surprise and understanding. Richie offered her a reassuring smile, a silent gesture of support that eased some of her anxiety.

Together, they talked through her feelings, unpacking the complexities of emotions that had taken root within her. And as the evening wore on, Malena found herself feeling lighter, grateful for Richie's unwavering friendship and the opportunity to share her innermost thoughts with someone she trusted.

Though the path ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear – Malena was ready to embrace whatever the future held, even if it meant navigating the uncharted territory of unexpected feelings for a certain guitarist named Ricky.

Richie's brows furrowed in concern as Malena dropped the bombshell about Ricky. "Wait, what?" he exclaimed, his surprise evident in his voice. "Ricky's dating someone?"

Malena nodded, her expression somber. "Yeah, I found out whenever he invited me for coffee a couple of weeks ago," she admitted, feeling a pang of disappointment gnawing at her heart. "I mean, it's not like we were ever anything more than friends, but... it still stings, you know?"

Richie reached out and squeezed Malena's hand in a gesture of comfort. "I'm sorry, Mal," he said softly, his voice laced with empathy. "I know how much you admire him."