Effortless

Six

"Okay, let's forget about the stupid election for a minute." Ricky said to Kailey and I.

It was Thursday night, the night before the election. Me, Kailey, Bella, and Justin were at Ricky's house. Kailey and I were stressing over the possibility of not winning and it must have been tiring the other three out.

Kailey sighed. "I know that I was class treasurer last year, but I really want it again."

Justin rolled his eyes. "Yeah well that doesn't mean we always want to hear about it. Elias has been bitching about it forever and you're starting to add to it."

I wanted to tell Justin off but Bella gave me a look of disapproval. She knew I was about to say something and didn't want me to start any drama between the group. Ricky rolled his eyes and shook his head before he held both of my hands and pulled me off of the couch. "C'mon, let's start the movie."

"It's a school night." Justin pointed out.

"You knew we were binging all eight Harry Potter movies before you got here." Ricky reminded Justin as he began to look for the remote. "Eli, go grab drinks. Bella, you grab the blankets. Kailey-"

"Get the snacks, yeah I know." Kailey interrupted.

Ricky laughed. He then turned to Justin. "Would you go pop the popcorn?"

This was Justin's first time at Ricky's house, so Ricky was treating him more as a guest than the rest of us. I missed the times before Justin was in the group.

"Sure man." Justin nodded at Ricky.

The three of them went to get what Ricky asked them to. I was about to do the same, but Ricky grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

"Eli." He said flatly.

"That would be my name." I said jokingly.

Ricky laughed a bit, but I could tell he was wanting to be serious. I changed my expression to a neutral one. Ricky looked me in my eyes but I averted mine because I hated heavy eye contact. I didn't know why, but it made me feel awkward. It was uncomfortable staring into someone's eyes for too long.

"I wanted to talk to you about something. Look at me." Ricky said.

I did not look at him, as Ricky trying to be serious always concerned me. I tried to seize the awkwardness with a joke. "This feels pretty intimate, Rick."

Ricky ignored my comment. "Be honest with me."

I shrugged, still staring at the ground. "I always am."

"If you lose to Javier again you won't be too hard on yourself, right?" He asked quietly. He talked as if he was about to tell a child the word "no" and saying it too fast would send the kid into a tantrum.

"Of course not." I scoffed. Then he gave me a knowing look to which I sighed.

Ricky looked at me sympathetically. "I just don't want to see you beat yourself up over it. It isn't the end of the world if he wins. You're running for high school senior class president, not president of the United States."

"I think I'd make a great president for the U.S." I said with a smile.

Ricky laughed as he ran his hand through his hair. "Yes, because a sixteen - almost seventeen - year old overly competitive twink is exactly what America needs."

I looked at him incredulously as I playfully punched him in the arm. "I am not a twink!"

He smiled at me, his teeth showing as he did. "Yeah, and cupcakes are better than cookies."