Not Your Average Ricky(Ella) Story

Ricky Needs Carlos Energy

A/N: April but spring break

Song to listen to while reading: Spring Breakers by Charli XCX

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I'm at Nini's house because she is tutoring me and quizzing me on all the schoolwork I missed. She also helps me with reading because of my dyslexia and math because she loves academics.

"Ricky, are you paying attention? I know it is spring break but you asked me for help with your homework." Nini nudges my shoulder while Gina is lying on the floor, doing her homework since everyone is over. 

Even Carlos is here he's just minding his business while wearing AirPods. 

 "I don't think I'll graduate. What is the point of this?" I put my pencil down from doing this stupid math project.

"All you need is a 70% or C in every class. You will graduate, Ricky. Have some faith in yourself." Carlos looks up from his notebook which he is briefly reading notes from.

"I read one of my dad's letters." I take a sip of the water Mama C offered me.

"Seb's sheep died and he was sad when I asked him to Prom. How do I cheer him up?" Carlos says out of the blue.

"Carlos!" Melanie hits him with Nini's couch pillow.

"What? I thought that we were saying things that made us sad," Carlos fake scoffs.

"I didn't get into California Arts Institute," Gina frowns while joining the group's sadness.

"I'm never going to NYU. They don't even know my name or music. I have no chance." I frown at the carpet.

"My parents want me to stay in SLC for food service. I don't know my future," Big Red says after silence.

"I finished writing my song for the competition." I blurt out of nowhere to break the negative talk my friends are chatting about amongst themselves.

Gina, Carlos, and Nini open their mouths wide in shock while Melanie pushes me onto the piano chair in the room.

Oh, wow.

I wasn't going to perform it now.

"When did you have time to finish it?" Big Red asks curiously.

"I wanna hear it!" Gina says acting like my biggest fan.

"I feel like a proud mom," I watch Nini tear up with her jacket sleeve.

Everyone reached over to group hug me while I was sitting at Nini's piano and I can't help but feel like I'm going to cry my eyes out tonight. 

"I wish my mom could hear it before I submit to the competition." A tear falls from my eye while Big Red suffocates me in a big hug.

Suddenly, my phone starts ringing, in the middle of Big Red and I's hug.

Shit.

I forgot to turn the ringer off when I skated to Nini's house.

Why can't the stupid evil ladies leave me alone over spring break?!

"I gotta take this call in Nini's room. Nini please turn on the TV and play Spring Breakers before Carlos and Gina start bickering over the remote," I get up from where I am sitting in the living room and walk quickly over to unlock the porch door.