Just A Frail Disguise | Ricky Horror

Like The Ocean | One

"Come on, they're all great, I promise!"

"I don't wanna go out tonight, I told you."

"You never do!"

My sister Rose was entirely right. I never wanna go out at night. I go out to work or run errands, and that's it. I don't hang out with friends, heck I don't even have friends. So why it is that Rose is so insistent upon me going out with her, her boyfriend, and his friends tonight was beyond me.

"I'd really rather be alone." I explained, picking at my black nail polish, refusing to look her in the eye. "Annie, come on. One night out. It won't kill you." Rose argued. "See you say that, but watch. I go out tonight and end up murdered." Rose threw her hands in the air in frustration. "We will be surrounded by six large tattooed pierced Goth men! You could not be safer tonight!"

I sighed, knowing she wasn't going to give in. "Do I have to dress up?" She squeaked with delight. "Stay here, I'll get you an outfit." Rose smiled, hurrying to her room. I think she enjoyed that aspect to us being twins; we were the same size, so if she wanted to force me into her clothes, she could.

I pulled myself from the comfort of my bed reluctantly, knowing I needed to start getting ready. No point doing my makeup till I saw the outfit, but I could at least brush my long, wavy, white hair. I changed my lip ring so it had black balls on it, and Rose came back. "Here, wear this." she grinned, shoving an outfit at me. I was holding a long black skirt, and a red and black lace tanktop.

I stared at the outfit, then looked up at my sister. "What. The fuck. Is this?" "You're gonna look so great I promise just wear it." "No. I'll choose my own outfit." I argued, handing her clothes back to her. I walked over to my closet and pulled out a drastically oversized hoodie with plaid running down the sides, and Rose groaned loudly. "Please. Please no." she begged, already despising my outfit choice.

"If I'm going, I'm wearing what I want." I snapped at her, going to my dresser and pulling out a pair of faded jeans. I kicked her out of my room so I could get dressed, then put on my makeup. I added a moon necklace, and pulled on a pair of brown boots. I took a look in the mirror and sighed. I had no desire to go out, but I did want Rose to get off my back for a while. One night out won't cause any harm, I guess.

~

We pulled up outside a store, which confused me. "What are we doing here?" I questioned. "Picking up one of the guys, cuz his fianceé left with the car and he had to close. They own the place together." Rose answered, dialing a number on her phone. "Hey, I'm outside, hurry up." she said flatly, then hung up. "Is that how you talk to people? How do you keep friends?" I scoffed.

"Least I have friends." she shot back, "And hopefully after tonight you will too." A guy walked out of the store then, locking the door behind himself. He was average height, average build, and bald with a head tattoo. As he approached the car I could see he had angel bite piercings and many other tattoos. He got in the backseat and said hello to Rose, then introduced himself to me as Balz.

"What's your real name?" I asked, and he laughed. "That's my last name, which is what I go by. My first name is Josh." Balz explained, with Rose smirking as she drove. Rose turned on The Cure, and they made small talk about their day. We pulled up at some field, and I could see a bonfire going not too far away, with several people around it.

I felt my chest tighten automatically; I don't do well around a bunch of strangers. Rose and Balz climbed out of the car, whereas I lingered a bit. Balz joined the group immediately, but Rose hung back to talk to me. "Hey, they're all sweethearts, I promise. You don't have to talk if you don't want, I'll just tell them you're shy. They'll understand. Just come sit with us, please."

I sighed, looking at the fire. Reluctantly, I climbed out of the car and followed Rose. As we approached, one of the men stood up from one of the logs around the fire. "Babe, hey!" he smiled, holding his arms open to her. She grinned and walked into his arms, wrapping him in a tight hug. This was her boyfriend Chris, I guess. He was about 6 foot, with lots of tattoos, stretched ears, lip piercings, and drawn on eyebrows.

Balz was sitting with his arm wrapped around a grey haired woman, with lots of tattoos. I assumed that was his fianceé. Even I could admit she was gorgeous. On her other side was a man with short, black hair, and a bit of facial hair. Next to him was someone who I genuinely was unsure if they were male or female. They were dressed in female clothes, but could still pass for a guy. Not my business to ask, I decided.

Next to that person was a blonde girl with a lip piercing, and had a bit of a resting bitch face, but a great smile. She was real pretty though, just like Balz's fianceé. Sitting next to her was a slightly tanned guy with dirty blonde hair, who was talking with the guy on his other side. I couldn't see his face, but he had wavy black hair just past his shoulders.

"Annie, this is my boyfriend Chris." Rose said, "Chris, this is my sister Annie." "Nice to meet you." Chris smiled, extending a hand. I cringed slightly, slowly reaching out to shake hands. "She's real shy, leave it." Rose interrupted, pulling his hand away. "Shit, my bad." Chris said, giving an apology as well. "It's alright." I mumbled, looking down.

"Hey, she might get along with Ricky, ya think?" Chris asked Rose. She nodded agreement. "Hey Ricky, come here!" she called. The one whose face I couldn't see turned and looked our way. Rose beckoned him over, and he stood and walked over to us. "Hey Ro. Who's this?" he asked. I froze, looking at him. He was the most attractive person I've ever laid eyes on. He was about 5'7, two inches taller than me, lip piercings, and blue eyes, beautiful like the ocean.

"Annie." Rose's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I realized I'd been staring. I felt my face heat up as I blushed and looked away. "This Fucker does that all the time, gets stuck in his head." Chris told me, giving me a reassuring smile as he nodded towards Ricky. Ricky rolled his eyes and offered his hand to shake mine, but this time, I did shake his.

"Nice to meet you, Annie right?" I gave a shy smile. "Yeah." I answered, pulling my hand away. "Come on, let's sit." Rose, pulling Chris over to the fire. Ricky gestured for me to go first, so I wound up between him and Rose. "Hey girlie!" Balz's fianceé smiled, waving. "Hey!" Rose grinned, "Ryan, this is my sister Annie. Annie, that's Balz's fianceé Ryan."

Rose introduced the man next to her as also being Ryan, but the girl was called Ryan Ashley. Next to guy Ryan was someone called Devin. Still not sure of that person's gender. Next to Devin was Kylie, who was Devin's girlfriend, then Vinny. "So Annie, what kind of music do you listen to?" Ricky asked. I shrugged. "I don't, really." I answered, "I just kinda listen to whatever Rose puts on."

Ricky stared at me in shock for a moment, then shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat. Do you read?" "Poetry, mainly. Though I read a lot for college." I answered. "Yeah? What are you studying for?" Ricky answered. "To be a psychologist. Which Rose doesn't get, since I'm not great with strangers."

"Sounds like psychology in and of itself. By helping others you're also helping yourself." Ricky smiled. "How about sports?" Vinny chimed in, looking around Ricky. I shook my head. "Violence, not a fan." I said quietly, looking away at the fire. "Fair enough." Vinny sighed, looking away. "I love your hair." Ryan Ashley complimented, twirling a strand of her own hair around one finger. "Thanks." I blushed, allowing a bit of mine to fall over my face.

I didn't talk much after that, and it was really only to Rose or Ricky. The others all seemed perfectly nice, and I finally figured out after quietly asking Rose that Devin is a guy. Looks great as a chick though, very convincing. Ricky seemed almost as in tune to my thoughts as Rose is. He could tell if I didn't like a subject, or if I simply needed to not talk for a few minutes.

Rose kept asking if I was okay, and to let her know whenever I wanted to go home. For once, I actually didn't mind being out. She was right, everyone here was a sweetheart. I felt very welcome here, but none made me feel that more than Ricky. It was like he understood how I felt, like he could relate. When we got home, the last thing I did before being to bed was thank Rose for bringing me out.