Just A Frail Disguise | Ricky Horror

Persistence | Three

"No, stay out of her room." I heard Rose say firmly from outside my bedroom door. "I just wanna ask if she's okay." I heard Ricky's voice argue. I've been holed up in here for an hour, ever since Ricky said he was curious about my past. Apparently he was still curious.

There was a knock on my door, and just as Rose started to yell, the door opened to show a smug Ricky and angry Rose. "Annie, hey. I just wanted to apologize, and see if you're okay. " Ricky said sincerely. Rose stomped away down the hall. I held up my book of Edgar Allen Poe's work. "I'm fine." I answered, looking down.

"Should I leave you alone?" Ricky asked quietly. I shrugged. "You seem dead set on talking to me, so stay, I guess.." Just then, I heard heavy footsteps in the hallway behind Ricky. "RICK!" I heard Chris say angrily. Ricky jumped in fear and spun around. Chris appeared in the doorway and he smiled at me over Ricky's head.

"Don't mind me, I'm just hired pest control." Chris laughed. He then straight picked up Ricky and marched away, despite Ricky's demands he be put down. Rose took his place. "I'm sorry, he was persistent. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." I shrugged in response. "Least he's showing effort to know me without trying to make me uncomfortable."

Rose nodded. "Well, they're leaving soon. So if you wanna say goodbye to either, come on out or I can send one in." For reasons I couldn't understand, my chest tightened. I didn't want Ricky to leave, and I had no idea why. There's just something about him. "Tell Ricky to come in?" I mumbled, gripping my book tighter. "Ooh la la, does someone think Ricky is cute?" Rose teased.

I felt my cheeks heat up, and I looked away, an embarrassed smile playing across my lips. "Alright, I'll tell him he can see you." Rose said, forever my guardian. Half the time I think it's because she feels guilty, but I know she just loves me and wants me safe. She left, and I put a bookmark in my book to hold my place so I could set it down. Ricky came in a minute later.

"Hey, you okay?" Ricky asked, leaning against the doorway. I nodded sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I just... I don't like talking about my past, and I'm not very good with new people..." Ricky shrugged. "I'm not that great with people either." he replied, "Got more than a few enemies." I frowned. "Why? You seem so nice." Ricky chuckled. "Some people thought I did something about six years ago, before I moved here. Nobody believes I didn't."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do they think you did?" "They think I took something. Especially this guy Kuza." he sighed, "I don't usually discuss it. You understand, obviously." I nodded in agreement. "Ricky, come on!" I heard Chris yell from the living room. Ricky rolled his eyes. "I've gotta go. Maybe next time I'll see you more?" he asked hopefully. That feeling in my chest returned. Damn it, why do I care if he leaves? Just say goodbye, Annie.

"Do you have to be somewhere, or can you stay and I can drive you home?"

Damn it Annie.

"I can stay, if you'd like me to. I don't wanna cross any boundaries you have." Ricky smiled. God how I love that smile. "Yeah, I can drive you home." I replied, "I've gotta go to work in a couple hours anyways. I'll drop you off before." "Ricky get outta my house!" Rose hollered. "I'm gonna stay, you go on!" Ricky shouted back. I moved my things aside and made space for Ricky to sit on the foot of my bed.

~

"And my soul from
Out that shadow,
That lies floating
On the floor,
Shall be lifted
Nevermore."

Ricky set the book down on the bed as he read the last lines of one of my favorite works from Poe, "The Raven." I'd asked him to read it for me, as I felt that his voice would suit it quite well, though he insisted Devin would do much better. Regardless of whether that was true, Ricky did a beautiful job reading the poem. Besides, it allowed me to spend time with him, without having to talk.