Bandmate ||Ricky Garcia||

《t h i r t y - f o u r》

''He's not in the picture anymore if you were going to ask.'' He says keeping a small grin on his lips. He's trying so hard right now it almost convinces me he doesn't feel a tad bit hurt. 

''Can I ask you something else?'' The heat in my hands crawls up my arms to my chest. He nods as he takes a sip of his drink. ''Are you okay?'' His green eyes pop open not expecting for me to ask that. He blinks away the surprise. 

''I'm great actually. My dad was a shitty person so him leaving was the best. He would always come home late yelling for no fucking reason. That bastard just ruined everything.'' The way his fingers grasp for his elbows, and his pupils looking everywhere but my own. Flashes of my own hands shaking reflecting on the shattered mirror come flying back to me. 

''I'm sorry that I always asked before,'' I admit feeling remorse. How stupid and inconsiderate was I? Then again how was I to know that the reason he avoids the topic was due to a traumatizing moment. 

''And I'm sorry I was an ass about it.'' He smiles before we continue to finish the rest of the tasty food. He excused himself for the bathroom as I went and paid for the food. We had a little argument but we agreed to pay half and half. Carrying both our dollars in hand I look for Joana. She waves me over and it appears her friends were long gone. How did I not notice? 

''Thank you for the food,'' I told her handing her the money. Her fingers were carved and molded with wrinkles, but her nails a lively pink.  

''I'm glad you liked it. Ricky hasn't been around for a while I was starting to worry.'' She folds the money not even bothering to count as if she knew it was all there. She has too much faith. 

I wanted to blurt out and tell her how I'm worried about him too. That for the first time since I met him I'm starting to see just how vulnerable he could be, how all my feelings I had about him were wrong when I saw him on tv. But I just can't bare and tell her that. ''He's better than ever. You know Ricky always playing around, saying how awesome he is.'' 

''I'm trusting you keep him safe. He can be a lot to handle especially with what happened to his brother and father.'' I wanted to ask what she meant, but the way her face shifted behind me meant Ricky was coming. ''Thank you both for coming please joins us again soon. Drive safely.'' She gives him a quick little pat before walking back to where we first found her. 

''I just noticed they got a new toilet. The water doesn't squirt out when you flush-'' His phone starts to ring mid bathroom story. ''Hello? What do you mean? Oh shit. Crap I totally forgot!  Sorry man, I'm heading over there right now.'' He turns his phone off and reaches for the wrist pulling me out the cafe. 

''What happened?'' I ask holding on to him as he drags me to the car. 

''Emery's cousin, Liam. I was supposed to pick him up from the airport but guess who forgot about it? Now he's pissed.'' 

''Why isn't Emery picking him up?'' My fingers grasp the belt and try to click it in place. 

''Well because Liam told me he wanted to surprise him. And I'm the only other person he talks to beside Emery.  He and Jon aren't the best of friends.'' He says giving a glace to his right before swerving his way in. My toes curl in fear he might crash into a light. 

''Did something happen between those two?'' I ask mentally praying as he switches lanes without a flicker of warning. 

''Not sure if I'm honest. All I know is that they had some girl problems and they just started hating each other. I'll have to ask Jon, but I think he was dating this one chick years ago and she cheated on him with Liam or maybe it was the other way around.''