Bandmate ||Ricky Garcia||

《f i f t y - t w o》

Audrey's POV

My fingers wrapped around the concrete wall and my nose barely brushes past the harshness of the surface. They've been arguing for a good 5 minutes and the way they are looking at each other I know there is no way of repairing the relationship.

''...that's why I despise you the most.'' My gap dropped. I never thought I would ever see Ricky's eyes at the rim of crying. I'm not gonna lie when Ricky hit him I felt a little happy that man deserved it. No wonder Ricky despised the mention of his father.

His dad massaged his cheek and punched his son in the stomach. I jumped at the sight of Ricky tumbling back holding on to himself. Ricky's eyes were clenched in pain and his dad was starting to take off his belt. I felt my body drain and I reacted as fast as I could. He wasn't going to hurt him, not again.

I jumped in between them hoping that once Ricky's dad saw me that he would stop but his hand was already firing towards me. All I could do was close my eyes and prepare for the impact. The leather hit my collarbone and cheek I stumbled back and Ricky's body that was right behind me was gone. I lost my balance and dropped to the floor. I heard Ricky scream at him but the burning was keeping me from even looking at him.

I bite my lip trying to disperse the pain. His knees fall next to mine and I expected for him to ask if I was okay, but when he hugged me and I felt a drop slither down my back. I knew he was crying. His fingers wrapped around me and that small touch made me feel like I was drowning in his own despair. The way his body tensed and his breath held in so tightly to not let one breath break free... broke me. I hugged him back letting us rest against each other in silence.

I counted as our chest rose and fell with every breath until we reached breath 10 and I decided to pull away, leaving my hand resting in his own. ''Ricky, I'm sorry.'' It sounded stupid for me to say that, but I could form no other words.

He shrugged twitching his nose. ''You know what, it's whatever.''

''No, it's not whatever. I know you're hurting so it's okay for you to talk to me.'' I tell him as the burning slowly started to subside and the only pain that's left is in him.

''There's nothing for me to say. My dad hates me and I don't know why,'' He looks up and stares at me for a while before his eyes fall to my chest. ''That son of a- does it hurt?'' Ricky's finger starts to grace above my skin before gently pressing on it.

I flinch a tab bit and he yanks away his hand. ''I'll be fine, don't worry about me. How's your stomach?''

He smiles, ''My hardcore abs felt nothing.''

''Ricky, I'm serious.'' I love that he's trying to joke to make me feel better but I can see the pain through his eyes.

He seemed to remember who I was the moment my hand wrapped around his. Ricky flinched and pulled away slowly letting my fingertips fall on my lap. ''It just hurts that's all. I'll get over it, I always do.''

''I'm happy you spoke up for yourself. You told me how much you dreaded for this to happen, and now it's over so you don't have it worry about it ever again.''

''Yet I feel even more empty, and I don't understand how.'' He clenches his own two hands and scoots a little back. I try to hide the pinch of pain I felt after feeling his want for distance.

''Maybe you just have to let time pass by? You said what you wanted to say.''

''I need to ask my mom about what he said.'' He starts to get up leaving me alone in the dirt.

I stumble to follow him, ''Wait to ask her what?''

''The man said that he despised me because my mom did something.''