Bandmate ||Ricky Garcia||

《f i f t y - t h r e e》

Audrey's POV

His arms wrapped around my waist and his fingertips grazed over mine as we swayed to the sides. There was nothing else in the room but his eyes and the deathly stare of another that drilled through my chest. 

There was hidden pleasure in the idea that Ricky was staring Sam and me down. It was a guilty terrible thing to do, considering what he just went through, but all I kept on thinking was of him and Peyton during his graduation. Partially it was my doing to have let him go like that, but at the same time, there's a relief with knowing that he's not mine anymore. 

''You good there?'' Sam asks slowing down the dance even more. 

''Yeah its nothing.'' 

''Oh okay then how about we stop for a while I'm starting to get a cramp on my heel.'' He laughed nervously to which made me laugh as well. He pulled me by the hand to the sidelines leaving the crown of people.   

We take our usual seats again and we sit quietly for a few minutes when finally the voice of the choreographer starts to announce the beginning of the vals. The last few couples left the dance floor and the lights dimmed. Celeste and his dancers made a big entrance and they did the dances I saw them practice for the past few days. Ricky's gestures were awkward and he constantly looks around paranoid, maybe he's alert for his father. In the last dance he catches sight of me, well at least I think he did because his glance sent shivers down my spine.  

It was time for cheers and Celeste's mom and dad went up with her. Ricky's eyes shifted to my direction and caught sight of Sam. He was pretending to have his own cup to cheer along, completely unaware of Ricky's glare on him. After that everyone left but Celeste and her dad, this must be the traditional father-daughter dance. 

The moment they started to dance my gut started to grow tight, but as soon as they started to play a video of family memories on the screen I lost it. A wave of anger washed over me and I just wanted to reach for the butter knife and crack the screen to pieces as I did with my mirror months ago. It's not fair that she is able to hug her dad and I don't even know if mine is alive!

My hands fisted my dress. I was starting to feel sweaty and hot with tears burning inside. I shifted my eyes away from Celeste and saw Ricky a few feet away from the screen staring at me. He knows exactly why my cheeks are flushed red and nails digging into my thighs. I notice he started to walk my away but stopped. Why did he stop? 

His eyes rolled in annoyance and he went back to standing where he was. That's when I felt something soft caress my cheeks. I turn to see Sam patting a napkin gently on my tears. That's why. He must assume these are happy tears. Ricky knows these are tears of pain.  

His arm wraps around me, ''You want to see my dog some more? I have videos of his sneezing?'' I nod and unconsciously lean towards Sam to the point where my head is resting on his shoulder, and what's even stranger is that I feel enjoyment to see Ricky's nose flared in anger. 

~.~

 ''That's unfortunate.'' I hear him say and I look down to see where he's staring. 

In the side there's an orange stain of what I'm guessing is the soda. I groan and touch to see if it's dry or still wet. ''Of course.'' I roll my eyes and slump down in my sit. 

''Hey, it's not that bad maybe it'll come off.'' 

I smile at him, ''Yeah maybe if I wash it with-'' I stop midsentence as soon I see Ricky's body come into view. He's making his way to our direction but his eyes never glance towards Sam and me. As he passed by us his knuckles brushed passed my elbow that I had rested on top of the table.