I Understand Now (Ricky Dillon Fanfiction)

Chapter 23

{Hey everyone, super quick author's note. I just want to let you guys know that while I've had loads of fun writing I Understand Now, it will most likely be ending soon :( but when I say that, I don't mean, like, this is the second last chapter. I just mean that there will only be a little bit more story, and maybe 5-6 more chapters plus an epilogue. Just thought I'd let you know so you don't get all shocked when it suddenly ends. Thanks, and enjoy 23! xx}

Ellie's POV.

I walk as fast as I possibly can to get away from Ricky. I now he'll probably try and follow me, but I'm not buying it. He knows what he did was wrong, and he knows how much it upset me.

I sit down on one of the stone steps of the amphitheatre we have just outside our library. I feel like some time alone will help me clear my mind and think things over before talking to Ricky about it.

At that moment, one of the last things I expected to happen, happens. Sarah bursts through the library exit, and as she runs closer to me, I notice that she is crying. She stops when she approaches me.

"Your little boyfriend hates me," she says. "I hope you're happy." Then she continues crying and runs away from me. Immature little prick.

I stay where I'm seated for a few minutes, and I'm about to stand up and leave when I see Ricky walking out of the library. When he sees me, he hurries over to me and I make to get the hell out of there.

"Ellie, wait," he calls. "Please." I turn around and he walks the rest of the way up to me.

"I know you're not going to want to talk to me about this, but you need to hear me out," he begins.

I roll my eyes. "Go on, then," I prompt him.

"I just spoke to Jen, and she finally admitted that Sarah was brainwashing her," he begins. "I stood up to Sarah, and Jen's okay now. She told me that she was acting out of instincts when she kissed me. She never meant to hurt you, she just got angry when she saw us together." He paused. "She still wants to be friends with you, you know."

I am practically lost for words when Ricky finishes speaking. Should I forgive him? I honestly don't know.

"Wow," is all I can say. "Jen said that to you? She...she still likes me?"

"Of course she does," Ricky replies. "She told me to find you, and...she wants to talk to you so that you two can sort things out."

I think for a moment before a smile spreads across my face. "Okay," I decide. "Let's go talk to her."

When we arrive back in the library, Jen is sitting in the same spot she was sitting in before with Sarah, but obviously she is alone this time. She smiles when she sees me walking into the library with Ricky.

"Hey, Ellie," she says.

"Hi Jen," I reply, also smiling. "Sorry for dragging you into all of this." I sit down on the chair opposite her.

"It's okay," she assures me. "It's been a pretty hectic time. I'm sorry for acting so rude to you-Ricky probably told you all about it, but it got really hard to say no to Sarah. Once she took me in after you said you couldn't help me, she was acting so nice and...." She leans on her elbow on the table and places her hand on her forehead. "I just couldn't see her for who she really was."

"That's understandable," I say. "We've both known how manipulative Sarah is. But she's out of the picture now, and maybe we can make up." Jen looks up at me.

"Yeah, maybe we can," she agrees, smiling again. "So, are we friends again?"

"Yep," I reply. "Oh, come here." I outstretch my arms and stand up, and Jen walks towards me before hugging me. I hear Ricky laugh to himself and mutter, "Girls."

I look over at him as I pull away and say, "Guys."

All three of us laugh at that.

...

{1 week later}

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I ask the angel standing next to me. Ricky looks at me with his dazzling brown eyes.

"I'm sure," he replies. "I love you. You know that, don't you?" He takes my hand and squeezes it. I smile at him.

"Of course. I love you too." He smiles back, and I nervously lift my hand and knock on my parents' front door.

"Hopefully Dad likes you, and Mum's come around a little more," I say.

"Hopefully," Ricky agrees.

After what feels like hours, the front door to my house opens, and my dad is standing in the doorway. He smiles.

"Hello," he greets. "I'm Ellie's dad. And I suppose you're Ricky?"

"Yep," Ricky says with a nod. "It's nice to finally meet you, sir."

"Call me Rob," Dad says. "Come in, you two." He steps aside as Ricky and I walk through the door. My mum is sitting at the dining table sipping a mug of coffee when we walk into the kitchen/dining room. She eyes us suspiciously when she sees us. I shoot her a look as if to say, Please, Mum. Don't embarrass me like this. Her expression softens slightly and she stands up and walks towards us.

"Hello again, Ricky," she says. "It's nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you too," Ricky replies.

"I'm sorry if Ellie's told you something about me that might turn you against me," Mum says with a chuckle, that luckily, Ricky joins in with. "It's just that I'm a bit of a protective mother, and I didn't want my daughter getting hurt."

"It's fine, really," Ricky assures her. "I understand that. As long as we're on good terms now." Mum nods.

"Of course," she confirms.

The afternoon goes by quickly. Ricky seems to get along really well with Dad, and Mum has loosened up a lot and is able to crack jokes with him. I can't help but smile and laugh for the entire time that he is here, because of the way he makes me feel. I probably could've guessed that I would end up forgiving him for the whole situation with Jen, simply because of how in love with him I am.

After some time chatting with my parents, Ricky and I head upstairs to my room, as usual.

"Your dad seems nice," Ricky comments when we are sitting on my bed together. "And your mum seems to have gotten over this whole thing about being against me."

"Yeah," I agree. "And I'm glad for that. She seemed to really have a sense of humour with you today." I look up at him after fiddling with my nails.

"Yeah, she was making jokes and everything," Ricky says. "I'm glad everything's been cleared up with your parents. I'd never do anything that wasn't okay with everyone involved. That never ends well."

"Yes, it is relieving," I agree. He smiles and leans in to kiss me. I can't help but notice the way his breath tastes like mint, and I almost let the thought of his lips against Jen's slip into my mind, but I push it away. The last thing I want is for this moment to be destroyed.

I feel him run his tongue along my bottom lip, but he doesn't take it any further than that. I pull away slowly and simply gaze into his eyes for a moment, taking in every little detail about them.

"I love you," he murmurs. I smile.

"I love you too," I reply.