Bandmate ||Ricky Garcia||

《s i x t y - n i n e》

Audrey's POV

The look on Andi's face as we locked the car doors broke my heart. His eyes were empty and him sitting beside wasn't like I remembered. He wasn't shoving me or flicking my hair to my face, instead, I saw as his body tried to scoot farther from me. 

After being in the hospital for almost 3 weeks we are finally able to go home. Mom thought it would be a good idea to visit our old home before our flight back to California. Ricky was sitting next to me and unlike Andi, he was close to me. The taxi driver pulled up to our old home -which is now where my uncle lives- and I see Jocelyn's head through the window. 

As we get off in the driveway I see our old basketball hoop hanging on top of the garage. Unconsciously,  I reached for Andi's hand and pulled him to the hoop,  ''Look Andi this is where we played basketball almost every day after school!''  I look at the hoop then at my brother and seeing his absent face just flashed me back to reality. 

He opened his mouth but then closed it. This must be as hard for him as it is for us. ''We should play again sometime.'' He gives me an awkward smile and goes back to my dad. 

''It's okay he'll remember everything soon.'' I hear Ricky's voice from behind me. His arm wraps around my waist and pulls me in for a quick kiss on my forehead. 

As soon as we walked in we're surprised by all our family members. Everyone was filled with joy and tried to hug us. I felt overwhelmed I can't even imagine how Andi must be feeling. I introduced Ricky to my whole family and every few minutes I'd check in on Andi to see how he was doing. 

After a few hours and the pizza that was brought was finished people slowly started to go back home. Every time Andi was hugged goodbye he would never wrap his arms around the other person. The only people left were my uncle's family, grandma, grandpa, and of course Jos.

''I'm so happy God listen to my prayers and brought you back to us,'' Grandma said grabbing dad by the neck and pulling him down for a kiss. ''Hope you learned your lesson.'' 

''Mom I couldn't have just left Andi there.'' 

''Yes I understand that but you both could've been smarter and chosen to travel on a day where it wasn't supposed to storm.'' And just like that, it all turned into a lecture for my dad. I saw Andi slowly start to drift away from the crowd. Carefully I make my way through my family and follow Andi. Finally, I catch up to him and find him looking at some family frames my mom didn't take with us. 

His fingers traced over the glass and his chest rises and falls. I cough to make him know I'm here next to him. His hand drops and feet scoot a little away from the wall. ''I wish I could remember...'' His voice trails away and I can't help but give him a hug.

''You will eventually. I'm just happy you're finally home.'' It takes a while but after I finish my sentence he hugs me back. I pull back and point to one of the photos. 

''That's you when you were 13, I think. You had just won the basketball championship.'' In the picture, he was wearing his blue uniform with the yellow ball. 

''I look so derpy. Did I really look like that?'' His lips crack into a smile looking down at the way his long blonde hair stuck to his forehead. Back then his hair length reached the nose and the tips were dyed blue. 

''It still surprises me how you actually managed to get girlfriends.'' I laugh and he shrugs. 

''Your brother got game.''  He starts to wiggle his shoulders and it felt like everything was back to normal all over again. At that moment I hear my mom call for us and we start walking back.