We Come Alive 5

Epilogue: Richard "Ricky" Barnes

Ricky Barnes

Ricky eventually stopped working with Mateo after he left Texas for Florida for college. He always remembers how Mateo couldn't be happier to get Ricky's resignations.

Throughout college, Ricky took both football and schooling seriously, not having any outside distractions so he would stay on the right path. He would work almost every weekend to pay for his schooling since his mom couldn't afford all of his funds. That was until midway through his sophomore season, Ricky was given a full-ride scholarship for the rest of his college years. It was the first time his coaches and teammates had seen him cry. When he told his mom, Rachel, she held Ricky in her arms as he cried.

The favorite games Ricky would ever play was against his friends, and he absolutely loved playing against Clover and seeing her happy and in her element;

Ricky sat down on the bench and smirked seeing Clover walking onto the field with her helmet on her head. When they made eye contact, they both smiled at one another.

"You got a crush on her or something?" Ricky heard his teammate Jay say from beside him.

Ricky shrugged a shoulder and glanced at him. "Wouldn't really call it a crush. I'm more...what's that dumb word people always say? Smitten. Yeah. That's what my mom always says."

Jay chuckled. "So you're in love with her?"

"Love is overrated," Ricky noted.

"Have you ever even been in love?" Jay nagged.

"Once," Ricky admitted, looking on the field to Clover throwing the ball a few yards to her wide receiver.

"How'd it end?"

Ricky smiled, staring at his girlfriend. "It never has." He admitted. "I love that girl more than even I know."

After earning a bachelor's degree in criminology from the University of Florida after three and a half years. He worked for a year and a half as a janitor in his hometown. After a whirlwind of an evening, he moved to Missouri with Clover. While there, he took Andrew's advice from years ago to do something that he's good at. He began training to become an MMA fighter while working full time.

Ricky got lucky when he catches the eye of the UFC after an amateur fight. He trains and works with some of the best in the UFC for his debut two years later. Unfortunately, as his career is taking off, Clover's life seemed to be going in the opposite direction;

Ricky walked out of the sparing cage to see his longtime girlfriend sitting on the ground with her back against the wall on her phone.

"I'm boring?"

Clover glanced up at him and forced a smile. "I've seen you fight before. It's nothing new. What I'm really concerned about is if you're prepared for your debut."

Ricky fell on his knees in front of her while the sweat dripped off of him and his long brown hair that wasn't stuck in his bun was sticking to his skin.

"I've been ready. I'm worried about you." He breathed, taking his water bottle when she offered it to him. "I don't know where your heads at anymore. I'm worried."

Clover sat up and leaned towards him. "I'm just figuring out my life right now. I'll be fine. Okay?" She kissed his lips then got up. "You stink. Go shower so we can get some dinner. You need protein and some calories. If you're gonna do this seriously, I'd rather not see you fall on your back."

Ricky stood to his feet and kissed her softly. "So supportive you are." He chuckled, giving her butt a quick smack before he went off to shower.