one time thing | ricky bowen ¹

fourteen

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liliana barrios smiled as ricky held leighton very tight. the hug only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to have the blood pumping in both teenagers bodies.

"ricky, i found some fresh blankets in the closet you can use in the guest room. i can set it up for you, okay?" liliana said but leighton denied immediately. "no mom, we can do it. i know you have your late shift today and don't want you to be late. we got this."

"i am so sorry liliana, if i would have known you were working late today i wouldn't have bothered—" ricky started but leighton's mom just shook her head smiling. "no no no. you are always welcomed here. don't ever think you aren't. even if you guys are mad at each other. here, i'm gonna go get ready." liliana said and handed the pile of softness to both of them.

"sleep tight, both of you. love you guys." she said kissing both of their foreheads. she was an amazing mom to the two of them and nayeli. with everything that has happened to her, the love in her heart never stopped.

leighton and ricky headed up to the guest room and switched on the lights. they set the blankets and pillows down and started to fluff out the blankets. there was a slight silence before ricky spoke up, "i was going to text you about coming over but i just showed up. i was at big red's and turns out his 'sleep' is very noisy. could not do it. not even for a night."

leighton laughed as they set the bed up and both sat down. "it's fine. like my mom said. always welcomed. i was just playing the piano and doing some singing. you know, pass time." leighton said and ricky just listened, almost in a daze.

"anyways. tell me. what's going on at home? i only know little bits and pieces, but not all of it. i thought i could hear it from you. how long is she staying?" leighton asked pulling the blanket to cover her legs. full attention still on ricky.

ricky sighed and started biting his nail. "i don't.. uh." he sighed again and leighton spoke again, "if things get really tense just come back here. we can be house mates. nayeli is a little boring in my opinion." letting out a laugh as ricky cracked a smile.

the smile left and he let it all out, "i'm really scared, leigh. i'm really scared this time.." he smacked his lips as tears started filling his beautiful brown eyes. leighton moved closer and held his hand as he kept talking, "it feels different already."

"but that's what it is right? it's different. change. change doesn't have to be bad ricky." she said rubbing her thumb on the back of his hand. "it's really hard, to talk about it you know? not with you. you make it easier, but with others it's like.. and i know. trust me i know you have had it hard too. losing your dad to an illness. this hurts, but maybe not as much as that." ricky said looking leighton in her eyes.

"no. it doesn't matter what you lose a parent to. it will hurt either way ricky. it's pain. something that people feel when they're in a certain situation. it's okay. don't try to patch that up. you can always, and i mean it, always talk to me. okay?" leighton said feeling her heart ache at the sad boy in front of her.

she let out a shaky breath and continued, "i know things have been really weird between us. that we have been fighting a lot more. when it's been about stuff from the past. little things. i should not have left your side even once since the situation with your parents started to worsen. you're my best friend, and i love you."