A Billion Stars

Chapter 4

"So are you sure you're not completely wasting your time? I feel bad that you're helping me because I'm sure you have a hundred other things you could be doing." I ask Ricky with a laugh as we rummage through the moving truck. "Not at all, trust me." He doesn't elaborate but he smiles gently before turning away to grab a few boxes. "So how do you like the LA college of music?" I ask as I stack a few boxes in my own arms. "It's a dream Nini. Honestly when you get in I don't think you'll ever want to leave." I laugh and follow him out of the moving truck. "When I get in? That's so presumptuous but you're so sweet." I laugh and he smiles brightly back. "I can already tell the music that you make is special." I blush and look down at the boxes in my hands. "I don't know about special but I couldn't live without it." I say gently and Ricky holds the door open with his back as we enter the apartment building. "How long have you been making your own music?" He asks and I shrug. "A couple years. It's my coping mechanism. Something that's always there for me." Ricky looks like he's lost in thought and nods slowly. "I know how you feel. I got into music right after my parents divorced. I had friends, but there was nothing like locking myself in my room and confiding in my music." I frown and nod. "I was in a really bad relationship and I couldn't get myself to leave, so I confided in my music too." I say gently and Ricky stops climbing the steps to my apartment, looking at me, almost a little curiously. "Kinda crazy how music is just a major therapy huh?" I nod and look down at the boxes in my hand again. "Honestly I don't know what I'd do without it." I admit and his soft smile returns to his face as he continues to walk up the stairs. "I'm just gonna say it right out again, the respect I have for you..." I laugh brightly and it echoes through the stairwell, earning a bright smile from him. "I'd say the same to you, Ricky." I admit and he looks at me shyly. "Two individuals who have used music as a coping mechanism through terrible traumas and now are potentially going to the same school for the same major? I don't know. It seems like we were destined to meet, Utah Woman." I feel my face warm as we reach my door and I try to hide the blush on my face. "In my experience, the universe isn't that subtle so you might be right." I say and Ricky throws his head back laughing. "TRUE. A week after my parent's divorce, my skate board broke and I couldn't get another one so I had all of this extra time on my hands. Needless to say, guitar was my newest past time." My jaw drops. "Damn, talk about not subtle." I say and he laughs, helping me organize my boxes against the wall of the apartment. "I know right? But hey, without that twisted ankle, I wouldn't be where I am today." I smile, following him back out of my apartment. "I actually understand that. Without some of my worst experiences I wouldn't be who I am today." I tell him thoughtfully and he nods. "So what happened in your last relationship?" He asks curiously and I'm taken aback by his blunt question, so I just stare with wide eyes like an idiot. He turns around at my silence and winces. "Damn that was so not cool. I'm sorry. Talk about not subtle." He says and I laugh at his response, waving him off. "It's fine, but that's more of second or third hangout talk." I joke and he smiles, almost relieved that his comments didn't offend me. "Deal. Though I could also just wait to hear what happened through your music." I smile and tuck my hair behind my ears. "True." Is all I say, not bothering to tell him that singing in front of him would be something that I wouldn't just do. This guy was just way too cute, probably way too talented, and way too out of my league to just let him hear my music.

Three hours and many deep conversations later, Ricky was helping me bring in my last box. "Honestly I don't even know how to repay you." I laugh and he leans against my wall as I open some of my boxes, trying to get a sense of what to unpack. "You don't have to Nins. I was happy to help." He grins and I meet his eyes. "Nins?" I ask and he shrugs. "It fits you." I blush and rummage through my boxes nervously. "It's like 2 am, are you sure I'm not keeping you?" I ask after a second and he frowns, pushing himself off the wall. "Hey, you don't have to keep asking that. If I didn't want to be here, I'd tell you." I nod shyly and he smiles. "Besides, I want to make sure you're all good here. You don't really have a place to sleep." He tells me with a frown and I look around at the room. "That's okay, I'll put my bed together and then go right to sleep." I say and Ricky shakes his head. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But do you want to stay at my place tonight? You can have your own room, even lock the door if you'd feel more comfortable, I just don't want you to have a rough night after your move." His kindness catches me off guard and I stutter. "Wha- but... you don't know me." I say and he smiles, clearly catching my nervousness. "We just spent three hours telling each other everything. I don't think you're even considered a stranger anymore." I laugh and hang my head. "You're right." I giggle, (once again I don't just giggle, I'm pretty sure it's from lack of sleep) and Ricky plays with his ring on his finger. "But if you're not comfortable with it, just tell me. I can bring over an air mattress maybe." I laugh and think quickly. "Nah, uh, it'd be great if I could stay at your place." I say and he nods, breathing out. "Okay. Okay perfect." He stutters and I smile, looking around. "Let me just grab a change of clothes?" I say and he nods. "Oh yeah, take your time. I'm right across the hall. Apartment 42." He says and I smile, giving him a (way too cringy) thumbs up. "Gotcha. I'll see you in a few?" I say and he points at me, backing away and slamming his shoulder off of the open door. "Shit, ouch. Yeah see you then." He laughs out and I turn away so that he doesn't see my smile.