Heather {RICKY BOWEN}

{eight}

"What team?"

Mia's phone buzzed against her leg, the blonde only sparing it a small glance before focusing back on the sketch she was doing. It was supposed to be a quiet Sunday afternoon, Mia's mom got caught up with work and had to go in a day early which left Mia alone.

Of course, Mia's quiet day was ruined when Ashlyn made it her mission to text the blonde every five minutes to see what she was doing. And when she didn't answer Ashlyn, Carlos started, and now Ricky. It was nice to see that they cared, but after Mia's disaster of a homecoming night, she only wanted a little time to herself. 

She ignored another phone call from her red-headed friend, tossing her phone on the desk across the room and collapsing back onto her bed. 

It wasn't until after rehearsal Monday that Mia ran into any of her friends. she had gone to the art room for her free period to avoid Carlos and didn't spare Ricky a glance in math class. She had been walking towards the auditorium, hoping they were done for the day and she could finish the last piece of set she had to do for the scene they were supposed to start running the next day. 

She passed the theater room on her way, pausing when she heard Ricky's voice. It was accompanied by a sweet melody, and Mia couldn't help but lean into the room to watch the boy sing. Her cheeks heated as she watched Ricky's back, the guitar strung around his body shifting as he sat. She startled as she heard Gina, having not seen the girl before. 

Her eyes watered as she remembered the dark shadows sitting in the front seat of Ricky's car, the one in the passenger's seat leaning over. 

Mia had been surprised to see Ashlyn at her door, the redhead hadn't called before she came, and the only words that were spoken being "get your shoes on, we're going out." 

So now, here she was, sitting in Big Red's basement, trying to ignore the looks everyone seemed to be giving her. None of them had really met her before, save from the short time she spent at the read-through earlier in the year. 

"Why are we all here? And Ashlyn, did you really have to invite your little tag along?" Mia jumps, not expecting Natalie to speak. It takes a few moments for the actual words to register, the pain in her chest only a few more seconds. 

"We all ended up in the same basement after a really bad day. Someone should say something." 

Mia ignored Carlos as he spoke, still trying to register that Ashlyn hadn't spoken up on her behalf. The pain grew as the group got distracted speaking about Ms. Jenn. She didn't belong here. 

Mia shifted as Ashlyn jumped off the sofa behind her, becoming excited as Carlos rambled on about choreography and music. Her arm brushed against EJ's accidentally, but she only spared him a glance as she sat back against the cushions. 

"Are you ok?" EJ was still looking at her, a lilt of concern hidden in his voice. 

"No." Mia stood, brushing past the group doing footwork and practically sprinted up the stairs. She made it to the front door before someone grabbed her arm. 

"Hey, where are you going?" Ricky's voice made the tears escape the blonde's eyes. 

"Home." Mia pulled her arm from his grip. "Where i dont have to worry about fake friends or people who dont know who I am." 

"Woah, what do you mean? What happened?" 

Mia turned from the door, not caring that her face was probably red and her eyes puffy. "I'm not wanted or needed here, Ricky. I dont fit in. I can't write a song or do a split. Natalie voiced it pretty well, dont you think?"