The Last Day of Spring (Ricky)

by **Leila** on June 15th, 2013, 3:57 am

Ricky didn't join her, as she'd hoped he would. Such an offer laid before him... and yet... nothing. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she'd been thinking. If he were such a womanizer, then wouldn't he be seizing the moment? She looked over her shoulder at him again, and he was still fully dressed, standing there, as if waiting for her to change her mind.

And she did. She covered her breasts, and grabbed a blanket from her bed, not letting him see more of her than he'd already had. She wrapped the towel around her body, beneath her arms, covering her from knees to chest. She then turn back around to Ricky, a sad, but forgiving look upon her face, her wet hair dripping lightly. She walked over to him closely, stumbling a bit still, and looked up at him, one hand holding her blanket closed. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She picked her words carefully, trying to not slur or stumble over them. "You must truly love her. Thank you for not doing... this. I'm still hurt, but I can't compete with true love. You're not a bad man Ricky Maze, just a dumb one. It may take me a while, but I'll get over you, now that I know just who you are. Why couldn't you have met me a season earlier?"

She then wrapped her free arm around Ricky, putting her head against his chest. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was mean, and unfair." Then the tears started to roll, mingling in with his already wet shirt. "Please don't ever leave Telion and your child. Don't ever leave me. Don't ever leave Zeltiva again. Promise me Ricky." The crying continued, "Because if you do, then everything I felt for you, still feel for you, would mean nothing."

"Now go home Ricky Maze. You're forgiven, and you probably have a worried woman waiting. Go to her, show up to my grand opening tomorrow, and never lose sight of what you have, of what you are. Now get going before I change my mind on forgiving you."

Leila would show him out, close her door, and collapse into bed, where she cried herself to sleep.

by **Ricky Maze** on June 15th, 2013, 4:34 am

Ricky's eyes went shut as he turned toward her, his grip hardened as the water that the cloth soaked dripped free onto his hands and down on the floor. There was a lump in his throat as he found it difficult to breath, this kind of pressure was unlike anything he felt before. He hadn't been aware that she had wrapped herself in a blanket and approached him, when he felt her lips press on his cheek though was when his eyes popped wide open. The heavy breathing paused as he became completely frozen, the man who became stone petrified by the unknown. When Leila finally spoke it was as if reality itself bent and twisted, as if the world altered and a place that seemed to brood paralyzing fear had no longer existed.... but it was somehow still the same world he lived in. Leila was right about one thing, he was a dumb man indeed. "A season earlier and I doubt ya'd be talkin' to me even now." He exhaled as confused relief became apparent. What Leila had done was not a means to allure him, but test his faith to the person he truthfully loved inside. He loved Leila sure enough... but the fact his story with Telion now tied the two of them together overpowered all other things. He fell in love with Telion without ever knowing it, and by the time he was ready to admit it to her he was already on the transition to parenthood.

When Leila began to cry with her head resting in his chest he naturally reacted, placing arms over her as pants of shock and ease left his lungs. "I promise, I won't be leavin' anyone behind now. I'm here for good, and I'll be the best damn father I can be." It was the most sincerest promise he had made, although he hadn't the slightest clue how he would follow it. The only answer he had for that though was following his heart at least, just as he had done on thus very night when Leila had tested him. When Leila told him to head home after forgiving him Ricky let a faint smile go, as he now felt that he finally found just what clarity he sought. "Thank ya... Leila." He nodded in appreciation, as she finally saw him out.

When he left to go home felt renewed within the rain, his mind and his heart now ever more clearer than before. It didn't take long for him to reach the building complex where his room was located, and when he would arrive back he would hold Telion close for dear life. He knew he loved her but after tonight he learned just how strong that love was, and now that Leila had forgiven him and proved to be a true friend, Ricky would have a few things to talk about with the love of his life.