AN: Hope you enjoy, this one is a little longer and I hope you review. P.S. That finale was absolutely perfect. It has really done wonders as my inspiration. READ IT! LOVE IT! REVIEW IT! =]
Amy tossed the frisbee to Gracie as she giggled out loud and ran to it, grasping at it as it soared toward her and clapping it between her palms. Amy chuckled at how easily amused the young girl was and shook her head. "Go ahead and bring it over to the others Grace, I'm sure they want to play." The little girl nodded and took off toward the rest of the group and, Amy sighing as she followed. Crossing her arms she took in the sight of her free playgroup and relished in how happy they all seemed. Today was really shaping up to be a good day.
Megan sidled up to Amy and nudged her with her shoulder, biting her lip as if with a ready-to-divulged secret. "Hey, did you get a look at that?"
Amy followed Megan's eyes and caught sight of Ricky kneeling beside Johnny Philips, another one of her kids, holding a baseball out to him. Johnny took it as Ricky talked to him and nodded excitedly, prompting a laugh from Ricky who soon stood up and ruffled Johnny's hair. It was adorable the way they were interacting with each other and, again, Amy couldn't help but smile. Megan let out a loud sigh and fanned herself, "My goodness. Hot, sexy, AND good with kids?" she licked her lips, "If he asked me to marry him right now I would. Here in the park in front of everyone."
Amy laughed out loud and playfully pushed her friend. "Oh my god, you're crazy."
Megan shrugged, "What? Come on look at him! He's perfect."
Amy shook her head and rolled her eyes. "No one is perfect." Megan tilted her head to the side and rolled her own eyes, crossing her arms in front of her as she faced her friend.
"Oh come on Amy, even you have to admit that Ricky is the complete package."
But she only shrugged and slipped her hands into her pockets, "I don't know Megs, I'm mean, sure, I'm not blind. He's great looking, but perfect? Come on, let's be reasonable here."
"You don't even know him!" Megan complained, but it only yielded another eye roll.
"And you do?"
Megan sighed and shook her head, Amy holding her gaze until Megan looked away and bit her lip. "No," she admitted. "But, what I do know is that, that boy is interested in you. It would take a blind person to not notice the way that he's been following you around." At this Amy felt a blush rise up into her cheeks and she pulled at her ponytail.
"Weren't we looking at him for you? When did this become about me?
Megan laughed, "When it became apparent that Ricky wasn't following us around for me." She snorted and nudged her friend again. "Honestly girl," Megan continued, "I wish I was in your shoes. You've got a super sexy guy wanting to get to know you! He's interested and he's willing to put in some work. Most guys would have moved on to the next girl once they'd been rebuffed, but he seems persistent so you should enjoy that—no—embrace that!" Her hands found their way around Amy's shoulders and she shook playfully, "Please! For the sake of your libido!" and Amy giggled as a stray hair fell from her rubber band.
Brushing it away Amy sighed, but shook her head, "Look, I appreciate what you're saying, but I really don't want to embrace it. I just, don't want anything like that right now, so turn on your charm and get him yourself. You know me, I'm not going to be able to give him what he wants."
Megan huffed and pouted as she crossed her arms, "Yeah, I do know you and you always seem to do this. You always seem to find an excuse to throw away a perfectly good guy who is genuinely interested in you. You nitpick and you find things to justify your fear with so that you don't fall in too deep in case the ball drops. You expect them to mess up in the future and you're so afraid that it will hurt you that mess it up before you can."
She sighed as Amy's face became serious, almost insulted and stepped forward, "I'm not trying upset you Amy, I just, don't want you to miss out on any more experiences. You've been so guarded for the last two years, with good reason, and you've always been the more levelheaded out of the three of us. But you can't learn how to trouble-shoot through life by just watching Mari and I make mistakes in ours or your parents make mistakes in theirs. You've got to make a few mistakes yourself and maybe you'll find that some mistakes are worth making." She glanced over at Ricky once more, who was tossing the ball to Johnny as the two called out to each other between throws, talking and laughing as if they were best friends and nodded. "And that potential mistake has your name written all over it."
She patted her friend's shoulder and left it at that, turning her heel and returning to the kids. Amy sighed deeply and brushed a hand through her hair, reaching to her rubber band to pull it out and retie her ponytail. She didn't think she did what Megan was saying she did, she didn't ruin potential relationships because she was afraid they would fall apart she just never found one worth keeping. It always became apparent after a certain number of days or weeks where it was going and Amy prided herself on being able to intuitively read the life expectancy of any of her relationships, friend or otherwise. That's why she was very picky about who she let into her inner circle. People were always changing, their hair, their attitude, their mind and, if you weren't careful you could get hurt. 'There was no shame in protecting yourself from that. Right?'
But as the question came to mind Amy sighed and shook her head, Megan's words coming back in full force. Glancing over at Ricky she watched as he played catch with Johnny, his smile genuine and inviting, more attractive than she cared to admit, but shook her gaze away turning instead to watch the other kids play as her thoughts began to circulate.
Two years ago Ricky would have been exactly the type of guy she would have fallen for. Two years ago he would have been the type of guy she would have given everything for. Smart, attractive, funny, charming, he was what she had always pictured at fifteen. But a lot had changed since then; she had changed a lot since then.
Taking a seat on the ground Amy pulled her knees up to her chest and bit her lip, resting her chin on top of her knees. Her mind whirred with the reality of the past two years and she sighed as it all came rushing back.
Her parents had been married for fifteen years before things started to take a turn. They married young and for the sake of Amy, who came unexpectedly into their lives, but they had been in love once. At least, in love enough to have Amy's sister Ashley and to keep their family afloat in the midst of everything changing. Amy's mother, Anne, had begun to work around the time that Amy entered the sixth grade and her newfound independence was hard for Amy's dad, George, to cope with. Anne was becoming successful and busy as a company consultant and even when she came to work with George in his furniture company, turning his store into a lucrative and expanded online business, the romance in them slowly faded and George began to go elsewhere for the attention he wanted.
Amy had had no idea that it was going on, though Ashley had, having caught her dad with some flight attendant. She hadn't said anything because she had hoped her dad would stop, but he didn't and he was still paying for the betrayal Ashley felt from him. What had pained Amy the most during the whole ordeal was that the falling out had not been sudden. It had started to build over the two years she was in Junior High, rising in tension in her house before it finally came to head at the end of eighth grade when her mom handed her dad divorce papers. Though she hadn't known what exactly her dad was doing she had known that things were falling apart and couldn't stop it. Things were changing around her and she wasn't changing fast enough with them. When the papers were signed, sealed, and delivered to the courthouse it all suddenly became real and had suddenly become painful. Things had officially changed and it was hard to adjust.
After that Amy's dad moved out of the house and out of state, heading to California where Anne and George had opened up another location for their business. They had originally planned for the whole family to move out there together, but then the divorce happened and so he went on his own. Anne and George stayed in business together, because it was the only place they really got along and had spent the two years since their divorce becoming friends again. Though it felt strange Ashley and Amy made no complaints since the lack of fighting between them had been one of the nicer changes.
And then slowly life just moved on. Amy's dad got remarried eight months ago to his first love, a woman named Kathleen, who he ran into after her husband had died. Ashley shared with Amy that she was probably the reason why dad cheated on their mom, because he was really looking for Kathleen, but Amy tried not to think about things like that anymore. It had hurt when he got remarried. Kathleen had two kids, a boy and a girl, and, at times, Amy felt like her dad traded them for Kathleen, Grace, and Tom, as if she and Ashley and Anne weren't enough. But, she had to make the best of it. She forced herself to adapt and tried not to dwell on the hurt.
Grace and Tom were really nice when Ashley and Amy would spend holidays with them so Amy was glad for that, especially since Grace was the same age as Amy and could relate to her frustration over the marriage. But she still had trouble trusting and opening up to her dad. His betrayal had shifted her perspective on a lot of things and she wondered if in fifteen years he would fall out of love with Kathleen the same way he had with her mom. Or if maybe, like Ashley said, his love with her mom had all been a lie because in the back of his head he was always in love with Kathleen.
That's why most boys rarely lasted with Amy, they always had some sob story, some girl that got away, and she didn't have the time or energy to compete with that. If she was going to be in a relationship with a boy it would have to be for the long haul and most sixteen-year-old boys were not into that.
But, maybe there was something to what Megan had said. Maybe her cautiousness didn't have to stop her from experiences, but could act as a grain of salt, at least enough to get Megan off her back. Amy looked over her shoulder and glanced again at Ricky and Johnny, watching them together. She bit her lip and let out a slow breath through her teeth as Ricky threw the ball, his features defined in the sun. She would have to keep herself in check around him, since he had already proved what a way with words he had, but she wasn't fifteen anymore. Maybe she could handle him. Maybe she could give him a chance. Maybe, he wouldn't be the game-changer her gut was screaming that he was.
Johnny actually had a really good arm for a six year old and had admitted to dreaming of playing professional. He threw like a kid who practiced every day and Ricky couldn't help but see a bit of himself in him, having done the same thing. He also lit up every time he came in contact with the ball and Ricky relaxed into their game nearly forgetting to ask him any questions about Amy. But after glancing over at Amy and Megan, seeing them talking and the way that she laughed and pulled at her ponytail and sighed, tossing the ball once more to Johnny. "So tell me kid, what's your girl like? She seems really special," he asked as Johnny easily caught the ball and bounced on his heels.
"She is. She's the nicest, prettiest girl in the world and I'm lucky."
Ricky smiled and nodded just as Johnny threw him the ball and he caught it with ease. "Yeah you are and you're right, she is really pretty. And a girl like her must be smart huh?"
He tossed the ball into his glove a couple times before throwing it back to the little boy. Johnny watched the ball with an intense focus, but couldn't help the smile as he caught it in the net of his glove. "Yeah, she's really smart. She wants to be a teacher. And she's really great with kids, all the other kids at the Foundation love Amy, but she loves me the best."
At this Ricky chuckled and caught the ball as it sailed toward him. "So how'd you get her to be your girlfriend? A girl like her, smart and pretty, must've played hard to get?"
As Johnny caught the baseball he furrowed his brow. "Huh?" and Ricky sighed, suddenly remembering whom he was talking to.
"I mean, how'd you get so lucky? How'd you get Amy to say yes?"
Johnny stepped forward and gripped the ball in his hand, snapping it into his glove as Ricky stepped closer as well. "I just…asked her," he said simply and with that he tossed the ball back at Ricky who caught it close to his chest. He laughed as Johnny smiled up at him, noticing that one of his bottom teeth was missing, and nodded, taking a few steps to the side. "You see," Johnny continued, "girls like Amy don't want big gestures, they notice the little things, like me! 'Cause I'm little."
"Wow." Ricky said, shaking his head, "I never thought of doing that. No wonder you got the girl little man."
Johnny nodded his head toward Ricky and shrugged, "I just got swag dude. Girls just can't say no." This time Ricky couldn't hold back his laugh as he threw Johnny the ball.
"I like your style kid," he said, shaking his head. "Alright, show me what else you got with that wicked arm of yours. You know how to throw a curve ball?"
Johnny shook his and furrowed his brow, falling into thought as he stared at the ball. "Oh!" he cried out suddenly, smiling at Ricky and then stepping back. "My friend at school taught me how to throw a screw ball, wanna see?"
Ricky nodded and punched a fist into his mitt, "Sure, let me see it." Johnny took a few more steps back and Ricky watched him, amused, before resting his hands on his knees as the windup came. The little boy stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth and stepped forward, releasing the ball with a grunt. The power of his throw impressive for six-year old and Ricky watched as it flew over his head. But in an instant he saw where it was heading and took off, his gaze frantically shifting from the ball to Amy who sat unknowingly in the grass. "Amy! Move!" She turned to him, but there was no time to get out of the way so Ricky jumped, snatching the ball out of the air with his bare hand only to tumble over Amy and onto the grass.
"Ricky! Oh my-Are you okay?" Ricky groaned as he sat up, his head spinning and his gaze out of focus. He felt warm fingertips against his forehead and squinted up to see Amy bending over him, her other hand pressing against his shoulder. "Ricky?" she asked again, "How many fingers?"
She held up three and he mirrored her, having trouble finding his breath or his voice as he breathed in the smell of vanilla beans and lilies. His focus finally stilled and he smiled as she brushed his forehead, "Hey Amy, funny running into you like this."
They both laughed together just as Johnny came barreling over and slid in the grass beside Ricky. "Oh man, are you okay? That was one amazing catch!" Again Ricky and Amy laughed as he handed Johnny the ball.
"That was one amazing throw—ah!" His hand was tender and red from the angle he had caught it and the slap of the leather against his skin.
"Oh no!" Amy cried out, reaching for Ricky's hand and delicately examining it in hers. He watched as she tenderly traced his palm, her brow furrowed as he suppressed the urge to hiss at the ache in his hand. Pulling her backpack off her back she zipped it open and pulled out a cold thermos, beads of water patterned across the body. She lightly placed the thermos into his hand and he sighed. "Sorry," she said, pressing his hand to grip the thermos.
He waved her off, "No, don't worry. Are you okay? I didn't hit you did I?"
She shook her head and leaned back into the grass, pulling her ponytail over her shoulder. "I'm fine, you jumped clean over me. It was actually pretty impressive." He smirked and leaned back on his elbows, glancing up in time to see her roll her eyes.
"I'm really sorry Ricky," Johnny's voice cut in, the boy looking very sad and very guilty. Ricky slid his mitt under his arm and pulled it off, releasing his hand so that he could run a hand through Johnny's hair.
"Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for kid. That was a great throw and look I'm not hurt that bad, it's just a little sore 'cause it wasn't my glove." He pulled the thermos out of his hand and showed it to Johnny, the redness and sting still there, but already subsiding. He sat up onto his bum and sighed, handing the thermos back to Amy as Johnny still looked incredibly guilty. Ricky shared a look with her before turning toward him and lifting his chin to face him. "Hey, I'm okay," he insisted, smiling at Johnny and nodding his head. "And I'm dying to have you teach me how to throw like that."
At this Johnny's eyes widened as he looked up at him and Ricky smiled even wider as he cocked his head to the side. "You think if I come over to the Foundation this summer we can play catch more often? My brother back home isn't much of an athlete so it isn't often that I get to play ball. Maybe we could even go to a game."
"Really?" Johnny said, almost too excited to breathe.
Ricky nodded, "Really. I'm only here for the summer, but you gotta teach me how you threw that ball."
"Okay!" Johnny burst out, his excitement bubbling out of him as if he was just filled with it. "Okay! Yeah, sure!"
Ricky laughed and held out his hand, Johnny high-fiving it instinctively, though Ricky pulled back with a hiss. "Ow-"
"Oh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry." Ricky shook his head and took the thermos back into his hand as Amy bit her lip.
"Hey Johnny-boy, why don't you go ask Megan if she can find Ricky an ice-pack. That'll work better than the thermos." And with that Johnny nodded, taking off toward Megan with a bounce in each step as the two watched. They shared a glance and a giggle as Ricky settled into the grass beside Amy and flexed his hand.
"That was really sweet of you," she said, pulling her legs up to her chest, "offering to play ball with him and all."
"He's a good ballplayer," Ricky said, holding up his hand, "with an awesome right arm," causing Amy to laugh as she pressed the thermos back into his hand.
"Well, still," she sighed, "I want to thank you. One, for saving my life," he nodded his head at that. "And two, for how good you are with Johnny. He really doesn't get along with some of the older counselor boys, doesn't really trust them and so it's nice for him to have a guy to look up to."
Ricky raised his brow and folded one leg under the other, resting a hand on his elevated knee. "Well, I try. He's a little hotheaded, but he's a good kid. I'm actually surprised, he doesn't get along with other guys?"
Amy sighed and rested her chin on her knees, glancing over at Johnny who was walking hand in hand away with Megan toward Shakur's booth, making large gestures and pointing toward she and Ricky. "Well," Amy started, "he doesn't have a male figure in his life and isn't really willing to trust many who have tried to be. He has problems with his mom when she brings dates home and problems with some of the boys here because he's just naturally distrusting. Margaret says it's because his father was abusive to both him and his mother."
At this Ricky sucked in a breath and sighed, "Oh." His own eyes found Johnny and watched him go, the image of his face during their first encounter coming to the forefront of his mind. "Yeah, I can understand that."
Amy looked over at Ricky and gauged his expression, the sincerity and understanding in his gaze enough to make her curious, but refrain from asking any questions. "So, it's nice that he likes you. He needs that kind of connection."
Ricky nodded and met Amy's gaze, "I know how important that is for a kid his age. I know, I needed one back then." He tossed Amy a smile, which she returned before cocking her head to the side.
"So that's two sweet things you've done for two of my favorite kids. I would say you're trying to impress me, but I think maybe you're just a natural with them."
Ricky laughed and shrugged, looking out at all the kids running and still playing, a spirited game of tag underway with them zigzagging beneath the trees. "I spent a lot of time with a lot of kids when I lived with Margaret and Shakur, comes with the territory I guess of being a foster kid."
Amy chuckled lightly and shrugged, "Maybe," she sighed, "or maybe you just like kids."
Ricky met her gaze, "Maybe I just like your kids," yielding a wider smile from Amy.
"Well, my kids are the best," and the two laughed as he handed her back the thermos. Their fingers brushed and prompted their eyes to meet once more, his gaze steady on hers as she bit her lip. 'I just…asked her,' he had said, and so Ricky took in a deep breath.
"Amy, would you like to go dinner sometime?" Her eyes widened at the question and he quickly held up a hand, "It doesn't have to be a date or anything, just the two of us out to dinner. But…I want to talk to you, get to know you better, if you don't mind."
Amy's mind whirred at his words, her thoughts racing over the pros and cons of how the situation could go. Her mind and her gut were screaming that she slow it all down now, nip it in the bud and suggest a more tame setting, maybe a dinner with Shakur and Margaret or a movie with Mari and Megan, but something else in her responded first, eliciting a smile and a purse of her lips. "Alright," she said, before she had time to think. "Dinner, but it's not a date. Just dinner, okay?"
He tried to suppress his smile but failed miserably, glancing down at his swollen hand before meeting her gaze again, "Whatever you say," he responded, "Whatever you want," Amy eyed him pointedly and he held up his hands in surrender, though the smile could not be wiped. "I promise Amy, it's not a date, just a dinner between friends," and she nodded.
"Good."
AN: Alright, so I hope you all could understand Amy's back story. It will start to make more sense in how much it impacts Amy and how she views love in the next few chapters. But anyway, again, I hope you all enjoyed AND are happy by the longer chapter. if you follow me on tumblr or youtube my new video is going to be coming out soon. =] Keep an eye out!
