Chapter 10
Ricky walks back to the table carrying drinks for him, Aj, and Aly. "Alright, two house specials. Courteously of Raviv Ullman" He hands each of them a drink and takes a seat next to Aly.
"Thank you." Aj says before taking a sip.
Aly looks at Ricky, both give each other a friendly smile.
Joe walks up on stage to introduce tonight's performer. "Ladies and gentlemen...I present to you...Jeff Bernat"
'Just Vibe' begins to play.
The group begin to dance in their chairs as they watch and vibe to the music. Bobbing their heads to the rhythm of the beat.
"He's really good." Aly comments to Aj.
Everyone's enjoying the show.
After a few songs Jeff decides to slow things down a bit and 'Ms. Seductive' starts to play.
"Oh man I love this song, Aly you wanna dance?" Ricky asks. Aly pretty shocked with the offer, but refuses to say no.
"Sure" she nods her head as an agreement.
Ricky grabs her hand and takes her in the middle of the crowd. The two begin to slow dance to the music, with a few others joining them.
Did you notice me looking at you?
All the way from the other side of the room?
Now honey you caught my eye from a mile away
Was on my way leaving, but now I might have to stay
Ricky having his hands around Aly's waist and Aly having her arms on his neck, moving to the music. Both staring right at each other smiling ."I gotta say, I'm pretty surprise you asked me to dance." Aly admits to him.
"Now whys that?" He asks.
"Well, as I remember..you were always a shy dancer. Remember Phil of the Future?..." Aly pauses for a second, and Ricky giggles as the memory comes back to him to the time they both had to slow dance on camera.
'Cause you,
There is just something 'bout you
Maybe it's the way you walk girl
But I just could not figure out
"I swear we had to do like 50 takes of that scene. And I really had to give you a dance lesson right at the middle of it" They both laugh just thinking about it.
"Hey I had two left feet back then what can I say?" Ricky says still cant keep a straight face.
"But you got a whole lot better. Thanks to me" She smiles at him.
Why you give me butterflies when I,
Simply just look at you
Why must I fall for you?
Or why I can't think of words when I,
Simply approach you
I don't know what to do
Ricky staring at her eyes, feeling this scent of comfort he had lost before. Now having this girl, this close friend with him again. Seeing her smile and just being at the presence of her...thinking to himself..why did I let her go?
Is it those eyes?
Or those lips?
Or the way you sway those hips?
Or maybe your hair?
How it shines?
Ms. Seductive I can't help but try
Aly pulling him closer so she can rest her head on his shoulder. Ricky takes a tiny sniff of her hair.
Cause darlin' it's you
There is just something 'bout you
Maybe it's the way you walk girl
But I just could not figure out
Swaying side to side. "God I always feel safe with you." Realizing what she just said, Aly parted herself away from Ricky. "Oh my goodness...was that lame?" She asked really embarrassed.
"haha no, it was cute. Made me feel special." He said smiling at her.
Why you give me butterflies when I,
Simply just look at you
Why must I fall for you?
Continue to slow dance to the music Aly begin to have flash backs of her and Ricky. How this boy who was her costar became to be this great guy she grew close with. She never felt so comfortable and safe whenever shes with him. She messes that feeling.
I couldn't help myself if I wanted to
Feels like I'm in a dream
Please make this last
'Cause I just cannot help the fact
"Remember when we first met?" Aly random asks.
"How could I ever forget? It was during your casting audition for Keely. " He answers with clear remembrance of that exact moment when this tall shy but sweet blond headed girl walked in for her call back audition.
Aly also replaying it all in her head. "I was super nervous. Literally couldn't breathe during the whole thing. And I was certain I wasn't gonna make it...but thanks to one Raviv Ullman. He convince the producers that...I was the one..." Both still looking at each other, Ricky giving her his smirk that she loves. "...You know, I still never understood why? I mean... what made you think, made you believe that I was it?" She curiously asks.
"Well...some things you just know. You have these straight instincts about certain things. Certain people...and you just have to go with it. I mean...I knew at that moment there was something about you. I knew that...this was the girl. And I was right."
Aly pulls Ricky closer, squeezes him a little, and rests her head back on his shoulder once again. "I missed you." She sighs. Ricky leaning his head against hers closing his eyes. "I missed you too."
That you give me butterflies when I,
Simply just look at you
Why must I fall for you?
Or why I can't think of words when I,
Simply approach you
I don't know what to do,
The song ends. Aly and Ricky both pull apart and clap for the wonderful performance. Ricky turns to Aly "I wanna show you something."
"You wanna show me something?" Aly pretty confused.
"Yeah..its not here. Can you come with me?"
"Now?"
"Yes." He takes a quick glance over to Aj and her band understanding her concern. "Look, I really want you to see something. I promise I'll have you back before midnight." Ricky practically begging her to go with him.
Still not knowing what he has in store Aly agrees. "Okay. Let me just go grab my purse and let Aj and the guys know." She starts to walk away but suddenly turns back. "No funny business Ullman." Joking around, Ricky laughs as he watches her walk over to the table.
Aly making her way to Aj and the boys. "Hey... me and Ricky are gonna go."
"What? Where are you guys going?" Aj asks her sister.
"I'm not sure..he says theres something he wants to show me." Aly grabs her purse and hugs her sister bye.
"Oh okay then. I guess I'll see you later." Aj still confused and a bit curious on what exactly is going on.
As Aly leaves the bar with Ricky, Brad takes a seat next to Aj. "You still don't think there's anything going on between them two?" He says to her trying to build up the possible fact. "Come on, think about it. I mean you saw them dance together. The way they look at each other. Put it all together Aj. You know deep down, somethings up with them."
Aj listening to what hes says. Could it be?...
*****Ricky's Loft*****
Opening the door to his loft, he turns on the lights and lets her in. "So...this is your place..." Aly says walking inside looking around. Still questioning why shes even there in the first place.
"Yeah. Go ahead and take a seat. I'll just be a minute." Ricky walks to his room, and Aly goes over to his leather couch to sit down.
Ricky walking back out carrying his laptop, places it down on the coffee table and takes a seat next to Aly.
He begins to log in. "You brought me here...so we can search the web..?" Aly still not understanding.
"haha No. I wanted you to see this. And tell me what you think.." He clicks on an untitled folder. And inside has over 50 different word documents.
"What is it?" Aly asks while Ricky showing her the screen.
"Ever since I moved here...I've been doing some writing.."
"Writing..?"
"Yeah...It started out as little drafts about inner feelings, just to get stuff out. Then I dont know. Became poetry and then turned into short stories.." Aly takes another look at the screen, and begins to scroll up and down.
"Its kinda like my own personal hobby...I never showed anyone this, til now." He admits to her.
She slowly turns to him "So...then...why are you showing me this?"
"Because I trust you, and I feel comfortable around you... Also cause your smart and...I really want your opinion." He explains looking straight into her eyes.
Aly nods in agreement. "ok." She begins to read.
After going through reading a few saved documents, Aly finishing up one last sentence. She slowly begins to lean back.. then releasing herself against the couch. Having a shocked jaw dropping face. (pretty much like when 'keely' was listening to Phil telling her he was from the future.)
"You okay?" Ricky asks.
"Rav...those..were amazing." She tells him still having the same facial expression.
"Really?" Sounding shocked with her comment.
"Yes." She sits back up. "Raviv these were so...deep and true, wise...to be honest I'm kinda surprise it came from you." Both giggle to the true fact.
Ricky shyly smiling at her. "What can I say...I guess theres a part of me you never knew about."
"..Or always had a feeling about..but never got to actually see it til now." Aly staring into his eyes not being able to move. She known him for so long, but it feels although shes meeting him for the first time. Suddenly getting this 'nervous' feeling.
Both still sitting, staring in complete silence. Ricky clears his throat to break the moment.
"I'm glad you liked them." He tells her.
"So...Raviv Ullman..the writer? Author? Story teller?" Aly trying to come up with possible lead goals.
"hahaha...uhhh I don't know...maybe. Some day. Even though this is all still new to me, but I kinda wanna turn one of these stories into a book. I'm still brainstorming, but you know. Its something."
"Are you kidding? Rav trust me...you're an amazing writer. You should do it. I would totally buy one of your books."
Ricky smiles at her excitement. "I'm even gonna tell everyone I know to buy a copy. And you know those reviews online? I'm gonna write my own and let the whole world know its incredible."
"Slow down there dream girl. Its not even full effect yet."
Laughing at Ricky, Aly closes his laptop. "You could really do it though. You have so much talent. "
"Thanks." He gives her a smirk and she can't help but smile back at him. Suddenly having butterflies in her stomach.
"Theres something else. But its not here.." Ricky says as he gets up off the couch and offers his hand to her.
They both leave the loft...
Ricky leading Aly down a few blocks from Stella's. Walking pass an open walk way between buildings, they enter a door with a blue neon light above it that said "The Blue Room".
Walking down stairs to a underground basement bar setting. The lighting was slightly dimmed, with a few blue lights against the walls that also were filled with paintings. A bar right in the middle and a couple of pool tables on the side. On the opposite side, which was the main attraction was a women talking in front of a microphone. Bright spot light on her and people seated around listening as she speaks.
Aly seeing what the crowd was watching. She turns to Ricky "Its spoken word." He tells her, clearing up the confusion.
"They have these open mic nights. Poems usually. Some story tellers. I go here and..I don't know. I get inspired.. See that girl, talking" He says referring to the one on the microphone. "Shes a local. Almost everyone knows her from her poetry, a lot come just to see her. Beautiful words that girl. She and so many others...they get me thinking constantly after hearing them. They inspire me. Pretty much how I got into the whole, writing thing I guess."
Aly listening to him, thinking theres really more to him then what shes known.
"How did you find out about this place?" She asks.
"Joe..he knows the owner. He brought me here, and I immediately loved it. The vibe, the music, the people. The best thing is that not too many people know anything about this place. And the ones that do aren't the party people I use to hang out with. So its a huge breather, to get away from that scene."
He turns to her and she looks at him "Wanna see the best part?"
"Theres more?"
He smiles and takes her hand again, walking to the back door which led to stair cases. They walked up right to the top on the roof.
It wasn't a tall building they were on, but it was still a beautiful view of New York. Standing on the roof top Aly amazed at the scenery. "This...is my favorite place out of all of New York. I go here to escape." Ricky admitting to her.
"I gotta say Raviv Ullman, you really did surprised me tonight." Aly says turning to him. Ricky looking at her as a bit of wind starts blowing her hair.
"Well..you told me what inspired you, so I thought I'd show you what inspired me." Without saying anything else she walks over and gives him a hug.
Holding her under the stars he smiles to himself. Feeling her warmth. Missing her all these years, and now here she is. He looks at her soon making contact with her eyes. Ricky still holding Aly not wanting to let go, in fact having the urge to move closer. For some reason knowing this girl for years and years, its like he's now looking at her from a different light. Feeling very uneasy he slowly leads in...
Suddenly her phone rings.
He snaps back into reality and lets go of her. Aly going through her purse for her phone she sees a missed call from Aj and a text message that read "Where are you?".
"Its my sister.." She glances over a the time. "Its getting late, I should probably go."
"Ok" They both begin to walk back...
On their way back to Aly's hotel the two slowly walking side to side, both have not said a word since the roof. "So...can I ask you a question?" Ricky asks breaking the ice.
"Sure." She says to him.
"What...happened between you and Matt?" Ricky asking feeling a slight chance of being slapped.
Normally if anyone asked or talked to her about the 'M' word she throw a fit. Or get really upset. But the fact that it was Ricky...none of these feelings occurred.
"He just...wasn't into the whole commitment thing." Aly tells him saying no more. He nods at her response. "So what about you and Rachel?"
"Let's just say...she saw her future, and it didn't involved me in it." he tells her.
"Ouch." Aly feeling sorry she asked.
"No, its cool. I'm over it. So... you seeing someone new?" He asks very curious, slight hoping there would be an open field.
"No. You?" Looking over to him.
"No."
There about a block away from the hotel. But yet they don't want to leave each others company. Reminding Aly of all the times they use to spend together.
"Remember when...we use to shoot really late. Or sometimes we would hang out after a long day at work? And I always had to be home at a certain time or else my parents would of killed me? Completely risking my whole acting career." Both smile with the memory coming back to them. "I use to tell you 'Rav I need to be home in like 10 mins!' and we would be like 25 mins away from my house. But you'd always get me there on time. Not even a second late. Exactly on the dot."
"But I'd always stayed safe with my driving, don't forget. Never went too crazy." Ricky adding on.
She looks over to him. "You always did take care of me. Even til now, walking me back."
Ricky putting his hands in his pocket, shrugging his shoulders. "What can I say...precious cargo."
And with that..she realizes something she never did before. He cared about her from day one. Before they actually met. And all these years, he has always been there for her. Minus their falling out. She never felt so safe, protected, and comfortable when shes with him. Why didn't she see all these things before? He was always there right in front of her.
Making their way to in front of her room. They say their goodbyes. Ricky hugs her, but before letting go he takes another squeeze. Aly goes in her room..
Seeing Aj already sleeping. She gets ready for bed.
Laying down staring at the ceiling, thinking about today. Her night with Ricky. Ricky in general..his sweetness. What he said earlier about being his 'precious cargo'. Taking a big sigh she says to herself "I miss him already.."
Ricky laying in the exact same position in his bed, with both hands behind his head. Thinking about her as well. Her eyes are his weakness. Not being able to get her out of his mind or shake this 'feeling' when he thinks about her. Could this really be happening? He begins to question himself. Am I falling for Alyson? Where did this spark suddenly come from?