Honestly

I tried to rack my brain for a reason why Ricky was here. I couldn't come up with anything. All I could do was glare at him, trying to hide my confusion. Apparently, I wasn't doing such a good job since he laughed. I assumed that he was laughing at me.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked him, rudely. "Why are you here? I'm busy."

"Can I come in?" he asked me, ignoring both of my questions. I rolled my eyes and stepped aside so he could come in. "Thank you. You're such a gracious hostess." He smirked.

I fought the urge to punch him in the face. I hated Ricky and his cockiness. He thinks he's the best thing that has ever happened to women. He was just an asshole. He tried to hit on me back when we were in high school when he knew that Taylor and I were going out. And he was supposed to be Taylor's best friend. Seriously, he's a sleazeball. I wish that he didn't have to come back from college in the summer.

"So, how have you been, Courtney?" he asked me, after sitting down on the couch next to me. I sighed.

"Ricky, I don't know why you're here, but I'm actually busy," I told him, trying not to sound completely rude. "Can you just cut to the chase and tell me why you came over today?"

"Really, Courtney? You don't have time to chat with an old friend?" he asked me. "I haven't seen you in a long time." He put his hand on my knee. I rolled my eyes and moved to the recliner.

I sighed. I don't really know why I let him in in the first place. I was curious as to why he was here, but now, I just really wanted him out of my house. I don't have time for his little games.

"I have to go to work," I told him. "If you're not going to tell me why you're here, I'm going to ask you to leave."

"You're no fun, Courtney," he said, with one of his creepy smirks. "Fine, I'll get on with it."

"Thank you," I said, gratefully.

"So, I heard that you know what happened with the McNeely fire," he said.

"Maybe," I said.

"I just want to make sure that you're not a loudmouth like Farrah and go blabbing about this all around town," he said, a little threateningly. I blinked at him, confused.

"I haven't said anything to anyone, Ricky," I told him. "I didn't tell a soul that it was you who did it."

"Shh!" he shushed me. "Do you want someone to hear you?" I rolled my eyes.

"Everyone's asleep here, no one's going to hear," I said, biting my lip.

"I wouldn't have this problem if Taylor hadn't screw things up by falling in love with you and started blabbing to you about everything that happened," he said, angrily. "I swear, if you ever tell anyone..."

"I won't!" I practically yelled.

We sat there in silence. I looked away and heard him sigh.

"You know that he's still in love with you, right?" he asked me, softly. "He talks about you all the time. He doesn't love Farrah the way he loves you. I really wanted you to know that." I sighed.

I was starting to think that Taylor sent him over here to talk to me about my feelings about him and for Ricky to prove that Taylor was telling the truth about the fire. I was glad to have the opportunity to clear things up and maybe Ricky will talk some sense into Taylor, since Taylor does everything Ricky says.

"It doesn't matter if he still loves me, Ricky," I told him. "He had his chance. He made his choice. He's going to have to live with it."

"He didn't have a choice, he was protecting me," he protested. I scoffed at him. "Do you love him?"

I didn't even have to think about that question before I answered. I already knew how I felt about him, about the whole situation, about everything.

"I did love him, but not anymore," I said to him, trying to sound confident. "He didn't have any form of contact with me after we broke up. He didn't call me to tell me he was sorry. He didn't ask to stay friends. He just cut me out of his life completely. So, I moved on. Maybe it's time for him to move on too."

"Maybe he should," he whispered. "Or maybe he shouldn't and just fight for you."

Hey Ya

I didn't remember falling asleep last night, but I woke up this morning wishing that I could just hide under a rock for the next couple of days. I had such huge headache and my eyes hurt from all the crying. I groaned and hid my head under my pillow. I feel like crap and I had work all day today. Great, what a great way to spend my 4th of July.

I managed to get myself out of bed and, believe me, it wasn't easy.

I checked my phone and there were a couple of messages from my mom, telling me that she was sorry and asking for my help because she's having trouble picking out a format/font/whatever for her wedding invitations (I deleted those texts). I rolled my eyes. She was delusional if she thinks that a text saying she's sorry is going to get me to help her pick out wedding invitations or anything else wedding related. I don't know if I should send her to an insane asylum or something, because she is definitely off her rocker.

Besides my mom's There was a text from Henry asking if I was ok. I sent him a quick text back, letting him know that I was fine (even though I wasn't sure if I was). I set my phone down to pick out what to wear for work. I had to find something that was red, white, and blue for the holiday. After I had picked out what to wear, my phone rang. It was Henry.

"Hey, Henry, what's up?" I said into the phone.

"Hey, Court," he said. "Are you working today?" I don't know why he was calling me and asking me if I was working today. He knew I was working today. We usually work together because Jasmine thinks that we make a good team.

"Yeah, I am, but you know that already," I said, confused. "We usually work together."

"You're right, I'm just using that as an excuse to call you," he said, with a nervous chuckle. "Not that I need to have a reason to call you. I just wanted to hear your voice." I giggled at his awkwardness.

"You're adorable," I told him, with a small smile on my face. "Do you want me to pick you up for work later or do you want to come here and pick me up? It doesn't really matter either way, really."

"I'll come pick you up, ma chérie," he said, with a perfect pronunciation. I blushed. He called me his "darling", which I don't think anyone has ever called me their "darling" before. I thought it was kind of cute.

"Glad to know the two years of French in high school is working out for you," I joked. "Bet you use that on all the girls."

"Just you," he said, with a chuckle. I blushed again. I was really glad that he couldn't see me.

"Ok, Romeo," I said, laughing. I looked at my clock. "I'll see you in an hour or so?"

"I'll be there," he said, before hanging up. I giggled.

He was a sweetie. I loved how he didn't constantly ask me if I was ok or not. Is it too early to say that I really like Henry? We're not even official yet, but I caught myself humming sappy love songs throughout my usual morning routine. I couldn't help but laugh at how goofy I was being over a guy who hasn't even asked me to be his girlfriend.

I went downstairs, trying to contemplate what to have for breakfast. I decided on scrambled eggs, when I heard someone knock on the door.

That's weird, Henry's really really early. Maybe he wanted to get breakfast together or something?

I went to open the door.

"I didn't know you were coming ear-" I paused.

It wasn't Henry standing there at my front door...

It was Ricky, Taylor's best friend and partner in crime.

What was he doing here?