Not the Same

Something's Different

Ricky’s POV

            After the news report was done, I pulled out my cellphone and called the marketplace. I let the phone ring until someone picked it up.

            “LA Tropicana Marketplace, may I help you,” the person said.

            Ugh! It’s Cam! “Cam, it’s me Ricky,” I say. “Tell your dad that Kian is fine with working there.”

            “Okay,” Cam says annoyed. “Whatever.”

            He hangs the phone up shortly after.

            I look outside and see that it is rather dark out. Looking at the time, I saw that it was getting late. I decide to head on to bed, well couch. I walk over to the couch where Kian is barely awake. He raises his arm and I crawl in. Kian wraps his arm over me as I lay my head on his chest. As I listened to Kian’s steady heartbeat, I slowly started to fall asleep.

            The next day, I hear my alarm clock go off to wake me up. I raise up and stretch my arms. I look and see Kian still asleep. He always was a heavy sleeper. Why am I always attracted to heavy sleepers? Oh well, no time to ponder this thought. I a pair of clothes that Joey laid out for me and head to the bathroom. I really need to get some new clothes.

            I then strip down and take a quick shower. After I got out of the shower, I dried off and walked over to the mirror. I first brushed my teeth followed by me styling my hair up. Finally, I went and changed into the new clothes. I exit the bathroom and throw my clothes in the hamper. I walk over to Kian and shake him awake. “Kian, you got to get up,” I say. “We have work in an hour.”

            “I’m up, I’m up,” Kian says, wiping the eye crust out of his eyes.

            “Okay,” I say. “You go get ready and I’ll go get Connor up.”

            “Fine,” Kian says sleepily as he gets up and heads to the bathroom already stripping as he walks to it.

            I walk over to Joey’s room and knock on the door. “Connor, you ready,” I ask.

            No answer. “Connor,” I ask again. Still no answer. I turn the knob of the door and open it. I walk in and turn on the light. Inside, I saw that no one was inside. I look and see a note on the bedside table. I pick it up and saw that it was from Connor.

            Hey, I decided to get an early start. So, Joey has driven me to the marketplace. I’ll see you there.

            - Connor

            Connor never leaves early. I wonder why he left. Is he avoiding me now? I know this note could mean anything, but after reading it, I felt like something inside me broke.