Not the Same

An Apology

Kian's POV

(Next day)

            Ever since Connor moved out yesterday, Ricky has been in a constant depressed mood. When I woke up this morning to get ready for work, Ricky wasn't in the room. I could hear the sound of the shower going. That's odd. He's usually out by now. I walk up to the bathroom door and knock on the door. "Ricky, are you alright," I ask.

            I heard nothing from the other side of the door...just the sound of the shower running. "Ri-," I start to say, but stop when I hear the shower turned off. After a few minutes of illegible mumbling and clothes being put on. With a sigh, I hear the door unlock followed by Ricky coming out with semi wet hair. "It's all yours, I'll style my hair later," he says and walks over to the couch. He sits down and slouches over as he places his hands in his face. I walk over to him and sit down beside him. "Ricky," I say.

            He sits back up and pushes his hair out of his face and says, "This is the first time, I've been apart from Connor since I got here."

            "Ricky, he's not gone forever. We'll see him later today," I say, trying to calm him down.

            "No, you don't understand," Ricky says. "Connor has been by my side ever since I got here. He gave me a home. He gave me a friend. He gave me so much and I have nothing to repay him with. I just...I just don't know what to do with him gone."

            "Ricky, I never realized how much you and Connor bonded before I got here," I say. "I thought he was just another friend."

            "Connor is more than just a friend to me," Ricky says.

            "What do you mean," I ask.

            "Connor is my best friend," Ricky says. "He's never let me down and I've never let him down."

            "I thought I was your best friend," I ask.

            "You are my best friend, Kian," Ricky says. "But, I'm allowed to have more than one best friend. You are my best friend from back home and Connor is my best friend here in LA. Now go get ready, we have work in an hour."

            "Ricky, I..," I start to say, but get interrupted.

            "Go, hurry," Ricky says. "I don't want to be late."

            I walk into the bathroom, strip down, and get in the shower. As I washed my hair, I couldn't stop thinking about Connor and Ricky's connection. I can't believe Ricky grew so attached to Connor when he got here. Was there something between them before I got here? No, Ricky would've told me. Wouldn't he? Should I tell him about when we got to Shelby and Andrea's place before the funeral and everything?

            I want to make Ricky happy, but I honestly don't know where to start. I could try apologizing to Cam for not going to the dinner. Ricky seemed bummed that I didn't go to that and not giving the Cam a chance. I hear a knock at the door followed by Ricky saying, "Kian, hurry up, you've been in there for twenty minutes."

            Crap, I didn't realize how long I've been in here. I quickly turn off the shower and dry off. I change clothes and messily style my hair. I go out and see Ricky with his shoes on and ready to go. I grab my shoes and put them on. We go down to the parking garage to see that Joey had already left. However, we saw Connor was still here and was getting ready to leave in his car. "Connor, wait," I yell.

            Connor stops while backing out and looks over at us. He sighs and unlocks his car to let us in. "Thanks," I say as I crawl into the back seat. Ricky sat up front because Connor still had stuff piled up in the back seat.

            "No problem," Connor said with a forced smile.

            Connor pulls out and heads to the marketplace. On the way, an uneasy feeling crept inside me as I looked between Connor and Ricky. Neither one spoke to each other nor looked at each other. "So Connor, how's your new apartment," I ask trying to lighten the mood.

            "Mostly bare," Connor says. "I really need to fill up these spots of emptiness with some decorations and furniture."

            "I could help," Ricky offers. "If you want."

            "Oh no, that's okay," Connor says. "I'll just ask Sawyer. He's been pretty helpful with everything. He said if I ever needed him, to just call him."

            After a rather awkward ride over, we get out and head inside the marketplace. Earl instantly put us to work. The customers for today were flocking in and lucky me, was put on cashier duty. Looking around, I saw what looked to be a mile long line. I huff and watch as Cam heads into the storage area. Earl walks up to me and says for me to go grab something in the storage area and take it to aisle nine. He took over as I walked over to the storage area.

            I walk inside to see Cam pulling out a big box. He seemed to be struggling with it, so I ran over and helped him with it. "Here, let me help you," I say and lift the other end of the box up.

            "Thanks," Cam says. We carry the box over and place it on the ground. Cam opens the box and pulls out a bottle of something I didn't know. Cam's hand covered the name of the product.

            "Hey, Cam," I say awkwardly.

            "Yeah," Cam says looking up from the box.

            "Um, I," I say. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for not giving you a chance. I shouldn't have been so harsh. Maybe we could go and grab a bite to eat later today."

            "I'd like that," Cam says as he stands up.

            "Cool," I say. "I guess I'll see you later, Cameron Elder."

            As I said that, his right eye twitches. He reaches out his hand and says, "Ok, Kian Lawley. I'll see you then."

            I reach out and grasp his hand to shake it. As I shake his hand, I feel him squeeze my hand a little too tight. I could feel twinges of pain shoot into my hand as he shook it. I pull my hand away and shake it a little to ease the pain. "I forgot how strong you are," I say.

            "Sorry," Cam says with a laugh.

            I look into his eyes and I saw genuine regret in squeezing my hand too tight. However, I also saw a small glint of something else flash in his eyes that lasted less than a second. Something I was quite familiar seeing. He had something planned...but what.