The Ricky that Annie knew - thought? she knew - had some bad experiences surrounding the word and concept of love. As had she, and so she understood that the word wouldn’t come lightly. And it didn’t. It never came when they were seeing each other. After it had been revealed he was playing a game, it made sense why that word never came up. Because it had never been felt. And all Annie could be was relieved she had never said it. She had made that mistake one too many times already.
Quinn had been the only person she had said it to. She tries to forget about the hopeful Annie who excitedly told her first boyfriend the awfully honest truth that she loved him. How did that turn out? We don’t need to talk about that again. Right now, sitting across from Ricky in the dare or drink… he was right. He was right to think love was dead. How was she meant to believe otherwise?
She took a subtle sigh of relief when Ricky took the bottle out of her hand and therefore chose the latter of the name of the game. Annie couldn’t hear it. Who wants to know? Who even asked that? Just as she thought the game was going to move on, and someone else was going to get a dare, Ricky started talking. Looking at Lenora. No. Annie didn’t care, she knew, this was expected, everyone knew, he faked everything to her. Why would she be surprised if he dropped someone else’s name? Why. Did. She. Care.
But then he was looking at her. As he had been for a long time during this night. But this time was slightly more significant, given what he was saying. The person he’s still in love with. Her? “What?” Annie couldn’t even hide her initial reaction. Her softened features in confusion, in being caught off guard. Logically she should assume he was lying again. To protect her feelings, she needed to assume he was lying again. He was lying again. He never said that to her before, he could only say it… in a game. Another game. That’s what all of this is.
Annie looked away, leaving no trace of the reaction she had given. Pretend she hadn’t heard. Or hadn’t cared. Or something. She just stayed looking away. She couldn’t bring herself do to anything more than that.
@benitz786 Ricky Montoya