#0_1

Ricky wasn't home, but he usually was. He would always meet her at the door with a kiss and smile. It had become their routine over the last few months of their living together. But this was the first time she was greeted with nothing but silence. No smiling boyfriend to ask about her day. Especially when she needed him the most. Y/N sighed, going to rummage through her bag for her textbooks.

As a way to distract herself. And yet she struggled to stay focused. The words on the page began to blur and become a jumble of nonsense. Her mind and heart were tired of learning. She just wanted to do something other than University work.

‘Where is he?’ She wondered as she pushed the textbooks away from her. Y/N’s head came to lay against the cool surface of the table. Her fingers traced little shapes into its surface. A long sigh left her lips. The apartment was quiet, the only sound being her breathing. The silence was too much for her to bear so she pulled out her phone to text him.

She quickly typed out a message, sighing as she read it.

**Will you be home soon?**

The message seemed so innocent. And yet to her, she felt as though it came off as her being clingy. She hadn't meant for it to come out that way. She just wanted her boyfriend home. But it was too late to delete the already sent message. Seconds later, her phone buzzed with the sound of a message coming through.

She looked at the device, her eyes reading the message.

**Are you okay? Do you need me to come home?**

**Can you?** Y/N was quick to reply, a wave of embarrassment hitting her as reread the message. Gosh, she sounded so clingy. She hated it. She felt pathetic. Her phone vibrated in her hand.

**Be there soon.**

She had gotten what but why did she feel as if she shouldn't have texted him? Y/N shouldn't have to call him to soothe her tiredness and take her away from this irritating world. And that was her problem. She always needed him to soothe her frustration and needed him to hold her in his arms.

She just wanted him. Time seemed to go slow as she awaited his arrival. Y/N waited for minutes, which seemed to turn into hours for her. The silence was driving her crazy. Some part of her couldn't hold back the tears anymore. So she let them go. The tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the table.

Everything seemed to blur as she cried. So much so that she didn't hear the door opening or the sound of approaching footsteps until she was wrapped in a warm embrace.

Ricky gently shushed her, his thumb wiping away her tears. Y/N just cried in his arms, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Tears had begun to soak his shirt as he held her.

Ricky just held her, that's what he normally did. It became their little thing. Whenever life or school got too hard, he was always the first person she would go to. He would hold her until she calmed down enough to talk or just be there for her.

He didn't know how she felt, and he probably never would but the fact that he comforted her and did his best to try to understand was enough for her. Her cries began to cease, and the tears had stopped streaming down her cheeks.

Y/N pulled back slightly from his embrace, her head resting on his chest. “Do you want to talk about it?” Ricky asked as his hand rubbed soothing circles on her back. Y/N sighed, shaking her head.

Ricky knew that would be her answer. She never wanted to talk about what was bothering her, it was something Ricky never understood. Silence settled over them, Ricky’s hand still rubbing circles on her back. “I-it’s all stressful.” She stuttered. Ricky didn't say anything as he listened.

He always listened whenever she decided to open up. Him just listening always seemed to bring her comfort. “University, work, everything is stressful. I-i just need a break from it all.” Her voice tried as she trailed off.

Y/N was tired. She didn't feel like talking, crying, or anything anymore. She just wanted to sleep and forget. Forget her stress, her troubles. Everything. Ricky hummed, his arms pulling her closer. Some part of him wasn't sure what to say.

But then again the other part of him did. “Maybe you should. I know it's probably not what you want to hear but maybe it's what you need to hear.” Ricky spoke. Y/N sighed, knowing what he was saying was true. For the last few months, she had been pushing herself non-stop.

She needed to stop and take some time for herself. She sighed nodding as she looked up at him. A yawn left her, exhaustion starting to kick in. “Let’s go get some rest.” Ricky said, as his hand took hers.

Y/N nodded, following him to their shared bedroom. She sighed happily as she cuddled into the warmth of his embrace. Her mind and body could finally relax. The weight on her chest and mind had disappeared. Sleepily she spoke as she drifted off, “Thank you.” Ricky smiled, pulling her closer as he set a reminder. ‘Give y/n the break she deserves.’ Placing his phone down, he wrapped his arm tighter around her.