Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You are my friend, and you already hold a special place in my heart. Now that I realized I love you, this heart belongs to you." -Unknown

Nini and Ricky were two peas in a pod. You couldn't find one without the other, and they resented being too far apart. They were practically inseparable because no matter what was going on in life, they always found their way back to each other. It's why they always worked as a dynamic duo.

But then they got older, and things got complicated.

There was one thing they always struggled with. It was the only thing that they both didn't want to face, but it was getting harder to ignore with time.

Love.

They were never the best with it, and they weren't sure if they ever would be. The only thing they knew was that they wanted to remain in each other's lives forever, and that was enough. But their fate had other plans; plans they could never have seen coming.

Chapter Text

Ricky walked down the Salt Lake Park trail alone, licking the lollipop his dad bought him before he lost him in a crowd. Despite being vulnerable to the world at his age, he didn't fear potential threats. He was used to being alone anyways due to his lack of friends. He just minded his business and hoped to eventually bump into his dad again before it gets dark.

As he was walking by a basketball court, a ball hit him hard on his arm. He yelled in pain and rubbed the stinging area. He looked around to see where the heck it came from and saw a girl with pigtails running towards him with a worried expression.

"Oh my goodness! I'm super-duper sorry! I swear it was an accident! Please forgive me!" She says frantically and breathlessly.

At first, he was angry. After seeing just how sorry she was, he calmed down a bit since it's clear she didn't mean it. "It's okay. It was my fault for walking too close to the sidelines anyway."

"Here, let me make it up to you. Stay right here; I'll be back!' She runs over to who he assumes is her mom, and she runs back over with something in her hands. She holds up an ice pack. "Take it; it might bruise later."

He smiles and accepts her offerings, placing the ice pack on his arm. "Thank you."

"I'm Nina." She holds out her hand.

He takes her hand and firmly shakes it. "I'm Richard."

She grimaces at the sound of his name. "Richard?"

"Uh yeah, that's my name."

"You're far too young to have such an old man name like that. I'm gonna call you...Ricky! Yeah, that suits you much better! What do you think?"

He's never been called a nickname before, but he admits Ricky does roll off the tongue easier.

"Yeah, okay. I like it."

"Cool, so what brings you to the park all alone Ricky?"

"My dad and I are here to attend the junior baseball game here, but I lost him whenever he was walking to get us some hot dogs."

"Oh, that's scary!"

He shrugs. "I guess."

"Do you want me to stay with you until he finds you? I think that'd be better than walking in a park alone. My moms say that bad people come here sometimes to snatch kids the size of us."

Ricky didn't even think about that, and he suddenly realized how dangerous it was. Staying with company would definitely be his best bet, even if she was a stranger. He wasn't sure what it was about this girl, but something told him she was trustworthy.

"Yeah, I'd like that a lot."

She perks up and claps her hands. "Great! We can play a round of basketball!"

He scrunched up his face and shook his head. "No, thanks. I'm really not into sports."

Her smile falters a bit, and her head tilts. "Oh, but I thought you were here to watch baseball?"

"Yeah, my dad wants me to get into it, but it doesn't interest me. I didn't want to disappoint him, so I said yes."

Nini nodded in understanding. "Well, that's fine. We can just do something else. Do you know how to play Uno?"

He beams and nods enthusiastically. "Heck yeah, I do!"

"Cool, let's play! But I have to warn you, I'm the queen of it."

"I happen to be the best Uno player at my school."

"What school?"

"East Elementary."

She smiles. "No way! I go there too!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! I'm surprised I've never seen you before."

"Well, you'll definitely see me more often."

"Yeah, I hope so."

They smile at each other before Nina grabs his hand. "Come on; let's see who's really the best at East Elementary."

She drags him to the picnic table her mom was sitting at, and they begin playing the game.

After a couple of rounds, the game ended up in a tie, and they both decided they were the best at Uno. After they got bored of the game, they decided to get to know each other a little more. They found out they were both six, and that he was older by two months. She was apparently into sports and loved to dance. He was into music, skateboarding, and video games. Despite having a lot of different interests, he found her extremely easy to talk to and never ran out of things to talk about.

He wasn't sure how long they were speaking, but he knew it had to be a while when he noticed the sun began to set. He realized his dad was probably freaking out and that he should try to find him.

"This has been fun, but I should really go find my dad."

"Oh, right! Sorry, I totally forgot you were lost. My mama D and I will help you find him."

He lifts a brow. "You call her mama D? Why not just call her mom?"

She smiles. "Because I have two moms! If I call them both mom, it'd just be confusing, don't you think?"

He was stunned to hear that. He's never in his short life heard of someone having two moms. Nini seemed to notice his face and frowned.

"I hope that's not a problem."

"You hope what's not a problem?"

"Me having two moms. I know a lot of people don't exactly agree with that kind of romance, but I think it's cool."

Ricky smiles. "It doesn't bother me; I just have never heard of it. I think it's awesome that you have two moms."

She let out a sigh of relief. She was so immune to people giving her a hard time about her having lesbian parents, and she's even lost good friends because of their parents not agreeing with that lifestyle. She was just happy that this boy she wanted to befriend was okay with it.

"Good, now let's go find your daddy."

"Thanks, N-Ni…Nini." He stutters.

Judging by her face, he must've jacked up her name. "Sorry, I'm not the best with names." He blushes and scratches the back of his head.

She just smiles. "Nini, huh? I like it; it's different! Call me that from now on."

She interlaced their fingers, and he couldn't help but feel immense happiness when their hands touched. Something tells him this girl was going to be in his life for a while, and he couldn't be happier.

They search the large park for his father and end up finding him yelling at a security guard with tears in his eyes. Ricky felt bad when he saw his dad had been crying due to his carelessness.

"Dad!"

The sound of Mike's son's voice makes him turn around. Mike beams and runs towards his little boy, picking him up and spinning him when he gets to him. Mike kisses Ricky's cheek. "Where did you run off to? What did I tell you about running off like that? You could've gotten hurt!"

"I'm sorry, dad. I just got lost and didn't know what to do."

"Next time find a police officer or security of some sort, okay?"

"Okay."

Mike hugs him tighter and kisses his cheek some more. Mike finally realizes they have an audience in front of them. "Who are these people, kiddo?" Mike whispers in Ricky's ear.

"Oh! That's Nini and her mama D. They've been playing with me ever since I got lost. I like them a lot."

"They did?" Mike looks over at Dana. "Thank you for watching my boy."

"Anytime! Had I known he was lost, I would've tried to reach out as soon as possible."

"It's fine. All that matters is that he's safe."

Nini waves. "Hi, I'm Nini! I'm Ricky's new friend!"

He looks back at his kid. "Ricky? Is that what you're going by nowadays?" Ricky nods, which makes Mike smile. "Alright, Ricky it is. It's nice to meet you, Nini. I'm glad he made a new friend."

Nini nods. "Yeah, we should hang out again. We had a lot of fun!"

"That can be arranged if your mom is okay with that."

Dana smiles. "Of course, I am. Let's exchange numbers."

Ricky and Nini both smile victoriously at one another as they watch their parents enter their contacts into each other's phones. The sun was becoming less visible in the sky, which meant it was time to head home. The two families said their goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.

When they got back to school that following Monday, Ricky heard from his teacher that they got a transfer into their class due to one of the teachers quitting. He didn't pay any mind to it until he saw the familiar pigtails and bright smile standing at the front of the class. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the only vacant seat was next to him. When she finally spots him, she forms a toothy smile that makes him blush. Maybe kindergarten wasn't going to be that lonely after all.

***

It didn't take long for Ricky and Nini to become close. They acted as if they had known each other for years, and their parents found it endearing that their children have made such a strong bond. Mike had been concerned Ricky would be friendless throughout elementary school and possibly in other grades, so he was glad to see he found someone who matches his energy so well.

They normally had play dates every Saturday either at Ricky or Nini's house. They tend to go to Nini's more often since Dana always baked for them, and Nini had a killer treehouse in the backyard they loved to play in. They liked going to Ricky's place whenever they wanted less authority since Mike isn't as attentive when they play.

Despite knowing each other for four months now, Ricky has never met her other mother. Her name was Carol according to Mrs. Dana, and she was a traveling nurse which meant she was rarely home. From what he's heard, she's an amazing woman, very loving, and was the more relaxed parent between the two. Ricky would love to meet her one day since she's attached to Nini, and anyone attached to her was someone he'd be interested in.

Nini has also never met his mother. She noticed her absence in the house and lack of pictures of her on the walls. Neither Mike nor Ricky have ever brought her up, and she didn't want to be rude and pry. Most kids would be bold enough to ask at their age, but not her. She always hated when kids asked her where her dad was, and she wouldn't want to put Ricky in the same predicament.

At the moment, they were on the sidewalk a few feet away from Nini's house. Nini had begged Ricky to teach her how to use a skateboard, and he was more than happy to show her. So far, she wasn't doing too well. She'd constantly stumble or almost fall flat on her face no matter how many times Ricky tells her to balance, but she wasn't giving up yet.

"How'd I do this time?"

"Well, you're definitely moving."

She was moving at a snail's pace as she rolled down the sidewalk. He didn't even have to make full steps to catch up with her.

She sighed in defeat as she hopped off the board. "I suck."

"No, you don't. You're just not good at it yet."

"That's just a nice way of saying I suck. Maybe we should just call it a day and play Uno."

"No, don't give up yet! I'm sure we can do this."

"I don't know, Ricky..."

"Come on; what's the worst that could happen?"

She ponders for a minute before finally getting back on the board. "Alright, I'm ready."

"That's my girl!"

She blushed at his words, and he pushed her just enough so that she could skate at a decent pace. Nini was actually balancing pretty well this time, and both of them were amazed with her accomplishment.

"You're doing great, Neens!"

Neens? She's never heard that one before, but she likes it too. She continued rolling and got used to the feeling. She started to get too cocky and sped up, which she soon regretted. She didn't see a pebble next to the axle, and it must have had a vendetta against her. The second she hits the rock, she falls off the skateboard onto the ground.

"Nini!"

Ricky ran after her and quickly got to his knee to check if she was okay. She had a pained expression as she held onto her left knee.

"Did you injure yourself?"

"I think so." She revealed her knee to him, and he saw a nasty cut that'd get infected if it wasn't treated in time.

"We gotta get you home."

He picked her up and gave her a piggyback ride back to her house, with her holding his skateboard for him. Ricky sets her down on the couch as carefully as he could.

"You stay put while I'll get your mom."

Nini just nods as she tries to fight the tears threatening to spill. Ricky double times upstairs to the master bedroom and knocks on the door before hearing a gentle voice say "come in."

He opened the door and was baffled to see a blond woman folding clothes on the bed. She seems equally as confused when she sees him.

"Hello there, and you are...?"

"I'm Ricky."

Her face immediately switches to a gleeful expression. "Oh! You're Nina's new friend, or should I say Nini. I can never keep up with that girl since I'm gone all the time!"

Ricky put two and two together. "Are you her mama Carol?"

"Yep! It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I just arrived from the airport not too long ago while Dana went to the store. I'm assuming that's who you were looking for."

"It was, but you could help too. Nini scraped her knee from falling off my skateboard. Can you handle her, please?"

"Of course." She goes under her bed and pulls out an emergency kit before heading downstairs, him following behind.

Nini was also shocked to see her. "Mama C? What're you doing here?"

Carol sat beside her daughter as she pulled out some supplies. "I'm here for a few days before I head off to California. Put your leg on top of mine, dear."

Carol examined the scar. "It's not a deep cut, but it'll sting a bit. It's nothing to worry about even though it looks a little gross."

While Carol poured rubbing alcohol on the cut, Nini winced in pain. Ricky has never seen Nini in pain before, and he really didn't like it. Every time she whimpered or shed a tear, he'd tear up too. He doesn't know how to explain it, but he felt her pain and wanted to take it away.

"I'm sorry, Nini. This is all my fault."

Nini wiped away a stray tear. "No, it's not. I'm the one that got too confident."

"I should've walked beside you."

"Seriously Ricky, I'm okay. If my mama C says I'm fine, I know I'll be fine. She is a nurse after all, so don't worry!" Nini forced a smile to make him feel better.

He nods and slightly grins back at her. "Okay."

When Carol is done patching her up, she carefully rests Nini's foot back on the ground. Carol looks over at Ricky and smiles reassuringly. "All done. See? It wasn't so bad. You had nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, I guess not." He still felt bad, but he hid it from them so he wouldn't worry them.

"Now that that's settled. Come give mama a hug! I haven't seen you in months."

Nini beams and wraps her arms around her favorite mom. "I'm happy you're here!"

"Me too, baby. How about I bake you both some brownies?"

Nini nods. "Yes, please!"

"Alright, I'll start prepping." Carol gets up from the couch and starts to take out the necessities.

Nini glances back at Ricky and frowns when she sees he looks dispirited. "Ricky, I'm fine, really."

He shakes his head as he looks at the ground. "It's not that. It's...well your mom." His face becomes red.

She lifts a brow. "What about her? Do you not like her?"

Ricky looks up and shakes his head frantically. "No! That's far from the problem. It's just that I don't know what that's like."

"What do you mean?"

He faces the ground again as he bounces on his toes. "I-I don't have...a mom."

Nini's heart broke. She had suspicions, but she wanted her theories to be wrong. She hoped it was a situation like her mama C where she has a job that requires her to be gone a lot, but not forever. Nini walked up to him and interlaced her fingers with his.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shrugs, still not meeting her eye. "I mean, there's not much to say. I don't remember who she is or what her name is. All my dad has told me was that she wasn't coming back. She left when I was three, but I obviously don't remember that, so..."

Nini wanted to cry. She can't imagine one of her moms walking out like that, and she hates that her favorite person in the world had to deal with that.

"Ricky, I'm so sorry."

"Thanks."

Nini wasn't sure what to say until a grand idea came to mind. "Hey! What if you could treat my moms as yours?"

He looked at her as if she lost her mind. "What? Wouldn't that be a little...weird?"

She shakes her head. "Not at all, unless you let it be weird. I have two moms and don't mind sharing them if you need a mom to talk to. I know they wouldn't mind."

Ricky smiles faintly. "You'd let me do that?"

"Of course, I would!"

"Thanks, Nini. That's really cool of you."

"No problem."

"I guess you could do the same with my dad if you ever want."

She beams at the idea of it. She's always secretly wanted a dad, but she never dared to tell her moms that out of fear of upsetting them or sounding ungrateful. She adored her moms, but she just wanted to know what it was like to have a dad, even if it was only for a day.

She nods. "I'd like that a lot. Thanks, Ricky."

He shrugs nonchalantly. "It's no big deal." Ricky finally looked up to face her with a grin. "Hey, how about we watch a movie?"

Nini was a little thrown off by his change of topic and mood, but she figured it was his way of indirectly asking her to not push this subject. "Yeah, sure. You can choose."

"Cool, I wanna watch a musical!"

She rolls her eyes playfully. "Of course, you do."

They sit down on the couch, and Carol feeds them brownies fifteen minutes into Mamma Mia. Nini allows him to play a musical this one time since he needed a good distraction. It's not like sitting through this film was a big deal for her though. She'd do anything to keep him happy, even if that means watching something she wasn't too fond of.

They kept the promise of treating each other's parents as their own when needed. Nini felt left out whenever she realized she was the only one in her class not attending the school's father-daughter ball, so Mike had taken her. Nini was so thankful that she wrote Mike a thank you note the following day.

On Mother's Day that year, Ricky joined Nini and her moms for dinner with Nini's Lola. Ricky had so much fun that Dana insisted he come every year; he gleefully accepted the offer. It was the perfect arrangement for them, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

***

Nini was quiet as she stood completely still in the slide of the school's jungle gym. She doesn't think this was the best hiding spot considering a bunch of kids have yelled at her to get out, but she was in too deep to find a new spot.

Ricky was the seeker in their game of hide and seek with two other mutual acquaintances, and he had been searching for her for roughly 10 minutes now. She's surprised it was taking him this long to find her since he usually was really good at this game. She already knew the other two were out since she heard both of them yell when Ricky caught them.

"Nini, come out already."

She hears him walking on the wood chips, most likely making rounds around the jungle gym. The other two that were playing knew where she was hiding and would snicker every time Ricky passed it. He had circled the whole perimeter about five times, checking the small areas first since she's the smallest girl in second grade. He started to get agitated.

"Nini, come on! At this point, I'm willing to let you win!"

She was skeptical to give in because it could be a trap. He's used this tactic before, and she will not be made a fool of again.

"I mean it this time! I'm too lazy to try to find you. I swear!"

She was hesitant to come out, but he normally meant his word when he said he swore. She slid down the slide, startling him when she suddenly appeared in front of him.

"You were in there the entire time?! How'd you even hold yourself up?"

She smiles as he dust some wood chips off her skirt. "I have strong legs. I can't believe you never checked the slide."

"To be fair, I didn't think anyone could hide in the middle of a slide, but now I'll be checking it first when I'm it."

"Does that mean I win?"

"Yep, you win!"

"Yay! You owe me a piggyback ride for a whole week. I guess I'm really good at being quiet."

"You know, you're so small and quiet that it almost reminds me of a mouse."

He smiles at his words, coming up with an idea. "You know what? I should start calling you mouse as a nickname. You always sneak up on me and squeeze in small spaces. It fits you perfectly."

Nini scoffs at the nickname. "I don't even like mice!"

"Doesn't mean you don't act like one."

She huffs and folds her arms over her chest. "Fine, if you're gonna call me that, then it's only fair I come up with a funky nickname for you."

"That's fair."

She takes a moment to think about an appropriate nickname for him. She struggled to come up with anything until she saw him laugh. A lightbulb went off in her head when she spotted the way his face crinkled.

"I got it!"

"Really? What is it?"

"I'm gonna call you dimples."

He was thrown off by her nickname for him. "Dimples? Why?"

"Because you have a bunch of dimples on your face when you laugh. I think it's perfect!"

He sighs. "Fine, dimples it is."

She claps her hands and brings him into a hug. Ricky hugs her back and notices their acquaintances making kissy faces at them and mouthing that Ricky loved her. Ricky just rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at them.

"Mouse?"

"Hm?"

He smirks. "Nothing, I just wanted to see if it felt right to say out loud, and it did." She smiles wider and holds him tighter.

The bell for recess rang, informing the kids that recess was over. Ricky and Nini broke their hug, smiled at each other, and held hands as they entered the building.

***

Nini hummed along to a melody of a pop song she didn't know the name of as she rode her bike to Ricky's house. One of her favorite parts about being friends with Ricky is that he only lived a mile away, which was easy to bike to.

Nini parked her bike against the Bowen's front porch before pulling out her spare key to let herself in. Mike had given her one in first grade in case of emergencies, but so far she's been using it just to hang out if she were being honest. She skips upstairs to his room and stops when she hears someone singing.

She peeks in the room and sees him facing the opposite direction in his chair. Ricky was singing along to a song she remembered from one of those Disney movies on his guitar, and he didn't sound bad. She nodded her head as he sang.

"When I hear my favorite song, I know that we belong. Oh, you are the music in me..."

"That's really good, dimples."

Ricky jumps when he hears his best friend's voice, gently setting the guitar on his bed. "What're you doing here?"

"I rode by to see if you wanted to play."

He blushes. "I-I can't right now. How much of that did you hear?"

"Not much, but enough to know you're a great singer and guitar player."

"I didn't want anyone to hear me yet."

She walked up to his chair. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I already knew you liked music." She saw a small book on his desk in front of him. "What's that?" She began reaching for it, but he snatched it from the table and hid it.

"Don't touch that; it's private."

Nini holds up her hands. "Sorry."

"Actually, do you mind leaving? I kinda wanna be alone right now."

She frowns. She's never been asked to leave by him, so she assumed she messed up.

"Really?"

He sighs sadly and nods, not meeting her eye.

She felt like crying, but she didn't want him to see her like that. She stormed out of his room and left his house. She wiped the tears coming down her face as she rode her bike back home, wondering what she did wrong.

~

The moment she left his house, he regretted what he said. He doesn't know why he reacted like that when he actually did want her over. I think the worst part was that he knew she was crying since he heard her whimper as she ran down the stairs. He felt like crap and knew he'd have to make it up to her soon.

Two days later, he knocks on Nini's door with his guitar in hand. Dana opens it and smiles at him. "Oh, what a lovely surprise! I don't recall you saying you were coming over."

"I didn't. I just needed to talk to Nini."

"Sure, she's in her room."

Dana opens the door for him, and he enters. He makes his way upstairs and lightly knocks on her bedroom door. He hears her shuffling around in her room before she answers. She was visibly shocked to see him there.

"What do you want, Ricky?"

"Can I come in?"

She stared at him blankly for a second before letting him in. She looks at him with confusion when she notices he had his guitar. "What's going on?"

"Look Neens, I'm sorry for kicking you out the other day. I wasn't even mad at you."

"Then, why'd you do it?"

"Because I was embarrassed and didn't know how to deal with it."

"Ricky, you don't have to feel embarrassed with me. It's just me."

"Yeah, I know. I know. I'm just insecure about my singing and guitar playing, so I freaked out when someone heard me."

"I get it. I probably would've flipped out too."

"Do you forgive me?"

Nini smiles. "Of course, I do. I could never stay mad at you."

He makes a sigh of relief as he pulls her into a hug. They break off the embrace after a few seconds before Nini plops down on her bed. "So, are you gonna tell me why you brought your guitar?"

"Right," He popped a squat beside her. "I wanted you to hear me play. I've been working on this ever since my dad gave me this guitar for my 9th birthday."

He played a song about clouds that she's never heard of before, and the lyrics were rather simple yet still nice to listen to. When he plays the final chord of the short song, Nini applauds him.

"What did you think of that?"

"It was so cute! I've never heard that song before. Who's it by?"

Ricky blushed as he fiddled with his hoodie string. "Well, uh, it's by me."

She gasped and smiled brightly. "You wrote a song?!"

He nods shyly. "Yep."

"Oh my god, Ricky, that's super cool! I didn't know you write songs! Is that what was in that little book you were trying to keep away from me?"

He nods again, which makes her squeal from excitement. "You have to let me read it!"

"No, that's not happening."

"Ah, I can't even have a quick peek?"

"Nope."

"Will you ever let me see it?"

"Maybe one day when I'm not too shy."

"I'll accept that." She scoots closer to him. "Can you play me another one?"

He smiles. "Anything for you, mouse."

***

Fifth grade was unlike any of their former school years. It wasn't only because it was the last year they'd be in elementary school, but it was also the year where they did the one thing they never thought they'd do.

Drift apart.

It wasn't because of a fight nor did they fall out on purpose; it came naturally as they transitioned to tweens. During the end of fourth grade, Ricky had gone to spend a week in Aspen for a wedding, leaving Nini alone.

Nini didn't really have other friends besides him; everyone else she spoke to were mutuals. She assumed she'd be lonely for a week, that is until someone sat in the empty swing beside her on the playground.

"You look like you need someone to talk to." The girl says with a braces-covered smile.

"What gave it away?"

The girl chuckles. "I noticed you've been sitting on that exact swing all alone for two days straight, and you're always frowning."

"Yeah, I have no one to play with since my best friend is out of town, so I've just been sitting here."

"Ah, that sucks. Are you talking about that curly-haired dude you're always with?"

Nini nods. "Yeah, him. His name is Ricky."

The girl snaps her fingers. "Yeah, that's it! Your name is Nini, right?"

"Yep!" Nini observes the girl beside her as she tries to remember her name. "Is your name Kourtney by any chance?"

She smiles. "Sure is! I'm surprised you know me since I'm super quiet."

"So am I. That's why my other nickname is mouse."

"Mouse? That's cute. Who came up with that?"

"Ricky, he came up with all three of my nicknames actually."

"Ricky sounds clever!"

"He is. I think he'd like you a lot."

"Well, I'd like to meet him too. Maybe we can become a trio."

Nini beams at the thought of having another best friend. "Yeah, maybe."

It didn't really work out like that though.

Ricky met Kourtney the Monday he came back to school, and Nini was thrilled to see they indeed got along. Two weeks later, a new girl from Provo comes to town and sits by Nini. Her name was Ashlyn Caswell, and she was the perfect addition to Nini's small circle. She knew for a fact Kourtney would love her, and she knew Ricky would too.

Kourtney and Ricky met her during lunch, and Kourtney and Ashlyn bond quickly over their love of makeup. Ricky tuned out of that conversation and spoke with Nini instead, which she couldn't even be upset about. Not even Nini was crazy about that stuff. She knew Ricky wouldn't be as close to Ashlyn, but she's glad Kourtney and Ashlyn were bound to be close friends by the end of the year.

Though the girls and Ricky liked each other, they never clicked the way Nini hoped. Nini ended up choosing which friends she'd hang out with on weekends instead of mixing all of them to avoid awkward silences between the three.

Nini was experiencing puberty around this time and found herself being closer to the girls since Ricky couldn't relate. She of course still hung out with him when she could, but her schedule was busier nowadays due to her new friends and her basketball practices.

Ricky noticed his tie with Nini was slowly breaking and realized he should probably seek another friend as well so he didn't end up alone on weekends. He ends up meeting Red during the summer of 4th going into 5th grade at the skatepark, and they hit it off immediately.

Ricky was able to do things Nini wasn't as interested in doing such as skateboarding, drawing, rough housing, and playing video games. Red was the best guy friend he could ask for, and Ricky was glad he met him. He had Nini meet Red a month after hanging out with him, and they both got along pretty well. Since they had a lack of interest, they didn't talk as much, but at least they were civil and acknowledged one another.

Because of their new friends, they began to lose that spark that made them stay friends for so long. Their rhythm was off by a bit when they'd speak, their conversations in person and in texts got shorter, and their time tended to be cut shorter when they did hang out because someone else was pulling them in the opposite direction.

It broke their hearts that it was happening, but they weren't sure what to do about it. It only hurt more whenever one of their parents would ask about the other and wonder if they'd be coming over for movies and dinner like they used to. This minor dry spell drifted into the first two months of their fifth grade year, and Ricky and Nini feared that they'd be strangers by middle school.

One day, Kourtney left school early for a doctor's appointment, so she never got on the bus. Ashlyn was a car rider, so Nini didn't have anyone to sit next to on her way home. Or so she thought.

All of the seats were pretty packed, which forced her to walk to the back. She saw there was an empty seat next to a boy, and she felt her heart beat a little faster when she realized who he was. It was none other than Ricky, who had stared back at her with a gleam in his eye.

She walks up to him. "Is this spot taken?"

He shakes his head and moves his book bag. "No."

She smiles and takes a seat beside him. The first minute was awkward. He fiddled with his book bag's straps while she nervously bit the inside of her cheek. They didn't know which one of them should speak first, but Nini ends up building up the courage.

"So, where's Red?"

Wasn't her best conversation starter, but it was a start nonetheless.

"He's out sick with the flu, and he won't be back at school for another week."

Nini nods and faces the front again. Another moment of awkward silence goes by, and it lasts all the way to the first stop. Ricky decided he couldn't endure this misery any longer and looks at her.

"Nini."

She seems surprised he even said her name, but she still gives him her attention. "Yes?"

"What's going on with us?"

She sighs in despair and shrugs. "I don't know."

"Well, we'd better find out before we get off this bus. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of this."

She didn't even need clarification. "Yeah, me too. I've missed you a lot."

"I've missed you too. I never thought we'd end up like this."

"We just got a little distracted; that's all."

"It's still not a good excuse. We should've never let new friends get in the way of us."

"I agree. I'm sorry I let Ash and Kourt take all my attention away from you. I just really wanted some girl friends for once."

"I relate to that. I wanted to have a guy friend, but I shouldn't have pushed you away because of that. I'm really sorry, Neens. It won't happen again."

"It's okay, and I also promise I won't do it again. Can we please be best buds again? I miss our movie nights with brownies, and my moms won't shut up about you."

Ricky chuckles. "Of course, we can be best buds again, and I really missed those brownies, almost more than you." Nini nudges him playfully, making him laugh. "I'm kidding, Neens! You know I missed you more."

She lays her head on his shoulder and blissfully sighs. He smiles and rests his head on top of hers as they ride to the next stop.

They were so incredibly happy they were constants in each other's lives again. But like most elementary schoolers, they were naïve to what the world had in store for them, and that some promises are hard to maintain. 

Chapter Text

"You know, this show may be musical, but I actually enjoy it." Nini says, biting off the head of a Sour Patch Kid.

Ricky nods and smirks at her. "I told you it was good. I knew one of these days my love of musicals would wear off on you."

"I wouldn't go that far. You've only gotten me to like Hannah Montana and this show, Victorious. I doubt you'll get me into others."

"You said that about Hannah, and now you have the movie soundtrack on your phone."

"You have no proof."

"Mouse, I overheard you stomping around in my room, attempting to learn the Hoedown Throwdown when I was showering the other day. You're not slick."

"Okay, but to be fair, I have to conquer that difficult dance at least once before I die. Also, there's no way in hell a 5 or 82 year old can do it if I can't do it at 12."

"Aren't you a dancer?"

"Not a professional! I just like to dance sometimes."

"All I'm hearing is excuses."

"Oh, shut up."

Ricky and Nini had been relaxing on Nini's couch, watching a bunch of movies and TV shows together. They had started taking turns on who gets to play what genre every other weekend. Today was Ricky's weekend to choose and of course he was going out of his way to force his love of theater and musicals on her.

She wouldn't admit it, but she did like the ones he's played today. She was excited for the movie he had queued next, which was Rocky Horror Picture Show. It looked rather exciting based on the outfit Tim Curry was wearing. She just hopes her mom doesn't come down while they're watching it since it clearly wasn't for children.

Ricky turns his attention back to the screen and sees Beck and Jade cuddling in the background while Tori performs. He found himself gazing between the both of them a lot, admiring how attractive they were.

He's never told anyone this, but he realized he's recently been looking at boys differently. He thought it was just typical acknowledgment that someone is attractive, but he knew it was more than that when he found himself blushing when he saw pictures of handsome men.

The first time was with Harry Styles back in fifth grade. Nini and him were watching a One Direction music video, and Ricky could not take his eyes off of him. He also loved talking to Nini about Harry, both fangirling over his talents and looks. 

Second time he experienced it was when he watched Glee and found himself blushing when Darren Criss or Chord Overstreet appeared on the screen. He didn't really know what to do with these feelings or thoughts since he's never felt them before. He knew he wasn't gay since he still found girls equally attractive, but that didn't explain what he was.

When they finally put on Rocky Horror, Ricky couldn't stop blushing when Frank-N-Furter kept hitting on both Janet and Brad. When his head got too occupied with his confusing thoughts, he knew he had to tell someone. Ricky blushes before he even looks at his best friend. "Um, Nini? Can I ask you something that might sound a little odd?"

She smiles. "Of course."

He plays with strings on the pillow he's been hugging, not looking her in the eye out of fear.

"Is it possible to like guys and girls equally?"

Nini stares at him blankly, blinking as she comprehends what he said. She pauses the TV before answering. "Like, romantically?"

"Uh...yeah, I guess."

She nods. "Yeah, my mama C told me it's called being bisexual. She actually has a sister that is bi, and she said it's completely normal and healthy."

Ricky felt his heart beat rapidly. He's never heard of that term before since he always thought non-straight people could only be attracted to the same sex. His dad never really spoke about that stuff, not because he didn't support them, but because it didn't cross his mind like most straight parents.

He suddenly felt overwhelmed with this new information and felt the need to be alone. He got up abruptly, causing Nini to look at him puzzled.

"I need to go home, like now."

"What? Why? We're only halfway through—"

"See you later."

He grabs his things and swiftly leaves the house. Nini kept staring at the door completely lost. She didn't know what was going on with him all of a sudden, but she knew he'd tell her when the time was right. He had a tendency to leave when things got tough, but he always came back.

She was right.

He came back to her house four days later in tears, and she immediately let him in. She took him to her bedroom, sat him down on her bed, and took a seat next to him, waiting for him to speak when he's ready. She rested her palm on his thigh to comfort him as she waited patiently.

He wipes away a few tears before clearing his throat. "Nini, I need to get something off my chest, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone, okay?"

"My lips are sealed." She pretends to zip her lips with her fingers.

He stares at his trembling hands, not wanting to see her reaction. "Neens, I think I might be into boys and girls. I've felt this way for a while. When you said it was called being bisexual, I went home and started doing some research. I'm confident that's what I am. I hope you don't see me differently because of this."

The room was silent for a few seconds, but it felt like centuries to Ricky. He couldn't force himself to look her in the eye.

"Ricky."

He takes a breath, ready for the worst. "Yeah?"

She interlaces her fingers with his. "I'll always wanna be your friend no matter what you identify as or who you love. I'll always be right here."

He finally looks up at her with a stunned expression. "Wait, really?"

She chuckled. "Of course, doofus. I'm not homophobic. My moms are a lesbian couple after all. It'd be a little hypocritical to hate you for liking two genders, don't you think?"

He began blushing and made a poker face. He felt ridiculous for thinking she'd hate him when she has two moms. "I guess I did all that worrying for nothing."

"Yeah, guess you did." She wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you for telling me when you didn't have to."

"It kinda felt like I needed to."

"No, you didn't. It's not like straight people go around coming out to people, so why should people who are in the LGBTQ community have to?"

He smiles and pulls her closer. "I guess you're right, but I was gonna tell you no matter what."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Just you so far. I'm gonna tell my dad next, then Red. I don't know when though. I hope they'll react positively."

"Your dad will love you no matter what, and Red will still hang out with you. If he doesn't, you always have me, and I'll gladly kick his butt for you."

That made him giggle. "You're the best, Neens."

"Yeah, I know. It's genetic for me to be amazing."

He playfully rolls his eyes, pulling apart from their embrace. "Can we get some ice cream?"

"Do you even have to ask? I'll pay; my treat."

"Once again, you're the literal best human being ever."

She flips her hair dramatically and flutters her eyelashes. "I can't help it. I could never hide my glamorous personality."

She gets up and offers her hand to him. He grins as he takes her hand and allows her to lead them out her bedroom.

Turns out, Nini was right. He finally told his dad a month later. His dad was overjoyed that his son had told him something so personal and gave him a bear hug. He told Red two weeks later, and he thankfully was accepting. He felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders since the three main people in his life were accepting of his true self, and he couldn't be happier.

***

The summer sun was dreadful as it beamed its rays onto the Salt Lake region. Even though it was well into the high 80's, that didn't stop Ricky and Nini from having fun. Mike had won two tickets to Six Flags from a raffle and gave them to Nini and Ricky.

The two friends freaked out since this was the perfect way to start the summer after a tough sixth grade year. Mike dropped them off at the front and said he'd come back when the park closes, leaving the two alone.

At the moment, Nini was playing with her hair as she waited in line to get some cotton candy. Ricky waited on a bench, waiting on her. He found himself sneaking glances at her as she stood in line. She'd occasionally look back at him and smile, sending shivers down his spine.

That had been happening recently when they hung out. She'd do something as simple as hold his hand, and he'd get butterflies in his stomach. Last week, she complimented his shirt. He went out of his way to make sure he didn't stain it that day. When he came over to pick her up today, he felt himself blushing when she waved at him.

It was annoying really, mostly because he feels jittery around her. He's never been nervous around Nini like this, and he hoped this was temporary.

She skips back to him with her snack and smiles down at him. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Cool. Do you mind if we go to the kiosks with all the prizes? I wanna bring a souvenir home."

"Whatever you like."

"Great."

She takes his hand, and that familiar tingly feeling goes through his body again. His face begins burning. "Uh yeah, let's go."

She guides him to the closest kiosks with him following a little bit behind her, which was for the best since he couldn't stop blushing. He kept staring at her, trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with him.

When they finally got to the stand, she handed the employee some cash. She smiles brightly at Ricky as she grabs one of the basketballs. "I'm gonna win you a teddy bear."

"You don't have to do that for me. Just keep whatever you win."

"But I want to get it for you."

"Seriously mouse, it's o—"

"I'm not taking no for an answer."

He sighed and faintly smiled, hoping his cheeks weren't rosy. "Okay, fine."

He stands by and watches her shoot into the basket, not missing a beat. He'd like to say this was shocking, but he knew she had insanely good aim. The employee watched in awe as she made 10 perfect shots in a row, but Ricky was looking at her in awe for different reasons.

When she got to 20 baskets, the bell went off, stating she won. Nini squealed and clapped as she jumped up and down from excitement. "Ricky, I did it!"

"You were amazing!"

The employee smiles at her. "Since you got a high score, you can get any of the prizes you want."

Nini already knew what she wanted. She pointed at the top shelf. "I want that teddy bear right there."

"You got it." The employee happily grabbed it and gave it to her. "Enjoy your day you two." He says before attending to the next client.

Nini beams as she hugs the bear, making Ricky's heart melt. She was so adorable. 

She hands it to him. "Told you I'd get you one."

"I never doubted you. Are you sure you don't want it? You definitely deserve it."

She shakes her head. "I want you to have it, dimples. I only played this game so I could get you one."

He knew he was blushing for sure without even looking. "Thanks, Neens. Any particular reason why you wanted to win me a bear? It seems a little random."

She shrugs. "I just wanted to make you happy."

Yeah, he might need to put a bag over his head to hide his face at this point. He just knows his face is as red as a damn tomato by now.

He wraps his arm around her and takes the bear. "I think I'll name it...Franklin. Yeah, that suits him well."

"Franklin? Like the turtle?"

He chuckles. "No, I just like that name for some reason."

"Alright, Franklin it is. How about we go take Franklin on some rides before sunset?"

"You read my mind."

Ricky, Nini, and their plus one all rode on as many rides as they could before nightfall. Ricky got a little sick on The Batman, and they had to chill for a bit, but he was okay after he had some water. Her rubbing his back also helped a lot and made his heart skip a beat.

The day seemed to fly by, and all of a sudden it was an hour until closing. They slowly walked down the path, linking pinkies as families walked by.

"How much longer until your dad comes?"

"Around 30 minutes. We can wait by the entrance until he gets here."

"No, we haven't done all the rides yet."

He lifts a brow. "I'm pretty sure we have."

She shook her head with a knowing smile. "Nope, I saved the best for last."

"What could possibly be better than the Gotham City rides?"

She stopped suddenly and looked up with a twinkle in her eye. "That."

He looked at whatever she was referring to before scrunching his brows.

"The Ferris wheel?"

"Yep! It's the perfect way to end a day at an amusement park since it's so calming."

"True, but it's definitely not the best."

"To each their own. Come on; I bet the sky looks beautiful right now."

You look beautiful right now.

She spins around and faces him. "What did you say?"

He freezes and widens his eyes. Did he really just say that out loud?

"Oh um, well, I um—let's just get on the ride, shall we?"

Nini smirks and turns back to the ride. Luckily, only three other people besides them were in line, so they were able to get on quickly. Ricky placed Franklin beside him, not wanting to leave any space between him and Nini. The music began playing, and the ride began moving.

She happily gripped onto the railing when they started getting high off the ground. She swung her legs like a small child, and she couldn't stop cheesing.

"I didn't realize you liked Ferris wheels this much."

"How could I not?"

"Why do you like them so much?"

She smiles. "You're about to find out in 3, 2, 1..."

When she points into the horizon, he's amazed by the sight. He could see the entire park from there and the outline of Salt Lake. The sunset was gorgeous since he could see the moon rising as the sun steadily disappeared. The sky was a mixture of fluorescent colors that he usually associated with happiness. Now he understood why she liked it so much; he could probably stare at this view for an hour.

"Wow..."

She nods. "Wow indeed." She rests her palm on his thigh.

He tears his eyes away to glimpse at her, and he realized she was probably the only thing that was just as stunning as the sunset. She felt his eyes on her and glanced at him.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just...I had a really good time with you today. I'd like to do it again."

"That can be arranged."

"Counting the days."

She scoots closer to him and rests her head on his shoulder as she enjoys the scenery. Ricky wrapped his arm around her to pull her closer. When their cart stops at the top, Ricky ends up admiring her beauty instead.

Randomly getting a boost of confidence, Ricky leans over and pecks her temple. She immediately turns to him with an astonished face. Both of their cheeks became crimson as they stared into one another's eyes.

She rubs the area he kissed. "Wh-what was that for?"

He shrugs nonchalantly, as if he does this regularly. "I just wanted to make you happy." He says, reiterating her words from earlier.

She smiles and places her head back on his shoulder. They sat in comfortable silence for the remainder of the ride, wishing they could stay like this longer.

***

Nini and Ricky were sitting in Ricky's bedroom; he was teaching her how to play different video games. She always liked trying out whatever he was interested in so she could be closer to him and vice versa. She does it with her other friends as well, but she made more of an effort with Ricky since he was her favorite.

"Neens, you gotta press X to kill him."

"Where the heck is the X on this controller?"

"It's literally the button beside your thumb."

"Oh, right."

"No, don't press that. That's the home button!"

"Why doesn't it look like one then? It's an X shape! They should make the button have a home on it like the Wii."

Nini's character gets killed relatively quickly since she had no idea what she was doing, which didn't surprise her since she hasn't won a single game except for Mario Party. She hands him the controller, folds her arms, and pouts. "Xbox games suck."

He puffs air from his nose, amused by her poor sportsmanship. She was an athlete, and she hated losing no matter if it was a virtual or real game. She's been like that all 13 years of her life.

"It doesn't suck; you just don't know what you're doing yet, but don't worry. You'll get the hang of it one of these days."

"Yeah, right."

He chuckles as he gets up from his chair. "I'm going to get us some more soda."

She just nods as she continues to pout, and he walks out of his bedroom. She began playing on her phone while she waited, but her stomach started cramping up. She rubs her belly, hoping it'd help ease the random soreness.

"God, I feel like I've been hit by a bus."

She suddenly feels her pants get wet and sits up since she assumed she somehow sat in water. Her face pales when she sees the chair, and her cheeks begin to heat up. She saw a little bit of blood on the chair, which meant one thing. She checked herself in his vanity mirror and gasped when she saw a blood stain on her jeans.

"No, no, no! Not here and now! This can't be happening."

She started to freak out since she didn't know what to do; she always hoped it'd come at home while one of her moms are home so they can guide her. She stopped pacing the room when she realized that Ricky would see her like this. How is she gonna explain herself? Does he even know about periods? It's not like the school really went into detail for the sex ed day in PE.

"Neens, did you want Sprite or Dr. Pepper?"

She jumps at the sound of his voice. "Uh, it doesn't matter!"

"Alright, I'm coming up!"

"Crap." She whispers to herself.

She scurries to his bathroom and grabs some of his Clorox wipes from under his sink. She swiftly wiped his chair, thankful that they were leather seats. She bundles up a bunch of toilet paper and places it on her underwear as a substitute for a pad. Once that problem was fixed, it dawned on her that she still had a huge stain on her butt.

She didn't bring a jacket, so she couldn't even use that as a cover up. She hears him coming upstairs and starts to wig out. He enters the room with both sodas and a grin on his face.

"Here's your Sprite. Sorry it took so long. I was—"

"Get out."

He stops talking and stares at her bewildered. "What?"

"Please get out. I need privacy."

"Privacy for what?"

"I just need privacy, Ricky!"

He stares at her blankly before setting the drinks down and closing his door behind him, leaving her alone in the room. She frantically looked around his room for something to cover herself up with and spotted one of his jackets on the floor. She ties it around her waist and grabs all her belongings before rushing out of his room.

Ricky was downstairs waiting for her, anxiously tapping his foot. He heard her running downstairs and approached her. "Neens, what's going on? Is that my jacket?"

"I need to go home, Ricky. I just uh—am a little sick. Yeah, sick."

"You're sick? I can walk you home if you—"

"No need! I'll be fine, especially since Mama C is in town. Okay, bye."

She doesn't give him a chance to speak before dashing out of there, leaving him worried and lost. He watched her as she briskly got onto her bike and pedaled away.

"What the hell?"

~

He waited a few hours before walking over to her place. He had no idea what caused her to act all weird, but he was determined to find out. He knocks on her front door, and Carol opens it.

"Oh, hi dear. Nini isn't feeling too well."

"Is she contagious?"

"Well, no."

"Can I see her?"

"I don't think she really wants guests right now."

"Is it something I did? Because if it is, I wanna apologize."

"No, honey. You didn't do anything wrong. She's just feeling...embarrassed is all."

"Embarrassed? Is she upset because she kept losing in the games I was teaching her how to play?"

Carol sighed and opened the door for him. "How about you go talk to her? I think she's cooled down."

"Thank you, Mrs. Carol."

"Just Carol is fine."

"Carol it is then." He smiles and makes his way upstairs. He takes a deep breath before knocking on her bedroom door.

"Come in."

He opens the door and sees her resting on her bed with a heating pad under her. She gasped when she saw it was him. "You're not my mom."

"Yes, I'm very aware of that fact."

"She wasn't supposed to let you in."

"Yeah, about that, why did you run off like that? You seemed like you were running away from me for some reason."

"Well, I kinda was."

He frowns. "Why would you run from me? I'm your best friend, remember?"

She sits up. "It's not because I wanted to; it's because of something I couldn't help. I had to go home to fix it since you wouldn't know how to handle it."

He sits beside her on her bed. "Nini, I'm sure I can help you if you just tell me what's going on."

"I doubt it."

"Have a little faith in me; you'd be surprised."

She sighs and plays with her sweatpants' strings, staring down at her legs. They sat there in silence for a solid three minutes as he awaited her explanation. When he realized she wasn't going to budge, he decided to let it go. He sighs in defeat and gets up.

"Alright, you clearly don't wanna talk to me about it. I'll just see my way out."

Nini felt guilty since she made him feel as if he was the problem. As she watched him slowly approach the door, she finally spoke up.

"It's a girl thing!"

He stops in his tracks and turns to face her. "A girl thing? What do you mean?"

"I mean, you know...a girl thing." She raises her eyebrows in hopes that he'll put the pieces together.

He furrowed his brows as he tried to comprehend her hint until it hit him what she's alluding to. He blushes.

"Oh."

"Yeah..."

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds as she attempted to avoid his gaze.

"Well, you're right. I can't really help you with that."

She finally looks over at him and sees him smiling.

He scratches the back of his head. "Can I like, get you a snack or something? I remember hearing somewhere that girls get cravings a lot."

She slowly forms a grin when she sees he wasn't grossed out or weirded out. She doesn't know why she assumed the worst from the one person who always accepted her regardless of what was going on in life.

"I already had some cookies earlier, but thank you."

He took a seat beside her and placed his palm on her leg before snatching it away in fear.

"Oh wait, did that hurt? I heard you girls get cramps."

She chuckles and shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. You can leave your hand there."

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

She smiles. "I am now."

She loved how caring and considerate he was being. It was just one of the many amazing things about him.

"Do you wanna watch a movie? It's your turn to pick anyway." He says, offering her the Firestick.

"Can it be a romantic movie?" Even though he's told her numerous times that she never has to ask when it's her turn, she always does it anyway. She didn't want him to watch something he didn't enjoy, and romantic movies weren't really his thing.

He grins at her. "It can be whatever your little heart desires, mouse."

She perks up and switches the TV onto Netflix, choosing the first cheesy rom-com that caught her interest. She ends up cuddling into his side for warmth. He feels that annoying yet sensational eruption of butterflies in his stomach, not knowing she was experiencing something similar.

***

Seventh grade wasn't anything monumental. It was the halfway point of the awkward transition into teenage years, and you weren't really learning anything that significant yet. It was when many kids were discovering who they were and how they wanted to be presented. It also was the year when some built confidence since this year signified the first annual Spring Fling.

Nini has never been to a school dance like this, the closest being the father-daughter dance. She was pretty excited to go and had already been planning cute outfits to wear with Kourtney and Ashlyn. The girls were all sitting around the lunch table, talking about the dance.

"How do I look?" Ashlyn asks, holding up her phone.

The two girls make some sound of approval when they see the dress she palms to wear.

"Oh Ash, you're gonna look beautiful!" Nini compliments.

"You think so?"

Kourtney nods. "We know so! Can I do your makeup for that day? I have the perfect palette for that dress, which reminds me that I need to go shopping for mine. It's in two weeks, and I still don't know what to wear!"

Nini sighs. "Honesty, me neither. I don't want to wear anything in my closet since they seem either too formal or too casual. Maybe we should go shopping this Saturday. What do you say, Kourt?"

"Girl, do you even have to ask?"

Nini giggles. "Yeah, you're right."

Ashlyn raises a brow suggestively. "So, you two plan to get dates?"

Kourtney scoffed at the idea while Nini blushed.

"Girl, please. I do not want to be thinking of some dude when I could be having fun with you two instead. Right, Nini?"

Kourtney glances over at Nini only to see her looking across the lunchroom at something. Both girls followed her eyesight and detected that she was gawking longingly at Ricky. Kourtney and Ashlyn smiled wittingly at one another before looking back at Nini.

"Why don't you just ask him?" Ashlyn advises, causing Nini to jump back to reality.

"Huh?!"

"You heard me. Go ask him out before someone else does, or before he does."

"Who says I want to go with him?"

Kourtney and Ashlyn both look at her unamused, and Nini couldn't even blame them. She barely believed herself.

"Okay, so what if I do? It doesn't even matter because he'd never." She placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands, sighing as she watched him laugh at something Red said.

"You don't know that!" Kourtney says.

"I do know that. He isn't really fond of the whole romance thing."

"He might surprise you!" Ashlyn encourages.

"Yeah, I'm not getting my hopes up. I'll just go with you guys like I planned."

Kourtney and Ashlyn backed down since they knew she wouldn't hear any more about this, but they'll bring it up when the time is right.

Ricky gets up and walks over to her table with a nervous smile on his face. Nini straightened her posture and fixed her hair as he made his way over to her.

"Hey, mouse."

"Hey."

"Can I ask you something real quick, alone?"

"Oh! Um, sure."

She peeked over at her girlfriends and wasn't surprised to see them smirking at her. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to him. "Let's go."

He guides her to the empty hallway and leans against the wall. "So."

"So..."

"I have a kinda weird question."

"Go ahead."

"You're a girl, right?"

"Take a wild guess."

"Right, right. Sorry. Anyways, I was thinking about this whole Spring Fling thing, and I wanted to run something by you. "

She began to internally get excited. "What's that?"

"Well, would it be too cheesy to sing a song to a girl I wanna ask to the dance with me?"

"Like a love song?"

"I guess, but that'd be too strong of a word to use. I'd basically just make some corny lyrics to ask her to the dance as I play my guitar."

"Awe, Ricky! That's adorable. She'll love that."

"Really?"

"Of course! She'll definitely say yes."

He beams and hugs her, and she hates how swiftly he pulls back. "Great, I'll start writing now. Thanks, Neens!"

She watches as he walks to the library, most likely to start drafting his song. Nini waited until he was out of sight before squealing. Maybe Kourtney and Ashlyn were right; maybe he was gonna ask her.
She ran back to her table with a pep in her step.

"Girls, you won't believe what just happened!"

"Oo what? Did he finally ask you out?" Kourtney asks.

"No, but maybe he will one day."

Ashlyn claps. "Eek! Tell us more!"

"He just asked if singing a song to a girl to ask her to the dance was okay, and I said yes. Do you think that he could be talking about me?"

"He has to be!" Kourtney says.

"Maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up just in case."

"True, but I can't think of a girl he even talks to besides you and sometimes us." Ashlyn points out.

Nini tried to think of other girls he had been interested in or at least spoke to, but she came up blank. "Yeah, you're right."

"Fingers crossed it's you." Kourtney says, crossing her fingers.

Nini blissfully sighed. "Yeah, fingers crossed." She began fantasizing about what it would be like to date Ricky. They already hold hands, and he occasionally pecks her cheek. It was like they were already together already. If that alone felt amazing, she couldn't fathom how magnificent it'd be if it were official.

She shakes her head before she gets too distracted by her imagination. "Let's get back to talking about our dresses. I'm thinking—"

Kourtney holds up her hand. "No, god no. I'll pick it out for you when we go shopping since you're incapable of choosing the right color for you."

"Wowwww."

"It's true." Ashlyn agrees.

"Screw you guys." She says lightheartedly, flipping both of them off.

Kourtney pats her back. "We love you too."

~

Nini patiently waits all week for Ricky to ask her to the point where she'd get jumpy when she sees him with his guitar. So far, she's had no luck. It was a week until the dance, and he showed no signs of asking her. A part of her wanted to ask why he didn't ask her, but she felt that'd be weird.

And then it happened.

Ricky came into the lunchroom with a guitar in his hands and a small bouquet. Nini smiles and fixes up her appearance. This was it; the moment he'd finally ask her out. Ashlyn and Kourtney also noticed him entering and got excited for her.

Ashlyn squeals. "It's time! I'm gonna get this on tape."

"Please don't. I already know my face would be red as hell."

Ashlyn gently nudges her arm. "You'd still look cute!"

Ricky looks around the lunchroom and grins when he spots her. He takes a deep breath before walking over to her. Nini smiled at him as he got closer, but that smile speedily dropped when he walked right past her table to the one behind hers.

Ricky taps this blond girl from Nini's algebra class named Lauren. Lauren turns her head up at him with furrowed brows. "Hey?"

"Hi, Lauren. I have something to ask you."

Her friends seemed to catch on before Lauren did and began giggling.

"Sure. What's up?"

Ricky strings the first few strings of his guitar, causing others to look at him. "This song is dedicated to the girl that sits two seats in front of me in history class, and it's written by me."

He began singing and playing the guitar, and Lauren was definitely digging it. Lauren had heart eyes as she watched him, and it was clear what her answer would be before he even finished the song. When he finishes, some of the students begin clapping and cheering him on.

Lauren got up from her seat with the biggest smile on her face.

"So, will you go to Spring Fling with me?"

Lauren nods nimbly. "Yes, of course I'll go to the dance with you!"

She flings her arms around his neck and brings him into a hug, pecking his cheek lightly. Ricky sighs from relief and hugs her back. Her friends all wolf whistled and cheered their friend on.

A few feet away from them, Nini was distraught as she watched the scene play in front of her. How could she be so foolish to think that he'd like her? They were friends and nothing more. She can't make this mistake again.

Kourtney places her hand on Nini's back to console her. "Neens, I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have got it in your head."

Nini shrugs, trying to hold back her tears. "It's fine." She gets up and picks up her book bag. "I'm going to the library for a while. I'll see you girls later, okay?"

They both nodded at her as they watched her leave, knowing she liked to be alone when she was upset.

After Ricky was done exchanging contact information with Lauren, he spun around and realized Nini was nowhere to be found. He walks over to the table Red was sitting at.

"Hey dude, was she watching?"

"Huh? Who?" Red asks with food in his mouth.

"Nini, was she watching?"

"Oh, uhhhh, no. I saw her leave, but she didn't seem to care."

Ricky frowns slightly. "Oh, okay."

"Why did you want me to watch her again?"

"Don't worry about it, dude."

Red still wanted the clarification, but he let it go.

Nini ends up texting Ashlyn and Kourtney a few days ago that she will not be attending the dance after all since her coach had wanted a last minute practice around the same time as the dance. The girls weren't sure if that excuse was legit since her coach has done something similar before, but they didn't pressure her to come since they knew watching Ricky dance with someone else would ruin her night.

In reality, she stayed at home and watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding with her Mama D, trying to forget about the thought of her best friend having a good time with a girl who's prettier than her.

***

"Ricky, I'm fine."

"I still want to help you."

"You don't need to."

"But I want to."

"I only broke my arm. You're acting like I got total knee replacement surgery or something."

"Is it a sin to want to make sure your best friend is alright?"

"Well, no..."

"Well, alright then. I'm staying."

"Fine, but I need to go get my blanket from my bed."

"I can get it for you."

"I'm coming with you."

Nini had broken her arm playing basketball at her game two weeks ago. She was in a lot of pain, but it was bearable. She was just glad it wasn't her dominant hand. Ricky absolutely hated when Nini injured herself, even if it was something as small as a paper cut.

He went full nurse mode when it came down to making sure her health was fine. Since Carol was in Mexico and Dana worked late, he visited every day after school to help her around the house if needed even though she usually didn't need the assistance. He sometimes comes to her home with ice cream, which she never complained about. At the moment, he was guiding her to her room from the living room.

"Why did you want to follow me up here anyway? This is a one person job."

"I have my reasons."

"And those reasons being?..."

"I'll tell you when we get there."

"You may as well just tell me since we're like two seconds away from entering your room."

"Ah, but your patience will be rewarded."

"You suck."

She just chuckles as they go into her room. As he went for the blanket, she sneakily went into her sock drawer and pulled out a small box. She peeks into the box to ensure the object was still there and smiled when it was.

"Alright, I got the blanket. Let's go downstairs."

He sees her with a suspicious smile and her hands behind her back, causing him to be wary.

"Uh, whatcha got there?"

"A little something."

"May I see what this little something in question is."

"You may." She reveals the small black box to him, and he raises a brow.

"Are you proposing? Because I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

She grins and rolls her eyes. "Just open it, silly."

He takes it and opens it and gasps when he sees what's inside. "Nini..."

"Do you like it?"

"Nini, this is...wow."

"Is that a positive wow?"

He slowly takes the jewelry out of the box and marvels at it. It was a dog tag with engraved writing on it that said: "No matter where we go, no matter what we do..."

"What's the rest of the quote?"

She smiles. "Thought you'd never ask." She shows the hidden necklace from her shirt and displays it for him. He ducks down to read it.

"You will always have me, and I will always have you."

Ricky beams at her half of the quote. "Nini..."

"You like it right? You keep avoiding the question, so now I'm starting to get anxious."

He throws his arms around her and holds her tight, careful not to hurt her cast-covered arm. She was taken aback by the unexpected embrace, but accepted it nonetheless.

"Mouse, this is the cutest gift I've ever received from you."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Where did you even find this?"

"I saw it in this store and asked Mama D to get it for us, and she said yes after I convinced her it wouldn't be in stock by December."

"But it's not even my birthday or Christmas. Why'd you get this for me?"

"Because it's perfect for us, dimples. You and I are much like the necklaces; we complete each other."

They both blushed at her words. He placed the jewelry around his neck with a proud smile.

"I'm gonna wear this every day, and I do plan to wear it to my grave."

"Good, because I was gonna do the same thing too."

He finally released her and moved his arm around her shoulders. "I'm so lucky to have you."

"I'm more lucky to have you."

"It's a sin to lie, Nina."

"Back at you, Richard."

They went on a playful rant about who is luckier for being in this friendship for a solid minute straight until they called it a draw.

When he was lying in bed later that evening, he found himself touching his dog tag a lot, dreaming about his best friend's lovely smile.

***

Being in 8th grade was a lot for Nini, and she wasn't the only one. Middle school was on the brink of ending, which meant kids were trying to make the most of it and get ready for high school.

Nini was feeling rather behind when it came to sprouting into a teenager due to her lack of experience with romance. She was 14 and had never been kissed while half the girls in her grade were already on their third boyfriend or so.

She felt inferior not only because she had been so innocent compared to everyone else but also because the only person she truly wanted to give her first kiss to probably had no interest in her. She just desperately wanted to run up to him and smash her lips onto his and hope they'd live happily ever after, but she knew life wasn't some fairytale. All she knew was that she wanted to get rid of her kissing virginity before she entered the 9th grade in a few months.

She wasn't picky when it came to things like this. She likes romance movies and all, but she herself wasn't a hopeless romantic that dreamed of the perfect first kiss. She's much more of an if it happens, it happens type of gal. But that still didn't mean she couldn't fantasize about kissing her best friend.

Despite her desire to kiss Ricky, a part of her didn't. If it were some random guy, she wouldn't mind if it were just a quick peck and they went about their day, but this was Ricky. If she was going to be kissing him, it had to be perfect. That includes the setting, the timing, the kiss itself, everything.

She had been trying to find the courage to ask him to be her first kiss, but she always pussied out when she had the chance. Her girlfriends knew about her crush on him for years now even though Nini has never told them. It's not like she was making it a secret really; anyone with eyes could see that she was interested except for Ricky apparently.

Nini had been resting in the bleachers after one hell of a basketball practice with Ricky not too far away on the other side of the gym. His after school guitar club had been waiting against the gym wall for the male basketball practice to end so they could play guitar since their classroom had been flooded from a recent storm.

Nini had caught Ricky's eye a while ago, and they politely smiled and waved at one another. The only reason neither of them went up to each other is because he wasn't allowed to leave his club, so they just snuck glances at each other when they could. One perk of him being across the gym was that he couldn't see her blushing.

Nini couldn't tear her eyes from him as she watched him laugh with one of his friends. All she wanted to do was know what his lips tasted like, and it was driving her nuts that she might never know because of her cowardice. She tells herself that it was an understandable fear since she's risking a lot by pursuing him, but another part of her wanted to ignore reasoning and let fate decide whether they're meant to be.

She doesn't even realize she's doing it, but she got out of her seat and began walking up to him with a motive. She was gonna do it. She was gonna ignore all the common sense in her head and ask him to be her first kiss. When he noticed she's coming his way, he smiled but was clearly confused. She didn't let that stop her though. She'll be damned if she lets anyone stop her from this.

She was only a few feet away from him, and she felt her heart beating out of her chest with anticipation. As she got closer, she suddenly started to feel queasy. It must've shown on her face because Ricky's smile faltered when he saw her pained expression. Just when she was about to make those final steps to him, she stopped and stared at him like an idiot.

He furrowed his brows as he tried to figure out what was wrong with her. Her cheeks became hot with embarrassment, and she suddenly felt the need to be anywhere but near him. She averted her gaze to someone else; literally anyone is better to look at right now than him.

Her eyes landed on Hector Diaz, the point guard for the school's basketball team. She has no idea what comes over her, but her feet were going towards him. Ricky watches as she walks over to the sidelines with concern. Nini ends up standing in front of Hector and two of his other teammates, who were looking at her as if she'd been intruding in on something.

Hector raises a brow as he quickly scans Nini. "Uh, hi?"

"Hi, I'm Nini."

"Hector."

"I know who you are. You're a great player."

He smiles. "Thanks, I've seen you play a few times as well. You're not too bad yourself."

Nini nods awkwardly as she blushes at his compliment. There was an awkward pause for a moment before she finally clears her throat. "Listen, I know this sounds really weird. Scratch that; I know what I'm about to ask is insane."

Hector shoos away his teammates for some privacy. "Go on."

She takes a deep breath. "Would you be my first kiss? I just really wanna get it over with before high school, and something tells me you'd do it well."

Hector was taken aback but soon smirked. "You want me to kiss you? I don't even know you."

"Yeah, I know. That's why I said it was insane. Feel free to tell me to fuck off if you don't want to. I know this is weird as fuck."

He chuckles and sits up straight. "I'll kiss you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Oh, okay. Um cool! So, should I just like meet you in the middle or something? I don't really know what to—"

She gets cut off by his soft lips pressing against hers. She kisses back after she gets the gist of it, and she was thrilled to find out he was a good kisser. The kiss didn't last that long since they were in a gym, and one of the teachers would soon break it off. He pulled back first and smiled at her.

"How was that for your first kiss?"

Nini blushes and faintly smiles. "It was...it was very nice. Thank you."

"Good." He leans back against the wall. "So, was that it?"

"Yeah, basically."

"Can I get your number? You're a pretty good kisser for a first timer."

Nini places a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh um, I guess I could give you my Instagram."

He smiles smugly. "Cool."

They exchange profiles and follow each other. His coach blows his whistle, indicating it was time to get back on the court.

"I hope I'll see you around, Nini." He winks at her before running to the court.

"Uh oh, yeah, you too." She says way too late.

She didn't intend to contact him, but she figured sharing her Instagram wasn't the end of the world. It wasn't an ideal first kiss, but at least it was over. She was no longer a kissing virgin, and she didn't have to stress about it anymore.

When she spins on her heel, she spots Ricky looking at her with a bizarre face. She couldn't tell if he was baffled, disgusted, or upset. No matter which emotion he was feeling, it was clear to her that he didn't like what he just witnessed.

She suddenly felt like she had done something awfully wrong even though she knew she didn't. She avoids eye contact with him as she speedily exits the gym, trying to get Ricky's face out of her head. 

***

Eighth grade came and went, and Ricky and Nini weren't that glad about it. They were probably the only ones who weren't excited about summer break going into high school, but most people were going to be hanging out with their friends this summer. This duo couldn't say the same.

Nini had decided to go to a basketball camp a few hours away in Moab, Utah that she'd be spending the majority of her summer break at. She'd only have two weeks to spend with her friends before she had to head off, so she made the most of it.

The first week was spent with Ashlyn and Kourtney while the last one was spent with Ricky. She always loved saving the best for last, and she wanted to make sure he was the last face she saw before leaving Salt Lake.

They were resting on her front yard with an old blanket under them as they stargazed. It was the night before she had to leave, and Ricky wanted her last day before she comes back in mid-August to be peaceful since the prior days had been active. They had only watched a few movies and had Chinese take-out before they stargazed. It was an idyllic last day.

"It's really gonna suck being stuck here while you're gone."

She nods. "Yeah, I'll miss you for sure. Promise to text me every day? I heard the gyms and mess halls have pretty good reception."

"You know I will. I'll probably get on your nerves."

"You could never get on my nerves."

"That's a lie and you know it. I've gotten under your skin plenty of times."

She chuckles. "Yeah, but I always forgave you because I can't stomach life without you."

"The feelings are mutual, mouse."

Her head tilts over to stare at him, trying to soak him in as much as she could before she'd be Rickyless for two months. She hadn't told anyone except Kourtney and Ashlyn that her secondary reason for leaving was actually because of him.

After realizing that she and Ricky would never be together, she knew the best way to get over him was by putting distance between them. She was hoping she'd move on whether that meant crushing on another guy or her just simply falling out of love.

Ricky turns his head over to her and smiles that same smile that makes her forget her own name. Damn, she's got it bad. "What're you looking at?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, so I'm nothing?" He teases.

She nudges him. "Shut up. You know what I meant."

Ricky just snickers as he takes his turn to admire her. Ricky had also had secondary motives, confessing to Nini that he loves her. He has since that day at Six Flags over a year ago, and it's only gotten stronger with time. He figured telling her before she leaves was the ideal time to do it since it gives her time to digest his words. If she feels the same, he has a relationship to look forward to when she comes back. If she declines, it gives them both some time to get over it and move on. It was a genius plan, but there was one problem.

He could not find the balls to do it for the life of him.

He wanted to tell her all week but always pushed it aside, stating that he'd do it the next day. But that day turned into two days, and two days turned into three. Now he only had a few hours to confess, and he still wasn't sure if he'd have the guts to.

"You're staring." She says, interrupting his thoughts.

"What? Only you're allowed to stare?"

"Yes, it was in our contract when you agreed to be my friend."

"I don't remember that."

"It was in the fine print at the bottom in small font."

"Sounds like you scammed me."

"You can't prove it."

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers."

"Bring it on bitch."

He nudges her, which causes her to slap his arm playfully. He retaliates by shoving her hard enough to make her roll a bit on her side. She scoffs and rolls on top of him, resulting in them wrestling on the blanket.

Nini was able to pin his arms to the ground above his head. "Say mercy."

"I'll never give in."

"Say it, or I won't get off."

He didn't really mind her being there, but he did mind her house key stabbing his thigh from the inside of her pocket.

"Ugh fine, mercy."

She releases him with a smug look, resting her hands on either side of him. "Ha, I win."

He rolls his eyes, not actually annoyed with her. "Yeah, yeah."

They both got into a fit of giggles. When their eyes met, the giggling began to gradually dissipate. They both stare into one another's eyes, attempting to find the courage to do what both of them secretly wanted to do.

Eventually, Nini's common sense kicked in, and she realized this was the opposite of what she should be doing if she was gonna get over him. She got off of him and laid back down beside him, already missing her former position.

They spent the rest of their time out on her yard in comfortable silence, both knowing they were never going to address that moment. Around midnight, they decided to call it a night and went inside her house. Ricky slept on his designated futon mattress he typically laid on for sleepovers at the edge of her bed, not ready to say goodbye to her in eight hours.

Everyone in the Salazar-Roberts home got up at 6:45 a.m. sharp to ensure everything went as planned. They couldn't afford to miss the bus that was going to take her to the camp in Moab. Nini barely had any time to talk to Ricky unless it was in passing, but he didn't take it to heart.     If anything, it gave him more time to build up the courage to tell her.

Time seemed to not be on Ricky's side today. In a blink of an eye, it was already 7:50, which meant she'd be heading out that door in minutes. She finally had a free moment since Dana insisted on packing the car for her so she could talk to Ricky. She joined Ricky in the kitchen.

"Hey."

He forms a weak smile. "Hey."

"You gonna miss me?"

"That's an understatement. They need a stronger word for missing someone."

"I'm sure it exists, and we just don't know it."

"You're probably right."

"I always am."

He smirks and wraps his arms around her. She sighed as she melted into his warm embrace, loving the safe feeling she always gets when she holds him like this.

"Is it weird that I already miss you?" He asks, rubbing up and down her spine.

"Not at all. I feel the same way."

He considered professing right then and there, but something told him this wasn't the best time. He's sure he'll do it one day; it just wasn't any time soon. They stayed in each other's arms, rocking side to side. Neither wanted to let go, and they didn't plan to split apart until Dana pulled them away from each other.

"Nini, it's time to go. Say goodbye." Dana yells from outside.

Nini groans, not bothering to release him. "I don't wanna leave you."

"I know, mouse, but you have to."

"Hug Franklin and graze your dog tag when you miss me."

"Sounds like a plan."

They finally break their embrace and gaze into one another's eyes, holding hands.

She bit her lips to refrain from choking up. "Bye dimples."

"Bye mouse."

She squeezed his hands before detaching from him. Ricky watched from the doorstop as Dana and Nini got in the car. Nini looks out the window and waves at him. He waves back as he watches the car leave the driveway. He sighed sadly when he finally was alone. He locked up their home with his extra key before heading back to his place, endeavoring to make it through this summer without his other half.

Chapter Text

Nini and Kourtney barge through the doors of East High, Nini smiling like she just got told she won free tickets to see Taylor Swift. Nini looked around the large school with a twinkle in her eye.

"Well, Kourt, it's official. We're high schoolers."

"I feel old."

"We're only 14; calm down."

"Then why do I have the back of a 60-year-old?"

"Touché."

They arrived at their lockers and began decorating and filling them up with the things they didn't want to carry.

Kourtney smirks. "So, how are you feeling about seeing you know who for the first time in two months?"

Nini smiled and rolled her eyes. "I know what you're thinking. I don't have a crush on him anymore."

Kourtney wasn't believing that for a second. "Uh huh."

"Seriously! I don't!"

"So, if he were to let’s say walk down the hall right now, you'd be able to not be a blushing mess?"

"I can confidently say that I could have a full conversation with him without blushing or stuttering."

"Yeah, we'll see about that because he's coming your way."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

Kourtney points her finger at him, making Nini peek over her shoulder. Nini quickly freshened up in her locker's mirror before turning around to face him. When she finally saw him after so many weeks, her jaw practically hit the floor.

Ricky definitely blossomed during the summer.

His hair was a little longer, and he apparently had a growth sprout. She can tell he'd been working out, which shouldn't come as a shock to her since he texted her saying he's been hitting the gym to pass time since she wasn't there to hang out with. And to top it all off, he just had to wear those fucking gray sweatpants.

Overall, he was more gorgeous than the last time she saw him, and it was annoying.

She felt her cheeks already heating up as he finally stood in front of her with his adorable smile.

He doesn't waste any time as he wraps his arms around her and squeezes her tight. He slightly lifts her off the ground, causing her to get on her tippy-toes. She took note of the cologne he was wearing since it was her favorite, and it really didn't help her.

"Nini! I've missed you like crazy! Did your hair get longer? And when the hell were you gonna tell me you got highlights? They look good by the way."

He was confused as to why she wasn't responding at first, but then he realized it was because he was squishing her face into his chest. He loosened his grip on her so that she could speak.

She rested her chin on his chest and beams up at him. "It did get longer, and I got it done last Saturday, I figured it'd be a nice surprise." She registers that she had inclined her neck a lot more than she used to before she left. "Jesus Christ, I leave for two months, and you become the Green Giant!"

He chuckles. "Yeah, I may have grown a few inches, but I'm still the same Ricky."

"How did you find me?"

"You told me your locker number yesterday, and you always go to your locker before your first class."

"Oh, right..." Sometimes she forgets how well he knows her.

Kourtney clears her throat, making them look at her.

"Oh, sorry Kourt. It's nice to see you too."

She playfully rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you too, Bowen." She faces Nini. "I'll leave you two alone. I know you guys want to catch up. See you at lunch." The two girls peck one another's cheeks before Kourtney walks away.

"So, anything you wanna tell me?" She says with a knowing smile.

"How about you tell me what you wanna hear instead of me trying to figure it out?"

"I heard you, Kourt, Ash, and Red all bonded a lot when I was gone. Is that true?"

Ricky smiles as he recaps the summer. Red had wanted to become closer to Ashlyn when he bumped into her at the comic book store and saw her reading his favorite volume of a Justice League comic. They hit it off and ended up exchanging numbers. Red invited Ashlyn over to his place while Ricky was there and said Kourtney should come along too so she had someone else to talk to. Turns out, they all had more in common than they thought.

The foursome all hung out during the summer, and Ricky hated that Nini missed out on it. She's always wanted them to hang out like this. When they finally do, it's when she's not there to witness it. She wasn't upset when Kourtney informed her and was just happy they all can finally hang out as a unit.

"Yeah, they're pretty great. Sorry it took so long for us to all get together."

She shrugs. "Better late than never, right?"

"Right."

The bell for first period rings, and a bunch of lost freshman scurried through the halls to find their class.

"Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch."

"I hate that we don't have any of the same classes this year."

"It's probably for the best since we'd just goof off."

"Okay, and? Social life comes first."

He giggles and releases her, both not realizing they had been holding each other the whole time.

As she begins walking down the hall, she hears footsteps coming behind her.

"Nini!"

She spins around on her heel to face her best friend.

"Yeah?"

He cracks a smile. "You look great, like really great."

She blushes and forms a nervous smile. "Oh thanks, you too."

He gives her a fleeting grin before running off to his first class. She watches him until he is no longer in sight, smiling from ear to ear. A part of her knew that Kourtney was right; maybe that crush was still a little present. She knew she wouldn't be able to get that compliment out of her head for the rest of the week.

***

Ricky restlessly tapped his foot as he awaited for his name to be called. Nini was sitting beside him as they waited for his results. The other students around them were in the same or similar state as Ricky. They were currently inside of the East High music class, which wasn't like other classes. This one you had to be accepted for in order to take the course, and you had to send in a video of you playing an instrument and/or singing before meeting with the instructor.

When Ricky told Nini that he wasn't sure if he should apply, she encouraged him to pursue it since it's something he loved. After a week of cheering him on, he finally went through with it.

Ricky had sent in a video of him singing one of his originals and edited the video so that he's playing the piano on the left and guitar on the right. He only showed Nini the video before submitting so he had a second opinion, and she of course loved it.

"Ricky, you're gonna be just fine."

"How do I know if you're just saying that to comfort me or not?"

"Because I don't lie to you when it comes to your talents."

"Wait, does that imply you lie to me all the other times?"

"Focus, Richard."

"Right, sorry."

"Just know that your video was amazing and that the instructor will love you just as much as I do."

"I really wanna believe that, but I physically cannot accept a compliment until I know if I got in."

She sighs. "Well in that case, I'll just hold your hand until you're called."

"Yeah, that's probably for the best."

She tightens her grip in his hand, and it did help him a little bit. Fifteen minutes later, the instructor comes out the door, causing all the students to sit straight.

"Richard Bowen?"

Ricky looks at Nini. "I'm up."

"You're gonna kill it!"

"Like, in a good way, right?"

"In the good way." She gives him a thumbs up and a bright smile as encouragement.

He gives her a smile before getting up. He raises his hand. "I'm Richard Bowen."

The instructor nods with an unreadable expression on their face. "Follow me."

Ricky does as told and follows the older woman into the classroom. Before he enters, he takes one last glance at Nini before going in.

Nini was pretty nervous despite this audition not directly affecting her at all, but it wasn't all that shocking considering anything related to Ricky did affect her. That's how they've always been, even when they were apart.

He had been in there longer than the other students by a solid ten minutes, and she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing yet. When the door finally opens, she springs up from the floor. She only sees the back of Ricky's head as he walks backwards out the door, saying closing remarks to the instructor. After he was done, Ricky faced forward and walked over to Nini.

"So, how'd it go?"

Ricky made a poker face before his lips curved into a smile. "I think it went really well actually."

Nini makes a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god."

"I think I have a real shot at this."

"Well, don't sound so surprised. You're amazing after all."

He smiles and pulls her into a hug. She instantly melts in his arms and wishes she could stay like that forever. Alas, he let go.

"When can we expect an answer?"

"Next Friday after school."

"I can't wait to see your face when you get in."

"Let's not jinx it by assuming I'm in."

"It's not jinxing in this case since I'm 100% certain you got in. If you didn't, that woman clearly needs to be fired."

He rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Come on; we need to head home. My dad is making dinner for us."

Nini grimaces. "He is?"

"Don't worry; it's one of those premade lasagnas you just stick into the oven for a few hours."

"Thank god. I don't think I could stomach another attempt of what I'm assuming was supposed to be fettuccine."

"That makes the two of us."

Ricky released himself from the embrace and threw his arm lazily over her shoulder before they exited the building.

***

Ricky practically flew off his skateboard from excitement, leaving it in the Salazar-Roberts' driveway. He let himself in, knowing they wouldn't mind and ran up the stairs to Nini's bedroom.

He had gotten his letter back from the music instructor and wanted to share the news with his best friend.

He twisted the doorknob to her room and invited himself in.

"Nini! You won't believe what—oh..."

Nini jumped when she realized she had company. She had been in the middle of changing and had no pants on and a spaghetti strap. She was glad she'd at least been wearing underwear.

"Ricky, what the fuck, dude?!"

He covered his eyes and blushed madly. "S-Sorry! Sorry! I didn't know; I swear! I'd never do it on purpose!"

"Get out so I can change!"

"Yep, I'll do just that."

He speedily scurried from the room and went to her living room to wait on her. She came down a few minutes later with a bashful expression.

"Look, we're not 7 anymore. You can't just barge into my room like we used to. Knock from now on, alright?"

He nods, avoiding eye contact with her. "Yeah, got it. Sorry again."

"It's okay."

"For what it's worth, I didn't see anything." That was a lie. He most definitely did, but it was probably best not to inform her of that.

"Ricky, it's fine." She sits beside him on the couch. "Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me so badly?"

The mention of the reason he was there made him make a 180 in his mood.

"I got my letter!"

She already knew which letter he was talking about.

"Did you open it?!"

"No, but it looks promising!"

"Well, open it and find out, dummy."

"Alright, no need for name calling. I'm opening it."

He carefully rips open the envelope. He steadily removes the paper within it and begins reading it.

"Well?"

He looked over at her and beamed. "I got in."

She squeals and jumps into his arms, resulting in him falling onto his back on the couch.

"I knew you could do it! I can't believe your dumbass thought you wouldn't get in, embarrassing."

"I can't believe you're shaming me and praising me at the same time. It's almost impressive."

"It's one of my many useless talents."

"Now, you're the dumbass because none of your talents are useless."

"To you maybe."

"Yeah, I can't even rebut that."

Seconds later, Dana comes through the front door to see her daughter lying on top of her friend. The average teenagers would immediately hop off each other regardless of what the intentions are, but not them. Their parents had gotten so accustomed to them casually resting on one another to the point where it didn't bug them.

"Oh, hi Ricky. Are you staying for dinner tonight?"

"No, my dad is taking me out, but I'd love to come tomorrow."

"Fish?"

"Sounds good."

"Great, I'll start making a grocery list." She begins writing on a small piece of paper. "So, what're you two squealing about? I overheard Nini all the way from outside."

Nini sat up. "Ricky got into a music course that's really hard to get into!"

Dana smiled at him. "Oh, wow! Congrats, Ricky. I must bake a cake for tomorrow to celebrate then."

"Oh, there's no need to go through all that just for this acceptance. It's not like it's Yale or something."

"Nonsense, I'm making you one. I've been meaning to bake this recipe for a while anyway."

"But Dana, I don't—"

"You can't stop me from spoiling you." She holds up her whisk as a weapon.

Ricky holds his arms up in surrender. "Alright, put down the weapon. I accept the kind gesture."

She smiles and lowers the whisk. "Good. Nini dear, will you come over here for a moment, please?"

Nini got up and made her way over to her mother.

"Yes?"

Dana ducked down to Nini's ear level. "You should ask him out." She whispers.

Nini was completely thrown off by her mother's suggestion. "Pardon?!"

"Oh, come on, sweetie. Everybody knows you're into one another. This is a great time to ask since he's all happy. He'd be even happier if you did!"

"No!" She whisper yells, glimpsing over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't listening.

"Don't be a coward!"

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."

"I can't believe you're gonna make me watch you two flirt from the sidelines for another ten or so years!"

Nini rolls her eyes and mouths “no” to her mother before she rejoins Ricky on the couch.

"What was that about?"

Nini blushes. "Nothing, she just told me to do some chores." In a way, she wasn't lying. "I think your acceptance calls for celebration."

"Oo, any ideas?"

"It's a little out of left field for me. I don't think you'd be able to handle it."

"Try me."

"Okay, you asked for it." She scoots closer to him. "I'm gonna let you watch Waitress and not bitch about it at all."

He knew that was a big deal considering that was her least favorite of the musicals he’s forced her to watch over the years.

"God, I think I might've died and gone to heaven."

"Yeah well, you deserve it."

He doesn't know what part of his brain made him lean forward, but it was too late to stop now. He plants a chaste peck on her cheek, catching her off guard. Neither were sure why they reacted so strongly to that kiss since they’ve done it so many times before.

Their cheeks heat up, and Ricky begins chuckling awkwardly. "So, um...I'm gonna put on the musical now."

"Uh yeah, sure."

They both turned their attention to the screen, but it was obvious they were both thinking about what just happened. Nini kept stealing glances at Ricky throughout the musical, unaware that he'd been doing the same thing too.

***

"Can I get a strawberry milkshake, please? Oh, and also some fries to dip them in."

The server smiles down at Nini. "Sure, sweetheart."

"Thank you."

Nini and her basketball team had just gotten back from their home game that they just won. To celebrate their victory, they decided to go to a local diner they favored. The server came back with the milkshake and fries and placed them on the table. Nini quickly realized it was the wrong flavor and was about to tell the server, but she was already behind the bar serving another customer.

Nini sighs as she grabs her drink and gets up. As she approached the bar, she didn't register that the person walking beside her was closer than she thought. She ends up bumping into the person hard, causing her to spill some of the milkshake on herself. She yelped, which caught the attention of the stranger she just collided with.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" The tall guy asks.

Nini didn't even look up at the guy out of both humiliation and the fact that she was more focused on wiping the dessert off her shirt.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry for bumping into you. I can—"

When she finally did meet his eye, she felt her cheeks burn. This time it was because he was pretty attractive, and she's sure she's seen him before. He was around 6 feet, had curly dirty blond hair, green eyes, perfect jawline, and she can tell he either worked out often or played a sport. Suddenly, she wanted to disappear from thin air since this cute guy who’s far out of her league saw her in this messy state.

"Here, let me help." The guy grabs some paper towels from the bar and hands them to her, not wanting to rub her shirt without consent due to it landing in her chest area.

"Th-thank you..." She internally scolded herself for stuttering and for causing this scene in the first place.

"Can I buy you a new one?"

"No need. I was actually returning it anyway."

"I can buy whatever flavor you originally wanted."

"Seriously, it's fine. Thank you for offering though. That's very sweet of you."

"I'm not gonna leave this diner until you let me pay you back in some way."

She noticed the playful smirk that formed on her face, and she could tell he meant it.

"Well, what do you have in mind?"

"How about your number?"

Nini was taken aback by his forwardness, but she didn’t mind it. "And what would you do with my number?"

"Ideally, I'd message you and ask you on a date."

"Hm, you make a good bargain." She whips out her phone and hands it to him. "Put in your number and text that it's you."

"Sure thing."

He types in his number and texts her, handing the phone over to her when he's done. She glances at her home screen and smiles. "Your name is Jay?"

"Yep, and I don't believe I had the pleasure of knowing yours."

"Nina, but everyone calls me Nini."

"Nini, huh...that's interesting. I like it though."

"I like it too."

"Actually, it sounds kinda familiar. Do you go to East High?"

"I do!"

"Me too. Maybe we saw each other in passing."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Well, Nini, would you possibly wanna go to a drive-in movie next week with me? I heard they'll be playing Dirty Dancing."

"That sounds lovely."

"Cool, so I can pick you up from your home?"

"I'll text you my address."

"Great, can't wait to get to know you better, Nini. I have to go since my friends are waiting, but text me."

"Will do."

He winks before exiting the diner, leaving Nini on cloud 9. She couldn't believe such a hot guy would ask her out, especially with a milkshake spilled all over her. She walks back to the table and plops down in her seat with a dreamy look on her face.

"Who was that guy?" Izzy, one of her teammates, asked.

"Oh, no one. Well, maybe he won't be a no one soon. His name is Jay, and he just asked me to go on a date."

The girls all make some sound of approval, and one even high-fived her for scoring someone so hot; however, not all of her teammates were happy about the news.

Nini glanced over at Erica, a sophomore teammate of hers, and noticed her skeptical face. "What is it?"

Erica shrugs. "It's nothing..."

Nini wasn't believing that for a second. "If it were nothing, you wouldn't be giving me that look."

"Well, maybe it isn't nothing, but I don't wanna spread rumors by accident since it's not confirmed."

"Tell me."

Erica sighs as she folds her arms across her chest. "I've heard of Jay before. A lot of the girls last year spoke about him, but I never joined in on the gossip. I did overhear some...interesting things about him though. All I know is that he's a junior and is very liked among the girls at our school."

"What're you getting at?"

"I'm just saying that you should be careful. He's always kinda been eerie to me. I can't explain it; maybe I'm overreacting."

"Look, I appreciate you looking out for me, but I'm gonna accept this date."

"That's fine. Do as you please."

Erica left it at that, but her skeptical expression didn't budge. Nini decided to ignore it and let her heart take control. She was finally gonna go on her first date, and she couldn't wait.

***

The date went well. Matter of fact, it went so well that they kept going out every Friday for a month straight. Jay finally asked her to be his girlfriend on the 7th date, and Nini couldn't have been more thrilled.

She didn't really tell her friends much about him since Jay was a pretty private person. He didn't open up about his life, but he did tell her his interests. She eventually told everyone all at once just to rip the band-aid off, and to say they were all stunned by the news was an understatement.

The girls had been excited and kept asking a series of questions. Red was too shocked to speak before Ashlyn snapped her fingers in front of him. Though the other three's reactions were strong, she couldn't quite forget Ricky's face.

He didn't say anything at all; his face went completely blank. She couldn't tell what emotion he was feeling or what he was thinking, and it terrified her. Before she can ask what he's thinking, he gets up from the table, making a quick excuse on why he had to leave.

She frowned as she watched him leave since his opinion mattered the most. She wondered why on earth he'd react like that, but she figured she could ask him later. She ends up texting Ricky later that night.

Nini: Hey are you okay?

He types back sooner than she expected. Ricky: Yeah, why?

Nini: You kinda ran off all of a sudden. I was concerned

Ricky: Don't be. I had somewhere to be

Nini: Uh huh

Ricky: What

Nini: Nothing

Ricky: You think I'm lying don't you?

Nini: You said it, not me

Ricky: Why would I lie?

Nini: I don't know; you tell me

Ricky: Tell you what?

Nini: Is this about Jay?

Ricky: Who, your boyfriend? Why would this involve him?

Nini: Because I saw your face, Ricky! You fled right after I broke the news!

Ricky: I was just shocked

Nini: Red was too but he eventually got over it and congratulated me

Ricky: Well, I'm sorry I didn't get all goo-goo eyed at the thought of you dating some guy I don't know

Nini: Why aren't you happy for me? This is my 1st boyfriend!

Ricky: I am happy for you!

Nini: Then why aren't you acting like it?!

He doesn't respond for another three minutes, leaving Nini uneasy.

Ricky: Listen, I don't wanna talk about this again. I'm happy for you, okay? I'll talk to you tomorrow

Nini groaned and tossed her phone to the side of her bed. She rustled her hands through her hair before roaming them down her face. She knew he only said that to get her off his back, but she wasn't sure she wanted to open that can of worms again unless it was necessary. She let it go and hoped Ricky would eventually accept that Jay was her boyfriend.

~

It's been a month and a half since she's began dating Jay, and she couldn't be happier.

He's a bit hesitant to intermingle with anyone besides his friends, hence why he still hadn't met hers. She didn't mind it though; his friends were nice for the most part. She just wishes that they spoke about topics she could relate to.

She started sitting with him at lunch and would only sit with her friends when he was absent. It had been his idea to sit next to him, and she fully agreed. It had also been his idea for her to spend as much quality time with him as possible. She of course didn't mind that either because why would she deny spending more time with her boyfriend?

Her sole complaint was that she saw her friends less, but she was still able to spend some time with them when she was free. Though she missed hanging out with all her friends daily, she missed Ricky the most.

She used to go to his place or vice versa almost every day. When she told Jay that, he said it made him uncomfortable. He asked her if she could stop doing that since it's kinda weird for them to hang out that often when they claim they're just good friends. She wasn't fond of that suggestion, but she obliged nonetheless. She supposes she could catch up with him through facetime instead.

In some ways, being without Ricky every day was kinda healthy since her crush had not fully gone away before she met Jay. Being around him all the time fed into her feelings for him, so she sees this as a win.

However, Jay did have some suggestions she wasn't too fond of. He wasn't a fan of her playing basketball. He stated that cheerleading would suit her athletic talents more. She didn't really agree with that since she wasn't nearly as flexible as a cheerleader, but she guessed there was no harm in checking out the sport to see if she wanted to pursue it. She did think it'd be nice to wear the uniform while she's standing next to her lacrosse captain boyfriend.

Jay also wasn't too crazy about some of her fashion choices. He constantly told her how adorable she'd look with wavy curls, and she was totally on board. Next, he engrained in her head that she should wear less jeans and more skirts or dresses. She didn't own as many, but she had been considering updating her wardrobe. So, she went shopping with the girls that Saturday. He wasn't a fan of her showing blemishes such as acne or oily skin, so he advised her to hit up Sephora since he was aware she didn't own that much makeup. He even took her to the mall and paid for it himself. After she applied the products, she had never felt more beautiful in her life.

He truly was a blessing in disguise. No guy had ever invested this much into making her feel and look like a million bucks, and she felt like she owed him because of that. And much like every loyal person, she tended to stick by his side no matter what. Her fixation on him did cause her to spend less and less time with her friends, but she knew they'd understand if she explained why.

After the third month of pure bliss, Nini felt like this relationship would last after high school despite it not being that long. Though she felt this way, others believed differently. And that other was Ricky Bowen.

For once, Nini wasn't attached to Jay's hip since he had gone to a wedding in Park City for two days, so she took advantage of that to talk to Ricky. They haven't had a full conversation in school in months, and it was nice to speak to him in public again. She had texted him to meet at her locker so they could converse real quick and was patiently waiting for him.

"Well, hello stranger."

She smiled when she heard the familiar voice and spun around on her heel to face him.

"Hey you, I felt like I haven't seen you in ages." She swiftly scanned the hall before briefly hugging him.

"That's because you haven't."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Will we ever get to hang out at one another's houses again? I miss our little movie nights. Or are you too busy with wonder boy?"

She rolls her eyes. "Stop, he's not a bad guy."

"Uh huh."

"You haven't even met him!"

"That's actually a good point. Why haven't I met him? It's been like three months."

"He's just shy is all."

"He doesn't seem shy when I see him interact with others. Does he think I bite or something?"

"Of course, not! He's just nervous to meet the guy that I grew up with."

"I guess that kinda makes sense, but that doesn't explain why he hasn't met the others who have known you for less amount of time."

Nini was pondering an excuse, but she couldn't think of one. She shook her head and forced a smile.

"I don't really wanna talk about him right now. What do you say we hang out at my place Saturday night? Jay will be out of town, so I'm all yours."

"Only if your mom bakes her famous brownies."

"That was a given."

"I'll be there early in the morning then. I might even sleepover."

"I'd love that. I miss our sleepovers."

"Me too. Something about crashing on your couch is so soothing."

The bell for fourth period rings, and students began to flood the halls.

She grins. "See you tomorrow?"

"Wouldn't miss it." He winks at her before turning around and heading to his class.

She felt her heart beat a little faster and briskly chided herself for letting that happen. She took a hasty glance at her lock screen of her and Jay on one of their dates, and all thoughts of Ricky went out the door. She just hoped it'd stay that way.

***

"You have brownie all over your face, dimples."

"What, where?" He began touching all over his face.

She giggled as he watched him try and fail to find the right spots. "It's on your chin and upper lip. You're such a messy eater."

"Well, at least I don't snore."

"I do not snore!"

"How would you know that if you're asleep, hm?"

"I just know!"

"I've slept in the same room with you enough times to know you are a snorer, and that's on that." He z-snapped in front of her face before taking another bite of his brownie.

"I won't take this slander lightly, Bowen."

"It's not like you're gonna do anything about it."

"I could easily talk about all your bedroom habits."

"This sounds so provocative out of context."

She decided to ignore his comment out of fear of her mind wandering. "You drool a lot if you eat before you go to bed, and you talk a lot to the point where I wanna put earphones in."

"Okay, the talking one I knew about since I've caught myself a few times, but the drooling one can't be true."

"How would you know if you're asleep, hm?" She says mockingly, mimicking him.

He chortles and rolls his eyes. "Oh, fuck off."

She nudges him and shoves an entire brownie in her mouth.

Hanging out with Ricky after such a long hiatus was exactly what she needed. She loved Jay, but sometimes she wanted to be with her friends instead of him, especially Ricky. Being with Ricky always felt so natural no matter how long they didn't speak. This was just further proof that that fact still holds up. She was happy he'd be spending the night tonight so they can binge eat sweets and watch movies while gossiping.

Ricky went into the pantry searching for some sweet popcorn Dana always bought for them.

"Neens, are we feeling the caramel or Oreo flavored popcorn tonight?"

"Um, let's go with caramel."

"Where is it? It's not in its usual spot."

"She put it on the top shelf so I couldn't reach it. She found out I get up at midnight to sneak some."

He laughs. "Classic Dana."

While he rummaged through her pantry, Nini heard her phone vibrate on the counter. She checks it and sees that she got a text from Jay.

My Air: Hey, I got back from Park City a lot sooner than I thought. I'm 10 minutes away from your house. Can't wait to see you, babe

Nini's eyes widened with fear and panic washed over her. Jay would not be happy to see she was with Ricky, especially if he found out he was staying the night. She hated what she was about to do, but she had to in order to keep the peace.

"Alright, I got the popcorn and the hot chocolate mixes out. I'm ready to—"

"Ricky, I'm so sorry, but you have to go."

He furrowed his brows in confusion. "What, why?"

She took a breath, already knowing what Ricky would think. "Jay texted me a minute ago saying he's on his way over, and well...you're here. I just don't want him to get the wrong idea, you know?" She nervously rubbed up her arm, trying not to look him in the eye.

Ricky gritted his teeth and looked at her in disbelief. He's never been kicked out of her place for some dude, and he didn't think he ever would.

"Oh, okay..."

She could sense the disappointment and hurt in his voice.

"I'm sorry! We can make this up next—"

He holds up his hand to cut her off. "Don't sweat it; I'm going." He set the snacks and hot chocolate mixes down on the counter before walking to the living room to gather his belongings. Nini frowned as she watched him pack, knowing she'd have to find a way to make it up to him later.

"I'll see you around...maybe."

As he was about to open the door, she ran up and grabbed his wrist. "Ricky, please don't be too upset. I promise I'll dedicate an entire day to us, like we used to."

He remained stone-faced as he removed his wrist from her grasp. "Bye, Nina." He says before leaving abruptly. She gasped when she heard the name he called her.

Nina.

He may as well have punched her in the gut. He only says her government name when he's mad at her or to tease her, and something about the look of hurt in his eyes told her he wasn't in the teasing mood. She didn't notice a tear had rolled down her cheek until it grazed her nose.

As Ricky skateboarded back home in the cold fall weather, he couldn't help but think that her bizarre relationship would deteriorate with time since Jay couldn't handle her having a male best friend. He really hoped he was wrong, and that Nini was just being extra cautious. He desperately wanted to push back his anxiety for her, but something in him knew something was iffy. Jay had a darkness to him, and Ricky was determined to figure it out.

Chapter Text

Four months.

That's how long it took for Jay to agree to meet her friends, more specifically Ricky. It's also close to how long Nini has been dating him.

She knew that meeting the others would be a breeze since they were a welcoming crowd, but Ricky had already been suspicious of this guy ever since he came into the picture. It didn't help that Jay had no desire to meet him either, but she needed for them to get along if she really wanted this relationship to work.

Getting Ricky to agree to meet Jay was easy since he'd been wanting to for a while now, just not for any pleasant reasons. Jay on the other hand was the polar opposite. She begged him almost every day the day after she kicked Ricky out since that was her wakeup call that she could lose her best friend because of her love for Jay.

Jay was hesitant and progressively got more agitated when she spoke about him, but he finally agreed two days ago. They all decided to sit together for lunch so that they could meet. If Nini was being completely honest with herself, she was a little nervous. Jay was very blunt and never hid what he was feeling. Even when he did keep his mouth shut (which was rarely), his facial expression always snitched on him.

Nini and Jay were currently sitting at an empty lunch table as they waited for Ricky to arrive. Nini was anxiously shaking her leg, and her palms were sweating like crazy. She didn't realize how nerve racking this meetup would be, and it hasn't even started yet.

Not much later, Ricky barged through the lunchroom doors with a blank expression. When he found Nini, she waved at him to come over. She didn't miss the unpleasant look on his face as he walked over, but she chose to ignore it. He sat across from Nini and gave her a faux smile.

"Hey Neens." He glances over at Jay and frowns slightly but quickly replaces it with a curt grin. "Jay."

She tapped his foot with her own under the table as her way of saying hello. She usually greets him with a gentle hand squeeze when he joins her for lunch, but she wasn't sure if Jay was going to be upset about that or not.

"Babe, I'd like to formally introduce you to my best friend, Ricky."

Jay scanned him with a stern look on his face and huffed. "Hmph."

Nini nudged him and gave him a pointed look, making Jay groan before reaching his hand out to Ricky. "Hey man."

Ricky reluctantly shook Jay's hand, not missing the tight grip he made when he shook.

"Hey..."

The two teens had a stare down as they continued to shake one another's hands. Jay's grip seemed to get tighter the longer they stayed put, and Ricky knew that it was Jay's own way of telling him he was less than thrilled Ricky was there.

Ricky broke the handshake and secretly wiped his hand off on his jeans. "So, you're the famous Jay I've heard so much about."

Jay smirks as he wrapped his arm around Nini's shoulder. "Awe, you talk about me?"

She blushes. "Maybe a little bit."

"That's adorable. Hopefully nothing bad, right?" He says it jokingly, but something in his tone indicated he wasn't.

Nini nervously chuckled and shook her head. "No, of course not."

"Good...good." Jay sighed from what Ricky assumes is relief.

There was an awkward silence that fell between them before Nini cleared her throat.

"So, Ricky, how about you tell us about theater? I know you have a show coming up soon. Which musical was it again?"

"Bye Bye Birdie."

Jay chuckled under his breath, catching the other two's attention.

"Something funny?" Ricky asks.

Jay shrugs. "No, not really. It's just...theater is kinda, you know..."

Ricky leans towards him. "No, I don't know. Why don't you enlighten me?" Ricky says with mock interest.

"Jay..." Nini says warningly, but he doesn't listen.

"Oh, come on. You know what I'm talking about, dude."

"No, dude I don't. Why don't you spell it out for me?"

Nini chuckles awkwardly. "Okay guys, let's move on."

"Useless." Jay states with a sly grin on his face.

Nini's mouth went agape. "Jay, that was rude."

Jay shrugs. "What? It's true. Realistically speaking, he has a slim to nothing chance of becoming a successful...what is it that you wanted to be?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"I'm assuming an actor or maybe a musician. Whatever. Either way, I'd advise you to aim for a hobby that can guarantee success, like me or Nini over here. People love sports. Why do you think we get a full house every game while the theater department has to practically beg on Facebook for funds?"

Nini slaps his arm. "Jay, that's enough!"

Jay looks at her confused. "Baby, he needs to hear the truth. I mean, if we're gonna be friends or whatever, we need to practice candor with one another. Isn't that the foundation of a good friendship?"

"Being truthful is fine, but being cruel isn't."

"For your information Jay, I happen to be good at my craft and plan to pursue it no matter how ridiculous it may seem to smaller minds."

"Hey man, you do you. Can't say I didn't warn you. Just looking out for a friend."

"Well, lacrosse isn't one of the most popular sports in America, and there's a high chance you'll get injured and lose a scholarship. Maybe you should pursue a more realistic hobby. Please don't get offended because I'm just looking out for a friend."

Jay scowled at Ricky and then glared at Nini. "Oh, so it's okay when your boy over here shits on my career, but god forbid I do the same."

"It's not like that!"

Jay scoffs. "Uh huh, yeah sure. Whatever Nini."

She rolls her eyes and looks over at an agitated Ricky. She already knew what he was thinking just by his expression, which made her shy away from his gaze in shame. She wrapped her foot around Ricky's ankle under the table as her indirect way of apologizing.

After that heated conversation, they remained silent for the next eleven minutes, but it felt like centuries had gone by. Jay kept his glaring eyes on Ricky and occasionally played on his phone while Nini avoided eye contact with the both of them. Ricky kept his eyes on Nini's interactions, trying to pretend he doesn't feel Jay's glower. When the environment became too unbearable, Ricky got up from his seat.

"You know what? I actually totally forgot about a test I have to make up for biology. I should go."

Nini frowned, knowing damn well he was lying through his teeth. She shared the same biology teacher as him and knew the test he was referring to wasn't even happening until next Thursday.

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll see you around?"

Ricky caves into looking back at Jay, and he gives Ricky a challenging look as he pulls Nini closer.

He gives Nini a pithy smile. "Bye, Neens."

Ricky spun on his heel before quickly exiting the lunchroom, not sparing Nini a final glance like she covertly hoped he would.

Jay gives her a sarcastic smile. "There, I met your little friend. Happy now?"

Nini makes a face of disgust. "No." She shoves his hand off her and grabs her book bag.

"Where the hell are you going?! You can't leave me alone in the middle of the lunchroom!"

She scowls down at him bitterly. "Watch me."

She doesn't even let him finish whatever retort he was about to say before she storms out.

***

"I wish you saw how I got that last shot last night, Kourt. It was amazing! Wasn't that shot amazing, babe?"

Jay briefly looked up from his phone before setting his eyes back on the device. "Oh yeah, it was a chill game." He says in a monotone voice.

Nini sighs and turns her attention back to Kourtney. "Anyway, I hate that you weren't there since we're in the playoffs season."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I wasn't there. You know how busy Sunday nights are at my place, but at least Ricky and Red were there to cheer you on."

The sound of her curly-haired best friend caught Jay's attention. "Reggie was there?"

Nini internally sighed, knowing where this was going already. "Yes, babe. Ricky was there, like he always is alongside my friend Red."

"Of course, he was. That would've been nice to know, but alright." Jay says under his breath as he goes back to typing.

Nini decided to ignore his rudeness and focus on Kourtney. Nini forced a smile as she faced her female best friend, desperate to get the spotlight off him. "Um, what is it that you wanted to ask me again?"

Kourtney perks up when she remembers. "Oh yeah! The group all wanted to hang out at the skating rink next week. Do you wanna join?"

Nini beams at the thought of going to one of her favorite hangout joints.

"I'd love—"

"We're busy that day." Jay interrupts.

Nini looks over her shoulder. "We are?"

"Yep. Remember we have to go to my friend Lloyd's pool party?"

"I don't remember you saying anything about that."

"We were gonna go during the afternoon, so she can still come before she goes to the party. You could come too if you'd like." Kourtney says with a staged grin.

Jay snorts. "Um, no thanks. That's not really my thing. Also, the party is all day so..."

"If it's all day, then we can make a quick stop by—"

"Nini..."

"You don't have to come with me. I can meet you right aft—"

Jay sighs aggressively before wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her to his body a little harsher than he should.

He smiles at her. "Sweetie, I can't go to his party without you beside me. It's really tacky to show up late for a party, don't you think?" He grabs her hips a little firmer.

Nini stared up at him and sighed in defeat. She makes a weak smile at Kourtney.

"Sorry Kourt, maybe next time?"

Kourtney's smile faltered. "Yeah, next time."

"Nice seeing you, Katie." Jay says before walking away with Nini under his arm.

Kourtney dropped her smile completely and watched her friend with sadness in her eyes, knowing damn well he'd never let there be a next time.

***

Kourtney felt off. She's felt off all day.

She couldn't stop replaying that moment she had with Nini and Jay in the hall last week. It had been haunting her, and she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't tell anyone in the group about it since she didn't have any hard evidence that something fishy was going on. She just hoped that feeling went away soon, but it didn't. The feeling traveled all the way to the following Saturday at the skating rink. She tried to get rid of her thoughts, but it seemed like it had no intentions on departing from her mind.

She was more shaky when her friends would speak to her and would even jump, causing them to ask if she was feeling alright. She'd just lie and say she's easily spooked. Luckily, they all bought it, except for one of them. Ricky had been not-so-secretly analyzing Kourtney since she got here, and she knew he'd approach her eventually.

She could feel his eyes on her from across the rink and wasn't shocked when she met his gaze. He furrowed his brows at her, and she wondered if he was feeling that same bizarre energy too. After a while, they all decided to eat lunch at the concessions. Ricky sat adjacent to Kourtney and continued to stare at her suspiciously, knowing she'd crack at some point.

Kourtney could not for the life of her keep a secret or hide her feelings for too long, and all her friends knew that. She could tell that Ricky planned on taking advantage of that fact. He'd done it before when she tried to keep Nini's birthday gift for him a secret last year, so he knew he could do it again. Nini wasn't even mad that the gift was spoiled since she made the mistake of telling Kourtney. While the friend group all discussed Ashlyn's new club she joined, Kourtney and Ricky found themselves in a stare-down that the other two managed to not notice.

Ricky wasn't breaking eye contact, which made Kourtney antsy and a bit sweaty. After a long and painful five minutes, Kourtney could not stomach his stare any longer.

"Dammit! He's weird, okay! He's menacing and rude and just gives me the fucking creeps!"

All three of them look at her, equally concerned and puzzled.

"What the hell are you talking about, Kourt?" Ashlyn asks.

"That dude." Kourtney grumbles.

Red raises a brow. "What dude?"

"Jay."

Red and Ashlyn both look at Ricky bewildered. "Jay as in Nini's boyfriend?" Ashlyn asks.

"Yes, him."

"Do you think he's bad news or something?" Red questions.

Kourtney nods. "I witnessed something so icky last week when I asked Nini to hang out with us, and I can tell something is horribly wrong with that guy. I was onto him after the second month of them dating if I'm being completely honest since he would always steal her away from us. It's so..." She was trying to come up with the word.

"Controlling?" Ricky finishes.

Kourtney snaps her fingers. "Yeah, controlling. I think he's bad news for her."

Ashlyn and Red were trying to recall other possible red flags they somehow missed.

"I haven't been around either of them enough to catch onto anything." Red admits.

"Neither have I. She seemed pretty happy, but it is odd it took her so long to introduce us to him and that we don't see her as often." Ashlyn adds.

"I just think she should end things with him."

Ricky sighed with relief. "I'm glad I'm not the only one. That dude is the fucking worst."

"Do you guys think it's worth having an intervention over? I'm not sure how she'd react, but I just don't like this guy's energy at all." Kourtney suggests.

Ashlyn and Red look at one another and have an internal conversation before turning their eyes towards Kourtney. Ashlyn taps her fingers on the table before speaking. "I think we should just be observing them from the sidelines for a while. If there are some red flags, we'll host it at my house. How does that sound?"

They all glance between each other before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds good." Red agreed.

"I'm on board." Kourtney says.

They all look at Ricky. Ricky exhales loudly before nodding. "Sure, why not?"

Ashlyn smiles. "Alright, then it's settled. We'll be spying until further notice."

They went back to talking about the previous topic, but Kourtney still had that look on her face except this time Ricky did too. They had their own little inner conversation too, knowing they both weren't satisfied with that solution.

***

They didn't speak to Nini for two months going into the new year.

Technically she kept in touch with the girls and sometimes Red, but Ricky got radio silence. He didn't even need to ask what was going on because it was obvious. All four of them have tried to pull Nini aside so they could host the intervention they all agreed on if they saw red flags, but Nini always found some excuse not to go.

She was close one time, but then Jay called and told he was waiting for her at her locker. It was beginning to feel hopeless that they'd ever see her again, which sucked since the group didn't feel complete without her in it.

Ricky decided that since Jay was constricting their time together, he'd find a way to secretly be there for her. He sat in the back of the bleachers, and sometimes even under them just to cheer her on during her games. He'd leave coffees on her doorstep on nights where he knew she had tests. She liked to study until 11 pm and always needed the extra boost. He loved when she'd send quick thank you texts for it. He also would ask about her through her parents since they commonly contacted each other anyway. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.

Little did he know, she had been doing the same. She got into the habit of lying to Jay when she wanted to check on her friends, and she had gotten really good at it. The few times Jay wasn't helicoptering over her every move, she'd find a way to see Ricky. Actually speaking to him in public was too much of a risk since Jay's friends could be around, but there was no shame in watching from the distance.

She attended both nights of Bye Bye Birdie and applauded the loudest from the nosebleed seats. She also went to his gig at a local café downtown, wearing a huge sun hat so he didn't see her. She even made an anonymous donation towards the theater to help fund the upcoming Spring play. It wasn't a large sum of money, but it's the thought that counts. Her little system worked pretty well...or at least she assumed so.

Ricky had been rolling around in his bed on a rainy night, listening to a Weezer album he borrowed from his dad before bed. His dad was out of town for business, and the house felt desolate, until he heard loud knocking on his front door. At first, he thought it may have been music, but he realized someone was here when the knocking got more consistent and eager.

He checked his phone for texts or calls and for the time, noting that it was almost two in the morning on a Monday. He had zero messages, so he had no idea who the hell that was since he didn't invite anyone over. He got up despite his groggy state and walked to the door cautiously, eyeing the baseball bat by his door in case of emergency. Yes, that seriously was his dad's backup emergency plan since he can't afford an alarm system yet. But hey, at least it's an iron bat.

He peeks through the peephole and quirks a brow when he sees the top of a girl's head, knowing who it was already. He opens the door wide for her and notices she's buried in an oversized hoodie that he lent her years ago. Her face wasn't visible under the shadow of the hood, and the night sky wasn't helping.

"Nini, what're you doing here? It's a school night."

She didn't say anything, but he did hear her breathing really hard as if she were about to cry. He took a step closer.

"Neens, what's going—"

"It was an accident, okay?"

He was befuddled by her words. "What was an accident?"

"It-It's my fault. I'm really clumsy."

He was about to ask for clarification before she slowly removed her hood and revealed a large bruise around her neck. She was pale, and he could tell she hadn't gotten proper sleep in weeks due to the well-defined bags under her eyes. His eyes grew to the size of saucers when he saw how awful her neck bruise was. It was clearly done sometime today, possibly within the last two hours or so. Suddenly, he realized what happened, and he felt his hands ball into a fist.

"I'll fucking kill him."

He was about to storm off into the night, but he was halted by her getting in front of him.

"No, no, no! You don't understand! He didn't do anything; it was all me! It happened at basketball practice when I slipped on some water or something liquid that one of my teammates spilled. Anyway, a basketball had hit me in the throat when I fell, and now I have this huge ugly bruise."

Ricky did not believe that for a second since a basketball mark wouldn't be shaped like a handprint.

"Nini, you can't seriously think I'd buy that story!"

She begins crying and wraps her arms around him in a tight hug. "Please, I promise I'm not lying. I just...I'm really such a klutz. It's so embarrassing. Maybe I should just be a benchwarmer or something." She attempted to joke, but he wasn't laughing.

"Nini, let me handle this."

"There's nothing to handle!"

"Nini..."

"I'm just really tired, Ricky..."

He wasn't sure if she meant emotionally or physically, but he'd believe both.

Before he could say his next sentence, she squeezes him even tighter. "C-can I maybe stay the night with you? I just really don't wanna go home."

His heart broke for her because he knew deep down that she wanted to stay to avoid her moms seeing her like this. He forced his desire to strangle that thing she calls a boyfriend to subside for a moment so he could focus on comforting her instead. He kicks the door shut, locking it right after.

"Stay as long as you need."

She began crying into his chest, sniffling a bit. "Thank you..."

He guided her to his room and let her borrow some dry pajamas. He was going to sleep in his dad's room to give her some privacy, but she gently pulled his arm towards her from the mattress so that he'd get the hint to stay. She scoots over to the right side of the bed so he could climb under the covers with her. The second he laid down, she climbed on top of him and rested her head on his chest.

"I'm telling the truth, you know. I really am just really fucking clumsy."

"Nini."

"He didn't do it, Ricky. He really didn't. Please don't say anything about this. I promise it was just some freak accident. I'm really fucking dumb. He was—It was...it was..."

He just silently rubbed her back and stroked through her hair as she sobbed and tried to come up with more excuses in hopes that he'd somehow take the bait. She rolled around and mumbled for half an hour before finally nodding off. As she slept peacefully on his chest, Ricky couldn't stop his mind from racing. He pecked her forehead as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Neens. I’m so sorry..."

***

Ricky began to steadily open his eyes, remembering the horrid events of last night. He then realizes that Nini wasn't wrapped in his arms, which caused him to wake up. He jumped out of bed.

"Nini?"

He scoped his room, but she was nowhere to be found. He went straight to his laundry room. Her wet clothes were still in the washer, but that didn't necessarily mean she was still here.

"Neens?" He says more urgently.

He power walked into the living room and saw her standing in front of the mirror on the wall. She was gripping onto the sideboard as if her life depended on it with a stressed out look on her face. Her left hand softly grazed over the bruise on her neck, and he wasn't even sure if she could tell he was a few feet away from her.

"Hey..."

She flinches when she hears his voice, and he hates the fear he saw in her eyes when she turned to face him.

"Hi..." She says so quietly it came off as a whisper.

"How are you feeling?"

She dropped her eyes to the ground before facing the mirror.

"I'm about to leave."

"But your clothes aren't even done drying, and you're clearly in no state to go out."

"I'll come back for it later. I'm going home first anyway. Mama D is already at work."

"Nini—"

"I can't stay. He's...he's on his way to my house."

Ricky felt that anger from earlier this morning rising in his chest. "Don't leave."

"I don't have a choice."

"Yes, you do. You can stay here with me. We can skip school and stay home all day if you'd like. My dad won't be back until Thursday, so you can spend the night until then."

Nini stares at the floor blankly, and he hates how emotionless and torn down she was.

"Thanks, but I'd rather not." She took one final look at herself in the mirror before she walked to the door. "Sorry for showing up last night. I hate that I burdened you. It won't happen again."

"Nini, you could never be a burden to me."

She didn't say anything as she stared at him. She felt a buzz from her pocket and didn't even have to check the screen to know who it was.

"I have to go."

"Wait, Neens..."

She stops, waiting for him to continue.

"You can always come to me for anything. You know that, right?"

She gives him a pitiful smile before closing the door behind her.

He roamed through his curls stressfully since he knew she was going to see that prick again. And much like her, he felt hopeless and empty.

Chapter Text

Ricky clawed at the lunch table as he glared daggers at the two a few feet in front of him.

He’d been watching them for the past 15 minutes or so, and it seemed as if he had no intention of stopping. Red had been checking on Ricky in between conversations with Kourtney and Ashlyn. When Red had enough of Ricky’s scowl, he ducked over to his ear and nudged him.

“Dude, I’m afraid if you stare any longer, you might actually break the fork you’ve been holding for five minutes.”

Ricky glanced down at the utensil in his hands and loosened his grip on it when he saw he dented the plastic. “Sorry, I guess I have to release my anger out on something.”

“Thank god you chose a fork and not his face.”

“I’d love to take it out on his face.”

Red gives him a warning look. “Ricky, don’t.”

Ricky shook his head. “I’m not, at least not here. No need to get the school involved.”

“I know you don’t like the guy. Hell, I don’t either, but I feel like you’ve hated him more than usual lately. Why is that?”

Ricky turned his eyes away from Red down to his plate, knowing Red would be able to see through him when he replied. He had kept Nini’s promise of not telling anyone, but it had been bugging him. He desperately wanted to bring this up to someone, but he had no idea where to begin, how she’d react, or worse, how Jay would react. He despised how useless he felt and that she for whatever reason chose to go back to him.

“It’s nothing…I just can’t stand him with her.”

Red smirks. “Maybe that’s because you’re head over heels in love with her.”

Ricky blushed as he lightly punched Red’s upper arm. “Shut up.”

Red rubbed his arm, smiling knowingly. “What? You know I’m right. Instead of moping around and longing for a taken person, how about you go and date someone? It’d take your mind off of her. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find someone that’ll help you move on from her forever.”

Ricky scoffed at the idea. “I don’t know. I’ve never dated before and wouldn’t even know where to look.”

“I’m sure some lucky guy or girl will cross paths with you. You’re a really kind and good looking guy, so it shouldn’t be that hard. Also, I’ve seen some people check you out, but you never noticed.”

Ricky was genuinely surprised by that. “Really?”

“Yes, dude. There’s plenty of fish in the sea; you just gotta go out and search for it.”

At first, Ricky was going to reject the idea again. But when he looked back over at Nini pretending to be happy with that asswipe, he thought that maybe Red was onto something. He tears his eyes away from that sham of a couple and doesn't turn back for the rest of the lunch period. He was right; it was time to move on.

***

Nini giddily skips to the bench of a local park that she and Ricky went to often, or she guesses she should say used to go to often. Jay was busy with practice for the next two hours, so Nini had taken advantage of this free time and asked Ricky to hang out after so many weeks of not talking directly. He of course agreed to come. She was dying to catch up with him and hear about the other’s lives as well.

She sat on the bench with a bright smile on her face, looking left and right for him to appear.

“Looking for someone?”

She jumps when she hears his voice behind her and smiles when she meets his eye. “You could’ve given me a heart attack for sneaking up on me like that.”

“But did you die? No? Alright then, there’s nothing to complain about.” He says jokingly, sitting down beside her on the wooden bench.

She wraps her arms around his neck, bringing him into a hug.

“I’ve missed you.”

He sighs sadly, soothingly rubbing his hand up and down her back. “I’ve missed you too.”

She broke away from the hug, but she made sure their thighs were still touching. “So, what have you been up to these past two months?”

He couldn’t believe it’s been another two months since that night she came over. “Well, my dad is now taking up a baking class, and I’ve been his testing subject.”

She grimaced. “How’s that going?”

“As well as you think it’s going. I’m surprised I haven’t called in sick yet.”

“Well, good luck with that. What’re the others doing?”

“Ashlyn has joined her fifth club, which is creative writing. Her goal is to get into 20 of them before she graduates. Red has beef with his math teacher and has purposely been a menace to him for the past month. Kourtney has been getting more serious about her cosmetology. She even goes to hair shows and conventions for it.”

She made a tight smile, saddened that she has to get the scoop on her friends through someone else. “All of that is on brand of them.”

“It most definitely is.”

“Anything else I should know?”

Ricky faces his legs, fiddling with his fingers. “I also have been doing a lot of theater and music projects, especially theater. A lot has been happening behind the scenes.”

She notices the nervous look on his face. “What’s that all about?”

“What?”

“The rosy cheeks, something happened in the theater that I need to know about?” She asks it teasingly. When she saw his face, she realized that something indeed did happen.

He scratches the back of his head. “Well, kinda. Yeah I guess you could say that.”

“Tell me.”

He sighs before looking at her. “Well, I’ve met someone…”

Nini’s smile faltered slightly, but she forced it to remain perky. “Oh, really? Wow, that’s great.”

He smiles faintly. “Yeah, his name is Alex. I met him in the theater two weeks ago, and he came up to me and said he’d been crushing on me for a while. He’s really sweet, and I figured he’d be a great first significant other, you know?”

She swallowed the frog in her throat and nodded. “Yeah, totally. I get that, uh huh.” She breaks eye contact for a moment so she could take something out of her purse. “So um, this Alex fella. Is he your boyfriend or are you guys just seeing each other?” She tried her best to make her words sound natural, but she was failing.

“We’re technically just seeing each other, but I can tell it’ll reach that point soon.”

She continues to search for something that she knows isn’t in her purse, but it was better than looking at him right now. “Oh good, great. I’m really happy for you!”

“Alex and I actually are going to hang out right after this—”

“Jay and I are great too.” She interrupts, finally looking back at him.

Ricky’s smile drops at the mention of the dude he holds so much disdain for.

“Is that so?”

She nods. “Yeah, he’s been doing a lot better since...well, he’s just been doing good. He’s been a lot nicer.”

“Really? Even after that night?”

“What night?”

“You know, the night you came over—”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe you’ve confused me for someone else.”

Ricky stared at her completely bewildered at her refusal to acknowledge that day. When he gazed into her pleading eyes, he could tell she wanted him to play along.

“Right, maybe it was someone else.”

Nini seemed to be relieved he caught the hint and grinned. “Well, maybe you and I could go on a double date one of these days.”

“You think Jay would want to? He doesn’t seem like the type.”

“He won’t mind as long as I tell him in advance.”

Ricky was less than thrilled at the thought of seeing more of that prick, but he did want Nini to meet his potential first boyfriend. “Okay, it’s a date.”

“Great.” She checks the time on her phone. “Oh, I gotta get back home. I completely forgot that Mama D told me to take out the chicken from the freezer.”

“Do you want me to walk with you?”

“No!”

He jumps at her interjection, which made her nervously giggle.

“I mean, no. I’ll be fine, but thanks. I’m sorry I had to cut our hang out short.”

“Ah, okay. Well, I’ll see you when I see you.”

He gave her a warm hug except she didn’t hold him as tight as she typically did. She let go of him and got up from the bench. “Bye, Ricky.”

She doesn’t wait for his response before she’s practically fleeing from him. On her walk home, she let the tears she was holding back fall as she kept replaying his words in her head. The second she gets to her bedroom, she collapses on her bed and screams into her pillow until her voice is raspy.

***

Nini watches with scornful eyes as Ricky walks in the hallway hand in hand with who she assumes is Alex.

She flinches when Alex kisses his cheek or when he makes Ricky laugh so hard that he grabs his belly. Surely whatever he said wasn’t that funny. She can’t stand that they were always smiling when they sat together, and she admitted that she was envious that Alex didn’t mind sitting with the friend group. She hates that Alex shared a lot in common with Ricky that she didn’t such as skateboarding, theater, and guitar playing.

He appeared to be the perfect person for Ricky, and it made her wanna crawl in a hole and cry her eyes out.

They had made it official a week after that day in the park, and they were very much into PDA. She almost gagged when she saw Ricky kiss him before going to class, but what made her skin crawl the most was when she let her mind wander to what they were doing during theater class. She tries not to let it eat her alive, but she finds it impossible.

She postponed telling Jay about the double date both because she didn’t want to watch Ricky be all lovey-dovey with his new beau and because Jay would absolutely hate that. She doesn’t even know why she brought it up in the first place since she had no intention of going.

“What’re you thinking about?”

She glances at her boyfriend sitting beside her in his living room. “Oh, nothing.”

“Liar.”

“What? It was nothing important.”

“I know you, Nina. I know that face you make when you’re pondering. Just tell me.”

Nini considers lying, but she knew he would see right through her. “Fine, but promise you won’t get mad?”

“Cross my heart.”

Nini exhales before positioning herself to face him. “I was thinking about Ricky saying—”

“Wait, this is about Ricky?”

She was alarmed by his tone. “Um, yeah. As I was saying—”

“I don’t care what you were about to say. If it’s about him, keep it to yourself. I don’t want to hear it.” He turned up the volume on the TV to ensure he didn’t hear whatever else she had to say.

She furrowed her brows in anger. “How can you cross your heart that you won’t get upset and then get mad at me anyway?! That’s contradictory!”

He gives her a malicious glare that sends a shiver down her spine. “Look, you and I both know you have a thing for your little curly-haired freak show of a friend.”

“No, I don’t! And he’s not a freak!”

“Don’t fucking play with me. I’ve seen the way you've been eyeing him ever since he’s been dating that other loser. You’re so obvious that it’s pathetic.”

Nini already felt the tears forming. “I’m not pathetic.”

He snickered. “Yeah, okay. You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

She knew there was no point in fighting him, so she stood up and began storming towards the door.

Jay looks over his shoulder. “Ah, are you gonna run to little Ricky’s arms for protection again? Well, too bad because his arms are occupied by someone else.”

She spins around and lets her tears fall. “Fuck you!”

“No, I’m not done yet. You'll never find love since you're incapable of keeping people who actually care about you around! Look around you, Nina! All you have is me, and that’s as best as it gets for you! It was only a matter of time before he grew a backbone and moved on. Everyone in your life who loves you will leave if you keep acting like this. No wonder they all kicked you to the curb. You’re lucky I’m kind enough to stick around.”

When he was done, he turned his attention back to the TV, completely ignoring her existence as if he didn’t just say the cruelest words ever spoken to her. Her vision became cloudy as more tears rolled down her cheeks. She opened the door and slammed it with all of her strength before running home with a broken heart and spirit.

***

“You have an interesting taste in food.”

Ricky chuckles. “You’re not the first person who has told me this.”

Alex smiles. “You’re the only person I know that eats strawberries dipped in peanut butter.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t my idea actually. Nini introduced it to me when we were in middle school. I thought it’d taste like ass, but it surprisingly compliments each other.”

Alex scoots closer to him. “Kinda like how we complement each other.”

Ricky blushes. “Yeah, kinda like that.”

Alex presses his lips against Ricky’s, making them both grin. Ricky and Alex had been going strong for a solid two months now. Ricky gave his first kiss to him a week after making it official. Though Ricky thought it was a nice first kiss, it's not who he wanted it to be with. He really liked Alex, but he didn’t feel those sparks he used to get when Nini grazed his hands. He didn’t get jittery at the thought of hugging him. He didn’t feel that same passion everyone talks about when they kiss their significant others, but maybe it was because he’s not fully opening his heart to him.

He knew it was selfish, but he needed something to keep him from thinking about Nini. He truly does like him, but not as much as Alex likes him. He’s sure he can make himself love him one day; he just had to stick it out a little longer.

Alex lays his hand on Ricky’s shoulder. “Okay, can I say something real quick?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Alex blushes as he rubbed his hand down Ricky’s arm. “Well, I know this may be too soon, but I think I’m falling for you hard and fast.”

Ricky goes still as he looks at him in shock. “What?”

“I said that I think I’m falling for you. Do you feel the same way about me?”

Ricky stares at him stupidly, trying his best to answer. After Alex verbally said his feelings for him, Ricky knew right then and there that this was never going to work because he’d never fully fall in love with him. He knew he had to find a way to tell him that, but Ricky has no idea how to let someone down since it’s his first relationship. So, he did the first thing that came to mind. He got his things and bolted out of Alex’s house.

***

Unsurprisingly, Ricky broke up with Alex the following morning before school started. He wasn’t all that shocked when Alex started giving him the cold shoulder when they were in class or when he saw him in the halls. Alex blocked him on everything, and Ricky didn’t blame him one bit. If someone were to do what he did to Alex, Ricky was sure he’d react the same way.

Ricky wasn’t sad that they broke up because he’d miss him; he was upset because of how he ended things. He also didn’t have a distraction anymore. He successfully avoided Nini during his two months with Alex, and now he had no reason not to think of her.

As if she could sense she was on his mind, he spots her in a crowd on his way to biology. He was about to turn around and go the long way, but she caught his eye before he could. She smiles and pushes past people to get to him.

She looks up at him. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

They stare at one another for what feels like a millennium, and neither really knows who should speak first.

She coughs awkwardly. “Um, so where’s Alex? Don’t you two normally walk this way to class?”

Ricky sighs. “Oh, well…we kinda split recently.”

Her eyebrows raise. “Oh?”

“Yeah…”

“But you guys looked so happy.”

“We were before—you know what? It doesn’t matter. It was for the best that we parted ways.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She was very much lying through her teeth.

“Yeah, but it is what it is. At least I can say I’ve dated before.”

“Yeah, that’s one silver lining.”

They gaze into each other’s eyes, and Ricky knew they were thinking the same thing.

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Look, I’m sorry I haven’t been available for you.”

“Oh, no need to apologize. I know exactly what that feels like.”

He groaned since it wasn’t the same scenario at all. “Well, now that I have more free time, would you want to hang out before freshman year ends?”

She lights up and nods. “Absolutely! I’m free this weekend.” Or at least she would be. Jay was a germaphobe and freaks out whenever she shows any sign of being sick, so she planned on faking a cold so she could clear her existing plans with him. She just had to make sure her story added up when she saw him Monday.

He nods. “That should work.”

“Great!” She says more enthusiastically than she intended.

He gives her a warm smile before heading to his class, thinking about how silly he was for even considering running away from her. There was no running away from someone like Nini because she always found a way to sneak right into his heart.

***

If there’s one thing Nini has learned since dating Jay, it was that she got a kick out of sneaking around.

It lit a fire in her when she’d lie to him about her whereabouts or who she was with. It was so freeing to be rebellious when someone’s got you in a chokehold. That was one of the many reasons why sneaking to hang out with Ricky was one of her favorite activities to do.

Freshman year was coming to a close in a month, and Nini decided she wanted to spend it with a guy who doesn’t constantly give her shit about the simplest things. She’d find a way to be with him every single day without Jay noticing, and it was always the best part of her day. He was a breath of fresh air after hours of being with Jay.

Right now, Ricky and Nini were having a mall day. They liked to try on ridiculous outfits until staff members kicked them out, eat as many samples as they could, share a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon, and various other activities. They had just got slushies on their way to the next store.

“I think we should go to Spencer's.” Ricky wiggles his eyebrows.

“You only wanna go so you could put a wall dildo on me.”

“You have no proof.”

“You do it every time we go in there. I have suction marks from the ones you’ve placed on my arm to prove it.”

“Do you have any now?”

“Well, no.”

“I rest my case.”

She playfully rolled her eyes. “You’re so childish.”

“Yet you still love me.”

Her heart aches because he doesn’t know just how true that statement was.

“Yep, I do indeed.”

She heard a laugh from the distance in front of them and recognized the owner of the voice immediately. She scanned the perimeter until her eyes landed on the exact culprit she predicted, but she didn’t expect someone to be next to them. There stood her boyfriend with one of the cheerleaders from their school pressing her body against his. His arms were wrapped around her waist, pulling up the bottom of her skirt so he could touch her inner thigh.

Nini wanted to hurl.

The cheerleader goes in for a kiss, which only makes Nini want to combust. Ricky realized she had stopped listening to him and followed her line of sight. He gasped when he saw Jay tonguing down some girl. He swiftly looked back at Nini and wasn’t surprised to see she was crying silently.

Ricky rests a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Nini, I—”

She doesn’t wait for him to complete his comment before she marches up to him. Jay heard footsteps approaching him and averted his eyes in that direction. His eyes practically roll out of his head when he sees Nini standing right in front of him.

“Nini, hey!” He pushes the cheerleader away as if it’d help his case.

“Don’t hey me.”

“Nini, babe, it’s not what it looks like.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “Oh really? So, you weren’t just frenching some random girl?”

“Okay, so it might be what it looks like, but babe you gotta understand that I have needs.”

She was amazed at his audacity. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?! You have needs is the best you can do?! How about starting with I'm sorry for cheating and humiliating me in front of all these people?!”

He saw that they had an audience and got closer to her. “Relax, Neens. You’re causing a scene.” He whispers through gritted teeth.

“Don’t call me that! You don’t deserve to call me that after all the bullshit you put me through these past few months? And for what? I gained nothing from being with you, and I was miserable!”

He scowled at her. “Well, you aren’t so perfect yourself. Don’t think I didn’t notice you’ve been lying to me recently. I see Ricky over there watching us. What happened to you saying you were sick? You’re no better than me!”

Nini scoffed. “Hanging out with my best friend behind your back isn’t the same as publicly cheating on me! What the fuck is wrong with your brain?!”

Jay chuckles bitterly before waving her off. “I don’t need this.”

“Glad we’re finally on the same page.”

“You can’t be mad at me though.”

“And why the hell not?!”

"Because you and I both know that no matter how many times people say they love you, they'll always choose a better option, and that's what I did. Deal with it." He shrugged and made a sarcastic pouty face at her, making the cheerleader snicker.

Nini felt her blood boil, and all she could see was red. She barely even noticed her hand was moving before she threw her entire slushy at Jay’s head. The cup’s content exploded all over his face and outfit, and some got on the cheerleader as well. Bystanders all made some sort of jeer at him while others pulled out their phones.

“Nini, what the hell?” Jay’s eyes began to burn, and the people taunting him added fuel to the fire.

“In case your brain is too stupid to comprehend the obvious, it’s over between us. Go fuck yourself, Jay!” She spat at him, making him flinch in disgust.

She quickly made her way back to Ricky who was giving her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry he did that to you, Neens.”

“It’s okay…” She hugs her body and can feel the tears threatening to fall.

He pulls her into a hug, stroking through her hair. “I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself.”

She smiles into his chest. “I owe you a thanks for making me watch Glee since throwing the slushy idea came from there. Who knew slushies could cause so much damage to the eyes?”

He cracks a smile at her attempt at humor. “I hate that he was your first relationship. You deserved better.”

She doesn’t say anything; she just buried her face deep into his chest since that was the closest she could get to disappearing from the world at the moment.

“Come on; let’s get you home.”

She allows him to guide her back to her house, secretly loving the feel of his arms protectively holding her. When they get to her home, he takes her to her bed and lays beside her, already knowing she’d request that. She let the events from today sink in and couldn’t believe it. She finally left him, and it felt like a weight was lifted off her chest. Though he was out of her life for good, that didn’t erase the memories, which scared her. But when she glances over at Ricky's sincere eyes, she can’t help but feel like everything will eventually be alright.

Chapter Text

Summer after freshman year was the perfect remedy for an awful start of high school for Nini. With Jay gone, she was free to do as she pleased without feeling like she was doing something wrong. One of the first things she did was hang out with all her friends as much as she could to make up for all that precious time stolen from her. Reconnecting with them was a breeze, and it was almost like they never had a brief falling out.

Though she spent plenty of time with the others, she loved to spend her days with Ricky the most. It was like the old days where it was hard to see one without the other. She liked to hang out at his place more since she was sick of staying at her house for most of freshman year with Jay. She'd stay so long that she'd tend to have accidental sleepovers for a week straight. Ricky and Mike didn't mind one bit since they missed her being around.

The summer also granted Nini another gift besides her freedom. Ricky had another growth spurt, and she admits that it was hard not to ogle him sometimes. His arms seemed a little more muscular, and she wondered if he had been hitting the gym while she was too occupied with her relationship. Though she adored admiring him in secret, she couldn't stand the looks some of the girls gave him when they went out.

Ricky being the oblivious person he was didn't realize the impact he had on people, but she surely did. It was making her send death glares to strangers, who took the hint to walk away. Some still approached him, but he'd shy away and politely decline their advances. Nini would always sigh in relief when he did so.

Nini wanted to cherish him as much as possible, and the thought of him being with someone else irked her. Of course, if he wanted to date someone, she wouldn't try to stop him. He deserves happiness too, but she wanted to revel in their moments a little longer before that day comes again.

Ricky loved having Nini around. No really, he did, But she's been rather out of character since May. It wasn't as noticeable at first since she used to always be around him, but he started to pick up on these ticks and habits she didn't have before.

She'd become clingy, which didn't bother him at first. But when she frowned when it was time to go home or when she became anxious when he'd be gone too long, he realized something was off. He assumed that it was a temporary thing, but he knew it was something much deeper than that on one particular day.

They had been at the park, eating ice cream on the bench and joking around. She'd been giggling and was about to respond to something Ricky said before her body goes completely still. Her eyes widened with fear as she looked out into the distance like a deer caught in headlights, and she let the ice cream drip down her arm. Ricky furrowed his brows and turned around to see what on earth got that kind of reaction out of her.

She was staring at a curly haired blond man that was rather tall and around their age. He didn't understand why she was staring so intently and turned his head back to her.

"Neens?"

She didn't respond as she continued to stare at the stranger, not blinking an eye.

"Nini." He waved in front of her face, causing her to snap back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Where'd you go just now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You were just staring into that guy's soul for a while. Do you know him?"

She glimpses back at the person who was now passing in front of them. She waits until she's able to get a good look at his face before answering. The stranger finally glances over at her and gives her a polite smile as he walks away. She felt herself relax after he was gone.

"Nini."

She shakes her head. "No, no I don't know him."

"Are you sure because—"

"Wanna go somewhere more private? Somewhere with close to no people?" She disrupts.

"Oh, um. Sure, I guess. Where to?"

"Ashlyn said her house was free today."

"Then it's settled, but are you sure you're okay?"

She fakes a smile. "I've never been happier."

And for some reason, he didn't believe that. She wiped the ice cream that streamed down her arm before getting up to throw away the rest.

"Ready to go?"

"I'm always ready to go anywhere with you."

Her phony smile gets replaced with an authentic one, which makes him smile in return.

~

When the bizarre habits kept occurring, he knew it was time to say something. One day, he pulled her into his room after a hang out, giving her a concerned look.

She cupped his cheek. "What's wrong? You look scared."

"I kinda am."

"Of what?"

"I'm scared for you."

She scrunched up her face. "What?!"

"Neens, I've noticed that you've been really twitchy, and you can't stand being alone too long. You've never had those traits before, so I can tell something is wrong."

She released his face. "Nothing is wrong. I told you I'm happy."

"Then why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know!"

"Nini, you flinch when some men pass you on the street. That's not normal."

"No, I don't!"

"I really think you should consider therapy to help cope with what you went through. It's not like that stuff just magically goes away. I think it'll really—"

"No." She snaps.

"Why not?"

"My moms would know."

"True, but they could help you."

She drops her eyes to the ground and folds her arms over her chest. "I don't wanna talk about this anymore."

He wanted to keep pressing the matter, but after seeing her crestfallen face, he knew it'd be fruitless. He sighed. "Alright, I'll stop. I just wanted to put my two cents in."

"I'm gonna go downstairs and start the popcorn."

He just nods as she swiftly exits his room. He knew he'd need to bring it up again, but he had no idea how to go about it. For now, he'd just be by her side and hope she'd come to terms with the truth.

~

Ricky couldn't stop worrying about Nini's mental health, and he wasn't sure what to do. He researched different ways to try to convince her into going to therapy, but Nini responded negatively to all of them. But he refused to give up on her.

Mike came from his bedroom and noticed the concentrated look on his son's face.

"Everything alright, son?"

Ricky jumps when he registers his father's presence.

"Oh, yeah sorry."

Mike walks into the kitchen where Ricky was. "You were thinking pretty hard there. Are you sure something's not eating you?"

Ricky did a mental pro con list on whether or not he should inform his dad. Mike was pretty resourceful with these kinds of things, and he always gave great advice. Ricky exhales loudly before shifting his eyes to his dad.

"Can I ask you a hypothetical question?"

"Shoot."

"If you saw that your friend was showing signs of suffering from a traumatic event, would you tell them to get help before they spiral out of control?"

"Oh wow. That's a tough one, but I'd probably try my best to get them some help. They'll be resistant at first, but they'll appreciate you when they've recovered."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I actually was in a similar position in college when my friend became addicted to painkillers. I kept trying to tell him that he needed to seek professional help, but he didn't listen to me. It took me ratting him out to his parents for him to get the assistance he needed."

"Was he pissed?"

"Oh, royally pissed. He yelled at me and said I betrayed him."

"Did he ever forgive you?"

"Yes, but it was much later. He didn't talk to me for six months before he realized the error of his ways and apologized to me. We've stayed in contact over the past few decades, and he's been living a happy and healthy life as a sober man."

"That's amazing."

"It sure was, and it'll be worth it when you get your friend some help too, even if that means making them upset."

"Thanks, dad."

"Anytime, bud. Now, go get some sleep. You looked like you got hit by a truck."

Ricky puffs air from his nose at his joke. "I will."

"Don't stay up too late thinking about Nini."

Ricky was shook that he guessed the hypothetical person so well. "How'd you know it was Nini?"

"Son, when are you not talking about Nini?" Mike says before returning back to his room, leaving Ricky with a hard decision to make.

***

Ricky watched as Nini happily entered the school doors with a pep in her step with him strolling by her side. It was the first day back at school, and Nini had been walking on air all morning.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this excited to enter a school before."

"That's because I know this year is going to be significantly better than last year."

"And why is that?"

"Because, my good friend, I won't be tied down to anyone and can focus all my time on friends and schoolwork like a normal teenager should. It'll be a relief. I wanna try something new this year since I couldn't last year. Maybe I'll join a club or something, or maybe do another sport."

"That sounds amazing. You should totally do that." He'd love it if she put her energy towards an extracurricular or sport since he knew it'd help her keep her mind off the asshole who shall not be named.

"And you know what the best part is?" She says, moving to stand in front of him.

He smiles down at her. "What?"

"We get to spend an entire year as lab partners in chemistry."

"I can't wait to fuck up a bunch of experiments with you since we are both awful at any kind of science."

"We also have a horrible problem with talking during class when we do share the same class."

"Our teacher will probably split us up."

"Oh, most definitely, which is why we have to whisper or text."

"You're so wise."

She flips her hair. "I know; I can't help it."

He chuckles and throws his arm around her shoulder as they walk to their chemistry class together. They enter the lab and see a bunch of students all lined up at the front of the room, which confuses them. The late bell rings, and the teacher rises from his seat.

"Alright class, settle down. My name is Mr. Tillman, and I'll be your chemistry instructor for the next few months. If you recently came in, I'm sure you're confused on why everyone is standing in the front. That's because I'm assigning your partners for this year."

The teens all groan or make some sort of sign of disapproval while others didn't care enough to react.

"I know, I know, but it's so that no one gets distracted. You'd regret lollygagging or fooling around in a class that deals with chemicals. I have a seating chart placed on the board behind you that tells you where to sit and who your partner for the year will be. If you have a real problem with where you're seated or who you're sitting next to, then please speak to me."

One of the students raised their hands. "No, not liking someone is not a genuine reason to change seats. If anything, that's a good life lesson since you'll work with people you can't stand in the future."

The kid put their hand down and cussed under their breath. "Alright, now that that's handled, please find your seats so we can begin."

Nini squeezes through the crowd of kids and checks who her partner was. Nini looks up at Ricky with a frown.

"You're not my partner."

"Damn, really? I was really looking forward to it."

"At least we aren't too far apart. You're only two tables in front of me."

"Yeah, that's true."

"Well, I'll talk to you after class."

"I'll walk you to your next class to make up for this."

"You don't have to, especially since that'd make you late for language arts."

"They should start getting used to me being late anyways."

She cracks a smile before walking over to her seat. She saw her partner was already there, and she gave Nini a welcoming smile. "Hi, you must be Nina."

"Oh, I actually go by Nini."

"Awe, that's adorable."

"You must be Gina."

"In the flesh!"

Nini sat down beside her. "I've seen you around. You're in my grade, right?"

"Yeah, I've seen you before too, but not a lot."

"Well, you're gonna see a lot of me this year."

Gina smiles. "I think I like the sound of that."

Nini loved this girl's energy, and something told her they'd become close friends with time. Two seats in front of her, Ricky was sitting down by his partner.

"Are you Ricky?" The brunette girl asks.

He lifts a brow. "Yeah."

She gives him a friendly smile. "I'm Skye. It's nice to meet you."

"That's a pretty name."

"So is yours."

"I don't think I've ever been told my name was pretty."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did that make you uncomfortable?"

"No, you're good. It just threw me off is all."

"I think we'll be a great pair."

"I think so too."

After they were assigned their first experiment, the class got to work. Gina was apparently very good at chemistry and volunteered to be the leader, which Nini was completely okay with. Nini decided to be the documenter since Gina didn't like to do it. It was the perfect system. While they worked, Nini figured this would be a good time to get to know her. "So, Gina, what do you do for fun?"

Gina glances over at her before shifting her attention back to the Bunsen burner. "I love to dance. It's my favorite pastime."

"Oh, really? I do too, but it's not professional or anything. It helps me with balance and is good exercise for when I play basketball."

"Well, if you'd ever like someone to dance with, you can stop by dance class after school every Thursday. My friends Seb, Carlos, and I love it, and having familiar faces always makes it better."

"Can anyone just come and visit?"

"Yep! You're allowed to observe twice to see if it's something you're interested in before you have to pay the fee for the club. I think you'd really like it since we practice all kinds of dance!"

Nini thought of her offer. Dance wouldn't get in the way of her basketball schedule since she practiced on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and she'd already been thinking about joining a club this year. She'd also love to talk to Gina more since she was so friendly. Maybe this would be a good option for her.

"I'll check it out."

Gina beams. "Great! I'll tell Ms. Belle to expect you."

Nini was excited about the idea of starting a new hobby, and the first person she wanted to tell was Ricky. She peaked over at his table to see if he was too busy to text, and her smile faltered when she saw him giggling with his new partner.

She took a moment to scrutinize the girl from a distance. She was about Nini's height but a little taller. She had long wavy hair and dark brown doe eyes. She had perfectly tanned skin and was wearing the attire of a typical skater. She wore no makeup except for some lip gloss. She was effortlessly pretty in every way, and Nini couldn't take her eyes off of the both of them.

"What're you staring at?"

Nini looks up at her partner, who was giving her a knowing smirk. "Huh?"

"I saw you looking at that guy with curly hair."

She blushes. "Oh, was I staring?"

"Yep. It looked like they cast some spell on you."

"I didn't mean to."

"Is that guy your boyfriend? I see you in the hall with him a lot."

Nini shakes her head. "No, he's just my best friend."

"You guys are just friends?"

"Yeah."

Gina gave her a skeptical look, which caught Nini's attention.

"What?"

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing. I just assumed you two were more."

"You're not the first or last to say that."

Nini sighs as she glances back over at Ricky, who teasingly nudged Skye's arm.

Gina could sense Nini's nervous gaze. "You have nothing to worry about."

Nini just stares at Gina for a moment before placing her eyes back on her notebook.

"Let's just focus on the lab."

Gina nods and continues to fill some beakers. And as much as Nini wanted to, she couldn't stop sneaking glances at the duo.

***

"So, how is everyone's first week going?" Ashlyn asks with a cutesy grin.

Red was the first to jump at the opportunity to answer. "I have beef with another teacher."

Everyone at the table all reacts in various ways.

"Dude, already? It's only been three days." Ricky says.

"Listen, I don't take disrespect from no one!"

Kourtney rolls her eyes. "What did they do?!"

"They kept saying my birth name after I told them to call me Big Red. Now, I purposely call him whatever last name comes to mind that day. It makes him furious."

Nini couldn't help but chuckle. "You're such a menace."

"And proud." Red smirks.

Kourtney shook her head and decided to switch gears. "Ashlyn, would you like to go next? It seemed like you had something you wanted to share."

Ashlyn lights up and claps her hands. "Yes! I joined two more clubs! These two make it my tenth club already!"

Ricky smiled. "You join clubs as if you're collecting all the Pokémon or something."

"Gotta join them all!" Ashlyn sing songs to the Pokémon theme.

Nini cleared her throat. "I guess I'll go next. I made a new friend in my chemistry class. Her name is Gina Porter, and she invited me to dance class. I think I wanna join. It seems to be a good time."

Ricky lightly taps her arm. "Oh, isn't that the girl that's your partner?"

Nini nods. "Yep! She's amazing, and I'd like for you guys to meet her one day."

"Invite her to the table sometime. I'm sure we'll love her." Ashlyn advises.

"I'll text her now."

As Nini texted Gina, Ricky figured it was a good time to tell about his week.

"I also made a new friend."

"Oo, you rarely make new friends! I'm excited to hear this one!" Red says, not registering how backhanded his words are.

"Okay, first of all, ouch. Second of all, I also met my new friend and chemistry class, and she happens to be my partner too."

Nini stopped mid-text at the mention of his partner to listen intently to his words.

"Her name is Skye, and she's honestly one of the coolest girls I've met in this school."

Kourtney kicked Ricky under the table while Ashlyn mocked offense.

"Do we mean nothing to you anymore, Richard?" Ashlyn asks jokingly.

Ricky rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up. You know I love you two and of course I adore you too Nini." He gives Nini a brief smile before turning back to the rest of the table. "Skye just happens to be another cool girl I wanna hang out with; that's all."

Ashlyn wiggled her eyebrows. "Is she cute?"

Ricky already knew where this was going. "Don't even start."

"Is she single?" Kourtney asks with a cunning grin.

"I'll throw my bread at you." He holds up the Hawaiian roll as a threat.

Ricky glances over at Nini who had been quiet ever since he began speaking.

"Neens."

She doesn't bother looking up from her screen, pretending to be busy. "Yeah?"

"I think you'd like Skye a lot. She reminds me of you in a lot of ways."

Nini had no idea what to think of that, so she just made a polite smile and nodded.

Ricky picked up on her standoffish behavior, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt since it was a hectic week. "I'd like to invite Skye to the table on Friday if that's cool with you guys."

Kourtney nods. "Yes, please bring her."

Ashlyn beams. "The more, the merrier!"

"Dude, you know I wanna meet her. She's gotta be special if you're talking to her since you're not that social."

"Once again, ouch." Ricky looks to his side at Nini, awaiting her answer. "Nini?"

"Hm?"

"Is it cool with you?"

"Oh, um...yeah. She can totally come over here, but I unfortunately have a thing."

Ricky raises a brow. "What thing?"

"I have this thing for basketball during my lunch. Coach wanted to talk to us without pulling us out of class, so..."

"Oh, okay then. I guess you two can meet another time."

"Mm hm. Another time."

They thankfully moved onto Kourtney's week, which was a relief to Nini. Suddenly, she feels a presence on her thigh and peeks down at what it was. She saw Ricky's hand lying there, and she almost fell apart when he started rubbing small circles into her exposed skin. He must've been able to tell she was bothered by something and wanted to comfort her, which made her swoon. She placed her hand on top of his, not missing the way one of his pinkies looped around hers.

***

"Who the hell has a Halloween party in the middle of September?!"

Ricky shrugs as he applies more makeup for his scar.

"Howie Banks apparently."

Nini sprays perfume on herself. "Why not just wait til' October at least? It doesn't even have to be on Halloween day. It doesn't make any damn sense."

"You're preaching to the choir, but I don't mind since it means we get to finally attend our first high school party."

"That's true. Well, at least for you. I went to a few with you know who, but those weren't fun, so I've decided to count this one as my first."

"I definitely don't blame you."

When he finished up his makeup, he presented himself to her. "So, how do I look?"

She laughs and claps in approval. "Oh my god, you look awful in overalls."

"Well, good thing I only bought these for the costume, but does it at least look good?"

"You look amazing, Ricky."

They chose to do a dynamic duo costume and decided to go as Chucky and Tiffany from Child's Play. They went to thrift shops and Party City to completely set up their costumes.

"Thanks, you look gorgeous by the way."

"Oh yeah, nothing prettier than a girl with a bloody knife in her hand."

He chuckles and checks the time. "It's been an hour since the party started; we should head out."

"Are you sure you wanna steal your dad's car? I don't think it's wise."

He scoffs. "I steal his car all the time, and you've seen me drive before. I happen to be very good at it."

"You also happen to be a 15-year-old."

"With a permit!"

"Still not a license, Richard!"

"I'm driving safely, and I only plan on having a beer. We'll be fine."

"Alright, but when your dad asks me about what happened when you totaled his car, I'm not getting in between."

He chuckles as he grabs his dad's keys. "Let's go."

The ride there scared the shit out of Nini, and she was thankful to be alive by the time they pulled up at the large home 17 minutes later.

"Jesus Christ, Ricky! Why do you hit the break so hard?!"

"I thought I saw a squirrel!"

"Eight times?!"

"Squirrels commonly come out at night in this area!"

She rolled her eyes as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Let's go in. Ashlyn's been texting in the chat nonstop."

"Oh, speaking of friends, Skye is at this party too!"

Nini froze on her way out of the SUV. "Oh, is she now?"

"Yeah, this is the perfect place to meet her since you're not busy at all."

Nini forced a smile. "Yep, I can't deny that."

Ricky's grin drops. "Okay, what's up?"

She looks at him with a lost expression. "Huh?"

"I'm not blind, Nini. I can tell you've been avoiding meeting her."

"No, I haven't."

"You and I both know that's bullshit, so why don't you just tell me the truth?"

"I have nothing against her!"

"Then prove it."

Nini groans. "Fine, I'll meet her."

"Good, I'll text her we're here right now."

"Lovely." She says sarcastically.

After he contacts her, he walks over to Nini. "Now, can we please go inside and have the best night of our lives?"

She sighs. "Only because you asked so kindly."

He grins and offers her his arm, and she happily accepts his offer by looping hers with his. When they get inside, they're greeted by the scent of weed and some other drugs, alcohol, and the sound of loud rock music. Some teens were doing a keg stand while others were playing stripping games by the pool. It looked like it was straight out of an American Pie movie.

"Holy fuck." Nini says.

"Holy fuck indeed."

They push through the large crowd until they get to the room Ashlyn said they were in. Their friends all greeted them when they spotted them.

"Oh my god! You two look so adorable together!" Ashlyn compliments.

Nini blushes. "Thank you!" She scans Ashlyn's outfit. "Are you Claire Daines' version of Juliet?"

"Close! I'm Jules dressed up as Claire's version of Juliet, hence the blond wig." She points at her head to emphasize her point.

"That's clever! Red, I see you went as your go to costume as the guy who wears the costume shirt again."

Red smirks proudly. "It never gets old."

"Yes, it does." Kourtney retorts as she sips her jungle juice.

"Says the one who dressed up as Foxxy Cleopatra for the second time in a row!

"Okay and? At least my outfit has flavor."

Red flips her off, and Kourtney mirrors his action. Ricky giggles at his friend's antics before patting Nini's back.

"Hey, I'm gonna go meet up with Skye so I can bring her here. You want anything to drink?"

She shakes her head. "No, I'm good for now."

"Alright, I'll be back."

Shortly after he left, Nini excused herself so she could go get drinks of her own. If she had to do this, she wanted some liquid courage. She goes to the pool area where there was a huge tub full of various wine coolers and beers. She grabs two Seagram's bottles and one shitty looking beer she's never heard of before. She pops the beer open first and begins chugging, grimacing when she encounters the wheat after taste.

She continued to down as many drinks as she could until she was tipsy enough. She stumbles back into the house to the area she last saw her friends. Kourtney gave her a worried look. "Girl, are you good? You look dazed."

Nini nods and gives her a goofy smile. "I've never been better, Kourt. Are you gonna finish that drink?" She points at the cup in Kourtney's hand.

"Yes, but I think you're already gonna have to be cut off."

"Boo, you're no fun."

"Ah yes, I'm the villain for caring." Kourtney mumbles under her breath.

Nini snatches an abandoned unopened can of some beer she sees on a nearby table and downs it in a few gulps.

"Geez Neens, maybe you wanna slow down before you puke." Ashlyn warns.

"I came here to party, not to be scolded." She could sense they were about to say something, so she intervened before they could. "Imma find some more of whatever these are." She shakes the can in her hand before walking away.

She barely remembers the last ten minutes, and she was wondering why she thought getting shitfaced was a good remedy to numbing her emotions. She struggled to make it back to her friends as she gripped onto the walls for support, and her vision being blurry didn't help.

She feels someone grab her arm from behind, alarming her. She immediately slaps the hand without looking at who it was, resulting in that person to yelp.

"Damn Nini, you hit me with the ring on your finger!"

She recognizes the voice and slowly turns around. She gasps when she realizes it was the other half of her duo.

"Rickkkkyyy, my bestieeee. Where have you been?"

"Me? Where have you been? I've been looking for you for like thirty minutes now."

"Oh relax. I'm fine. I just went to go drink a couple of drinks; that's all."

"Well, hopefully you're sober enough to talk because Skye's on her way to us."

Nini scoped the area for her face and saw her approaching them from behind Ricky. She was glad her ridiculous emotions wouldn't show on her face, but she wasn't sure if the same applied to her mouth.

When Skye gets to them, Ricky smiles from ear to ear.

"Hey!"

"Hey, Ricky!"

Nini takes a good look at Skye's costume and couldn't help but admire how stunning she was. She wore a playboy bunny outfit that suited all the curves Nini could only dream of having.

"Skye, this is my best friend Nini that I'm always talking about."

Her eyes widened with glee. "Oh wow! You're right, Ricky. She's even more beautiful in person!"

Great, she's actually nice too.

"Awe, thanks. You're very pretty too."

"I've heard so many great things about you! I was kinda intimidated when I heard about all your talents. I could never be in a sport with my uncoordinated ass."

"You flatter me."

"It's well deserved!"

Nini blushes and laughs awkwardly, but her laugh goes away when she loses her balance a bit. Ricky and Skye both were concerned when they realized just how disoriented she was.

"Neens, you're really out of it."

Nini giggles. "No, I'm not. See! I can walk just fine!" She attempts to walk towards him without any help, but she trips on her heels. Luckily, both Ricky and Skye caught her.

"Ricky, you should take her home. She's too far gone."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Nooooooooo, I don't wanna go! I've only been here for like an hour!" She whines, slurring some of the words.

"Should've thought of that before getting black out drunk, sweetheart. Come on; let's get you home."

"I don't wannnnaaaaa."

"Do you need help?"

"No, I should be fine. I'm just glad she already had plans to spend the night at my place because her moms would be furious with me."

"Well, text me when you get home. And it was very nice to meet you, Nini. I hope we can talk when you're more sober. I'm gonna head back to Penny. She's been waiting for me. Bye Ricky." She waves at him before going to the kitchen.

"Rickyyyyyy, my head is pounding."

"I bet it is. Climb up on my back."

She sluggishly gets on his back, and he carries her all the way to his dad's car. He carefully placed her in the passenger's seat, buckling her in before hopping in the driver's seat.

She moaned and groaned when the car started to move.

"Why is the world spinning?"

"Because you're drunk, Neens."

"Ughhhhh, why'd you let me drink that much? I'm never drinking again!"

"I didn't even see you drink! Also, I highly doubt that."

She leans back in her chair and slumps down. She randomly thought about how perfect Skye was and understood the appeal.

"She's very nice."

"Who? Skye? Yeah, she's the best."

"She's like really fucking pretty. Don't you think she's pretty?"

"Uh yeah, she's nice on the eyes."

"She was so sweet, like candy or something."

He laughs. "Yeah, she is."

"I think you'd eventually hang out with her more than me."

That erased the smile from his face and made him look at her. "What? Why would you say that?"

"She's not a burden like me."

"Nini, you're not a burden."

"You don't have to lie."

"I'm not. If I thought you were a burden, I'd never hang out with you. I adore Skye, but I love you more. I always will."

"You say that now until you're sick of me."

"Nini, where is all of this coming from?"

"My piece of shit mind."

"Nini, no matter what, I will always want you in my life. Nothing is going to change that."

"She's better than me."

Ricky finally put the pieces together and realized what was actually going on. "Neens, are you jealous of Skye?"

Nini goes silent as she blushes, which only confirmed his theory.

He chuckles. "There's no reason to be jealous at all."

"Who said I was jealous?"

"She's not gonna steal my attention away from you entirely if that's what you're worried about."

"You say that now until you start dating her and forget about me."

Ricky went quiet and stared at her with a smirk on his face, which infuriated Nini.

"What? You know I'm right! You completely shut me out when you dated Alex, so I fear you'd do the— "

"Nina."

Her legal name catches her off guard and gets her full attention.

"What?"

"Skye is a lesbian."

Nini stared at him with pure shock on her face, not saying a word as the information marinated in her head.

"That girl Penny she was referring to was her girlfriend. They're adorable, and I think you'd like her too."

Nini felt her face heat up from embarrassment. She couldn't believe how much time she spent avoiding someone who was never a threat from the get go. She hides her face with her leather jacket.

"I'm such an idiot."

"You're not an idiot; you just have a bad gaydar." He giggled, but he quickly stopped when he heard her sniffle. When he peeked at her face, he noticed she had been crying. He pulled over to the side of the road and parked.

"Hey, c'mere."

He opens his arms wide for her, and she accepts. He holds her tight and rubs her back.

"I'm a bad person."

He brings her closer. "No, you're not."

He didn't say anything else as she cried, only pecking her forehead at times. He knew this was deeply rooted in her attachment issues, and he feared it'd only get worse. He began to recall what his dad said, and he thinks it was finally time to get her parents involved. He had been avoiding out of fear of her never speaking to him again, but he needed to take that risk if it meant she'd get help. He just hoped she understood that he was doing it out of love.

Chapter Text

Nini was skeptical.

She'd noticed Ricky's peculiar behavior over the past week. He'd been quick with his words and would find an excuse to leave her, he would fidget a lot when he was around her, and sometimes she'd spot sweat dripping down his head. She knows him too well to think there isn't something fishy going on; that suspicion was only confirmed when she recognized that Red was acting strange too.

Red was much more jumpy than Ricky and would flee if he saw Nini in the halls. She wasn't sure what secret they were hiding from her, but she sure as hell would find out. And she knew exactly where to start.

Ricky and Red had been more jumpy than ever today, so she figured this would be the best day to confront. She had hid her face behind her locker as Red walked down the hall since she knew he'd make a run for it if he saw her. When he got close enough, she hopped right in front of him, making him yelp.

"Oh, Nini! Hi, uh how are you? I didn't even see you there!"

"Cut the crap, Redonovich."

"Oh, okay."

"What the fuck is going on with you and Ricky?"

He nervously chuckles. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're sweating bullets."

Red swiftly wipes away his sweat. "No, I'm not?"

"Red, what're you two hiding from me? You guys have been acting like I got the cheese touch or something."

"Oh, speaking of cheese, I ate some cheese this morning, completely forgetting that I'm lactose intolerant. So, I should really run to the bathroom now. Okay, bye Neens."

He ran away before she could get another word in. A part of his poor excuse just dawned on her. "Wait a minute; you're not even lactose intolerant!"

He didn't turn around despite hearing her and continued to run as far away from her as possible. She groaned and kicked the lockers in frustration. That was her only way of finding out what's up since she knew Ricky would never cave. She decided to just let it be for now since neither of them will budge anytime soon, but that won't stop her from being curious.

~

Nini stretched when she finally arrived on the sidewalk in front of her house. She was about to walk up her driveway, but she stopped when she saw a car that looked familiar parked a little bit down the street. It reminded her of Mike's car a lot, but she knew it couldn't be him since he'd be at work right now. And it couldn't be Ricky because he didn't steal his car when he went to school today.

She decided to shrug it off and went up her driveway. When she opens the front door, she doesn't bother checking her surroundings as she tosses her book bag aside. She took out her phone and began typing away.

"Mom, I'm home."

"Nini."

She stops and looks up from her screen when she hears her mother's voice, and you could imagine her surprise when she realized her mom wasn't alone.

There stood Mama D, Ricky, and Mike all waiting for her in the living room with concerned faces that only made Nini anxious.

She furrows her brows. "Um, hi?"

"Nini, darling. Why don't you sit down?" Dana pats the couch armrest.

"What's going on?"

Dana makes a tight smile. "We'll tell you in a bit."

Nini glimpses at Ricky and notices the somber look in his eyes, and something tells her that he was acting weird all week because of whatever this was. Nini slowly takes a seat on the couch and looks between the three of them.

"So, what's up? Why is everyone here?"

Dana sighs as she sits beside her, resting a palm on Nini's leg. "Nini, I know you're not gonna like what's about to happen, but just know that we're doing this because we love you."

Nini's heart was beating a mile a minute since she had no idea where this conversation was going. Her brain immediately started thinking of awful things she's done that could've caused this intervention, but it couldn't come up with one.

"Honey, we all know about Jay."

Nini's eyes widened, and she swore her heart stopped beating for a moment. She was trying to understand how she found out when she was so careful about her parents not meeting Jay until it hit her. She slowly glanced over at Ricky, who looked pale. She could tell he felt guilty.

"Mom..."

"We know you've been suffering from the aftermath of surviving a toxic relationship like that, which isn't fun to do on your own."

"Mom, it's not that serious."

"Yes, it is. He traumatized you. Now, you're starting to get anxious around men who even remotely resemble him and cling onto your friends a little more than you should."

Nini balled up her fists as anger began to rise in her. "No, I'm not! How would you even know that?!"

Ricky sighs. "I told her."

She glares at Ricky. "You what?!"

"Neens, listen..."

"No, you listen. I'm fine, okay? If you're bothered by my presence, then I'll just leave you alone!"

"That's not at all what I want."

"You promised me you wouldn't say anything!"

"I know, but—"

Nini holds up her hand. "Save it."

Nini begins to tear up and hugs her body for comfort. Dana wraps her arm around Nini's shoulder.

"Sweetheart, don't be mad at Ricky. He was just looking out for you when he noticed you weren't well."

"But I am well!"

"No, you're not. I've even noticed you've been twitchier than usual; I just didn't know why."

Nini remained silent as she stared at the floor and let the tears fall.

"I signed you up for weekly therapy appointments."

Nini removed her mom's arm from her shoulder.

"What?!"

"It'll be good for you, dear. None of us would be able to help you like a professional could since none of us have experienced what you went through."

Nini abruptly stood up from her seat and glowered at Ricky. "Why did you do this to me?"

He felt his eyes well up. "Nini..."

Dana got up and stood in front of Nini. "Don't let your anger off on him."

"How could I not?! He fucking went behind my back!"

Dana points her finger at her. "Watch your language, young lady."

"Now you're sending me to some shrink that won't even be beneficial to me since I don't need them! You're just wasting my time and your money. Don't do this to me, mom!"

"Nina Salazar-Roberts, you need to calm down." Dana says sternly.

"How could I calm down when all of you think I'm crazy?!"

Dana scrunched up her brows. "No one said that."

"But you were all thinking it! What's next? You're gonna send me to some psych ward?!"

Dana sighs as she roams her hand down her face. She looks over her shoulder at Mike, and he nods before walking over to her.

"Nini, your appointments are every Tuesday at 4 until further notice. You're not allowed to skip any appointments unless it's an emergency or a good excuse. Understood?"

"But today is Tuesday."

Dana nods. "Yes, I know. You have an appointment in a little less than an hour."

Nini cries and hides her face from everyone. "I'm fine!"

Mike nudges Dana. "Let's get her in the car. Doctor Michaels is expecting you."

Dana places her hand on Nini's back and begins escorting her to the door while Mike was behind her in case she decides to run for it. Nini takes a final look at Ricky with the most crestfallen face he's ever seen, and she didn't even need to say words for him to know that she wasn't going to forgive him.

Ricky could overhear her screaming that she was okay, which only made his heart break more. When they finally get her in the car, Ricky permits himself to cry. He hated every second of that and was terrified that he made a mistake. Mike comes back moments later and frowns when he sees his son crying.

He walks over to him and pats Ricky's back. "Hey, you did the right thing, kiddo."

"Then, why does it feel like I betrayed her?"

"Trust me; you didn't. It just feels that way."

"When does the feeling go away?"

"With time." Mike pulls him into a bear hug. "She's gonna be okay, and she'll forgive you one day when she realizes she needed the help."

Ricky hugged his dad closely, letting his tears dappen his dad's shirt. When he felt he was done crying for now, he loosened his grip on Mike.

"Can we go home?"

"Of course, kiddo."

Mike guides him to their car two houses down. On the ride home, Ricky couldn't stop thinking about her brokenhearted face. He just hopes that Nini will eventually come around.

***

Nini glared at the woman in front of her. Nini stubbornly sat in a chair in her therapist's office, and she hasn't said a peep to her in the last hour. The middle-aged woman has also said nothing besides the basic greetings when Nini first came in.

Dr. Michaels timer goes off. "Well, our session is over."

Nini sighs in relief. "Finally."

"You did well, Nina."

Nini looked at her perplexed. "How could I have done well if I didn't say a thing? That doesn't make any sense."

The doctor smiles. "Because healing is a slow burn and will be worth it in the end. A lot of my clients come in with the silent treatment and eventually bloom."

Nini rolled her eyes at her corny explanation. "Stupid fucking profession." She mutters under her breath. Nini excused herself out and stormed to the lobby. Dana stood up when she saw Nini.

"How'd it go?"

Nini scoffed without answering as she exited the door.

Dana sighed sadly. "This is gonna be a very long year."

***

Ricky and Red weren't shocked when Nini ignored them the following few weeks. She put two and two together about Red's odd behavior and realized that he knew about the intervention too, so she's been giving them both the cold shoulder. She doesn't hate them or anything, but she felt like she'd been stabbed in the back.

She'd been avoiding sitting at the table and friend functions with either of the two in it for three and a half weeks now. She's been sitting with Gina and her friends in order to avoid the two boys. Her absence was starting to take a toll on everyone at her original lunch table.

Kourtney slams the lunch table, getting everyone's attention. "This is getting out of hand."

They didn't need clarification to know what she was referring to. Red sighs. "Yeah, but there's not much we can do."

"I know she'll forgive Ricky and Red one day since she hates being without friends for too long, especially you Ricky. However, I have no idea how long it'll take her. She's always sensitive about anything related to Jay."

"Doesn't mean she gets to ice us out when they were just trying to help her." Kourtney says.

Ashlyn nods. "Yeah, you're right."

"We need to address this as soon as possible." Red states.

"Maybe Kourt and I should talk to her since we all know she wouldn't give Red and Ricky the time of day."

Kourtney nods in approval. "I second that idea. What about you two?"

Red gives them a thumbs up. "I'm game."

Everybody looks at Ricky for his green light. He had been quiet the entire time they've been speaking, mostly because he keeps checking on Nini from the balcony of the lunchroom.

"Oh uh, yeah that sounds great."

Ashlyn raises a brow. "Were you even listening?"

"For the most part."

Kourtney groans. "Really, Ricky?"

"Okay, I got the ending part of the conversation, which I'm assuming was the most essential part."

"Well, since everyone's on board. Kourtney and I will go talk to her right after school." Ashlyn claims.

"Good luck, ladies. You'll need it." Red says.

~

Ashlyn and Kourtney patiently waited for Nini to come out of the school's front doors so that they could get this over with. Ashlyn was visibly nervous. "Do you think she'll be pissed at us? I hate when people are mad at me."

"Oh, most definitely. She's very stubborn and can be sensitive."

"Can you do all the talking then?"

"No, get yourself together, Ash. We both need to give her our two scents even if that means she yells at us."

Ashlyn sighs. "Yeah, I know."

Five minutes later, Nini came walking out of the doors.

Ashlyn was the one to get her attention. "Neens!"

She looks around and smiles when she spots her two girlfriends. She runs over to them and hugs both of them. "Hey, guys! I feel like I haven't seen you two in forever."

"Yeah, it does." Ashlyn says.

"Did you two wanna come over? I have the house to myself until 6."

Ashlyn and Kourtney give each other a look before awkwardly smiling at Nini.

"Actually, we were wondering if we could talk to you." Kourtney says.

Nini was alarmed by Kourtney's tone of voice. "Oh? Yeah, that should be fine. What about?"

Ashlyn rubs her arms apprehensively. "Well, we wanted to talk about you, Ricky, and Red."

Nini's smile dropped. "Oh."

Kourtney placed a hand on Nini's shoulder. "Look, we get that you feel betrayed by them, but that doesn't mean you get to act childish about this."

"You don't understand what I'm dealing with."

"We know, but we'd really love it if you could somehow forgive them since they were only trying to help you. All of us want what's best for you, even if you don't realize it's for the better good." Ashlyn tries to reason.

Nini shrugged off Kourtney's hand and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't need another unwarranted intervention."

"We just miss you, Neeners." Kourtney whines.

"Well, I'm not gonna forgive them right now, and you two irritated me too. So, I think it's best I just sit with Gina's friends for a little bit until I'm ready to come back."

Ashlyn frowns. "Nini..."

"It was nice talking to you two." Nini walks away, leaving the two girls on the sidewalk.

"Well, that went as well as I thought it would." Kourtney states.

"Yeah." Ashlyn watches as Nini disappears in the distance. "Do you think she'll ever come back?"

Kourtney nods. "Yeah, she always bounces back. I just wish she'd take her head out of her ass."

"What now?"

Kourtney sighs and loops her arm around Ashlyn's shoulders. "We wait."

***

Nini kept replaying that conversation she had with Kourtney and Ashlyn 10 minutes ago. She was angry that none of her friends seemed to be on her side, which is why she didn't go into detail when Gina asked what was going on with her friends. The last thing she needed was all of her friends ganging up on her.

As she was walking home, she heard a bunch of teens laughing a few feet in front of her, heading her way. It was a group of teen boys joking around with one another. Nini didn't mind that at first until she caught sight of a curly-haired blond that was in the middle of the group.

He was tall and had an athlete's build and even had similar facial features as him. Suddenly, she felt like she couldn't breathe or move. Her eyes water as the group gets closer and closer to her. She kept telling her brain to run as fast as she could, but her legs had different plans.

The group finally got close enough where she could see all of their faces, but her eyes were only glued to one person. The group walked around her, and she exhaled loudly when she got a good look at his face. This guy mirrored him, but he definitely wasn't who she thought it was. The teen gave her a polite smile as he walked by with his friends.

She began breathing hard despite being relieved, and that's when reality hit her. She did need help, just not the kind everyone keeps saying she needed. She knew exactly what she had to do. She began sprinting to the facility her mom took her to last week, not registering how far she had to run to get there due to her adrenaline.

She arrives at the office and ignores the receptionist's questions and resistance. Nini runs up to Dr. Michaels office and barges through the door without knocking, startling the poor woman. Dr. Michaels accidentally spilt a little coffee on her pencil skirt and began wiping some of it off with a napkin.

"Nina? What're you doing here? You don't have another appointment until next week."

"This couldn't wait."

The doctor scanned her and noticed she was breathless. "Honey, did you run all the way here? Should I contact someone to come and get you? Here, take some water from the fridge." She was about to hand her one, but Nini stopped her by shaking her head.

"No need. Look, I admit that I may have a small issue with the whole seeing Jay whenever he's not there thing, and I get that sometimes I get a little clingy and territorial over my friends, especially Ricky. But here's the thing. I'm not sick or anything, okay? I can control these things, which is what I tried to tell everyone. If I'm going to be forced to come and talk to you, I may as well just use you for dumping all my problems on since that's your profession. Then, no one will have to worry about me, and people won't feel like I'm such a burden."

Dr. Michaels mouth was agape as she listened to her. "Nina, why don't you sit down? I actually don't have an appointment until 5 anyway."

Nini smirked. "Gladly, I have plenty to say today." Nini plopped down in the comfortable seat with a large smile on her face.

Dr. Michaels took out her notepad and crossed her legs. "I'm ready when you are, dear."

And just like that, Nini poured her heart out like she never did before, and it felt great to not be a burden for once.

***

Nini anxiously tapped her fingers on her book bag straps as she observed her friends from the balcony of the lunchroom. She noted that Ricky was absent from the table for whatever reason, but the others were present.

Today, she planned to finally apologize for her actions, but she found it hard to work up the courage to approach them since she was so awful to them. A part of her wanted to just give up and move on since they could do better than her, but the other part knew she couldn't live without that bunch.

"Nini?"

Nini jumps a bit when she remembers she wasn't alone. She looks over at Gina who was giving her a grin.

"Yeah?"

"You should go talk to them. I can tell you miss them."

Nini sighs. "Yeah, I know."

"Then, what's holding you back?"

"Fear of rejection I guess, or maybe because I know I'm the one who screwed up."

"Listen, I'm not sure what went down between you guys, but I do know that you should push through that feeling because friends like them are worth fighting for. I realized that when I was introduced to them that they adore you and want what's best for you."

Nini whined as she glanced at her friends all laughing about something and hated that she wasn't in on it too. "I know."

Gina rests her hand on top of Nini's hand. "Go to them. If things go downhill, you can come sit with us. But honestly, I think they'll accept your apology. It's worth a shot."

"You're right." Nini takes another look at her longtime friends and smiles wistfully. "I'm going over there. Wish me luck."

"Luck!" Gina says, giving her an encouraging smile and thumbs up.

Nini steadily gets up and begins walking downstairs. She slowly approached them, her palms becoming sweaty, and her arms getting heavy. Red catches sight of her first and whispers to the others, making them all turn around. That didn't make her feel any less anxious about this, especially since their expressions weren't inviting.

When she arrived at the table, she stood there like a statue. They waited for her to say something, but nothing came out. Nini was dying from embarrassment since she didn't really plan what to say.

"Did you need something?" Kourtney asks.

Nini cleared her throat. "Um, yes actually. I just wanted to say that I know I've been a nuisance to you all lately. I haven't been exactly kind to you guys the past few weeks, especially you, Red. I know you just wanted to help me, so I wanted to say sorry for bitching at you guys for trying to be good friends to me. I honest to god wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to talk to me again because I was awf—"

"Nini." Ashlyn cuts in.

"Yes?"

Ashlyn grins. "Will you shut up and sit down with us?"

Nini perks up. "Yeah, of course I will."

She places her things in her usual spot while the others all welcome her back to the table.

"We've missed you." Red says.

"I've missed you guys too. It felt so weird to be angry with all of you. I'm never doing that shit again."

"I hope not because Ricky was killing me with all the moping." Kourtney claims.

"Speaking of, where is he? I didn't see him enter."

"Oh, he wanted to eat in the hallway today." Ashlyn answers, as if it was normal for him.

Nini furrows her brows. "What? Why? He never does that."

Ashlyn shrugs. "Not sure. He just didn't want to sit with us."

Nini didn't like that at all. He only isolates himself when he's upset or depressed. "Um, I'll be right back." She stands up and quickly walks out of the lunchroom. She strolled through the halls for a full minute before she caught sight of her best friend sitting outside of the theater. She frowned when she saw how gutted he looked.

"Ricky."

His head shot up, and she could tell by his face that he was genuinely puzzled by her presence.

"Nini?"

She walks the short distance to him. "Can I sit?"

He answers by patting the empty spot beside him, and she pops a squat next to him.

"Why're you sitting out here?"

"I'm shocked you're even talking to me right now. What's it been, like, four weeks?"

"Approximately. You didn't answer my question though. Is everything alright?"

He scoffs and snorts. "Am I alright? Of course not, Nini. My best friend iced me out because I was trying to help her. Why would I be okay?"

She held back her tears. "Sorry, that was a dumb question. I-I know I've been a total ass."

"Yeah, a little."

"And I hate that I keep doing this to you. You don't deserve it."

His anger started to subside after she said that. "Doing what to me?"

"Abandoning you because I'm being fucking stupid."

"You don't abandon me." She gave him a knowing look, making him sigh. "Okay, maybe you have a few times in the past year, but I understood why each time. It's not like they were random."

"See? You don't deserve this treatment because you're way too kind. Even when I'm in the wrong, you somehow try to make excuses for me. But Ricky, I want you to know that you don't need to do that because I'm a very faulty and flawed person."

"Don't say that."

"Ricky, I'm sorry about the way I've been treating you. I know I've been relying too heavily on you to make me feel happy and safe ever since last year, and I didn't realize it was negatively affecting you so much. I guess I was just too lost in my own head and stopped picking up the signs that you were uncomfortable with my clinginess."

Ricky scoots closer to her. "Woah, you didn't make me feel uncomfortable. Did someone tell you that?"

"No, I just assumed."

"Neens, I told your parents and my dad because I was looking out for you, not because I wanted you to back off. If anything, I wanted to hold you close."

She blushes. "Really?"

"Really."

"Well, either way, I need to learn to make myself happy instead of depending on others since that can be overbearing."

"You know you can still come to me if you have a problem, right? I don't think you're overbearing at all."

"Yeah, I know. That's why you're such a good friend."

"You should still talk to your therapist though. I think she'll help you a lot."

Nini smiles. "I will."

Ricky wraps his arms around her, embracing her. The moment she rests her chin on his shoulder, her smile vanishes. She hated lying to him, but she had to in order to make sure her friends weren't worried about her.

She didn't intend on taking therapy seriously and planned to only use it to rant about the topics she didn't want her friends and moms to know. She'd play along with this lie until everyone was convinced she was "okay" even though she knew she was basically fine. She was just happy the new year was close so she could reset and forget this nightmare of a semester.

Chapter Text

Ricky woke up a little earlier than his usual time for a weekend, except this time he didn't wake up gracefully, and he can thank his best friend for that.

He felt her shaking him and heard her talking, but he couldn't make out what she was saying.

"Richard Michael Bowen, get your ass up! We have a busy day today."

He groaned and put his pillow over his head to block out the noise. "Ugh, leave me alone."

"I'm incapable of doing that."

"It's too early for this."

"It's 10 am on a lovely Saturday morning. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the weather is surprisingly a little warm for December."

"What, are you a weather girl now?"

"Don't make me use force, Richard."

"I'm not getting up without a fight."

"Fine, you leave me no choice."

She removes his pillow and tosses it to the ground, along with his two other pillows so he couldn't replace the former one. She yanked the covers off of his body, causing him to cover his groin.

"Nini, I'm in my boxers!"

She shrugs nonchalantly. "They're essentially just shorts. No biggie."

"That's like saying your underwear is essentially just a bikini."

She ignores him and climbs on top of him, straddling his waist. He stiffens at the suggestive position they're in, too afraid of moving in case something else decides to wake up suddenly.

His face heats up (so do other parts of him). "D-do you have to sit on me like this?"

"Yes, if you don't get up, then I'm just gonna lay on top of you until you can't bear the extra weight on you."

He held back his smirk. She had no idea that he didn't find her heavy at all and would be more than happy to let her sit on his lap all day if it came down to it. He could tell she wanted him to get up though, so he resisted that salacious urge. He sat up and squeezed her hips, both of them secretly loving that.

"What plans do you have for us today?"

She pushes back some of his bushy bed hair. "Well, birthday boy, I have a few surprises up my sleeve for you."

He smirks. "Oh, really now?"

Her hands travel down the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "Mm hm, you and I are completely booked from now until the end of the day."

"Geez, what the hell are we doing?"

She smiles. "You'll find out soon enough." She hops off of his lap, much to his dismay. "Now, get up, birthday bitch. We have one hell of an itinerary today, starting with breakfast."

"So, that's what I'm smelling?"

"Yep! Now hurry up and get dressed! We don't have all day!" She skips away and closes the door behind her to give him privacy.

When Nini asked Ricky if he had plans for his 16th birthday a month ago, she was equally excited and shocked to hear he only wanted to spend it with her. He wasn't as big on celebrating birthdays like Nini, which is why he gave her his blessing to plan his party for him since she'd have better activity ideas. She immediately began planning what she wanted them to do when he told her, and he admitted that he was a little scared.

When he was done getting dressed, he met her in the kitchen. He smiled when he saw she had made him waffles.

"They look delicious."

"I hope they taste delicious because I put way too much flour in them."

"It doesn't matter how much you screwed it up; I'm still gonna like it because you made it."

She blushes as she pours the syrup for him. "Eat up. We gotta leave in like 30 minutes."

He sat down on the bar stool and took a bite. "Mm, Neens, you shouldn't have doubted yourself because these are fantastic."

"Really?"

"Yeah, have a bite."

He cuts off a small piece and feeds her with his fork. Her eyebrows perked up.

"Oh shit, maybe I am good at cooking."

"Want some more?" He offers, holding up another piece.

"No, you're the birthday boy, so I shouldn't eat your food."

"There's plenty to share, and I probably can't eat all of these waffles alone anyway."

"Well, when you put it that way..."

She sits beside him, and he pushes the plate of waffles in between them. He cuts off a piece and begins feeding her, and he allows himself to fantasize about them doing this as a couple.

She wanted in on the action too, so she began feeding him with her fork. She was secretly enjoying this since it accidentally came off romantic. She wonders if she could pull a Lady and the Tramp move if she makes him spaghetti. They continue that until both of them are full.

Nini checks her clock and gasps. "I lost track of time. We need to head out!" She hops up from her chair and grabs her shoes.

Ricky wiped his face. "Where are we going?"

"No time for questions, just get your shoes on." She says, as she hops up to get her flats on.

He did as told and grabbed the black vans sitting by his door. "How are we gonna get to whatever place you're taking me? Neither of us can drive."

"It's walking distance. Now, come on!" She grabs his wrist and drags him out of the house. They walk for roughly a mile before they arrive at a plaza. Ricky tried to guess which store they were gonna enter and was a little taken aback when they arrived at their destination.

"We're here!"

He read the sign of the store. "We're getting professional photos?"

"Yep!"

"Of what exactly?"

"Us, silly! Let's go in. We made it just a minute before our reservation."

They went through the slide in doors and was greeted by the receptionist.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Cady Studios. You must be Nina."

"In the flesh."

"I knew it had to be you since you're our only afternoon appointment, and you sound the same on the phone. We have your set all ready to go."

"Perfect!"

"Follow me."

The woman guided them to the back of the studio where a cameraman was standing and some costumes were hanging on a rack for them.

"Gary here will be taking all your pictures. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask."

Nini smiles at the woman. "Thank you."

The receptionist gives them a fleeting grin before walking back to the front desk. Nini turns to Ricky with a giddy expression. "Eek, I'm so excited to see you in the outfits I have planned."

"Oh, this should be good."

She tugs him over to the rack and pulls out the first fit. He chuckles when he sees what it is.

She holds up a large cowboy hat. "Saddle up, cowboy."

"What are we supposed to be, straight Brokeback Mountain?"

"I was thinking more Jessie and Woody, but sure that too."

She picks up her matching outfit. "Come on; let's change."

She pushes him into the dressing room while she goes into the one adjacent from his. It took her a little longer than she intended to get into her gear, but she persevered. They came out at the same time and giggled when they saw one another.

"You look like you call everyone ma'am regardless of their age." Nini says.

"And you look like a Hallmark farmgirl that's about to teach me, the city boy, the meaning of Christmas."

"That's so oddly specific, but I don't disagree."

"Are you two ready?" The cameraman asked.

"Yes, sir." Ricky answers, tipping his hat. He motions for Nini to walk in front of him as they make the short walk to the set. Nini grabs a lasso and tosses it over Ricky, letting it fall around his waist before she loosely ties it.

"Woah, what're you doing?"

"Posing as if I just caught you."

He smirks. "Is that your implicit way of saying I'm a catch?"

She rolls her eyes. "Shut up, Bowen."

He acts like he just got captured while she gives the camera a victorious smile. The cameraman smiled before getting into position and snapping the photo. Once they took a handful of shots, Nini rushed them back to the clothing rack.

"Which ones are we doing next?"

"How about the Bonnie and Clyde ones?" She suggests.

He grins. "You read my mind."

They went through each outfit Nini had laid out for them, which took up a total of one hour since she had such a broad wardrobe. They did dynamic duos, professions, animated characters, and many others. By the time they were done, they were both exhausted.

Ricky wiped imaginary sweat off of his brow. "Damn, who would've thought we'd be tired from taking pictures?"

"We still have one left."

He glances over at the clothing rack. "Really? I don't see any more outfits though."

"I know. It's because I wanted to take one normal one."

"One last photo to go, folks." The cameraman says as his kind way of saying hurry up.

Nini interlaces her hand with his. "Let's git 'er done."

They walked hand in hand to the set. Ricky looks down at her. "How should we pose?"

She smiles when she thinks of a position. "Like this." She wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her cheek on his chest, facing the camera. He felt his heart skip a beat as he held her closer, placing his cheek on top of her head.

"You two are such an adorable couple." The cameraman says, making the both of them blush. Neither of them felt the need to correct him, so they let it be. He took a few shots of them before he finally was done.

"Alright, all your photos will be printed at the front shortly. You can wait in the lobby until they're completed. Have a good day you two."

"Thank you, you too." Nini says before they both go sit in the lobby and await their pictures.

"I gotta ask. What made you choose this as an activity?"

She faintly frowns. "Did you not enjoy it?"

"Oh, I loved it! I just didn't expect this."

She sighs in relief. "Well, I remember you saying you've never had a professional photo shoot before, so I figured this would be a fun first start."

"It was definitely fun. Who knew dressing up could be this entertaining?"

"Cosplayers probably."

"You got me there."

The receptionist walks up to them. "Sorry to interrupt, but your photos are done. They're all in this folder. The digital ones were sent to your email along with the receipt. Please look at them to make sure they came out alright before you leave."

Nini takes the folder. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome. Have a good day!"

When the woman went back to her station, Nini opened the folder so they could determine if they wanted them or not. They scanned through every photo, not able to contain the series of laughs they both made. The pictures came out great, and you could tell they had a blast based on their expressions in the photos. Since they were content with the results, they said their goodbyes to the staff and left the facility.

"Where to now?"

"Your house again."

"What's back there?"

"A few essential things. We have to rush a bit since time is precious today. Come on!"

He grumbles. "Ugh, I hate exercise."

"It's good for yuh!"

They made it back to his place 30 minutes later, and Ricky's feet felt like they were about to break off his body. He was excited when he finally got to sit on his living room couch.

"Alright, so what's the next activity?" Ricky asks.

Nini smiles knowingly. "Mr. Bowen!"

The sound of footsteps came down the hall. "Hey guys, is it time, Nini?"

"Yep, you can take out the candles."

Mike claps. "Perfect." He goes into the kitchen, takes out a birthday cake, and puts it on the counter. "Alright kiddo, come get your birthday cake."

Ricky suddenly felt the pain in his feet fade and sprung up from the couch, making the quick sprint over to the kitchen.

"Oh, now your feet are magically working?" Nini teases.

"Listen, cake can do wonders to a man's health."

Mike placed the 1 and 6 in the center of the cake and lit both candles. Nini and Mike sang happy birthday to him while he awkwardly sat there and waited for them to finish. When they were done singing, Mike cut them both a slice.

Ricky moaned when he tasted the cake. "Mm, red velvet."

"I made sure they baked your favorite."

"You're an angel, Neens."

She blushes as she bit into her cake.

"Dad, don't you want a slice?"

"No, I gotta watch my weight. You two enjoy. I'll be in my room if you need me." Mike pecks Ricky's cheek before going back to his room.

"So," Ricky starts before taking another bite of cake. "What's next on our schedule? Are we getting mani-pedis next?"

"I know you're joking, but honestly that would've been a great idea."

"Maybe next year then."

"Or maybe we can just do it for my birthday in two months."

"That too."

"Anyways, I actually have one last activity to do with you. Well, technically two, but we don't have to rush to the final one."

"And what would those two be?"

"Um, have you not learned that I plan to surprise you all day yet?"

"I was hoping you'd budge."

"Well, you thought wrong." She checked her phone for the time. "I actually should start getting ready since I know my makeup is gonna take a while. Be ready in the next hour because we can't be late to this."

"Is it somewhere fancy?"

"A bit."

"Do I have to wear a suit and tie?"

"Your outfit is laying on your bed."

Nini scurries over to the bathroom for a quick shower while Ricky is still munching on his cake. When he takes his final bite, he figures he may as well take a wash up as well since wherever she's taking him seems nice. When he got to his room, he lifted a brow when he saw the outfit she had chosen for him.

It was a black suit with skinny white stripes and matching print on the pants. His nicest dress shoes and some black socks were placed directly under his outfit on the ground. Damn, was she taking him to the red carpet? He shrugged and took a quick shower before getting dressed.

He exited his room and walked back to the kitchen. He stopped when his eyes landed on his best friend. She was wearing a wine red silk spaghetti strap dress with a v-cut that was neither too flashy or too formal. It was just right. She paired it up with some heels that made her maybe three inches taller. Her hair was up in a tight bun, and her lips were stained with burgundy lipstick.

"Wow, you look..."

"Look what?"

"You just look breathtaking, Neens."

She chuckles nervously. "Thank you; you clean up nice too."

"You kids ready to go?" Mike says as he swings his keys around his finger.

"Yes, sir." Nini answers.

"Alright, let's hit the road."

The three of them hop in the SUV and begin heading towards their destination. Ricky kept mentally trying to guess where the hell she was taking him since his attire was so fancy, but he couldn't think of a singular place that would make sense besides a restaurant.

When they pull into the parking lot 15 minutes later, Ricky gasps when he sees the huge red sign.

"You didn't."

Nini smirks. "I did."

"But this had to have cost a fortune."

"It was worth it."

"Neens, I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. All you gotta do is enjoy your gift."

The two hopped out of the car and stood on the outside of the building.

Mike pulls down his window. "You two kids have fun, and stay out of trouble." Mike warns with a fake stern look.

Ricky rolls his eyes. "We will, dad."

"I'll be back in two hours to get you both. Be safe!" Mike pulls up his window and drives off.

Ricky inclined his head to read the sign again. "I can't believe you took me to a Broadway show."

"Me neither. I always swore I'd never go to one, but look at me now."

"I can't believe I get to see Cry Baby live. I knew it was in town, but I didn't even bother to try to find tickets since I can't afford it."

"I remember you saying this was your favorite musical both because of the music and your extreme crush on Johnny Depp, which is understandable." 

He glances back at her. "Neens, I seriously am so thankful for this. Like, I don't even know what to do with myself right now."

"Like I said before, just enjoy your night." She locked arms with him. "Let's go in."

Ricky opens the door for her before they enter the large theater. Ricky and Nini both were amazed by the beautiful interior and the well-dressed people. Ricky always wanted to see the inside of the Salt Lake Theater, but he never found the time or reason to. He was glad to see that it lived up to its hype.

"I feel like I just entered Buckingham Palace." Ricky says.

"I got more of a Genovia vibe."

"Oo, I like your comparison more. Let's go with that one."

Nini checks the clock on the wall. "We should find our seats. The show will be starting in like ten minutes."

They stroll to the theater and admire the lovely architecture inside as well. She got them seats in the 7th row, which was honestly impressive considering both the price and how easily these tickets get snatched up.

Nini notices the weird look on Ricky's face. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Sorry, I'm still in shock."

"The good kind I hope."

"Yes, the very good kind. This is incredible. I can't believe you're doing this all for me."

"You deserve it." She reached up and pecked his cheek. The lights dimmed down, which Ricky was grateful for since his cheeks became rosy after she kissed him. She laid her head on his shoulder as the actors began to fill the stage.

~

Ricky and Nini sat on a bench in their favorite park late at night. The musical ended an hour ago, but they still wanted to be out and about. So, after Mike picked them up, they decided to go to the park to relax to enjoy the last few hours of his birthday.

Nini barely took her eyes off of him ever since they sat down. She noted how happy he appeared, which in return made her happy. She wanted more than anything for him to have a good day both because he deserved a great birthday and because of her augmenting guilt.

She felt guilty for lying to him for weeks about her not taking therapy sessions seriously and for stressing him out ever since high school started because of her stupid boy drama. She knew she owed him a good time, which is why she was willing to spend so much of her allowance and built up piggy bank change on him. Ricky was the perfect human being and was entitled to feeling content for once.

"Why're you staring at me like that?" He asks, disrupting her thoughts.

"What, is it illegal to stare now?"

"No, but it's obvious something's on your mind."

"I'm just thinking about you."

"Oh?"

"You seem...happy."

"That's because I am, and I owe that to you."

She beams and pecks his cheek. He rubs the spot she grazed her lips upon and blushed.

"What was that for?"

She smiles. "Just because."

He grins and wraps his arm around her shoulder to bring her near. She happily loops both of her arms around his frame and rests her head on his chest. They stayed there in one another's arms in comfortable silence as they allowed themselves to savor the peaceful environment.

***

Big Red's house was loud with a bunch of cheers and laughs. Today was New Year's Eve, and Red had decided to throw a party this year. Unlike his previous parties, he invited other groups of people as well and advised his friends to do the same. Kourtney invited her acquaintances from her public speaking class, Nini invited Gina and her friends, Ricky invited Skye and Penny and some theater and music class kids, and Ashlyn invited all of the people from her clubs. It felt like a frat party except it was all geeks and nerds, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The clock was rapidly approaching midnight, and everyone was starting to plan who they wanted to kiss while others were more comfortable just sipping their sparkling cider. Nini was hyper focused on getting a kiss this year, and she didn't want it from just anyone.

"Are you gonna do it?" A female voice says behind Nini.

Nini turns around to see Gina with a smug smile on her face. "Do what?"

"You know, the thing you've been meaning to do for the past week and wouldn't stop texting me about."

Nini nervously scratches her arm. "Oh, yeah. That."

Gina's smile drops. "You don't sound too excited about it."

"Well, it's pretty nerve-racking, Gi. How am I supposed to approach him? Like, what the hell do you say to someone you've known your entire life that you want to kiss him?"

"Like that. Just ask."

"I wish it were that simple."

"It really is that simple."

"Easier said than done."

"Neens, you can't keep procrastinating this. Ricky is a good looking dude who's currently surrounded by guys and girls who would probably love to kiss him at midnight. I wouldn't be that shocked if someone either asked him already or will ask him soon, so you better do it before they do."

Nini did not think about that fact since she was too wrapped up in her head, but now that's a whole separate issue to think about. "Fuck, I hate when you're right."

Gina snorts. "It's a gift that I can't hide."

"I still don't know if I'll have the balls to ask."

Gina checks her watch. "Well, you better decide soon because it's three minutes til', and you're still without a kissing buddy."

Nini was taken aback by the time. She didn't realize just how much time she wasted. "Dammit, let me go find him."

"Go get 'em' tiger!"

Nini searched for him throughout all of the home, but she couldn't find him anywhere. She knocked on some bedroom and bathroom doors in case he was in there, but he was still nowhere to be found.

"The countdown is starting!" Red yells, causing everyone in the house to cheer and group up with their kissing partner.

"10!"

Nini hurriedly pushed through the teens, attempting to search for him.

"9!"

Nini still didn't have any luck, and she wondered how the hell she couldn't spot a 6'1 teen in this crowd.

"8!"

She thought about giving up and accepting this wasn't meant to be.

"7!"

But then, fate came in clutch. Ricky had just entered the kitchen with a soda in his hand.

"6!"

Nini smiled from ear to ear and began pushing through the crowd again to get to him.

"5!"

She was only a few inches away, but he was too distracted by the TV countdown to notice her.

"4!"

She was about to call out his name, but some guy tapped him on the shoulder, stealing his attention away. The teen gets on his tippy-toes and whispers into Ricky's ear.

"3!"

Nini stopped and observed them. She didn't even need to ask what the guy said because Ricky was already leaning in.

"2!"

She told herself to turn away to avoid her feelings being hurt, but she couldn't tear her eyes from them.

"1! Happy New Year!"

Everyone started blowing their whistles and throwing confetti everywhere. The people who had someone to kiss smashed their lips onto one another's, and Nini watched as Ricky did the same with this stranger.

She felt her heart break, but she didn't even blame him for this since she waited too long. When she couldn't stomach it any longer, she spun on her heel. She overheard Gina calling out for her and felt a few pats on the back on her way out, but she ignored them all. She hurried up the stairs to go sit on the porch, not wanting to be bothered for the rest of the night.

~

Ricky scanned through the crowd of teens. Even though quite a bit of them left after the countdown, there was still a lively crowd. He had been searching for his best friend for 15 minutes now and was starting to wonder if she had left without saying goodbye. When Ricky spotted Gina speaking with Ashlyn and Red, he quickly walked to her and tapped her on her shoulder.

"Oh, hey Ricky. Happy New Year!"

"You too. Hey, have you seen Nini anywhere? I haven't seen her in like two hours."

"Oh, she went upstairs after the countdown, but I'm not sure if she left. You should go talk to her."

"Yeah, I will. Thank you."

He quickly ran up the stairs, skipping every other step to get up there faster. He checks the main floor and the top floor, but she wasn't on either levels. He checked the backyard, but she still wasn't there. He was about to give up, but he remembered he forgot to check one last place. He opened the front door and peeked his head out and smiled when he saw who he was looking for. She was staring off into the distance with a blank expression.

"Mouse."

She jumps when she hears his voice. "Ricky? What're you doing out here? You should be enjoying the party."

He sat down on the swinging bench with her. "I could be saying the same to you. Why're you out here all alone?"

She directs her attention back to the sky. "I wanted to watch the fireworks."

He lifts a brow. "The fireworks ended an hour ago."

"Yeah well, I wanted to stay out here after watching them I guess. The silence allows me to think."

"Think about what?"

"Something my therapist said."

"What's that?"

She normally didn't like to listen to Dr. Michaels so-called helpful tactics, but she did admit she liked one particular thing she advised her to do. Dr. Michaels claimed that finding passion in something she loved was a fantastic way to get over heartbreak or a breakup, and it helps not think about the trauma. She kept letting that marinate in her head the past hour, and she knew exactly what she had to do.

"It's nothing."

Ricky knew it wasn't nothing, but he didn't want to pry.

She faces him again. "Do you have any New Year's resolutions?"

"Only one. I'd like to have a peaceful year."

"Short and simple."

"Yep, what about you? You got any?"

She averts her eyes to her fiddling fingers. "I'd like to move on, but I'm not sure I can."

He was confused by her answer. "What do you mean by that? Move on from what?"

She didn't clarify since she knew her words were a lot deeper and broader than just moving on from him.

"Don't worry about it."

He wasn't reassured by her words and was a little concerned. If she didn't tell him what's wrong, he couldn't help her. So, he figured he'd let her come to him instead of trying to force it out of her.

He gets up from the bench. "Come on. It's getting chilly, and I'd hate for you to start the new year with a cold." He offers her his hand, but she doesn't make a move to take it.

She looks back into the horizon. "I actually like it out here. I think I wanna stay."

"Are you sure? It could get dangerous for you to be alone at night."

"I'm positive. I'll text you if I feel threatened." She knew that'd get him to go away since he wouldn't leave unless she was safe.

"Okay, but can I at least take you home tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Cool. Bye Neens, and happy new year."

"You too."

He gave her one last look before going back inside. When he was finally gone, she let out a huge breath. It's already been one hell of a start to the new year, and she wasn't exactly looking forward to it.

***

Nini walks around the large warehouse full of East High athletes. A couple of the football players got together to throw a large bash for athletes only, and Nini figured partying didn't sound too bad considering how crestfallen she's been the last two weeks. At first, she was unsure about going since he could be there, but then she remembered that he was a germaphobe who'd hate to be in a warehouse full of sweaty teens. So, she felt more at ease.

None of her friends were athletes except for Carlos, who played soccer. She didn't want to go alone, so she asked for him to come too since they wouldn't allow extras who weren't athletes as well. Nini and Carlos stood in the middle of the dance floor, dancing to a bunch of throwback 00's songs.

"They know damn well they had no right playing Britney when I'm around because lord knows I'm about to bust down to 'I'm a Slave 4 U.'" Carlos says as he twirls his hips.

Nini chuckled as Carlos kept twerking and moving his hips sensually. "You're ridiculous, Los."

"Don't hate me because you ain't me." He says as he begins twerking on her. Nini encouraged it by slapping his ass.

After the song was over, Nini was thirsty. She lightly grazed Carlos's arm. "Hey, I'm gonna go get a Mike's Hard. Do you want one?"

"No, I'm driving."

"Cool, I'll be back in a second."

Nini squeezed through all the drunk teens and kept colliding with the larger athletes. When she got to the liquor table, she caught sight of the exact flavor she wanted and smiled. As she reached for the bottle, she bumped hands with a masculine one.

She snatched her hand away and looked up at the tall stranger. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"No, you're good. You can have it."

"No, I insist."

"No, seriously; take it. I was craving a Bud Light anyway." He picks it up and hands the drink to her.

She grins as she takes the bottle. "Thank you."

"Do I know you?" He asks, scrunching up his face as he thinks.

"It's not impossible you've seen me, but we don't know each other. I do know who you are though."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, it's kinda hard not to know the quarterback of our school since you seem to be very well-liked."

"I guess you're right, but allow me to properly introduce myself. I'm EJ Caswell. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Nina Salazar-Roberts, but you can call me Nini. I play basketball for the girl's team at our school."

"Oh, that's where I've seen you before! My ex-girlfriend used to play for your team, and I used to go to all her games before we split. I remember you being really good."

She blushes. "Thanks, I try my best."

"You know, it's pretty loud in here. Do you maybe wanna go somewhere quieter?"

She felt her heart beat out of her chest at the mention of being alone with this handsome guy, but she'll be damned if she passes up the opportunity to be distracted by her intrusive thoughts.

"Um, sure. Let me just text my friend where I am."

He smiles politely. "Sure thing."

Nini whips out her phone and briefly explains where she'll be to Carlos before putting her phone back in her pocket. "Lead the way."

EJ offers her his arm, and she gleefully takes it, letting him walk her outside. She ends up talking to him for a solid hour, and she doesn't remember the last time she was this close to a guy with the exception of Ricky. Since he was an athlete like her, he could actually relate to a lot of the same struggles only sports players would know. That was a breath of fresh air to Nini since her friends usually had a hard time comprehending what she was going through.

When the wind was getting a little too unbearable to stand in any longer, Nini figured it was a good time to go find Carlos. "Well, I've had a lovely time chatting with you, but it's getting pretty late. I should really go find my friend since he's my ride home."

"Oh yeah! Sorry, I just lost track of time since I was having such a great time with you."

Nini chuckles bashfully. "I'll see you around then?" She says it more as a question since she wasn't sure if someone as popular as him would be interested in her.

"Yes, definitely."

As she was about to walk back, he gently grabbed her wrist.

"Before you go, would you mind giving me your number? I'd really like to get to know you more."

Nini was stunned that a guy like him would want to willingly get to know her. "Oh yeah, totally! Um, just give me your phone real quick."

He does as instructed, and she types her digits into his phone. She texts herself through his phone so she could have his too. When she was done, she handed the phone back to him.

"See you, EJ."

"I really hope so, Nini." He winks at her before walking the opposite way.

Her face was crimson red as she replayed her long talk with the quarterback and how amazing he made her feel. She knew she wasn't supposed to pursue anyone romantically right now, but how could she resist that perfect smile and impressive abs? EJ was the ideal dude for her on paper, and he could be the remedy to her new year's resolution.

Despite what her brain was saying, she let her heart take control of her decision making. To avoid opposing opinions from her friends and family, she chose to keep this little relationship under wraps until further notice. What they don't know won't hurt them.

***

"Ricky!"

Ricky turns around at the sound of his name and smiles when he sees who called him.

"Oh, hey Cyrus."

Cyrus ran up to him in the busy school hallway with a bright smile on his face. "Hey, I've been meaning to speak with you."

"You have my number; you can always call or text me. It's not like we haven't been texting back and forth for the past two weeks."

"Yeah, I know, but I wanted to say this in person."

"Well, I'm all ears."

Cyrus takes a breath. "To put it quite frankly, I've been trying to work up the courage to ask you on a date ever since we kissed at Red's New Year's Eve party. I haven't been able to get you off my mind. I figured what the hell; give it a shot. Maybe he feels the same way too."

Ricky's cheeks become rosy. "Oh, wow. I'm super flattered."

"But?"

"But what?"

"I can sense the but in your tone." He says a little disappointed.

Ricky sighs. "Look, I like you a lot, and I can actually see us dating. However, I have to think about this before I jump into a relationship."

"So, this isn't a rejection?" He asks with a glimmer of hope.

"No, it's more of a standby until my head is clear situation."

Cyrus smiles faintly. "I'll take what I can get. I hope to hear an official answer in the near future."

"I'll let you know."

"Good, I'll text you."

The bell for the first period rang, and Cyrus gave him a final wave before running down the hall.

Ricky let out an exhale he didn't realize he was holding in. He had a lot to think about the next few days.

***

Nini rolls on the bed with EJ beside her. He had invited her over to his place after their third date as an official couple. It didn't take long for him to ask to be his girlfriend since the attraction and chemistry are clearly there. He practically begged her to be his after their second date, and she just couldn't resist him.

EJ was taking a bunch of selfies while Nini watched in awe. She's never seen a dude take so many pictures of himself, but it made sense that EJ did. He explained to her that he had to keep up his image on social media at all times since his reputation is important for college. He only posts the nicest pictures of the ones he took, and he never posts risky content that could blemish his image out of fear of losing any of his nine-thousand or so followers.

In the midst of his picture taking, he glimpsed at Nini and smirked when he got an idea.

"Babe, come here."

"Why?"

"Just come here." He says playfully.

She scoots over and rests her head on his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"Say cheese!"

She doesn't have much time to pose before he blinds her with his flashing camera. She blinks a few times before getting her sight back.

"You could've given me a warning."

"I did when I said to say cheese."

"That doesn't count."

"Whatever, you look hot no matter what."

"You're only saying that because you're my boyfriend."

"That and because it's true."

"Let me see the picture at least."

"Sure."

He shows her the photo, and she cringes at how lost her expression was.

"I look like I'm lost."

"Well, you're the prettiest lost girl out there."

"You're incredibly sweet."

"Thanks, I try. This'll be good for the gram actually."

Nini's eyes widen in fear and she smacks his phone out of his hand, startling him.

"What the hell, Nini?"

"Sorry, I just don't want you to post that."

"Babe, you look fine."

"It's not that. It's just...I haven't told any of my friends yet, and I'd hate for them to find out that way."

"None of your friends follow me anyway."

"True, but it's not impossible for them to see it since you're a public account."

"Well, they're gonna find out one day, so why not now?"

"EJ, just let me tell them. I'll do it when I'm ready. They're rather...opinionated about my taste in men. I'd rather ease into it."

She wasn't that upset that he didn't understand where she was coming from since she never told him about her first relationship. She was scared he'd think she had too much baggage and would refuse to date her if she told him, so she refrained from it.

EJ finally sighs in defeat. "Fine, I won't post it."

Nini relaxes. "Thank you." Nini gets a text from her Mama D, stating that she needs to be home for dinner soon. Nini knew she had to be on time since Dana thought she was at Kourtney's. "I should go; I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay."

She ducks down to peck him on the lips before grabbing her belongings and leaving. EJ kept looking at the picture of them and smiling at how cute they look, and all he could think about is how much he wanted the world to know how adorable they were too.

He hovered his thumb over the add post button on Instagram as he pondered on whether or not this was a good idea. Well, he never said he'd never post it. His brain decided to go with his gut and accept the consequences later. In seconds, their picture is up, and people are already fawning over it as he expected. He smiles as he scrolls through the compliments, and he couldn't wait to show Nini that she had nothing to worry about.

~

The now merged group of friends all sit around the lunchroom table on the main level. Ashlyn rolled her eyes and scoffs rather loudly, catching some of the people at the table's attention.

"I can't stand when people only post themselves or group outings on social media, like where's the funny memes in between? Why should I give a shit about if you went to Disney World with your fraternity bros?" Ashlyn says as she scrolls through her Instagram feed.

Ricky chuckles. "Are you getting heated over social media?"

"When am I not, Richard?"

He holds up his hands in surrender. "Well, excuse me."

"I personally don't mind it. Some people aren't into that, but I'd definitely prefer a switch up since that could get boring to only post pictures of yourself." Kourtney chimes in.

"I don't really vibe with social media, so I don't really have an opinion on this." Red says as he sips his Capri Sun.

"I think it's weird too Ashlyn. I think everyone should mix it with other pictures to spice it up." Gina adds.

"I can't relate. I only post pictures of myself because I'm beautiful, and the world needs to be blessed with my selfies." Carlos says with a cocky smirk, causing everyone to giggle at him.

"I like to post about myself and architecture." Seb says with his sweet voice.

"I feel like I should chime in, but I don't have much to say since I rarely ever post on my socials." Ricky states. "Ash, why're you so fired up about it today though?"

"Because I was looking through some of the athletes' feeds from their party that happened like a week ago or whatever. Literally all of these people's pages are like that except Nini's of course."

"Speaking of, where is she?" Red asks.

"Oh, she told me she was gonna go to the library to study for our upcoming chemistry exam. I offered to help her since I'm her partner and am better at it, but she insisted on going alone." Gina responds.

Ricky was about to dip another carrot stick in his ranch until he caught sight of who he swore was his best friend on Ashlyn's screen. Ashlyn seemed to notice her at the same time as him, and she gasped dramatically.

Either their eyes were deceiving them, or there was a picture of Nini and EJ Caswell of all people on his Instagram looking all lovey-dovey.

"No way." Ashlyn says.

Kourtney tries to glance at Ashlyn's screen. "What?"

Ricky was too shocked to speak as he kept rereading EJ's caption.

Casual Monday evening with me and my bae ❤️

Ricky thought he was dreaming for a second, but he was displeased when he pinched himself and didn't wake up. How the hell did he not know about this? Why would she hide this? How the fuck did these two meet? The questions were endless.

Ricky couldn't stop comparing himself to this guy. He was athletic, taller, stronger, more attractive, he's heard from others that he's really kind, and he obviously was very well-liked around the school. Ricky was no competition.

Kourtney and Red both peeked at the screen Ashlyn and Ricky were glued to and gasped as well.

"What the hell?!" Kourtney yells, which catches the attention of the other three.

"What happened?" Gina asked.

"Check EJ Caswell's Instagram." Kourtney says.

Seb pulls it up since he was sitting in between Gina and Carlos. When they all saw it, they reacted similarly.

"So, that's who she ran off to talk to at the party?!" Carlos says.

"You knew about this?" Seb questions.

"I knew she was gonna talk to a guy, but I never would've assumed it was fucking EJ."

"Did anyone else know about this?" Gina asks the table.

All of them make some sort of gesture that they were also left in the dark.

"This is the darkest timeline." Red mutters in his best Abed voice.

Kourtney nudges Red. "Don't make Community references right now. This is serious. Nini knows damn well she shouldn't be dating this soon after that asswipe ruined her. She's in no mindset for it."

Ashlyn hums in agreement. "I bet that's why she didn't tell us."

"You know, she never told me about him. She only said he was a dick." Gina claims.

Ricky decides that he's had enough of this and precipitously gets up from his seat, knocking some of his carrots over.

"I need to make a call."

He doesn't wait for the table to react before he's grabbing his things and fleeing the lunchroom. He walks all the way to the outside of the theater for privacy before he takes out his phone from his hoodie. He texts the first person that came to mind whenever he saw Nini with EJ.

Ricky: I thought about it, and yeah I'll go out with you. How does Friday after school at my place sound? 

Cyrus: It's a date :)

Chapter Text

A few days ago, EJ asked Nini to sit at his table for the first time since they started publicly dating. After a heated fight between the couple after he had the audacity to post their picture online, he convinced her that informing her friends about their relationship was bound to happen. She calmed down after a bit and forgave him since she knew he was right, but it still didn't sit right with her that he just straight up didn't listen to her about posting.

As expected, her friends reacted poorly to the news of her dating and spammed her phone with texts and missed calls the day they found out. Most of it was just questions on why she didn't tell them and how'd they get together, and some consisted of concerned texts explaining that she should wait a little longer until she dates again. She never responded to any of them since she was overwhelmed.

She did notice that she didn't receive any notifications from the one person she expected to have the biggest reaction, Ricky. She tried not to think about why he'd stay silent since he for sure knew by now, but she was too scared to approach him since she feels like he's disappointed in her. During those few days before EJ requested she sit with him, Nini sat in the library to avoid his disapproving look.

She decided to let it go since she's definitely been in worse fights with Jay and should be thankful that at least this boyfriend was willing to apologize and compromise. As the couple sat with EJ's friends, Nini kept glancing over at her old table longingly. She missed them, but she wanted to sit next to him.

"What's wrong, bae?"

Nini looked up at her boyfriend. "Oh, sorry. Nothing's wrong."

"You're clearly staring at your friends."

She gives him a worried look. "Does that bother you?"

He chuckled. "Of course not. Why would you think it'd bother me?"

She shrugs and blushes from embarrassment. "I don't know." She lies.

"Babe, if you wanna sit with your friends, you can. I'm not gonna stop you."

"Wait, really?"

"Of course. I'm not your parent. Do as you please."

She beams. "Well, since we're talking about my friends, I've been wanting you to meet them. They've been very curious about you. Since it's quite a handful of them, I figured I'd only invite two of them over for now and introduce the rest later to avoid overwhelming you. How does that sound to you?"

"I'd love to. You can bring two of them over now if you'd like."

Nini was thrilled that he was willing to meet them without a fight. It was super refreshing.

"Great! I'll text my two longest term friends to come over here first. I think you'd like them."

"And I'm sure I'll like them."

Nini quickly texted Kourtney and Ricky separately, causing them to look in her direction with confused faces. Nini mouthed "come here" to the both of them, which made them get up and head her way. Kourtney and Ricky walked side by side with cynical faces as they scanned EJ. Kourtney and Ricky took a seat in front of the pair, glancing between the couple.

Nini smiles brightly. "EJ, these are my two closest and longest friends, Kourtney and Ricky."

EJ smiled as he reached out his hand to Kourtney. "It's very nice to finally meet you, Kourtney. I've heard quite a bit about you, and you sound pretty amazing."

Kourtney smiled, dropping the dubious demeanor. "Awe, she talks about me? And yes, you're very much right. I'm simply the best."

EJ chuckled before looking over to Ricky, his smile faltering slightly. "And the famous Ricky. She talks about you the most."

Ricky glimpses at Nini. "Does she now?" Ricky says a little bitterly. He was still pissed about how he found out about her dating EJ, but he's been trying to bite his tongue.

"Yeah, you must be her rock."

"Well, I'm flattered you feel that way about me, Neens."

She faintly blushes and hides it with her hair from EJ. "I think you guys will all get along great. I'm pumped for the rest of the group to meet him."

"Carlos will probably love him the most." Kourtney states.

Nini nods. "Oh, most definitely. He's a character all right."

EJ wraps his arm around Nini's shoulder. "Whenever you're ready to introduce him, I'd love to get to know him."

"Gladly," She kisses EJ's cheek, making Ricky avert his eyes to the table. "You guys want anything from the cafeteria line? I need to get some more condiments." Nini asks.

Ricky shakes his head. "Actually, I didn't plan to stay here all lunch."

Nini furrows her brows. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna meet up with Cyrus in the bleachers. He's been waiting long enough for me."

Nini tilts her head. "Who's Cyrus?"

Ricky looked her right in the eye. "My boyfriend."

Nini's face went expressionless at this news, and she was truly speechless. Kourtney on the other hand was the opposite.

"When the fuck did you get a man? Why is it a trend to hide significant others nowadays?"

"Relax Kourt, I didn't tell anyone because it's still fresh. I wanted to wait for at least another week to introduce him to you guys. Technically, you all have probably seen him before since he's from Ashlyn's AV club. He was the guy I kissed at Red's New Year's Eve party. He's super fun."

Kourtney squeals from excitement. "Oh, I know him! He's super sweet and hilarious! I can't wait!"

EJ perked up. "Oh, so you're gay?"

Ricky shook his head. "No, I'm bi. I just happen to be dating a guy at the moment."

EJ's face fell a bit before grinning. "Oh, okay. That's cool too."

Ricky didn't miss the change of heart in his tone, but he chose to not address it. He glanced at Nini to see her already staring at him like he'd grown a second head.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, EJ. See you all later." He gives them a peace sign before exiting the lunchroom.

Nini was so stunned that she didn't even get the chance to ask more about this Cyrus guy.

"He was nice." EJ says, interrupting her thoughts.

"What? Oh, yeah... Ricky's the best."

EJ scrunched up his brows. "Hey, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"It's nothing. I think I'm just shocked."

"You didn't know he was dating? I thought surely he'd at least tell you."

Nini shook her head as she stared at the table. "No, he didn't tell me."

"Huh, that's a little odd, but I'm sure he had his reasons."

Nini rested her elbow on the table and placed her chin on her hand. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Anyway, tell me more about yourself, Kourtney. I'd love to hear about the makeup stuff you're into since I could probably use a cosmetologist for my social media."

Kourtney got a twinkle in her eye. "Oh my god, yes! I'd love to talk about it. Okay, first, you gotta make sure you have the right foundation brand to avoid ruining your skin..."

Nini tuned out Kourtney and EJ's voices as she digested Ricky's news. She didn't think it'd progress past a simple holiday kiss between those two, which only fueled her regret for not getting to him faster. She hated that she thought like this, especially since EJ's such a nice guy to her, but her jealous nature always got the best of her. But she did get her New Year's wish, and he hopefully got his. And she had to live with her decisions whether she wanted to or not.

***

Nini waited impatiently for the bell to end. She's been antsy ever since the news of Cyrus and Ricky came to her attention. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him during their chemistry class, and even Gina had to ask her a couple of times if she was okay.

The second the bell rang, Nini grabbed her things as if she were on the run and rushed over to Ricky's table. He jumped when she suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Oh, hey Ni—"

"Tell me about this Cyrus guy."

Ricky chuckles. "Um, why?"

"Because I'm trying to figure out why you didn't tell me about him. We've always been open with stuff like that."

"I already told you yesterday that it was because I wanted to wait until the right time. Besides, you can't really talk."

"I was gonna tell you and everyone else about my relationship in the near future, but EJ didn't listen to me about posting. Doesn't matter now. That's in the past."

"Uh huh."

Nini rolled her eyes. "Just tell me about him. I wanna know what he's like since he caught your interest."

"There's not much to say right now since I kinda need to rush across school for my next class. I was gonna wait til' next Thursday to introduce him, but we can meet up tomorrow during lunch under the bleachers so you two can meet first if you'd like."

"I'd like that."

"Perfect."

"Cool, see you then."

He gave her a smile before running out the room so that he could get to class on time for once. Nini was admittedly nervous to meet this guy, but she's glad she gets to speak with him one on one so she can get a taste of what he's like before the others.

"Ms. Salazar-Roberts, is there something I can do for you? You seem lost in thought." The teacher asked.

Nini blinked a few times before glimpsing around the room and realizing she was the only one left. "Hm? Oh, no sir. I was just leaving." Nini swiftly grabbed her book bag and left the classroom.

***

Nini walked onto the football field with her head held high. Today was a big day since she was meeting Cyrus for the first time. She wanted to make a great first impression, so she made sure to dress up a little more than usual.

She wore some white platform heels, a low cut white V-neck, and a black skirt that only went to her mid-thigh. She complimented her outfit with some light makeup that made her skin glow. She curled her hair a bit at the ends and decided to wear hoop earrings today. A part of her knew the real reason why she was actually showing out like this, but she convinced herself that it's not to show off to Cyrus.

She spots Ricky's curly hair near the bleachers and straightens her posture. She fixes her boobs up so that they're a little more presentable and fluffs her hair. As she got closer, Ricky finally noticed her, smiled, and waved.

She watches as Cyrus interlaces his hand with Ricky, and she tries to ignore the pang in her chest at the sight. She never really had to witness Alex and Ricky when they were together up close since they broke up before she could meet him, and she was hoping a day like this wouldn't come. She was foolish to think someone as cute as Ricky wouldn't be snatched up, especially since he had admirers from two genders.

She forced a welcoming smile as she waved at Cyrus, who seemed excited to meet her.

Ricky smiled and gave her a quick hug. "Hey Neens, you look adorable."

Adorable? Not what she was aiming for, but it's better than nothing.

"Um, thank you."

Ricky pulled back from the hug and looked at his boyfriend. "Cyrus, this is my best friend, Nini. Nini, this is Cyrus."

Cyrus was the first to stick out his hand. "So lovely to meet you. Ricky told me you were really cute and kind, and so far he's right about the cute thing. I'm obsessed with that skirt. Where did you buy it?"

Nini was taken aback by his friendliness for some odd reason. "Oh, I think I got it on Shein."

"Oo, I love Shein!"

She felt the need to compliment something about him. "I um, really like your shoes. I'm a big fan of platform boots."

"Oh, thanks girl! I'm not too fond of them anymore. They're so last year."

"Well, I think they're still nice."

"What size are you?"

"Pardon?"

"What size shoe are you?"

"Um, 5. Why?"

Cyrus grins. "Perfect." He took off his shoes, confusing both Ricky and Nini. He picks them up and hands them to her. "They're yours."

Nini furrowed her brows. "What?!"

Cyrus smiles. "They're all yours. I don't want them, and it only makes sense to give them to you."

"But you'll be shoeless all day!"

"No, I won't. I have an extra pair in my locker for gym class."

"I can't take these! I could never work those!"

He made an offended expression. "Bitch, you better be joking."

"What? It's true. I don't have the legs to pull that off."

"Babe, hold my bag." Cyrus slams his book bag against Ricky's chest before he walks over to Nini. He compares the shoes to her legs and nods with a knowing smile. "Yep, you were destined to own these boots. With the black skirt you're wearing and a white button down, this would be a great addition to a cute outfit."

She imagined the outfit he said on her. "Really?"

"Duh! Ricky, wouldn't she look cute with these on?"

Ricky scanned her, and she hates that it makes her feel butterflies.

Ricky nods and shoots her a smirk. "You'd look good in that."

She blushes. "Yeah?"

"Thank you! Now, stop protesting, and take them!"

Nini sighs and smiles. "Well, it'd be a shame not to take free shoes."

Cyrus clapped. "Yay, I can't wait to see what outfit you rock down these dusty ass hallways with those bad boys on."

She realized she wouldn't be able to put these in her book bag, but she didn't mind.

"Since it's my first time meeting you, I feel like I should buy you a coffee from the Leopard House." Cyrus says.

Nini shakes her head. "No, no! Don't do that for me. You've given me enough, and the school store is hella expensive for no reason."

Cyrus waves her off. "Girl, it's fine. I'm paying for all three of us. You want a coffee too, babe?"

Ricky nods. "I'll take one."

"Then it's settled." Cyrus struts up to Nini and loops arms with her. "Now, the true test to see if we'll get along will be hearing your opinion on the Sex and the City reboot because I have a lot of opinions about that series."

"Oh, I'm not too fond of the whole Miranda storyline if I'm being honest."

Cyrus looked at her like she just offered him a full scholarship. "Oh my god, I'm in love with you. Ricky, why did you hide her from me for so long? This feels homophobic somehow."

Ricky chuckled, loving that they hit it off so well. "Sorry, babe."

"So, anyway... that rodent, stupid ass, ugly fucking bitch Miranda had the audacity to cheat on that man as if he doesn't always have her back when she needs him. Ungrateful ass..." Cyrus begins to rant.

Nini looked over her shoulder at Ricky, who was following close behind them. She smiled at him and mouthed "I like him," which made Ricky beam and give her a thumbs up.

As they sat under the bleachers with their coffees in hand, Nini couldn't help but fall in love with Cyrus. She's heard from Ashlyn, Gina, and Kourtney that he was very lively and giving, and she can definitely confirm that was true. Maybe Cyrus dating Ricky wasn't as bad as she presumed. He appears to be a good fit for him, and he didn't seem like he'd cause Ricky any unnecessary stress. In the end, that's all that mattered.

***

Nini swings her feet off the seat of the tall table she was sitting at in the waiting room of her therapist. For once, she was happy to be there since she was reporting good news instead of ranting. She hears a door open and the sound of heels clicking.

"Nina?"

Nini beams and hops off the chair and walks with a pep in her step towards Dr. Michaels. The doctor smiled at her unusual aura as they made the short walk to her office.

"You look happy today."

"That's because I am!"

"Well, I can't wait to hear all about it. Please, take a seat."

Nini sat down in her normal spot and crossed her legs, not dropping her smile. When Dr. Michaels was situated in her seat, she cleared her throat.

"So, how has your week been since the last time we've seen each other?"

"Glad you asked! I met my best friend's boyfriend who's honestly amazing. I wanna be jealous of him, but I can't because he's just that cool."

"Oh, how lovely. Which friend is this guy the boyfriend of?"

"Ricky."

"Oh, the Ricky. I'm assuming Ricky introduced you to him?"

"Yes, and it was perfect. I think he deserves to be happy too."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you're moving off Ricky a bit. Is there anything else that happened recently?"

Nini was reluctant to tell her she'd been dating for a while now, but she figured now was a better time than ever. "Well, there is one thing that's been making me really happy nowadays."

"Really? What's that?"

"Okay, I know you advised me not to, but I promise this guy is good for me. His name is EJ, and we've been hitting it off. Except for that whole posting that couple pic thing, but we've moved past that."

Dr. Michaels' smile faltered. "Nina, we've discussed this. I don't think it's wise to date right now. You're still healing."

"I know, I know, but hear me out, okay? This guy is nothing like that asshole. He's kind and smart and funny and he makes me feel like a person."

"Nina..."

"And he's helping me get over Ricky."

"I'm sure he's as lovely as you're saying, but it's still not a good idea to pursue someone when you're in a vulnerable state."

Nini frowned and leaned back into the chair. "I knew you wouldn't get it. I should've kept my mouth shut."

"No, you shouldn't have. I'm glad you told me."

Nini scoffs and folds her arms over her chest. "What're you gonna do now? Call my moms?"

"No, I'm not supposed to share information with others without your consent unless I think you're in danger according to your papers. However, I can say that I think you need some more time alone before you find romance again since your first breakup was only a few months ago. Does EJ know about your last relationship at all?"

"No." Nini mumbles.

"Honey, if you're gonna date this guy, I think it'd be a good idea to inform him of what you experienced to avoid future problems. You don't have to do it right now, but you should when you're ready."

Nini forced a bitter smile and remained silent, knowing damn well she wasn't gonna take any of this woman's advice.

Chapter Text

The summer sun was hot on Nini's skin as she rode in the passenger's seat of EJ's windowless Jeep. Her hair flowed in the wind while she marveled at the city as they made their way to 7-Eleven.

This summer had been very peaceful, and she loved that EJ was part of the reason why it was. EJ and Nini spent most of their time together during the summer. Luckily, he never was jealous of her friends taking his time away from them and even asked to hang out with them. The group loved him as she expected, but he was a little odd around Ricky.

She secretly watched the two interact when they thought she wasn't looking, and she could sense that there was a lot of tension. She wasn't sure why since neither had given the other a reason to dislike the other to her knowledge. They've never fought, spat harsh words, or bad-mouthed one another though, so that's good. Since it wasn't serious enough for Nini to feel the need to talk to the both of them, she just ignored it.

Ricky on the other hand tried not to let EJ's weird stares bother him. He chose to ignore EJ when he was around him, and he brought Cyrus around with him when he was aware EJ would be present. Cyrus also got along well with the friend group, and he even blended in more than EJ did since he was more geeky like the rest of them.

Though Ricky and Nini still hung out with one another during the summer, they didn't see each other as often due to their boyfriends. It wasn't out of spite or anything; it was just because the summer allowed them to spend more time with their significant others.

Of course, the two best friends made sure to see each other at least twice a week since they'd miss each other too much. They spent Memorial Day weekend together at their local aquatic center, they also spent Fourth of July together and watched the fireworks alone, Nini came over to Ricky's for Sunday brunch on Father's Day, and many other activities.

Today was the last Thursday of summer break, and EJ and Nini decided to hit up 7-Eleven to pick up some snacks so they could enjoy a movie under the stars at a nearby drive-in theater. EJ pulls into the parking lot but doesn't park, which makes Nini furrow a brow.

"I just now noticed I'm low on fuel and wouldn't be able to make it back to your place. Do you mind going in and buying all the stuff we already agreed to get while I pump some gas across the street?"

"Oh, yeah go ahead. I'll see you in a bit."

He handed her a 20, and she reached over and pecked his lips. Before she got out, he grabbed her wrist.

He smiles. "I love you."

Nini was taken aback by his words. She's never been told that before in a romantic context, and she surely didn't expect to hear it for the first time in a 7-Eleven parking lot. Nini was too shocked to say those three words back, so she settled for a cringy thumbs up before she quickly got out of the Jeep, kicking herself for reacting in that manner.

She barges through the doors of the convenience store and goes straight for the candy aisle, trying her best not to cringe at herself. She was so distracted by her intrusive thoughts that she failed to notice the person in front of her. She bumps arms with a taller person, and her face immediately becomes red. She covers her face due to embarrassment.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I'm such a klutz!"

"Nini?"

She drops her hands the second she hears her best friend's voice. "Ricky?"

He smiles. "What're the odds of me bumping into you here?"

"I guess pretty high."

"It's funny that I bumped into you because I actually was thinking about you."

She lifts a brow. "You were?"

He chuckles. "Well, don't act shocked. I think about you all the time." He blushes the moment those words fell out of his mouth.

She smirks. "Is that so?"

"Don't get cocky on me."

She giggles and nudges him playfully. "I think about you too."

He grins. "So anyway, I was about to text you if you maybe wanted to hang out Saturday since it's the last weekend of summer break. You down?"

She was about to agree but frowned when she remembered something. "Oh damn. I wish I could, but I already agreed to go to this huge last day of summer bash at EJ's place."

Ricky's smile fell. "Oh, okay. Yeah, that's totally fine. I guess I'll tell the group you're not coming then."

Nini hated seeing him disappointed. "Well, you all can come if you'd like."

Ricky furrows his brows. "Really? I knew he was cool with the group and all, but if he didn't invite us, then he probably doesn't want us there."

"He won't care. It's not like there's a guest list or limit."

"Are you sure he won't mind..." Ricky points to himself.

"Of course, not. Why would he have a problem with you?"

Ricky sighs. "If you say so."

"So, can I count you in for Saturday?"

Ricky smiled. "I'm sure the gang won't be too upset about postponing game night for a party."

Nini beams. "Great! I'll text everyone his address. She gets a text from EJ saying that he was outside. "I should go, but I'll see you guys later."

"Yeah, see you."

She gives him a quick hug before grabbing the few candies she intends to share with EJ and going to the cash register. She couldn't wait to celebrate the ending of summer with her closest friends and EJ. She couldn't think of a better way to spend it, and she just hoped the party would go well.

***

Nini was standing by the counter while the rambunctious party was going on in EJ's home. She was staring at her phone while she sipped on a wine cooler, waiting for one of her friends to text her that they're here.

She felt arms wrap around her from behind and smiled since she knew who it was.

"Hey babe, whatchu doing here standing all alone when everyone else is having a good time?"

"Oh, I was just waiting for a text."

EJ raises a brow as he peeks at her screen, not like she minded. "From who?"

Right when he asks, she gets a text from Ashlyn saying they're outside. Nini smiles brightly and releases herself from her boyfriend's arms to go greet them. She pushes past the crowd of teens and opens the door. She perks up when she sees all of her friends walking up the driveway.

Gina was the first to spot her. "Hey Neens!"

"Hey guys! You all look great!"

The group swiftly made their way to the front so that they could hug her.

"Thanks for the invite. I needed to dance to some shitty pop music tonight." Carlos says.

Nini giggles. "Well, you're in the right place. Come on in."

The gang all enter the house and instantly start separating into smaller groups. Nini couldn't help but notice that Ricky didn't bring his boyfriend tonight.

"No Cyrus?"

"Oh, no. He had something to do already, but he wanted to come."

"Awe, that's too bad."

Ricky was about to say something but was interrupted by EJ appearing behind Nini, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey bae, I see you've invited your friends."

"Yeah, I wanted them here just so I had a friendly face besides you. Is that okay?"

EJ bites the inside of his cheek as he slyly glimpsed at Ricky before turning his attention back to her. He forces a smile. "Yeah, yeah of course. I should've invited them in the first place."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Unlike Nini, Ricky could sense his presence was unwanted based on EJ's posture, and he didn't miss that look he just gave him.

"I can go if you want."

Nini frowns. "No, don't leave. You're more than welcome to stay."

"It's really no big deal."

"Yes, it is. I wanna party with all my friends, and you're one of them. You're staying."

Ricky sighs. "Alright, I'll stay, but I can tell Imma need a drink to survive tonight."

He gives Nini a smile before walking over to the kitchen for some drinks. Nini glances up at her boyfriend and notices he was eyeing down Ricky with a glare.

"EJ."

He breaks his stare down and gives her all his attention. "Hm?"

"Are you actually okay with me inviting them over?"

He grins. "Baby, I told you that I love your friends. They're more than welcome in my home."

She debated on saying it out of fear of fighting, but she couldn't resist. "Even Ricky?"

She knew his answer when EJ's smile dissipated. She laughs sarcastically and removes his arm from her shoulder. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Nini, don't make it seem like it's something it's not."

"Well, it's hard not to see it as my boyfriend hates my best friend, which seems to be a running saga in my life."

He was confused by that last part. "What?"

She waves him off. "Nothing, I just wanna know why you hate him."

"I don't hate him."

"Oh really? Then why do you always glare at him as if he spat on you? You go out of your way not to be near him or talk to him when we're in group settings. You made him feel uncomfortable just now to the point where he offered to leave even though he's done nothing. How can I believe that you don't hate him?"

EJ groans. "Listen Neens, I admit that Ricky gives off a vibe that I'm not particularly fond of. I just didn't want to tell you since that was your buddy, and I have no desire to ruin you two's dynamic. Just because that's your friend, doesn't necessarily mean I have to want him around me."

"What did he do to make you feel this way about him?"

He avoided eye contact. "It's nothing."

"Bullshit, I can tell it's something."

"Let's just drop this."

Nini rolled her eyes. "Whatever, EJ." She bumped his arm as she walked to go find her friends.

Nini stayed away from EJ for most of the party since he became passive aggressive about Ricky being there ever since their little quarrel. She tried her best to ignore it, but it was hard to. She decided to drink and dance with her friends to help get him off her mind. "Bad Romance" came on, which made her and Ricky go to the dance floor since that was their jam.

Ricky danced close to her while Nini giggled at how poorly he was mimicking Lady Gaga's dance moves from the music video. She was having a blast, but it unfortunately didn't last too long.

Ricky gets a tap on his back, causing him to spin around. Ricky made a blank face when he saw it was EJ, who looked and smelt like he had been drinking.

"Bowen."

"Caswell."

"You seem like you're having a good time."

"I was."

"Well, I can't have my guests be bored. Let's change that. How about you and I go outside and do a keg stand competition?"

Ricky wasn't ready for him to say that. "Um, I don't know. It's not really my thing."

EJ chuckles humorlessly. "Oh, are you too good for keg stands?"

"EJ, stop being a dick." Nini warns.

EJ ignores her and continues staring down Ricky. "What do you say, Bowen? Do you have the balls to go against the reigning champ?"

Ricky stared him down before sighing. "Fuck it; let's do this."

EJ smirked while the people around them cheered. Nini wasn't sure this would end well. Ricky followed EJ outside near his pool where the kegs were. EJ instructed the people in charge to get the kegs ready.

Nini grabbed Ricky's wrist. "Ricky, don't feel pressured to do this just because of him."

"Don't worry, Neens. I can handle this."

She was about to object, but she was disrupted by EJ.

"Alright Bowen, it's time to see who's truly the best."

Ricky lifts a brow since he had no idea what he was talking about, but he didn't care enough to ask for elaboration. Both teens stood in front of the kegs while two people were ready to hold their legs up for them. They both were assisted onto the kegs, and Ricky already felt a little dizzy from being upside down since he hasn't done this in a while.

"Ready, set, go!" One of the teens says.

Ricky began downing the beer, grimacing at the awful taste of Bud Light. EJ was motivated to finish before him, so he began chugging it as fast as he could. The crowd around them went wild, but Nini was fearful one or both of them would get injured or get really sick.

Ricky was surprisingly really good at this, and it made Nini wonder if he's done this before. EJ kept peeping at Ricky to see if he was about to tap out, but he was both astonished and angered that he appeared to be taking it well.

Ricky used the tactic of not drinking too quickly or else you get full and drunk too fast, but EJ was doing the opposite. After the first two minutes, EJ felt light headed and could sense he was gonna give up soon. He refused to go down without a fight since the thought of losing to an amateur would get to him.

He forced himself to ignore the pain and continued to chug. EJ was doing well until he glanced over at Nini who only had eyes for Ricky. EJ was perplexed that she seemed to only be concerned for him, which he soon regretted. Due to him getting distracted by her, he ends up choking on the beer, and the guys holding him up set him down.

Ricky was also placed on the ground right after him, wiping his face. Ricky was a little dizzy, but not to the point where he wasn't functional. One of the teens grabbed Ricky's arm and raised it in the air.

"We have a winner!"

The crowd applauded him, which was giving Ricky a headache. EJ was fuming since he lost his reigning title to Ricky of all people. It didn't help that Nini clapped for him. He watched as his girlfriend ran over to Ricky to give him a hug, and he felt his blood boil when she kicked her leg up as she held him. EJ marches up to her and lightly grabs her wrist, causing her to break from her hug.

"Let's go."

"What? Where?"

"Let's go up to my room. I wanna have some alone time with you if you catch my drift."

"No, you're pretty drunk, and I'm honestly pretty upset with you. I'm gonna stay with my friends until you simmer down."

EJ frowns as he looks between her and Ricky. He rolls his eyes. "Whatever."

He storms off into his house, leaving the two friends in the midst of the crowd who were still cheering for Ricky.

~

Around 3 a.m., the party started to die down. The only people left were the people who actually knew EJ and Nini's friends. EJ's friends were slowly exiting the party as well since they had places to be. Some of Nini's gang was also about to head out.

"The party was a lot of fun! Thanks for inviting us!" Seb says.

"Yeah, I got my wish for dancing to shitty pop music and on top of that there was a lot of eye candy. Please invite me to all of his parties going forward." Carlos says.

Nini laughs at Carlos's comment. "I'll make sure I'll do that, Los. Glad you both had fun."

The sound of Carlos's phone was going off, and he already knew who it was. "We should go. Ashlyn and Gina have been trying to get us into the car for like 10 minutes now."

"Yeah, you should go before Gina comes in here and kills you both."

Carlos and Seb hug her before heading out the door. Kourtney and Red were grabbing a few beers and wine coolers for later and sneaking them in their bags, making Nini chuckle.

"You guys are acting like you'll never see liquor again."

"Well, it's hard to get our hands on it when none of us have siblings that are old enough to buy it." Kourtney states.

"Yeah, that's fair."

"Have you seen Ricky? We brought him here and can't leave without him." Red asks.

"Oh um, I think I saw him out back. I'll go get him while you two can wait in the car."

"Okay, thanks. Also, tell EJ that the party was amazing." Red says.

Nini smiles. "I'll do that. Bye guys."

They wave as they struggle to drag their heavy bags of alcohol. Nini goes to the backyard to search for her friend. It didn't take long to find him since he was one of the three people outside. She smiles as she watches him lay on the chair with a restful look on his face. She approaches him and lightly taps his shoulder.

"Hey sleepyhead." She roams her fingers through his hair, causing him to moan.

"Hey, mouse."

"Kourtney and Red are looking for you. They're about to leave."

"Oh shit, thanks." He sat up and stretched.

"Did you have fun?"

He nods, faintly smiling. "Yeah, this was a great way to end the summer."

She bounces on her toes. "Do you mean that?"

He tilts his head. "What do you mean?"

She sighs. "Look, I'm sorry for EJ. He was being a horrible host to you specifically. I don't know what his deal is."

"Oh, don't sweat it. I'm sure he had his reasons."

"Whatever his reasons were, doesn't excuse the way he came for you. I'm sorry."

Ricky rests both of his palms on her shoulders. "Neens, seriously, I'm fine. EJ doesn't bother me, even when he acts out. I hope I didn't start anything between you two."

"We'll be okay." She brings him into a hug. "I'll see you on Monday."

"I'm excited to start junior year with you."

"Me too. I feel like it'll be a good year."

"Wanna hang out Sunday to celebrate the official final day of summer?"

"Can it just be you and me?"

"Of course, Neens."

"I'd love to spend the day with you. I've missed having you all to myself."

He pecks her head before letting her go. "I'll text you."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Nini walks him to the door hand in hand. He turns to look at her, not breaking their interlaced fingers.

"Thanks again for inviting me."

"Anytime."

"See you tomorrow. Just pop in at any time."

"You got it."

He bends down and kisses her nose before opening the door and leaving. She watched him walk away until he got in the car with a sullen look on her face before shutting the door. She hated how cold she felt the second his hand left hers since that implied the one thing she's been trying to fight all year. Like all of her problems, she chose to sweep it under the rug.

***

Nini awaits Ricky outside of his physics class, tapping her foot. She'd been instructed by him to meet him outside of the door so he can give her the good news. When he finally comes out, she smiles.

"Ricky!"

He jumps. "Jesus, Neens. You scared me."

"Sorry, I'm just ready to hear what the good news is."

He grins. "Oh, yeah. You'll never believe what I got last weekend. Wanna make a guess?"

"A new guitar?"

"Nope, better."

"Um, new drum set?"

"Oh, I can't take it anymore." He digs in his pocket and whips out his wallet, showing the ID in it.

She gasps when she realizes what it was. "You got your license?!"

"Yep! I got a perfect score."

"Is that why you didn't ride the bus today?"

"Yep, my car is in the parking lot right now."

She squeals. "Holy shit, this is amazing!"

She jumps up on him and wraps her arms around his neck. He hugs her back.

"You know what this means, right?"

"What's that?"

"You officially have to drive me everywhere until further notice."

He chuckles and rolls his eyes. "I had an inkling you'd say that, which is why I already planned to take you to Smoothie King after school is over."

"Eek, you're the bestest best friend ever."

"And don't you forget it."

They both walk side by side to the truck his dad gifted him. Nini could already tell these two would have great memories in it. He drove the short distance to the nearest Smoothie King and opened the car door for her like a gentleman.

"Milady." He offers her his hand to take.

She happily accepts. "You're so corny, and I love you for it."

"Of course, you do. I'm irresistible."

He also opens the door to the smoothie place for her, telling her to hang tight while he pays for the both of them. He already knew her order so he didn't even bother to ask. He joined her at the small table a few minutes later with two large smoothies.

"Thanks, but you didn't need to pay for me."

"Sweetheart, both of us know that I would never let you pay for yourself."

"Damn, maybe chivalry isn't dead."

"Speaking of knights in shining armor, how's you and EJ?"

Nini sighs. "How about you go first?"

He didn't get a good feeling from that deflection, but he went ahead and answered. "Cyrus and I are great. We went on a date the other night, and I finally got to meet his idiot older brother he always rants about."

"Oh, the one who doesn't believe in gravity and thinks we live in a dome?"

"Yes, that one. He's a character; that's for sure."

Nini chuckles. "Well, EJ and I are pretty good too. He's been very sweet recently, and he's surprisingly into rom-coms."

"Really? He doesn't seem like the type."

"Yeah, it's nice to have a guy who won't complain when I suggest rom-coms for once."

That stung Ricky a bit, but he knew she was right. "Well, that's nice. Is he um...treating you well?"

He didn't really know how else to ease into the question since he didn't want to accidentally trigger her, but he had to know if this was a Jay 2.0.

She knew exactly what he was referring to and cleared her throat. "EJ's not like him, Ricky."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, he's super nice and actually lets me be myself. I don't have to be worried that he'll strike me or put me down for no reason. We talk about sports, and he doesn't mind that I play a sport that's dominantly for males. His friends are actually kind, and EJ doesn't mind when I hang out with my friends. He's definitely a step up from you know who."

He smiles. "That's good, Neens. You definitely deserve a guy who makes you this happy."

"Thanks, you deserve happiness too. I'm glad Cyrus was able to grant you that."

Though he agreed that EJ was an improvement from Jay, he still didn't think too highly of him. He's definitely shown some traits Jay had such as jealousy and storming off when he got upset with her. He didn't think EJ was the one for Nini, but he knew in the end that she'd do whatever she wanted. Even though he hated it, he had to let her learn from her mistakes. Not wanting to think about EJ anymore, he changed the subject.

"Hey Neens, wanna go to the park after this? I hear the ducks are gone for once."

"Well, how could I say no to a once in a lifetime opportunity?"

He smiles and scuffs his foot against hers, and she retaliates. Their fingers snuck their way into one another's, smiling like dorks whilst sipping their smoothies.

***

Nini's friends all cheer as she runs across the basketball court during the last quarter of the game. Unfortunately, the whole squad wasn't able to attend. Only Ricky, Red, Kourtney, Seb, and Carlos were able to go. EJ was sitting front row with her name on the back of his jersey, cheering her on the loudest. Ricky rolled his eyes every time he heard his voice. EJ's been going out of his way to one up Ricky, and this was no exception.

Nini ended up stealing the ball from the opposing team within the last few seconds of the game and ran to the net. Nini dodges all of the opposing members chasing after her and manages to get to the free-throwing line. When she realized she couldn't dodge any of the girls, she knew she had to just aim for a three pointer.

She shot the ball and wished for the best. Right when the scoreboard hits one second, the ball goes through the hoop, causing their score to go up to 53. Nini beams when she registers that she's won the game by points.

The crowd goes wild, and her teammates and coach all approach her to congratulate her. When that was through, her friends all ran over to her.

Kourtney was the first to get to her. "You did amazing, Neens!"

"Yeah, you were a beast out there!" Red adds.

"I could've never made that shot!" Seb states.

"You were great, but I can't imagine sweating like that." Carlos says.

"Don't you sweat when you play soccer?" Seb asks.

Carlos scoffed. "I don't sweat; I glimmer."

They all light-heartedly rolled their eyes at his comment. She saw Ricky in the back smiling at her. He was about to walk up to her to congratulate her, but EJ beat him to it. EJ runs up to her, picks her up, and spins her around. Nini giggles as she's airborne. He places her back on the ground and plants a kiss on her lips.

"Babe, you killed it out there, which isn't shocking since you're the best player on the team."

Her cheeks become crimson. "Oh, stop."

"I will never stop complimenting you. How about a victory dinner on me?"

"Yeah, sure!"

"Great, let's go."

She waves goodbye to her friends, glimpsing over at Ricky apologetically since he didn't get his chance to say anything. She grazed Ricky's hand before she was dragged away. Ricky watches as she walks away with that dude's arm around her waist, sighing sadly.

Red pats his back. "Hey, wanna go to my place and play some video games? You look like you could use it."

Ricky nods. "Yeah, I'd like that."

***

"You promise you won't start shit?" Nini asks as they walk onto Nini's doorstep.

"Babe, I promise it's going to be a breeze. Your moms have met me, and they loved me. They were a little skeptical at first though, and I'm not sure why."

"I'm not talking about my moms, EJ."

EJ rolls his eyes. "I won't do anything to, Bowen."

"Why do I not believe you?"

"Well, you should because I'm a man of my word."

She still wasn't buying it, but she let it go. She opened her front door and smiled when she saw her moms.

"Hey moms!"

Carol smiles. "Hey baby, come give me a kiss."

Nini runs up to her mom and holds her tight, pecking her cheek.

Dana mocks offense. "Don't I get some love too? I did cook most of the dinner after all."

Nini playfully rolls her eyes and hugs her other mom. "You know I adore you too."

Nini releases her mom and walks back to EJ. "Moms, you already know EJ."

"Yes, it's lovely to see you again. Can I get you something to drink?" Dana offers.

"It's nice seeing you again too, Mrs. No, thank you. I'll just wait til' dinner."

"Why don't you two take a seat while we wait for Ricky to arrive?" Carol suggests.

"Yes, ma'am."

EJ pulls out Nini's seat for her, and she smiles at him before sitting down. He took a seat beside her and held her hand, rubbing his thumb on the back of it.

Nini had invited EJ to one of the dinners she usually spent with her moms and Ricky. She asked all three of them if it'd be okay if he joined, and they all agreed. Ricky didn't seem too pleased about it, but she explained that she was hoping this dinner would make EJ and Ricky get along. Ricky didn't have faith in the plan, but he let it happen.

They hear a knock at the door, and Ricky peeks his head into the house. He smiles when he sees her parents. "Dana and Carol, it's always nice to see you."

"Ricky, oh you look adorable." Carol says as she pinches his cheek.

Ricky blushes. "Awe, shucks."

Dana furrowed her brows when she realized that he was holding something behind him. "What're you hiding behind your back, dear?"

Ricky smiles before revealing a bouquet to them. "I bought you guys some flowers since Carol is in town for once. Also, because I know Dana loves pink roses."

The moms both smile. "These are gorgeous, Ricky. Thank you." Carol says as she pecks his cheek.

Dana takes them from his hands. "I'll put these in a vase." She walks over to the kitchen and puts them in the nicest vase they own.

EJ leaned over to whisper into Nini's ear. "Was I supposed to bring flowers?"

"No, Ricky doesn't typically do that, so I'm as surprised as you."

EJ began muttering under his breath how he should've thought of that too, and Nini feared her desire for a peaceful night was already crumbling before it even started. Ricky goes over to Nini and hugs her from the side.

"Hey, Neens. You look pretty tonight."

"Do I not look pretty other nights?" She teases.

"Oh, shut up. You know you're pretty all the time."

Nini blushes before turning her attention back to EJ, who already seemed agitated by Ricky's presence.

"Ricky." EJ greets.

Ricky gives him a curt nod. "EJ."

The moms sat platters on the table with serving utensils. Once all of the food was set, the moms sat across from the teens.

"Dig in!" Carol says.

The dinner was tranquil, which made Nini feel at ease. She feared that maybe the two boys would butt heads at least once, but they didn't. They avoided talking to one another the entire dinner and only spoke to her moms and Nini. It's not exactly what she wanted, but it was better than nothing.

When they were done with dinner, Ricky sprung up from his seat. "I'll take the platters to the kitchen."

Carol grins. "Oh, how sweet of you."

EJ, feeling intimidated, shot up from his seat. "I'll help too."

Dana claps. "The more, the merrier."

Ricky collected as many platters as possible while EJ tried to take a few more than Ricky. Both teens rushed to the kitchen, secretly racing to the sink.

"I'll happily wash these for you." Ricky offers.

"I will too!" EJ pitches in.

"No need. Carol and I will work on them while you three relax and play cards."

"Are you sure?" Ricky asks.

Carol nods. "Positive. Now, go play."

Both boys took a seat at the table. Nini was annoyed since she knew EJ was only trying to compete with Ricky again. She grabbed the UNO cards and began shuffling them like a pro. She delegated the cards evenly to each player.

"Alright, do you know how to play spicy Uno, babe?"

"The hell is spicy Uno?"

Ricky smiles. "It's the best way to play it."

"Yeah, Ricky and I have been playing it this way since we were small. We got our friends into it as well."

"Well, I'm sure I can figure it out along the way."

"Cool, let's begin. Ricky, you go first."

EJ was frustrated as he kept having to gain cards since he didn't fully grasp the concept. Nini knew he was a bad sore loser, so she wasn't all that shocked he was irritated that he was losing.

When Ricky put down a zero and they all were forced to switch cards, EJ had had enough.

"Dammit! This game is so fucking ridiculous!"

"EJ, lower your voice. My moms are in bed."

"Sorry, but this game is stupid. Why add all these rules to a game that already had set ones? It doesn't make sense."

"We did it because it's more fun that way." Ricky answers nonchalantly, unaffected by EJ's behavior.

EJ scoffs. "Whatever, Bowen."

Nini scowls. "Don't talk to him like that."

"Like what? He's a big boy who can handle getting yelled at every once in a while. Isn't that right, Ricky?"

Nini rests her hand over Ricky's. "You don't have to answer that."

Ricky pats her hand. "It's whatever."

"See? Told you. He's fine."

Nini sighs. "What if we just play the normal way?"

"Yes, let's do that. Anything besides this dumbass way."

Nini peers over at her best friend. "You cool with that, Ricky?"

He nods. "Of course."

At first, the new game was going smoothly. EJ seemed more relaxed since he knew what was going on and was finally losing some cards. EJ smirks as Nini puts down a green card. He slaps his sole green card on top of hers.

"Uno!"

Ricky smirks. "I wouldn't get too excited if I were you."

EJ's smirk fell and before he knew it, Ricky placed a draw 4 card. Ricky chuckled when he saw EJ's astounded face.

No one saw it coming, but all of a sudden EJ's hands swipe all of the cards off the table, startling the other two.

Nini glowers at him. "EJ, what the fuck?!"

"This game is fucking stupid!"

Ricky glares at the teen acting like a toddler. "Dude, that's so not cool."

"Man, whatever. I'm out of here. See you tomorrow, Nini." He grabs his things and gives Nini a quick peck on the cheek before exiting her home.

Ricky rolled his eyes and looked over at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry for the way he acted. That was so childish of him."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not. I don't like when he acts out like that, especially towards you. You mean the world to me, Ricky."

Ricky sadly grins. "C'mere." He opened his arms for her, and she gleefully took up on his offer.

He rubs up and down her back as she listens to his heart beat.

"I'll help you clean up the cards."

"You don't need to do that."

"I'd feel bad if I didn't. Plus, I feel a little guilty since he threw a tantrum over me."

Nini glances up at him and plants her chin on his chest. "Don't feel guilty about that. You were the perfect gentleman tonight. You've been nothing but kind to him even though he's given you multiple reasons to not be. It's him who's to blame. I'll try to talk to him about it tomorrow."

Ricky doesn't say anything. He just strokes her cheek and kisses her forehead.

"Let's clean this mess up, and then we can watch a movie. You can choose what we look at."

She smiles. "That's music to my ears."

She gets on her tippy-toes and pecks his cheek before letting him go. They both cleaned up the cards in less than a minute and made their way to the couch. She cuddles into his side as she turns on the TV. Though she wasn't fond of how this night turned out, she could always rely on Ricky to make her feel better.

Chapter Text

The air was chilly on a rainy night in January. Nini usually loved stormy days when she was inside since she found it soothing. Unbeknownst to her, tonight wouldn't be one of those relaxing evenings.

Nini and Dana were in the kitchen doing their own things before they went to bed. Dana was putting up the last few dishes from dinner while Nini was working on the report she procrastinated until the final week of winter break.

"How much longer do you think it'll take you to finish your history report, mahal?"

"Um, I'm guessing another night will do."

"I keep telling you to stop waiting 'til the last second to do major projects."

"I know, mom. At least I always ace them."

"I can't argue with that."

As Nini was about to write her thesis, her pen ran out of ink. She shook it in hopes that it'd come back to life, but it was to no avail. She groaned loudly since she knew that was her only pen, and she made a mental note to ask her friends for the pens she loaned back.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Do you have a pen I can borrow? Mine ran out of ink."

Dana smiled. "Sure, go to my wardrobe. There should be some in the drawers somewhere."

"Thanks."

Nini quickly hopped up the stairs and ran to her parents' room. She searched a bunch of drawers from her wardrobes and dressers, but she found nothing. She went to the closet and found some boxes. As she scanned them, one of them caught her eye due to the fact that it had her name on it.

"The hell?"

She looks over her shoulder to make sure Dana wasn't there before opening the box. She was thrown off when she saw a bunch of letters. She picked them up and scanned through them, confused about what this woman was talking about in all of them. When she couldn't find a clue, she began digging deeper. She spots a legal document at the bottom of the box that made her brows furrow.

The moment she read the fine print of the document, she felt her heart stop. Surely someone was punking her. She knew it was legit when she saw it wasn't a mock document, and her whole world felt like it was ending.

"Certificate of Adoption"

This is to certify that Jane Doe

Has been adopted into the Salazar-Roberts family

On Thursday, February 20, 2003

She noticed the birth parents' name was nowhere to be found on the certificate, nor was the facility that they adopted her from. And she of course spotted the name "Jane Doe," which implies she didn't have a name prior to being taken in. She felt tears pool up in her eyes, and she felt a range of emotions. She doesn't even notice when she gets up and storms out of her parents' room with the certificate in hand until she's downstairs.

"What the hell is this?!"

Dana jumps and turns around at the sound of her daughter screaming. Dana squinted at the paper since she was near-sighted. "What do you have in your hands, dear?"

Nini marches up to her and slams the paper on the counter. "This, mom! Or should I even call you that?"

Dana picks up the certificate and gasps. "Nini..."

"Don't you Nini me! Why would you not tell me I'm adopted?!"

"Please calm down. I'll explain everything if you just—"

"You two let me believe I was a sperm donor baby and that you carried me in the womb! I thought I was actually related to you! What if I needed blood or an organ and then the doctor would have to tell me that we don't match?! Did you ever think of that?!"

Dana began shaking, and her own eyes became glassy. "Mahal, I—"

"Why would you do this to me? Who are my real parents? Do you even know them? Actually, no, don't answer that. I don't think I can even look at you right now." Nini grabs her phone and starts heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

Nini didn't answer before slamming the door in her mom's face.

***

Nini shivered as she ran to the home of the first person that came to mind. She was thankful they only lived a mile or so away, but the harsh mix of the wind and rain was starting to become unbearable.

She finally arrives at the doorstep and rings the doorbell. It takes a few seconds for him to appear.

Ricky looks at her concerned. "Nini?"

She could sense his worry in her voice, and she didn't blame him. "I need to stay here tonight if that's okay with you."

"Of course, it's okay with me. Come in; you're shivering."

He helps her in and immediately runs upstairs to get her some warm clothes and a towel. When he comes back, she excuses herself to the bathroom to get changed and dry. After she was done, she met him in the kitchen and sat on the barstool. He had prepared some hot chocolate for the both of them.

"Here, this'll help warm you up." He slides the mug over to her, taking a seat next to her.

He watches her carefully as she sips her drink, scanning her body for any bruises or cuts. The last time she came over crying, Jay had struck her in the face. He was scared that history may have repeated itself.

After minutes of silence, she finally spoke. "I'm sorry for showing up like this."

"No, don't apologize. You're clearly distressed. You don't have to tell me why yet. You can tell me when you're ready."

Nini squeezed her eyes shut as a new set of tears came down her cheeks. She set the mug on the counter as she tried her best to speak.

"Ricky, I-I'm not their kid..."

He lifts a brow. "What?"

"I found the certificate in a box."

"What certificate?"

She looks him in the eye. "Certificate of adoption. They lied to me, Ricky!"

Ricky was completely shook to his core. He was not expecting that to be the reason for her breakdown, but he totally understood. He doesn't know what he'd do if he found out his dad adopted him without saying anything for 17 years.

He wrapped his arm around her. "Neens, I'm so sorry. That's awful."

"Why would they do this to me, Rick? How could they lie to my face like that?"

He rubbed his hand soothingly on her back. "I don't know, mouse."

"I don't think I can look either of them in the eye."

"I'm sure they had a good reason for doing what they did, but damn not even I can think of an excuse for this."

"That's because you're a good person and would never do this to your kid."

"Don't say that. Your moms are great people; they just made a huge mistake."

She scoffs. "I don't wanna talk about them anymore."

He nods, scooting closer to her. "Alright." He lets her cry a little bit more before he asks a question. "Who all knows?"

She wipes a tear. "Only you and my moms that I'm aware of. I wouldn't be shocked if my family knew since they never witnessed Momma D pregnant."

"Well, what're you gonna do now?"

Nini takes a moment to think, the tears slowly drying on their own.

"What do you think I should do?"

"I feel like I shouldn't be the one to make a decision for you since this is a very sensitive case."

"A part of me wants to know about my birth family, but another part of me is saying it's best to never find out because maybe my birth parents are terrible people."

"Well, would it give you peace of mind if you were to find your parents?"

She thought about it for a second. "Would you wanna find your mom even though she's never been in your life?"

Ricky was taken aback by that question and grimaced at the thought of his mother. Nini picked up on that and felt bad for asking.

"Feel free to not answer. I know how you get when she's brought up."

He waves her off. "No, it's okay. I get it; I was just a little shocked is all." He takes a deep breath as he roams through his hair. "Look, I don't think you should compare our situations since it's different."

"How so?"

"Well, my mom left me and my dad to fend for ourselves on purpose, knowing she was going to break our hearts, especially my dad's. I have no desire to search for someone who gave up on me before I could barely talk, and I'm honestly glad I don't remember her since her absence would hurt more if I did. You on the other hand don't know why your parents gave you up. Maybe it was for a good reason, or maybe it's not. Who knows? The only way to find out is by finding them, but that's only if you want to."

She nods after listening to his reasoning. She wouldn't want to seek for his mom if she were in his shoes either. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"When you make your decision, I promise to support you no matter what."

"Thank you, Ricky."

"Anytime."

"Can we just sit here until I'm done with my hot chocolate? I don't have the energy to do anything else except sleep after this."

"We can sit here as long as you like."

While she was drinking in peace, Ricky shot Dana a quick text saying Nini was safe and with him. He also advised not to come and get her since she was very sensitive right now. Dana understood and let her be and told Ricky she'd drop off her project so she could finish it there.

Once Nini was finished, she went straight to his bedroom and crashed down on her side of the bed. He followed after her and rolled onto the bed beside her. He gently caressed her cheeks since he knew she liked that when she wanted to be soothed.

It was silent in the bedroom. Ricky assumes she fell asleep since her eyes were closed, but she surprises him when she reaches for his hand.

"Ricky?"

"Yeah?"

"If I were to go find my parents, would you come with me?"

He nods and draws circles on her cheeks with his thumb. "Of course, I would. I'd love nothing more than to be there for you. Will EJ be coming with us?"

Nini shook her head and opened her eyes. "No, he's always had both parents in his life, so he can't relate to us. Even our friends with divorced parents at least have the privilege of knowing who their parents are. You and I are the only ones, Ricky."

Ricky didn't think about that until just now. He usually loved when only he and Nini shared something in common, but not when it was something depressing.

"I'll be there."

She smiles for the first time that night and scoots closer to him. He pulls her closer to him so that she's laying on top of him. He pecks her forehead as he rubs her back, making her go into a serene slumber.

***

The gang all pick up on Nini's standoffish behavior ever since she came back from winter break. Some of them have tried to ask her what's wrong, but she always shut them down, stating that she was just having a bad school week. None of them believed her, but they didn't push her since she was obstinate. Only Ricky and her moms knew what was actually going on, and Ricky made sure to check on her often.

She'd been coming to his place more since she was understandably upset with her moms. Her moms didn't try to force her to come back since they knew she was safe and that it'd take some time to process this new information.

The group of friends were currently sitting at the lunch table, chatting about their plans for the weekend. Nini had sat with them today since EJ was retaking a physics exam, and she was honestly happy she didn't have to deal with him. It wasn't because she was sick of him or anything; it was because she knew he'd definitely pry if he noticed she was upset.

Kourtney eyes Nini throughout the period, noticing how gloomy she was as she poked at the food on her plate. She hated seeing her like that, so she decided to attempt to cheer her up.

"So, Nini..."

The sound of her name causes her to look up from her plate.

"Your birthday is coming up next month. Any plans?"

The mention of her birthday catches everyone's attention.

"Oh yeah, it is! You should totally do something big since you didn't get to for your 16th." Carlos suggests.

Everyone except Ricky and Nini seemed to be on board with this plan.

"Maybe we can throw something at your house or even mine if you don't want to do yours." Ashlyn says.

Gina lifts her index finger. "My mom won't be in town the weekend of your birthday, so we could get as wild as we want."

As Nini overheard her friends talk about her birthday, she couldn't help but think about her actual birth and how she doesn't know her own heritage. The more she thought of her birth, the more her heart ached. Ricky realized her crestfallen face and rubbed her back.

He knew he had to step in since she wouldn't do it herself. "Hey, maybe we should talk about this another time."

Kourtney frowns. "Why?"

Nini could feel the tears forming in her eyes and knew she had to get out of there before everyone in the cafeteria saw her. She suddenly grabs her things and stands up, getting the attention of the others at the table.

"I can't be here right now."

She doesn't explain further before bolting out of the lunchroom, alarming and baffling her friends.

"What's going on with her?" Seb asks.

Everyone made some sort of gesture signifying they were just as clueless. Ricky sat up and grabbed his book bag.

"I'll catch you guys later."

Ricky quickly made a run for the exit to make sure he didn't lose sight of her. The friends all watch as he disappears behind the doors.

"You guys ever realize how much those two run out of here?" Red asks.

"I did, but I've just accepted that that was their thing." Gina claims.

"Ricky definitely knows what's going on." Ashlyn says.

Kourtney nods. "Oh, absolutely."

Nini didn't get as far from the cafeteria as Ricky thought. She ran to her locker and crouched on the floor of the empty hallway with her head hiding in her arms and legs. He frowned at the sight of her crying her eyes. One of the worst parts about this whole situation was that he had no idea if it was something he could fix. Guy problems? Walk in the park. Stress from school? He knows exactly what to do. Finding out your parents lied to you about where you came from? No clue.

He sighed before he made the short walk over to her. He slid against the lockers before sitting completely on the floor beside her. She already knew it was him since she could smell his cologne that she bought him for his birthday two years ago.

"I don't know who I am anymore, Ricky."

Ricky hated hearing that. "I do."

She wipes some of her tears. "You do?"

He scoots closer to her and wraps his arm around her body. "Yeah, you're Nini. The Nini that I grew so fond of, and I love you with all my heart."

She looked up at him and couldn't hold back her tears. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he let her cry it out. He whispered consoling words into her ear and made sure she knew just how much he adored her.

***

Nini sat there in the chair she's become far too familiar with, completely silent.

It's been like this for the past 20 minutes of her session, and Dr. Michaels patiently waited for her to speak.

Nini kept staring blankly at the woman across from her, trying her best to put the words she wanted to say into a coherent sentence. Nini watches as Dr. Michaels clears her throat, rubbing it as if it were sore.

"Nina, Do you mind if I go get a quick sip of—"

"I can't even look at my mothers anymore."

The woman was taken aback by her abrupt confession, but she was thrilled nonetheless.

"Why's that if you don't mind sharing?"

"Did they not tell you?"

"Tell me what, dear?"

Nini chuckles bitterly. "Of course, they didn't. They seem to be so good at keeping secrets nowadays."

"I'm sorry. I'm a little lost here."

"My moms lied to me about my birth. I'm not theirs, and I don't know who I'm actually related to."

Dr. Michaels was shocked but didn't show it on her face. "How have you been coping with that?"

Nini scoffs. "Not well!" Nini stands up and begins aimlessly walking around the room. "I mean, who the hell does that? What would they benefit from not telling me the truth?! Did they think I'd be upset if I knew I was adopted? Because I wouldn't have been if they just told me that from the start! Did they kidnap me?! I didn't even find out by them telling me; it was a complete accident! Did they ever plan on telling me, and if they did, when?!"

"I can see why this would be a very disturbing thing to find out."

"Yeah, no shit!"

"Have you spoken to either of them?"

"No, I've been refusing both of their calls and other family members too since I know damn well they knew too. There's no way they couldn't have."

"Does EJ know?"

"No, and I don't intend to tell him anytime soon."

"Do any of your friends know?"

"Only one."

The woman smiles. "Is it Ricky?"

"How'd you know?"

"It was a lucky guess."

Nini sighs. "Yeah, he's been really great. He's the only one that can somewhat relate to me at the moment, so I've been relying on him again. I know I shouldn't, but I don't know who else I can be open with besides you."

"Well, I normally don't condone going back to old habits, but since this is such an irregular case, I actually advise you go forth with finding comfort with Ricky."

Nini was honestly thrown off by her. "Really?"

"This is an extremely sensitive scenario that requires as many loved ones that you'll allow to console you. If Ricky is that person for you, then so be it."

Nini smiled for the first time all day. "I might take you up on that."

Dr. Michaels grins. "I thought you would."

***

It took a lot of courage, but Nini finally went through with it.

She was going to find her birth parents.

She asked her moms over FaceTime if they could pay for a PI to track down her birth parents, and Carol agreed. Dana was very hesitant about it, and Nini could sense that Dana was attempting to warn Carol about something by the way her eyes kept squinting at her through the screen. Carol gave Dana a stern look before telling Nini she'd be happy to pay for a PI. That only made Nini more suspicious of her moms, but it encouraged her to go through with this even more.

It took roughly a month for the PI to find any trace of her birth family. The PI said it took a lot of digging since the parents did a good job of hiding. Despite her parents' efforts, they were able to find one person.

Her mother.

When Carol told Nini they found her, Nini wasn't sure how to feel. She was intrigued to know more about herself, but she was also terrified of not liking the results. A freshly bathed Ricky comes out of his bathroom and spots Nini stressing out as she roams around his room, talking to herself. She looked like she was going mad, and it alerted him. He speed walked to her and forced her to stand still.

"Hey, what's going on?"

She couldn't look him in the eye. "They...they found her."

He instantly caught onto what she was referring to. "They found your mom?"

She nods, incapable of saying words at the moment.

"That's great, Neens." He recognizes that she didn't seem too exhilarated about the news, which made his smile falter. "That's great news, right?"

"Yeah, yeah it's good news. I just...can't believe they found her is all. Is it weird that I'm not sure if I'm happy or not?"

"No, not at all. I have no idea how I'd react to this either."

That made her feel more at ease, but the anxiety was definitely still present.

"So, where does she live?" He asks.

"Flagstaff, Arizona."

"Oh wow, that's not that far."

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you know her name?"

"It's in the file, but I haven't looked at it yet. I accidentally saw some of her name while I was glimpsing over the paperwork. I'll eventually look at her name."

"Are we sticking to the original plan?"

She ponders before answering. The day she decided to find her parents, she told Ricky that they'd travel to wherever her parents are so that she can meet them the same weekend the PI found them. Carol already agreed to pay for gas and the motel room. She thought about putting it off, but she realized that she'd continue to procrastinate if she didn't do it now.

She nods. "Yeah, let's do it."

Ricky smiles. "Great, I'll tell my dad we're doing it this weekend."

She just awkwardly smiles as he swiftly leaves the bedroom. She was feeling far too many emotions right now, and all of them were unbearable. She didn't have the energy to deal with any of these emotions, so she crawled into Ricky's bed and fell asleep.

***

"Do you two have everything?" Mike asks as he watches them both stack up the trunk of Ricky's SUV from the driveway.

Ricky nods. "Yeah, we're all set."

"Did you remember your pj's, Ricky? I know you forget them every time we go on vacation."

"Yep, I made sure not to forget them."

"And did you pack an extra set of underwear? You never know."

"Dad!"

"What? I'm just saying."

"Dad, I can assure you that I'm all good to go. I checked everything on my check list three times and had Nini check for me too since she's better at this."

Mike smiles. "That's my boy."

Once everything is all set in the car, Ricky and Nini walk over to Mike to say goodbye. Mike pulls Nini into a hug first.

"I hope you get the answers you're searching for, kiddo."

She weakly smiles and squeezes him tight. "Thank you." She lingers a bit before getting into the passenger's seat.

Mike wraps his arms around his son, Ricky doing the same. "Take care of her, Rick. She's gonna need all the support she can get, and you're the only one she seems to find some solace in."

"I will, dad."

"Alright, you two be safe. Let me know when you get there or else I'll have to drive down there and find you two myself." He warns jokingly, but Ricky knows he's dead serious.

"Bye dad, love you."

"Love you too."

Mike kisses Ricky's cheek before releasing him. Ricky hops into the driver's seat and glances over at Nini, who already appeared to be out of it. He put on some music and the GPS, not saying a word as he pulled out the driveway. This was going to be one hell of a weekend.

~

Nini stirs in her sleep before officially waking up. She stretches as her eyes get accustomed to the sunlight beaming through the car windows. Ricky smiles when he sees she's awake.

"Hey sleepyhead."

Nini groans as her eyes flicker. "Where are we?"

"Well, we're actually about to enter Flagstaff in like ten minutes."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, I've been asleep for that long?"

"Yep! You fell asleep in the first hour out of the eight. Not shocked since you barely got any sleep the night before. Thank god I'm the one who's driving."

"So, we're really gonna meet my mom?"

He grins. "Yeah, mouse. We're gonna meet your mom."

Twenty minutes later, they arrive in the motel Carol paid for. It was definitely not something worth raving over, but a bed was a bed. They couldn't help but notice that Carol only paid for a bedroom with one bed. For other friends of the opposite sex, that would've been awkward. They've been sharing a bed for years, so it was just another day. Neither of them would dare to tell their boyfriends about this though, especially EJ.

They rest their bags on the floor before Ricky plops down on the bed, relaxing his muscles after a long drive. "Do you mind if I take a nap before we go meet your mom? I could really use it."

"Of course, I don't mind. You deserve the rest."

"Do you wanna join?" He offers, holding his arm out for her.

She shakes her head. "No, thanks. I've gotten plenty of sleep. I think I'll just take a quick shower instead."

Ricky just nods before yawning. He gets under the covers and almost immediately closes his eyes. Nini waited until she heard him snoring before she quickly snatched a sheet of paper from her bag and left the motel room. She stood a few feet away from their room as she reread the various scripted openers on the notebook paper.

"Hi, I'm Nina. I'm your daughter. I was just wondering if I could ask a few questions. No, that sounds stupid. Hi, I'm Nini. No, that's not my real name. It's a nickname I was given as a small child. No, why the fuck would I say that? Ugh, this is so frustrating."

She rehearsed what she wanted to say, but nothing seemed to be good enough. She was starting to regret doing this already, and she just got there. She wonders how pissed Ricky would be if she asked him to drive back. She snapped out of her cowardly thoughts and accepted that this was happening whether she liked it or not. She's gone too far to quit now.

She gazes at the scripts on her sheet before crumbling it up and tossing it in the trash bin. She went back into the motel room, careful not to wake Ricky. She grabbed a new set of clothes before entering the bathroom to take a shower.

~

After a long shower and extensive makeup and skincare routine, Nini finally felt like she was presentable to her mom. She didn't know why she cared so much of what this woman thought of her. She did after all give her up for adoption, so she shouldn't feel the need to impress her. But she does. She desperately wants her birth mom to like her for some reason. She stares at herself in the mirror to see if she missed any marks. She hears a knock on the bathroom door.

"Neens, you ready yet? You've been in there for a while now."

"Oh yeah, sorry." She opened the door and smiled up at him. "Let's go meet my mom."

He holds her hand the entire way to the apartment complex that the PI claimed she lived in. It was a little run down, but not to the point where it was inhabitable. They can tell the building is definitely over 20 years old though. Ricky continued to hold her hand as they scanned the hallways for apartment 240. Nini finally spots it at the end of the hall and grins.

"There it is." She points.

They slowly walked over to the door and stood in front of it. Nini took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Nini felt her hands getting sweaty, and Ricky held on tighter to her hand as they waited for her to answer. Seconds later, a woman who was in her early-30's opened up the door and looked at the two of them skeptically.

"Oh, hi? Can I help you?"

Ricky looks at Nini who was stuck in a trance. All of the greetings she practiced evaporated in her head. She couldn't take her eyes off the woman in front of her. She looked just like her but taller and older. She had the same eyes and build. It was like looking into the future. The woman scrunched up her brows since neither of them said anything.

"Um, are you two alright?"

When Ricky realized Nini wasn't gonna talk, he stepped in. "Sorry to bother you, miss. But do you know a woman by the name of Beck Lopez?"

She was visibly perplexed by his question. "Yes, that's me. What can I do for you both?"

Before either of them can answer, the sound of young children could be heard in the background. Nini could see small little feet of little girls running around in the apartment. She can hear their laughter and how happy they sound.

Nini's heart shattered as she watched them play, and she wasn't surprised to see tears roll down her cheeks. Nini breaks away from Ricky's grip and books it back to the car. Ricky and Beck were shocked by her sudden sprint. Ricky awkwardly smiles at the woman.

"Sorry."

He runs after her to check if she was okay. He finds her standing against the passenger's door, hiding her face in her hands as she cries.

"Nini, what happened up there?"

She shakes her head. "This was a mistake."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I should've never come here."

"Don't say that. You didn't even give her a chance to speak."

"She's happy without me, Ricky."

Ricky went silent, not expecting her to say that.

"She replaced me with two girls after dumping me. She doesn't want me; she never wanted me. Why should I expect her to suddenly want to see me after almost 17 years? I was an idiot for thinking this was a good idea. I should've listened to Mama D."

He removes her hands from her face and cups her cheeks. "Nini, the whole point of us coming here is to find out why she gave you up. Don't go jumping to conclusions because she happened to have kids playing in the apartment. Maybe they're her nieces or some kids she babysits. You never know."

Nini slowly stopped crying. "She probably thinks I'm some weirdo."

"You don't know that."

"That's very sweet of you, but I'd think I was insane if I were her."

He chuckles. "How about this? Let's go get some dinner from one of the local diners and then head back here before sunset."

Nini nods. "I could eat."

He grins. "Good."

He opens the car door for her, slamming it shut before running to the driver's seat. After they ate at some greasy diner Ricky spotted on the way down here, Nini gave herself an internal pep talk.

You can do this. It's just your birth mom. If it goes bad, you don't have to see her again.

Ricky pulls into the parking lot again and glances over at Nini. "You ready this time?"

"Yes, more than ready."

"Alright."

When they get out of the car, they interlace their fingers as they walk to the apartment. When they arrived, Nini looked up at Ricky. He nods to her as his way of saying it's okay before she knocks on the door.

Nini's heart was beating rapidly as she waited for her to answer again. The door opens a little sooner than last time, and Beck raises her brows when she sees who it is.

"You're back. What exactly is it that you want from me?"

Nini shuts her eyes and exhales. Here goes nothing. She opens her eyes and gazes into the woman's eyes.

"Hi, I'm Nina Salazar-Roberts. I'm your daughter."

Chapter Text

They all were quiet for what felt like an eternity.

Ricky and Nini were looking at Beck as they waited for her to say anything. Beck was clearly in shock since her face had gone pale as she stared down Nini. She appeared as if she'd seen a ghost.

Suddenly, Beck snaps out of her trance and opens the door wider. "Please, come in."

Ricky and Nini glance at one another before walking in. The moment Nini enters the small, quaint apartment, Nini couldn't help but observe her surroundings. The walls were decorated with paintings and family pictures, she heard a teapot on the stove, the fridge had drawings taped onto it that were definitely hand drawn by young children, toys were spread across the ground, the space smelt of citrus due to the wall air fresheners. All in all, it was a very cozy environment despite the size of the apartment.

Nini looked back to Beck and noticed she was visibly nervous due to her shaking hands as she poured some water for them.

"You two can sit on the couch. I'll be there in a second."

Nini picked up on her shaky voice as well. It almost sounded like she was about to cry, and Nini started to feel guilty. The pair sat on the sofa and waited patiently for her to finish prepping whatever she was whipping up in the kitchen. Beck came back with a tray of snacks and two cups of tea, placing them in front of them both.

"Please, have some. You must be parched from your travel."

"We actually just ate, but I'd love some tea right now. Thank you." Ricky says as he reaches for the mug.

Nini kindly rejected it with a hand gesture, making Beck put the tray on the coffee table. She sat in the reclining chair across from them in a posture that looked unnatural, most likely due to her discomfort.

They were all quiet at first since no one knew how to start this conversation before Nini couldn't bear the silence any longer.

"I'm not here for like a kidney or anything, just for answers."

Beck chuckled. "Alright."

Before Nini could ask, the sound of one of the doors gets everyone's attention. The two little girls Nini saw earlier ran out of a bedroom with a tall man with long curly brown hair following behind them.

"Mommy, can we have a snack?" One of the girls asked.

So, these were her children.

Beck wiped her hands on her jeans. "Um sure baby. Bowie, do you mind taking the girls to the park? I'd rather deal with our guests alone."

Bowie dubiously looks at the two teens before nodding and escorting the girls out. After they were gone, Beck awkwardly smiled at Nini. "So, I imagine you have quite a few questions."

"Yes, a lot actually."

She closed her eyes and exhaled before opening them again. "Ask away."

"Well, I guess I'll just rip the band-aid off now." Nini built up the courage to ask the burning question. "Why did you give me up?" She says so low it came off as a whisper.

Beck smiled sadly, knowing that question was coming. "I had a feeling you'd ask that." Nini spots that Beck's eyes were beginning to water, and she could tell this story wasn't gonna be a walk in the park.

"It's okay if you don't wanna tell me. You technically don't owe me anything."

Beck waved her off. "No, don't worry about me. I just get a little emotional about it is all." She wipes away the stray tear on her cheek. "I'd like to start off by saying you weren't thrown away or given up without a second thought. It took a lot of strength for me to give you up for adoption. I wanted to keep you so bad, Nina. I really did, but my situation was horrible at the time. I couldn't provide for you."

Nini felt relieved that she was at least wanted. "Why's that?"

Beck's eyes focused on her fiddling fingers. "I was very young when I had you, like really young. Fourteen to be exact."

Ricky and Nini both stared at her with shocked expressions. Beck didn't even have to look at them to know they were flabbergasted. "Yeah, I know. I was a really stupid and vulnerable teenager that made a series of awful mistakes, not that you're a mistake though."

Nini was hesitant to ask, but she needed to know.

"What about my birth dad?"

Beck rolled her eyes at the mention of him, which told Nini he was no one impressive.

"I was 13 when I met Kyle while he was 16. We started dating when I was 14, and he kept getting me into all kinds of trouble. My dumbass kept falling for all his lies, and I tended to be the one to take the fall for his fuck ups. But I thought I was in love, so I pretended like it didn't bother me. He took a lot from me, one of those things being my virginity. Two months later, I found out I'm pregnant with you. He wasn't pleased when I told him the news. He was so angry with me to the point where he threatened to harm me and you. He kept trying to force me into getting an abortion, which I considered since I was so young. But I couldn't do it. Something told me to have you even if that meant not keeping you. When he found out I was having you, he broke up with me and fled the city to avoid the responsibility of taking care of you. I haven't seen him since, and I'm glad I haven't."

Beck was crying silently as she recalled that dreadful year, and Nini began crying as a result.

"And on top of that, my parents weren't exactly admirable role models. They were rather verbally abusive towards me and my sisters. They weren't always like that, but something changed in them with time. It was obvious they didn't want us anymore, but they kept us for some reason. I'll never understand why they had children if they had no intention of aiding us. They were pissed about my pregnancy and kept offering to pay for underground abortions since we were too poor for a legal one. I denied it of course since it was too hazardous. When I implied that I wanted to keep you, they lost their shit. My mom kept calling me a whore and a bunch of other terrible names while my dad threatened to kick me out if I kept you. I had nowhere else to go, so I decided to just stay and promised them I'd give you up. It took them some time, but they eventually agreed to my terms." Beck takes a moment to glance back up at Nini with swollen red eyes.

"While I was pregnant, I began searching for some eligible parents who'd be willing to take you in. After meeting the first few candidates, I didn't think anyone was good enough to take you, which made me nervous. I refused to put you in the foster system since I know it sucks, so I knew I had to find you a good home. Then in my third month of pregnancy, these two lovely women found my ad, and I loved their energy." She smiles as she remembers Carol and Dana. "They were very understanding when I explained my situation, and they promised that they'd give you a home that was prosperous and you'd never have to worry about where your next meal was coming from. I grew up in a house where it was common to go days without food or proper resources, so I was happy they could do the one thing I couldn't do for you. I spoke to them for hours, and those hours turned into months. I even visited their home to make sure they weren't lying to me, and thankfully everything checked out. And I admit that I found it a plus that Dana was Filipina like me, so I knew you wouldn't be out of touch with your heritage. That's when I was certain they were the right fit for you. Hopefully, I was right."

She said it as a statement, but Nini could tell it was more of a question.

Nini nods reassuringly. "Yes, they're wonderful mothers. Ricky can accommodate me on that statement."

Ricky nods in agreement, which makes Beck smile. "I'm glad to hear that."

"It's probably not a good idea to reach out to my dad then, huh?"

Beck grimaces. "I personally wouldn't. I can't imagine he'd be as welcoming as me. Plus, I wouldn't even know where to begin with finding him, not like I'd want to. And he'd totally be the type to only contact you if he needs something through guilt tripping and flattery; that's how he roped me into his bullshit so easily. It's 100% up to you though, but those are my two cents."

"Yeah, you're probably right." She hated that her dad was a piece of shit, but at least he wasn't in her life.

"Any more questions for me?"

"Yes, did you ever try to reach out to me?"

Beck smiled and nodded. "Yes, multiple times. When I was pregnant with you, I wrote you a lot of letters and continued to write them after I gave birth to you. I used it as a coping mechanism to accept the fact that I couldn't keep you and never intended on letting you see them."

"Why?"

"After you were born, I asked your moms to not tell you about me since I was ashamed that I wasn't able to grant you the life that you deserved. I also thought it'd be easier for you to think you were a sperm donor child rather than adopted out of fear of you feeling unwanted or being disappointed if you met me. They offered to let me see you, but I rejected. I told them to lose contact with me, so I wouldn't have the urge to take you away. I signed the adoption papers as quickly as I could and made sure not to name you to avoid feeling more attached, even though I already thought of the perfect name. The second they walked out of that hospital with you, I immediately regretted my decision. There were many times when I thought about finding you, but I realized it was better to keep my distance. Instead, I sent you some of my letters during the first three years of your life. I'm not sure if you ever got any of them, but I definitely sent them to the address I was given when I first traveled to Salt Lake to see your moms' home."

Nini was putting two and two together. "So, that's what those letters were in that box?"

"It's possible. I'd have to see it to confirm that though."

Nini quickly shuffled in her pocket and whipped out a sheet of paper. "Is this one of them?"

Beck was taken aback but took the paper from her hand. She smiled as she read over the letter.

"Yes, this is one of them. I remember writing this one since it was the one I wrote the day after you were born. I was a wreck that day."

"Why'd you stop writing to me?"

"Because I was contradicting my own words by sending you these letters. I'm glad your moms kept their end of the bargain by not showing you these. I'm amazed they didn't throw it away; I wouldn't blame them if they did."

"So, they were just trying to protect me?"

"Yes, dear. So, don't be too upset with them for keeping this major secret from you. If anything, you should be upset with me."

Nini reached over the small table and placed her hand on top of Beck's. "I'm not angry with you. I'd probably do the same thing if I were you."

That made Beck sigh of relief. "Thank you for understanding."

"No problem." Nini glimpses at the family portrait sitting above the fireplace. "So, that's your family?"

Beck looks over her shoulder to see what she was looking at and grins. "Yeah, that's my husband, Bowie, and those are my two little girls, Ramona and Amy."

Nini smiles when she registers that she's an older sister. "How old are they?"

"Amy is 7, and Ramona is 5. I had them a little bit after marrying Bowie."

"How did you two meet?"

"I met Bowie when I ran away from home after graduating high school. I took a bus to Arizona since it was thousands of miles from my hometown in Maine and never looked back. I met him when I bumped into him at a park, and it was basically love at first sight."

Nini grins since she was reminded of how she and Ricky met. "I see..."

"He actually knows about you because there was no way I wouldn't tell him I had an illegitimate child. He didn't judge me at all, which made me happy. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to meet you."

"I'd love to meet him too, as well as the girls."

"We can arrange that when they come back home unless you have somewhere to be."

"I don't have anywhere to be. I'd love nothing more than to officially meet them."

Beck smiled as she took a sip of her tea. "If my math is correct, you should be 16 now, right?"

Nini nods. "Almost 17."

"Wow, time really flew by."

"Yeah, I guess it did."

"You've grown to be a very beautiful young lady."

"Well, I got it from my mom."

Beck blushes. "You're really sweet. You must've gotten that from your moms."

"They did pride themselves on raising me to be a caring person."

"Well, they did an excellent job." A sudden thought came to Beck's mind. "I'll be right back." She swiftly gets up and goes to her bedroom, leaving the two teens wondering. She came back a minute later holding a small jewelry box.

"I know this is kinda weird, but I figured I should at least offer it to you since you're here." She opens the black box and reveals an amethyst necklace. Nini gasps at how stunning it was.

"Is that for—"

"You? Yes, it is. Before my family turned to shit, it was a tradition in my family to give your kid their birthstone as a necklace on their 16th birthday. I never got one since they had already stopped that tradition before I got to that age, but that doesn't mean you have to go without it too. Last year, I thought of reaching out to you when it was your birthday so I could give it to you, but I refrained from it since that'd probably start issues in your home. I know it's past your 16th birthday, but I hope you like this gift anyway."

Nini beams as she takes the box. "I love it. I'll wear it every day. Thank you so much."

"No problem."

The front door opened, and the two little girls came running to their mother.

"Mommy!" They say in unison.

Beck smiled as she hugged her kids. "Hey babies, did you two have fun?"

"Yes! Daddy bought us ice cream!" Amy says.

"Well, I hope you don't get a sugar rush later."

Ramona looks over at the teens sitting on the couch.

"Who are they?"

Beck smiles as she places her kids on her lap. "Kids, Bowie, I'd like you to formally meet Nina and her friend Ricky."

"Oh, you can just call me Nini."

Beck nods. "Nini it is then."

Amy waves at her. "Hi Nini, you're really pretty!"

"Your friend is too!" Ramona says, giggling as she covers her face.

Ricky chuckles. "Thank you. You two are adorable."

Beck noticed Bowie was still confused on who these kids were, but she didn't want to say it in front of the kids. "Hey girls, why don't you go play in your room while daddy and I talk?"

"Okay!" Ramona says before pulling her sister with her to their shared bedroom.

Bowie walks up to Beck. "Babe, what's happening?"

"Bowie, this is my oldest daughter. She came to find me."

Bowie gasped as he looked between the two, noticing the resemblance. "Oh my god! It's so nice to finally meet you. I never thought I'd have the pleasure!"

"It's nice to meet you too, sir." She reaches her hand out to shake, but she ignores it and opens his arms for her.

"No need for formalities; you're basically family. Call me Bowie."

"Alright. Nice to meet you, Bowie." She accepted the hug and was thrown off by how strong this dude's arms were.

Beck yanked on his arm when he saw Nini was struggling for air. "Honey, let the girl breathe. I'd like to get to know her."

"Oops, sorry. I tend to get carried away with my bear hugs."

Nini shrugs. "It's fine."

Bowie looks over at Ricky and smiles. "And you, are you her boyfriend?"

Ricky blushes and shakes his head. "No, I'm her best friend that's here for moral support."

Bowie beams and holds his arms out wide for him too. "Bring it in brother."

Bowie squeezed Ricky as he rocked him side to side, lifting him off the ground. Ricky's never felt so squished in his life. Bowie finally sets him on the ground, allowing Ricky to breathe.

"Well, it'd be a damn shame to not have you over for dinner. I'm sure Bex fixed enough spaghetti for two more. Ain't that right, babe?"

Beck nodded. "You beat me to it. I was gonna invite them to stay for dinner so that we can chat some more. Is that something that you two are okay with?"

Ricky glances at Nini since it was her call. She smiles at him before nodding at the married couple. "We'd love to stay."

Bowie claps loudly. "Yes! Ricky, my man, I could use some help setting the table."

Ricky got up from his seat. "I'm happy to help, sir."

"Dude, call me Bowie. Sir makes me sound like I'm some boring, bald real estate dude."

Bowie wraps his arms around Ricky before dragging him to the kitchen. "Tell me about yourself, Rickster. Can I call you Rickster? You seem like a Rickster." Ricky peers over his shoulder at Nini with an amused smile as Bowie rambled, making Nini giggle.

"Well, he's certainly full of life."

Beck nods. "Yeah, he's very lively, but that's why I love him."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but did he call you Bex? I swore the papers said your name was Beck Lopez."

"Yes, that's the nickname he gave me. I actually prefer it over Beck since that's the name my parents gave me. And it's Bex Quinn nowadays. Lopez is my maiden name."

"Then I'll call you Bex instead."

Bex smiled. "Why don't you help me in the kitchen while the guys set the table? We can talk more there."

"Sure!"

Nini and Bex spoke about anything that came to mind as they made the salad. Nini informed her of all the things she experienced growing up, her friends, her bizarre relationship with Ricky, and how she'd like to pursue basketball as a career.

Bex was invested in hearing about all the years she missed out on and tried to hide her envy since she wished she was there. Bex filled her in on the parts of her life that she didn't discuss. She told Nini how much she misses her sisters since they were actually kind, she spoke about her job as a party planner, and how kind-hearted Nini's younger siblings were.

Bex requested that Nini not say anything to the girls about her being their older sister yet since they'd be confused, and she didn't think they were mature enough to grasp her story yet. Bex reassured Nini she'd tell them when she thinks they're ready. Nini understood, not at all offended.

Dinner was a success since the whole family got along great with Ricky and Nini. It felt more like two friends catching up. Bowie took a liking to Ricky since they both had a love of video games, and Bowie used to be a skate rat. He still adored Nini of course and already treated her as if she were his own.

The girls fangirled over Ricky and Nini since they swore these two were dating and refused to believe otherwise despite Ricky and Nini's protest. Bex accidentally rubs hands with Nini, which makes Nini interlace her fingers with her. Bex smiled and let her hold her hand as they ate, loving that she could finally connect with her estranged daughter.

After dinner, it was pretty late, and the girls needed to be put to bed.

Bowie claps his hands. "Alright girls, it's time to hit the sack."

They both groaned and whined.

"Ahhh, but we wanna hang out with the cute couple!" Ramona says.

"Yeah, they just got here!"

Bowie laughs. "I know, but playtime is over. Say goodbye to them. Hopefully you'll see them again."

"Bye Ricky and Nini." Amy says sadly.

"Will we see you two again?" Ramona asks.

Nini grins. "I hope so."

Ramona beams. "Maybe the next time we see them they'll be married!"

Amy gasps. "Oh yeah! That'd be cool!"

Ricky and Nini both become red in the face as the girls both snicker at them. Bowie chuckles at the girls' childishness. "Alright, enough teasing you two. It was nice meeting you guys!"

"You too, Bowie." Nini says.

The girls wave at them as Bowie picks them both up and takes them to their room. Bex and Nini both gaze at one another with faint smiles. Ricky sensed that this was a private moment and wanted to give them some privacy.

"I'll be outside."

Nini nods and waits 'til he's exited before she speaks.

"So..." Nini says.

"So."

"This is it."

"I guess it is."

Nini began tearing up. "I really enjoyed this. I'm glad I didn't chicken out of meeting you."

Bex started crying as well, smiling through the tears. "I'm glad too. I always hoped we'd cross paths again." Bex hesitated to touch Nini's cheek, but Nini leaned into her hand and permitted it. Bex sighs as she soothingly rubs her daughter's cheek.

"You know, I'd be okay if you wanted to be present in my life, and I'd love to be in yours if you'll let me."

Nini's heart was beating out of her chest as she smiled from ear to ear. She didn't know those were the words she's wanted to hear since she found out she was adopted until now.

"Yes, I'd love that."

Bex lets out a breath. "Oh, thank god we're on the same page because that would've been so painfully awkward and embarrassing if you didn't want to."

Nini laughs. "Yeah, it would've been."

Bex takes out her phone. "Put in your number, and I'll call you."

Nini takes the phone and smiles. "Gladly." She types in her number and hands it back to her mom.

Bex sent a text saying who it was and also sent Bowie's contact.

"I figured you should have his too in case I don't pick up. I tend to lose my phone a lot. Plus, he'd want your number anyway."

"I forget my phone too!"

"You must've gotten it from me."

"Guess so."

"Oh, and by the way, I'd totally give you my kidney if you wanted it." She teases.

Nini snorts and rolls her eyes playfully. "I don't know why that was one of the first things I said to you. I guess I panicked."

"I say stupid things when I'm nervous too. You really are my girl."

Bex combs through Nini's hair, trying to relish the last few moments with her before she goes back.

"I guess this is goodbye for now."

"Yeah..."

"I should go."

Bex snaps her fingers. "Wait, I almost forgot something." She carefully runs over to her bedroom, tip toeing when she passes the girls' bedroom. She comes back with a treasure chest, which is not at all what Nini expected.

She holds it up, slightly struggling. "Before you say anything, no there's no actual treasure in here."

Nini snaps her fingers sarcastically. "Damn, that really would've helped with college funds."

Bex smirks as she hands it over to her, Nini happily taking it. She didn't think it'd be so heavy.

"Jesus, are you sure gold isn't in this?"

"It's a chest I made for you."

"You made a chest for me?"

"Yeah, I haven't touched in so many years, and it's been under my bed collecting dust waiting for you. I just now thought about it since you're here. It's full of things I wanted to give you but never got the chance to. I always promised myself I'd give it to you if I had the privilege of meeting you."

"I'll look through it the second I'm in the car."

Nini sets the chest on the ground. "Can I hug you?"

Bex smiled. "You never have to ask."

Nini wraps her arms around Bex's frame and rests her head on her heart. Bex held her firmly and petted her hair. They both were smiling as happy tears streamed down their faces, cherishing the last moments together before they departed.

Bex was the first one to let go, but she didn't pull back fully. She cups Nini's face. "Take care, and contact me anytime. I'll never be too busy for you."

"I will."

Bex hesitated at first but decided to go with her gut and kissed Nini's forehead. Nini smiled brightly.

"Bye Bex."

"Bye Nini."

Nini picks up the chest, giving her mom one last look before leaving. She met up with Ricky, who was leaning against the wall. He instantly notices the chest. "Whatchu got there?"

"Bex gave it to me. It's stuff she's always wanted to give me. I can't wait to see what's inside."

He smiles when he sees how happy she was. "Did you get all the answers you wanted?"

Nini nods. "Yes, and much more. Thank you for pushing me to do this. I couldn't have done this without you."

"It's no biggie."

"It is actually."

He picked up on the look in her eye, and he wasn't sure what it was. She gets on her tippy-toes and kisses his cheek. "Thank you for always being there. I love you so much."

Ricky's cheeks tint pink, and he tries to ignore his heart beat speeding up. And he can't put his finger on it, but the way she said I love you felt different this time. He didn't let his brain wonder though since he didn't want to feed into his unjust desires, especially since he's taken.

"I love you too." He peeks down at the chest. "Want me to carry that for you?"

"No, I wanna hold it."

"Alrighty then, let's go back to the motel."

The pair walked side by side with big smiles on their faces, both thrilled that this weekend turned out to be everything Nini wanted and more.

***

When Nini went back to the hotel that night, she waited for Ricky to go to bed before looking through the chest. She found stuffed animals and the remaining letters she didn't send. In one of the letters, Bex wrote that her name would've been Rose Adaline Lopez had she been raised by her. She actually adored that name, and she wouldn't have minded carrying it as her own.

On the ride back to Salt Lake, Nini began to fantasize about what her life would have been like had she been raised by Bex.

"Rose, come here! I need you to go to the grocery store!"

"Can't you go? I wanna hang out with my friends at Mikayla's house."

"I have to go to work, and the store will be closed by the time I clock out."

"But mom!"

Bex folded her arms across her chest. "I did not run away from home just for you to not be—"

"Grateful, yeah I know." She's been hearing that excuse for almost 17 years now, and it was getting old.

"Exactly," Bex reaches down to peck her forehead. "Here's some food stamps, spend it on groceries only. I will be out on a date tonight with the guy I've been telling you about."

"You mean that bum?"

"David is not a bum!"

"He literally has been wearing the same dirty gym socks for like a week now and thinks no one has noticed."

"Well, maybe he's struggling with his water bill, or maybe he doesn't have a washer and dryer."

"I'll gladly wash his socks for him the next time I go to the laundromat if that means I don't have to smell them, no charge."

Bex rolls her eyes and sighs. "I'm leaving now."

"So, no friends tonight?"

"No friends."

She groans but eventually accepts her fate. "I guess I'll text Mikayla I'm not going."

"Sorry baby, maybe next time." Bex pats her daughter's shoulder before grabbing her keys and purse.

"See you later, kiddo, And no parties, or boys, or girls if that's your forte. I don't judge."

"I know, mom."

"Love you!"

Bex didn't give her time to say it back before she closed the door. She was about to walk to the local Food Lion, but she was interrupted by a text from an unsaved number.

Maybe Kyle: Hey kid, I just wanna talk. Can we meet at that gas station by your apartment?

She rolled her eyes, already knowing who it was. She blocked the phone number before placing her phone back in her back pocket. Her dad has been trying to get a hold of her for a while now. Knowing him, he probably wanted money or a favor just like last time. He manipulated her into sending $50 to help pay for his "oil change'', but she found out later that it was money for a bet he lost.

He abruptly came back into her life at the age of 10 when he somehow found out where Bex fled to. He claimed to have wanted to mend things between Bex and Rose, but in reality, he just wanted money for underground economic activity. Bex threatened to give him a restraining order multiple times, which finally made him leave, or so she thought. He still attempted to speak to Rose when Bex wasn't around, knowing she wouldn't snitch. He was unfortunately right.

She knows damn well he's a deadbeat, but for some reason she struggled to say no to him. That's why she found it easier to block him when he reaches out on random numbers. She just couldn't fight that soft spot she held for him. Maybe some sick part of her hoped he'd eventually see her as a daughter and not a scapegoat or lender. Luckily, her mom was over his shit years ago, so she didn't fall for his traps. Rose on the other hand was a repeat of history.

She pushed the thought of her dad in the back of her head and walked out the door to go get the groceries.

"Neens?"

Nini jumps when she hears her name, forgetting she was in the car with her best friend.

"You good? You kinda spaced out for a minute there. I was starting to get concerned."

Nini nods. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry."

"What were you thinking so hard about?"

Nini smiles as she looks at him. Though she hated how it happened, she was extremely grateful for the life she had now. "I'm happy my moms raised me even though they lied. I love them, and they love me. And if they never would've adopted me, I never would've never met you."

"You also wouldn't have met our other friends."

"True, but my life would be bland and incomplete without you."

Ricky's cheeks heat up. "Awe, Neens. That's touching."

Nini blushes and puts her hand over his right one since it wasn't steering.

"You know, I think I wanna name my first daughter Rose."

Her comment threw him off since it was off topic, but he goes with the flow. "Your first implies they'll be another one. What's her name gonna be?"

She smiles. "I would name her Adaline and call her Addy for short."

"And what would you name them if they were boys?"

She bit her lip as she pondered. "I don't know. Maybe I'll let the husband decide if I don't come up with anything, but I'm dead set on those girl names."

"Those are pretty names. How'd you come up with those?"

She just smirked knowingly, shrugging her shoulders. "It just came to me I guess."

He just nods and continues driving down the interstate. As she looked outside the window, she smiled as she fantasized a future family with the guy beside her.

***

They got home around 8 that night. Ricky was originally going to take her back to his place, but she told him to take her home instead. He usually was bummed when she declined coming over, but this time made him smile since it implied she was ready to accept her reality.

The moment Ricky parked in her driveway, Dana sprung open the door. She was standing there in disbelief, waiting for Nini to make the first move. Nini was staring back at her from the inside of the car for a moment before she grabbed her travel bag, opened the passenger door, and ran over to Dana. She jumps onto her mother and hugs her. Dana stumbled a bit at first, but she responded by hugging her just as tight and smiling through happy tears.

Dana strokes through Nini's hair. "Hey, baby girl."

Nini's lips quivered as happy tears came down her face. "Hey mom."

"Did it go well?"

Nini nods as she pulls away without fully letting go to look her in the eye. "I'm sorry for the way I acted. I understand why you and Momma C did what you did. I'm so grateful for you both. Thank you for taking me in."

Dana sniffled as she wiped some of her tears. "It was an honor raising you, mahal. I'd do it all again if I could."

Nini smiles and pulls her back in for another hug. Ricky smiled as he watched them make amends. He sees them both turn to wave goodbye at him before closing the front door. He smiles to himself as he backs out of the driveway, knowing that Nini was okay.

***

"Come on number 26. Pass the damn ball! The defense is gaining on you!" EJ yells as he watches the game unfold.

EJ and Nini were currently at a college basketball game as a date. EJ had scored two tickets from his dad and immediately thought of bringing Nini since that was destined to be a good date place. Nini was excited to go of course, but her excitement wasn't nearly as strong as she thought it'd be.

It's only been two weeks since she met her birth mom, and she was still hung up on it. She wasn't upset or sad; she was just still digesting it all.

One of the players shoves a player of the opposing team, causing EJ to grimace and stand up from his seat. "Oh, come on! That was clearly a foul. Do your job ref! Nini, are you seeing this shit?!"

She jumps and shakes her head. "Oh, uh...no. Sorry, I wasn't really looking."

EJ's face softens as he sits down, placing a hand on her thigh. "What's wrong, really?"

Nini furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

EJ gave her a look that told her he knew she was lying. "Come on, Neens. You've been off for a while now. What's up?"

Nini made a poker face. She swore she wasn't being obvious, but she guesses not. Maybe she should've taken up acting like Ricky. She still hasn't informed anyone about her and Ricky's little trip to Flagstaff two weeks ago, and she didn't intend to until she felt comfortable with her friends knowing.

"Oh um, I feel kinda sick."

EJ rubs her leg comfortingly. "Maybe it's from seasonal allergies. Spring is near."

"Yeah, maybe..."

"Wanna go home?"

She shakes her head frantically, grabbing his hand. "No, I don't wanna ruin the game for you. We can stay. I'm really not that sick."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind. This game was getting boring anyway."

"I'm sure. I'd be much happier here."

EJ smiles. "Alright, but let me know if anything changes."

Nini just faintly grins and nods before EJ turns his attention back to the game. Nini frowns when she realizes she's lied to him again, which was starting to become a trend for her. A trend she wasn't fond of. But it was simpler this way. Building walls around her heart tends to come in her favor in the long run and keeps the people she loves around, so she's willing to lie if it means keeping the peace.

The real reason she didn't want to go back was because she'd be in her head, which recently hasn't been her favorite place to be. She snaps out of it and decides to focus on the game, hoping that it would help her forget her issues.

***

Her friends were all laughing and mingling with one another as they stood around her place. Today Nini had hosted her 17th birthday party with just her moms, friends, and EJ. Nini was thrilled to have so many of her loved ones around both because she liked being with them and they distract her from her problems.

This was the first weekend since she discovered she was adopted that she felt truly happy. That in itself was a good enough birthday gift and could easily replace all the ones resting on her dining room table. Speaking of gifts, her mom was signaling her to come to the dining room to open them.

"Alright kids, it's time for gifts!" Dana says.

All of the teens make their way over to the small dining room, sitting in whatever seat they called. Nini sat at the end of the table while Ricky and EJ sat on both sides of her.

Dana claps her hands. "Alright, the first one is from Gina. Open it!"

Dana hands her the gift, and Nini takes it and begins ripping the paper. Gina shakes her leg as she waits for Nini. Nini gasps when she sees what's inside.

"No way! You got me a teapot?"

"Yep, I owe you one after breaking yours. Sorry about that by the way."

"It's fine. That thing wasn't working well anyway. Thank you, Gi!"

Dana picks up a smaller box. "This one is from Carlos."

She goes through all of her presents, adoring each one since they were so thoughtful. It finally came down to the last two gifts, which were EJ's and Ricky's.

EJ holds his gift in front of her. "Oo babe, open my next."

"Sure." She sets it on the table and unwraps it. Her brows lifted when she saw the gift. Nini just stared at it with an unreadable face.

When she didn't say anything, EJ cleared his throat. "Well, do you like it?"

"Yes, sorry that was a weird reaction."

EJ shrugs. "So, you like the necklace?"

Nini stared down at it before forcing a smile when she looked back at her boyfriend.

"It's gorgeous, babe. Thank you."

He hugs her and plants a kiss on her cheek. When he wasn't looking, she wiped it off with her sleeve. She felt icky for doing so and even worse for not liking what the necklace engraving said.

"I love you now and forever, Love EJ"

She had no desire to think further about the piece of jewelry that she'll never wear, so she went back to opening gifts. Nini reached for the last standing present. "And last but definitely not least, Ricky's gift."

Ricky smiled as she undid the bow on the box. When she sees what's inside, she stops moving, staring in awe.

"Richard."

"Yeah?"

"You didn't."

"I did."

"It's impossible."

"But it is."

"This has to be a gag."

"I'd never do such a thing."

Nini beams at him, making him smile in return.

"Well, what is it? We're all dying to know!" Carlos asks.

Nini holds up the ticket. "I'm gonna see Lizzy McAlpine!"

Her friends started flipping out at the news while EJ was stunned.

"How did you score these? These tickets have been sold out for months!"

Ricky chuckles. "When I heard she was coming to town, I put myself on the waiting list since I knew you'd wanna go. I bought them back in December and have been keeping it a secret since."

"I can't believe you spent all this money on me!"

"I saved up enough to make up for the expensive ticket you paid for my 16th."

"I told you that you didn't have to pay me back!"

He shrugs. "Yeah, but you should've known I would somehow. Also, there's no refund, so you're not getting out of this ticket, missy."

Nini smiled and walked over to him to give him a hug. "Thank you so much. I can't wait to watch her even though I'll be alone."

"Who said you'd be alone?"

He pulls out his barcode ticket in his email, and she smiles wider. "We're both going?"

"Well yeah, of course. I'm a big fan too. Also, your moms would never let you go alone, and who'd take you to the concert?"

"This is the best day ever!"

"Happy birthday, Neens."

EJ bites the inside of his cheek as he watches them. He didn't get a reaction that grand when he said he loved her forever, and it irked him. He got up, forming a false smile. "Well now that gift giving is over, maybe we can go to cake cutting. Right Dana?"

Dana nods. "You read my mind. Let's go to the kitchen, kids."

The teens all begin to migrate to the kitchen. EJ was quick to wrap his arm around Nini, taking her on the opposite side of Ricky. Ricky rolled his eyes since he knew why EJ actually mentioned cutting the cake, but he let it go.

~

Later in the night, everyone starts leaving. The only ones who stayed around were Red, Ricky, and Kourtney since they offered to help clean up. EJ wanted to help, but he needed to wake up early for a meet.

As Nini was washing off the dining table, Dana waltz in with an eager look in her eye. Nini could tell she was hiding something behind her back.

"Mahal, there's one last gift for you."

Nini scrunches her brows both because of the news and the way her mom was acting stiff.

"What? Who could it be from? A distant relative maybe?"

"Actually yes." Dana reveals a small box from behind her. "Bex and Bowie sent you a care package. It came this morning, but I wanted it to be a surprise for when everyone leaves since I know your friends don't know yet."

Nini was shocked to see she got something from them, but she was aching to find out what was in it. "Do you mind if—"

"I'll finish cleaning up here. You shouldn't be cleaning on your birthday anyway. Good night, dear."

"Thanks, mom. Good night." She gets on her tippy toes to peck her mom's cheek before taking the box and quietly running upstairs to her room. She lightly shuts her bedroom door before walking to her bed. She grabs a box cutter from her dresser and tears it open.

She marvels at all the cool items inside. There were gift cards to random restaurants she happened to eat at, charm bracelets, dream catchers, and many other things. She hears a knock on the door and jumps.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

She calms down when she recognizes it was Ricky. "Come in."

He walks in and closes the door behind him. He smiles when he sees her sitting with the box.

She realized that he probably had no idea what she opened. "It's a box from—"

"Bex and Bowie, I know. Your mom told me."

"Wanna see what's inside?"

"Of course, I do."

She pats the spot beside her, and he plops down. He glances at the items and smiles.

"Oh wow, this stuff is neat. I've never even seen a lava lamp like this."

"I know, right? Also, Bex sent you a dream catcher too. She said to give you the blue one in the note attached to it."

Nini hands it to him, and he takes it. "It's lovely. I'll hang it up first thing when I get in my room. It better work, or she's gonna get an earful from me."

Nini rolled her eyes playfully and nudged him.

Ricky grins. "In all seriousness, tell her and Bowie thanks. It's cool that they even thought of me."

"I will."

Ricky notices the evident smile on her face as she rummages through the box, which makes him smile.

"It's good to see you like this again."

She glances at him with a confused expression. "Like what?"

He moves a stray hair out of her face before answering.

"Happy."

She smiles slowly. "Yeah, it is nice."

He leaned over and pecked her cheek, making the both of them blush. Except this time, she didn't rub it off.

Chapter Text

Ricky and Cyrus were in Cyrus's bedroom, relaxing after a picnic date under the summer sun. Cyrus had put on Cabaret, which neither were paying much attention to since they'd been talking and kissing for the most part of it.

While Ricky was kissing Cyrus's neck, Cyrus caught sight of the scene displaying on the screen and grimaced. "Ugh, I hate when that happens."

Ricky didn't bother stopping his kisses. "You hate when what happens?"

"That monstrosity on the screen."

Ricky finally looks up and sees Brian and Sally kissing.

"What, kissing?"

"No, I don't mind the kissing part. I hate the guy being with the girl part."

"Oh, you're one of those people that don't like watching straight romances? That's fine we can just change it." Ricky was about to reach for the remote, but Cyrus stopped him with his hand.

"No, I have no problem with straight romance movies. After all, my favorite romance movie is Maid in Manhattan."

Ricky furrowed his brows. "Then, what's the problem?"

Cyrus sits up and folds his arms over his chest, puffing out his bottom lip. "My problem is that Brian saw he was attracted to both Sally and Max, but he had a hard time choosing between them. Just like choose which one you're attracted to, and move on."

Ricky sat up straight as he analyzed his boyfriend.

"What do you mean by that?"

Cyrus sighs. "I mean, he needs to choose between being with the woman and man. You can't have your cake and eat it."

"Well, isn't the whole point that Brian is slowly figuring out that he's bi? It is the 1930's, so I imagine it's hard for him to accept."

"Yeah, accept that he's gay."

"But he's not gay; he's bi."

Cyrus chuckles dryly. "Oh, come on, Ricky. You and I both know that bisexuality is just one step closer to being gay."

Ricky felt his heart drop and agitation began to settle.

"Excuse me?"

"Listen, you're either into the same sex or not. There is no gray area. Brian needs to see that."

Ricky got up from the bed, causing Cyrus to look at him with a shocked yet confused look.

"What're you doing?"

"I can't believe you're biphobic."

Cyrus rests his hand on his chest in offense.

"Biphobic? I'm not biphobic. I can't be since I'm in the same community."

"You do realize some gay people are biphobic, right?"

"That doesn't even make any sense."

"I agree, but they exist. And apparently you're not who I thought you were."

"Ricky, what're you talking about?"

"Cyrus, you realize I'm bi, right?"

"Of course, and I still love you."

"Did you think that I'd fully become gay if I stayed with you or something? Because my sexuality will never change regardless of who I'm with at the time, and that goes for you too."

Cyrus scoots a little closer to the edge with a hopeless look on his face. "Ricky, I don't want you to change."

"Then, look me in the eye, and tell me you're okay with me being bisexual."

Cyrus bit his lip nervously, trying and failing to direct his eyes on Ricky's. Ricky nodded and chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, that's what I thought." Ricky grabbed his things, ignoring Cyrus's pleads as he stormed out of his bedroom.

Throughout the day, Cyrus kept bombarding Ricky's phone with apologies and that he'd do better. Ricky didn't really believe him and figured this would be a good learning experience for the both of them. For Cyrus, he'd learn that bigotry within the same community exists while Ricky learned that he'd probably have to prepare to face biphobia within his relationships.

When Ricky got sick of all the texts and calls, he texted Cyrus that he no longer wanted to see him and blocked him on everything. He frowned since another relationship has failed except this time he was feeling heartbroken instead of guilty like the first guy due to the way it ended.

He knew he'd get past this since he never fell hard for him, but he admits that it still stung. He deleted all his photos of him and Cyrus and changed his lock screen to a photo of him and his friends. Once all evidence of their relationship was gone, Ricky put his phone aside and let sleep take over.

And much like the main leads in Cabaret, they didn't end on happy terms, but at least they can move on.

***

It's been a month since Ricky broke up with Cyrus, and he's been doing well. He didn't miss him nearly as much as he thought, but that could've been because his friends kept him occupied. They all were disappointed when they heard Cyrus was biphobic since they all liked him, but they understood they couldn't associate with a bigot. So, they stayed away from him. Of course, his friends all checked up on him to make sure he was doing alright, and they were shocked at how well he was taking it.

At the moment, Ricky was standing on the sidewalk with EJ as they both watched Nini drive the DDS test driving car for her driver's test. She wanted to get her license before she went into senior year, so she signed up for the test two weeks before the summer break was over. She wanted the both of them there for moral support in case she fails. They both scrunch up their faces as they watch her accidentally hit a cone, knowing that'd dock her a few points.

"Yikes, I hope she doesn't miss too many points." Ricky says.

EJ scoffs. "You know damn well they'll deduct a lot of points for that."

"Well yeah, but I hope they take it easy on her since she doesn't perform as well when people are watching her."

"Then, why did she invite us?"

"I don't mean us. I mean the instructor."

"If she can do it in front of us, she can do it in front of them. It can't be too much of a difference."

"But it is since she doesn't know the instructor."

"Yeah, whatever dude."

Ricky rolls his eyes and goes back to pretending EJ wasn't there. That's generally the best way to deal with him when he's near. Ricky cringes as she watches her miss a few turns and hit a few more cones. Yeah, there was no way in hell she was passing this exam. He was already preparing comforting words to say to her.

EJ faces Ricky with a vexed expression. "What're you even doing here? Aren't I enough?"

Ricky didn't even bother looking at him. "Dude, she literally asked us both to be here in front of you, remember?"

"I don't recall her saying the both of us, but I do remember her saying my name."

"Well, maybe you should get your ears checked."

EJ rolls his eyes. "If she wanted you, you would've been with her by now."

That completely takes Ricky off guard, making him face the quarterback. "What did you just say?"

EJ smirks when he realizes he hit a nerve. "You heard me."

Before Ricky could retort, Nini comes back with a defeated look on her face. They both instantly divert their attention to her.

She looks at them with rosy cheeks, most likely due to embarrassment. "I failed the test."

EJ sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace. "Sorry babe, you'll get it next time."

"Yeah, maybe I'll teach you how to do sharper turns to help you avoid hitting the cones." Ricky pitches in.

Nini smiles. "I'd like that."

EJ frowns for a bit before switching to a smile. "I can always teach you too. After all, I have had my license longer than him."

Ricky was so done with this shit. There's only so much EJ he can handle in one sitting, and he's already surpassed his limit in these short 40 minutes.

"Hey Neens, I'm gonna head out. I forgot dad wanted me back home for dinner early."

Nini furrowed her brows. "Oh, so you're not taking me back home."

"Something tells me EJ wants to do that instead."

EJ smiles. "For once, I'm on the same page as Bowen."

"Oh okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Ricky gives her a wave as he swiftly makes his way to his car. Nini squints her eyes in suspicion since he rarely ever denies dropping her off.

"Did he seem off to you?"

"Who, Ricky? No, he's probably just having a bad day."

Nini looks back at him as he slowly disappears from her line of sight. Something about his departure wasn't sitting right with her. "Well, I guess we should head out."

"Wanna go to my place? My parents won't be home for another three hours." EJ winks at her.

She nods. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

He pats her ass, causing her to jump. He giggles and pulls her closer as they walk back to his Jeep.

***

Ricky walks into the halls of East High with Red by his side for the first time as a senior and the last time as a high schooler. It felt almost bittersweet to him, and he realizes he's gonna have a lot of last moments during the next ten months.

"Can you believe it, Rick? We're finally seniors."

"I know, right? It feels really weird."

"I can't wait to do all the festivities that come with being a senior, but we don't get to do that until next semester."

"Damn, next semester is really our last semester ever unless you're planning on going to college of course."

Red gasped. "Oh shit, dude. You're right. That's fucking wild to think about."

As they walk to their lockers, Ricky catches sight of Cyrus who was giggling with another guy. Ricky frowned at them, feeling a bit sad that he was able to be replaced so easily. Cyrus sensed Ricky's gaze and dropped his smile, making Ricky shy away. Red watched as the whole thing just went down.

"Hey, don't worry about him. You'll find someone else"

"I'm not concerned about being in a relationship this year. I think it's best that I stay single since it's my last year; the relationship would probably fall through when we part ways in life anyway."

"That's the spirit! Now you can join me this year as I go another year of life without the touch of another human being." He made a disgusted face at the thought of it.

"Well yeah, that's because you're ace."

Red gives him two thumbs up. "Exactly!"

Ricky chuckled as the two finally made it to their lockers. On the other side of the hallway, Nini and EJ were making their entrance with EJ's arm wrapped around her shoulder. She spots Ricky and Red laughing about something a few feet away and smiles at first before she sees Cyrus walk by Ricky.

She saw as Cyrus eyed Ricky down and scoffed as he held hands with his new fling. Ricky was clearly bothered by it based on his body language, and Nini didn't want to make it worse by gloating that she was in a relationship in front of him.

Nini suddenly stops in her tracks, getting EJ's attention.

"Everything alright? Our classes are this way."

"Oh yeah, everything's fine. It's just that I don't wanna show off in front of Ricky."

EJ lifts a brow, already not liking this conversation.

"Show off what?"

"You know, that we're dating. Cyrus was just making faces at him with his new boy toy just now, and I don't wanna add fuel to the fire by gloating that I'm in a good one."

EJ scowled at her. He saw this as her secret way of saying she wanted to appear as if she were uninterested in EJ in front of Ricky.

"Ricky's 17. He can handle it. Plus, he sees us together all the time. Why is this any different?"

"I know, but—"

"Fine, I'm just gonna walk ahead of you to class while you talk to your friends. I'll see you at lunch." He left without letting her get a word in, leaving a bewildered Nini in the hall.

***

The atmosphere in EJ's Jeep was painfully awkward.

EJ and Nini sat in the front with Ricky in the back. Ricky's car was in the shop to fix his SUV's engine. He would've caught the bus, but he missed it since he miscalculated his time spent in the theater. Nini saw him in the hall and asked if he needed a ride since she was aware his car was being fixed. He considered walking, calling a Lyft or Uber, and even waiting for his dad to get off work in four hours just to avoid what's destined to be an awful car ride, but he figured it'd be ridiculous to do any of those when there was a free ride right in front of him. He definitely regrets saying yes now.

Ricky can overhear Nini and EJ's hushed whispers and could tell they were fussing about something. He wouldn't be too shocked if the conversation was about him. EJ was gripping the steering wheel so tight that Ricky could see the white on his knuckles. A vein was visible from Nini's forehead, which he knew meant she was pissed. Suddenly, Nini stops whispering and sighs.

"So, Ricky..." Nini says as she turns around to face him with a forced smile. "Did you know you and EJ have a lot of the same interests?"

Oh, great. Another attempt at them bonding. He's gotta give it to her; he was impressed with how driven she was to make these two get along. Ricky smiles, going along with this.

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"He loves video games like you. Isn't that right, babe?"

EJ shrugs, not bothering to look at Ricky through the rear view mirror.

Nini rolled her eyes at his attitude before glancing at Ricky. "He likes those shooting games like Call of Duty, and he even plays GTA like you."

"Oh, those are good ones. Which edition is your favorite?"

EJ mumbles under his breath, continuing to ignore Ricky. Nini gave Ricky an apologetic smile before glaring at EJ. Thankfully, they arrive at Ricky's house. Ricky mentally thanked god for getting him here in one piece. He quickly opened the door and hopped out. Before he left, he peeped his head in the car.

"Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow, Neens."

Nini grins. "No problem!"

He smiles and closes the door, running up to his front door. When he opens it, he turns around to wave at Nini one last time. She waves back at him before he closes the door. Nini slowly diverts her eyes to her boyfriend who was on thin ice.

She nudges his arm gratingly. "EJ, what the fuck was that?"

EJ starts up the car and begins making the short mile drive to Nini's home. "What was what?"

"Don't play with me. You were so cold towards Ricky even though he was just trying to be kind. What's wrong with you?!"

That seemed to have lit a fire in EJ. "What's wrong with me?! Oh, I'll tell you what's wrong, Nina. My problem is that I have to talk to someone who I'm aware is in love with my girlfriend and is probably waiting for us to split just so he can make his move. My problem is that I've never seen you look at me the way you look at him. My problem is that I always have to accommodate him, but not the other way around. My problem is that you have never once worn the necklace I gave you for your birthday. My problem is that I've never once heard you say I love you back. My fucking problem is that my girlfriend is in love with someone else, and for god knows what reason, I'm still with you!"

Nini was beyond shocked when she heard his accusations. "Wh-what?!"

EJ shakes his head as he laughs humorlessly, making Nini uneasy.

"Did I ever have a chance with you?"

"EJ, I'm literally dating you right now!"

"No, that's not what I mean. Did I ever have a chance of possibly winning over your heart, or was that spot already reserved for him?"

She goes silent for a moment as tears begin to form in her eyes. "EJ..."

EJ parks in front of her driveway, throwing off Nini since she didn't register how quick the ride was. He looked at her with a blank face, but his eyes were distressed.

"Nini, be completely honest with me. If it came down to it, would you choose me over Ricky?"

She doesn't say a thing as they get in an intense stare down. After a full thirty seconds goes by, EJ nods and smiles ruefully. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"I'd choose Ricky because he'd never give me an ultimatum."

EJ scoffs. "Oh please. You and I both know you'd pick him over me and every guy on the fucking planet because you will always choose him. You know why? Because you're in love with him!"

Nini unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her things. "Fuck off, EJ." She opens her door and glowers at him. "We're done!"

"We've been done for a while now, Nina."

She rolled her eyes and slammed the door, but EJ wasn't done speaking. He rolls down the passenger window before she could run inside.

"You really gotta stop leading people on like this and expect them to wait on you to return the feelings! Ricky won't wait around forever either! Difference between me and him is that I'm smart enough to quit now before I'm in too deep!"

Nini halts her steps but doesn't turn to face him since she didn't want him to see her crying.

"Get the fuck off my property, EJ!"

She waits to hear his car drive off before she checks to see if he was actually gone. When she saw that he was, she allowed herself to sob. She ran inside her house, thankful that Dana wasn't home yet. She went to her room and balled up in the corner of her bed so she could cry in peace.

She hated every word he said, not because it was cruel, but because he was right. She did lead him on despite knowing her heart wasn't in it, and she did it to Jay too. She'd probably do it to the next guy too. She knew she shouldn't have gotten into a relationship, but her dumbass did anyway. She should've just listened to everyone else and her brain instead of her heart because apparently your heart is your worst enemy. She wasn't even upset that her relationship ended; she was upset because she no longer had a distraction to face the ugly truth.

She's head over heels in love with Ricky, and she fears that it might be her downfall.

***

"Nini, you're delusional if you think animal crackers are a decent snack."

Nini gasps as she playfully slaps his arm. "Oh, fuck off. You like Jell-O."

"That's because Jell-O is an elite snack, unlike your animal crackers."

"You only eat Jell-O for attention."

"Bitch, I will fight you."

"I'd like to see you try."

"It'd be an easy fight since I've been working out more, and I have height on you."

She scoffs. "Pst, whatever Bowen."

Ricky and Nini were in Ricky's kitchen, taking out snacks for their movie. It had been three weeks since that nasty split with EJ, and Ricky has been checking up on her since this relationship ended poorly as well.

"Wanna watch a romance film? I know that usually cheers you up."

Nini shakes her head and grimaces. "No, I don't want to think about romance for a while."

Ricky frowns and rubs her back. "Sorry about how you and EJ ended."

"It's okay. I guess it was bound to happen sometime."

"I can't help but feel a little guilty."

She knits her brows together as she glimpses up at him. "What? Why would you feel guilty?"

"Because I was a major reason why you two broke up."

"What?! Who told you that?"

"Oh, come on, Nini. I know EJ wasn't fond of our relationship, and he definitely made it known when we were in the car together."

She sighed. "Well, don't worry about it. I was never in love with him anyway and could sense it wouldn't last throughout senior year. If anything, you being in that car with us saved EJ and I some time since there's no telling when we would've finally parted ways."

"I'm still sorry though."

She shrugged. "I'll be okay. I have you and our friends, which is more than enough."

"I'm gonna be single for the rest of high school for peace of mind. I just wanna enjoy my final year without worrying about a significant other."

Nini nods, faintly smiling. "Yeah, I'm gonna join you on that. Relationships apparently aren't meant for me."

Ricky smiles. "I can't wait to spend the next few months with you."

"Yeah, me too. I can't believe this is the last year before college."

Ricky frowns at the mention of college, but he swiftly covered it up with a smile. "Yeah, it's weird, right?"

"I feel like we blinked and suddenly we're almost graduates."

"I hope I get to check off some things before we head off though."

"Like what?"

He shrugs as he thinks. "I've never been skinny dipping."

Nini blushes at the thought of him being naked. "Me neither. Is that something you wanna do before you go to college?"

"Yeah, it seems fun. Wanna join?"

She'd be damned if she passed up an opportunity like this. "Absolutely."

"How about we do all the things we wanna accomplish during the summer before college?"

Nini perks up. "Like a bucket list?"

Ricky lights up as well. "Yeah, exactly like a bucket list."

"We should start writing down all of the stuff we wanna do so we can just plan our whole summer around it."

"I like your thinking, Sal-Robs."

Nini pulled out a sheet of notebook paper from her book bag and a pen. They both began writing down all of their ideas, excited for May to finally come.

***

Labor Day weekend sprung up on them, but no one was complaining since they already needed a break from school work and college applications.

All of the friends were stressed about where they'd go next fall. Ricky was still iffy about attending. He didn't really think it was necessary, but he admits a part of him would regret it if he didn't at least pursue it once. He didn't tell his friends that since all of them were dead set on going to some university. He overheard all of the amazing schools they considered and felt left out since he hasn't even bothered to look.

He specifically remembered which schools Nini was looking at. If he did attend college, he wanted to ensure that he went to the same school as her or a school that was close enough so that he could visit. He knew it wasn't wise to apply to schools strictly because one of his friends was there, but Nini was different. He isn't sure what he'd do if she ended up going to some school on the opposite coast.

But he pushed back all those anxieties away so he could celebrate this weekend he was spending with his friends. They all decided to pitch in and rent out an Airbnb house they found near Park City Mountain so they could do activities without their parents hovering over them.

Big Red was the oldest of the group and turned 18 in late August, which was perfect since you needed to be at least 18 to rent a home. Despite that fact, the others also had to be 18 and older to be left there alone without adult supervision. So, Gina got her older brother to print the rest of them fake ID's.

They all carpool in two different cars, Ricky's SUV and Ashlyn's mom's van. The moment they pulled up to the home, they all felt their excitement kick in. When both cars parked, the teens were quick to evacuate the vehicles so they could check out the house they'd be spending the weekend in.

Carlos was the first one to step foot in the home. "Holy shit, this place is amazing."

Seb came in soon after him. "Oo, the living room is cozy. It'll be nice to hang out here after a long day of activities."

Gina barges through the front door and hurriedly scans the place until she spots the hallway leading to the bedrooms. "I call dibs on the solo bed!" She made a break for it before the others caught onto what she was doing. When they did, the friends who were already inside began claiming which bed they'd sleep in.

Ricky, Nini, and Red were the last ones to enter and noticed everyone was gone.

"Guys?" Ricky calls.

Ashlyn came down the hall. "Hey, we were just picking out our beds."

Red groans. "Dammit! I was hoping to get in here before you guys did that!"

"Yeah, there's a little bit of a delay. There's only one bed left. One person can either sleep on the pull out couch, or you guys can somehow make it work between the three of you in one bed. Completely up to you guys though."

The trio looked between each other, trying to decide who was going where. Red sighs. "I'll be on the pull out couch. I don't like sleeping next to people anyway."

"You sure, bud?" Ricky asks.

"Positive. Besides, I know you two wanna sleep together."

Ashlyn and Red snicker as they watch Nini and Ricky's faces turn red.

Ricky clears his throat. "Well, I guess that's settled. Where's our room?"

"The first one on the left." Ashlyn answers.

Ricky nods as he and Nini make their way to their room. When he opened the bedroom door, he realized it was definitely a master's sweet.

"Home sweet home." He says as he tosses his things to the side.

"Yep."

"So uh, which side of the bed do you want?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Alright then." He put his charger on the left side since he normally laid there when they slept in the same bed.

"Alright guys, let's get back in the cars. Our first activity starts in 15 minutes!" Gina announces loudly, already changed into her swimsuit.

Nini throws her belongings in the closet before smiling at him. "Ready?"

"Born ready."

"Let's go."

Ricky interlaces their fingers as he guides her out of their room.

The first thing they did was go tubing. Most of them went solo, but Gina and Ashlyn and Ricky and Nini wanted to pair up. The solo tubers went first while Gina and Ashlyn were currently pushing their tied tubes into the river.

Ricky was struggling to get into the tube while Nini tried to coach him how to without toppling over.

"Dammit Ricky, it's really not that hard."

"It is for me!"

"How? You're much taller than me, so it should be easier."

"Keep in mind that this is my first time."

"Tubing virgin."

Ricky stuck his tongue out at her. He hops in and finally makes it in successfully. Nini, Gina, and Ashlyn applauded him, and he pretended to bow.

"Thank you, it took a lot of hard work and effort."

"It only took you 5 minutes, but you got there." Nini teases.

"Hush, Oompa Loompa."

She mocks offense and splashes some of the water at his face, making him yelp. She laughed at him, and he retaliated by splashing even more water on her. She kicked him, resulting in him falling into the water. She laughed as he held onto the side of his tube.

"Ha, ha!"

"You'll pay for this, Sal-Robs."

"Yeah, right."

He smirks wickedly as he swims under her tube and turns her over. She plummets into the cold river and quickly emerges from the water. "You dick!" She says light-heartedly.

"You are what you eat."

She grimaced and splashed him some more. They ended up getting into a whole splashing contest that concluded with Ricky dunking her under the river while an unamused lifeguard instructed them to get into their tubes.

After they went tubing, they decided to spend the rest of the day in the house. While some were in the showers or changing, Red ordered them all Chinese takeout so it was ready for them when they were done.

Nini and Ricky had a bathroom in their room, and Ricky was occupying the shower at the moment while Nini typed away on her laptop at the desk in the their room. She brought it since she needed to take a quiz for school before 8 pm and completely forgot about it until it was 7 pm.

She overheard the bathroom door creak open, indicating he was done with his shower. She didn't pay him any mind until her peripheral vision noticed that he was shirtless. Her eyes crept up his body, and she almost forgot how to breathe.

Ricky stood at the door frame with a towel loosely hanging from his hips that was so low that she could see his V-line. If it were to slip even a few inches, she'd be getting the full show. Water droplets were dripping down his perfect torso that seems to only be getting more defined with time.

Nini felt her cheeks heat up and purposely forced her eyes to stare back at her screen to prevent from ogling him.

"Hey, you done with your quiz yet?"

She gulps nervously, scared that her voice would be shaky. "Oh um, yeah. I just finished it."

"You didn't want dinner? It should be here by now."

"I'm actually not that hungry. Also, I'm aware everyone intends to drink heavily tonight, but I don't. I'm probably gonna be lame and stay in bed tonight. Tubing surprisingly made me tired."

Ricky chuckles as he disappears behind the door to grab a few things. "What tubing? We basically fought in the water the whole time."

She waves him off. "Same thing." She gets up from the desk and gets into the bed.

She doesn't even know he changed into his boxers and tank top until he's crawling into the bed too.

"Wait, you're not drinking tonight?"

"Nah, I'm not in the mood, and I'm not too hungry either."

"Wow, we're gonna get called mom and dad in the morning for turning in this early."

"Oh absolutely."

He scoots closer to her, and Nini couldn't fight the urge to stare at his perfect arm muscles. She wanted to press her lips on them so badly and be held by them to help her go to sleep.

"Neens."

"Hm?"

"Why're you blushing?"

She feels her heart skip a beat. She couldn't believe she got caught red-handed. "Oh um, I'm cold!"

He raises a brow but lowers it before pulling her into a spooning position. She instantly melted in his embrace and wanted to be engulfed in his arms forever.

"This better?"

She smiles and nods, resting her hands on top of his as she snuggled with him. "Much better."

He kisses her shoulder before deciding to go to sleep, with her following along afterwards.

Chapter Text

The East High theater was loud as the students awaited for Miss Jenn to enter the building. She usually only ran late like this whenever she was planning something big or whenever she overslept.

Ricky was talking amongst the other students when Miss Jenn barged through the theater doors with her contagious smile on her face.

"Good morning my lovely pupils!"

Ricky checked the time on his phone and saw that it was 1:15 pm, but he didn't have the heart to tell her that.

"You must be wondering why it took me ten minutes to get here, but I can assure all of you that I have a valid reason!" She sing songs.

She only is this jolly when there's something major going on, so Ricky decided to fully pay attention.

"Can anyone guess what's in my hands?" She lifts the stack of papers to display.

"Is it flyers for our next play?" One of the kids asked.

"Nope!"

"Is it tickets to a local show?" Another kid asked.

"Not even close! Oh, I can't contain it anymore! In my hands is a once in a lifetime opportunity to possibly spend up to four years in the one and only, drum roll please..."

The kids all smack their hands on their thighs for dramatic effect.

She holds up her hands as her way of requesting silence. She smiles widely.

"I have essay applications to get into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland!"

The theater kids all gasped. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is one of the world's best performing arts schools, and having a scholarship there was a huge deal if you wanna pursue anything in the arts.

"Settle down! I know this is great news, but unfortunately they're very picky about who they choose, especially when it comes to foreigners. They only choose up to 20 kids from America from different states, meaning only one of you will most likely be able to attend. If you're interested in doing it, I have enough forms for all of you to fill out. Think of the first year as kind of a 'test run' to see if that place was meant for you. They dive more into that within the information section. I'll lay it on the stage here for you guys to—oh dear!"

A bunch of the students ran to the stage before she could even finish her statement, snatching forms left and right. The moment they sat down, they began filling in the documentation. Ricky was one of the few that didn't bother to get up since he was still skeptical about college. Miss Jenn noticed he didn't get up and frowned, but she didn't say anything.

"Now that that's settled, let's get into today's lesson. We're doing monologues again!"

The students groan, but she doesn't let that harsh her mellow.

"That's the spirit. Now, come get the rubrics for the assignment from the stage as well."

Fifty minutes later, the theater class is zooming out the doors. Ricky was slowly packing his belongings since he was in no rush to leave. Miss Jenn saw this as an opportunity to approach him.

"Ricky!"

Ricky turns his attention to his teacher. "Yes?"

"May I have a moment with you before you leave? I promise it won't take too long."

"Uh yeah, sure." He was nervous since he immediately assumed he did something wrong somehow.

She pulled him into a private corner, not wanting to go all the way to her office backstage for a short convo.

"I couldn't help but notice that you didn't pick up an application."

Ricky sighs of relief when he realizes he's not in trouble.

"Oh yeah. I didn't really see the point."

"Why's that?"

"Well, there's no way my dad could afford that, and I'm sure there's better competition out there."

"I actually looked into finances, and I saw that the school offers to pay 50% of international students' tuition. Regarding your talents, you are more than capable of applying."

"I don't know, Miss Jenn. That's still a lot of money to pay even with the 50% off. Also, I still don't think I'm the best there is in Utah and certainly not the country. There's no way they'd accept me."

"You never know, dear."

She handed him the application. "All you have to do is write an essay stating why you feel like you deserve this and send your high school credits of course. Then, you'd send a disc or flash drive of you performing. It can be you playing guitar, singing, or acting, as long as it's related to performing arts."

Ricky sighed. "I don't even know if I want to go to college."

"That's fine, but it won't hurt to look into it."

Ricky nods. "Alright, I might look into it, but I'm not promising anything."

Jenn beamed and clapped. "Great! See you tomorrow!"

Ricky gives her a polite grin before exiting the theater. A few seconds after he was in the hall, two hands wrapped around his torso. He looked down and saw Nini hugging him with a big smile on her face as she rested her chin on his chest.

"I'm ready for the road test!"

He smirks. "Oh, am I supposed to take you to that today?" He says teasingly.

She rolls her eyes playfully. "You're not fooling anyone." She releases him, interlaces their fingers, and drags him down the hall.

~

Ricky found himself staring at his ceiling that night, trying his best to go to sleep. His mind was all over the place, and he wasn't sure why. He didn't know what the best remedy was to cure his restlessness, so he got up to look around his room for something to entertain him.

He walks up to his desk to play some games on his laptop, but he gets sidetracked by a sheet of paper that he forcefully put in the back of his mind. He repeatedly glances over the fine print until he's read the entire document. He didn't even recognize he'd sat down as he read it over.

He doesn't know what it was, but he suddenly felt the need to open his laptop and begin writing to a school he didn't even think he wanted to go to. And the most surprising thing of all was that he couldn't stop typing until all of his thoughts were written.

***

Thanksgiving has always been kind of a meh holiday for Ricky. It's not like he had anything against it; it just never piqued his interest. That is until he started spending Thanksgiving with the Salazar-Roberts family. Before them, his dad and him would buy a pre-cooked turkey and heat up some pre-cooked sides from their local deli. Having a home cooked meal by Dana and Carol was definitely a step up from that.

But this year was different because the Salazar-Roberts went down to Flagstaff for the holiday for almost an entire week. Dana and Carol wanted to meet the rest of Bex's family and thought it was wise to bond with them since Nini intended to keep in contact with the Quinn's. Ricky considered asking if he could tag along, but he decided against it since that was an important bonding moment. Also, that would mean leaving his dad all alone, and he couldn't do that to him.

Ricky felt lost without Nini on Thanksgiving since he could barely recall a time where he didn't spend it with her. Now, his dad and him were going to go back to their old ways and pick up some pre-cooked food.

After his sorry excuse for a meal, all he did was lounge around his house as he waited for Nini to Facetime him like she promised. He'd been texting her nonstop all day since he was bored and missed her, and she said she'd call him later when the household was more calm.

Ricky was aimlessly tossing a ball in his room when he heard the Facetime ringtone. He drops what he's doing and rolls over to his nightstand where his phone had been charging. He smiles when he sees the ID and answers.

"Hey, Ricky!"

He smiles. "Hey!"

"You seem excited."

"I am."

"Why? It's just me."

"You said it like you're not worth getting excited over."

She blushes and covers it with her hair. "You're too sweet. I forget you get all compliment friendly around the holidays."

"Yeah, but it's really only with you."

"And why is that?"

"Because...well." He couldn't come up with a good excuse, so he decided to change the subject. He overheard the wind on the other side of the phone. "Are you outside?"

"Oh, yeah. That was the only way I could get privacy, and the cool air is nice since it was getting stuffy in there."

"Despite the stuffiness, did you have a good Thanksgiving?"

She smiles and nods. "Yes, I've had a great time so far. My moms love the Quinn's a lot, and they love my moms too. All the food was delicious, and we even watched a few Thanksgiving specials. Bex slipped me a taste of her champagne as well."

Ricky grins. "Well, I'm glad you guys are having a blast."

"I'd love to come back for New Year's!"

Ricky's smile dropped. "Oh, so you'll be gone for New Year's too?"

"Well, it's not set in stone yet, but Bowie was the one who brought it up. My moms said they already had plans, but I'd love to come spend it with them since I don't have any at the moment."

"Oh, okay. Yeah, that seems like a good time." He says, trying to not sound disappointed.

"You're invited of course."

He perks up. "Really?"

"Duh, I can't start a new year without my best friend. Plus, who else would take me?"

"Well, technically you can now since you miraculously passed that driver's test."

"True, but I haven't reached my six months yet, nor do I have a car. So, you have to take me anyway."

"I'll gladly take you."

"Great, Bowie will be pleased to know you're coming down. He kept asking about you today, and now the girls have convinced him that we're dating."

Ricky chuckles. "Of course, they did."

"So, tell me about your day."

"It was nothing special. Dad and I just ate a bunch of pre-made food, and that's it."

"Sounds relaxing."

"That's a nice way of saying it was boring."

"You said it, not me."

He giggles. "I really miss you."

She smiles. "I miss you too. Luckily, I'll see you in two days. Then, we can spend the last day of the break together."

"Sounds like a dream."

Nini's phone began ringing, and she noticed it was Dana.

"Dammit."

"What?"

"Ricky, I have to go. I can tell my Momma D wants me back inside. She doesn't really trust the neighborhood."

"Oh, that's okay. I'll talk to you later then?"

"Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow. Bye!"

"Bye."

When she hung up, he felt lonely again. He tosses his phone to the side of the bed and looks at the photo of them on his nightstand. It was one of the many photos from the photo shoot she made them do for his 16th birthday. He smiles as he recalls that marvelous day, and he felt his heart warm up at the thought of holding her in two days.

***

Christmas Eve was one of Ricky and Nini's favorite days of the year. Of course, Christmas Day was better, but the anticipation Christmas Eve brought was always fun for the pair. Ever since they were little, they've spent the 24th together since that was what they referred to as the "activity day." They called it that because that's when they'd do all the fun holiday festivities.

Ricky patiently sits by the front door and hops up when he hears the doorbell. He swings open the door and smiles when he sees his favorite person on earth. He pulls her into a hug and swings her around, making her giggle. He sets her down on the ground but doesn't let go.

She cups his face. "Well, it's nice to see you too."

He smiles and rubs his thumb on her hips. "Shall we get started on the gingerbread house? I already got the box out."

"Did you check if it was broken?"

"I made sure I didn't break it this time."

"You didn't eat the icing again, did you?"

"No, ma'am."

"Good, then let's start."

He follows her into his kitchen, and they begin removing all the objects from the box. They used to do competitions on who could make the best gingerbread house in the shortest amount of time, but they stopped around middle school when they realized making it together was more enjoyable and less messy. It took about 30 minutes of light-hearted bickering and hard work, but they were able to finish it.

Ricky smiled with pride at their work. "Damn, I've really outdone myself this year."

She nudges him. "Don't you mean we?"

"I did most of the decorating."

"All men do is lie."

"Putting on the icing was an intense task."

"Calm down. You made it sound like you actually built a house."

"Technically I did; it was just made out of gingerbread. Checkmate, Sal-Robs."

She laughs and gently slaps his arm. "You're stupid."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

They left the gingerbread house alone in the kitchen before they brought out the popcorn and threads. After they finished up their usual activities, they decided to rest by the fireplace for the remainder of the night.

"Do you want to grab some blankets before we head to the living room?" Ricky asks.

"Sure, I'll help you bring some."

"You don't have to."

"I know, but I want to."

He lets it go since she'd just follow him anyway. They walk down the hall and stand in front of the closet. As Ricky opens it, a string with something green attached to it smacks him on the forehead. Luckily, it was light, so it didn't hurt.

He rubs his head. "The hell was that?"

Nini blushes when she realizes what the object was. Ricky finally observes the object and goes still when he registers what it was.

A mistletoe.

Who the fuck puts a mistletoe in the closet?

He looks at her nervously. "Oh, we don't have to do it."

"Oh yeah, I know."

They both stood there awkwardly, avoiding one another's eye.

"Unless..." Nini says.

Ricky quickly looks at her, hope slowly rising in him.

"Unless?"

"Unless we just kiss on the cheek."

Ricky was a little disappointed at her suggestion, but it was better than nothing.

"Yeah, that's totally friendly."

"Yep, exactly. And we don't wanna ruin tradition."

"Of course, not."

He turns slightly towards her and ducks down so that his lips are near her cheek. He delicately plants his lips on her face, letting it loiter a little longer than he typically did. Whenever he was about to pull away, she cups his face and kisses his cheek. She didn't notice how close her lips were to his and accidentally kissed the corner of his lips. Despite that, she didn't back out. She also lets her lips linger and leisurely detaches her lips from his face and gazes into his eyes.

They get into one of those intense stare downs that they both love and hate because neither of them really know what to do.

Ricky doesn't even notice what his body is doing until his lips are once again on her cheek, but this time he's pecking all over her face, careful not to graze her lips. She squirmed and laughed at the ticklish yet pleasurable sensation.

She rests her palms on his chest. "Richard, the blankets."

That doesn't halt his kisses. "Yeah, what about them?"

"We need them, silly."

"I can keep you warm."

She closes her eyes as she allows him to kiss all over her face. "I don't even know why we're getting blankets when we're gonna be next to the fireplace anyway."

He smirks against her skin. "Good point." He pulls his lips away from her and drags her to the living room, abandoning the blanket idea.

He sits on his side on the couch and opens his arms out for her. She grins and makes herself comfortable in his arms in a spooning position. He loosely interlocks their fingers as he holds her firmly. She sighs from bliss and smiles when she slightly turns her head so she could see some of his face.

"Ricky?"

"Hm?"

"I had a good day with you."

"Me too. Then again, I always have a good day when I'm with you."

"You're so corny, and you're a liar."

"I'm many things, but a liar ain't one of them."

"And you just lied again. For shame, Richard."

He smiles and begins poking her sides, causing her to laugh and wiggle in his arms. He rolls her over so that she's on her back on the couch and climbs over her so that he could continue his tickle attack.

"Ricky, cut it out!"

"No, I don't think I will."

"I-I'll do anything!"

"Oh yeah? Beg for mercy then."

"F-fine!" She struggled to say as she spoke through giggles.

"Start begging, sweetheart."

"Mercy, dammit! Mercy!"

He tickles her for a few more seconds before he finally lets her rest. She flicks his nose, making him flinch. She chuckled at the funny face he made. They get back into their former position and fall into a comfortable silence. He's playing with her hair while she fiddles with his fingers.

"Neens."

"Yeah?"

"Don't fall asleep by accident again. I remember how annoyed your moms were last year when you slept over on Christmas Eve."

Nini chuckles. "They were only upset because they wanted to eat breakfast sooner, and I held them up. They'll be okay."

"Alright, but I refuse to get caught in the crossfire when they keep texting and calling, asking where you are."

Nini just smiles and scoots even closer to him. They both were starting to feel tired after all the events of today, and Nini's eyes were getting heavy. She yawns and stretches out her legs.

"Tired?"

She nods. "Yeah."

"Want me to take you home?"

"No, I wanna stay here."

"But your moms—"

"Will be okay."

"Neens..."

"I'd rather sleep in the comfort of your arms than in my bed."

He smiles and pecks her cheek. "How could I say no to that?"

He holds her tighter but not so tight that it'd harm her. She welcomed the embrace and melted in his arms, both closing their eyes as they let sleep take over.

~

Ricky shakes her arm. "Nini."

She doesn't move a muscle despite his attempts to wake her up. He used gentle techniques, but now he had to progress. He shook her so hard that she jumped when she woke up. He laughs at her spooked face.

"Jesus, Ricky. You scared the shit out of me."

"Well, you weren't waking up. What else was I supposed to do?"

She stretches and glances at the window, noticing that it was sunrise already.

"Fuck, what time is it?"

"A little after 9."

"Dammit, my moms are definitely pissed by now."

"Oh yeah. For sure."

"I still don't regret it. That was some of the best sleep I've had in a while."

"Glad to be of service, milady."

She grins and rolls off the couch. "Come on. Let's get dressed so we can open presents and eat."

"Don't have to tell me twice."

They quickly put on matching Christmas pj's that Dana had ordered all of them so they could look cute in photos. The two teens hurried into the living room, where Mike had been waiting. All three of them hopped into Mike's car and headed to Nini's. Once they parked, Nini and Ricky jumped out of the car and ran through the front door.

"Sorry I'm late moms!"

Dana shrugged. "It's fine. We figured you'd do it again anyway."

Carol set some food in the center of the table. "Would you guys like some breakfast, or do you wanna open presents first?"

Ricky and Nini smiled at each other, knowing they were on the same page. "Presents!"

Carol giggled. "I had an inkling you two would say that. Everyone's gifts are under the tree, so have at it."

The Bowen's always dropped off their presents at the Salazar-Roberts household since that's where they spent Christmas. It didn't seem to make sense to open them separately when they'd be seeing each other so soon, and it was more enjoyable this way.

The family all sat around and opened their gifts. Her moms got her some new clothes, posters, gift cards, and some items for her future car. Mike bought Ricky some more hoodies that Nini already planned to steal from him, some tickets for Spring Awakening, vans for him and Franklin as well. Bex and Bowie sent over another package for Ricky and Nini, and it contained stuffed animals, hard cash, and clothing.

Nini didn't get nearly as much as she usually did, but she didn't complain. Dan and Carol kept eyeing each other knowingly when Nini reached for the final present under the tree.

Dana took out her phone and began filming, both moms giggling. Nini lifted a brow as she watched them suspiciously.

"What're you two snickering about?"

"Nothing." Carol says unconvincingly.

"I don't believe you at all, but I'm gonna let it slide for now."

Nini opened the box and stared at the object inside with a confused look, making her moms chuckle more.

Nini held up the key that was in the box. "Um, what exactly are these for?"

Dana smiles. "Go look in the garage."

Nini skeptically looked at them before getting up and walking to the garage door. Dana signaled for the Bowen's to follow them to the door as well. Nini opens the door and flicks on the light. The second she sees what's in there, she gasps loudly.

"No way!"

"Yes way!" Carol says.

"You did not!"

Dana nods. "We did to!"

"You guys got me a car?!"

Carol grins widely. "Yep, it's all yours baby girl. We figured it was time since you've had your license burning in your wallet for a while now."

"Thank you, thank you! I love you guys so much! I love the car so much! It's perfect!" She wraps both of her arms around her moms in a big hug.

"You're welcome. I'd say go give it a spin, but there's nowhere to go besides maybe down the street. Plus, we still haven't eaten."

"I'll drive it first thing tomorrow! Thank you again!"

She pecks both of her moms cheeks before running over to Ricky with a toothy smile.

"I got a car!"

"I saw! I'm happy for you."

"I hope you know that doesn't mean your designated chauffeur duties are over."

"Trust me; I know I'm forever gonna drive you around, especially with the way you drive. If anything, I'm saving the public by driving you around."

She nudges him and flips him off, causing him to poke his tongue out at her.

~

After dinner, Ricky and Nini decided to take a little breather in Nini's room before they all played white elephant. They both sat on her bed with the gifts they were about to exchange to one another. They always loved giving gifts in private since they felt it was more special.

Nini scoots hers over to him. "Open mine first."

"Alrighty." He removes the wrapping paper and reaches into the gift bag. He smiled when he saw what it was. "Neens, this is precious."

"You like it?"

"How could I not love it?"

He held up the heart-shaped necklace and admired it.

"Open it."

He unlocks the charm and grins when he sees the picture of 8th grade them. He still remembers that moment. It was during that summer before 9th grade when they hung out in the treehouse. She had gotten a polaroid and kept taking pictures of nature and him. This was the only one she took of the both of them.

"This is so cute, Neens. I'm gonna lock it up in my room so no one can tarnish it."

"I'm glad you like it."

Ricky pushes his gift over to her. "You're next."

She swiftly tears up the box. She squeals when she sees what it is.

"Ricky!"

"Judging by your face, I'm assuming you like it."

"Like? More like love."

She delicately pulled out the very gorgeous earrings and matching necklace from the box.

"Ricky, you've gotta stop one upping me on gifts. I'm struggling to keep up."

"Sweetheart, I will never stop spoiling you. Also, I refuse to lose my title as the best gift giver."

She placed it on her dresser near the rest of her jewelry before running over to him. She knocked him over onto the bed as he hugged him. "You're seriously the best person ever, like no one compares to you."

"You're one to talk."

"Shut up. You're so much better than me."

"No, you."

She chortles at his childish rebuttal and rolls off of him. He rolls over to face her, and she does the same.

He places his hand on her cheek and rubs circles into it. "Hey."

She smiles. "Hey."

She didn't intend to, but she finds herself glancing down at his lips. How could she not when they were mere inches away from hers? To her surprise, he was also staring at hers. They gaze into one another's eyes, scooching closer. Ricky lifts her chin and waits for her to shy away, but she doesn't. Matter of fact, she's welcoming it by closing her eyes and leaning in. Ricky was about to close the gap.

"Kids, we're ready to play the game!"

The sound of Mike's voice scared them and made them jump away from each other. Both were blushing as they stared at one another with wide eyed expressions, not believing that almost happened.

Ricky scratches the back of his head. "Um, we should probably—"

Nin nods frantically. "Yeah, we should."

They both rushed to the door, causing them to bump into each other.

Nini moved out of the way. "Oh, you go first."

"No, ladies first."

"I insist."

"I double insist."

She just forced a smile and quickly exited his bedroom. Ricky sighed and rubbed his hands down his face.

"I am such an idiot."

He takes a deep breath before joining everyone in the living room.

***

Ricky and Nini sing along to Harry Styles' song "Woman'' as they pull into the exit to Flagstaff. They went to the Quinn household for New Year's as planned and were excited to spend the last two days of the year in a different state for once. It was bonus points that they got to spend a motel together again. It made them feel like real adults. Technically Ricky is freshly an adult, but everyone knows 18-year-olds are just kids who can vote now. Bex insisted that they stay the night since they have a pull up bed, but they declined since they enjoyed their privacy.

They decided to head there late since they would have nothing to really do if they went early. Flagstaff was very bland, with the closest attractions being miles away. The only fun activities they could do is go to a rodeo or karaoke.

They finally arrive in the motel parking lot 5 minutes before 10 pm and park right in front. It was just as desolate as the last time they were there, which always made it seem a little creepy. Ricky helps her out of the SUV and grabs both of their bags before they head to the front desk.

The woman smiles when she sees them enter. "Hello, what can I do for yuh?"

"We have a check in at 10 pm."

"Ah, Richard Bowen, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The older woman taps on her desktop. "I see you in the system. Let me walk you two to your room."

She grabs the room key and begins walking down the hall, expecting them to follow.

"So, are you two celebrating anything special during your stay here?"

Nini nods. "New Year's Eve."

"Oh, how lovely. Most people don't come to a motel for that, especially one in this raggedy old town. I bet you two are gonna have a nice little couple's retreat before you head back home."

Ricky and Nini's faces became red. "Oh um, we actually aren't dating." Ricky explains.

"Oh, you could've fooled me!"

The pair chuckles awkwardly. They haven't addressed the almost kiss in her bedroom a few days ago. At this point, they most likely weren't going to.

"Here's your room. Enjoy your stay, and happy new year!"

"Thank you." The couple says in unison.

Ricky takes the keys from the woman, and they walk in. After Ricky shuts the door, Nini plops face front onto the mattress.

"Tired already?"

"That drive was so long."

"Maybe that's because you were awake this time and realized the eight hours can be exhausting."

"Ugh, I could never drive this far. I'm too weary."

He sets their bags on the chairs before kicking off his shoes. "How are you the one complaining when I was the one who drove?"

"Hey, duetting with you was a lot of hard work."

He rolled his eyes as he rummaged through his bag. "I'm gonna take a shower before we go to bed."

"I'll take one in the morning. I don't have the energy for it now."

"Suit yourself."

He grabbed his toiletries and pj's before making his way to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he comes out of the bathroom and sees Nini curled up under the covers on her phone. She smiles when she spots him in her peripheral vision. She pats the empty side of the bed, making him form a cheesy smile.

He slides under the comforter while she places her phone on the nightstand. He lays on his back, opening his arm out for her. She climbs on top of him and lays her head on his shoulder.

Ricky wrapped his left arm around her frame and roamed his hand down her back. She admits she got a little excited when his hand traveled a little further down her spine, and it gave her goosebumps.

"I love doing road trips with just the two of us." He says randomly.

She looks at him. "Yeah? Why's that?"

He shrugs as if it was obvious. "Because nothing's better than spending my entire day with you."

Her face reddened as she pecked his cheek.

He smiles brightly. "What was that for?"

She shrugs similarly to how he did moments ago. "Because nothing's better than seeing you smile like that."

~

After they both got dressed, they went to the same diner they dined in last time for breakfast. Bex and Bowie never stated they were preparing breakfast for them, only dinner. So, they didn't want to intrude and presume they made food for them. They were both looking at the menu.

"So, what looks good to you?" He asks.

Nini shrugs. "I mean, everything is gonna taste kinda meh anyway, so why be picky?"

"I guess you're right. I'll probably just stick to pancakes then."

"How about I get waffles and you get the pancakes, and we both share them?"

"I like the way you think, Sal-Robs."

They end up ordering an impressive stack of both with sides and coffees. They quickly regretted it since there was no way they'd be able to eat this all in one sitting without throwing up or passing out. By the time they're done, they both are slumping down in their booth.

"This was a fucking mistake. Why did you call this a good idea, Ricardo?"

"How is this my fault?"

"Because you agreed with me as if I'm known for making good decisions recently. This is on you."

"Dammit, I hate that you're right."

Ricky pays for the bill without her fussing, but it was only because Nini didn't have the energy to fight for it. They drag their feet to his SUV and hop into their seats, driving back to the motel. The moment they entered their room, they ended up resting on the bed and going into a food coma.

Nini rolls in her sleep, eventually waking up from her slumber. She yawns and stretches out her arms as she glances over at Ricky, who was still asleep. She saw that the sun was still out, but she could tell it was a little later in the day.

She checks her phone, and her eyes widen. She aggressively shoves Ricky.

"Ricky! Wake the fuck up!"

He yelps and falls off the bed. She'd typically laugh at this, but she was too frenzied to.

"Nini, what the f—"

"We overslept!"

"What do you mean? It's only like 1 pm."

"No, it's fucking 7! We're supposed to be there in like 15 minutes!"

That comment wakes him up. "Holy fuck."

They both get dressed into their evening clothes and quickly freshen up.

"You done yet?" She asks.

"Yep, you?"

"Yep, let's bounce."

They sped walked to his SUV and made the short drive over to the Quinn's residence. The moment he parked, they rushed out the car and to the apartment door.

Nini fluffed her hair. "Do I look presentable?"

"Of course, you do, babe."

She bit her lip at the random pet name as she knocked on the door. Seconds later, Bex answers it with a welcoming smile.

"Hey kids! Come on in!"

When they enter, Nini and Ricky are greeted by hugs from Bex.

"Sorry we're a few minutes late. We overslept." Nini says.

"No worries. It's only a small New Year's Party, not a wedding."

"Did you want us to come later?" Ricky asks.

"Honey, you guys could've come at 1 am and still be welcome."

Nini chuckles. "Well, I guess we did all that stressing for nothing."

Ricky nods. "It seems so."

The sound of small footsteps running down the hall could be heard, and the teens didn't have to guess who it was.

Ramona gasps and smiles brightly when she sees them. "It's the couple!"

"Are you two married yet?!" Amy asks.

Ricky laughs while Nini blushes and covers her face.

"Girls, they're only seniors in high school."

Amy tilts her head to the side. "So?"

"So, that means they probably won't get married for a long time."

Ramona smirks. "So, they will get married one day, just not soon."

"I didn't say th—"

Amy raises her hand. "I wanna be the flower girl!"

Ramona scoffs. "No fair! I wanna be the flower girl. You got to be flower girl at Uncle Robin's wedding."

"Mom, tell Ramona that I'm the flower girl!"

"No, I said that—"

"Girls, enough! I never said they'd get married, but I promise at the next wedding we get invited to, I will ask for you both to be the flower girl. Deal?"

Ramona and Amy glimpse at each other and smile. "Deal!" They say in unison.

Ramona runs up to Ricky and takes his hand. "You need to see my doll collection."

Amy runs up to his other side and grabs his wrist. "And we need to give you a makeover. Your lips are dry."

Ramona nods in agreement. "Yeah, you got some bad crusty lips."

Nini busted out laughing at the last comment while Ricky rolled his eyes at her, even Bex was tickled by it.

"I'd be honored to have a makeover and see your collection."

Ramona smiles. "Great, because you never had a choice! Now, let's go."

Ricky looks over his shoulder to jokingly whisper help to Nini as the girls dragged him away. Bowie passed Ricky in the hallway and smirked when he saw his kids yanking him.

"Makeover?"

"Yep."

"Have fun with that, dude. That stuff ain't easy to scrub off."

"Lovely."

Bowie ruffles Ricky's hair as he walks to the common area. He beams when he spots Nini talking to Bex.

"Nini Panini, my eldest daughter! How are you kiddo?"

"I'm great! It's nice to see you again, and oh—okay!"

Bowie picks her up and spins her around as he gives her a bear hug. "Glad to hear it! Hey, let's say you help Bex and I with the appetizers. Those skewers we put cheese on always kick my ass for some reason."

"Don't you just put the cheese through it, and call it a day?"

Bex rests her hand on Nini's shoulder. "For the average human, yes. For Bowie, no."

Bowie nods. "You'll see just how bad I am at it soon. Now, okay ladies; let's get in formation."

Bex sighs. "Babe, stop quoting Beyoncé lyrics to get me motivated."

He smirks menacingly, quirking up a brow. "Don't you mean get me bodied? Good thing you're crazy in love with me enough to tolerate my Queen B puns."

Bex throws one of the cheeses straight at his forehead.

~

The clock read 11:05 pm, and Ricky and Nini were lying on the living room couch as they waited for the clock to strike midnight. Bex and Bowie were playing an aggressive game of Blackjack in the kitchen while the girls were doodling in their room. Ricky still had some left over makeup from the makeover he was given just as Bowie said, but he honestly didn't mind. Ricky was playing with Nini's hair while she watched an episode of This is Us on her phone, her head laying on his lap.

Nini admired Jack and Rebecca as they went on a road trip within the episode, loving how perfect this pair was.

"Hey Ricky?"

"What's up?"

"Do you believe in soulmates?"

He wasn't ready for her to ask that. "I'm not really sure. I guess I do, or at least I'd like to believe they exist. Why do you ask?"

Nini sighs as she glances back at her screen. "Because it was on my mind. I think they do exist, and I haven't met him yet."

"Or maybe you just are unaware that you've already met him."

"Yeah, that too."

They smile at one another, but the moment was short lived due to the clamorous sound of Bowie slamming the table because he won again. Bex throws her cards in the air and cusses him out in Tagalog while Bowie does a victory lap around the kitchen, gloating in her face. He even sticks his butt out at her like a middle schooler would, which makes her dead leg him. He plummets to the ground, causing her to laugh at him. Ricky and Nini couldn't contain their laughter as they watched the ridiculous pair.

"I can't believe they act like that in their 30's. I've never seen that before." Ricky says.

"I find it endearing."

He curls his finger in her hair. "Me too. I hope I'm able to be that playful with my spouse."

"I'm sure you will be." She glimpses back at them to see them setting up another game. "See, that's exactly what I'm referring to when I speak of soulmates. I want what they have."

"I promise you that some guy will sweep you off your feet and treat you like the princess you are."

"Don't you mean queen?" She teases.

He smiles, puffing air from his nose. "Yes, of course. Queen." He reaches down and kisses her forehead.

~

They were in the last two minutes of the year, and Nini was excited for a multitude of reasons. One, she knew that this new year would be the start of the rest of her life since she would be leaving home for college. Two, she was aware that she would end and start a year with a group of people she adores. And three, she had some weird feeling that her and Ricky would be a lot closer than usual next year. She couldn't explain why; she just had a gut feeling. She just hoped it was correct.

"One minute guys! Grab your party blowers and your sparkling ciders!" Bowie warns.

All of them do as they were instructed and impatiently wait for the countdown to get closer to the last ten seconds. Nini looks up at Ricky. "Any new year's resolutions this year?"

He shrugs. "Honesty, I just want to make it to graduation in one piece."

"That's a good one."

"What about you? I know you're a sucker for those."

Nini smiled faintly as she thought. "I just want to spend this year with the people I love. That's all."

"Keeping it simple this year, huh?"

"Yeah, I figured I'd switch it up a bit."

"The countdown from ten started!" Bex announces.

Ricky wraps his arm around Nini's shoulder and pulls her to his side. She directs her attention to him instead of the screen and was taken aback to see he was already looking at her.

"Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"

Despite how loud the Quinn's were, the noise drifted into the background as they gazed into one another's eyes. Both can tell they're thinking of just going for it, but they know that if they do, it'd change a lot between them. And neither were sure if it'd positively or negatively impact their dynamic.

Alas, Ricky ducks down and kisses her cheek. "Happy new year, Nini."

She smiles and kisses his cheek as well. "Happy new year, Ricky."

And boy, was this year not gonna go the way they expected.

Chapter Text

It was the most anxious time of the year, more specifically for seniors.

People are trying their best to raise their grades, some already had senioritis, people were preparing for graduation and college, some didn't even think they'd make it by the end of the semester. Though Nini was concerned with most of these things as well, her focus right now was on prom that was happening in two weeks.

Prom has always been one of the many things she looked forward to as a senior. She didn't go junior year despite knowing she would've had a date. She told EJ that it was because she didn't see a point in going twice, but the real reason was because she didn't want to look back at her prom pictures and see someone who she knew would be an ex.

But this year was different because she knew she'd be looking back at pictures of her and her friends having a ball. She was fine with going in a group, but if she were being honest, she'd prefer if she went with someone. And not just someone, she wanted it to be a certain curly-headed teen she'd grown too fond of. At least then she'd never regret who she went with.

She had been giving little hints that she wanted to be asked by him, but he was either very oblivious or was kindly rejecting her. She'd been purposely bringing it up around him whenever she had the chance and would observe how he reacted. Every single time, she would be disappointed since he'd just nonchalantly acknowledge it and move to another topic.

The fact that promposals were occurring all around her didn't exactly make her feel any better. Ashlyn finally worked up the courage to ask Gina to be her date by performing a song on the flute. Kourtney got asked by Howie, who apparently had been crushing on her for a while now. Red didn't plan to ask anyone out since he didn't wanna deal with the stress, which Nini respected. Seb and Carlos were going together after Seb nervously asked him to go with him through a dance number. She still remembers the priceless face Carlos made that day. Ricky has not spoken about prom at all unless someone brought it up to him.

It was frustrating her since she had no idea where he stood about this, so she figured the best thing to do was ask him his thoughts on it. When they were all eating at the lunch table, Carlos started a conversation about everyone's prom plans.

"Okay guys, I have to know. Are we all going separately with our dates, or are we going as a group?" Carlos asks.

Gina shrugs. "I kinda figured we'd go as a group. I feel like that'd be more fun."

Ashlyn smiles at Gina before looking back at Carlos.

"I agree."

Carlos claps. "Then, it's settled. I'll have my uncle call up his friend since he owns a limo company."

Kourtney raises a brow in amusement. "Well, that's oddly convenient."

"Are you shocked? Carlos always knows a guy who does something we always conveniently need." Seb says.

They all chuckle except Nini, who had been sneaking longing looks at Ricky. She rests her hand on his thigh to get his attention.

"Hey."

His smile went down a little but was still present. 

"Hey."

"So, prom, huh?" 

"Yep, that's a thing that's happening soon."

"Any plans?"

"I only planned to go with you guys."

"No dates? Surely someone has asked you."

"Well, I have gotten a few promposals by these girls from two of my classes and this one dude from my theater class, but I declined them. I'm glad they didn't do some grand gesture because that would've been awkward to reject."

Nini bit her lip to suppress the jealousy she was feeling in her chest. "Oh, how lucky for you. You are a catch, so I guess I shouldn't be that surprised."

Ricky smiles. "So, any dates for you?"

"No, actually. I'm not like you; I don't attract people just by standing there looking all cute."

He rested his chin on his palm as his elbow sat on the table, smirking at her. "You think I'm cute?"

She blushes and rolls her eyes. "Shut up. I'm just quoting what everyone else says about you."

"Uh huh."

"Any who, I was just curious if you were considering asking anyone since it's your senior prom and all."

"Like who?"

She bites the inside of her cheek. "Like maybe someone who is dateless and really would like to be asked."

"Oh, so someone like Skye?"

Nini's eyes widen as she stares at him flabbergasted. "Skye?! Isn't she going with her girlfriend?"

"No, they broke up last week. She could probably use some company. Maybe I'll ask her to join the group."

Nini groans and forces a smile, slamming the juice she was drinking on the table.

"Well, I'd love for her to join us in our little posse. Why don't you text her right now and ask her?"

Ricky raises his brow when he sees how agitated she looked. "You good?"

"Oh, I'm peachy, but it is a little stuffy in here. I think I'm gonna get some air."

"Neens, I'm sorry you don't have a date. I'm sure someone will ask you."

"It's okay. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

She gets up and says goodbye to everyone before exiting. The moment she was in the hall, Carlos slapped the back of Ricky's head, making him yelp.

Ricky rubs his head. "Ow, what the fuck, Los?!"

Carols rolls his eyes. "Oh, don't you act all innocent. That girl clearly wants you to ask her to prom."

Gina nods as she crosses her arms across her chest. "Yeah, it's like painfully obvious how badly she wants you to ask."

"It wasn't slap worthy."

"Yes, it was." "Oh yeah; you definitely had that coming." "You two would look so cute in the photos together!" "Can y'all like bang already?" He couldn't really differentiate who said what since all of them spoke at the same time, but he didn't really try to.

Ricky rolled his eyes as he began munching on his sandwich. "Whatever."

~

"Any particular reason you came over today?" Nini says as they walk to her kitchen.

Ricky chuckles. "Do I really need a reason to be at your place anymore?"

"You got a point."

"I just wanted to hang out with my best friend in your backyard."

She scrunches up her brows. "What? Why? We haven't really played outside since we were in early middle school."

"Which is more of a reason we should do it. We could use the fresh air."

"But it's hot as hell today, and I don't feel like sweating through my clothes."

"How about we go in the treehouse?"

"The treehouse?"

"Yeah, we haven't been up there in a minute. It's about time we revisit the place we used to spend a large part of elementary school in."

"It's probably really dirty and full of bugs and cobwebs."

"That's what raid and brooms are for. Now, can we please go outside?"

He gives her his signature puppy dog eyes, knowing it'd work on her.

She sighs. "Ugh, fine! But you're the one that has to clean it since you want to go up there so bad."

"Deal!"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her through the backdoor. She could barely keep up as he dragged her to her treehouse. He climbed up first to check if there were any bugs he needed to fight off. When he assured her it was safe, she climbed up the ladder. He helped her climb into the entrance. She dusted herself off, staring down at the floor.

"Alright Ricky, what're we gonna—oh my god."

Nini saw that he had put up multi-colored Christmas lights all over the wall and a large banner that said "Will you dance the night away at prom with me?" was hanging from the singular window in the treehouse. He clearly cleaned this place up based on the neatness. She noticed the rose petals spread across the ground as well, and she swore she smelt a hint of lavender air freshener. Her mouth was agape as she marveled at the sight in front of her.

"Ricky, this is just...I don't even know what to say."

"How about you start with answering the award winning question?" He slowly walked up to her and held both of her hands in his. "Nini Salazar-Roberts, my favorite person on earth, will you go to prom with me?"

Nini felt her eyes water from joy as she nodded and beamed. "Yes, of course I'll go to prom with you!"

He smiles as he pulls her into a hug. She loops her arms around his neck, and he picks her up. She giggles as her feet dangle from the ground. Once he puts her down, she cups his face and pecks his cheek.

"You finally caught my hints!"

Ricky laughs. "How could I not when you literally kept alluding to it for weeks? I mean, you literally sent videos of promposals to me and pictures of your dress colors so I could match. I'd have to be a dumbass to miss those so-called subtle signs."

"Was I really that obvious?"

"If Red can catch on quickly, then you're being too obvious."

"Fair enough."

"Watching you squirm was funny though."

She scoffs. "Wait, you did that nonchalant attitude on purpose, didn't you?"

He smiles as he leans his forehead onto hers. "Guilty."

She smiles and playfully slaps his arm, which only makes him smile wider. He twirls her around and dips her. They were both laughing as he held her in that position. Their laughs began to wear off as they gazed into one another's eyes. He steadily sat her upright and pushed her against his chest.

He presses his forehead onto hers and puts his palm on her face, pushing back stray strands of hair. "You're so beautiful."

He didn't even register he said it until it was out in the open, but he wasn't bashful about it. He's called her that word multiple times before, and today was no different. She can feel his heart beating out of control and noticed hers was in sync with his. She drops her eyes down to his chest as she traces patterns into his chest, both breathing heavier than usual. Her eyes move up his body until she's staring back into his gorgeous eyes.

It's like they're back on her bed on Christmas Day, and they're suddenly glimpsing at one another's lips as they close the distance between their lips. Nini gets on her tippy-toes as she leaned in, both closing their eyes.

"Nini, Ricky! Come down from there! Carol just got back from her last business trip and brought you both gifts from Monaco!"

They both slowly opened their eyes and stared at each other before letting go of each other, letting their hands linger on each other's arms.

Nini points at the ladder, not breaking eye contact with him. "We should..."

"Yeah..."

They awkwardly look at each other before Nini climbs down with him following soon after.

***

The school's gym was crowded with juniors and seniors strolling through all the college booths. Today, the school was hosting a two day college fair for the upperclassmen to help them decide where they wanted to go.

The friend group all split up in the gym to look for pamphlets to potential schools. Of course, Ricky and Nini walked alone together. They'd been walking for roughly 15 minutes now, and Nini's hands were practically overstuffed with pamphlets. She'd like almost every single school she looked at, but she only picked up pamphlets of the ones she was truly intrigued by.

Ricky was quietly following behind her, carrying some of her pamphlets for her. Nini couldn't help but notice that he hasn't spoken to a singular recruiter and would barely acknowledge one of them if they greeted him. It was very uncharacteristic of him to be this silent, and it was worrying her.

She spotted a booth that said Arizona State University and smiled. She grabs a pamphlet and turns around to face him. "Hey, look at this university. I heard they have a great art program."

"Is that so?"

"Yep! You should look into it!"

Ricky shook his head, waving her off. "No, thanks."

Nini frowns, putting it back. "Do you intend to pick up any? The only ones I've seen you hold are mine, and I haven't seen you speak to anyone."

He shrugs. "I haven't seen a school that I was interested in."

"We've been to 16 booths, and you haven't been interested in any of them?"

She wasn't buying it, but she didn't fully give up hope. "You know, if you're not too picky about where you're going, maybe we could go to college together."

He steadily forms a smirk. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, think about it. We could live together in whatever state we want and be completely alone. Having you as a roommate would be perfect since you and I basically know what it's like to live together. Also, we wouldn't have to worry about annoying or creepy roommates. Both of our parents would totally be down for paying for it too. You can study to be an actor or singer while I pursue whatever degree I choose after I decide whether or not I wanna embrace a basketball career or not."

"Damn, we chose risky degrees in this fantasy of yours, huh?"

"Yeah, we did."

Ricky thought about everything she mentioned. He did plan to either go to the same college as her or one near her, but he never once thought of living together. The thought of being 100% alone with her in an apartment sounds like a dream, and maybe it'll be the step they need to get to be more than friends. There's no way he'd deny this golden opportunity.

"I'm completely on board with that."

She plants her hand on his arm. "You do know you can choose whatever college you want, right? I don't wanna influence your decision. I'd never force you to just follow me like a lost puppy across the nation."

But I would without hesitation. He thinks.

"There's no pressure. I know that I can choose wherever I want. I just wanna be close to you and whatever your dream college is. Since I don't have one, I'm not gonna be stingy unless it's obviously a bad fit for me, like Yale or something." He made a face of disgust at the thought of going there.

Nini grimaced. "Ew, being surrounded by a bunch of people whose only accomplishment is getting into some overpriced school filled with nepotism kids who paid their way in? No, thanks."

They both laughed at each other's expressions before locking arms and walking to the next booth. One particular college gets Nini's attention. She grins as she reads through the programs and degrees they offered. An older woman who was sitting at the booth smiled at her.

"What degree did you want to pursue?"

"Oh um, I considered basketball, but I don't know."

"Well, we do offer basketball scholarships and other sports."

"I saw that, but I'm a little iffy about making it my career since it's pretty short-lived and requires a lot of dietary restrictions and workouts."

"Well, how about looking into sports related degrees? Like a sports reporter, sports commentator, or a sports podcaster. Almost all of them make impressive salaries, and all they have to do is talk."

Nini didn't even think about that. She smiled and took a pamphlet, reading the bold font of the university's name. "University of Nevada, huh?"

The older woman nods. "The best school in the Southwest."

Nini glances between the woman and the pamphlet. "I'll look into it."

The woman grins. "I hope to see you in the fall."

Nini just smiles as she interlaces her fingers with Ricky's before they walk away, fantasizing about what their college life at this university would be like.

***

"What do you think of this one?"

Red hands his phone over to Ricky so that he could give his opinion on the tuxedo he was gonna wear to prom. Ricky winced when he saw the monstrosity on Red's screen.

"Dude, are you trying to dress like Troy Bolton in that awful blue tux in the dance number of 'A Night to Remember' from High School Musical 3?"

"Oddly specific comparison, but you're right. It does resemble it a bit. Scroll to the next one!"

Ricky scrolled and immediately shook his head. "No. Hell no. I won't even walk inside if you look like this."

"What? It's not too shabby!"

"Red, you'll look like Ron Weasley at the Yule Ball!"

"It was my grandpa's!"

"I'm sorry, but no."

Red groans obnoxiously, resting his head on his locker. "Ugh, this is impossible!"

Ricky lies against the locker beside him. "Well, maybe if your taste wasn't so..."

"Tasteful? Unique? 80s Madonna? 2009 Gaga?"

"Outlandish." Ricky finishes.

"That's what people thought of 80s Madonna, so I'll take this as a compliment." Red snaps in a z-formation and sassily moves his head in a circle.

Ricky shakes his head and chuckles at his friend's antics.

"Ricky!"

The sound of his theater teacher's voice catches his attention. He watched as she tried her best to run to him in her little red pumps.

"Can I talk to you for a moment..." Her eyes swiftly glimpse between Ricky and Red. "Alone."

"Uh, sure. I'll catch you later, Red."

"Yeah, see you."

They do their little handshake before Ricky follows Ms. Jenn to her office. He was about to take a seat, but he held her hands up so he'd stop.

"No need. This'll only take a minute."

Ricky nervously pushed his fingernails into his hand. "So uh, what's up?"

Miss Jenn couldn't contain her smile. "Why don't you take a guess?"

"I literally can't think of anything."

"Not even one thing?"

"No."

"Ah, boo. The guessing part is part of the fun of delivering the news, but oh well." She digs in her drawer and pulls out a manila folder, handing it to him. "Open it."

He was dubious as he slowly took it from her hand, opening it skeptically. He gasped, taken aback by what was inside.

"What's this?!"

Miss Jenn beams. "Congratulations! You got accepted into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ricky!" She blows an air horn, startling him. "Sorry, maybe an air horn wasn't the best idea, but I'm just so thrilled for you! Your dad will be proud!"

He stared at the fine print in disbelief. "This is...this is..."

"The best opportunity in the world! I told you that you were talented, and I'm glad this school is smart enough to clock that too!"

Ricky couldn't believe it; he really got in. He never fathomed he'd actually get an acceptance letter since his essay was unscripted and raw and didn't even follow the directions in its entirety. He smiled when he thought of all the things he could accomplish there and what a degree from there would look like if he were to apply to certain music related jobs. He's never really had a dream job, but he did know he wanted to at least work in the theater and/or sing. This school would be amazing for his future in the arts.

Then, he realizes that he'd be very far away from loved ones or anyone he knows. It'd be almost impossible to come home often since it'd cost an arm and a leg, and his dad would probably only be willing to pay for airline tickets for Christmas and summer break, meaning he'd spend Thanksgivings alone. Maybe he could make some friends there that would let him join their dinner so that he wasn't alone in his dorm eating deli turkey. And finally, a certain girl appears in his head, and his smile falters.

Nini.

She had been so excited about spending college together with him, and he really loved the idea of it too. He was already looking forward to all the places they'd travel to and late nights they'd spend together. He's never been apart from her for this long, and he isn't sure he wanted to be.

Jenn could sense he was having an internal battle and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"Sweetie, you don't have to decide now. You have 'til June 20th to make a decision, which gives you plenty of time to work out the kinks."

Ricky nods. "I'll think about it."

"I know you'll make the right decision."

The bell for second period rings, causing Ricky to begin walking to the door. "I'll catch you later, Miss Jenn."

"Hey."

He stops and turns around to face her. "Yes?"

She smiles teasingly. "When you become a huge star, make sure to thank me in your speeches."

He smiles and puffs air from his nose. "You have my word."

"Good, now go to class. I don't want you ruining your attendance even more in your last semester."

He nods. "Yes, ma'am."

He waves at her before heading to his pre-calc class. He kept tracing his thumb over the sentence stating that he was accepted, still not believing it. He stared at it a little longer before delicately placing it in his book bag.

***

Ricky patiently waited at the bottom of Nini's stairs, checking the clock every few seconds. Kourtney was doing the last few preparations on Nini's makeup for the prom, and Kourtney shooed Ricky away when he tried to check on her the first time. Kourtney claimed that he would distract her and would ruin the big reveal of her outfit. He thought she was being ridiculous; it's not like they were getting married or anything. He didn't wanna slow her down, so he decided to wait by the stairs. 

Kourtney ran as fast as she could to the top of the stairs. "She's ready!"

Ricky straightened up and pressed down any wrinkles he spotted on himself. Dana, Mike, and Carol all got their cameras ready. Ricky heard her heels clicking as she approached the stairs, anticipation building inside him.

When she finally appeared, he was blown away. She was wearing the jewelry set he got her for Christmas, which flattered the red dress she'd been wearing. Her makeup looked as if it was done by a professional, and he was impressed with Kourtney's skill. Her hair had been loosely curled in a half up half down hairstyle, complemented with little fake pins that look like jewels.

Well, call her a dementor, because damn did she take his breath away.

Nini carefully made her way down the stairs, smiling brightly. When she got to the bottom, she walked up to Ricky.

"Neens, you're breathtaking."

She blushes. "Stop."

"I'll never stop complimenting you."

"Can you two stop flirting so we can meet everyone outside?" Kourtney asks.

Ricky sighs as he slides her corsage on her wrist. "It's a perfect fit." Just like us.

Everyone in the house went to the front lawn where the rest of the gang and the limo were waiting. The gang all complemented one another's outfits and all stood in a horizontal line for pictures. The three parents all snapped various photos of the large group, splitting them up by gender and individual dates at times. When it was time to go, the teens all rushed inside the limo, waving off the parents.

Gina waits until they're far away enough from the parents until she whips out a large bottle of champagne, courtesy of Jamie.

"Let's get this night started, bitches!"

They all cheered as they grabbed the wine glasses that were provided in the limo, Gina filling up each glass to the brim.

"Geez, we're gonna be tipsy by the time we get to the aquarium if we keep filling these glasses up like this." Red says as he happily accepts a third glass.

"You know, it's wild that they can afford to pay for a ballroom in the aquarium, but they somehow can't pay for the amazing art programs we have." Ashlyn points out.

Ricky claps to that, knowing that from personal experience all too well. "Preach!"

"Sounds like we should drink to that." Gina says with a devious smirk.

Kourtney chuckles. "You'd drink to anything."

Gina lifts her glass to her. "You got me there."

They arrived at the aquarium 15 minutes later, and most of them were rather tipsy but still functional. They all chewed gum and sprayed some extra cologne and perfume on themselves in case the liquor smell lingered on their clothes. Ricky made sure to get out of the limo first before Nini so he could help her out of the limo like a gentleman.

Nini smiled as she took his hand. "You're such a sweetie pie; you know that?"

"I try to be, especially towards my date."

Her face heats up when he refers to her as his date. It always made her feel butterflies when she thought about it. Ricky and Nini walk hand in hand into the building with their friends surrounding them. They all stare at the gorgeous venue. The ballroom had a tank full of colorful fishes as one of the walls, and the dance floor was huge. The theme was unshockingly "Under the Sea," so the decorations were dominantly a shade of green or blue. The food was also mostly seafood, and Ricky is pretty sure he witnessed some jock spike the punch bowl already.

"Anaconda" comes on, causing Carlos to freak out. "We must run to the dance floor. I'll be damned if I don't pop my pussy to the queen on my prom night. Seb, you're coming with me."

Carlos grabs Seb's wrist and begins pulling him. "Oh, okay then!"

Gina snickers. "I love tipsy Carlos; he's always so straightforward."

"I'm about to join them since I too must dance to Nicki the ninja, Nicki the boss, Nicki the Harajuku barbie during my senior prom. It's basically the right of passage." Kourtney says.

"Then, what're we waiting for? Let's dance, bitches!" Gina cheers loudly before running over to where Carlos was shamelessly grinding on Seb. The rest of the gang followed after her and danced to the beat.

The prom was going well for them. They danced like no one was watching, got a little more tipsy since Ricky was definitely right about that jock spiking the punch, sang along happily to any of the songs they knew, and Seb FINALLY got the courage to ask Carlos out, and he thankfully said yes. Best of all, Ricky got to dance really close to Nini. He almost fainted when she accidentally grinded on him when they danced to "Evacuate the Dancefloor." Now, that song would be tainted forever for him, but in a good way.

A slow song that Ricky wasn't familiar with came on, and the singles all swarmed to their seats or to the wall. Ricky smiles at Nini and offers her his hand.

"May I have this dance, madam?"

She smiles back, placing her hand in his. "You may."

He loops his arms around her waist while she wraps her arms around his neck, playing with his curls.

"You having fun?" He asks.

She nods. "Yes, it's been the best night of my high school life, and I have you to thank for it."

"It's no big deal."

"It is. I wouldn't have enjoyed this nearly as much without you."

He smirks. "Back at you, Sal-Robs."

She pulls him closer, resulting in him resting his forehead on hers. They dance in comfortable silence, letting the world around them fade into the background. Ricky fumbled with the part of her dress that his hands were on. Normally, Nini would slap his hands for messing up a perfectly ironed dress, but she was making an exception for him. She doesn't think there will ever be a time where she'd deny his hands on her.

They couldn't stop gazing into one another's eyes, which was starting to become common for them. She has a love-hate relationship with this since she knew it would end with her longing to press her lips onto his. Speaking of his lips, they were looking rather appealing tonight. She was amazed she didn't attempt to kiss him sooner; maybe if she had more liquid encouragement she'd do it. Ricky catches her staring at his lips, and it makes him look at hers.

Ricky gulps. "Nini."

"Ricky."

She meets his eye and notices the twinkle in it. She could probably gander into his eyes for decades if she could. She could tell he wanted to say something, but he was stopped by the song ending and transitioning into an upbeat song. All the singles rushed back to the dancefloor and began gyrating. Ricky let go of her, and she instantly missed his touch.

"Hey, do you wanna go outside? I could really use a breather."

"Yeah, sure."

He takes her hand and guides her through the crowd of sweaty teens. He takes her outside to a pond near the entrance of the aquarium, where the koi fish reside.

"Why'd you bring me here?"

He smiles. "Because I wanted to be alone with you."

She felt that same swarm of butterflies in her gut. They sat on the bench in front of the pond, Ricky resting his arm around her shoulder. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she watched the fish swim.

Nini sighs blissfully. "This is nice."

"Yeah, it is. I needed a little break from all the noise and heat."

"Me too. I'm kinda surprised I didn't come up with this idea first."

"It's always nice to take a little break, especially with someone you cherish by your side."

"I agree. If you think this is relaxing, can you imagine how amazing it'll be when we get to go to college together and do stuff like this every day? We'll be able to chill or go on adventures, just two best friends against the world. It'll be incredible."

Ricky felt his heart stop for a moment. He still hasn't told anyone besides his dad that he was accepted into that university in Scotland, and he still wasn't sure if he was going yet.

He forces a smile. "Uh yeah, it's gonna be amazing."

"I can't wait to get our acceptance letters from the University of Nevada in two weeks."

He puffs air from his nose. "How could you possibly know we were accepted yet?"

She shrugs with a hopeful smile painted on her face. "I can just feel it in my bones."

He considered telling her about his acceptance right then and there. As he looked at her smile at the thought of them attending college together, he couldn't bring himself to do it. It could wait. Besides, he wouldn't want to ruin this lovely evening during her last prom ever anyway.

"Yeah, we'll have a blast for sure."

He ducks down and kisses her cheek, making her cheeks turn pink.

She grins. "Thanks for making tonight magical."

"Thanks for making every moment magical."

She quickly glimpses at his lips again before pecking his cheek. They stayed there for another 30 minutes, relishing each other's company before they rejoined their friends on the dancefloor.

Chapter Text

The group of friends couldn't believe it.

It was their last week of school, and it felt surreal.

The gang were all discussing their plans after graduation this Friday. Ashlyn is heading East to attend NYU for an education major. Gina is pursuing her dancing dreams in NYC as well at Juilliard, and Gina and Ashlyn plan to live together. Kourtney is attending Stanford for a law major and cosmetology minor, Carlos and Seb are both going to Boulder to the University of Colorado; Carlos is going to pursue directing while Seb will study choreography. Red is going to skip a year to help his parents out before heading off to the University of Utah for animation studies. Nini is going to attend University of Nevada to pursue sports medicine and become a sports reporter. She decided basketball just wasn't something she loved enough to make her whole life. Ricky was going to major in theater and minor in music education in case all else fails, or at least that's what he told his friends.

Technically, yes, he was going to major in those two things; however, he never said which university he'd be doing that in. He still hasn't made up his mind, and he only has roughly a month to decide. He did end up receiving an acceptance letter from University of Nevada, but he didn't verify with them that he was attending. After his acceptance came in, Nini and the rest of them assumed he'd be attending along with her, so they've all been very excited about it.

His heart was torn between what could be something great for his career or the possibility of being with Nini romantically. Both were extremely important to him, but he feared he couldn't have them both. This was such a headache.

"Ricky?"

The adorable voice of his best friend breaks him away from his thoughts. "What's up?"

She smiles. "So, I may or may not have made a schedule for us."

He raises a brow. "A schedule for what?"

"For all of the things we're gonna do together in college. I figured we should start planning since August will creep up on us, especially if we plan to share an apartment together. I've already found some places to possibly stay at that're like 2 miles from the school. I'll send you the link to all of them if you'd like. Maybe we can schedule a little tour or something."

Ricky felt the guilt rise in his body. She was in too deep, and he had no idea how he was gonna tell her if he decided to go to Scotland. He wouldn't put it past her if she yelled at him for waiting so long, and he wouldn't even be upset if she did.

Nini's grin falters a bit when she senses his tenseness. She rests her palm on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

He forces a smile. "Oh, uh...yeah totally. I'm just really stressed about graduation and all."

She could tell that he was lying about something and wanted to pry. "Ricky, come on—"

"You know what? I just completely forgot I left my textbook in the theater. I should go get it." He swiftly gets up from the table, leaving Nini bemused and worried.

"Oo, I think that's his last ever sudden storm out of the lunchroom!" Red says.

Nini scowls at Red and pinches his arm.

***

Ricky fiddled with the red cap's tassel while he looked outside of the passenger's seat window, watching cars fly by. Today was one of the most important days of his life. He was graduating, and it felt like he was dreaming.

He didn't realize how fast those four years were until he got to this point, but damn he was glad high school was over.

Mike glimpses at his son and smiles. "Hey kiddo, can I talk to you for a bit before we pull up?"

Ricky turns his head to his dad. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

"I know you are still trying to figure out which college you're going to, and I totally get that you're in a dilemma. But please never forget that no matter what you choose, I'll always be proud of you and will support you."

Ricky grins. "Thanks dad."

Mike pats Ricky's back. "Anytime son."

They arrive at the large stadium and park towards the back since there were already thousands of cars parked. When they got out of the car, Ricky straightened out any wrinkles on his cap and gown to ensure he appeared like a scholar. He checked himself in the rear view mirror and smiled. He still couldn't believe this day had come.

Right before the two enter the stadium, Mike pulls him into a hug. "I'll be waiting right here for you after you walk along with Bex, Bowie, the girls, Carol, and Dana."

"I'll look for you guys."

Mike released him. "Now, go inside before they won't let you in, and don't be shocked when I end up being the loudest one there when you walk."

Ricky chortles. "I'd expect nothing less."

He gave his dad one last wave before running inside to join the rest of the students. Since it was still pretty early, none of the kids were lined up. Ricky was thrilled about this since that means he can hang out with his friends. He seemed to be one of the only ones with a last name at the front of the alphabet, so he was a little lonely up there.

He spots Red's hair first, and he wasn't shocked the others were around him. Nini was the first to see him, smiling widely when she did.

"Ricky!" She runs over to him and wraps her arms around his neck. He grins and squeezes her tight.

"Hey Neens."

"Can you believe it? We're graduating in an hour!"

"I know. It doesn't feel real at all."

"I can't wait to get my diploma and start life, especially since we're gonna be living together in Nevada in a few months. I can't wait for college!"

Ricky's smile falls. "Uh yeah, me too."

The sound of a whistle blowing catches everyone's attention and makes their ears ring. "Alright, everyone get in line. We need to do a practice one before the real deal in 50ish minutes."

Ricky sighs. "Well, I guess I have to go."

"I miss you already." Nini kissed the back of his hand, making him blush.

As he walked over to his spot in line, he kept staring at the lipstick stain on his hand. He thought of wiping it off, but her lips touching any part of his body was worth relishing.

~

Sitting as he watched all of his classmates revive their diploma was oddly emotional. Knowing he'd never be surrounded by the same people he's seen in the halls his entire life was extremely weird. He had already walked maybe 30 minutes ago, and his dad was definitely right about him being the loudest one there. He had no idea Mike snuck in an air horn, and he was surprised Mike didn't end up getting escorted out.

Nini was the second loudest since she stood up and startled whistling. He smiled when she did it and knew he'd probably do the same when she walked. Finally, they get to the S's, and he was happy that she was in the early half of the S group.

Ricky was almost falling off the end of his chair with anticipation. The kid that was right before Nini just received his diploma, which means she was coming up next.

The principal clears his throat before spewing into the mic. "Nina Salazar Roberts."

The Quinn's, Carol, Dana, and Mike all get up and applaud. Mike once again used his air horn except this time a guard came down and told him to stop. Ricky also stood up and cheered as loudly as he could.

"That's my girl!"

Nini bashfully looked at him and smiled as she took her diploma from Principal Gutierrez. Ricky dozed off for the rest of the students since he didn't know anyone after Nini. Twenty minutes later, the final graduate is walking down the aisle. Ricky felt anticipation grow inside of him since he knew the big moment was coming.

Principal Gutierrez walked up to the podium. "May your years ahead continue to be characterized by empathy, compassion, objectivity and a willingness to take risks. May you always lead by example and work hard and play straight. May your successes be many and your tribulations be few and far between. We wish you everything that you so richly deserve in the years ahead; it has been an honor and a privilege watching your progress and success!"

"All graduates please move your tassel to the left side of your cap." The students did as told, smiling widely. "Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you: the class of 2021!"

All the students cheered as they threw their hats in the air. Ricky immediately ran over to where Nini was sitting since she was the first person he wanted to see. It turns out that she was thinking the same thing because he caught her sprinting towards him with a bright smile. She jumped on him, swinging her arms around his neck. He laughed as he swung her in a circle before placing her back on the ground.

"We did it!" She says.

"Yeah, we did!"

She sniffles. "We really graduated."

He would've been concerned that she was crying if he didn't see the evident smile on her face. He wipes the tear off her cheek. "Come on; let's go find our family and friends."

They interlock their fingers and scoot through all of the graduates to go outside. Ricky went to the exact spot his dad said he'd be, and he smiled when he saw all of Nini's parents and his dad waving at them.

"Congrats you guys!" Dana says, running over to them to hug them.

"Thank you, Momma."

Carol comes up and joins the hug with a puffy face. "My babies are all grown up."

Mike walks up and puts his arm around Ricky. "Hey, they're my babies too."

"The married couple has finally graduated!" Amy says as she and her sister run to join the hug.

"And ours even though we met them not that long ago." Bex says as they join the group hug.

"Guys, I can't breathe under all of you tall people!" Nini says.

"Us too!" Ramona says.

They all chuckle as they release them. "Sorry honey; we forget how tiny you are." Carol states, pecking Nini's head.

Nini mocks offense. "Hey, I'm not that tiny!"

Ricky smirks. "There's a reason I nicknamed you mouse."

Nini rolls her eyes playfully and nudges his arm. "Shut up, Bowen."

Dana claps to get all of their attention. "Alright, enough chit chat. Let's take pictures! Let's start with Nini and the Quinn's."

The family all took various group photos together and got some with all of their friends as well. When they were finally done, Ricky pulled Nini into another big hug.

He rests his face in the crook of her neck. "I'm so proud of you, Neens."

"I'm proud of you too, Ricky. You're truly amazing."

He doesn't even notice he's doing it until his lips are planting a kiss on her neck, something he's never done before. He can tell it threw her off, and he can't exactly blame her. She thankfully didn't seem grossed out or creeped out by it and kissed his cheek.

"We should go. Our reservations for dinner are in an hour, and I don't wanna hear Bowie complain about missing it like the last time we all went out."

"Yeah, good point."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and escorted her to his dad's car.

***

That Saturday, Ricky and Nini hosted a joint graduation party at Nini's place since it was bigger. Since it was a mix of families, the party was very large to the point where it was hard to even walk in the house without bumping into someone.

Ricky was hanging out with the rest of his friends outside of the treehouse when he realized just how much he was craving lemonade right now.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna go get a drink. Do any of you want something?"

All of them made some form of sign that they weren't interested except Nini, who walked up to him. "I'll join you."

They walked side by side to the kitchen and were about to dig into the large tub of ice-covered cans until they overheard a loud laugh erupt a few feet away from them. Ricky recognized the voice as his theater teacher, who only made that laugh when she was either really excited or really anxious.

Ricky noticed she was laughing at something his dad had said and didn't miss the way they were smiling at each other. Jenn seemed to find a way to graze Mike's arm and maintain heavy eye contact while Mike kept creeping closer to her. Ricky raises a brow, curious as to what they could be discussing.

"You good?"

He faced his best friend beside him and smiled. "Oh yeah, totally. Let's head back to the yard."

Nini saw the two flirting too, but she decided she'd bring it up when they were alone to see if he were actually okay with it. On their way back to the backdoor, they were stopped by Bex and Bowie jumping in front of them before they could go further.

"Sorry to interrupt you two, but we really need to talk to you both and your parents." Bex says.

Bowie nods. "Yeah, it's a big deal, and we need everyone involved."

Ricky and Nini were alarmed by their tone since they're usually never serious.

"Follow us." Bex says as she and Bowie begin heading towards the guest room. Nini and Ricky look at each other with the same confused expression as they follow the pair. Once they're in the room, they realize all the parents were in there too.

"So, what's the big news?" Mike asks, clearly agitated about being stolen away from Jenn.

Bex smirks as she glances at her husband. "Now that everyone is here, we can finally tell you our big news that we've been keeping a secret for months now."

"And you're not allowed to say no to our gift or else we'll...well, I'm not sure what we'd do, but we'd make sure you'll keep the gift." Bowie states.

Carol lifts a brow. "What exactly is the gift?"

Bex and Bowie glimpse at one another with knowing smiles before Bowie reveals two large envelopes with both teens' names on one of them. They hand the designated ones to both kids.

Ricky opened it skeptically before gasping at what's inside. Mike quickly peeked at it too due to his son's reaction, making his eyes become the size of saucers.

"No fucking way." Mike whispers.

Bex chuckles. "Yes fucking way."

Nini opens hers next, and her mouth drops. "Bex and Bowie..."

Bex smiles. "Look, I know we haven't been active in either of you two's lives long, but it feels like we've known you for an eternity. I guess I technically have known Nini since you were born, but you know what I mean."

"So, it only felt right to give this to you both as a graduation gift."

Dana took the sheet of paper from the envelope and almost fainted. "You're paying for their tuition?!"

Bowie shook his head. "Only half since that's all we could afford without digging into our girls' funds. We would pay in full for both kiddos if we had the money."

"We can't take this!" Carol says, trying to give it back, but the two refuse it.

"Nope, it's all yours." Bex states sternly.

Mike flung the check around. "But this is a lot of money to just give to someone as a gift."

Bex grins. "Well, good thing you two are not just someone then. Besides, I've been saving up a little cash for Nini in case she ever decides to show up in my life, and I'm glad I did. It's nothing impressive, but I imagine it could pay for at least three semesters."

Nini felt tears form in her eyes. "I love you both so much!" She runs over and pulls them into a hug.

Ricky joins them seconds later. "Thank you so much! This truly means the world to me." Ricky knew his dad couldn't afford college for the entirety of it, so any cash was a blessing regardless of how much.

Bex holds them tight. "You're welcome; you two deserve it." Bex pecks both of their foreheads. "Now go play with your friends instead of hanging out with us old geezers."

Nini beams. "Thanks again. You guys are the best!" She grabs Ricky's hand and runs off with the check so she can show her friends the amazing gift they both got.

Bex began tearing up as she watched her daughter run away.

Bowie ducks down to his wife's ear. "You okay?"

Bex nods, smiling weakly at her husband. "I'm just so happy I can finally provide for her."

Bowie wraps his arm around his wife and kisses her temple.

***

It's well after the party, and all of the guests are long gone. Well, except seven of them, which included the Quinn's, Miss Jenn, and the Bowen's, not like they minded. Ricky and Nini were currently in the treehouse, exchanging graduation gifts as they always planned. They haven't gotten to that part yet due to them getting lost in conversation. Nini figured it was a better time than ever to ask the question she wanted to ask yesterday.

"So, Jenn and your dad, huh?"

Ricky was taken aback by her words, but he made a faint grin. "Yeah..."

"How're you feeling about that?"

Ricky shrugs as he fiddles with a branch on the floor. "I don't know. I admit it's a little weird to see your parent flirting with your favorite teacher, but there's weirder things that have happened."

"So, you're not against it?"

"No, but I'll need time to get used to it. I've never had to deal with a stepmom or a woman in my house since I was like three. It'd be a huge adjustment, but I'm glad I'm an adult now and can deal with my feelings more maturely."

Nini smiles. "Well, I'm glad that you're being very mature about this. I personally think they'd be really cute together."

Ricky nods. "Yeah, I haven't seen him smile like that before. It makes me wonder if that's what he looks like when he's interested in someone."

"Well, good luck to those two."

Ricky doesn't respond. Instead, he reaches behind one of the chairs and pulls out her gift.

"Switching subjects, I think it's time for the ye olde gift exchange."

Nini claps with a toothy smile on her face. "Oo, I'm excited. Can I go first?"

"Absolutely."

She quickly rolls over and grabs a small gift box before handing it to him. He takes off the top of the small box and grins widely.

She watched as he stared at it without saying a word, making her a little anxious. "Well, do you like it?"

"Neens, this is so fucking precious. What made you get this mouse keychain?"

"Because you call me it a lot, so I figured it'd remind you of me when I'm not there. And you always need your keys, so it'll be as if I'm with you 24/7."

"I swear everything you do is adorable."

She blushes. "Stoppppp."

"No. Now here, take mine. Hope you like it." He placed it in her hands.

She sat up straight as she removed the wrapping paper. She giggles when she sees what it was. "Awe, a snow globe with our faces in the middle?"

Ricky nods with a prideful smile. "Yep! And if you look closely, you'll notice that it was the first picture we ever took back in kindergarten. I got this so you can shake it whenever you miss me since I'll be gone for a while."

His last sentence throws her for a loop. "What do you mean gone for a while?"

Ricky's eyes widen when he catches his horrible slip up. He wasn't gonna tell her like this, but he guesses he had to now. He had made his final decision a little bit after he received Bex and Bowie's kind offer, suddenly realizing how insane he'd be to pass up an opportunity to live in Scotland for a year. It was bound to be brought up soon anyway.

He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "Neens, I have some news for you, and I'm not sure how you're gonna react to it."

That frightens Nini to her core, but she didn't want to display her fear. "Alright..."

Ricky closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I'm not going to Nevada with you in the fall."

He doesn't hear her say anything while his eyes are shut. He hoped she'd say something, but he was only greeted with silence. He opened his eyes to see hers peering into his. He knew that look of hers anywhere, and he always hated it since that meant she was gonna either yell or start crying.

"What?" She whispers venomously.

"Look, I heard about this program from the theater a few months ago. I didn't think I'd apply to it, but I did. And I got in."

"I'm sorry, did you say a few months?!"

He swallowed. "Yes, months."

"How many?"

"I heard about it the day you got your license, but I didn't get accepted until the week before prom I think."

"Ricky, that's a really long time to keep something that big from me."

He scoots closer to her, frowning when she pulls back. "Neens, please don't be upset."

"Ricky, how can I not be upset?! You let me believe that we were gonna attend college together for months! You had plenty of time to tell me!"

"I know. I know, but I just hate seeing you unhappy, especially if it's from my doing."

"Where the hell is this place you're attending?"

Ricky didn't even look her in the eye before answering. "Scotland."

She just stares at him in disbelief, tears starting to form in her eyes. She doesn't say anything. She just nods, grabs her stuff along with her gift, and stands up. Her movements caught his attention.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to bed. You should get home."

"Neens—"

She ignores him and climbs down the ladder. He watches her walk back in her house from the window with a sullen look on his face. He stayed there for a little bit, not wanting for his dad to know he'd been crying at his own party. When he felt presentable enough, he climbed down and went home.

***

Ricky didn't hear from her for two days, and those 48 hours were hell. He always hated when they fought since her presence gave him life. She's been dodging all of his texts and calls, and she even denied seeing him when he came over to talk. Dana had sympathy for him and told him it'd be better if he waited on her to come to him, so he did. Waiting felt like centuries though.

He informed his dad and friends of his decision as well since they were gonna hear about it soon. All of them reacted positively except Nini of course, who didn't say anything at all in the group chat.

Ricky was laying on his bed, trying his best to not think about his best friend when he heard a knock on his door. His dad was at work, so he knew he had to answer it. When he opened the door, he was shocked to see the very woman he had attempted to get off his mind. He picked up on her nervous body language as she hugged her body and avoided eye contact.

"Neens?"

"Can we talk?"

He opened the door wider for her. "Yes, please."

She enters his home, him closing the door behind her before walking over to the couch. He sits a few inches away from her since he wasn't sure she'd want to sit by him. They stayed there in silence for a bit before she glanced at him.

"Listen, I get that people need to choose their own paths to see what they want to be in the future, and I also get that sometimes that means leaving your hometown. After all, most of our friends are leaving the state. But you're the only one leaving the country. If it were any of our other friends, I'm sure I would've congratulated them normally. But you? You're different Ricky. You're the other half of my heart, and the thought of you being unreachable is tearing me up inside. Even though I'm disappointed we won't be living together or enjoying our college years, I get why you chose Scotland over lame old Nevada. I mean, I can't even say if I'd reject that myself if it were offered to me. I'm sorry I reacted so poorly; just know that it's only because you lied and because I don't want to see you leave. I'll support you in this no matter what."

Ricky slowly forms a smile. "You're okay with this?"

She nods. "Yes, but my approval doesn't really matter. The only opinion that matters is yours since it's your future. I'm glad that school noticed your talents. I can't wait to see you become a big star one day."

"You're seriously the best person ever."

"No. I'm not, but it's sweet that you think that. So, how long do I have you until you get shipped off to the land of Shrek?"

He chuckles at the nickname. "I leave on September 1st. If I don't want to stay, I promise that I'll reapply to the University of Nevada again."

"Don't do it just for me; do it for yourself."

"I will."

She sighs. "Well, I guess we'd better make the most of this summer by spending every moment with each other until you go to DunBroch."

He rolled his eyes light-heartedly. "Can you not insult the country I'm about to live in?"

"No, since it's the thing taking you away from me."

He giggles, not actually bothered by her little nicknames. "I guess this is a good time to whip out that bucket list we made earlier in the school year."

Nini perks up, which makes Ricky smile in return. "Oh shit! You're totally right. We can start first thing tomorrow."

"Let's do it! I'm gonna be around so much that you're gonna be sick of me before I head out."

She scoffs. "That's impossible because I'd never get tired of you."

She moved to sit right beside him so that their hips were touching. He naturally swung his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

"Ricky?"

"Hm?"

"Don't forget about me, okay?"

He kissed her cheek. "Me, forgetting about you? Never."

That makes her feel a little more assured, but she still had some doubts.

"You better dedicate all your awards to me."

"Sorry, Miss Jenn already claimed that spot."

"Dammit, first Mike, and now you? I might have to watch out for this Jenn lady if she keeps snatching up all my favorite people."

"She could never take me away from you; no one can."

Nini didn't reply with words. She just climbs into his lap, throwing her legs on either side of him. He wraps his arms around her waist as she buries her face in the crook of his neck. Moments like these were the ones he'd miss the most, but that gave him all the more reason to cherish every passing second with her this summer.

Chapter Text

A day after Ricky and Nini made up, they started their bucket list. They put outlandish things they never would've thought of had they not been so adventurous when they made this list.

On the first day, they entered themselves into a square dancing competition since they saw a funny scene on That '70s Show that they'd like to reenact.

Ricky glances at himself in his rearview mirror. "We look like we're auditioning for Oklahoma."

"I've never seen it, but I'll take your word for it."

He checks her out in her short baby blue dress. "I don't know how, but you managed to pull that dress from Party City off."

Nini smirks. "I wish I could say the same to you."

He mocks offense, placing his hand on his chest. "Ouch."

She offers him her arm to lock with. "Ready, partner?" She says in a country accent.

Ricky chuckles and locks arms with her. "Don't mind if I do, pardner."

They walked into the building and saw a bunch of older people that were somewhere in the age range 45-65 all dressed in similar attire. The difference between them and Ricky and Nini was that they probably were dead serious about this competition and actually liked their get-ups.

Nini glanced all over the large ballroom. "I'm pretty confident we're the youngest ones here." 

Ricky also looked around and nodded in agreement. "Oh, for sure. I'm pretty sure all of these people have kids or grandkids our age."

Nini saw an older woman who had to be at least 55ish glaring at them, and she was clearly talking shit about them with her partner.

"Uh oh. Looks like someone is intimidated by us."

Ricky glimpsed at who she was talking about and smirked. "It's probably because we have better knees, and I can actually lift you without breaking a hip."

"You're most likely right. Let's show these old-timers that we're just as cool."

"I never thought I'd hear those words before."

"Me neither. Then again, I also never thought I'd square dance, so..."

An old man dressed like a Western cowboy lightly tapped on the mic at the podium on the stage. "Alright, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, or I guess I should say boy and girl." He winks at the two of them, making Ricky and Nini awkwardly smile. "It's time to get on the floor and show us whatchu got! Whoever is able to make it to the end while dancing to the correct rhythm of each song is tonight's winner. Winners will receive a $100 prize to each member. Now that that's out of the way, let's square dance!"

All of the contestants swarmed to the dancefloor, or at least as fast as they could. Nini and Ricky get in the center of the dancefloor since they were already the center of attention. That same old lady that was giving them the evil eye stood a few feet away from them and scowled at them some more.

Ricky, feeling a little annoyed by her, decided to address the elephant in the room. "Excuse me miss, but is there any particular reason you're glaring at us?"

"You're not stealing my reigning champion title just because you got young knees. I'm eyeballing you two." She squinted her eyes some more, which made Ricky turn his attention back to Nini.

Nini puffs air from her nose. "Geez, I guess she really wants that $100."

"Imagine having beef with 18-year-olds, embarrassing."

That comment made both of them snicker. They noticed the woman cussing under her breath at their giggling, but that only fueled their laughter even more.

Suddenly, the first song came on, and Ricky and Nini had no idea what to do. It was Ricky's idea to go into this blind since he thought it'd be more fun to not know the dance moves. He figured it'd be more enjoyable to learn the moves by observing the other dancers. And he was very much right.

They both stomped on each other's feet a lot and bumped into other contestants, including the bitter old woman. The woman snapped at them to watch where they were going, making them roll their eyes. (Nini peeked at her name tag and wasn't at all shocked that her name was Karen. It was almost too suiting).

Lucky for them, doing the dance correctly is not relevant to winning, only dancing on beat mattered. All they had to do was dance until the end, but they honestly didn't mind if they lost or not. It was more about the experience for them.

They danced for a solid hour, and they were exhausted to say the least. Ricky was loosely holding her by the waist while Nini's hands were looped around his mid-back. Nini was resting her head and chest on Ricky's torso while they lazily slow danced. Unsurprisingly, most of the contestants had already quit by then, leaving six pairs on the dancefloor. The bitter old woman was still going strong and never stopped giving them the stank eye since she desperately wanted that prize. It didn't bother them though. If anything, it made their nights that they could upset a Karen.

"You know, you'd think an old woman would have $100 saved up by now. It'd technically make more sense for us to want to win since $100 to us is a lot of money." Nini points out.

Ricky nods. "True, but she seems to only care about the title, not the money."

Nini hums as acknowledgement. "Should we just forfeit? I'm getting kinda tired and am craving a nice burger."

"We could, but only under one condition."

"What's that?"

He smirks playfully. "We have to do the Hoedown Throwdown once before we go."

Nini smiles. "You're on."

They both release each other and begin dancing from memory. Ricky knew it better than her, which she claimed was unfair considering he had theater training. Their sudden upbeat dance moves caught the attention of the others since a slow song was playing. For the first time that night, the old woman smiled at them, but they were sure it was only because she knew they'd lose the competition for going off script. Not like any of that mattered to them.

The contestants who already lost decided to try to mimic their dance moves, which only made Ricky and Nini smile with glee. They were so stuck in their own world that they didn't register that people were starting to approach the dancefloor again so they could dance along too. Ricky pulled her closer and dipped her despite that not being part of the choreography, but she didn't care. All that mattered to her was that they were having fun and would remember this magic moment forever.

***

"I wanna rock n' roll all night, and party every day..."

Nini throws her head back as she laughs at Ricky's horrible cover of his favorite Kiss song. He was purposely screwing up his voice strictly for her entertainment as they drove on the interstate. 

"Ricky, oh my god! You're gonna taint this song forever if you keep singing it like Candace when she's around wild parsnips!"

"You love it."

"Okay yeah, a little." A sign got Nini's attention, making her smile. "Oh shit, we're here!"

They pulled into the exit and made the quick drive to the Four Corner Monument. They happily hopped out of the car and walked hand in hand into the building.

"This better be worth the drive, Nina."

"Or else what?"

"Well, I'll just be very annoyed and then get over it in like two minutes."

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

They walked up to the circle that connected New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Ricky looked down at her with a faint smile. "Ready for this?"

"Born ready!"

"Then, let's do it."

They both hopped in the circle that officially made it possible for them to be in four states at once.

"How does it feel to be in four places at once, Neens?"

"It feels like something I'm glad I did once, but I will definitely never visit again unless my future kids want to do it."

"I completely agree."

"So, what now?"

"I guess we get a souvenir and picture before heading back home."

"Sounds like a plan."

They had one of the other tourists snap a few pictures of them before heading to the gift shop. Nini bought a snow globe to match the one Ricky bought her since she now associates them with him. Ricky got a keychain with his name on it and a bumper sticker. They grabbed some food from the food court and got in the car so they could make it back home before it was really late.

During the car ride back to Salt Lake, they spoke about whatever random topic came to mind. Nini decided to bring up words that they hated.

"Okay, but I still can't stand the word panties."

Ricky laughs, accidentally spitting out a little bit of the fruit punch he was sipping.

"Really? You can't say panties? The item of clothing you wear every day?"

She cringed when he said it. "Ugh, I hate it even more from your mouth. Also, who says I always wear them?"

Ricky lifts an eyebrow suggestively, making Nini blush and nudge him.

"Don't be gross! I mean that sometimes I wear boxers."

"Well, what do you use as a substitute word?"

"I usually call it by whatever type of underwear it is like cheeksters, thong, cotton, etc."

"You're so extra."

She scoffs. "Well, Mr. judgy, what's the word that gets under your skin?"

"I hate the word potty. It makes me irrationally angry when I hear it for some reason. I think it's because of the song my dad sang to me when I was in early elementary school."

Nini giggles. "And you called me extra. Potty is nothing."

Ricky playful rolls his eyes. "Man, whatever. At least I don't grimace whenever I hear the word spunk."

She imitated herself vomiting. "Ew, that's the worst of the worst. Who the fuck says that in the 21st century? Leave that in the 90s where it belongs."

"Don't you mean the 20th century?"

"What? No, I mean the 21st."

Ricky furrowed his brows, confusion evident on his face. "But it's the 20th right now."

Nini stared at him and waited for him to say he was kidding, but she swiftly realized he was deadass.

"Richard."

"Yeah?"

"Do you seriously think it's the 20th century?"

"Yeah, am I not supposed to?"

Nini face palmed and began laughing at him. "You fucking idiot! It's the 21st century right now!"

"But 20 is in front of all our years."

"That's not how the centuries work! You bump it up one."

"That doesn't make any damn sense."

"Well, I didn't create the centuries! Have you thought it was the 20th century this entire time?!"

Ricky's silence and red tainted cheeks answered her question for her.

"Ricky, that's so bad!"

"Look, no one ever told me!"

"How the fuck did your dad not tell you that?!"

"Well, it's not like we're casually talking about the centuries."

"How did you pass high school?!"

"Honestly, that's a solid question."

"I'm so telling our friends about this."

"Don't you dare. I won't hear the end of it from Ashlyn since she's a history buff."

"I'm telling!" She whips out her phone and begins texting in the group chat.

"Nina, I swear to god that I'll flip this car around!"

She smirked evilly. "It's sent."

"Fuck you."

"I love you too." She reaches over and pecks his cheek.

She didn't actually send it; she just texted her moms that they were 5 hours away. But she did consider it.

She tried to hold his hand, but he pulled it away, pretending to be upset.

"Rickyyyyy."

"No, no hand holding for you."

She pokes out her bottom lip. "But I love holding your hand."

"Sucks, you should've thought of that before embarrassing me in front of our friends."

"You can't resist me for too long. I'll just wait it out." She says confidently.

He snorts. "We'll see about that."

Sure enough, he did interlace his fingers with hers only 30 minutes later.

***

"I can't believe you're making me watch this god forsaken film."

Nini rolls her eyes. "I thought you liked musicals."

"Yeah, I do, but I like good ones, not ones starring cats trying to decide if they're worthy of dying to go to some place where they can have a new life in horrible CGI."

"It'll be fun!"

"For you since you're only watching this because you like Taylor Swift."

"Okay, fair point, but it could be fun!"

"It has James Corden in it. How fun could it be?"

"I can't argue with that, but we already paid to see it at the dollar movie, so at least it wasn't too much money wasted."

He rolled his eyes in the back of his head dramatically.

"Ugh, I can't wait to scratch this one off our list."

"Oh, come on Mr. grumpypants."

She drags him to the poor quality theater, and they plop down into the seats. They noticed no one else was there, which wasn't shocking to Ricky considering the ratings of this movie.

When the lights dim, Nini smiles in excitement. "Oo, it's starting!"

"Ugh, don't remind me."

A painful hour and 50 minutes later, Ricky and Nini were staring at the screen with perplexed expressions.

"Did we just watch that?" Nini asks, not quite believing what she just saw.

He nods. "Yes, yes we did, and somehow I didn't walk out."

"Surely, Taylor didn't actually agree to doing this film without force, right?"

Ricky shrugged. "Fuck if I know."

"I've decided to believe that she was forced to do this for my own sanity because honestly what the ever living fuck was that film?"

"I was trying to warn you."

"Can we both agree that was indeed a waste of money, and we'll both block this out of our memories for good?"

"Yeah, I'm on board with that."

"Great, now I'm gonna treat us to a good movie at my place and buy us milkshakes as an apology for ruining two hours of our life."

"I accept this apology."

***

Today they decided to do a group activity with their friends since they knew they'd be flying off to their colleges soon. They all chose to go to a local water park today then go to IHOP and Red's house afterwards.

Ricky and Nini were walking beside one another on their way to a tubing ride. She kept grazing her hand against his by accident at first but then it became purposeful when she realized she'd love to hold his hand. Besides, maybe it'll get that guy's eyes off her boobs if he sees her hold another dude's hand.

He slowly interlocks their fingers and smiles down at her, and just as Nini suspected, the guy immediately averted his eyes. Nini smiles back up at him and notices the skin on his nose was starting to peel.

She reaches into her small bag and whips out some sunscreen. "Here, you need this."

"I already put some on."

"Not enough of it. You're peeling like an orange."

He cracks a smile. "Am I a pretty orange?"

"Yes, you're stunning. Now, let me put this sunscreen on your nose before it starts bleeding."

He allows her to rub a little dot of sunscreen on his face, grinning as she does so. His smile was contagious and made her grin like an idiot too. She noticed some more peeling skin on his shoulders and chest, so she figured she may as well get those spots too. She squirts some more sunscreen on her hands and begins rubbing any spot she could find that needed attention, not realizing Ricky's eyes on her as she massages him.

"God Ricky, are you sure you put on sunscreen? Your body is just screaming for protection from UV rays."

"Sorry, I guess I was kinda lazy."

"Laziness will get you sunburnt, Richard."

"Sorry, mom."

She playfully rolled her eyes at his sly comment, continuing to rub down his shoulders. When she began to travel down his chest, she couldn't help but blush when she saw his abs. He had grown a six pack that was steadily becoming more defined with time, and it was hard not to fawn over them when she's placing her hands all over him.

She doesn't want to make it awkward, so she hands him the bottle. "Here, I think you got the rest."

He smirks and shakes his head. "You may as well finish me off."

She blushed at his choice of words. "Oh um, okay then."

She takes a deep breath before lubing up her hands again. She leisurely rubs her hands down his chest, trying her best to keep it together. She figured it'd be best to avoid eye contact as she did it since she could sense that he was watching her.

It was impossible not to ogle his body and fantasize as she got in between each crevice of his abs. It was kinda driving her wild, and she would definitely have to find a way to cool down after this. Hopefully the tubing ride will wash away her lewd thoughts.

She dabbed the bottom of his torso before quickly snatching her hands away. "Okay, all done!" She says in a higher tone than intended.

"You missed a spot."

She scrunched up her brows. "I did?"

"Yeah," He gently grabbed her hand and guided it down his chest until her finger was grazing the right above his v-line. "Here."

She couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach when she saw how intense his gaze was as he trailed her fingers down his perfect body. "Oh...yeah. Guess I forgot. Silly me."

They didn't break eye contact as she rubbed him down, taking her sweet precious time. She was taken aback when she felt one of his warm hands resting on her hips, forming circles into it. She bit her lip to restrain herself from the thought of ripping his swim trunks off.

"T-there, you're all set."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

"You know..." He caresses her cheek with his free hand. "I'd be more than happy to rub your body down for you any day."

Her face became hot, and so did other parts of her body. "Um, what do you mean by that?"

"Oh, you know, in case you want me to put sunscreen on you."

"Oh."

He smirks with hooded eyelids. "What were you thinking?"

"I'm...not sure."

"Should we get on the ride?"

She perks up and nods frantically. "Yep, let's do that immediately!" She urgently pulls him to the line, ready to cool down from whatever the fuck that was.

When they did get in line, he instantly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and pulled her against his chest. He always loved doing this when they stood in line, so she really shouldn't be this worked up over it. It really didn't help when he had the audacity to press kisses on her cheek and temple.

She wondered if he even knew what he was doing to her or what this looked like. A part of her feels as if he does. If that's true, what does that mean? She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts since it only led to confusion and hope for something that has a slim chance of happening. They are friends. Really close friends who happen to rub sunscreen on each other's bodies, religiously cuddle, and occasionally kiss one another's cheeks. Totally normal and platonic!

She feels his breath on her neck, indicating he was about to speak. "We should go get some ice cream after this, my treat."

"Yeah, sounds good."

"Great." He pecks her cheek before placing his head on top of hers.

His fingers (accidentally?) roam in between her bikini bottom straps on her hips, and her body stilled. She felt goosebumps all over her body, and her heart was racing madly. She felt as if she'd implode.

He seemed to notice her stiffness and checked on her. "Neens, you good?"

She nods. "Yeah, I'm just hot." And bothered.

"Well, good thing we're next in line."

"Yeah, good thing." She forces a smile.

She realized his fingers were still lingering between her straps, and she swore it got closer to her center. She internally scolded herself. Of course, it's not closer. What was she thinking? That'd be out of character of him, not like she'd mind if he did touch—

"Next in line!" The lifeguard yells.

Oh, thank god. She swiftly jumped out of his arms and got in the tube, secretly missing his arms looped around her.

~

After the gang was done eating at IHOP, they went to Red's basement, taking quick showers the second they got there. Since they got home after 11 pm, his parents were already fast asleep, which meant they could bring out the liquor sooner than usual. Gina had snuck in some booze from her brother's not-so-secret liquor drawer in his closet and placed it all over the coffee table in the living room.

Gina and Seb helped pour shots of tequila into red solo cups, Gina purposely making the shots heftier than they needed to be because it's nerf or nothing.

After they handed them all out, Gina lifted her cup. "Cheers to a great summer before we inevitably all go our separate ways in a few months."

The others all raised their cups. "Cheers!" They all say in unison before chugging.

Nini grimaced when she realized just how much liquor was in that shot. "Jesus Christ, Gi! Are you trying to kill us?"

"Precisely, yes."

Nini chuckles and pours another shot with slightly less liquor.

Ricky smiles in amusement as he watches her drink. "Try not to drink too much this time. I don't feel like dragging you back home again."

"That was one time!"

"It was actually three times. You forgot two weeks ago at Red's grad party and the time you thought it'd be wise to get wasted at a Dave & Buster's."

She felt embarrassed as she recalled those moments. "It was a special event!"

"Uh huh, sure Neens."

She rolled her eyes and lightly smacked his arm. "Fuck you."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Her face became rosy since she indeed would like that, but she'd never say that to him.

~

When most of them were tipsy, Carlos began to brainstorm ideas for games they could play. He smirked evilly when he thought of the perfect one.

"Hey guys, we should play truth or dare!"

They all made some form of sign of agreement at his idea, especially Gina who drunkenly giggled in response. They all sat in a circle in the living room on the floor.

"Since I came up with the idea, I'll go first. Gina, truth or dare?"

"Dare, duh!"

"I dare you and someone else in the room of your choosing to do the River Deep, Mountain High dance from Glee."

"Only if I can be Santana."

"Obviously you can be Santana."

"Yay! Okay, I choose Kourtney to be my partner."

Kourtney smiled as she got up. "I knew you'd choose well."

Carlos queued the music, and the gang all laughed and cheered them on as they did the dance almost flawlessly. Since both were rather intoxicated, it was harder for them to get the beats exactly right. It didn't matter though since it was just a party.

The dares and truths got more insane as the game went on. Seb had to drink a cocktail of random things in the fridge that the whole group made, Nini had to do a handstand over a bowl of popcorn for 30 seconds, Ashlyn had to cut some of Red's hair, Ricky had to confess what porn video he watched last and why he chose it, and many other bizarre challenges.

When Ashlyn passed the baton to Gina for her turn, she made a wicked grin as she came up with a devious truth. "My truth goes to everyone in this room."

"Can she do that? Seb whispers in his boyfriend's ear.

"I'll allow it."

"This is kinda a truth and a dare I guess, but you all have to answer it truthfully or drink one of my infamous Molotov cocktails."

Everyone made some face of disgust or fear since they all knew what that monstrosity tasted like. There's a reason she named it the Molotov cocktail.

"I dare everyone in this room to tell us when, where, and how they lost their virginities if it's applicable. Telling us who took it gives you bonus points."

"What're the bonus points?" Ashlyn asks.

"I'll give you ten dollars."

Ashlyn smiles. "I'll take that deal. Hell, I'll go first. I lost it on Valentine's Day to a guy named Theo in my AV club. We went to his house after dinner, and I ended up losing it in the backseat of his car since he was scared his parents would hear us."

"Oh shit! How have you not told us that story?" Carlos asks, laughing his ass off.

"You never asked!"

Red holds up his hand. "I'll go next! I've never lost it!" He says sarcastically.

Kourtney rolls her eyes playfully. "We know, Red. Since I'm already talking, I'd like to say that I'm still a pure soul, waiting for the right person."

Gina lifted her cup to her. "Respect."

"I only got to second base with Seb, but we'll get there one day." Carlos says, wrapping his arm around his boyfriend.

Gina smiles proudly before she goes. "Well, I lost both my male and female virginities. The male one was right after graduation. His name was Elliott, and he was in my dance class. He said he was crushing on me for four years now and finally had the balls to ask me out, so I said yes. One thing led to another, and I'm suddenly panting under his sheets. For the girl, I lost it pretty recently at the AMC down the street to this girl named Talia that you guys wouldn't know. Good thing no one else was in the theater. Well, except that one old dude, but I doubt he heard us since he was way in the front."

"That was a beautiful story." Ashlyn says.

"Thanks, Ash. I can't wait to hear your girl virginity losing story one day."

"I hope it's soon."

Gina smirks. "Me too."

They give each other suggestive smiles before Carlos begins clapping his hands so they'd snap out of it. The last thing he wanted was to watch those two go at it in front of them on the floor. (It wouldn't have been the first time).

"Who's next?" Seb questions.

Carlos smiles when he looks at Nini. "Nini hasn't gone yet."

Nini became bashful as she nervously played with her hair. "Oh! Well, I um..."

The others waited patiently as she stumbled over her words, and she hated that they were all looking at her with anticipation. She refuses to make eye contact with Ricky before she exhales.

"I lost it in junior year to EJ."

Everyone went silent for a moment, not believing what she said.

"Pardon?" Red says in disbelief.

"Well, don't act all shocked! He was my boyfriend after all; it's not that outlandish."

Carlos leaned in, intrigued by this confession. "When, where, and how did this happen?"

"It was around prom season in junior year. I declined going that year since I wasn't in the mood to go to a school dance, so we just went on a date instead. He was being such a gentleman and all, and I don't know. I guess I thought him being all chivalrous was a turn on, so I let him feel me up in his car. He took me to this really nice hotel, and that's where we did it."

"Actually, that sounds kinda nice. Sucks he was a dick in the end." Kourtney states.

Nini shrugged. "It was alright. He wasn't the best, but at least I got it over with."

The others all indeed except for Ricky who had been staring at anything else in hopes that her story would somehow leave his memories. Nini slowly turns to look at Ricky to see his reaction and sees he looks bothered. She wasn't surprised considering his history with EJ. When no one else was paying them any mind, she tapped his shoulder, causing him to glance at her.

"Are you okay?" She whispers.

"I'm kinda shocked you never told me."

"It didn't seem like something worth sharing since it didn't mean much to me."

"I just hate that it was lost to that asshole. You deserved better; someone who wouldn't hurt you like he did."

Ricky was just glad it wasn't to Jay since he was the worst candidate between the two of her exes, but both didn't deserve to be with her either way. He didn't say that to her though since he feared it might upset her.

Ashlyn smirks when she glimpses at Ricky. "Ricky, you're the last one up!"

Ricky scratched the back of his head. "I um already lost mine too."

Nini raises a brow, bewildered by this new information.

"I lost my guy virginity last month when you girls went to hang out at the mall and had a sleepover. Everyone else was busy that day, and I was bored. I happened to go to a comic store and saw a cute guy I knew from the West High theater. His name is Devon, and we hit it off. He invited me over to his place with pure intentions, but it got kinda heated when he kissed me. And I think you know where it went from there."

"Were you top or bottom or did you two switch?" Gina asks.

Ricky chuckled. "I'm not answering that."

Gina pouted and threw chips at him. "Boooo."

Ricky blocked some of the chips and threw them back at her. He looks beside him to see Nini staring at him with a quizzical expression.

"What's on your mind?"

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?"

"Because much like you, it didn't seem like it was worth bringing up. I'll probably never see him again anyway."

Nini nods. She still felt a ping of envy in her heart, but she chose to ignore it.

"Now, Gina owes us all ten bucks! Cough it up, buttercup!" Carlos yells.

"Do I get one since I will never lose my virginity and the game didn't apply to me?" Red asks.

Gina shook her head. "No."

"This seems redist."

Gina handed out ten dollars to each person that answered.

Carlos skeptically analyzed the dollar. "Hey, this is monopoly money!"

"I never said I'd give you real money!"

Carlos stands up. "Bitch, I will curb stomp you."

Gina got up too. "I'd like to see you try, Rodriguez."

Gina ran to the kitchen with Carlos yelling and chasing after her.

"Please don't wake up my parents!" Red ironically yells, chasing after them.

***

"Are you sure this is legal, Neens?"

"Who the hell said this was legal? I know I didn't."

"I think I told myself that to feel better."

"Don't tell me you're gonna pussy out on me because I'm doing it no matter what."

"I'm not; I'm just a little scared of security cameras seeing us, or a Karen who happens to be taking a midnight stroll."

"That's all part of the adventure!"

"If we get caught, I'll never forgive you."

"You're a liar."

"Yeah, I know."

Nini and Ricky were planning to skinny dip at Ashlyn's neighborhood pool. It was the closest pool in the area that wasn't at some aquatic center or water park, and it was the only one that stupidly did not have a gate surrounding it. It was too perfect to pass up. Nini knew that, which was why she decided this was the right place.

They went at midnight since most people were asleep in the suburbs at that hour. Nini snuck out of her front door and met Ricky a little down the street so they could covertly drive away.

"I still can't believe we're skinny dipping." Ricky says as he begins taking off his t-shirt.

Nini giggles as she strips off her gym shorts. "It was originally your idea, remember?"

He thought about it for a second before remembering he in fact did come up with that idea way back in late August of last year.

"Oh shit, yeah, I did."

Once Nini was down to her bikini and he was only wearing his swim trunks, they both stared at each other with blank faces.

Ricky bounced on his toes. "So uh, how are we doing this?"

"Well, usually we'd both just strip completely naked and dive in."

"Yeah..."

"Should we like turn around and strip or something?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

They both face the opposite direction and undress. Ricky was the first one in the nude. A crude part of him wanted to sneak a peek at her, but he didn't since he knew that was wrong even though he probably would see her naked in the pool anyway.

Nini takes off her bikini top and sighs. "Alright, I'm ready to get in."

"Should we get in at the same time?"

"I guess so."

"Ready?"

"More than ever."

"1, 2, jump!"

They both cannonball into the water, making a huge splash. They both arrived at the surface at the same time and smiled when they saw each other.

"It's so cold." Nini says as she wraps her body with her arms.

"Well yeah, we're naked in chilly water. What did you expect?"

She scowls at him and splashes water towards him. "Fuck off, smartass."

"Hey!" He splashes her back, which makes her shiver even more.

"Oh, you've done it now."

She began pushing water towards him, and he did the same. He got closer to her to get more water in her face, forgetting that she was naked. Once he was hovering over her, he registered that if he were to look down, he'd have a pretty nice view of her body. That fact alone made his face warm up.

She seemed to also realize the situation and covered her breasts. "Is this...weird to you?"

"Kinda."

"Should we get out?"

"We just got here."

"I know, but you seem a little tense."

"I'm fine. I just kinda forgot you're not wearing any clothes."

"I don't know how."

"Well, you wear a lot of those strapless bikini tops where I commonly can see your upper chest, so I'm used to it."

"Okay, fair point."

"Why'd we think this was a good idea?"

"Because the point of a bucket list is to do crazy yet fun things before you die."

"Fine, how about this? We stay here for 20 minutes just so we feel like we didn't pussy out, and we'll both avoid swimming underwater."

She nods. "I'm okay with these terms."

They ended up staying for 30 minutes since they ended up playing a longer game of Marco Polo than intended, but they weren't complaining. Nini got out of the water first to get dressed while he turned the other way to give her privacy. Once she was finished, he got dressed as well.

They swiftly grabbed their towels and snickered as they ran back to his car before other people could see them. She smiled to herself for getting through this without it being awkward.

"You know, I think skinny dipping might be my new thing. It makes me feel as light as a feather."

Ricky laughs as he pulls out of the parking spot. "Be careful where you choose to do it. You might get caught, and I'll have to fly all the way from Scotland just to come and bail you out."

The mention of Scotland made her frown since it reminded her that they're doing this because he's moving across the world soon. She quickly grinned again, but it wasn't as bright as the prior one. He picks up on her behavior and holds her hands over the console, kissing the back of it. The rest of the drive was silent, both allowing the fact that nights like this were about to be on pause for a long time.

***

"Now this is definitely the dumbest one we've done. It's even worse than skinny dipping." Ricky says as she flashes the light from his phone on the factory fence gate.

"You might be right. Who's idea was this? I don't recall either of us coming up with it."

"Gina."

"Yeah, that checks out. Why the fuck did we let her get in our heads?"

"She's really good at doing that."

"True, but she also has a very fun and adventurous life, and I'd love to be like that."

This time, they were crossing off the final thing they had to do on their list, which was the most risky. They had to jump a fence into a factory after hours and stargaze. They both chose the Hostess Brands factory since it was the closest one.

"Help me up this fence!"

He gave her a push, and she began climbing her way to the top. He followed soon after and met her on the other side. He dusted off his fingers before smiling. "Step one is out of the way."

"Now, we just have to find a ladder, which I believe is right over...there!" She points at the ladder she was searching for, grinning from ear to ear. They sprint over to the ladder and swiftly make their way up out of fear of getting caught. Ricky helped Nini get on top since she was struggling to reach the edge due to her height. When they got to the top, Ricky laid down his blanket from his bookbag for them to lay on.

"After you, milady."

She grins before resting her back on the warm blanket. He joins her soon after, pulling out two twinkies.

Nini sat up on her elbows and smiled faintly. "I didn't know you packed snacks."

"It suits the occasion to eat Hostess snacks right now, don't you think?"

"I can't argue with that." She happily takes one of the twinkies and unwraps it. She moans in delight when she takes a bite. "It's been like five years since I've had one of these."

"It's been a day for me. My dad is a sucker for them. I think he cried a little when they were temporarily discontinued back in 2012."

"He must've rejoiced the following year then."

"Oh yeah, big time. He bought two boxes worth of them in case they ever had the audacity to take them off the shelves again."

Nini giggles. "Typical Mike."

"Yeah."

They sat in comfortable silence as they gazed at the night sky. The stars were glittering beautifully across the celestial sphere, and Ricky chose tonight to do it since he was aware they'd be breathtaking.

"Stunning." Nini mutters.

"Yes, you are." He slips out.

She blushes and puffs air from her nose. She gently nudges his arm. "Shut up."

"No. You're stunning, and that's on that."

She felt her heart skip a beat and changed the subject before she began fantasizing about him.

"I think this is my favorite thing we've done so far."

"Why's that?"

"It's the most peaceful despite being the most perilous activity we've done. We could literally lose our acceptances to college and go to jail for this if it goes poorly. And don't even get me started on our parents' reactions. I think the only one that wouldn't mind as much is Bowie."

"That is true, but that won't happen. Clearly the security is ass here. It's kind of concerning and insane two teens were able to easily jump the fence to a major facility. It says more about their team than it does about us."

"When you put it like that, yeah."

He took a final bite of his twinkie before placing his and her wrapper back in his bag because he'll be damned if he littered on top of trespassing, not like he'd litter anywhere.

Ricky sighs blissfully as he gazes at the sky. "I think I could stay up here all night. It isn't too warm or cold, and the city is so quiet. I can see why Gina likes to do this sometimes."

"Yeah, I might do this on any night where I feel like I need to blow off steam."

"Can I join you?"

"Absolutely. We can bring Hostess snacks every time we come up here too."

"Sounds lovely."

They heard a car drive by, but they thought nothing of it.

Ricky doesn't know what it was, but he got a sudden urge to be closer to her. Ricky began sliding his hand over to hers so he could interweave their fingers. She caught on to what he was doing and met him halfway. They both looked at each other and smiled. It appeared as if Nini wanted to say something, but she never got to since they heard a voice.

Both of them froze in fear when they heard the sound of someone walking on the ground below them as well as dog collars.

They both immediately got up, and he packed the blanket in his book bag. Nini peeked over the edge to see who was down there, and she silently gasped when she saw it was a security guard and two guard dogs. She felt panic ensue, and her breathing began to become unsteady.

"Who is it?" Ricky whispers as he puts on his book bag.

She looks back at Ricky with frightened eyes. "A guard and two dogs! What're we gonna do? I can't go to jail tonight! My moms will kill me and you! We're screwed!" She whisper yells.

He felt his palms sweat and peered over the building to get a look at the man himself. He watched as he circled the building and waited for him to be far enough from the ladder they climbed.

"Here's what we're gonna do. He's clearly gonna circle the entire building, so we need to get down when he's on the opposite side or at least far enough where he can't see or hear us. If we leave now, we should be able to climb the fence before the dogs or him notice."

"Are you sure it'll work? I feel like you're underestimating the dogs' hearing."

"It's the only way unless you wanna stake out here until he leaves, but that can take hours."

She considered her options for a few seconds before sighing in defeat. "Okay, let's do it."

"Cool, you go down first."

She carefully and slowly stepped down the ladder with Ricky following suit. They both kept anxiously searching for any sign of the guard and dogs. They successfully made it down to the ground and took a breath since the hardest part was over.

"Alright Neens, let's make a run for it."

They ran to the fence as quietly as they could and began climbing it. She was a faster climber so she arrived at the top first and waited for Ricky at the top. "Hurry! I think I heard him coming!"

"Hey, what're you two doing?!"

They both turned to look at the guard with petrified eyes. The guard released the two barking dogs to chase them, which made Ricky climb faster.

Nini offered her hand to him. "Come on, Ricky!"

"Go ahead and jump to the other side. Here's my keys; start the car!" He hurriedly hands her his keys from his back pocket, and she takes them. She was hesitant to leave him, but she did as told.

Ricky was able to get to the top of the fence, but one of the dogs scratched the back of Ricky's leg as he jumped over. It caused Ricky to fall on his back, making him groan in pain. He lied there for a bit before forcing himself up before the guard got any closer. He ran as fast as he could to his car, where Nini was in the driver's seat waiting for him.

He slammed the door when he got inside the SUV and noticed the guard was opening the fence door to chase them.

Ricky looks at Nini. "Book it!"

Nini doesn't hesitate this time when she slams the gas pedal and drives off to her house. They both were breathing hard as they comprehended what just happened. That was close, too close. They sat in silence as the adrenaline wore off. They slowly glimpse at one another before laughing hysterically.

"Holy fuck!" Nini says as she wipes tears from her eyes. She couldn't tell if it was from fear or insanity, but she was too pumped up to figure that out.

"We seriously were about to get in some serious legal trouble!"

"Yeah, we were! Is your back okay? I saw your fall."

"It's a little sore, but the fall was only like a few feet. Nothing I haven't done before in a skate park. I'll be fine."

"What about your leg?"

He waved it off. "He only got me a little bit. It'll heal. I'm not too worried."

"I'm still gonna check on it when we get home."

"It's seriously nothing, Neens."

"I'm not letting you go to bed until I check on it."

He groaned loudly as he rested his head on the headrest. They finally get back to her house, and she helps him in the house despite all of his protests. She assisted him to the living room couch and laid him on his back.

"Nini, I'm fine."

"Take off your shoes, and lie down. I'm gonna get some Neosporin and bandages."

He removed his shoes and rested his leg on one of the pillows. He watched her with loving eyes as she gathered all of the medical supplies and made her way over to him, unaware of his stare. She sat by his feet on the couch and began applying Neosporin, resulting in him wincing a bit.

"I'm glad I looked at it. This needs some medication."

He didn't bother stopping her since she'd just apply it anyway, so he just secretly admired her inner and outer beauty. He always loved how caring she was with her friends, especially him.

She placed two Band-Aids on him with one crossing over the other, forming an ex. "There, all done."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

They smile when they meet eyes. When she perceived how keen their gaze was, she shied away and cleared her throat. "So um, how is your back?"

"It probably only needs some ice."

"I'd advise getting it professionally looked at as well just in case. Just to make sure you do go, I'm telling your father you fell off your skateboard again."

"Ughhhhh."

"Don't you 'ugh' me, Richard. I'll be damned if I'm partially the reason you become paralyzed."

"I can't even be annoyed since you're being caring."

She makes a victorious smile. "Exactly, now lay on your stomach. I'm icing your back."

He flips over slowly, pretending that it didn't hurt his spine. She quickly gets two ice packs and places them on his back. She rested her back on the floor right beside him and stared at the ceiling.

"I don't know what I'll do without you." He says randomly.

That causes her to look at him with a confused face. "What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere."

"But I am, in five weeks to be exact."

She grasped what he meant and frowned. He noticed her sullen expression and frowned too. He hated that she probably would be unhappy for a while when he leaves.

He takes her silence as an invitation to keep talking. "We never talk about it, but it's coming up soon. You're moving into your dorm in two weeks, and I'll be gone in Scotland three weeks after that."

Nini grunted. "Don't talk about it. I don't want to think about it."

Ricky sighs. "Alright."

He lowers his hand so that he could hold her hand, and she accepts by joining their hands.

They relish in the silence in the room, both becoming sleepier after their eventful night. When Nini overhears his gentle snores, she pulls his hand to her lips and plants a gentle kiss. She was thankful he was fast asleep since he couldn't hear the very risky words she mumbled under her breath, words that could've altered their friendship forever.

Chapter Text

"Jesus Christ, Neens. What the hell is in this box?" Ricky says as he struggles to carry in one of her 10 boxes in her dorm.

Nini was setting up her dorm bed while he was doing most of the heavy lifting. "That's my shoes and socks. You can put them in my closet."

He slowly bends down and places the box on the floor, cracking his back and releasing a grunt afterwards like a dad would. "How many more boxes do we have left?"

Nini scanned the room to count. "There should only be like three left, and I'll set you free."

"Oh, thank god."

"I'll buy us some food as a thank you for helping me."

"Can it be Mexican?"

"Of course, it can."

He lights up. "Yay, now I'm extra motivated!"

Nini puffs air from her nose as she watches him skip out of her dorm room. She was gonna miss his goofiness when he leaves in a few hours. She promised herself she'd keep it together around him the next few weeks since he'll be aboard his flight in two weeks. Just the idea of it made her tear up a bit.

"Good news! There were only two boxes left, and I was able to carry them both in!"

She speedily wiped the water from the corner of her eye before facing him. "Great! You can put them anywhere. I'll take it from here."

He does just that before sitting in her desk chair to relax his muscles. "So, are you excited for school starting in two days?"

"Yes and no. It's pretty cool that I'll experience a real college course soon, but I'm kinda scared since it's unfamiliar territory. I see it as scarier high school except no one cares about superficial things like cliques nearly as much, except for maybe the Greek life people."

"I heard the Greek life students are actually pretty chill at this school, so I think you'll be fine if you encounter one of them."

"Yeah, I'm not nearly as concerned about fitting in here. I think it's nice to have a fresh start where no one knows anything about you."

"I can't wait to feel that too. I feel like it'll be really different for me for obvious reasons. I'll essentially be a fish out of water."

"Yeah, you'll definitely stick out like a sore thumb, but you adapt very well to new environments despite not being extremely social. So, I'm not worried about you."

Once she was satisfied with the state of her room, she took a break. "I'll unpack everything later. Let's go eat; I'm starving."

Ricky hops out of the chair. "Oh, thank god we're on the same page. My tummy was aching like a motherfucker."

"Did you seriously say tummy as a full grown adult?"

"First of all, my brain is technically not done developing since I'm only 18. Second, tummy is a word adults use."

"Maybe when they're talking to children."

"Well, I have a childlike mind, so sue me."

Nini chuckles and grabs her purse. "Come on, man child. We have a new city to explore."

"Yes, ma'am."

Nini and Ricky decide to tour the city of Reno since Nini should get used to it anyway. Ricky still wasn't sure if he'd transfer there or not, but it was still useful to him since he'd probably visit her as often as he could throughout the next four years.

They took note of some cool places they should visit when or if he attends. Ricky ended up liking the city a lot and was starting to think that maybe he made the wrong decision. He quickly got rid of that lingering thought since he knew that he definitely wasn't going to regret visiting a country he's never been to.

When they arrived at the restaurant, the hostess sat them down at a booth. Ricky instantly reaches over and holds Nini's hand across the table.

"I know you said you're taking the bill, but I want to pay."

Her mouth becomes agape. "What? No! I already called dibs."

"Nope, I'm not letting you pay since today is about you."

"Not entirely! I gotta compensate you for driving all the way here just to help me unload."

"Nini, I'm taking the check, and there's nothing you can do about it. I'll even steal it from you if I have to. Hell, I'll even Venmo you cash if you find a way to sneak it."

Nini couldn't fight the small smile that grew on her face.

"Alright fine, but I'm paying for whenever you get shipped off to the land of bagpipes."

He smiles in amusement from the nickname. "Deal."

Suddenly, their waitress was standing in front of them. "Hi, my name is Andi, and I'll be your server today. Can I start you guys off with any drinks?"

"Just water for me." Nini says.

Ricky rolls his eyes at her. "I know damn well you want a cherry coke."

"I didn't want to make your bill too high."

"I'll have a sprite, and she'll take a cherry coke along with her water."

Andi grins. "Coming right up!"

When the waitress left, Nini gave Ricky a scowl. "Why must you run up your bill if you don't have to? Gas prices are the only bill you should be concerned about right now since the ride home is atrocious."

Ricky shrugs and waves her off. "I've driven longer than seven hours and 15 minutes before, and don't worry about how much I'm spending on you. My dad will spot me if necessary." He could tell she wanted to say something, but he beat her to it. "Let me spoil my girl."

He makes direct eye contact with her before kissing the back of her hand. Her cheeks flare up. "Fine..."

Andi comes back with their drinks and sets them down. "Have you guys figured out what you want to order yet?"

"Just a burrito for me, please." Nini answers.

"Nini, you wanna split some chips and queso?"

"Mmmmm."

He knew she was still holding back. "I know you want some."

"Okay, fine."

"We'll have that as well with no jalapeños, and I'll just have a chicken chimichanga with everything on it, please."

"Got it!" Andi wrote everything down and skeptically looked at Nini. "Did you say your name was Nini?"

Nini raises a brow. "Uh yeah, why'd you ask?"

"Because my future roommate is named Nini. Well, Nina technically, but she wants to go by Nini."

Nini gasped and beamed. "Oh shit, is your name Andrea Lee?"

"It is!"

"Oh snap! This ain't how I expected to meet my roommate!"

"Yeah, it's so nice to meet you. I moved into our dorm yesterday, and I'm guessing you did today."

"Sure did! That's actually why we're here. This is my best friend, Ricky. He assisted me."

Ricky waves at her with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you."

"You too. Since you guys are special guests, your queso is on the house."

"You don't have to do that." Nini says.

"I insist. Let me go put your orders in."

Andi takes off before Nini could reject her kind offer.

"What're the odds of us getting your roommate as our server?"

"Pretty high apparently."

"She seems nice. I think you'll have a great freshman year with her. Who knows? Maybe she'll become your new bestie."

"Oh, please. No one can replace you."

"Back at you."

Nini played with his fingers as they held hands. "I'm really gonna miss going out with you."

Ricky sadly smiles and tightens his grip on her, careful not to accidentally harm her. "I'm gonna miss you too. At least we have Christmas break."

"That feels like decades from now."

"I'm not even gone yet, Neens. I'm right here."

"Yet I already miss you."

She could feel her lip quiver and stopped it by biting on it to ensure she didn't break into tears in front of him. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel guilty for pursuing his career.

"We're gonna be alright. I promise."

She stared down at their intertwined hands and nodded. "Yeah, I know."

Andi came back with the queso and chips. "There's your chips, and your order should be up shortly. Enjoy!"

They both smile and say thanks as Andi walks away. Ricky wanted to change the mood, so he picked up a chip, dipped it in the cheese, and held it in front of her mouth. She grins and accepts the chip, moaning in delight from the taste.

"Mm, yummy."

"I knew you wanted queso."

She just opens her mouth for more, making him smile and feed her another queso covered chip.

After they finished dinner, Ricky drove her back to her dorm. It was pretty late already, so he figured it was best he started to head back home. He pulled up to the front of her dorm building.

"You sure you don't wanna come in for a bit before you go?"

"I do, but it's already 3, and I'd like to get home before midnight. I should probably finish packing my stuff as well."

Nini nods. "Well, I guess I'll see you in two weeks."

"Yep, see you then."

They give each other a hug, kissing one another's cheeks before they let go. She gets out of the car and waves at him as he drives away. When she was sure he was far enough, she allowed herself to let a tear fall. If she felt this upset about him not being down the street anymore now, she doesn't know how she'll act when he's overseas.

***

Labor Day Weekend finally came, which was always something every college student looked forward to. Most students were happy because they have a day off from class or work, but Nini was glad yet downhearted about the holiday.

She of course was thrilled she'd get a day off and would be able to see Ricky, but it wasn't because she was visiting for fun. She was visiting to say goodbye for real this time. She's mentally prepared herself for this ever since she got the news, but it didn't make it any easier.

The second she got out of her sole morning class that Thursday, she immediately hopped in her car and drove straight to Ricky's house, not stopping for anything except gas and bathroom breaks. She would've skipped the class if it was an option, but her professor just had to place a quiz that couldn't be made up that day. She risked getting speeding tickets to make sure she had ample time to get to Salt Lake. Time was precious now, and she'd be damned if she missed out on being with him on his last night.

She arrived at his house at 7:30 pm and used her spare key he gifted her years ago to enter. She saw boxes that were gonna be shipped and suitcases all over the living room floor. She was amazed he even packed on time, but she guessed he had to be since it was overseas shipping.

Ricky appeared from the hallway and beamed when he saw her. "Nini!"

He ran up to her and spun her around, making her giggle. He set her down on the ground but refused to release her from his tight hold.

He pushes strands of her hair behind her ear. "You look beautiful. College looks good on you."

She blushes and leans her cheek into his hand. "I look exactly the same except I gained a pound or two."

"You'll always be pretty no matter how much you weigh."

He ducks down and bombards her face with kisses. She squirms and laughs at the ticklish feeling.

"Ricky!"

"Sorry! You're just so kissable!" He says in between smooches. He finally gave it a rest when his lips were getting tired, otherwise he would've continued.

He chuckled when he saw that her face was as red as a tomato. "I bet you're tired from all that driving. Wanna head to my room and watch a movie until we pass out? I'm kinda tired from all the packing anyway."

Nini sighs in relief. The drive was very tiring. "I'm so glad you said that because I'm exhausted." She falls face first into his chest.

He smiles and pats her back. "I'll order us some pizza while you go get comfy. Feel free to wear anything in my drawer."

She perks up when she hears that. "I'm definitely stealing some of your shirts."

He shrugs. "Go for it. That's the stuff I'm not taking to Scotland anyway."

She ran to his room, excited at the thought of wearing his clothes. She already had a t-shirt and a hoodie she took from him a while ago in her dorm, but it'd be nice to collect more. Maybe she'll even spray some of his cologne on it to make it spell more like him. Oh shit, what if he wanted to do the same thing with her clothes? Maybe she could just hand him the shirt she's wearing now. She rummaged through the drawer full of shirts, trying to decide which ones she'd keep. Ricky waltzes in with his hands in his hoodie pocket.

"The pizza is ordered. Did you find something to wear yet?"

"No, I'm too indecisive."

"How could you be indecisive about this? It's just one of my shirts, not your wedding gown."

"Because it's just as important as my wedding gown!"

"I promise you that you'll change your mind when that day comes."

"I doubt it! I'll definitely bring it up again when that day comes."

"When I help you shop for a wedding gown, I'll make sure to bring up how wrong you were."

"You won't be able to since it'd be untraditional for you to see me buy it." She says, not registering what she admitted.

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her with a lost expression. "What do you mean by that?"

She pauses and blushes madly when she catches onto what she stayed. "Oh, uh, you know...the best friend is never supposed to shop with the bride. It's bad luck!"

Ricky was trying to remember that rule but couldn't.

"What? That's not—"

"Anyways!! I found the right top to wear tonight." She holds up his old theater tee from freshman year, cutting him off.

He smiles when he sees it. "It'll look cute on you."

"Imma change into it."

She excuses herself to his closet and changes into some of his sweats she found in there and the tee. When she was dressed, she opened the closet door and posed.

"How do I look?" She modeled for him, vogueing towards the end.

He chuckles. "Like a dream."

Nini sits against the headboard of his bed. "So, what movie should we watch?"

"I'm not picky. How about you choose?"

"It's your last night in America, so really you should choose."

He sighs and crawls to the other side of the bed, leaning his back against the headboard. "Think of a genre, and I'll agree to it."

She smirks. "Any genre?"

"Yes, any genre."

"Romance it is!"

"I had a hunch you'd say that."

"I'll let you choose the romance film."

"Oh, lucky me." He says sardonically.

She lightly smacks his arm and hands him the remote. He scrolls through the list of movies on various streaming services and hums when he spots one that he's heard of before.

"How about this one?"

Nini lifts her brows. "Love, Rosie?"

"Yeah, you've heard of it?"

She nods. "Yes, but I've only seen clips. We can watch it."

Ricky presses play and wraps his arm around Nini's shoulder. She naturally leans into him and loops her arms around his torso. The pizza came 15 minutes into the movie, and Mike brought it over to them since he knew they were watching something. The teens were glad he did since they were glued to the screen by the intriguing plot.

It was insane to them how oblivious these two best friends were to each other's feelings, and they thought it was ridiculous that they kept just missing one another when they could've been together ages ago. Nini's heart began racing at certain scenes since they reminded her of her and Ricky's interesting relationship.

The playful banter, the desire to always be close, the constant touching, and really everything in between was eerily similar to them. She wonders if he caught on to that too. Judging by his tainted pink cheeks, he must've noticed it too.

Then, a certain scene of the movie changes the atmosphere of the room.

The airport scene where Alex and Rosie are saying goodbye so Alex can pursue his dreams in another country without her. That irony in itself was enough to pull at the two teens heartstrings, but what really got them was the almost kiss. The longing on their faces and the sadness of realizing that they were star crossed was devastating. So devastating that Ricky didn't realize he shed a tear.

He slowly turned to look at Nini, who'd been staring at the screen with a crestfallen expression on her perfect face. He doesn't know if it was the movie or if it was the fact that he'd be leaving in roughly 10 hours, but he finds himself vulnerable. So vulnerable that he just needed to say those three words that he's been fighting to say to her for almost a decade now.

He let the single tear roll down his cheek, letting reality soak in. He was leaving tomorrow, and so much could change between them for good or for worse. What if he dies on that plane, and she went a lifetime without knowing how he felt about her? What if they lose touch because he decided Europe was where he belonged? What if she found someone else who had the balls to do the one thing he couldn't?

He wasn't gonna leave without letting her know, or else he'd always be left wondering "what if?"

Nini finally feels his eyes on her and was worried when she noticed he was crying. "What's wrong?" She sits up and waits for him to do or say anything, but he just stares at her with the most painfully raw emotion she's ever seen displayed on any person's face.

"Nini, I want more."

She was confused by his vague statement. "More of what?"

He cups her face and presses his forehead on hers. "I'll always want us to be more."

It takes her a second until she comprehends what he's saying. Her eyes widened, and her body went completely still. Her vision was becoming blurry from tears, but they weren't the tears either of them wanted. Her breathing began to get louder along with her heartbeat. Surely he didn't mean that. Surely he didn't want to be with her of all people when he can do so much better. Jay had said so, EJ had said so. Hell, she's even told herself that. He doesn't mean it. He doesn't mean it. He's just caught up in the moment.

He had taken her weird silence as her not understanding what he meant. Before he could say his thoughts, she covered his mouth.

"No, don't say it. Don't say those words."

He was taken aback by her bizarre reaction. "I just...I don't think that..." She didn't know how to explain to him that her worst fear was him leaving her life forever. If two people she thought she'd end up with got sick of her, what would happen if a decent person like Ricky did too? She'd combust. She'd vanish into thin air. The only thing scarier than losing him was losing him because of her. She wasn't going to let that happen, not on her watch.

He seems to take the hint and removes her hand from his mouth. He pulls her into a tight hug, and they both cry in silence. Despite them not sharing a word as they wept in one another's embrace, they understood what the other was trying to say. And that was going to have to be enough.

They were gonna have to push this day in the back of their memory and move on. And when they woke up in each other's arms in the morning, they did just that.

~

Mike drove them all to the airport that morning. Ricky's flight was at 11 am, so they woke up extra early to make sure he got there on time. Mike made sure all of Ricky's boxes and luggage was taken care of so that Ricky didn't have to stress out more than he already was. Ricky wasn't a fan of flying, and it didn't help that the flight was going to consist of multiple hours over a large mass of water.

Nini and Ricky were purposely avoiding the painfully large elephant in the room since it was much easier to do that than address it. Mike could sense there was some tension, but he knew it was best to stay out of their affairs. Even though they were in a weird spot right now, she still made sure she was holding his hand for the entirety of the short car ride. She's never dreaded going to an airport so much in her life, and she wished they didn't live so damn close to it so she could spend some more time with him.

She wasn't the only one that despised how little time they had left. Ricky made sure she was close at all times as they steadily approached the security check. They both knew that was the furthest Mike and Nini could go since they couldn't go any further without a pass.

Mike tapped Nini's shoulder. "Do you mind if I say a few words to my son in private before he leaves?"

She lets go of Ricky's hand for the first time in an hour. "Of course not. Go ahead." She took a seat at a nearby chair and waited patiently for them to be done.

Mike exhales deeply. "I'm so proud of you, kiddo. You know that, right?"

Ricky nods. "Yeah."

"I love that you're chasing your dreams in another country, and I hope you find what you're looking for at that university. I'm gonna go ahead and purchase your winter break ticket while I'm here, and I can't wait to hear about all the cool things you've accomplished by then. I'm gonna miss you being around just as much as Nini will. I love you, and please make good choices. I can't bail you out across the pond."

Ricky snorts. "I promise to stay out of trouble, and I love you too."

"Let me know if you need anything at all; it doesn't matter if it's money, more clothes, or an instrument. I'm only one call away."

Ricky smiles and brings his dad into a hug. "Thanks dad."

Mike pats his son's back and smiles. "Take care, kiddo. Also, whatever is going on between you and Nini will subside. You two are always bound to bounce back, so stop worrying about it, alright?"

Ricky puffs air from his nose. He couldn't believe how obvious it was for his dad to see right through his emotions, but he guesses he shouldn't be that shocked considering he raised him.

"Yeah, I hope so."

Mike releases him from the hug and pecks Ricky's cheek. "Bye, Rick. Call me when you land."

"I will."

Mike gave him one last smile before signaling to Nini that she could speak with him. Mike already knew they'd want privacy, so he decided to go ahead and buy Ricky's winter break ticket while they said their goodbyes.

Nini walked over to him and stood as close as possible to him without actually touching him.

"Hi."

"Hey."

"I don't really know what to say. I had a whole speech planned out, but now I'm coming up blank."

"It's fine; you can speak from your heart."

"You're gonna be amazing, Ricky. You've always been incredible at everything you set your mind to, and it's always been your most admirable personality trait. You're gonna crush it at that art school and become so insanely successful that you won't know what to do with all your blessings. I'm so proud of you, dimples. I'm gonna miss you like crazy, and you're probably gonna be sick of all my calls."

"I'd never get sick of you calling me. I'm probably not gonna be any better than you."

"I'm more emotionally dependent than you, so I'll definitely be the one blowing up your phone."

"Maybe you shouldn't say those last few words in an airport."

She swiftly checks the area to ensure no one overheard her. "Shit. Sorry, you're right."

He chuckles and pulls her by the waist into a loving embrace. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck as he strengthened his grip around her. He hid his face in the crook of her neck, debating whether or not he should plant a kiss there after last night's events.

They finally pulled back just enough to where their noses were touching, and their lips were mere inches apart. They could feel each other's breath on their faces, and both of them were glancing at the other's lips. It's clear that they both were thinking the same thing, but neither made a move. Ricky meets her eyes and blushes when he realizes how ironic it was that they were coincidently recreating the scene from the movie.

Nini was the one to break the trance. "You should go."

Ricky nods. "Yeah, I should."

She takes a step back. "I um, snuck the shirt I was wearing yesterday into your suitcase. I figured it was only fair you have at least one item of my clothing after all the ones I've taken from you. I even sprayed a little perfume on it just in case it smelt bad."

He smiles a toothy grin. "I'll treasure it forever, and I happened to have done the same thing. I left a bottle of Throb on my dresser for you to spray on the clothes you stole from me. I know how you like to smell my scent on my clothes whether you want to admit it or not, so I figured you'd enjoy that final parting gift."

"You know me so well."

"Yeah..." He hesitates before pressing a gentle yet meaningful kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Nini."

"I love you too, Ricky."

Neither were sure which kind of love the other meant, but they thought it was best that they didn't clarify. Ricky walked backwards so he could look at her a little longer before he had to turn around. She stood there and watched him as he gave the man his boarding pass. He gives Nini one final glance and smiles at her before boarding the plane.

The moment he was out of her sight, her heart dropped.

He was really gone.

Her eyes welled up as she exited the airport, meeting Mike outside so he could take them home. She sat in the passenger's seat in silence as she watched the city go by outside the window. Mike didn't bother trying to pester her with questions since he knew how emotional she was when it came to Ricky. When Mike arrived home, she gave him a fleeting bye before hopping in her car and heading to her house.

The second she was home, she went straight to her room and found the snow globe he gave her after their grad party since she already missed him. She smiled wistfully as she traced along the glass, admiring the beauty of it. When she delicately shook it, she didn't feel as alone.

***

Two months had passed by slowly and achingly.

Nini sat on her dorm bed, staring down at her phone with a conflicted expression on her face. She'd been staring at his caller ID for the past 20 minutes or so ever since she left her biology class. Despite what they promised, they hadn't been as consistent with calls and texts.

She wasn't upset at him though. He was in a completely different time zone, and they were both busy bees. He'd recently gotten a job on campus as a dining hall server so he could make his own money instead of bothering his dad. The job usually took up a lot of his free time. Whenever he was free, he was forced to utilize that time for his studies. When he explained all of that to Nini, she instantly understood.

Nini had been occupied with her studies too since she decided to do six courses instead of five a semester. She wanted to graduate on time, which meant taking one extra class than the typical student since she had a minor and major.

Because of their conflicting schedules, they'd gotten in a game of phone tag and "sorry for missing your call" texts. Though she knew that the eight hour time difference and their school life was making it difficult for them to communicate, she couldn't help but think that her rejection contributed to his lack of reaching out.

He'd postpone almost every FaceTime or call and shortened the length of his texts. So far, there have only been three genuine conversations over the phone since the semester started. Any other call was more of a quick life update before someone was forced to hang up. It had gotten to the point where she commonly left voicemails in hopes of him listening to them and getting back to her. He wasn't really a fan of playing his messages, but she hoped he'd make a pass for her.

"Call him."

Nini jumps when she hears her roommate's voice. Andi had been secretly watching her from her bed, pretending to read the book for her English report.

"Have you been watching the whole time?"

"Call him, Nini. He's your best friend and would be more than happy to talk to you, even if it's a short call."

Nini nods as she glances back at her phone. "Yeah, you're right. I'm being ridiculous." She hops down from her bed. "I'm gonna do it. I'll be in the study room down the hall if you need me."

Andi smiles. "Good luck."

Nini makes her way to the empty study room and presses the call button before she could chicken out. Her heartbeat quickened at the sound of his phone ringing. She felt stupid for reacting like this. It was just Ricky, the person who she felt the most comfortable with.

"Hi, it's Ricky. Leave a message at the beep. No promises I'll get back to you though, bye!"

She overheard her laugh in his recording, remembering how she couldn't stop poking fun at him for his awkward voice cracks. He was going through puberty when he recorded the message, and he redid it so many times due to the weird cracks his throat would create.

She exhales deeply before recording her message. "Hey Ricky! I was just calling to catch up. It's okay if you don't return my calls since they're not that urgent, but it'd be nice if you answered. I haven't really heard from you in a while, and I miss you a lot. I also was calling because I spoke with Bex and Bowie a couple of hours ago, and they wanted to take us on a weekend trip when you're back in town. They were thinking of maybe renting out a lake house in the general area since there's so many for some reason. Anyway, call me back when you're not too busy. Love you, bye."

She sighs, disappointment evident on her face. She had a gut feeling he wouldn't pick up. She'd been trying to ignore the heartache she's been experiencing as she attempted to become accustomed to living without him. Sometimes the only thing keeping her going was the fact that she'd see him next month during Christmas break. She guesses she should be thankful for this separation since it was a way she could distance herself from him. She could get a little clingy when it came to him, and she found herself doing more busy work when he's not around. Despite his absence being good for her maintaining her assignments, she still wasn't happy he wasn't here with her.

She got up and walked back to her dorm, knowing the only way she'd be able to get him off her mind is by distracting herself with homework. Andi could tell by Nini's facial expression that he didn't answer, so she sat up and grabbed her deck of cards.

"Hey, wanna play blackjack?"

Nini was thrown off by her random question. "Um, sure I guess."

"Great, I hope you're not gonna bitch about how I'm cheating like last time."

Nini's glum attitude swiftly became competitive. "That's because you were cheating!"

"Only one way to settle this." Andi patted the spot in front of her on her bed.

Nini pops a squat on Andi's bed. "You're on, Oompa Loompa."

"I'm only two inches shorter than you!"

Nini just laughs as she takes the deck and starts shuffling.

~

Nini thanked the barista as she walked off with her morning frappuccino. Tuesday and Thursday classes were her favorite since her first class started at 11:30 am, so she could get up as late as 10:30 with plenty of time to spare.

She was about to play some music on her way to algebra when she got a Facetime call. She freezes when she sees the caller ID, and her heart begins pounding out of her chest. She quickly finds a quieter area so they can talk and fixes up her appearance before answering the phone. When she answers, she's greeted with a smiley Ricky. Just the sight of him made her heart melt.

"Nini! I haven't seen you in years! How are you?"

"I'm good. I was on my way to class actually."

His smile falters slightly. "Oh, is this a bad time? I can call back la—"

"No! No, this isn't a bad time at all! I have an extra 30 minutes before algebra anyway." She was gonna take what she could get since there was no telling when she'd be able to speak with him again.

"Oh okay. Sorry, I sometimes forget that we live in different time zones. It's 5 pm here, so I'm done with all my classes."

"Don't apologize. I call you at all times of the day without considering what time it is there all the time."

"That's true. Speaking of that, I'm sorry I haven't been as consistent with my calls. I'm just swamped all the time. This was one of the few times where I was off work and done with all my classwork for the day at a timely hour. I'm chilling in the library study room since I wouldn't get a lot of privacy in my own dorm."

"Oh, is that roommate of yours still yelling at the people on his Twitch?"

"Yes, and it's driving me insane. Who the hell plays Twitch for 14 consecutive hours? I don't even do that, and I love video games. That has to be unhealthy."

"Don't act like you and Red didn't spend an entire weekend playing nothing but League of Legends with only bathroom breaks."

"Okay, but to be fair, we were on a mission."

"Red's mom had to go downstairs and feed you two since you refused to come up to eat."

"I said we were on a mission!"

Nini playfully rolled her eyes. "Anyways, back to catching up. How's everything been?"

"My grades are actually pretty good, and I've made a few friends."

"Oo, Ricky is being studious without having been forced to? I'm impressed."

"Oh hush, I can be a good student when I wanna be. I was just more lazy in high school."

"Tell me about the friends you've made! That's actually the most shocking part of your sentence."

"First of all, ouch. Second of all, most of them are acquaintances with the potential of becoming friends."

"So, none of them are your actual friends."

"Actually, one of them is definitely a friend. I'd like for you to meet them one day. They live relatively close to us in the states."

"Oh, that's amazing! I can't wait to meet them."

"Me too! I'm sure you two will hit it off."

"I can't wait to see you." She says suddenly.

"I can't wait to see you too. We only got one month."

"It's not short enough."

"It's three weeks, Neens."

"Three weeks feels like three years."

"Well, I'll be staying for two weeks, which is plenty of time to be with each other."

"No, it's not."

"Awe, Neens, do you miss me that much?"

"Of course, I do."

"Well, you're not alone. I've been missing you like crazy. I tend to find myself scrolling through old photos and videos of us and fiddling with any parting gifts you gave me."

"I do the same thing too." She made sure not to sound or appear sad. She always hated making him believe he was the reason she was upset.

He was about to say something but was interrupted by what Nini assumed was someone opening the door. Ricky seemed to have known this person judging by the friendly smile he made.

"Ricky, there you are!"

Nini noticed the voice was from a woman, but his screen wasn't showing her since she was on the opposite side. Nini decided to just observe his reactions to her presence.

"You left your textbook in class today. I've been texting you for the past 10 minutes or so, but you didn't answer."

"Oh, sorry! I was on the phone with my best friend. Thanks for bringing it to me."

"It's no problem. I owe you one after well...you know."

Ricky blushes and chuckles at her words. It was clearly an inside joke between the two of them, meaning they were definitely at least friends. Nini struggles to overhear the rest of the conversation since Ricky moved his phone's speaker in an awkward way, resulting in the audio being incomprehensible.

He moves it back to normal and smiles at Nini. "Sorry about that."

Nini lifts a brow. "What was so funny?"

"Nothing, it was stupid."

"It didn't seem stupid. It got you all red in the face."

Ricky scratched the back of his neck, and she could tell he was distracted due to his eyes flickering between something in front of him and his screen.

"Um Neens, I'm gonna have to call you back."

"Oh, okay. My class starts in a few minutes anyway."

"Well, that was perfect timing. I'll call you later, okay?"

She nods and grins. "Love you."

She watches as his eyes linger on whatever is captivating him before he returns his gaze on Nini. "Love you too, bye!" He says hurriedly before hanging up.

She groans and shoves her phone back in her pocket, starting her short walk to class. She angrily sips on her frappuccino as she recaps the past two minutes. Who was he talking to, and why were they able to get such a strong reaction from him? Was that the friend he was referring to? Maybe it was a girlfriend he'd been hesitant to tell her about since he feared what she'd think? The options were endless.

She was mostly irate with herself for having the audacity to be envious when she had no right to be. She's the one that rejected him since she knew he deserved better. She's the one that ensured him that Scotland was a great option for him despite his reluctance to go because he didn't want to leave her. Hell, she could be getting all riled up for no reason since she has no idea if their relationship is even all that serious. Regardless, if he wanted to be with someone, then he had every right to do so.

She forces herself to not think about it any further. When she went to class, she tried to focus on the lecture instead of Ricky. (She failed halfway through the class when she absentmindedly drew a heart with his name in it).

***

Nini was extremely gleeful.

Scratch that. She was ecstatic.

Why is that? It's because it was finally winter break, which only meant one thing to her.

Ricky was coming home.

The moment she was done with her last final, she drove home to start planning. She was so excited to finally do activities with him and catch up on their lives. She had a mental itinerary to ensure they knocked out all the fun holiday adventures they could do together with their friends and by themselves.

Nini was counting down the days until she saw her favorite curly-haired brunette walk out of that airplane. It was only two days til, and she was shaking with excitement.

"Honey, are you alright?"

Nini looks up at Carol, completely forgetting her mother was in the kitchen with her. "What? Yeah, I'm totally fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because you're shaking despite it being warm in here. Are you coming down with a fever? Have you gotten your annual flu shot yet? Here, let me check your temperature."

"Mom, relax! There's no need for all of that. I feel fine, great actually. I'm shaking because I'm excited to see Ricky."

Carol smirks. "Oh, you're excited to see your little boyfriend, huh?"

Nini blushes and rolls her eyes. "Not this again."

"Darling, it's clear you have romantic feelings for him and vice versa. It's about damn time you two just tie the knot already. He already has Dana and I's blessings when he's ready to ask."

Nini covers her cheeks. "Mom!"

"What? I'm just saying."

"I'm going to go to my room. I need to call somebody anyway."

"Are you gonna call Ricky?"

"You know Ricky isn't the only friend I have, right?"

"You're hilarious, sweetie!"

"You've literally met my friends!"

Carol just giggled as she continued prepping dinner.

Nini closed her door before plopping down face front on her bed. She whipped out her phone and began texting her best friend.

Nini: Hey, do you have time to talk?

Ricky: actually, I was just about to call you

Nini smiles and waits for her phone to ring. When it does, she answers the FaceTime in a flash.

"Hey!"

"Hey..."

If she hadn't been so happy, she would've picked up on his somber tone.

"I can't wait to see you in two days! I've been planning such an elaborate schedule for us. You'll never guess what we're doing first."

"Nini."

This time she does notice his tone and his frown.

"What's wrong?"

He sighs deeply, rummaging through his curls. "I can't come home."

Her smile drops along with her heart. "W-what?"

"The airport in Scotland is closed due to ice and snow, and all flights have been canceled until further notice. I was able to get a refund for my dad, but that doesn't change the fact that I can't come home. I'm sorry, Neens."

She didn't even fight the tear that rolled down her face.

"It's not your fault. Stupid fucking snow."

"Yeah, stupid snow."

"So, I won't see you until May?"

"Probably, unless I'm able to swing some spring break tickets to make up for winter break. Maybe the airport has some deal. I'll check it out later."

"I can't wait 'til May to see you."

"I admit that I was really disappointed when I realized I won't see you for another five months, but don't cry! I promise we'll do all those things you had planned for us for winter break."

"We can't even do all of the things on my list in May. Some of them are seasonal."

"Then we'll save those for next year."

"I still can't believe you won't be here. I haven't spent a Christmas without you ever since I've met you, and I don't wanna start now."

Ricky was starting to tear up now. "Yeah, I know. I hate the idea of spending Christmas without you, dad, and your moms."

"Who will you spend it with?"

"I guess I could ask one of my friends if they'd mind if I joined them just so I'm not alone on Christmas."

"You're spending Christmas with a bunch of strangers? That sounds awful."

"It's better than being alone in an empty residence hall."

She couldn't deny that. She'd probably choose that option too if she were in his shoes. "It's not fair."

"I know it isn't, but there's nothing we can do about it. I'll FaceTime you on Christmas Day while you open your presents."

"It won't be the same, and it'll feel like I'm gloating."

"I promise you it won't be. I just wanna see your face light up when you open your gifts, especially my gift to you."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Now, please wipe that frown off your face because you have my undivided attention for the next three hours before my roommate comes back. I wanna talk about anything and everything about your life this past month. Can you do that?"

Nini swiped away a stray tear and smiled weakly. "I can do that."

"Great. Start from the beginning, and don't spare any details."

She sniffled. "Well, there was this one girl in my history class that was getting on my nerves..."

They ended up speaking for four hours since Ricky's roommate came back an hour from expected. Her spirits were up as the time went by, but it didn't erase the fact that he wasn't coming home soon. When they said their goodbyes, she felt the temporary joy she was feeling slip away. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling with her limbs spread out.

She doesn't feel right spending the holidays without her best friend. A simple storm seemed like a minuscule reason for them to not be together. It didn't stop them from hanging out then, and it wasn't gonna stop her now.

She snatched her phone and began searching for airline tickets. She'd find a way to get to him, even if that meant going above and beyond because she knew he'd do the same for her.

~

Ricky was watching an episode of Brooklyn 99 as he ate his pre-made meal he just heated up in his microwave. The dorm halls closed for winter break a day ago, and all of the dining halls closed early since there were so few students on campus. He scolded himself for waking up so late and missing the chance for real food, but he was thankful for buying cheap meals he can shove in the microwave when he didn't wanna spend on fast food.

As he was watching, his phone disrupts his program by ringing. He would've been annoyed with someone calling in the middle of his show if it weren't Nini.

He answers the call with a smile. "Hey, Neens!"

"Hey, what're you up to?"

"Oh, nothing special. Just eating some pre-packaged meal I heated up for dinner. Why?"

"So, you're not busy?"

"No, unless you count binging TV shows while sulking in your room busy."

"Perfect! Come to your school library."

He furrowed his brows. "What?"

"I said come to the library."

"What? Why would I go to the library? I swore that place was closed already."

"Ricky, just come to the damn library!"

"Okay, geez!"

He walks all the way to the library with Nini on the phone. He was trying to guess what on earth could possibly be so important there. When he enters, he looks around.

"Alright, I'm here. Now what?"

"Come to the media center."

He follows orders and makes the short walk to the media center. He saw there was no one there and became more confused than ever.

"It's empty."

"Are you sure about that?"

He heard her voice a lot closer than he did previously. It was almost as if she were there.

"What's going on, Nini?"

"Turn around, and you'll see."

He steadily turns around and gasps when he sees who it was. He beams and shoves his phone into his pocket, forgetting to hang up in the process.

"Nini!"

He runs over to her, picks her up, and spins her around. She laughed as she ended the call and held on to him.

"Are you real, or has my sick mind fooled me into thinking you're here because I miss you that much?"

She chuckles. "I'm here!"

"How are you here right now?!"

"I got a last minute flight!"

"In this weather?! I couldn't even get a last minute flight if I wanted to."

"Sh!" The librarian said to them with an agitated expression.

"Sorry!" Ricky whispers, not actually meaning it.

He places her on the ground and gives her another bear hug.

"Seriously, how were you able to score tickets here? I need to know your magic ways."

"Well, it wasn't easy, especially during the holiday season. Since so many people's flights got canceled to go to Europe due to bad weather, there were quite a few vacancies. None of the flights were going to Scotland, so I bought tickets to go to whichever country was the closest, which was France. Never thought my first time going there would be in passing, but whatever. Anyways, I took a train from France all the way to Scotland since the train system wasn't affected by the weather that much. Then, I took a cab to your school. Now I'm here!"

He was amazed she went all this way for him. "You did all that for me?"

"Of course, I did! You're my best friend, and I couldn't let you spend Christmas alone."

He felt happy tears form in his eyes. "You're seriously the best human being ever."

"I'm just a girl who really missed her best friend."

He cups her face. "You're so much more than that."

She takes one of his hands on her face and kisses it.

"Why don't you show me around? I'd love to get to know your campus."

"There's not much to look at while we're on break since most buildings are closed."

"That's fine. We can just go back to your dorm."

"Sounds good."

He pecks her cheek before locking arms with her. They walk to the residence hall designated for international students, and Nini was taken aback by how stunning the interior was. She shouldn't have expected anything less since it was a highly acclaimed school for the arts.

"Wow, this place is remarkable!"

"It doesn't beat your beauty."

She blushes and rests her head on his arm. "Stoppppp."

"It's in my blood to compliment you."

All of a sudden, two arms wrap around his torso that were definitely not Nini's. Ricky detangled from Nini's arm and turned around to see who was hugging him from behind. He grinned when he registered who the woman was.

"Lily!"

Lily releases him when he recognizes her and smiles.

"Sorry if I startled you, but I couldn't help myself when I saw you."

"It's no problem!"

Lily glances over at Nini. "Who's this?"

Ricky rests his hand on the small of Nini's back. "This is my best friend, Nini."

Nini forces a smile, hiding the annoyance she was feeling from being interrupted. She realized that was the same voice she heard when Ricky FaceTimed her a month ago. Nini holds out her hand to shake.

"Nice to meet you, Lily."

Lily happily accepts her hand and shakes it. "You as well! I've heard so much about you! He won't shut the fuck up about how amazing you are! And he was definitely right about how pre—"

"Okay, that's enough! Anyways, what're you still doing here? Aren't you supposed to be home for the holidays?"

"I am, but my flight got delayed due to the weather. Luckily, the French airport is still open."

Ricky smiled at Nini. "So I've heard."

"Are you here for the break?" Lily asks Nini.

"Yeah, I plan to stay the whole break."

"How exciting! I wish I could stay longer so I could get to know the girl Ricky is just so enthralled by."

"Yeah, what a shame." Nini lies.

"Would you like to walk with us? Maybe you two can get to know each other." Ricky suggested.

"Oh no, I'd hate to lessen your limited time with her. We can always catch up later."

Nini internally made a sigh of relief.

"Besides, I have you all to myself in Scotland." Lily adds.

And now Nini's relief vanished.

Ricky nods. "Good point. Well, I guess I'll see you in two weeks."

"See you then! Nice meeting you, Nini." Lily waves at them and walks the opposite direction.

Ricky glances at Nini. "Well, what do you think of her?"

"She's...very nice. She's lovely actually and very beautiful."

She wasn't lying this time. Lily seemed to be sweet and friendly; she was definitely someone Nini could see men fighting over. An ugly part of Nini was hoping Lily would be a bitch so it'd at least give her a genuine excuse to dislike her, but now she couldn't help but see her as an angel. It just made her feel guilty and gross for even being jealous.

Ricky smiled as he turned to watch Lily walk away. "Yeah, she is, isn't she?"

Nini wanted to scream, but she knew better to let it out. She wasn't sure why she didn't expect him to agree with her, but it irked her nonetheless. She desperately wanted to change the topic both because she hated this side of her and also because she had no desire to discuss Lily on their first day in Scotland together.

"Hey, wanna go ice skating? I heard that there's a nice rink near the school." Ricky asks.

She was grateful that he mentioned an activity to do. "Yes, that sounds amazing. Let me just put my stuff down first then we can go."

When she's settled in his dorm, they take a cab to the rink. There weren't too many people there, which was perfect for them since they preferred emptier rinks to avoid bumping into someone. Ricky pays for both of their rental skates, but he was only able to get away with it because Nini said she'd pay for dinner.

"You're gonna be amazed at how much my ice skating abilities have improved." Ricky says as he puts on his skate.

"I doubt it's any better than last time."

"See, you're judging me based on the sheer memory of a less skilled me. Ice skating is popular in this town, and I've been practicing."

"Were you practicing to impress me?"

"Maybe."

"Awe, that's cute."

"Come, let me show you what I've got." He takes her hand as they carefully get onto the ice.

"Watch this." He skates to the center of the rink and faces her to ensure she's looking at him. He begins twirling slowly and progressively gets faster, causing a whooshing sound. He begins slowing down and poses when he gets to a complete stop.

Nini clapped as he skated his way to her. "Ricky, that was fantastic! Where did you learn to do that?"

"Online and by watching others do it."

"Well, it definitely paid off. You're gonna have to show me how to do that one day."

"Why not today?"

"Oh god no. I'm in no mood to learn something that fancy. I want a relaxing evening after that long flight."

"Fair enough, but this isn't the last time I'm bringing this up."

"Skate with me?" She offered him her hand to hold.

"I'd be honored to." He interlaces their fingers before they skate near the edge. Though they were both decent at ice skating, Nini preferred to play it safe and still be near the walls in case one of them slips. Despite her precautions, he ends up slipping when a kid falls in front of him, bringing her down with him. They both laughed it off and assisted each other back on their feet.

When they got back on their feet, they both didn't realize how close their faces were. He smiles and gently pushes back one of the hairs that was stuck to her cheek. She hums at his gesture and allows his hand to linger on her cheekbone.

Both knew they were thinking the same thing since their eyes were glimpsing down to each other's lips. They both start to lean in, and Nini almost lets it happen. She shies away by turning her head to the side.

He sighs and detaches his hand from her face. "Wanna get some hot chocolate? It's really good here."

"Sure."

She could tell he was disgruntled and was trying not to show it. She was a little disappointed in herself too, but she had to make sure nothing became too serious between the two no matter how much it hurts. Hopefully he'd understand that.

He didn't.

After that almost kiss, Ricky came to the realization that he'd never have a shot with Nini. She's made it obvious that she doesn't share the same feelings and never would. Maybe it was for the best. At least now his heart knows it has permission to move on, and he knows just where to start, or maybe it was best to say who to start with.

Chapter Text

Nini fidgeted impatiently as she stared at the security check. She kept checking her messages and fixing up her appearance every two seconds. Today was a big day for Nini because the day was the day Ricky was coming home to her, except this time he actually was.

He was able to use his ticket from winter break for his spring break. Nini's spring break didn't align with his, but she didn't let that stop her from coming to see him. She skipped her classes to ensure she got to see him; she was just glad nothing major was occurring in them since it was just midterms prep that she already studied. She stayed with Mike since her moms would be pissed if they knew she was skipping an entire week for Ricky, and she avoided informing Mike that she was bailing on class so it wouldn't get back to her parents.

She was extra excited for his arrival since Ricky claimed he had a surprise for her. She couldn't guess what it was, but she knew she'd love whatever he got her. She already planned to get him a welcome home gift anyway by taking him to laser tag.

Nini tapped on the side of her leg as she scanned the area for her best friend. After a few minutes of searching, her eyes land on a familiar head of curls passing the security check. When he successfully gets through the pat down, he looks around for her and quickly spots her standing mere feet away from him.

He slowly smiles and begins running towards her. She beams and runs to him as well. They end up meeting in the middle, almost knocking one another off their feet. Nini jumps on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He securely holds her and buries his face into her shoulder.

"You're finally back."

He smiles. "It's good to be back. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. Winter break went by too fast."

"Agreed."

He sets her back on the ground, but he makes sure to keep her close. He takes a moment to just stare at her since it had been a full three months and half since he'd last seen her. He was starting to forget what her hugs felt like and didn't realize how much he missed it until he embraced her a few seconds ago.

"So, what was the surprise you were telling me about?"

His smile falters. "Um, I'll tell you later. Right now, I just want to be with you. Did you do something different with your hair?" He says, quickly changing the subject.

She combs through her hair. "Oh, yeah! I cut it a little shorter last week. I'm surprised you noticed."

"How could I not?"

"Come on; we should head home before it's dark."

They went to Nini's car and held hands the entire ride, both wanting as much skin contact as possible. When they arrive at Ricky's, Ricky feels a wave of nostalgia overcome him. He slowly got out of the car and took a moment to examine his surroundings. His dad didn't really change the outdoor decor much with the exception of adding flowers next to the mailbox and mowing the lawn.

"I can't believe I'm back. It felt like years. I feel like something's changed, but I can't explain why."

"Not much has changed since you left."

"Yeah, but it feels different when, but maybe that's because I've been out of the country for like 7 months."

"I can get that. It felt weird to be back home the first time I came back after a few months; I can't imagine how weird it'd feel after coming from another continent."

They walk up to the front door with his luggage and open it. Mike turns his attention to the door and smiles when he sees his son. He walks over to him with his arms open for a hug.

"Ricky!"

"Hey, dad!"

Mike brings him into a hug and kisses his cheek. "I've missed you, bud. You look so grown up. Are you growing a beard?"

Ricky rubs his chin. "Yeah, it's a work in progress, but I'm gonna see if it suits my face or not."

"Beards always look good on Bowen's. Surely, you'll be attracting everyone with your good looks just like your old man did back in the day."

Ricky grimaced. "Ew, gross."

Mike chuckled and nudged Ricky's shoulder. Mike looked around the door and lifted a brow.

"Where's the other one?"

Nini scrunches her brows. "What other one?"

"His girlfriend."

Both Ricky and Nini froze, which confused Mike.

"What girlfriend?" Nini asks as she glances up at Ricky.

Mike makes a guilty expression as she stands still as well. All three of them got in an awkward, silent stare down between each other, unsure of who should speak first.

Mike claps his hands and awkwardly smiles. "Well, I'll be in my room since you two clearly have something that needs to be discussed." Mike mouths "sorry" to Ricky before swiftly leaving them alone in the living room.

Ricky sighs before slowly facing Nini. "Look, Neens..."

"You have a girlfriend that you didn't tell me about?!"

Ricky shook his head frantically. "No! No, he has it all wrong! She isn't my girlfriend, but I admit we've been really close recently."

"Who is it?"

"Lily, you know, that girl who you met when you visited that first day."

Nini clenched her jaw and nodded. "Oh yeah, her."

"She happens to live in Nevada, and she plans to attend a school called Morrison University in the fall since she wanted to be closer to home. The university is 14 minutes away from your school actually."

Nini forces a smile. "What're the odds?"

Ricky grins. "My surprise to you was that I invited her up here so she can meet everyone since all our friends will be here this weekend. I'm not sure why my dad assumed she was my girlfriend though; maybe he misunderstood me when I said that I have a friend that happens to be a girl. Anywho, I can't wait for all of you guys to finally get to know each other. I think she's gonna be a forever friend like us."

Nini's heart stung at the last sentence. "Well, I'm glad I'll finally get to know her. I've definitely been curious about her."

"She'll be happy to see you again. She's been dying to talk to you ever since you two met, but enough about her. I wanna have fun during our time together until she gets here. Wanna watch a movie before I unpack like the good old days? I'll let you choose."

She smiles faintly since they were no longer discussing Lily. "I say we do a horror film."

"I love it; it'll give me the perfect reason to snuggle with you. I've missed cuddling with you so much."

"I've missed it too, and you know damn well you don't need a reason to hold me."

"Well, let's not waste any more time then." He surprises her by picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder, causing her to squeal. He places her down on his bed and pecks her cheek before turning on the TV. She curled up into his side, and he pulled her in closer with both of his arms. Nini couldn't keep her eyes off of him during the movie. All she could think about was how much she missed him and how badly she wanted to press her lips onto his.

***

Ricky wakes up and stretches his arms, glimpsing out the window to see the sunrise. He glanced to his left and smiled when he saw his best friend lying beside him. She was smiling in her sleep, which made his heart skip a beat. She was so effortlessly beautiful.

He usually let her sleep, but he wanted to cherish his short time here in the states as much as possible. He crawled over her and began planting soft kisses to her cheeks. She moaned and rolled a bit, but she didn't wake up.

He rubs his thumb over her cheek. "Neens, wake up."

"Mmmm." She groans as she puts a pillow over her face.

"Baby, you need to wake up eventually. We don't have a lot of time together."

"Ughhhh." She says into the pillow.

He chuckles and snatches the pillow from her face, causing her to grimace at the sunlight.

"I don't wanna get up."

"Fine, you've left me no choice."

He begins tickling her sides and blows raspberries into her stomach. She began squirming and laughing as he did so, waking her up instantly.

"Alright, alright! I'm up, geez!"

He smirked victoriously. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

She playfully rolled her eyes and smacked him with a pillow. She missed his foolishness.

He rolled off of her and stood up. "Alright gorgeous, let's get going."

"Where are we even going?"

"To the park."

"I can't believe you're rushing me to go to the park when it's open 'til 11 pm."

"I have to since we have dinner plans at 5, and my dad wanted to take me to lunch at 1."

"Ugh, fine." She finally got out of bed and stuck her tongue out at him.

She grabbed her outfit of the day and got dressed in his bathroom. When she was done, she came out and saw he was already dressed as well.

"Shall we go?" She asks.

"We shall."

"But first, smoothies from Smoothie King."

"You read my mind."

"When do I not read your mind? We practically share the same brain except I got the smarter half."

He pretends to be offended. "Hey!"

She shrugs. "Well, it's true."

He interlaces their hands and scowls at her. "You're lucky I love you."

"Yeah, I know." She gets on her tippy toes and kisses his cheek. "Let's go."

They decided to walk to the park instead of drive since it was close enough, and it was another way to spend more time together. Ricky was smirking as he listened to Nini hum to a Lorde song. Lily wasn't the only surprise he had for her; he actually had a much bigger and better surprise that he knew would put a smile on her face.

Nini could sense his eyes on her and looked up at him. "Why're you smirking? You didn't put another kick me sign on me, did you?" She reached for her back to make sure paper was hanging off of her.

He shakes his head and chuckles as he remembers that day. "No, but that was funny when I did that."

"For you. I don't know how many kindergarteners tried to kick me that day on my way to school."

"You could take them."

"I couldn't punch a 5-year-old as a 15-year-old without people screaming at me."

"Not with that attitude."

She nudges his arm. "Richard!"

"I'm kidding! Relax. I actually do have news though."

"Oh?"

He stopped walking and faced his body towards hers.

"I'm coming back in the fall to attend the University of Nevada with you."

She gasped, and her eyes widened. "W-what?!"

"You heard me right. I'm coming back to America."

"What? Why? When? What even—"

"I'm not sure how to answer that."

"Ricky, why are you coming back? You're not coming back for me, are you?"

"Don't worry. I'm not coming back strictly for you, but I admit you were a part of my decision. I just hate being so far away from everyone and missing out on all the events. I love my school in Scotland, but it just isn't home."

"But school isn't about feeling like you're at home. It's about getting your degree, or at least that's what my moms told me."

"Neens, you're supposed to feel like you belong at your school, or else you're gonna want to leave it. That's what I'm experiencing right now. I love studying the arts, but I don't need to study it overseas when there are plenty of great art schools and universities that have outstanding art programs, including University of Nevada. If I attend there, I can still pursue my career, be closer to my friends and family, and of course I get to see you every day. It's a triple win that I didn't have to think twice about."

Nini beams and wraps her arms around his neck. "You're coming with me next fall." She says, almost not believing her own words.

He hugs her back. "Yeah, I can't wait to spend time with you again."

A selfish part of Nini wanted to believe he came back for her, but she knew he'd never risk his future for her. Well, at least she hopes he wouldn't. Then again, she'd risk anything for Ricky's happiness and would drop everything to ensure he prospers.

"Who all knows?"

"So far, my dad since he's the one paying for it. Lily knows since her story about why she's transferring for similar reasons actually motivated me to make my decision. I'm glad I spoke to her since I felt like I was the only one who felt out of place. I felt ungrateful for not liking where I was since I'm a one in a million acceptance, so it was nice to talk to someone who got it. I'm gonna tell the others at our hangout later this week."

Nini frowned slightly at the mention of Lily. "Why didn't you just talk to me about it? I would've heard you out."

"I know you would've, but I didn't want to get your hopes up on me coming back if I decided to stay. I know how upset you were when I said I wasn't going to college with you, and I didn't want to see that face again. Being the reason you're sad always breaks my heart."

She nods in understanding. She hated that he couldn't come to her for a major decision like that, but she understood that some decisions don't require her advice. Though she does admit that it irked her a little that Lily was the one who was the shoulder he leaned on, she was glad he at least had someone to speak to. Maybe Lily being around more often wasn't as bad as she presumed.

"Well, I'm just excited to be in the same state as my best friend again. Now we can start planning our fall semester and living situation."

He made an iffy face. "Yeah, about that, I don't think it's wise that we live together."

"What? Why? I'm a fantastic roommate! I clean my mess and others' messes, I ask permission for guests to spend the night or come over, and I even share my favorite mug! Ask Andi; she can vouch for me!"

Ricky grins. "Neens, it's nothing personal. I just don't want us to be one of those friends who move in together and end up hating each other afterwards since we get sick of the others' existence. Plus, I think it'll be fun to visit one another like we always do so we can have our own space when needed. Does that make sense?"

She poked out her lip, but she knew he was right. "Yeah, but I'm still gonna pout about it."

He pokes her lip back into place and cups her face. "I will not tolerate frowning on my first full day back."

"Fine, but I'm only hiding my pout for you."

"You're so strong."

She rolls her eyes and rests her head on his arm as they continue to walk down the sidewalk. He began speaking about his time in Scotland and how he'd like to go back in a few years with their friends, which put a cheesy smile on her face. One of her absolute favorite hobbies was watching Ricky talk about something he was passionate about, even if it was something she doesn't understand or is not interested in. Something about how he lights up always brightens her mood.

"What's got you all smiley and giddy?"

She didn't even register that she was staring at him with a huge grin on her face. She can only imagine how creepy she looked, but she didn't care since it was just Ricky.

She shrugs, maintaining her smile. "I'm just really happy right now."

He smiles and ducks down so that their noses are grazing. They rub noses before he softly kisses the back of her hand. She got up on her tippy toes and pecked his nose, causing both of them to smile like lovesick idiots.

***

That Saturday, everyone met at Big Red's house. Most of them were on spring break or were just visiting for one weekend since everyone else came home. Nini was thrilled to see all of her friends in one area again, but she couldn't fully enjoy the get together since Lily was coming. 

She felt so icky with herself for being this territorial, but she couldn't help it. She loved being Ricky's favorite girl, and she has been since they've met. The thought of some random girl from his school grabbing so much of his attention made her feel like she was in the process of being replaced. She definitely will have to talk to her therapist soon.

Ricky was talking with Red when he got a text. He grins when he reads it. "Lily's here! Everyone be cool, especially you Gina."

"The fuck did I do?"

"What didn't you do?"

Gina nods. "I hate that I can't refute that."

Ricky just shakes his head and opens the door. He beams when he sees Lily.

"Lilybug!"

"Hey, curly! Long time, no see!"

They hug each other tightly, Lily going airborne for a bit. He places her back on the ground and puts his hand on the small of her back. "Guys, this is Lily. Lily, these are my friends."

All of them wave at her, but Nini was the only one who wasn't enthusiastic.

"Oh my god! It's so great to finally meet you guys! I've heard so much about all of you, especially Gina and Red, which I'm assuming is you two." She points at Red and Gina.

"What the hell have you been saying about me?" Red asks.

"Talking about me overseas? Ugh, fan behavior." Gina says.

Lily nods. "Oh yeah, you're definitely Gina. I'm sure we'll be close by the end of the night."

Gina lifts a brow. "Do you party?"

"Oh sweetie, I invented partying."

Gina claps her hands. "Finally, someone on my level! Why have you been hiding her for so long, Richard?!"

"Well, we were kinda in another country and all."

Gina hushes him with her finger. "No excuses!"

"Maybe I shouldn't have invited her. The last thing we need is two Gina's."

The rest of them chuckled at his little joke, but Nini stayed silent as she observed Lily from the kitchen door frame. She caught onto the small little interactions she had with Ricky when she entered. They apparently were close enough to have nicknames, and that hug was very intimate. Ricky's hand was rather low on Lily's back, which he only does with people he dates or with Nini. Lily was definitely more important to his life than Ricky was leading her on to be, and Nini wasn't sure why he was holding back on telling her.

As the night went on, Nini found herself watching her from afar. Lily was very social and likable, and everyone was enjoying her presence, especially Ricky. She hasn't seen him smile from ear to ear for that long before. He always laughed a little harder at Lily's jokes than others even if they weren't as funny, he found a way to ensure they had physical contact throughout the night, and he seemed to be following her around.

It pained her to see him so engrossed in someone who she never could measure up to be. Lily was a total catch, and she wouldn't be shocked if Ricky ended up dating her sometime in the near future. Hell, Nini would date her if she swung for her team. God, she was gonna hate watching them be all lovey-dovey while she pretends she's cool with it.

Nini kept staring at Lily and Ricky from the kitchen sink as Lily rubbed up on Ricky's arm as they spoke in a quiet corner. Nini wanted to know what they were talking about since his cheeks were all rosy, and Lily seemed to be giving him seductive eyes.

Gina waltzed into the kitchen for some more drinks, but she was distracted by Nini's extreme stare down. Gian followed her eyesight and smirked when she realized who Nini was peeking at. Gina walked over to Nini and washed her whiskey glass.

"How have you been?"

The sound of Gina's voice shakes Nini to her core. "Fuck, when did you get here?"

"Babe, I haven't been here long, but you should've sensed my presence. I'm not shocked you didn't notice me since you seem to be focused on something else." Gina glances over at Ricky and Lily.

Nini blushes. "I was staring into space. I didn't perceive that I was looking at them."

Gina sighed at Nini's weak excuse. "You know he will always choose you over anyone any day, right?"

Nini made a lost expression as she folded her arms over her chest. "What do you mean?"

Gina rolled her eyes at her. "You know what I mean." Gina pours herself another shot of whiskey before rejoining their friends on the patio, leaving Nini to digest what she said.

When Lily went to the bathroom, Ricky began searching for his best friend. He smiles at first when he spots her in the kitchen, but his smile swiftly disappears when he sees she was alone and seemed bothered. He walked over to her and leaned his back against the granite counter as he stood beside her.

"Hey, mouse."

"Hey..."

"Having fun?"

She shrugs. "Yeah, I guess."

"You sure don't look like it. Is everything okay?"

She nods. "I'm fine."

"You sure? You usually like standing on the patio with our friends. It's not like you to isolate yourself like this."

"I just didn't want to get mosquito bites." She lies.

He wasn't buying that sorry excuse and sat on top of the counter. "Nini."

"Hm?"

"What's actually wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just exhausted, and I want to be alone for a bit."

"Nini..."

The sound of Lily's pumps came from the hallway. "Hey Ricky, I'm gonna pour you another drink while you wrap up your little convo."

He forms a weak smile at her. "I'll be out there soon."

"Don't keep me waiting too long." Lily winks before sashaying out to the patio.

Nini couldn't help but notice that Lily didn't address her at all, but she didn't really blame her. It's not like Nini spoke to her.

"You should go to her. She seems eager to drink with you."

"Not until I find out why you're so upset."

"Ricky, I'm okay. Go have fun. You don't have a lot of time left before you get shipped back to Scotland."

"You're more important than my spring break."

"Richard, go. I'm just moody."

He sighed in defeat when she realized he wasn't gonna get an answer out of her.

"Fine, but call me when you're ready to talk, okay?"

She slightly grins. "Okay."

He pulls up her chin and kisses her cheek before going back outside. Though she typically didn't think twice when he kissed her, she couldn't help but pick up on the fact that he didn't let his lips linger like he normally does.

She wondered if he kissed Lily on the cheek or if they cuddled like Nini and him do. That made her heart ache even more. She decides to put her silly thoughts in the back of her head where they belong and join her friends outside in hopes that she could somehow forget the mental image she painted of them together.

***

Ricky was packing his bag so that he'd be prepared for his flight back to Scotland tomorrow. The week had gone by faster than he thought, which made him a little sad since he felt as if he didn't get to do all the things he desired to do. He quickly got over his disappointment when he remembered that he'd be coming back soon for summer break anyway. He hears a light knock on his door and sees his dad standing there with a grin.

"Is it okay if I come in?"

"Of course."

Mike walks in with his hands stuffed in his pockets and an awkward expression on his face. Ricky knew this stance all too well; it meant that he had either bad or uncomfortable news to share.

"So, have you enjoyed your week off?"

Ricky groaned as he set his bag aside and looked at his dad. Buttering up and small talk were always the first step his dad took when he was about to give him some bad news.

"Alright dad, what's going on? No one's dying, right?"

"No, not to my knowledge at least."

"Then, what's up? You're on edge."

Mike exhaled deeply. "Well, as you know, Jenn and I have been getting pretty serious. I really see a future with her, and I'd like to start that future with her as soon as possible since I'm not getting any younger."

Ricky had an idea of where this was going. "Dad, I already said I'm okay with you two dating when you told me about it a few months back."

Mike scratches the back of his head. "Um, that's not really what I was talking about."

Ricky lifts a brow. "Then, what are you talking about?"

"Jenn and I intend to move in with each other."

Ricky smiles. "Oh, that's amazing! When is she moving in here?"

Mike made a poker face at his question, confusing Ricky.

"Dad?"

"Look, I know you're not gonna like this, but Jenn and I have been talking about it for a while now. I'm gonna sell the house so I can downsize."

Ricky frowns. "What? Why?"

"You're all grown up now, you don't need this zip code for your schools anymore, and Jenn doesn't have any kids. It makes no sense for me to keep this big place when it's gonna be just me and her."

"But we've been living in this house since I was born!"

"I know, kiddo. I'm sorry you feel so strongly about this, but I've made my final decision. I already called a real estate agent."

Ricky rummaged through his curls as he took a seat on his bed. "I can't believe this."

Mike takes a seat next to him, resting his palms on his knees. "I know sometimes change can be scary, but it also can be good. I mean, look at you. You went off to some country all alone."

"Yeah, but I still decided to come back home."

"True, but maybe home isn't just these four walls."

"I guess you're right, but I'm still bummed. How can I say goodbye to the place I've spent my entire life in?"

"I felt the same way when I moved out. It's a huge adjustment, but you'll get through it."

"Where are you moving? You're staying in Salt Lake at least, right?"

Mike nods. "Yes, I'm gonna stay closer to the lake, so I'm not far at all."

"Have you found a place yet?"

"Yep! We found a three bedroom condo near the lake. We're gonna sign the papers in like three months or so."

"Well, I'm excited for you two, and I can't wait to see the new place."

"Thanks, bud. Sorry for springing this on you so soon."

"It's fine. How long until we move?"

"I'm gonna check with the agent, but if I'm lucky, I'll be out by the end of July. I'm gonna start moving my stuff into the condo the second we sign our lease though."

"Where's my stuff going?"

"In one of the extra bedrooms. That'll be your room when you visit."

Ricky sighed. "Well, I guess that's that then."

Mike can sense that Ricky was still unhappy about the news and was being a good sport, so he decided to change the subject. "So, what's going on with this Lily girl? Is that gonna turn into something?"

Ricky's cheeks burn as he smiles. "Nothing's going on; we're just good friends."

Mike smirks. "Is she a friend, or is she a 'friend' like how you and Nini are?"

Ricky tilts his head. "Can you elaborate on that?"

Mike laughs whole-heartedly at his son, but he stops when he realizes Ricky wasn't kidding.

"Oh shit. You're serious."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Wow, okay. Well son, I've known the both of you for a very long time now. If there's one thing I've picked up on about your relationship, it's that you two were never fully platonic. There's always been more between you guys."

"What? No. That's not true."

Mike scoffed. "Son, you frequently kiss each other on the cheek, cuddle at any given moment, pine for one another when you're apart for too long, and you two even sleep in the same bed when you're together. And you're trying to tell me that's strictly platonic? I wasn't born yesterday."

"That's completely normal for friends to do."

Mike snickers. "Uh huh, and so is hugging for a minute straight." He says sarcastically. Mike used to catch them in long embraces when they were in middle school. "It'd be weird if you two were still doing that and trying to claim you're 'just friends.'" He makes the quotation with his hands as he giggles.

Ricky's face reddens as he attempts to hide his face from his dad, making Mike put two and two together. "Jesus Christ, kid. You're so in love with her."

"You have no proof."

"I have ten plus years of proof. Carol and Dana could back me up on this too. I don't know how many times we've caught you two sleeping next to each other throughout the years."

"Oh my god."

"Just keep in mind that you must use protection. I want grandkids one day, but not this soon."

Ricky's blush deepened. "Dad!"

Mike laughs and pats Ricky on the back before getting up from the bed. "I'm just teasing, kid. But my words are still true. You're still in love with Nini, which is fine by me. I've always seen her as my daughter anyway."

Ricky groaned and hit his dad with a pillow as Mike began walking to the door. Mike only responded with a laugh. Before Mike could leave the room, Ricky got the courage to speak.

"Dad?"

Mike stops in tracks and looks over his shoulder. "Yeah, bud?"

Ricky sighed sadly as he stared down at his floor. "Should I move on from her?"

Mike was thrown off by his question. "Why would you want to?"

Ricky shrugs. "Every time we have a romantic moment, she keeps pushing me away. It gets discouraging, you know? Like, I don't know if I'm wasting my time longing for her when I could be happy with someone who's clearly into me."

"Well, do you even like the other girl who's openly crushing on you?"

"She's amazing, and I can see me dating her to be honest."

"And do you want to move on?"

"I'm not sure."

"Is she worth waiting for?"

Ricky just blushes, not saying a word, but Mike knew what his son was implying based on his body language.

"Then, I can't really help you there, kiddo. The moment you honestly answer that last question, you'll solve your dilemma."

"Thanks, dad."

"Any time, kiddo."

Mike gave him a fleeting smile as he closed Ricky's door on his way out. Ricky fell back onto his bed, releasing a sigh. He had one hell of a decision to make, and he wasn't sure which one was the right choice. He could already feel the headache coming. This wasn't going to be as easy as he expected.

Chapter Text

August finally came around, which Nini was extremely excited for since it meant spending the rest of her college years with Ricky. They spent most of the summer break together and prepared for all of the things they intend to do together when they arrive in Reno.

Ricky wasn't as close to Lily due to them living in different states and neither of them visiting each other during the summer, but they still spoke almost every day. Nini felt ugly for enjoying the fact that he didn't talk to her as much, but she couldn't help it. She'd been learning to cope with her jealousy by talking to her therapist in order to accept the fact that Lily isn't a threat to her.

Ricky ended up moving into a nearby apartment complex along with two roommates he was assigned. Nini stayed on campus since her moms weren't trusting of apartments around colleges. Ricky lived really close to her, so she didn't mind it one bit. It's only been a week in Reno, and she's already visited him five times. She preferred them to go to his place instead of hers since it was so small.

She actually intended on heading to his place soon so she could surprise him, but she wanted to hit up the local café everyone kept raving about that she never got around to. She walked in and immediately realized how cramped and crowded it was. It was roughly the size of a mall Starbucks, and she was bumping elbows with people as she squeezed through the crowd. When she finally gets into the line, she gets a text from Ricky.

Ricky: Come over?

Nini smiles as she reads the text. Of course they were on the same wavelength.

Nini: It's funny that you say that. I was gonna surprise you

Ricky: Best surprise ever!

Nini: I'm at a café right now, but I'll be over there soon

Ricky: Oo! Can you get me a doughnut? I promise to pay you back

Nini: Sure, and no need to pay me back

Ricky: I'm gonna shove 5 dollars in your purse without you knowing ❤️

Nini: And I'll just return it in your wallet when you're not looking ❤️

Ricky: I'm not starting this with you, miss thing. I'll see you soon 💋

She blushed as she placed her phone back in her pocket. After she got her coffee and his pastry, she attempted to shove through the herd of people. On her way out, she hears someone call her name.

"Nini!"

She turns to face the person who summoned her and frowns when she sees a pretty blond she was far too familiar with sitting at one of the tables.

"Come here!" Lily waves for her to come over.

Nini debated on finding some dumb excuse to leave, but Lily was persistent. Nini sighs and makes her way over to her. She stands by the empty chair across from her.

"Hey, Lily." Nini says with a forced smile.

Lily didn't seem to catch on that Nini didn't want to be there, or she at least pretended not to notice. "Hey! What brings you here?"

"Well, I've been meaning to try this place out for a while, and I just now got the opportunity to go."

"Well, I hope you enjoy it! This is my favorite café, and it happens to be between the two of our universities. What're the odds?"

"Yeah, crazy..."

Mental note: don't come back here.

Lily crosses her legs. "Anyways, where are you heading off to?"

Nini scratched the back of her head, unsure if she wanted to inform Lily of where she was going since she might want to join. "Um, I was just gonna meet up with Ricky."

Lily smiles. "Sounds fun!"

"Yeah, speaking of, I should get back to him."

Lily sets her coffee aside and grabs Nini's arm. "Wait! Before you go, do you mind chatting with me? I'd love to get to know you more."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course, silly! I've been itching to become acquainted with the girl Ricky wouldn't shut up about."

Nini hesitated to sit at first, but she ended up sliding into the chair across from her. Lily was overjoyed by her appearance.

Lily rests her chin on her palm as her elbow was planted on the small circular table. "So, what's it like going to college with your best friend?"

"Honestly, I'm loving it so far. I've already hung out with him a lot during our first week. It's pretty much exactly like I thought it'd be so far. I just hope it stays like that."

"I'm glad you two are having a good time! The closest I've had to that experience was my time spent in Scotland with Ricky. He was definitely my closest friend there, and I'm glad I'll be able to see him more often since he's in town. I've missed hanging out with him. He's a total character!"

Nini's heart ached at hearing that. "Oh yeah, I guess you two will be seeing a lot of each other. I totally forgot."

"I've been meaning to hang out with him, but he claims he's been so busy. I guess it's because he's spending time with you."

Nini awkwardly smiles. "Yeah, possibly."

"It's not a big deal though. I plan to stay here for my remaining college days, so I'll have plenty of time to talk to him. I actually started talking to him more recently since we didn't talk as much during the summer."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I was gonna ask him to hang out today, but I see he already had plans. I'll just ask to go out Saturday."

Nini considered saying they already had plans, but she knew that was selfish of her. "Yeah, he's free that day."

Lily beams. "Great! I'll text him now." She whips out her phone and sends a quick message before putting it back in her purse.

Nini bit the inside of her cheek as she internally debated on whether or not she should ask the burning question in her head. She decided to let the intrusive thoughts win today.

"Lily?"

"Yes?"

"What exactly is your relationship with Ricky?"

Lily was obviously thrown off by her question, but her confusion became joy. Her face turns red before she smiles at Nini. "Well, we're just friends right now. He's a sweetheart and very handsome, and I can see myself with him someday. I'm not sure though since he's been wishy-washy with me ever since we entered the states."

Nini sighs when she realizes her suspicions were right. A part of her wanted to be selfish and tell her that he wasn't meant for her, but she knew that was wrong. That didn't mean she had to encourage it either though.

Nini suddenly gets up. "I have to go meet Ricky, but it was nice seeing you again."

"Oh, right. Nice seeing you too! I hope we bump into each other again!"

Nini just smiled at her before swiftly exiting the café, pretending Lily's words didn't haunt her.

***

Later that evening, Ricky and Nini had decided to go to a diner that Nini adored. It was modeled like a traditional '50s diner with servers in cutesy uniforms and roller skates. She figured Ricky would like it too since he loved traditional American food in cozy settings.

Ricky and Nini sat on the same side of the booth, desiring to be as close as possible as they shared their plate of fries and strawberry milkshake. Nini knew it wasn't healthy to do, but she couldn't help but fantasize about this being a real date. It was hard to see it as two friends hanging out whenever he kept pecking her cheek and finding a way to hold her hand or thigh. She wasn't innocent either; she leaned her head on his shoulder and gave him heart eyes all night.

Nini took a final bite of her chicken tenders and was grossed out by her greasy hands. "Hey, I'm gonna go wash my hands real quick. I'll be back in a jiffy."

"Back in a jiffy? I knew you liked eating in '50s diners, but I didn't know you liked to speak like you were stuck in the '50s as well."

She nudged him. "Shut up." She follows up with a peck on his cheek before getting up and walking to the bathroom.

Ricky continues to drink their shake, minding his own business until he feels as if something is watching him. He looks up from his drink and sees a middle aged woman who wore all black and sunglasses despite it being night time and being inside. He raises a brow as he makes eye contact with her, which makes her shy away and hide her face in the menu.

He felt uneasy by her presence since she didn't look like she was up to any good, so he occasionally glanced over at her just to see if she was still staring at him. Almost every single time he peered, she was facing his direction. He started to get freaked out and was considering approaching the woman, but he was interrupted when Nini appeared in his line of sight.

"Hey cutie." She slides in her spot next to him and smiles.

Ricky looked at her and gave her a faint grin, which made Nini's smile falter. "What's wrong?"

He glimpses back at the spot the woman was sitting in only to notice she wasn't there anymore. He furrows his brows as he scanned the whole diner for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Now he was really spooked. He was starting to think that maybe he saw a ghost.

Nini lifts a brow and glances over at the area he was staring at. "What're you looking at?"

Ricky stared at the spot for another second before looking back at Nini with a forced smile. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"You sure? You look a little shaken up."

"I'm sure. Wanna order apple pie? The waitress said it was to die for."

"Only if we can get a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it."

"Of course, we're gonna get vanilla ice cream with it. It completes the dish."

"Great! I'll get our waitress's attention."

As Nini waved at the waitress, Ricky felt a chill go down his spine. He sure hoped whatever just happened was nothing, and more importantly that person wouldn't hurt his Nini.

***

During the second week of school, Ricky and Nini had realized that their afternoon schedule was actually cop related with the others. Two of their classes were in the same building, so Ricky always met her at her dorm and walked her to class since his classes started 10 minutes later than hers.

They were currently standing outside of her classroom with Ricky hovering his arm over her as he rested on the wall. Nini had been playing with the strings of his hoodie in a flirtatious manner as they spoke.

Nini blushes before she asks a question. "So, what're you doing later? My roommate will be out pretty late, so we can maybe watch a movie."

Ricky frowns. "Damn, I'm actually busy tonight."

Nini furrows her brows. "Doing what? You've already completed your assignments early this week."

Ricky sighs. "I'm hanging out with Lily tonight. She requested that we do it since it's been a while, and she's right. I can barely remember the last time I spent time with her before summer break."

Nini's heart dropped, but she tried not to show it. "Oh, okay. Sounds fun. Where are you two going?"

"She invited me to this fancy seafood restaurant that she said she'd pay the bill for. She should know damn well that I'm going to fight her for the bill just like I do with you. I'm excited to try it out. If it's any good, I'll take you there myself."

If Nini were to go there, the only thing she'd be thinking about is how it was the same place he ate with Lily at. She didn't feel like pretending she wasn't bothered by that fact for the whole night. "Mm, or we could go to another seafood restaurant and make it our own place. I know one that's two cities over that's pretty good. We can go on Sunday since they have a good brunch there. What do you say?"

He grins. "It's a date."

She checks her phone clock and realizes it was time for her to go to class. "Well, I should get to class."

He pouts. "So soon?"

"It's been five minutes, and you should head upstairs soon. I know how strict your professor is about attendance."

"Maybe he'll understand if I explained I was stuck in a conversation with a really pretty girl."

Nini's cheeks turn red. "I doubt he'll understand."

"Yeah, you're right, but you're worth being yelled at for."

She rolled her eyes. "Go to class, Romeo. Also, enjoy your date tonight."

Ricky squinted his eyes. "It's not a date."

She gave him a disbelieving look. "Uh huh, and I'm not Filipina."

She was about to walk in her class, but she was pulled back by her wrist.

"Nini, it's not a date." He said very clearly, making direct eye contact with her.

"Ricky, come on..."

"It's. not. a. date."

"Fine, Ricky. Whatever you say. Just know that she probably thinks it is."

"As long as you know it's not a date, I'm set."

"Why does it matter what it is? It's none of my business."

"Because it just does, okay?"

Ricky takes her hand and kisses the back of it. "Now, go to class. I know how much you love that front row seat and fear it getting taken."

Her face warms up at his gesture. "See you after your class?"

"I'm counting the minutes."

She waved at him before entering her class, leaving him in the hallway. He began to walk up the stairs when he got a notification stating that someone from Facebook wanted to be his friend. He was a little taken aback since he rarely ever gets notifications from there since he was never on it.

Out of curiosity, he checks who sent him a friend request. He sees it's a middle aged woman, probably in her late 40's. He remembers getting a request last week from this same person, but they took it back. He thought it was strange that this stranger seemed skeptical of even wanting to follow him, but he decided not to think anything of it.

That is until he gets a notification from Messenger. He notices it was the same person, and he lifts a brow. He was about to read the message, but the message was unsent the second he tried to. He was once again freaked out by whatever this was, and he hoped it wasn't tied to that creepy woman he saw at the diner. He blocked the username and made haste to his class.

***

Nini was walking from one of the dining halls as she jammed out to her playlist when she saw someone she desperately wanted to avoid at all costs a few feet in front of her.

She spots Lily talking to one of the students, which confuses Nini a bit considering she doesn't even attend this school. Nini figured it was a good idea to go ahead and turn around before she noticed she was there, but she was too late.

Lily saw her face right before she completely made a 180. "Hey, Nini! Wait up!"

Nini scrunched up her face. "Shit." She whispers. She swiftly put on a smile before spinning on her heel. "Lily, heyyy."

"Hey, girlie! It's fancy seeing you here."

"Not really. I actually go to this school."

Lily chuckles. "Oh yeah, I guess I'm the fish out of water. I'm just so used to visiting this campus since some of my friends come here; it's almost as if I go here! Maybe I should transfer at this point."

Nini's eyes widened in fear. "No!"

Lily titles her head at her sudden outburst. "Why?"

Nini speedily thought of a believable excuse. "Um, because...registration is super hard here. And the professors are really rude and don't allow you to make up tests. Don't even get me started on how disgusting residence life is here. I'd give it a 3/10. Between you and me, I'm pretty sure I found some mold on the community showers."

Lily grimaced. "Ew, gross. Why do you live here? You can and should do better."

"Money doesn't fall from trees."

"That's very true."

"Anyways, what brings you on campus?" Nini just wanted to know if it was for who she thought it was.

"Oh, well I was supposed to have a quick lunch with Ricky, but he's running late due to a quiz he's taking."

Nini hummed in acknowledgement. She had a feeling it was for him. "How was your uh date with him?"

Lily giggles and gently slaps Nini's arm. "Date? I wouldn't go as far as calling it that. Why? Did he say something different?" She says with hope in her tone.

"Um, no. Sorry."

Lily looked a little disappointed but got over it quickly. "No worries. Hey, while I have you here, I think we should have a girl's day. I could really use some more female companions since so many of my girlfriends went to colleges too far from me. I barely remember what it's like to get a mani-pedi!"

Nini mentally screamed at the thought of hanging out with her for a whole day, but she also had no real reason not to. Though she wanted nothing to do with her, she figured it was actually a good way for her to possibly get over her stupid jealousy since Lily really hasn't done anything wrong. Nini sighs in defeat. "You know what? Sure, let's do it."

Lily squeals and claps as she jumps up and down. "I'm so excited! I already have an idea of what we can do together. It's gonna be a surprise, and I know you're gonna love it. Eek, this is gonna be so much fun! Let me get your number!"

"Sure."

Nini hands her phone to her, and Lily hastily types in her number and sends her a quick text. Just as she finished her text, Ricky calls her. "That's Ricky, so I gotta go. I'm really excited for our hangout! How's next Saturday for you?"

"Saturday is good."

"Perfect, see you then. Oh, and wear something comfortable, and make sure it's a little dressy. Maybe a sundress or something."

"Oh okay, sure."

"Bye, Nini! I can't wait to see Ricky's face when he hears about this!" Lily waves before speed walking to the dining hall.

Nini had no idea what she had planned, but she was a little scared to find out. She just hopes that whatever Lily wanted to do wasn't too unbearable.

~

Nini could not have predicted what Lily had up her sleeve.

Lily had made reservations to an elite Italian restaurant that was right beside a horse racing show. The restaurant was so expensive that Nini was scared that ordering an appetizer would cause her to go bankrupt. She didn't realize that Lily came from money, but she guesses she shouldn't be surprised considering Lily wears expensive clothing and drives a Mercedes. Nini felt incredibly out of place here with her sundress she got from the mall while others wore dresses she'd only dream of buying.

Lily smiles as she glances over at Nini across the table. "Do you know what you wanna order for a starter? I was thinking about the calamari. How does that sound?"

Nini blushes from embarrassment. "Um, I don't know. It's a little pricey."

"Oh, that's no problem, dear! I'll cover our meal today."

Nini was shocked. "Wait, really?"

Lily nodded with that signature smile. "Of course! I'd never invite someone to some fancy restaurant and expect them to pay, especially since I really wanna make sure you enjoy our little girl's day."

"Wow, thank you so much. I promise not to get something crazy expensive."

"Honey, you can get three lobsters and a margarita, and I wouldn't mind. Get whatever you like."

Nini was genuinely taken aback by her generosity, not because she assumed she was evil, but because she didn't expect Lily to be so giving. Not even Nini could say she'd cover her friend at a place like this, but that's only because she couldn't afford it.

"Thanks again. You really didn't have to do all this."

"No need to thank me. What are girlfriends for?"

Nini smiled her first genuine smile. Maybe this little get together wouldn't be all that bad.

"So, what do you advise we get?"

Lily grins. "The hors d'oeuvres and champagne are to die for. If we get multiple rounds of it, we don't even have to get a meal."

"Sounds promising. Let's do it."

"Perfect! I'll get us some. You're gonna love it!"

When the waitress came to their table, Lily ordered them two bottles of champagne with her fake ID and multiple platters that they could pick off of. Nini was mentally counting up the bill and had a mini heart attack once she registered that it had to be at least $200 already. She could never see herself paying this much for food unless it was grocery shopping, and she was amazed that Lily didn't hesitate to purchase the food and alcohol. Nini could only wish she'd be as blessed as her one day.

After finishing a whole bottle, both of them were getting a little tipsy. Lily and Nini were both giggly drunks that pretty much laughed at anything.

Lily poured some more champagne into her glass. "So, Neeners. Sorry, don't know why I called you that, but I'm kinda feeling it. Can I call you that?"

Nini waves her off as she pops a grape in her mouth. "Sure, why not? Some of my friends occasionally call me that anyway."

"Neeners it is then. Anyways, tell me about yourself. I just now realized I know basically nothing about you."

"Well, I'm born and raised in the suburbs of Salt Lake, I have lesbian moms, Ricky's dad and my birth mom's husband are the only father figures I have. Speaking of that, I met my birth mom a little bit before my 17th birthday. I love sports and hanging out with my friends. Oh, and I'm awful at love and relationships. I haven't had one that didn't end in shambles yet. That's pretty much it."

Lily giggles. "I feel you on that romance part. I haven't had the best experience with men. I've only ever had one good relationship, but it ended rather sadly. But enough about that sob story, it's time for you to hear about me. I was born in Incline Village, Nevada alongside my two snobby sisters and annoying brother. The city is 45 minutes from Reno near Lake Tahoe. I stay in the cabin my parents rented out on the lake since they barely use it. It's great for partying and for when I need to just get away. My parents stay in a home a few blocks away from the cabin."

Now it was all making sense to Nini. Incline Village is the richest city in all of Nevada, which would explain why Lily was living so comfortably.

"It's funny that you mention Lake Tahoe since my birth mom wanted to take me there. How is it?"

"Oh, it's lovely! You'll have a ball there. I'd advise bringing friends one day."

"I actually am bringing a friend along. My birth mom insisted that Ricky come with us. She adores him a lot and wants me to have at least one companion my age since my sisters are too young for a meaningful conversation."

"Oh, you have sisters too? Hopefully they're not dreadful like mine."

"Yes, I have two half-sisters, Amy and Ramona. They're sweethearts, but they're a little pushy. They're also convinced Ricky and I will get married one day."

Lily chuckles rather dryly at that last part. "Kids are delusional."

Nini lifts a glass to Lily. "Yes, they are."

Nini saw that Lily looked as if she was debating on saying something, but it seems all doubts disappeared as she smiled again. "So, tell me about your love life. Anyone you're looking at?"

Nini's heart dropped as she choked a little on her champagne. "Oh um, I guess my love life is kinda nonexistent right now. I'm kinda in a situationship if anything."

"A situationship with who?"

Nini bit her lip as she debated on whether or not she should answer truthfully. "It's nothing really. I've just kinda been flirtatious with someone for a while now, but I doubt that person and I will ever get together due to our circumstances."

"Well, I'm sure you two can work it out regardless of your circumstances. Has he shown interest in you at all?"

"Well, he did confess to me a while back that he'll always want us to be more, but I shut him down since I knew both the timing and circumstance wasn't right. There's no way we would've lasted if we dated then. I'm kinda scared that getting in a relationship with him would ruin everything we've built up, and it's impossible to predict if we'd end on bad terms. Does that make sense?"

Lily nods. "Absolutely! The good relationship I was referring to earlier was actually with a longtime friend of mine. We broke up due to let's just say circumstances, and now we don't talk anymore. It's almost as if the last ten years of friendship never happened; it was heartbreaking. I vowed to never fall for a friend ever again because of him. I'd advise you to do the same."

Nini titles her head to the side. "Didn't you just say that we could possibly work it out?"

"That was before I realized it was a friend of yours. It's not worth the risk. I'd never want you to go through what I did two years ago."

Nini shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe he and I are different."

Lily's smile dissipates, and she gives Nini a serious expression. "Back off of him, Nini."

Nini was perplexed by her sudden demeanor change. "Oh, alright then."

Lily beams. "Good, now let's get something salty in us to help us sober up. We don't wanna be known as the college girls who hacked up their meal." She says sweetly, as if she didn't just menacingly scowl at Nini two seconds ago.

"Uh yeah, something salty sounds good."

"How about some truffle fries? They have the best fries in all of Reno."

"Anything sounds good."

"Great, I'll order the fries. Waitress!" Lily calls her over by snapping, which Nini wasn't fond of. Nini wouldn't dare correct Lily's manners though since she could sense something was slightly off with Lily, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. So, Nini decided she'd just continue to silently observe her for now, hoping she wasn't the devil in disguise.

Chapter Text

A few weeks after that bizarre and slightly eerie outing with Lily, Nini has been avoiding her like the plague. Well, as much as she could. Ricky occasionally brought her around, but Nini would purposely find an excuse to either leave or not speak to her. She only stuck to basic greetings and small talk if necessary, but she didn't go beyond that.

She didn't tell Ricky about the weird, almost threatening words Lily said to her since she didn't have hard evidence of her being sketchy. She figured she'd just keep her distance for now and try to only hang out with Ricky when she knows for a fact he's alone or at least not with Lily.

Nini was walking in one of the lecture hallways when she spotted a familiar head of curls across the hall. Almost as if he sensed her presence, he looked up from his phone and smiled when he saw her. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed how ecstatic he was to see her.

She guesses she shouldn't be shocked since they hadn't seen each other in three days. They begin walking up to each other, but they're disrupted by a familiar blond blocking Ricky's path. Nini immediately stopped approaching him and watched as they spoke. Her smile falls slowly before she sighs in defeat and turns around.

"Ricky, hey!"

Ricky jumps back a bit, surprised to see Lily standing in front of him. "Oh, hey Lily. Uh, what're you doing here? Don't you need to be on your own campus?"

"Trying to get rid of me, Bowen?" She jokes.

He nervously laughs. "You know I don't mind you being around, but it is a little weird to be here during your school hours."

Lily shrugs. "My class is boring anyway. I was actually looking for you. Wanna hang out after you're done with classes? Maybe we can go to that new Mexican restaurant; I'll pay!"

Ricky peeks over Lily's shoulder to see if Nini was still there. He frowned when he saw her walking the opposite direction.

"Sorry to cut this short, but I actually need to talk to somebody real quick."

Lily frowns. "Oh, okay. Call me?"

"Yep, totally. See yuh!" He begins running towards the exit he saw Nini walk out of and barges through the doors. He looks around and spots her walking to the campus Starbucks. He double timed over to her before she could get any further.

"Nini!"

She was startled by the sound of her name; she looked over her shoulder and was shocked to see Ricky sprinting over to her. She stands still so he can catch up to her. When he finally gets to her, he bends over and rests his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath.

Nini chuckled. "Someone needs to work on their cardio. That wasn't that far of a run."

"Fuck off." He says between pants.

"I must admit that I'm a little surprised you're not talking with Lily."

He sits up straight. "Why's that?"

"Because anytime she's around, you kind of have tunnel vision for her."

"Do I? I've never noticed."

"Well, I definitely have. That conversation was a lot faster than I presumed. I'm assuming she wanted to hang out with you."

He nods. "Yeah, she wanted to tonight."

"Are you going to?"

"No, because I wanted to ask you to go with me to this cutesy little thrift store I passed by today. I think you'd love it."

"You'd choose going to a thrift shop over being with your girlfriend?"

He rolls his eyes. "She's not my girlfriend, Neens."

"Tell that to her."

He groans, not wanting to get into this again. "Dammit Nini, are we going to the thrift store or not?"

She bites the inside of her cheek. "Will Lily be joining us?"

"No, she's not into used clothes anyway. Besides, I'd prefer for it to be just the two of us anyway."

Nini grins. "Get me at 7."

***

After they shopped at the thrift store, Ricky guided her back to his car with a smirk on his face. He didn't just invite her out to go to a thrift store; he had a little secret he couldn't wait to show her. When they get in the car, she instantly begins taking out all of the items she bought.

"You shouldn't have taken me to this place. I'm gonna end up blowing my entire life savings on that joint."

"Yeah, it was cooler than I thought."

She latches a necklace she bought around her neck. "How do I look?"

He smiles at her. "Do I really need to tell you what I think? You already know you're beautiful."

She blushes. "Stop!"

"No, I'll never stop complimenting the most beautiful girl in the world."

She covered her face with her hands. "Ricky, you're making me blush!"

"Yeah, that's kinda the point."

"Great, now my face hurts from all the smiling."

"Good."

"Ugh, now I can't stop smiling; make it stop!"

He laughs and cups her face. "Here, let me help." He massages her cheeks, smiling at how adorable she looked right now.

"You think I'm adorable?"

"Oh shit, did I say that out loud? Well, I'm not taking it back because it's true."

She nods. Usually, he'd be embarrassed for saying something like that by accident, but he had zero regrets. He was feeling rather confident today.

She gently shoves his hands off of her face. "Stop flirting, and take us home."

He just laughs and begins pulling out of the parking lot. They rode in comfortable silence as she gazed out the window, adoring the beautiful sight of the college town. She notices that Ricky makes a wrong turn and immediately faces him with a confused expression.

"You were supposed to take a left."

Ricky smirks. "I know."

"Then, why'd you not take it? Aren't we heading home?"

"Eventually, just not right now."

"What the hell does that mean? Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Five minutes later, he's pulling into the parking lot of a local park. When they park, Nini raises her brow as she glimpses at him. "You took me to the park?"

He nods. "Yep!"

"Any particular reason why?"

He just smiles. "Hop out, and help me take some things out of my trunk."

She was going to ask another question but figured she'd have all her questions answered soon. They both get out of the car and go to the trunk. Nini was taken aback by the supplies in the back.

"Is this a picnic basket?" She says as she lifts the old basket.

"Yes, be careful since the drinks may spill if you carry it a certain way."

After they've gathered everything, she follows Ricky to a tall willow tree that was in the middle of the quiet and tranquil park. Ricky sets down a large blanket and places all of the items on one side of it while the opposite is empty for them to rest on.

Once everything was set up, he smiles and looks over at her. "Alright, it's done! Take a seat!"

He plops down in crisscross-applesauce and smiles up at her. She happily takes a seat across from him.

"Not that I don't think this is adorable, but why exactly are we here?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Um, no. Not really."

"You love picnics and the park, so it only made sense to mix the two. Also, I remember you saying you've been meaning to relax at a park with me."

"I said that like a month ago."

"And I remembered!"

"Ricky, you're kind of like the best person ever."

"Nini, I kind of like know that."

She scoffs and rolls her eyes before nudging his shoulder, making him chuckle.

"I'm kidding!" He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. "In reality, the main reason I brought you here is because I know this is a place where I know for a fact that we won't be interrupted at all."

Nini grins. "Interrupted in what way?"

He plays with her fingers. "You know, certain people tend to find a way to get between us when all I wanna do is be alone with you."

She swore her heart was beating out of her chest. Sometimes she found it hard to believe that he was real.

"Yeah, I've noticed that recently too."

Neither of them had to say who "certain people" was to apprehend who they were referring to. She didn't think he realized that person had been barging between them as well, so it was kind of a relief to know she wasn't going crazy.

Ricky cleared his throat. "Anyways, I packed some of your two favorites." He dug into the basket and pulled out a container full of chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of cheap red wine from the grocery store.

She beams and claps. "Oo! Yummy! You know me far too well."

"Yeah, I know. It's one of my many talents."

She takes a bite out of it and moans in delight. "Fucking hell, this is good. It's like they were kissed by angels."

"Thanks, I made them myself."

Nini furrows her brows. "Really?"

Ricky shakes his head and smirks. "Nah."

Nini chuckles. "You're stupid."

Ricky smiles and leans on his side as she stares up at her, enjoying the view. "How have you been? I feel like I haven't spoken to you in centuries."

"Ricky, we spoke like three days ago."

"And those three days felt like three centuries."

She playfully rolls her eyes. "You're so damn dramatic. Do you even get like this with our other friends?"

"Nope, just you since you're my favorite."

She felt her cheeks warm up and quickly changed the subject so she could stop her rapidly beating heart. "Sorry I've been so busy lately. College has already been kicking my ass despite it only being September."

"It's no problem. I've actually gotten some work done during your little break from me."

"Oh, so you're blaming me for not doing your work?" She says jokingly.

He pretends to ponder as he pokes his chin. "Hm, yes. It appears I am."

"Not my fault you're easily distracted by every moving thing."

"Not true. I'm only distracted by annoying noises and you."

"That sounds like a personal problem."

"I'm about to make it an us problem."

"Why do I have to get drawn into your mess?"

"Because we're besties that endure everything together."

She throws a strawberry at him, hitting his forehead in the process. He flinches and his mouth agapes. She laughs at how stupid he looks with his dumbfounded expression and chocolate covered forehead.

"Oh, so this is funny to you?"

"Yes, you look stupid."

"After I set up a whole picnic for you, you treat me like this?"

"No regrets."

He swipes the chocolate off his forehead and licks it. "That's it." He grabs a strawberry and shoves it on her mouth, causing it to spread chocolate and strawberry juice all over her lips. The strawberry fell onto her chest and rolled off her shirt.

"Ricky!"

"That's what you get!"

"My face is gonna be all sticky!"

"Join the club!"

She begins licking all the chocolate her tongue could reach and wiped off the rest with a napkin. Ricky caught something in his peripheral vision on her chest and chuckled when he saw a chocolate stain on the area right above the exposed crease of her breasts.

"You missed a spot."

She wiped her face. "Where?"

"There." His eyes glanced down at her chest, and she took the hint. She looked down at her breasts in her low cut v-neck and shrugged.

"Oh, well it isn't bothering me."

"So, you're gonna let it sit there?"

"Sure, why not?"

"But what if it gets on your top?"

"I already got chocolate on my top, and it's a black top. So, it'll wash out easily."

"It seems like it'd bug you."

"Well, if it bothers you so much, why don't you lick it off?"

Both of them freeze and stare at one another, blushes slowly arising on their faces. Ricky was in disbelief at her words, and she seemed to be shocked too.

"Wh-what?"

Nini realizes there was no coming back from this, so she just owns it. "You heard me. If it bugs you, lick it off."

He looked at her skeptically to see if she was serious. Judging by her face and the way she poked out her chest at him, she was as serious as a heart attack.

He slowly approaches her, not breaking eye contact as he drags his tongue across her left breast. She was taken aback that he actually did it, but she didn't mind it one bit. She watched as she steadily licked her clean and almost fainted as they made heavy eye contact the whole time. When he was done, they both were as red as a tomato. For some reason, they were breathless. They looked into one another's eyes in silence, trying to figure out what to say after the most intimate act they've ever performed together.

When the silence gets too unbearable, Nini decides to break it. "I um...didn't think you'd do it."

"Me neither. Did I cross a line?"

Not enough lines.

"No, not at all. I actually um...didn't mind it at all."

He smirks. "Yeah?"

"Yeah..."

They stare at each other's lips for a moment too long. He debates on whether he should ask the extremely risky question in his head but decides against it. Instead, he settles for kissing her cheek. She sighs, and he swears he saw a hint of disappointment.

"Want another?" He lifts one of the strawberries.

She nods. "Yes, please."

He motions for her to open her mouth, and she does. He softly places the strawberry in her mouth as she bites it. Neither wanted to address the elephant in the room, but it was obvious that they were both thinking about that moment, secretly desiring to do it again.

The next day, Nini saw someone in her class eating a chocolate strawberry, and she couldn't stop blushing as she fantasized about her best friend.

***

"Mama is in the house, bitches!"

The blaring sound of Gina's voice scares the ever living fuck out of Ricky and Nini to the point Nini stumbled off Ricky's couch.

"Jesus Christ, Gi. I said you could walk in, not scream your head off at 8:30 pm ." Ricky says, helping Nini up from the floor.

Gina smirks wickedly. "You love it." She says unapologetically as she tosses her overnight bag to the side. Ashlyn followed suit with her overnight bag swung over her shoulder.

"Hey dudes!"

Nini smiles and gets up from her spot. "Hey Ash! So nice to see you." Nini walked over to her and gave her a hug.

Gina scoffs. "Why does she get a hug?"

Nini faces Gina as her head rests on Ashlyn's shoulder. "Because she didn't scare me off the couch."

Gina rolls her eyes. "Sounds like a personal problem."

Nini giggles and walks over to hug Gina as well. "I've missed your wild behavior."

"Lucky for you, I'll be here all weekend, so you'll definitely get to experience all my wild activities."

"Can't wait."

Ricky got up and greeted both women before taking their bags to his room. Gina and Ashlyn had been on a small weekend vacation and decided to go visit Nini and Ricky since they were the only two friends they didn't see as often. Gina asked if they could stay at Ricky's for the weekend, and he of course said yes. It was actually perfect timing since his roommates were out of town.

Gina plopped down on the recliner chair. "So, what're we gonna get into? Is there a liquor store nearby? I brought my fake ID."

Ricky nods. "There is. We can stop by later."

"Beautiful. I can already see the night we're gonna have in my head."

Nini lifts a brow. "I don't think I like the suspicious look on her face."

Ashlyn waves her off. "Just let it happen. In the end, she's always gonna do what she wants."

"Good point."

Gina snaps her fingers. "Should we start the night off with a few party games? I brought some deranged truth or dare card games. We could always do spin the bottle as well." She wiggles her eyebrows as she looks at everyone in the room.

"Truth or dare would be more fun with liquor, and I'm definitely not doing spin the bottle with this group." Ricky claims.

Ashlyn smirks. "What's the matter? You don't wanna possibly kiss three really hot girls?"

"That's not why!"

Gina makes a smug look. "Oh, so you think we're hot?"

"I never said that."

"But you never denied it either, or are you indicating that we're not hot?" Ashlyn teases.

"I never said that either!"

"Oh, who are we kidding? He only finds one girl hot in this room, and we all know who it is." Gina says as she glimpses at Nini, making Ricky and Nini both blush.

"God, why did I invite you two?"

Gina and Ashlyn laugh at flustered Ricky. They always loved riling him up since his reactions were always so hilarious.

Ashlyn smiles innocently. "Because you love us and we're your favorite female friends!"

"Well, third favorite. We all know Nini is in first place with Lily in second." Gina corrects.

Ricky huffs. "You don't know that."

"Am I not in first place?" Nini asks with sad eyes.

He instantly wraps his arm around her shoulder and kisses her forehead. "Of course you are. I was just messing around with them."

Gina smirks. "Awe, you two are so adorable."

"The perfect couple."

Ashlyn and Gina make hearts with their hands as they make kissing noises at them. Ricky just brings Nini into a hug where her face is completely buried in his chest, but she doesn't mind one bit. It was probably her favorite spot in the world.

"Oh hush, as if you two aren't constantly flirting too. Just kiss already. We all know you two are fucking." Ricky retorts.

Gina smirks as she looks at a blushing Ashlyn. "Yeah, well, back at you. You two basically fuck each other's brains out with extreme eye contact and pining. I can practically see the sexual tension that's dying to be dealt with."

Nini was glad her face was hidden in his chest since Gina's words made her blush madly.

Ricky's cheeks flare up. "Th-that's not true." He didn't even believe himself.

Ashlyn folds her arms over her chest. "Uh huh, you two couldn't keep your hands off each other if you wanted to. I've literally never seen you two not find a way to hold one another unless you were mad at each other."

Ricky shakes his head. "Nuh uh!"

Gina points at him. "Ricky, you're literally holding onto her for dear life right now!"

The moment they realized their position, they backed away from each other with evident blushes on their faces.

Gina smiles victoriously. "Told yuh! You can't resist each other."

"We can totally survive a few hours without touching each other." Nini says.

Ashlyn lifts a brow. "Oh, is that so?"

Ricky nods. "Yes, very much so."

"Is this the beginning of a dare?" Gina asks with a hint of excitement in her tone.

"It is now." Ricky states.

Gina claps. "Bet! Whichever duo can't keep each other's paws off their counterpart, owes the other pair a massage and pays for dinner tomorrow."

Nini nods. "I'm in."

Ashlyn holds up a finger. "To make it more interesting, we have to sleep next to each other to make it harder."

Gina perks up. "I love it! Let's do it."

Ricky and Nini glanced at one another with uncertain faces since they both knew that'd be exceedingly difficult for them, almost impossible.

Gina sensed their hesitance and smirked. "Guess you the couple can't stand the thought of being apart, huh?"

Ricky groaned, not wanting to go down without a fight. "We'll do it."

"Brilliant! The dare officially starts now." Ashlyn says.

"Great." Nini says under her breath, not meaning it. She actually had plans to snuggle him all night long as they played games and watched movies, but she guesses that's all out the window now. She doesn't know how she'll resist the urge to cuddle him tonight. There's never been a singular day where they shared a bed and didn't hold one another. It was completely foreign to them.

Her fingers were already magnetically traveling to his hands to interlace them, but she snatches them away before she touches him. She was already seeking his touch, and it wasn't even a full minute into the game yet. Fucking pathetic. Yeah, she was a goner. She hopes she has enough to pay for four people.

"Can we go to the liquor store now? It's already like 9 pm, and it's probably gonna close soon." Gina asks.

"Sure, I'll drive." Ricky says as he whips out his car keys.

"Yay!" Ashlyn and Gina say in unison.

~

"God, why is the earth spinning so damned fasttttt!" Gina complains as she wobbles around the apartment.

Ashlyn laughs as she watches her (girl?)friend stumble around. "It's spinning normally; you're just drunk, my love."

"Oooo, am I the only one drunk again? Last time that happened, I broke a table. Mom was pissed when she came home to that."

Nini moaned and groaned as she laid against the couch. She had been struggling to keep up with everyone's drinking since she was more of a lightweight. She looked over at Ricky on the other side of the couch and saw he was also struggling to stay up. He glances over at her when he sensed her eyes on him. When they met eyes, they both knew they were on the same page.

"Hey guys, I think Ricky and I are gonna call it for the night."

Ashlyn pouts as she takes another shot of tequila. "Ah, already? The night is still young!"

Ricky furrows his brows. "Ash, it's 3 am."

"Which is early!"

Ricky rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, guys."

"Nightie night, don't let your hormones bite." Gina snickers alongside Ashlyn.

Nini giggles. "What the fuck does that even mean?"

"Probably best that you don't ask, Neens."

"Try not to touch each other, you whores!" Ashlyn yells, making Gina laugh louder.

Ricky groans. "Oh my god; you two are insufferable!"

"We love you too!" They say in unison.

Ricky and Nini retire to their chambers and swiftly get into their pjs. Ricky slid in first on the left side of the bed while she climbed under the covers on the right side. They sat a good distance away from each other to ensure they weren't touching.

"Goodnight, Neens."

"Night Ricky."

They both laid there in silence, trying to go to sleep, but they couldn't. They found it bizarre that they were exhausted just a second ago yet can't go to bed. Nini laid on her side, facing his direction. Ricky stared up at the ceiling with a blank face, attempting not to pick her up and lay her on top of him. He glimpses at her and smiles when he registers that she's looking at him.

"Hey."

She softly smiles at him. "Hey..."

"What's on your mind?"

"Honestly? You."

He lifts a brow. "Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Why?"

"When am I not thinking about you?"

"You think about me?"

"Of course I do. You're my best friend; it'd be weirder if I didn't."

"I suppose."

"Do you not think about me?" She asks sadly.

He fully leans on his side to face her. "Of course I think about you. God, sometimes you're all I can think about."

She grins slowly. "Good to know."

As they stared at each other in the oddly romantic atmosphere, she realized she had the urge to pounce on him and hug him tight. He was making it impossible to not want him with those gorgeous eyes, perfect smile, and golden heart. How could you not cuddle that?

"Um, you know what? Maybe we shouldn't face each other."

"Oh, yeah, totally."

They turn away from each other and lay on their sides. The silence was brooding as they both tried everything in their power to pretend the other didn't exist, but it was impractical. Nini was wide awake as she began to become stir crazy. She needs him to comfort her so she can have good dreams and feel completely safe in his arms. She needs to wake up to him holding her in spooning position so he can kiss her cheek and wish her a good morning. She just needs him, and she wasn't gonna let a stupid bet get in her way.

She sighed and rolled over, tapping his shoulder. He turns around and faces her, and she can see he was wide awake too. "What's up?"

"I need you."

"In what way?"

"In this way." She crawls on top of him and plants kisses all over his face.

"Neens, what if they—"

"I don't want to think about that right now. I just want you. Besides, they don't have to know."

Well, he couldn't argue with that. He pulled her closer by her hips and accidentally rolled his against hers. He held back a moan at the feeling, hoping she wouldn't notice that. As she kissed him all over his face, he rubbed one of his hands on her hip while the other snaked up her shirt. A part of him got excited when he noticed she hadn't been wearing a bra, and he couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like to slide his tongue on her breasts again.

He freezes when he feels her roll her hips on top of his, knowing his special friend would come for a visit soon if she continued. She did it a few more times before he had to grab her hips to make her stop.

Her face reddens. "Oh, you don't like that?"

He shook his head. "It's not that. I just like it too much."

Nini blushes, understanding what he was getting at.

She gets off of him and pulls him into a spooning position. He shoved his face into the crook of her neck and held her firmly. "Night Neens."

"Sweet dreams, Ricky."

After a few minutes, both were sleeping peacefully, dreaming of one another.

***

In the morning, Ricky was the first one up. He smiled when he saw the object of his desire wrapped in his arms. He pecks her cheek. "Morning sleeping beauty."

She mumbles something as she rubs her eyes. "It's too early." She whines.

"It's 10 am, Neens. Most of the world is out and about."

"Well, I'm not one of them."

"Come on, Neens."

"No, this is the only place I can hug you without getting shit from the girls in the kitchen."

"Okay, fair point. We can relax a little longer."

After they spent another 30 min in bed, they finally got up. As they walked to the kitchen, they saw Gina and Ashlyn making out on the couch. Nini and Ricky gasp loudly, causing the other duo to break away.

Nini points at them. "You guys broke the bet!"

Gina shrugs. "Yeah, we lost during the first hour when you two weren't paying attention at the liquor store. We just didn't tell you."

Ricky smiles. "Ha! So, we didn't lose after all!"

"That doesn't shock me that you guys couldn't keep it together, but I'm surprised you won. I guess we owe you massages and dinner tonight. How does French sound?" Ashlyn says.

Nini grins. "Sounds good. Does anyone want pancakes?"

Gina beams. "Oo, me! This hangover is a nightmare!"

"Cool! Ricky, will you help me make them?"

"Of course."

As they made the batter, Nini placed some batter on Ricky's nose. She expected him to retaliate by doing the same or something worse, but he did something completely unexpected. He kissed her collarbone and winked at her before continuing his task. Nini felt like she might explode at how sexy he looked just then. She found herself smiling and stealing glances at him the rest of the day, wondering how she could casually bring up that she wanted to be kissed there until she was putty in his hands.

Chapter Text

Ricky fluttered his eyelashes as his head leaned on his hand while his elbow rested on the table. He had been up all night playing video games on Twitch with Red and didn't end up going to bed until 2 in the morning. He realizes that probably wasn't wise considering he had an 8:30 am class, but he's done worse.

The sound of the classroom door slamming causes him to spring up from his slouching position and pay attention to his art professor.

"Good morning, class. Hope you all are having a great morning. Today, we'll be diving into a rather risqué project that will require a partner; however, this partner cannot be a student within this class. You must utilize a person who knows nothing about this class since the pose would be more authentic due to the fact that they don't know what they're posing for."

Ricky was confused as he listened to his professor. She always said some weird shit like this, but he isn't shocked since most art teachers are similar to language arts teachers in the sense that they find random metaphors and analogies in anything. The difference with art teachers is that you have to paint or draw that metaphor instead of writing a six page essay. When he was choosing his electives, it was either a writing class or this, and let's just say he isn't the best with essays.

"This week's assignment you will be painting any person outside of this class of your choice, but it's not just any painting. You'll need to paint this participant either fully or partially nude. You will get bonus points if you're able to do full nudity, but you won't get any points deducted if you do partial nudity. The point of this project is to capture how people look in their raw and most vulnerable state and how beautiful it is to be so comfortable in your body. If I can't sense that your heart was in it, I will deduct points. Your project is due next Monday the moment you enter class and each needs to be on a 6x8 stretched canvas. Good luck, and let me know if you bump into any issues! Now, let's get into today's lesson..."

Ricky was blushing as the professor spoke about his project. He had no idea if he'd be able to do this without flipping out regardless of the model he asks. He's not that kind of art major where he could sit and stare at someone naked for hours, but he supposes it'll be good for his experience if he ever wants to be an actor. Surely, he'd eventually encounter a couple of nude scenes anyway.

When the class was over, he was left to ponder on who he'd ask to model for him. He knew he could never afford an actual model, so he knew it'd have to be a friend since he was uncomfortable with sitting in the same room as a naked stranger. He didn't have many friends and acquaintances on campus yet. Both of his roommates are not the types that'd be okay with it, Nini's ex roommate Andi freaks out at any sort of nudity, which leaves only two people.

Lily and Nini.

Fuck.

At first, he was leaning more towards Lily since she's very comfortable with him and knows he wouldn't try anything without her permission. Then, he remembered how conservative she was about showing off too much skin in front of strangers. She didn't want to be labeled as easy or a slut, so she tended to avoid taking risky pictures or wearing extremely provocative clothing. He sighs as he drops the idea of asking her, which only leaves him one person.

He had no idea how he'd ease into asking her to do something so exposing without it getting awkward. He's aware she feels safe with him, but that was still a lot to ask. He groans loudly as he tries to formulate the perfect way to butter her up.

~

Ricky's palms were sweaty as he knocked lightly on Nini's dorm room door. He asked if she wanted to go to the mall with him so he could buy his canvas. He promised to buy her iced coffee and any pastry she wants for coming along with him.

She opens her door and beams when she sees her favorite person. She wraps her arms around his neck and pecks his cheek. "Hey!"

He grabs her hips and pulls her to his body. He kisses her forehead. "Hey, Neens. How was your test?"

"Hard, but I got an A!"

"I'd expect nothing less from you. Just for that, you can get a cake pop along with any pastry of your choosing."

"You treat me so well."

"Well, you're supposed to treat princesses with the utmost respect."

She grins, cups his face, and kisses the tip of his nose. "Ready to go?"

"Born ready."

They released each other and joined hands as they walked down the hall together.

"We're going for a canvas, right?"

"Yeah."

"What's the assignment this time? Is it painting fruits again? You did pretty well on that one."

"Um, no. It's a little more detailed this time."

"How so?"

"Um, well...you see, actually, I'll tell you later." He blushes.

Nini looked up at him skeptically since he was clearly jittery about something.

She kissed the back of his hand as her way of comforting him, and she smiled when she saw it made him visibly relax.

When they arrived at the mall, he took her straight to the café and bought her all of the things he promised her. As she feasted on her pastry, she kept stealing glances at Ricky. He's been on edge ever since they got here, and she wasn't sure why.

When they entered the art supply store, she watched as he fidgeted as he touched each canvas he encountered. She was starting to get concerned for him since he'd been oddly quiet and jumpy. He kept accidentally dropping and knocking over supplies. When he bumps into two people by accident, she knew something was definitely off. She pulled him aside to a private corner of the store.

"Okay, what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're clumsy and tense, not to mention you're bumping into things."

He scoffs. "No, I'm not."

"Ricky, you knocked over some paintbrushes and one paint bucket. You should be thankful that it didn't combust."

He made a guilty face, scratching the back of his head. "I did?"

"Yeah, I picked it all up before the employees saw it. What's up with you? You're so on edge."

Ricky sighs in defeat. "I'm sorry I'm acting weird. It's just...I'm really nervous."

She folds her arms over her chest. "Nervous about what? Is it a project for this class?"

"Yeah..."

"Is it hard or something? I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Well, I don't think the assignment itself is gonna be hard."

He's sure other parts of him will definitely be hard.

"Then, what's the problem? I wanna help you, Ricky."

Ricky took a deep breath before coming out with it. "So, this project is a little different from others since I need to paint a model, but it can't just be any model. It has to be someone who's both willing to pose a certain way and knows nothing about the purpose of the assignment."

Nini was lost on why this would stress him out so far.

"Okay? Seems simple enough."

"Yeah, here comes the not so simple part. I have to paint a model nude for my project."

"Oh, okay. I can see why that could possibly stress you out. I'd probably be a little uncomfortable with painting a stranger nude too."

"Well, it wouldn't be a stranger."

"Is it a classmate?"

"No."

"Roommate?"

"Hell, no. They'd never."

"Is it—"

"I was gonna ask if you'd want to be my model." He says quickly, blushing madly after he says it.

She was stunned by his words and took a moment to process them. "Wh-what?"

"I know it's a lot of ask, and you don't need to feel the need to say yes just because I asked you. You're kinda basically the only person I could ask, and I don't wanna fail this class because who the hell fails art? Also, you don't have to be like, fully naked or anything even though it's extra points. Extra points mean nothing to me! You can totally do half nude on whichever half you're most comfortable with displaying. God, that sounds so weird. I'm sorry. This is so fucking awkward. I should just ask Lily. Maybe she'll—"

The sound of that blonde's name snaps her out of her trance. "You were gonna ask Lily?"

"Well, only if you said no. You're my go to, but I'll just ask Lil—"

"I'll do it."

Ricky stared at her with a shocked expression. "Say that again? I don't think I heard you right."

"I said, I'll do it. I'm not sure if I'm down for full nudity since your classmates would be seeing it. I'll only do the top half. Is that okay with you?"

Ricky nodded frantically. "Yes, god that's more than okay with me."

"Great, when is the project due?"

"Monday."

"Guess we better get started as soon as possible then. I'll stop by tomorrow after my afternoon class is over. Do I need to dress a certain way?"

"Bring colorful clothing if possible."

"You got it, boss." She walked over to one of the canvases and posed beside it. "How do you think I'll look on this?"

He smiled as he glanced between the two, loving the image it formed in his head. "You're gonna look stunning. Matter of fact..." He takes the canvas she picked up. "I'm going to buy this one."

She smiles. "Glad to be of assistance."

He wraps his arm around her shoulder as the other hand holds the canvas. As they walked to the cash register, Nini thought of something.

"Ricky?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you try to butter me up by buying me food?"

"Maybe...did it work?"

She smirks. "Like a charm, but you don't have to do all that to ask for favors. Just ask me, and I'll do it."

"It felt like I needed to with this particular one."

She let her index and middle fingers crawl up his chest.

"If you wanted to see me half naked, all you had to do was ask politely. I'll gladly strip for you."

He almost fainted at her sultry words. "I-I um, okay..." His face was completely red, and she could feel his heart pounding.

Nini snickers mischievously before sneaking a kiss on his cheek, admiring the effect she had on him.

***

Ricky's heart was beating out of his chest as he anticipated Nini's arrival. Today was going to be one huge step in their relationship since she was trusting him to see her partially nude. For her comfort, he made sure both of his roommates weren't home just in case. He jumps when he hears his door knock. He slowly walks over to it and takes a deep breath.

He nervously smiles as he opens the door. "Hey, Neens."

She smiles back. "Hi, I brought a change of clothes for the painting."

"Great, feel free to get dressed in my bathroom. We're going to be doing it in my room anyway."

"Cool, I'll be just a second."

He just nods as he watches her walk away, loving the way her hips sway. He sat down on the stool he set up in front of his canvas as he anxiously tapped his foot. He turned on some calming music so it wouldn't be so awkward as he painted her. She came out of the bathroom a minute later, and Ricky refused to look at her as she made her way over to him.

"Do I sit in this seat?"

He glances at the chair she was pointing out without looking at her. "Y-yeah."

"Alright." She takes a seat and looks at him. "So, how do you want me to pose?"

"Um, just rest in a comfortable position."

"Any position?"

"As long as it's natural looking."

"How about this?"

He was forced to look at her since he did need to see if she was in an acceptable position. He immediately regretted it because his breath was taken away. She had worn a see through emerald lingerie robe that displayed her breasts. She only wore some lacy panties along with it, and her makeup was a little more on the glam side. Her left leg was crossed over her right while her left elbow rested on the arm of the chair, and her chin was laying on top of her left hand. Her right arm rested completely on the other arm of the chair. He didn't realize he was breathing harder as he admired her.

"Fuck..."

She frowns. "Is something wrong? I know you said colorful, but this was all I had. I can change if you'd like."

"No, that's not the problem. I can just do a different paint color. I was just...never mind. I'm being dumb."

He inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Focus Ricky..." He says to himself.

Nini lifts a brow at his odd behavior but doesn't say anything.

Ricky began painting her head first, which he was happy about since he knows he's going to take years to paint her breasts due to him being distracted. Despite her being half nude, it wasn't nearly as awkward as both of them surmised. Part of the reason could've been because Ricky was avoiding looking at her chest for as long as possible and focused more on the coloring of her neck and up.

But then the inevitable came; he had to look at her bare body. His eyes slowly cast down to her torso, and his breath was taken away once again. She had such a beautiful body, which is something he always knew, but it was different when he was seeing her in this light. She didn't seem timid, and he admits her confidence only made this whole thing more allured to her.

He was about to begin until he realized that her pose was slightly off. "Oh um, Neens?"

"Hm?"

"Uh, can you move back to your original position?"

"Like this?" She scoots over to her left, which was in the opposite direction of where she needed to be.

"No, to the right. Make sure your elbow is still in the proper place."

"How about now?" She gets her legs' position right but not one of her arms.

"No. Here, let me help." He walks over to her and forgets for a moment that she was displaying her breasts. He quickly remembers when he's standing in front of her with rosy cheeks.

"It's um...you're supposed to lean a bit on your left elbow like this..." He repositions her elbow while she looks up at him.

She looks him up and down before smirking. "How do I look?"

He finally meets her eye for the first time in an hour, and he instantly regrets it since he got lost in her eyes.

"Priceless."

He doesn't even register that his hand is palming her cheek until she's placing her hand over his. She steadily grabbed his hand and slowly trailed his fingers across her face until his index and middle was right in front of her mouth. She makes sure to make direct eye contact as she leisurely sticks two of his fingers in her mouth, moaning a bit as she does.

Ricky was about to lose it.

He thought he was dreaming for a second until he felt her right hand run down his chest as she continued to suck on his non-paint covered fingers.

That's when he snapped.

She yelps when he scoops her up from the chair and plants her on her feet. She didn't get a chance to ask what he was doing before he pulled her to his chest and sucked on her neck.

She audibly moaned in pleasure at the feeling and wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with his curls as he marked her neck.

His hands were roaming all over her body, but he didn't dare touch any lower than the small of her back. He pulled her hair downwards so her neck would be more accessible. He almost came when he overheard the blissful and sexy sound that he elicited from her.

"Ricky, that feels really good."

He smirks against her skin as he continues to leave shameless hickeys across her neck and collarbone. She began grinding herself onto his leg, and he knew he'd have a hard time holding back now.

"Neens, what're you doing?" He says as he licks her neck.

"I could...fuck...I could ask you the same thing." She mumbles as she struggles to get out a sentence.

She rubs her center on his leg again, making him groan. "Nini, if you keep doing that—"

"You're gonna what? Rip my clothes off?"

He stops his ministrations on her neck and looks her in the eye to see if she meant that. When he saw how dark and lustful her gaze was, he knew she wasn't kidding.

He licks his lips. "Fuck."

He picks her up in bridal style and plops her onto his bed. Her robe shifted off of her breasts, fully exposing herself to him. She smirked as she spread her legs for him, and he was amazed he didn't pass out. He unloosens his pants' buttons and practically rips off his shirt.

He climbs over her and begins kissing up her bare torso. She encouraged him to travel further up her body by combing through his hair. He licks up her neck and kisses along her jawline. He hovers his lips over hers, gazing into her eyes lovingly. They both smiled in unison.

"Hi."

She smiles wider and brushes some hairs from his forehead behind his ear.

"Hey." She whispers.

Their eyes flicker between each other's lips before they both begin to lean in. He couldn't believe any of this was happening. He was finally gonna kiss the woman he's been pining for, but fate had other plans.

The sound of a loud knock on the apartment door startles them both. Nini glances at the door and raises a brow. Ricky went back to sucking on her neck since her lips weren't aligned with his anymore. The knocking started again except it was a little more persistent.

"Ricky..."

He mumbles into her neck as acknowledgement.

"You should probably go answer that."

"No."

"Ricky, it could be important."

"Nothing's more important than this moment."

She grins as she shoves him off of her. "Ricky, go answer it."

He groans obnoxiously. "You're really making me answer the door?"

She nods as she places the robe over her chest as if it made much of a difference. "Yes, what if there's an emergency, or one of your roommates is coming for something they need?"

"Ugh fine. Just know that I already have a vendetta against whoever interrupted this."

Nini chuckled as she watched him storm off. Ricky didn't even try to put on a fake smile as he opened the door. His annoyed expression became shocked as he stood in front of his other female best friend.

The blond smiles brightly. "Hey curly! I was thinking of you and bought you some Thai food that we can split while we watch a movie. What do you say?"

Ricky's mind went blank. He had no idea what to do in this situation. "Oh I uh...well, this is kinda a weird time for that."

She glances down and gives him a confused look.

"Why're you shirtless?"

"Well, I was painting."

"You paint shirtless?"

"Yeah, it just takes the worry of messing up my shirt away."

"Why're you sweaty?"

"It's hot in here." He lies.

Lily peeks into the apartment and sees women's shoes near the front. "Is somebody here?"

"Um..."

"Who is it, Ricky?"

The sound of Nini's voice scares Ricky and allures Lily to invite herself in. Lily skeptically scans Nini's appearance. Nini's hair was frizzy, and her makeup was starting to melt off. She looked as if she was trying to cover up her neck.

Ricky was just thankful that Nini had changed into her first outfit since he had no idea how Lily would react to seeing her in something so exposing.

Lily gave Nini an unreadable face as Nini stared back at her with an uncomfortable expression.

"Lily, I'll be right with you after I'm done with my um...activity with Nini."

Lily perks up. "What activity is it? Maybe I can assist."

"No, he only needs one participant for it." Nini cuts in.

"Oh, is that so? What's the activity?"

Ricky blushed as he tried his best to not say what they were about to do. Nini catches onto his panicked state and decides to save the day.

"Nothing that can't be postponed. I was gonna head out anyway, but we can finish off our activity tomorrow. You could probably use some rest. I know how tired those hands of yours can get after painting."

Ricky frowned. "Wait, you're leaving?"

"Well, yeah. It's not like we'd be able to get anything done with guests around anyway, so we may as well cut this short."

"But—"

"We'll catch up tomorrow, okay? Nice seeing you again, Lily. I'll leave you two alone."

"Nice seeing you too, Nini! It's a pity you can't join us."

Nini forces a smile. "Yeah, real pity that I won't be eating lukewarm takeout." She looks over at Ricky and gives him an authentic smile. "Bye, Ricky."

He sighs. "Bye."

She smiles sadly before seeing her way out. Ricky frowns the second Nini was out of his sight.

"Did I disrupt something?"

Ricky shakes his head. "No, I guess not."

Lily smiles. "Oh great! Now I don't feel as bad for ruining your little hang out. Come pick a movie with me!"

Ricky glares at the takeout she brought, suddenly hating Thai food. Despite what he said, Lily did interrupt something. Something that Ricky used to dream of doing with Nini for at least seven years now, and now he has no idea if he'd ever get that lucky again.

"Aren't you gonna join me? I can't eat this food all by myself."

He nods and walks over to her, sitting next to her on the couch. Lily cuddles into his side as she scrolls through Hulu's romance category. Even though Lily was under his arm, all he could think about is his eventful yet painfully short time spent with his best friend. He couldn't help but wonder just how far they would've gone and how breathtaking she was. All he could think about as he pretended to be interested in the movie was how much he desired to hold and be with Nini.

***

Ricky and Nini end up going back home for the weekend to celebrate Red's 20th birthday. They were rather quiet on their way up, refusing to talk about that intimate moment they shared a few days ago. Nini did come back the next day to finish off the painting, but she quickly got dressed and left in a hurry when he was done. They didn't hang out for the rest of the week after that. He figured it was because she just needed a little space to think, so he didn't bother her. He just hung out with Lily instead.

He can't say he was surprised when he saw how uncomfortable she was. They never address any of the romantic or sexual things they do to each other since it'd open a jar of worms that neither of them were ready to embrace yet.

The only difference between the other times and this one was that they could not tone down the sexual desire in their eyes. It got to the point where Nini would avert her eyes while he was driving so they wouldn't get in a wreck. He was afraid they'd never be able to look each other in the eye again without wanting to rip each other's clothes off.

They knew it was serious when Nini actually slept at her home instead of begging him to come sleep with her. Ricky felt oddly rejected, but he understood. They were both too scared to fully cross that line between friends and lovers.

The day of Red's party, Ricky went to go get her since she didn't bring her car up. He was dreading it since it meant being in another awkward car ride for ten minutes. When he pulls up, she's already walking out of her front door before he texts her. He blushes when he sees her revealing outfit. She'd been wearing a tight crop top with a low u-neck and high waist shorts that only made it down to the top of her thighs. He'd definitely have a hard time keeping his eyes from lingering.

She gives him a polite smile as she hops into the car.

"Hey."

He nods and grins at her. "Hi."

He turned up the music so they had some sort of sound to avoid even more awkwardness. After five minutes of silence, Nini groans loudly and faces him. "Can we stop being weird now? I'm getting sick of it."

Ricky sighs. "Sorry, I just didn't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. We had an intimate moment, got disrupted, and it got awkward for like a week. But now it's over, and we should just drop it because I miss you, Ricky. I hated sleeping without you hugging me. It felt wrong."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hated being tense around you; it felt foreign and lonely. Also, my bed was so cold without you. I had to use Franklin as a substitute, but he doesn't hug as well as you."

She smiles. "Of course, he can't since he doesn't know that you like to have your hair pet as you fall asleep."

"No one roams through my hair like you do."

She flips her hair with a cocky smirk. "And no one ever will."

She plays with his curls as he drives, making him blissfully sigh. They finally pull up to Red's house and weren't that shocked that everyone else was there before them. They walked through the front door hand in hand with stupid smiles on their faces.

Before they go downstairs, Ricky stops them both. Nini furrows her brows as she looks up at him. "What's wrong?"

He just smiles and cups her face. "Nothing." He ducks down and kisses her cheek. "I just wanted to do that."

She blushes. "You're so precious."

"You're preciouser."

"That's not a word, but you're cute, so I'll accept it."

She kisses the back of his hand before guiding them down the stairs to the basement. The rest of the gang had been already drinking and being rambunctious. Red looked as if he had already had too many drinks.

Red was the first to notice them. "Rickyyy, Niniii so glad to see you both!"

Ricky chuckled. "You're already hammered?"

"Yep! We may have played a few drinking games already."

Nini checks her phone. "But it's only been 30 minutes since your party started!"

"So?!"

Nini shook her head with an amused smile. "I'm gonna go get caught up to you guys' level."

Red claps. "Yes, do that!"

Nini drags Ricky to the kitchen, and they take some of the premade cups full of jungle juice and grimace when they tasted it.

Ricky analyzed the drink. "Geez, Gina or Ashlyn definitely made this."

"No doubt. No wonder they're all so drunk already. This is evil juice."

Ricky smirks at her. "We should totally down this."

"Well, obviously."

They both smile before chugging down their drinks with scrunched up noses.

~

After an hour of the party went by, they were all far gone. They were all just glad Red's parents were out of town since there's no way they wouldn't be able to overhear them singing drunkenly to "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" at a blaring volume.

Ricky was resting against the kitchen counter, admiring Nini from the distance as she giggled at whatever Kourtney was saying. Intoxicated Ricky had a hard time keeping his eyes off of Nini the whole night. She seemed ten times more appealing in his drunken state, and he was surprised he didn't pull her into an empty room already. When they'd meet eyes, they both gave each other lustful glances but didn't approach each other.

Red enters the kitchen for some snacks and sees Ricky staring intently at something. Red looked in the direction Ricky was looking and smirked knowingly when he saw who he was looking at. Nini happened to glimpse over at Ricky while he was openly ogling her, and she gave him a flirtatious smile and wink before turning her attention to Kourtney.

Red could practically see the heart eyes on Ricky. Red nudged him lightly on the arm, taking him out of his trance.

"Oh, hey. You want something?"

"No, but it seems like you want someone."

Ricky didn't even have to ask who he was referencing. "Yeah well, that shouldn't be too shocking." He says, owning up to his actions. He had nothing to hide with Red since he basically tells him everything regarding his feelings for Nini.

"I've been watching you too give fuck me eyes to one another all night, and it's been grossing me out. Why don't you two just kiss or something?"

"I wish it were that simple."

"Is it because of that night you guys almost did the coochie slide?"

Ricky made a weirded out expression. "Must you call it that?!"

"It's funnier that way. Also, it's my birthday. I can say whatever I want."

"Okay, fair." Ricky sighs as he looks back over at Nini. He found his eyes staring at how good her legs looked in her shorts. He desperately wanted to kiss up her legs until his mouth was right on her—

"Dude!"

Ricky jumps when he feels his friend's hand come in contact with his arm. "What?!"

"Stop mentally tearing her clothes off."

"Sorry! I just am having a hard time not thinking about that day. God, you have no idea how much I think about what could've possibly happened if Lily didn't knock on my damn door. I just really want to have se—"

"Nope, don't finish that sentence. I've heard enough about sex for the night, especially after hearing about Ashlyn and Gina's plans for later. Also, I don't wanna put the image of you two riding the skin bus into tuna town."

"What the ever living fuck does that even mean?!"

"It's a euphemism for doing the deed! I also know a few others like fill the cream doughnut, or burping the worm in the mole hole, and—"

"Alright, now I'm grossed out by you, and why the hell do you know these terms? You're literally the last person I'd think would know these."

"A Buzzfeed quiz!" Red says before skipping away to the living room with some Oreos he took from the counter.

Ricky kept his fantasies of Nini that's been repeating in his head to himself and decided to return to his not so secret ogling. She was still laughing at whatever hilarious thing Kourtney was saying, and he was starting to wonder if what Kourtney was saying was genuinely funny or if Nini was just absurdly tipsy.

Nini meets his eyes again and smiles brightly, making Ricky's heart skip a beat. Yeah, there's no way he's gonna be getting her out of his mind anytime soon.

***

The party had died down around 4 am, and the friend group was all spread out. Seb and Carlos retired around 2 am in the living room on the top floor, Gina and Ashlyn were in the guest room on the main floor, Kourtney fell asleep on the beanbag, Red passed out right beside his bed, while Ricky and Nini were still barely awake.

They were in the kitchen pouring another shot because they're insane. Ricky giggled menacingly as he overfilled his shot glass with more Smirnoff lime. They admittedly knew they shouldn't drink anymore considering they were both beyond drunk at this point, but they didn't seem to care that much.

"You're spilling it!" Nini says as she points at her shot.

"So?"

"What do you mean, so?! You're getting it everywhere!"

"Neens, stop yelling! You're gonna wake everyone up!"

"Ricky, you're yelling too!"

"Oh, yeah."

They both looked at each other and began laughing.

Ricky pulls her to his side. "God, we're so drunk."

"I know, right? I haven't been this drunk in a while."

"We should do this more often."

"Yeah, the next group hang out for sure."

He rubs his hand up her back. "I meant just the two of us."

"Mm, sounds like fun."

"You can sleep over in my bedroom when we do that."

She scoots closer to him. "I already intended to."

He smirks as his hands get a little more confident as he slides it down to her hip. "Maybe we can watch a comedy movie and take a shot every time someone does something looney."

She smiles. "Can I wear one of your t-shirts while we do all this?"

"You can wear my entire closet if you'd like."

"Then, I'm definitely down for this."

"Should we take our shot now?"

She perks up. "Absolutely!"

They tap their shots on the counter before drinking it.

"That's definitely our last one for the night." Ricky says.

She nods in agreement. "Oh, for sure."

She stands right in front of him and wraps her arms around his neck. She rummaged through his curls. "Are you ready for bed?"

"I am if you are."

"I'm ready. I've been dying to sleep next to you for hours."

Ricky smugly looks at her as he snakes his arms around her waist. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, you've got me all excited after staring me down all night."

"I thought you didn't notice except for the few times you looked back at me."

"Honey, everyone noticed. You were basically drooling."

"Can you blame me? You look so hot."

"You think so?"

"I'm not blind."

She blushes and smiles. "Take me upstairs."

He smirks and doesn't hesitate to scoop her up in bridal style. He carefully carried her up one of the flights of stairs, and she walked the rest of the way when they got to the second flight that led to the first floor. They quickly walked to Red's old bedroom and burst through the door.

Nini squeals as Ricky picks her up and throws her over his shoulder, slamming the door with his foot and locking it with his free hand. He walked over to the bed and plopped her down. He crawled on top of her and hovered over her body.

He felt himself breathing harder and had the sudden urge to take off his shirt due to the heat from alcohol.

"Do you mind if I take my shirt off?" He asks, tugging at the seams of his shirt.

She shakes her head. "Not at all, but only if you're cool with me doing the same."

He smirks as he slowly takes his shirt off and tossed it to the ground. Nini shamelessly admired his perfect torso, biting her lip as she did. She trailed her fingers across the crevices of his abs, covertly craving to drag her tongue across his chest.

Ricky watches her as she feels him up and tries his best not to get too turned on. He was thrilled and slightly thrown off when she suddenly removed her shirt and threw it on the floor. He doesn't know why he didn't see that coming when she already said earlier that she planned to do it.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from her body, especially since she was wearing a push-up bra that was making her perfect breasts look even more desirable. He didn't notice her impatience as he eyed her body and was taken aback when she pulled him down to her chest.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his back to pull him closer. One of her hands traveled up to his hair and rummaged through his curls while the other hand trailed up and down his spine, making him shiver.

She began planting kisses on his neck and sucking lightly on some of the sweet spots. He moaned and held onto her tighter. He rubbed up and down her leg and started to suck on her neck as she marked his. The sensation of them biting and sucking on one another made them both absentmindedly grind against each other. Nini felt her heart race when she felt just how excited Ricky was to be doing this with her.

She detached her lips from his neck. "You know the best part about doing all this?"

"Mm, what?" He says as he kisses her clavicle.

She blew onto the areas she marked, causing him to moan. "The best part is..." she licks up his neck before continuing. "that I get to do this with you."

He smiles and presses a loving kiss to her cheek.

"You're the best part of my life."

And for a moment, they just gazed into each other's eyes with an adoring gleam in their eye, both wanting to say those three damned words that they were too scared to say.

Chapter Text

It's been a week since Red's party, and neither of them have brought it up. Much like the first time they almost had sex, they brush it off as if it meant nothing. They excuse it for being drunk and horny.

At the moment, they were chilling in the study room on the floor Nini's dorm was on. They sat on the couch with Nini's legs draped over his while she read a book for class. He was already done with his work, but he wanted to stay with her as she finished her chapters for the day. He just watched videos on his phone as she did her work, grazing up and down her legs.

She never explicitly said it, but she loved when he rubbed her legs. It always gave her chills. Since he was doing it unconsciously, he didn't realize his hands were slowly getting higher up her leg. He ends up under her skirt and approaching her nether regions, which causes her to feel a different kind of chill.

She jumps, which startles him. "What's wrong?"

She blushes. "Um, your hand was getting a little...adventurous."

He registers where his hand currently was and snatched it away. "I'm sorry. I guess I should pay more attention."

She notices he didn't sound as apologetic, but she didn't really mind. She actually didn't care that much that his hand was so close to her center; it just shocked her.

"It's okay."

"Can I still touch—"

"Please."

He nods and puts his hand back on her shins. They both smile, not so secretly admiring each other. Just as Ricky was about to hold her hand, the sound of the door opening scares them.

Nini instantly frowned when she saw Lily with her perky smile.

"Hey guys! I've been looking for you!"

Nini raises a brow. "You have?"

"Well, I've really been looking for Ricky."

Nini nods. "Figures."

"Ricky, I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch with me. It's on the house of course."

Ricky grins. "Sure."

Lily glances over at Nini. "You can come too if you want."

Nini could tell she was giving her a sympathy invite, and she wouldn't go even if it were a genuine invite since she'd be third wheeling. Nini shakes her head. "No, thanks; I'm good. I was gonna grab a sub anyway."

"Suit yourself! I hate that you can't join us. I'm sure you would've enjoyed some fine dining."

Nini could sense the fakeness in her tone. "Yeah, what a shame."

Lily grabs Ricky's hand and pulls him up, causing him to stumble a bit. "Well, we'll see you later Nini!" Lily says as she begins walking out the door.

Ricky turns around and waves at her with a kind smile on his face. She waves back and watches as Lily dragged her favorite person away. Something tells her that's going to become very common from now on. Though she wasn't thrilled by that fact, she knew there wasn't much she could do about it.

***

Ricky was in his Wednesday night class, nodding off as the professor spoke. He regrets doing this class now that he's aware of how boring it was, but he didn't hate it enough to drop out of it. Right as he was about to close his eyes, his phone vibrated on the table. The professor glares at him.

"Phones off in my class, Mr. Bowen."

"Sorry."

The professor rolls his eyes and continues his lesson. Ricky sneaks his phone under the desk and reads the text.

Lily: What're you doing right now?

Ricky furrows his brows but smiles nonetheless before typing.

Ricky: I'm stuck in this lame ass class, why?

Lily: How do you feel about sneaking out of that boring ass class?

Ricky: You've piqued my interest

Lily: Good, come meet me at square in 15

Ricky: Where are we going?

Lily: I'll fill you in on everything once you get here. See you soon, handsome ;)

He smirked and placed his phone in his pocket. He quietly grabbed his book bag and quickly found his way out. He made the quick drive to the town square and saw Lily parked near the fountain.

He parked and walked over to her. "Hey, Lilybug."

She smirks. "Hey, curly. Ready to go?"

"Aren't you going to tell me where we're going?"

"I will on the way. It's only a block away, so we can walk. Parking here is free at least."

"Lead the way."

She walks up to him and locks arms with him. "Gladly."

"So, what was so important that you felt the need to take me out of class?"

"You make it sound like you wanted to be in that class."

"I didn't, but I still probably should've stayed since it was a core class."

"I promise you won't regret it."

"I'm sure I won't."

"Of course, you won't! We're going to a nightclub that I fancy a lot."

"Oo, I've never been to a nightclub."

"I know you like to dance at parties, so it's basically the same except with people of all ages instead of just our demographic. I can't wait to show you the place. Maybe if you like it enough, we can go often."

"I'd like that."

When they arrive at the nightclub, they're met with a whiff of cigarettes, liquor, and assortment of drugs. Ricky grimaced at the pungent odor.

"Jesus Christ, it looks and smells like Ozzy Osbourne's dressing room in here."

"My dad met him once, and I can confirm that's pretty much true."

"How the fuck did your dad meet Ozzy Osbourne? You said it so casually."

She shrugs. "What, like it's hard?"

He then remembers her dad owns record labels hence why Lily is so loaded, and it all made sense. She discreetly pops some pills in her mouth and smiles at him. "Let's dance."

She pulls him to the dance floor and wraps her arms around his neck. He gently places his hands on her waist and begins following her rhythm.

She pressed herself fully against him and smirked. "I like being this close to you."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes, matter of fact..." she moves some of his curls from his forehead. "I think I'd like to stay in your arms forever."

Ricky blushes and chuckles awkwardly. "Oh wow, forever is a long time."

"Yeah, but it also is something that sounds attainable for us."

He lifts a brow. "What do you mean?"

"I can see us being in each other's lives as friends or..."

"Or?"

"You know, more than that."

It took him a second to catch on, and he blushed when he did. "Oh."

"Oh? Is that all you have to say?"

"I mean, yeah. You kinda sprung that on me out of nowhere."

She frowns. "Is that a no?"

"No! I'm not saying that I would never—"

She smiles faintly. "So, you'd consider it?"

"Yeah, I'd totally consider it. I mean, I've thought about it before."

She perks up. "Really?"

"Yeah, a few times actually, especially when we were in Scotland."

"I miss being in Scotland with you. I loved having you all to myself. Nowadays, it's harder to talk to you since you seem to be...distracted."

"Yeah, that's my fault I guess. I get easily distracted by school work and Nini. I love hanging out with her and tend to sometimes put her above other friends. It's a really bad habit of mine that I should probably start to work on."

"I agree. Nini is great and all, but you shouldn't be spending all your time and energy on one person like that. I'm glad we have each other at least."

"Me too. You're probably one of my favorite people."

"In this school or in general?"

"In general. I'm actually closer to you than I am to some of my childhood friends. Something about you makes me feel safe, like I can open up to you. I can't do that with Ashlyn, Gina, or Kourtney as much. Red and Nini are usually the only two I truly talk to when it comes to more serious things, so it's nice to have a third person to reach out to."

"I'm thrilled you think that, Ricky. Just so you know, I think the same of you. You're probably my best friend and favorite person."

Ricky would be lying if he said the same back to her since Nini was definitely his best friend, and no one topped her. He just smiled and pecked her forehead. "I'm honored to be your favorite person."

She grins and rests her head on his chest the way Nini typically did as they rocked to the beat. He laid his head on top of hers as they swayed side to side. He was enjoying the peace of dancing with her until he suddenly got a weird sense that someone was watching them. While Lily was occupied with their dance, Ricky began scanning the premises. When he looked behind to his left, he swore he saw that same woman from the diner from a while ago wearing the same getup.

He stared at the person to ensure it was who he thought it was and saw the person shy away from his eyes. That's when he knew for a fact that it was them. What the hell did this person want? Well, he was about to find out.

He was about to excuse himself from their dance, but Lily beats him to it. "Hey, let's get some shots! I think that we could use some. How about Jell-O shots? Haven't had one of those in a while."

"Um..." he glimpses over where the person was standing only to see they had vanished once again. He didn't feel at ease knowing they got away once more. "Sure, let's do it."

"Splendid! I'll woo the bartender so we can get them cheap. Wanna come with me?"

"Um, I think I'll wait here for you."

"Okay! Back in a jiffy!"

She winked at him before sashaying away. Ricky kept searching around the club for that person, but he couldn't find them anywhere. He decides to let it go, but he knew he'd never feel fully satisfied until he knew what that person was up to.

"Hey!"

He jumps but quickly calms down when he realizes it's just Lily. She giggles at his antics. "Did I scare yuh?"

"Just a little."

"Well, I hope this Jell-O shot makes up for it."

She hands him one of the small cups and holds up hers. "Cheers to a wonderful night that I hope is one of many."

He smiles and holds up his as well. "Cheers." They tap each other's cups and down their drinks.

She interlaces their hands. "Come on, I wanna dance somewhere more private."

"Oh, okay..."

She smirks as she sways her hips and guides him to a quieter part of the club. She takes him to an empty hall that leads to an emergency exit.

"Are we even allowed back here?"

"Does it matter?"

He thought about it and shrugged. "I guess not."

"Good..." she places her palm on his chest and trails it down his abs. "Because I really wanted to do a certain activity with you."

"What activity?"

She smirks. "This." She begins kissing along his neck, making him groan. She notices how stiff he got and looks up at him. "Is this okay?"

He takes a moment to figure out what the hell was happening. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty since he had been getting frisky with Nini not that long ago, but it's technically not cheating since he's not dating her.

"Yeah."

"Great."

She wasted no time roaming her hands all over his body while he sternly held onto her hips. He laid against the wall and let her do her own thing while he enjoyed her ministrations. And as she sucks on his neck and touches above his belt, he can't help that guilty feeling in his gut as he thought about another woman.

***

"Bowie, do you even know where you're going?" An annoyed Bex asked.

Bowie nods, agitated by his wife's constant nagging throughout the trip. "Oh my god, I told you like ten million times I know where we're going."

"Then, why'd you miss the turn again?!"

"I didn't miss the turn!"

"The GPS said go south, and you just went west!"

"Who the hell knows south and west without a compass anyway?"

"That's what the GPS is for!"

"Fucks sake!"

"Language! The girls are in the back seat."

"Sorry!"

Ramona and Amy giggle as they watch their parents in amusement. Ricky and Nini were in the back seats of the van watching as well.

Ricky looks over at Nini. "Do you think they're always like this on road trips?"

Nini nods. "Oh. most certainly. Bex actually gave me a warning to expect this since they always fight about directions, but they eventually bounce back to their playful selves. Apparently, Bowie's one of those stubborn dads that swears they know where they're going when they really don't."

"Isn't that all dads?"

Nini shrugs. "I wouldn't know."

"Right, sorry."

"It's fine. Plus, I think you're right because your dad does that when we go places we've never been."

"Yeah, he's pretty bad. I'll never forget when we went to Denver for the weekend, and he kept cussing me out for screwing up directions even though I was right."

"Maybe men just have an ego issue."

"Well, I could've told you that."

They both laugh before focusing back on the music they were listening to together on Ricky's phone. The Quinn's had treated the two and their family to a weekend at a cabin by Lake Tahoe. They wanted to spend some quality time with the both of them since it had been a while since they last saw one another.

"There's the sign! Don't miss this turn, you dimwit!"

"Oh, now I'm the dimwit even though you messed up left from right?!"

"That was one time like 11 miles ago! Let it go!"

"I'll never let it go! That made our ride ten minutes longer than necessary!"

"Well, we're here now, and no one died! So, zip it jerk!"

"Oh, so now I'm the asshole!"

"Stop cussing in front of the girls, dumbass!"

"You just did too, hypocrite!"

The four kids were all overjoyed when they pulled into the parking space of the cabin since they no longer had to listen to their bickering. They may have found it funny, but it did get unbearable after a while.

All of the kids raced to choose a room. Ramona and Amy were faster since they were much younger. They claimed the bedrooms with two twin beds.

"We call this one!" Ramona says.

"That's fine by me." Ricky says.

Nini realized that there were only three rooms. "Oh, we're short a room."

Bex came in with a disgruntled look on her face as she carried in both of her daughters suitcases. "No, we're not. Bowie and I could only afford three rooms."

"Oh, so I guess I'll sleep on the couch. Is it a pull out?" Ricky asked.

"Yes, but there's no need to sleep on the couch if you want."

"Then where would I sleep?"

"With Nini of course."

They both blush as they look at one another. They've been hesitant to get in the same bed since they seem to have a hard time keeping their hormonal paws off each other recently. Bex notices their awkwardness and raises a suspicious brow.

"Unless of course you two aren't comfortable with that."

Nini shakes her head. "No, we're fine. We've shared a bed before. We just assumed you wouldn't be cool with that."

Bex grimaced at that sentence. "I don't wanna hear about that."

Nini's face turns red. "I didn't mean it like that! I mean that we've had sleepovers before!"

"Uh huh, call it what you want. Just don't do anything too stupid; got it?"

"Got it." They said in unison.

"Alright, now go get settled. We have a busy itinerary, and we're already behind due to somebody making us late."

She glared at her husband behind her before entering the master's suite. Bowie scowled at her as he followed behind with their bags.

"She was talking shit about me, wasn't she?"

Ricky and Nini nod.

Bowie rolls his eyes. "Classic Bex."

Ricky and Nini quietly chuckled at their bickering before entering their room. They placed their bags on opposite sides of the room.

"Should we change? I know the first activity is going to the pool and then dinner at 8 by the lake at that nice tavern." Ricky asked.

"Sure, I'll go in the bathroom while you take the bedroom."

"Deal."

Nini grabs her swimsuit and walks into the bathroom. Ricky removed his shirt and folded it before putting it in his bag. He quickly put on his swim trunks and patiently waited for Nini on the bed. She came out two minutes later with an all-black bikini that did wonders for her figure.

Ricky had a hard time not staring at her, which fed Nini's ego. She could tell she had an effect on him since he wasn't exactly trying to look away.

She smiles as she softly nudges his shoulder. "You good?"

He snaps out of it. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, are you ready?"

"Yep, I guess we can just meet them at the pool when they're ready."

"Sounds good to me."

Ricky hopped off the bed and grabbed both of their towels and some sunscreen. Ricky feels her arm lock with his, making him smile at first until he remembers a few days ago. He had his night spent with Lily on repeat in his head. For whatever reason, he felt like he had done something unethical, which was utterly ridiculous. He doesn't need to feel ashamed of getting a little touchy-feely with someone who had shown interest, yet he couldn't shake that guilt away when he was around Nini.

He obviously didn't tell Nini, nor did he ever intend to. Or maybe that isn't an obvious thing. It was normal to tell your friends about sexual and romantic rendezvouses; however, Nini and Ricky were never like that. They never spoke of their relationships with one another unless it was absolutely necessary. It wasn't like either of them said they couldn't; it was just one of those unsaid rules between them.

"Ricky?"

He glances down at her. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay? You've been a little spacey lately."

He nods a little too enthusiastically. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You sure?"

"More than sure." He ducks down and pecks her cheek to reassure her. If she didn't buy it, she didn't show it. She grins and tightens her grip on him as they walk to the cabin pool.

~

They all had a blast in the pool. Bex and Bowie teamed up against Ricky and Nini in a game of chicken, the girls played a few rounds of Marco Polo, and Bowie sneak attacked all of them by pushing them into the water. Bex and Bowie finally calmed down from their fighting and acted as if it never happened as they cuddled under the pool umbrella, which was a relief to everyone else.

Nini had gotten out of the pool roughly 15 minutes ago to rest under one of the umbrellas. When Ricky got bored of playing in the water without her company, he decided to walk over to her.

"Hey, Neens." He says as he takes a seat on an open spot of her chair.

"Hey you." She says as she sucked on her lollipop.

"Having fun?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Well, I was before you got out of the water. You should come back and play with me."

Nini chortles. "You sound like you're five."

"That wasn't a no."

"I'll join you in the water in a little bit. Right now, I wanna chill."

"Ugh, fine."

"While you're here, can you hand me my sunscreen?"

"Yeah, where is it?"

"In my bag beside your foot."

He digs in her bag and takes it out for her. "Here you go."

"Oh um..." She looks over his shoulder to see where her family was. Bex and Bowie were too occupied in the hot tub while the girls were busy playing with their pool toys to notice them. Nini smirks slyly. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"Yeah, of course. Anything."

"Well, I can't really reach certain parts of my body without struggling. I was wondering if you could rub me down with sunscreen. You know, since you owe me one from the time I did the same at the water park a year ago."

Ricky's face became red. "Oh um, yeah. I totally would love to."

She smiles. "Great," She rolls onto her back. "You can start with my back." She undoes her swimsuit top so he can get the entire surface.

Ricky already felt himself stiffening. He squirts some sunscreen in his hands and begins rubbing her back. He slowly massaged her back as he went down, loving the way her soft skin felt in his hands. He had a hard time fighting the urge to kiss down her spine like he desperately wanted to the day they almost went all the way.

When he was done with her back, he was dubious to do her legs as well since she never said to do them. She must've sensed his hesitation since she looked over her shoulder and placed his hands on her upper thigh.

He pressed his thumbs into her thighs as he continued to massage her body with sunscreen. She sighed in content when he hit a good spot on her leg that she didn't realize was tense. He took his precious time oiling her up until he got down to her feet. After he was finished, he rubbed the remaining sunscreen on his legs.

"All done."

"Don't leave yet." She flipped onto her back, her swimsuit barely covering her nipples due to her strap being loose. "I wanted you to do the front too if you don't mind."

Ricky was taken aback. "But I thought you only wanted me to get the areas that were hard to reach."

"I did, but then I realized that you could do it for me since your hands are all covered in sunscreen already, unless you don't want to. I could do it myself."

"No! No, it's seriously no problem. I'd love to."

She grins. "Cool."

He squirts more sunscreen into his hand and exhales deeply before rubbing her arms. He made sure every part of her arms and shoulders were covered before transitioning down to her stomach, purposely skipping over her breasts. She shivered and giggled when he rubbed down her sides and belly since she was ticklish. He blew a raspberry into her stomach, which made her squirm. He laughed at her cuteness before resuming the massage.

She smiled as she watched him rub the inside of her thighs, opening her legs a bit so he could have as much access as possible. She'd been paying attention to how steady he was trying to be to hide the fact that he was shaking from nervousness. Despite him being a little anxious, he was doing a good job of ensuring she was taken care of. That didn't surprise her though; that was 100% on brand of Ricky.

When he finishes coating her feet, he looks up at her with a smile. "Alright, you're good to go."

"Wait, you missed a spot."

He furrows his brows in confusion since he was sure he got every inch of her. "Really, where?"

She smirks. "You forgot here." She pointed at her breasts, and he almost felt his soul exit his body.

"Um, wow...uh. Shit, are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

He analyzes her body behavior to see if she was pulling a prank on him, but he could tell by her facial expression that she wasn't kidding.

"Alrighty..." He gulps as he steadily approaches them. He looks over at the Quinn's to make sure no one was paying them any mind first before going for it. He slid his hands under her top and felt his pants tighten the second his palms came in contact with her nipples. He looked up at her to make sure she was still okay with this. She made direct eye contact with him as she sucked sensually on her lollipop.

That's when he knew for a fact that she was doing this on purpose. She wanted to get him all riled up. He never broke his eye contact with her as he massaged her breasts, circling his thumbs on her nipples. Her eyelids become hooded as she lets out a blissful yet silent moan that only he could hear.

"How does this feel?"

She smiles. "Wonderful, like paradise." She gives her lollipop a long lick as she moans some more.

Yeah, he was gonna have to take a cold shower after this.

He twisted her buds, making her bite her lip. He couldn't help himself as he ducked down and kissed her left breast as he pulled her nipples.

She arches her back and moans a little louder. "Oh, Ricky..."

He kisses and sucks on the other breast before pushing them together so he could kiss both. She was in heaven as he pleasured her like no other man has. If it felt this good for him to simply suck on her breasts, then she couldn't fathom how incredible going all the way would feel. He gave her a few more kisses and rubs before pulling back to gaze into her eyes.

"Are you all satisfied now?"

"More than satisfied."

Ricky smiled nervously. "Glad to be of service."

"Before you go, can you tie me up?"

"Sure."

She stands up and turns around, holding her top up. He ties a tight bow. "Done."

She spins on her heel with a giddy smile on her face. "Thanks!" She noticed how dazed and flushed he appeared.

"You look parched. I'll go get us some water. Back in a second." She pecked his cheek before swaying her hips as she walked away. Ricky shamelessly watched her hips as she disappeared into the cabin, completely smitten by her. He took a seat and rubbed his hands down his face as his mind was trying to comprehend what just happened.

"Fuck, she's gonna be the death of me."

***

After dinner on the lake, they all returned to the cabin for bed. Ricky was showering, singing along to his shower playlist. Nini had already showered before Ricky, so she was relaxing in their bed as she read fanfiction on her phone. She was fiddling with her pajama pants since they were making her itchy.

When she had enough of her discomfort, she pushed the covers aside to get a secondary pair she packed. She stripped from her pants, leaving her in just her white tank top and undies. She bent over into her bag as she tried to find the item she was seeking.

She didn't hear the door to the bathroom open as she was digging. Ricky was greeted with her showing off her very exposing underwear to him, not like he was complaining.

"Damn."

The sound of his voice causes her to look behind her and smile. "Hey, I'm just looking for some pants."

"Please, take your time."

She rolls her eyes playfully. "Perv."

"Says the one who had me feel her up today."

"Touché, Bowen."

She frowns when she notices there wasn't a spare pair like she presumed.

"Damn, I guess I forgot my other pants."

He sits on the bed. "You can borrow some of mine."

"But it'll be all baggy. I don't like really baggy pants that'll slip off."

"Maybe you should just sleep like that then."

"I guess."

"Come to bed. I wanna cuddle." He opens his arms for her, making her grin.

She walks over to him and gets into his lap. He kisses her cheek and parts of her neck.

She doesn't know if it was the feeling of his lips on her skin or the intimate moment they had at the pool, but either way she gains the courage to blurt her thoughts. "I wish I could spend every night like this with you."

He stops kissing her and looks her in the eyes.

"You do?"

She blushes madly and covers her face. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes."

"God, that's so embarrassing, sorry."

"No, don't apologize. I thought it was adorable."

She unveiled part of her face by removing one hand. "You did?"

He moves her other hand from her face. "Yes, and I feel the same way."

"Really?"

"Really."

They both smile and rest their foreheads on each other. He lays down on his back, bringing her down with him. She made herself comfortable on top of him as he pulled the covers over them.

"Sweet dreams, princess."

"Back at you."

She indeed did have a sweet dream that may or may not have starred the guy she was wrapped in the arms of.

Chapter Text

"So, Halloween is coming up soon."

Ricky looks up from his laptop at Nini as she folded some of his laundry without him asking her to do so. She knew he wasn't gonna do it for another week, so she figured she'd just do it for him as a favor.

"Yeah, it is."

She smiles. "Have you thought about what you want to wear?"

"No, I usually just wing it."

"You should plan it this year. I think it'd be fun!"

"You know I'm not the planning type unless it's a major event."

"Oh, come on! I think it'd be great since we could go as a couple!"

That last word catches his attention. "A couple?"

She blushes when she registers what she said. "Well, two friends doing a couple's costume."

He sets his laptop aside. "Who would we be?"

"I wanted to dress like Maddy from Euphoria. I love her outfits."

Ricky grimaced. "Does that mean I'd be Nate? Because I do not want to dress up as that maniac."

"I know; I already thought of a substitution. We can go as Cassie and Maddy except you can be the male version of Cassie."

"Can I at least be season 1 Cassie? She lost her damn mind in the second season."

"Yeah, we can do that. Our outfits won't technically match since the outfit I want is from season 2, but that doesn't really matter."

"I have no idea where I'd even get the materials though."

"Don't worry! I'll design it for you. Can I do your makeup like they do on the show?"

He grins. "Of course."

"Eek, I'm excited now!" She begins going through his clothes to see if he had anything to work with. Ricky just smiled as she frantically threw the clothes she just folded all over the place.

"You should probably be planning whatever you're gonna be wearing this weekend since we're going home for your moms' anniversary party."

Nini waves him off. "Oh please, I already have something planned."

"I don't. Maybe I'll help you throw around my clothes since I have no idea what to wear."

"She said the party was dressy casual. It's not that hard."

"You're talking to the guy that wears the same three hoodies and t-shirts on a loop."

"Good point. I'll help pick something out for you."

He got up and joined her in the closet as they planned the perfect outfit for him.

"Isn't it amazing?" Nini asks randomly.

"What's amazing?"

"That they've been together for so long. Imagine being by someone's side for 20 years. That's incredible."

Ricky nods. "Yeah, I always looked up to your moms when it came to healthy relationships."

"Me too. I hope I'll have what they have. I can't see anyone putting up with my bullshit for that long without running to the divorce court."

"I've known you for almost 15 years now, which is basically 20, and I've never once wanted to be away from you."

She smiles. "Awe, Ricky." She got on her tippy toes and gave him a hug.

He pecks her cheek. "We should do a friendiversary when we get to the 20 year mark."

"I agree. We can make it a big deal too."

"Maybe we can rent out one of those pavilions at the park we met at."

Nini smiles widely. "Oh my god, yes! We're definitely doing that. I'm so excited for something that's gonna happen so far from now!"

"Same here, but we should probably get back to planning my outfit."

"Right, I almost completely forgot!" She grabs a button down white top and holds it up against him. "This is perfect. You just need to wear your black dress pants with it, and shoes don't really matter as long as it's not sneakers."

"What if I go rogue and wear sneakers anyway?"

"Then, Momma D will have your head."

"Dress shoes it is."

"That's what I thought." She hung up his outfit for the weekend to the side and pecked his cheek.

"What was that for?"

She shrugs. "Just because."

"Well, feel free to do as many 'just because' kisses as you want. I promise you I'll never deny them."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He surprises her by pulling her into a hug and pressing kisses all over her face, loving the cutesy little giggles that she made.

***

"Jesus, Neens, did you pack your entire closet for this one weekend?"

"No, I just happen to have a lot of clothes I wanted to bring back home since I don't intend on wearing them any time soon."

He grunts as he struggles to put her suitcase on her driveway. "You're lucky I love you."

She blew him a kiss as she walked to her front door with him following close behind her. As she turned the lock, she peeked her head in to see if anyone was home. She was surprised her Momma C wasn't watching TV like she usually did at this hour; Nini figured she must be sleeping in her bedroom since her car was in the driveway.

"Make sure to be quiet when we unpack. Momma C is asleep."

"Gotchu."

They tip toe to Nini's bedroom and place their belongings on the ground. While Ricky was unloading their things, Nini went to the kitchen to make them some tea. On the way to the kitchen, she overheard someone talking from her moms' room. She stops and presses her ear to their door.

She could hear Momma C talking to someone rather quietly and Nini wondered who she was on the phone with. She figured she could say a quick hello since she hasn't seen her in almost a year, so she opened the door.

Nothing could have prepared Nini for the awful sight in front of her.

There laid her mother in the bed naked with a man.

Nini gasped audibly, dropping her phone on the ground in the process.

The sound of her gasping causes both of them to sit up and stare at her in fear and pure shock.

"Nini, honey, oh my god!"

"Mom, what the hell?!"

"What're you doing home so soon?"

"Is that seriously the fucking question you want to ask me right now?"

Carol blushes from shame. "Honey, it's not what it looks like!"

"Oh really? Then what am I looking at? Because it looks a lot like my mom is cheating with some random man on the weekend of her wedding anniversary!"

The man looks at Carol with an awkward face. "Wait, you're married?"

Carol scowled at her paramour. "Not now, Reggie."

Nini looked at Reggie with a warning face. "Reggie, I advise you to leave. This is not going to be pretty."

Reggie swiftly got dressed and grabbed his things before speedily finding his way to the exit. Nini glares at Carol as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"Well, are you gonna explain yourself?!"

Carol threw on her chemise and tried to walk over to Nini, but Nini backed away every time she got closer. "Sweetie, I swear this was just a one-time thing."

"You seriously expect me to believe you?! You're a travel nurse who's been to almost every continent. Who knows how many other 'Reggies' there are?"

Carol starts tearing up. "Nini, baby, please don't tell your mom. I don't know what I'd do if she found out."

Ricky comes in seconds later after hearing all the commotion. "What's going on?"

"She just got caught red handed is what's going on."

"I swear I love your mother, but we've hit a huge dry spell in our marriage. I just kinda cracked when Reggie hit on me at the airport."

"That's not a good fucking excuse to cheat, mom!"

"I know, I know. Just please don't—"

"I don't wanna see you right now." Nini cuts her off before storming out to the front door.

"Neens, wait!"

Before Ricky could run after her, Carol grabs Ricky's arm, making him face her.

"Ricky, please take care of her. She's gonna need you."

Ricky wasn't sure what to say so he just nudged her hand off and ran after her. He catches her as she's about to run to the sidewalk.

"Neens, wait up!"

She halts but doesn't turn around. He runs over to her and pulls her into a hug.

"I can't believe she'd do that. 20 years down the drain just like that."

He pets her hair as he lets her cry it out. "I know."

"How could she do that to Momma D? Momma D has been nothing but faithful to her while she's on work trips and even prepares special meals and dates for her when she hears she's coming back, and then Momma C has the audacity to turn around and betray her?! It just doesn't make sense!"

"I wish I could answer your questions, Neens. I really do."

"I wanna leave."

He nods. "You can get in the car since it's already unlocked. I'll go pack our things and meet you in the car, okay?"

She nods as she wipes some of her tears away. He pecks her forehead before escorting her to the passenger's seat. He sprinted inside and packed their things, leaving some of her clothes that she meant to leave in her closet. As he walked out, he overheard Carol balling her eyes out in her bedroom. He didn't know how to feel about her crying since this was entirely her fault, so he left her alone.

He tossed their bags in the trunk before getting into the driver's seat. After he pulled out of her driveway, he rested his hand on her thigh to console her. She placed her hand on top of his as they drove to his dad's new place.

Their ride was quiet with the exception of her soft whimpers. Ricky didn't really know what to do in this scenario since it was something he never prepared for. When they arrived at the condo, Ricky got all their bags out and opened the door for Nini.

She dragged her feet as she walked behind him to the front door. Ricky rings the doorbell and waits for someone to answer. A few seconds later, Jenn opens the door. Jenn was clearly taken aback to see them, which made sense considering they weren't supposed to come over.

"Ricky, Nini, what a lovely surprise!"

Jenn pecks Ricky's cheek, making him grin. "Nice seeing you, Jenn. Is my dad home?"

"No, he's at work, but is there anything I could do for you?"

"We need to stay the night here."

Jenn furrows her brows. "What happened to staying at Nini's?"

"It's a long story."

Jenn glimpsed over at Nini and frowned when she saw she was crying. "Well, we don't mind having you two here! It'll be a blast. I'll show you to your room."

"Thanks."

They followed Jenn to his bedroom and opened the door for them. "Here it is; home sweet home!"

"Thanks again for letting us stay unannounced."

She pats his back. "No worries! Let me know if you need anything. Help yourself to anything in the fridge or pantry!" Jenn says before walking away.

Nini laid down on the bed while Ricky placed their bags on the floor. He sighs as he looks at her and joins her on the mattress. They laid there in comfortable silence as she cried. Ricky knew it was best to let her talk first when she was in this state.

"What should I do, Ricky?" She says five minutes later.

He glances at her with a hopeless expression. "I don't know."

"I want to tell Momma D, but I also don't want to ruin her special day. At the same time, she deserves to know her wife has been unfaithful despite the horrible timing."

"I feel you. If I were Dana, I'd want to know if my wife was cheating. I'm sorry you saw that. That's a lot for you to be burdened with, so I don't blame you for being hesitant about telling her since that could cause a whole mess."

"Maybe they should split."

Ricky frowns. He didn't want to say it, but he was definitely thinking it too. "Maybe, but that's between them. Hopefully Carol will do the right thing and tell Dana, but we'll see."

Nini wipes another tear away. "I think I wanna go to bed."

"Okay."

They both get under the covers and cuddle in a spooning position. She fell asleep almost immediately while Ricky was still wide awake. Truthfully, he was distraught about Carol's affair. He used to look up to them since they were one of the few adult relationships that he's witnessed that managed to stay strong despite how far they were from each other. He used to believe they were invincible and the epitome of what love and devotion is supposed to look like, but that all went to shit in the last 15 minutes.

He was beginning to wonder if it was even worth being in a relationship for that long. Do all married couples eventually get tired of each other and cheat and/or leave? It seemed to be a common trend around the adults in his life to do so.

Ricky sighed sadly before pulling Nini as close as possible, praying that they never end up like their parents' marriages.

***

The ride back to her moms' house was silent but not uncomfortable since Ricky wasn't the one Nini was upset with. She was reluctant to even come to the party since she'd just be irritated the entire time, but she was finally persuaded to go when she realized her Momma D will need her for emotional support when or if she finds out. Also, Dana would be suspicious if neither Ricky or her showed up since she was aware they made it to town and would ask questions.

Ricky was nervous about this party. When his dad got home an hour after Nini fell asleep, Ricky informed Mike what happened. Ricky asked him what he'd do in Nini's situation, and he claimed he'd want to know if his significant other was cheating. Ricky agreed with him, but it wasn't his place to snitch on Carol since it wasn't his household that would be affected. He'd let Nini decide on whether she should say something or not and would give her advice if she asked.

Ricky parked on the street in front of her moms' home and looked at Nini with a concerned expression. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Nini nods with an agitated face. "Yes, I need to do this for Momma D."

He sighs. "Okay, let's go in."

Ricky interlaces their hands as they approach the door. Ricky lightly knocks on the door and jumps a little when the door opens instantly. Carol was pale faced as she looked at the pair.

"Hey guys..."

Nini scoffed, rolled her eyes, and shoved past Carol, hitting her shoulder in the process. Ricky awkwardly smiled before squeezing through the entrance to follow Nini.

Carol sighed before shutting the door, not at all shocked by Nini's hostility. This was not going to be an easy four hours. Nini drops the gift she bought for them on the table with the rest of the presents before walking into the dining room. Nini smiles when she sees Dana talking to some of her guests.

"Mom!"

Dana looks up and grins when she sees her daughter. "Nini, darling! It's so good to see you!" She walks over to her and brings her into a hug. Nini frowned as she held her back while she wasn't looking. She quickly faked a smile when Dana could see her.

"You look so pretty, mom. Are you having a good time?"

"Yes, everyone has been so lovely, and your Lola bought us such a nice anniversary gift."

"Oh yeah? What did she get you?"

"A week long getaway to Honolulu! It's all paid for including the plane tickets. Isn't that great?"

Nini wanted to scream what Carol did, but she didn't have the heart to ruin her mom's big day. There was a better time and place to break that news if she had to. "Wow, that's great. I know you guys have been meaning to go on a couple's vacation for a while now."

"Yes, Carol wasn't as ecstatic as I thought, but I think it's from shock. I guess it's hard to satisfy someone who commonly ventures the world. I know she'll love the trip regardless. Maybe if I buy her a souvenir from the resort we'll stay in she'll lighten up."

Nini held back her urge to yell at Carol. How could anyone cheat on Dana when she was the sweetest woman on earth?

"I don't think she can really be satisfied with anything anyway..." Nini says under her breath.

"What was that, dear?"

Nini shakes her head. "Nothing, let's just go get something from the kitchen. I heard Lola prepared some arroz caldo."

"Oo, thanks for reminding me! I need to get some before Ricky gets to it."

"It's too late." Nini points at the kitchen where Ricky had been piling his bowl with nothing but arroz caldo.

"Dammit. Ricky, you better save me some!" Dana speed walks to the kitchen while Ricky stares at her with a mouth full of food, causing Nini to giggle.

~

Ricky felt incredibly awkward when he was around Carol. He avoided her gaze and stood near her. He became extremely tense since he did not know how to possibly speak to her as if he didn't witness her affair. He could tell that she wanted to address it, but he was in no mood. Besides, what was there to talk about?

Ricky was going for a third serving of arroz caldo when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He jumps when he notices it was Carol. She was clearly in distress and looked as if she was on the brink of a breakdown.

"Ricky, I need to talk about it."

Ricky's eyes widened as he searched the area for possible bystanders. "I don't think there's anything to discuss."

"Can you get Nini to talk to me? She's been cold towards me the entire party, and Dana is starting to notice."

Ricky scratches the back of his head. "Well, no offense, but you kinda deserve it."

"I know, but I don't want Dana to get suspicious. She doesn't need to know."

"I think she deserves to know."

"I meant she doesn't need to know now. She deserves a good time before she possibly finds out through Nini."

"Listen Carol, I really don't wanna get in the middle of this drama. It's not my business, and this is 100% between you and Dana. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get another serving."

Carol sighs in defeat and gets out of his way. "I understand. Sorry for bugging you."

Ricky just makes an awkward poker face as he watches her leave, thankful she didn't pester him. Carol searched the rooms for her daughter and was happy to see she was alone in the corner of the living room. She carefully approaches her.

"Hey sweetie."

Nini scowled at her. "What do you want?"

"Can we talk in private?"

"I don't want to talk to you."

"Please."

Nini stared at her for a moment before rolling her eyes. "Fine, let's go in the garage."

They discreetly go into the garage, and Carol immediately begins worrying. "Are you going to tell her?"

"If you don't tell her by the time I leave for school, then I will. She needs to know her wife is a floozy."

"You watch your language, missy. I'm still your mother."

"How about you watch where you spread your legs?"

Carol gasped and didn't even realize her hand was lifted before she slapped Nini. Nini was thrown off too and rubbed the stinging area. Carol placed her hands over her mouth in shock from her own action.

"Nini, honey, I'm so sorry."

"It's whatever. I've been hit harder before."

Carol was about to ask her to elaborate on that, but Nini beat her to it.

"You should tell her after the party. I don't want her going to bed at night under the false assumption that her wife actually cares about her. She deserves better than that."

"I do love her!"

"Clearly love isn't good enough to keep your partner from getting bored."

"That's not true! I just made a mistake!"

"I don't want to get in a fight with you over what love is because apparently we both are destined to never understand what it's actually supposed to feel like to be happy in a relationship."

"Nina—"

"Just promise me you'll tell her after the party."

Carol was dithering at first before accepting her fate. "I promise I'll do it."

"Good." Nini was about to return to the party but was stopped by Carol gripping her wrist.

"Hold on. Before you go, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for letting you down."

Nini gave her a blank expression. "I'm not the one you should be saying those words to." Nini pushed her mom's hand off her before hurriedly entering the house to escape her.

After the guests left, Ricky and Nini stayed behind to help clean. They also stayed to ensure Carol kept her promise. Nini filled him in on their heated conversation in the garage and told him to be prepared to witness a potential screaming match. The house was silent with the exception of the sound of them cleaning. Dana was oblivious to the tension as she packaged all the leftovers while Carol, Ricky, and Nini all shared knowing glances. Carol nervously washed the dishes while Ricky and Nini cleaned the living room.

Nini meets eyes with Carol from across the room and motions for her to get it over with already. Carol quickly looks down at the dish she was cleaning to avoid her daughter's glower. Nini sent her multiple looks, but Carol would always shy away. When Nini had enough of her cowardice, she stormed over to Carol and dragged her to the dining room.

"It's been an hour since the party ended. You should tell her now."

"I-I can't. I just can't do it."

"It doesn't matter what you feel! It's about confessing your betrayals to an innocent person!"

"It's not as easy as it looks!"

"It's not supposed to be easy! You put yourself in this predicament, and I'm gonna make sure you fix it!"

"What can't you do?"

Nini and Carol faced the doorframe where Dana stood with a worried and confused expression. Nini folds her arms over her chest and glares at Carol. Carol glimpses between the two before breaking down into a fit of tears and falling to her knees. Dana immediately got on her knees to comfort her.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I just needed someone to hold me in that moment in time, and you weren't there! I fell weak to my own loneliness and ended up double-crossing you. I'm so fucking sorry, Dana."

Dana was even more lost due to her vagueness. "Babe, what're you talking about?"

Carol found the courage to look her in the eye. "I had an affair with a man yesterday, but I promise it meant nothing. He was just some random guy that I'll never speak to again. I swear! I love you so much, baby."

Dana froze as she looked at her wife. The room was painfully quiet as everyone awaited Dana to react. She finally does when she slowly gets up with an unreadable expression.

"I'm going to bed."

Dana doesn't look at anyone as she makes her way upstairs, leaving Carol to weep. Carol's cries became louder as she watched her soulmate walk away from her. Nini runs after her mom to ensure she's okay.

Ricky's heart broke as he watched the entire thing go down. He knew he'd have to do a lot of damage control with Nini and Dana, but right now he was going to focus on Carol. He steadily walks up to the wailing woman and gently places his hand on her back.

"Carol, I think you should go."

"Go wh-where?"

"I'd advise getting a hotel for a few days, or maybe a friend's house. There's no telling when Dana or Nini will want to see you again."

She nods as she wipes the snot and tears. "You're right." She gets up and only grabs her purse, not wanting to face her family upstairs to pack her clothes. "Please tell them I left and to contact me when they're ready."

"I will."

She nods before swiftly exiting the house. Ricky sighed as he looked around the still messy house. He made the executive decision of cleaning the rest of it up since the other two were far too emotional at the moment. It took him an hour to finish off the rest of the house.

After he was done, he went upstairs to check on Nini and Dana in the master's room. He saw Nini cuddling Dana on the bed and a few crumpled up tissues on the floor. He softly closed the door before retiring to Nini's bedroom, hoping that they'll all find some way to get past this rough patch.

***

Ricky and Nini spent the remainder of the weekend at Nini's house since Dana needed all the love in the world right now. Carol kept her distance and did a bunch of back to back overnight shifts at the Salt Lake hospital to avoid her family.

On the Sunday they were supposed to head back to Reno, Nini was concerned for her mother's well-being.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Dana shrugs. "One day I will be, but not anytime soon. I'm still in shock."

"I get that. Have you thought about what you plan to do about this yet?"

"Well, I don't want to take her back so easily since she did break our vows. I also am not ready to see her, and taking her back would be teaching you a wrong lesson. I need to be respectful to myself and you."

"So, what does that mean?"

"It means that I'm not sure yet, mahal. I still love her, and I don't think that'll ever change. That doesn't mean I'm gonna take her back the second she appears on our doorstep though."

Nini nods. "I understand. Just know that I'll love and support you no matter what."

"Thank you, sweetheart. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Ricky comes through the front door. "Hey Neens, we gotta hit the road if we wanna be back on time."

Nini holds her mom's hands. "Even though you claimed you'll be fine alone, I know you don't actually mean it. So, I asked Mike and Jenn to check up on you. They already know about the situation."

"Does anyone else know?"

"No, I planned to keep it to myself until you're ready."

Dana weakly smiles, tearing up a bit. She wraps her arms around her daughter. "Thank you, mahal."

"You're welcome. Call me if you need anything."

After they detached, Dana gave Ricky a hug too and escorted them out. Nini waved at her mom before she got in the car. Ricky glanced over at Nini as she sadly watched her mom.

He wrapped his arm around Nini's shoulder. "Hey, everything is going to be okay."

She wanted to believe him. She really did, but she couldn't. She could sense her household will never be the same. She'll never look at Carol the same. She'll never view marriage the same. She didn't want to concern Ricky more than needed, so she just forced a smile.

"Thanks for being my rock this weekend. I really appreciate it."

"It's no problem. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."

She kisses his cheek before he backs out of her driveway. As they rode on the open road, all Nini could think about was Dana and how Nini's idea of love was probably never going to be the same.

Chapter Text

It's been a rough two weeks for Nini. She only told her friends about what happened between her moms, and they were all sending her supportive and loving texts from wherever they were within the nation. Despite what everyone thinks, she believes she was okay. She's been distracting herself with homework, her hobbies, and hanging out with friends.

Any time she thought of her moms, she immediately started doing an activity that would shield her mind from it. She hasn't told her therapist yet even though she's already spoken to her twice since the incident. She didn't want to hear anything she had to say yet since she'd more than likely not listen.

One thing that did keep her mind off her household issues was Halloween. She had already ordered her outfit and makeup for the parties she was going to and got some items for Ricky as well. He apparently already had similar clothes to the outfit he wanted to wear, so she really only needed to do his makeup and hair. When she had his full outfit all set up, she smiled victoriously. She couldn't wait to see how he'd look in it.

"He's going to love it." She says to herself.

She puts his costume in a duffle bag and heads over to his apartment. As she was reaching into her bag, she accidentally bumps into someone. Her face becomes rosy from embarrassment.

"Oh my god; I'm so sorry!"

She promptly notices how attractive he was. He was tall, maybe even a little taller than Ricky. He had curly dark brown hair with crystal blue eyes. His skin was tan, and he had the same facial hair as Flynn Rider. He had muscles protruding from his tight Under Armour shirt. Honestly, he was extremely nice to gander at.

The man smiles and waves her off. "No worries," He glances at her and smirks. "Actually, please feel free to bump into me anytime."

Nini's blush deepens. "Oh um, okay."

"What's your name?"

"Nini."

"That's cute. Is it short for something?"

"Nina, my friend gave me the nickname, and it kinda just stuck."

"That's adorable. My name is Isaac." He reaches out his hand to shake.

She was hesitant at first but shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Well um, I guess I'll see you around?"

"I definitely hope so."

She smiles and is about to walk away before he turns around to face her. "Nini?"

She looks over her shoulder. "Yes?"

"Is it weird if I asked for your number?"

Nini felt her cheeks burning. "Why would you want my number?"

"Well, I was hoping to take you out some time."

"But you just met me."

"Well, that's the whole point of me taking you out, so I can get to know you."

"Why do you want to know me?"

"Because you're extremely beautiful, and you seem like you'd be good company."

She smiled and tapped on her bag as she pondered. "Alright."

He perks up and takes out his phone before walking over to her. "Put in your number, and I'll text you."

She smiles and types in her number before handing it back to him. He texts the number she gave him to ensure she wasn't lying, and he smiled when he heard her phone buzz.

"Great, I'll definitely call you."

Nini blushes. "Looking forward to it."

He gives her a final wave before walking the opposite direction. She waited until he was far away before cheesing. She hasn't gotten a number from a guy in a while, so it was exhilarating to be hit on after a while. She was shocked it had been so long, but she remembers she's usually with Ricky. Most dudes wouldn't dare approach her when he was around if their goal was to ask her out since they acted like a couple in public often. She couldn't fight the smile on her face as she continued to her destination.

When she finally arrives in the hallway leading to Ricky's apartment, she overhears an annoying yet familiar voice. She stopped and hid behind the corner as she heard the voice get closer from the opposite end of the hall.

"Ricky, we should do this more often. I loved going to the movies with you." Lily says as she clung onto Ricky's arm.

"Well, I'm aware you don't really like going to theaters since they're gross."

"I never said that."

"Yeah, you did. You said it back in Scotland when I invited you to a movie."

"Oh. Well, I lied because I love going to the movies now as long as I'm with you."

Nini rolled her eyes at how fake she was. She personally did not get the appeal to her. Nini decided to make her presence known by stepping out from her hiding spot. Ricky sees someone approaching him in his peripheral vision and looks over at Nini's direction.

He instantly beams. "Hey, Neens!"

"Hey."

Lily forces a smile. "Oh, hey. What're you doing here? Ricky said you typically have class at this time."

"My professor is sick, so he canceled."

Lily nods. "How unfortunate," She looks back at Ricky. "Anyway, we should go inside so we can continue talking about our plans."

Ricky looked as if a light bulb went off in his head. "Oh yeah."

Nini lifts a brow. "What plans?"

Lily smirks. "Oh nothing. We're just discussing Halloween. Do you have any plans?"

"Oh, I just was going to jump parties and eat candy."

"Oo fun! I plan to go to only one party, which is at the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at your school. I heard it's going to be the party of the year."

"Sounds like it'll be a blast. I hope you have fun."

"It will be since I'm going with my favorite person in a couple's costume. I'm gonna be a fem-bot and Ricky is going to be Austin Powers. Isn't that great?!"

Nini's heart drops the second she hears that. "Oh, really now?"

"Yep, we decided on it after the movie. I happen to know that my brother has an old Austin costume somewhere in his closet that'll fit Ricky perfectly. He thought it'd be a good idea, right Ricky?"

Ricky nods. "Yeah, baby." He says in his best Austin Powers voice.

Lily laughs way too hard at it while Nini just glared at him.

"So, you didn't have other plans?" Nini asks him.

He furrows his brows as he tries to remember. "Uh, none that I can think of."

Nini fights the urge to yell at him by biting her lip harshly. "You know what? I don't remember why I came here anymore. I'll see you guys later."

She doesn't wait for them to respond before she's dashing out of there. She wasn't sure if she was more angry or sad, but she did know one thing. She felt betrayed. She was about to toss the outfit she made him in the trash before she remembered a certain brunette she encountered earlier that day. He was about Ricky's height and size and could probably pull the outfit off, and he was clearly interested in her. She smirks before typing up her message.

Nini: Hey, what are you doing on Halloween?

Isaac: Staying at home and watching horror films. Why?

Nini: How do you feel about going to a Halloween party with me? I have the perfect costume for you to match mine

Isaac: Sounds like a perfect first date!

Nini: Perfect! Can you get me from my dorm at 10? I live in the West Wing residence.

Isaac: Of course! See you then :)

Nini shoves her phone back in her pocket with a vindictive smile on her face. If he was going to replace her without warning, she could do the same.

Two can play that game.

***

The party was rowdy and loud at Alpha Phi Alpha. Like most fraternities, there were plenty of kegs for guests to drink from, wine coolers and liquor were spread out on the table, the smell of weed was evident no matter where you walked, and the music was blaring. It was honestly shocking no one called the cops. Luckily for the fraternity, they're a dominantly rich, white establishment, so the cops wouldn't do jack shit if they got reported anyway.

Ricky was dancing with Lily dressed in her cutesy Fem-bot outfit. Lily was rather touchy with him, which he didn't mind one bit. Lily was rubbing her backside on him and suddenly turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck in the process.

"Are you having a good time?" She asks in a sultry voice, slurring the end of her sentence. She had been drinking for the past hour, so her breath smelt of tequila and limes.

He smiles and nods. "Yeah, this party is incredible!"

"Good, because I think I wanna stay here the rest of the night instead of going to other parties. This crowd's energy is everything."

"I'm cool with that."

"Perfect." She surprises him by kissing his cheek and turning back around so she can grind on him. As she danced on him, he found himself searching the crowd for a certain brunette. He was aware she was party hopping, so maybe she just hadn't gotten to this one yet. He hoped he'd see her eventually.

~

Nini fixed up her makeup with the visor mirror as her date for the evening walked over to the passenger's side to open the door. He opens the door for her and offers her his hand.

"My lady." He says playfully.

She immediately thought of Ricky since he occasionally calls her that, but she swiftly shook the thought of him out of her head. Tonight wasn't going to be centered on Ricky. She was going to enjoy her date, party, and get absolutely trashed without thinking about her best friend. She had already been to four parties with Isaac so far, and they were all incredible. She actually did forget about how Ricky forgot about her, but it was hard not to think about him when she knew he was inside this party.

He gives her a worried face. "Everything alright?"

Nini forces a smile. "Yes, sorry. I just kinda spaced out there."

"Maybe it's the liquor. You did have quite a few shots at the last sorority we went to."

"Yeah, maybe." She lies. She takes his hand and locks arms with him. She scans his outfit and smiles at how compatible they looked. "We look really good together."

He grins. "Totally! You did a great job on this fit. Why did you just have it laying around?"

Her smile falters a little bit as she recalls the lie she told him earlier. She informed him that she happened to come across it in her closet. "I like to practice designing outfits in my free time I guess."

If he caught onto her lie, he didn't show it. "I wish I had a cool hobby like that."

"I can always teach you."

"I'd like that a lot. Maybe that could be a second date."

She blushes at the thought of a second date. She honestly wouldn't mind since he's been the perfect gentleman. He even let her do the Euphoria makeup she intended to do on Ricky. "Yeah, that sounds fun."

When they get to the front door, they walk in like a power couple. She already felt eyes on her since she was wearing a very exposing outfit that displayed all the curves she usually kept hidden. She felt rather confident due to the yearning stares, putting a cocky smile on her face. She moved her hand into Isaac's and began leading him through the dancing students.

As she walked, she began looking for a certain curly-haired person despite her telling herself not to bother with him tonight. She just couldn't help herself. She catches a glimpse of his hair in the corner of her eye and looks in that direction. She rolls her eyes when she sees Lily rubbing her ass all over his groin. She couldn't really read his face since it was his side view, but he didn't seem to mind it.

She decided she'd "accidentally" walk by them on her way to the kitchen for some drinks. She begins pulling Isaac to their direction, which confuses him.

"Hey, the way to the kitchen is the other way."

"This is a shortcut." Nini answers passively.

He just shrugs and lets her do her thing, unaware he's essentially bait. She comes from behind Ricky and looks over her shoulder so she knows whether or not he saw her. He sensed her eyes on him and glanced at her. He was taken aback by her outfit and the fact that a handsome guy was holding her hand.

She quickly looked forward and smirked victoriously as she wiggled her hips a little more on her way to the kitchen. She already knew he was watching without even looking at him, so she purposely yet gently shoved Isaac into the counter. She roamed her hands all over his chest while he smirked down at her. Isaac placed his hands on her lower back, careful not to go further without permission. She loved that he was grazing the exposing sides of her dress that showed a lot of skin.

"Isaac, do you mind getting us a vodka shot?"

He perks up. "Sure! Stay here."

She leans on the counter with her ass facing the dance floor. She arches her back in a natural way so it didn't appear as if she wanted anyone's attention. Not even 30 seconds later, she feels someone softly grab her arm. She smirked before forming her lips into a smile as she spun on her heels.

"Oh, hey Ricky! I didn't know you were at this party."

"Lily told you we'd be here."

"Did she? Huh, I guess I don't remember. Losing memory seems to be a common trend recently."

He furrowed his brows at the last part of her sentence, but let it go. He had a much more urgent question anyway. "Who's the guy?"

"Who? Oh, that's Isaac, my date." She answers, pretending not to know who he was referring to.

"Your date, huh? I've never met him before."

"You don't know everything about me, Richard."

He made a face of disgust as he looked at Isaac grabbing the drinks. "Where'd you even meet that dude?"

"How about you don't worry about me and focus on your little date that you bailed on me for."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes. "Does dressing up as Euphoria characters ring a bell to you?"

It took him a second to understand what she was talking about, but he gasps when he comprehends her words. "Oh my god, Neens, I'm super sorry! I completely forgot about it. I just got so distracted by Lily, and I guess I—"

Nini scoffs and flips her hair over her shoulder. "Whatever, Ricky. Isaac looks better in your costume anyway. Go back to your date." She shoves past him and walks over to Isaac. She intentionally kisses Isaac straight on the lips since Ricky was still in the kitchen. Isaac clearly wasn't expecting her to do that, but he wasn't complaining as he kissed back. Ricky grimaced and averted his eyes before heading back to Lily.

When Nini detached her lips from his, she downed the shot he got for her. Isaac watched her with awe.

"You're like the coolest chick I've ever met."

"Thank you. I think you're the first guy that's ever told me that."

"Really? That's surprising." Isaac looks at Ricky, who was giving him the evil eye from the dance floor. "So, who was that guy you were speaking to?"

Nini glimpses over her shoulder at Ricky and rolls her eyes. "Oh, him? He's no one to be concerned about."

"You looked pretty irritated after talking to him. Do you know him?"

"Yeah, but that's not important."

"Ex-boyfriend?"

Nini blushes and shakes her head. "No."

"Boyfriend?"

Nini slaps Isaac's arm. "God, no! I'd never cheat, especially right in front of him!"

He holds his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, sorry! I've known some people that have the gall to do that."

She folds her arms. "Well, I'm not one of them."

"Here," He hands her another shot. "Have an apology shot."

She puffs air from her nose as she accepts his offer. She downs it and pours herself another one right after.

"Woah, slow down! I don't want to see you puke everywhere."

"Don't worry about me. I can handle my liquor very well."

"Well, you enjoy yourself since I can't drink anymore."

"Just leave your car here, and we can catch an Uber back home."

"I don't think that's wise."

"Oh come on; I don't want to be the only one having fun. Also, frats don't care if you end up leaving your car overnight after parties since they know people casually pass out all over the building."

She could see the gears rotating in his head. "You don't have to if you don't want to though. No pressure."

"I'll do it."

She perks up. "For real?"

"Yeah, getting drunk sounds fun right now."

Nini claps. "Great! I'll pour us some more shots!"

"Let's do it!"

Nini and Isaac were beyond tipsy by the sixth shot. Nini found herself giggling at everything he was saying. Isaac was a very forgetful drunk and could barely finish a sentence without forgetting the rest of his thoughts. His horrible memory made Nini chuckle loudly to the point that it got others' attention.

Nini was sitting on the counter with her arms looped around Isaac's neck and legs wrapped around his waist. Isaac's palms rested flat on the counter as his chin laid on her breasts. Nini stroked through his curly hair and smiled. This date actually was turning out pretty fun, and she actually forgot she was here out of spite of Ricky.

Ricky on the other hand wasn't having the best night. He didn't take his eyes off Nini ever since he noticed her for two different reasons: she was extremely alluring in that dress, and he was seething with jealousy. He couldn't help but wonder what the fuck was so funny that made Nini laugh like that. She usually would only laugh like that if he was the one making the joke. He's also never seen her be so touchy with someone she recently met. Then again, she never said when she did meet him. She could've known him for months now.

"Are you okay?"

The sound of Lily's voice snaps him out of his one-sided stare down. "Yeah, sorry. I was just a little distracted."

"Are you sure? Your hands were gripping my waist really tight."

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. It was kinda hot." She smirks before kissing his cheek.

While Lily was dancing on him, Ricky returned his eyes to the couple in the kitchen.

"Hey, do you wanna dance?" Nini asks her date.

He beams and nods. "Yes!"

He quickly helps her down from the counter and guides her to the middle of the dance floor. Ricky's eyes followed them the entire way to the center and felt a wave of envy overcome him when he saw how wide her smile was as Isaac spun her around.

Nini turns around and places her back on him while he wraps his arms around her waist, making sure there was no room for Jesus. Ricky felt his grip on Lily tighten again as he glared with fury, but she was too caught up in dancing on him to care about his grip.

Suddenly, Nini meets eyes with Ricky and slowly forms a smirk. She didn't realize he was staring at them, but she didn't mind. Matter of fact, it only fueled her. She didn't break eye contact with him as she sexually rolled her hips on Isaac's steadily growing shaft. Isaac responded by kissing her neck and rubbing up on her thighs and hips. Nini fluttered her eyelids and moaned when Isaac sucked rather harshly on her delicate skin, loving the face Ricky made at her reaction.

Though she was adoring her power over Ricky, she wanted to push him over the edge. And she knew exactly how to do that. She glances up at Isaac with a lustful stare. "Do you want to touch me?"

Isaac practically came his pants right then and there, but he'd never admit that. "Yes, very much, please."

Nini just smirks as a response and turns to look back at Ricky. She grabs Isaac's hands and leisurely moves them up until he is cupping her. Isaac bit his lip as he grinded his hips on her, squeezing them lightly.

That's when Ricky couldn't take it anymore. He released Lily completely and began walking away before Lily grabs his wrist. "Where are you going?"

"I just need to cool down for a bit."

"I can come with you!"

"No, please don't. I kinda want to be alone."

She frowns. "Oh, okay. Well, I'll be at the bar."

Ricky just nods before storming off in the hall. Nini smiles brightly and even lets out a laugh. She doesn't know what came over her tonight. Maybe it was her anger towards Ricky, or the absurd amount of liquor in her system. Either way, she was having a great time being a vixen. Nini removes Isaac's hands from her and spins on her heels to face him.

"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom real quick."

He nods. "Okay, don't keep me waiting too long." He winks and pats her ass.

Nini gives him a flirty expression before sashaying to the hall Ricky went to. She searched for her friend in the busy halls, but it was hard due to all the costumes getting in her line of sight. All of a sudden, she feels someone grab her hand. She was about to smack whoever it was, but she stopped when she realized it was exactly who she was looking for.

"Having a good time?" She says mockingly.

"Fuck you."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

He takes a moment to ogle her outfit, which only makes her smile bigger. Judging by the way his eyes were red and his breath smelt like liquor, he was just as tipsy as her. He doesn't warn her as he drags her outside where it was a little cooler. The music could still be heard from outside, so he took advantage of that. He pulls Nini to his chest and wraps his arms around her waist. He rested his forehead on hers while his hands trailed up and down her sides.

"You've won, okay?"

"Won what?"

"This little thing you're doing to get me jealous for bailing on you. I get it; you're mad at me. I'm really sorry."

She makes a smug grin. "That's exceedingly vain of you to assume I only came here with a hot guy to make you jealous."

His smirk matched hers. "Speaking of the lover boy, where is he?"

"Waiting for me on the dance floor."

"What lame ass excuse did you give him to come follow me?"

"Who says I lied to him to come follow you? God, when did you get so full of yourself, Richard?"

He gave her a knowing look. "Come on, Nini."

When she gets annoyed by his stern look, she sighs and rolls her eyes. "I told him I was in the bathroom."

Ricky snorts. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

Nini spins herself around and rubs her ass on him. He groans and grabs her hips. "What did you tell Lily?"

"I told her I needed to cool down. I technically wasn't lying."

"You call this cooling down?" She rubs her ass on his evident hard-on, making him accidentally deepen his nails into her hip. Not like she minded.

"You're driving me fucking crazy, Neens."

"But I'm not doing anything." She says in a faux innocent tone as she grinds against him to the rhythm.

"Neens, I swear to god."

"I've barely touched you, and you're basically foaming at the mouth."

He pushes her hair to one side so he can plant a kiss on her shoulder, making a shiver go down her spine.

"Can you blame me?"

She began continuously grinding against him, and he swore he'd lose his composure if she continued.

"Neens, if you keep doing that—"

She doesn't let him finish his sentence as she makes eye contact with him and moves his hands up right under her breasts. He was about to grab them, but she smirks before parting herself from him. She takes one of his fingers and slowly begins sucking on them before releasing it from her mouth with a pop.

Yeah, he's not gonna let this extremely painful teasing slide.

He grabs her hand and begins dragging her back inside. He goes to the quieter hall and opens the first door he spots. Luckily, it was a vacant and spacious closet, which was rare to find in a building full of horny ass 20-something-year old's. The second Ricky closed the door behind him, he pinned Nini against it.

She was thrown off but smiled. "Someone's feeling risqué."

He picks her up and places her over his hips while she's still pinned against the door. Her legs wrapped around him securely while her arms wrapped around his neck. She rolls up her dress so she can be more comfortable and so that the friction of them grinding against one another would feel better.

He roams his hand up and down her thigh as he sucks her neck. "You bring it out in me."

She closes her eyes from bliss as he grinds his hard-on on her wet panties. She was tempted to demand him to rip her constricting thong off and ravish her already, but she did not want her first time with him to be in a closet of some dusty fraternity.