Ethereal Love

Rumor Has It

Things were okay for a few weeks. Well, as okay as they can be when you're in love with a girl who won't even admit she has anything to do with you. In many ways, it was easy to keep up the pretence. Even before, the two of them had never really spoken much, not even to argue. It was universally acknowledged that Nina Salazar-Roberts and Ricky Bowen did not get on, and if they had the occasional insult-trading match or people caught one of them glaring at the other angrily, it was whatever.

And if any rumours circulated about one of them, it was almost always assumed that it was the other that started it.

Which was why it was such a shock to everyone when the rumours that the two of them were having sex started up.

At first, neither of them had any idea. They both experienced some odd looks, but had no reason to assume it was anything big. But then it got worse, and every time they were near each other it was like everyone was talking but at the same time it was silent.

Eventually, the rumours got back to Kourtney, who decided to confront Nini in a very public setting.

The middle of the cafeteria.

"Neeners, have you heard these rumours?" she half-yelled, shock and suspicion written all over her face. Nini wasn't too taken aback; from people's behavior she'd gathered that something was going around. She just couldn't really be bothered to care that much.

"No, actually, I haven't. What are people saying this time?" she half-smiled to let her friend know that she wasn't worried. Kourtney looked a little relieved and her mouth twisted disgustedly.

"People actually think you've got something going on with Ricky Bowen." She mock-whispered. Nini's eyes widened and she looked around, instinct making her search for her curly-headed boyfriend. For a moment she thought he wasn't there, but the she noticed everyone seemed to be looking between her and the entrance, and sure enough, he was stood there looking just as shocked as she did. Their gazes met and she silently pleaded with him for help. He just shrugged, almost imperceptibly, and she took a deep breath and looked back at Kourt.

"So what if I was?" she asked, expression stony. Kourt gasped, hand flying up to cover her mouth comically.

"Nini! He's, like, the biggest loser at East High!"

"Yeah, and whose fault is that?" she asked, rolling her eyes when Kourt just looked blank. "Mine, Kourt! It's my fault! Sure, he's a bit of a geek, but let's be honest. If I hadn't had a stupid thing against him all these years, he wouldn't be such a loser. People might actually treat him as an equal." She shrugged. Everyone was silent.

"So... you are sleeping with him?" Kourt asked, eyebrows raised. Nini sighed, thinking quickly. If she admitted it, she had no idea what the consequences would be. And that scared the shit out of her. But how could she deny it now, after what she'd said?

"I'm not confirming it, and I'm not denying it. I'm just saying that I'm sick of pretending like I'm better than him, or anyone else. The truth is, everyone at this school is equal. You get that? We're all equal. And we all have lives to get on with. Why should everyone get to know about my personal life? Just because I'm popular? Sorry, but someone taught me this summer that I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not anymore. I'm not going to answer your question, Kourtney. You're supposed to be my best friend, yet you pull me up in front of everyone to ask me? You of all people know how private I am about relationships. What kind of friend does that?" she didn't look angry, although her words could be interpreted as such. She just looked disappointed, and she could tell she'd made Kourt feel bad. Everyone was still silent, and stayed that way as she turned and walked out of the cafeteria, brushing past Ricky as she left.

Ricky considered following her, but he was still confused and knew that if he did, people would guess the truth and obviously she still didn't want them to be public. So he sighed, ignoring all the inquisitive stares, and made his way to the back of the lunch queue to get his food.

LINE BREAK

"You were amazing today, Neens." Nini jumped a little, surprised to hear her boyfriend's voice in her bedroom. She was worried he'd be angry with her, since she hadn't been honest. But when she turned to look at him, he was beaming, full of pride.

"I didn't tell the truth though. I'm sorry." She apologized, saddened. Ricky frowned.

"You don't need to apologize, Nini. We had an agreement that we'd keep it a secret; I have no right to be angry with you for not telling everyone. In fact, I was kind of expecting you to laugh, make me look like a fool. What you did... you were really mature about it. And it was incredibly sexy." He winked. She chuckled, but still looked sad.

"I'm glad you're not hurt. But honestly, I feel like I owe it to you to come clean. You've been amazing, and I feel like I'm just...playing with you." She sighed. He raised an eyebrow.

"You can play with me all you want. I don't mind. Honest." He grinned. She slapped his arm, laughing.

"God, you're such a guy. You don't have to make everything sexual." She muttered. He chuckled and dropped a kiss on her cheek, before lying down on the bed and pulling her down beside him, an arm around her shoulders.

"Seriously, though. I know you have your reasons, and I understand. Yeah, I wish you would tell people. But only because I want to be able to kiss you in school. I want to be able to walk you to lessons, to yell at any guy who even attempts to come onto you. I want to be able to tell people that you're mine, and that I'm yours." He told her, rubbing soothing circles on her shoulder with the pad of his thumb. She smiled, tearing up slightly.

"Can you believe this?" she choked out, astounded as realization finally hit her.

"Believe what?"

"That after all those years of us being, like, mortal enemies or whatever, we're actually lying here, on my bed, completely in love?" she laughed, a little freaked out by the enormity of their situation. She felt him shrug.

"It is pretty hard to believe. Which is why I kind of feel like, maybe... maybe we always liked each other. I mean, I know I always liked you. But maybe it was more mutual than we thought." He said, voice lower than usual. He was a little worried about how Nini might react to his theory. She was quiet for a minute.

"I think... I think you're right. I mean, I always thought my feelings for you were simply hate, but looking back... it's conceivable that there was some attraction mixed in there. Like, I always felt a little nervous when it came to our birthday and we'd have to get up there together. I always told Kourt that I hated being near you, acknowledging that we had something in common. But thinking about it...that doesn't really explain it. If I hated you, why would you make me feel nervous?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I think we were both very mixed up emotionally. But we're together now, right? That's all that matters, to me anyway." He said, his voice soft. They were both drifting into sleep, warm and comfortable in each other's arms. With one last yawn, Nini grunted in agreement and then wriggled closer to him.

They were asleep within minutes.

And they didn't wake up until Nini's mom yelled at them from the doorway.
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