common sense • rini/jolivia one shots

champagne problems

the night skyline of New York flies past as the Amtrak train moves on the tracks. Ricky sighs at the sight, his head dropping to look at his lap, his fingers holding the old high school yearbook photo of his girlfriend...ex girlfriend.

things changed so quickly between them. he woke up this morning, fully in love with the beautiful brunette he'd known his whole life, now he was here; broken and riding the night train across the country back to Utah.

a tear slips down his cheek as he tucks the faded picture back into his wallet, putting it back in his pocket, that's when he feels the box. he pulls it out, flipping the lid of the velvet box.

the oval diamond shined brightly even in the dim lights of the train car. the cold band was cold in his fingers. he loved that ring growing up. it was his grandmas before it became his mother's. he hoped one day to pass it to the love of his life, the girl he always thought he'd marry.

"what the fuck went wrong?" Ricky mumbles to himself as he tucks the ring back into the box.

her long hair fanned around her as he spun her, the flute of champagne in her hand sloshing a little bit. they usually hated the stupid fancy events that her work invited her to but this once happened to have bottomless champagne and a private balcony where they could sneak away.

she folds herself into his chest, her palm resting over his heart, "i love you."

Ricky grins brightly, dropping a kiss to her forehead, "i love you more than anything Nini."

she leans up on her tip toes, pressing a languid kiss to his lips. they're both a little redder when they pull away, they pretend it's cause of the heat in the spring air but they know that's a lie.

Nini pulls herself away from him to lean over the balcony, sipping from her glass. he can't help but decide he could look at her like this for the rest of his life. he pats his pants pocket, feeling the tiny ring sitting there, put there before they left the apartment earlier that night. he pulls the golden ring out and places it in his palm before clearing his throat.

"Nini, baby?"

"hmm?"

she turns and gasps a little when she sees him standing, holding the sparkly ring in between his fingers.

"do you wanna marry me?"

the glass slips from her hand at his words, shattering all over the concrete balcony, the champagne splashing onto her legs a little. she breathes heavily as she looks at him.

his eyes soften a little in worry, "honey?"

her head is shaking before she can even stop herself, "Ricky..."

he nods a little to himself, seemingly knowing her answer without her having to say it, "that's a no, isn't it?"

"Ricky...i-i do-don't know."

he tries to ignore the tears filling his eyes, "don't you love me?"

"god Ricky, of course i do." she says, coming to stand in front of him, "i just-i don't know if...marriage is a big commitment."

he scoffs a little bit as tears start to slip down his cheeks, "we've been living together for the last six years. i moved to New York for you. is that not enough for you to marry me?"

"i'm not saying no, i'm saying i don't know."

he tucks the ring back in his pocket, wiping his tears as he distances himself from her, "Nini, we've been dating since we were 15. if you don't want to marry me then just tell me."