Ethereal Love

The Unexpected

The next day, Ricky was slightly put out to receive a text from Nini telling him not to bother picking her up that morning since she was walking with Kourt. He was glad, however, that she was going to spend at least a little time with her friend. Kourtney might only know Nini for who she pretends to be, but they had still been friends for years and he knew it would tear Nini up if she lost her.

When he got to school, things seemed a little different. For one, some of the girls that follow Nini around and call themselves her 'friends', (although they probably don't even know her last name), didn't ignore him or shoot him filthy looks as he passed them like they used to. Instead, some of them smiled at him, others calling 'Hi, Ricky' and giggling obnoxiously when he nodded at them in response. Truthfully, he only did that because he was too shocked to think straight.

He made his way to homeroom, surprised to see Nini wasn't in her seat. He'd arrived just on the bell, and Nini hadn't been late to a class since the start of the semester. Not a class that he was in, anyway.

The teacher, a substitute today, stared calling names out and Nini walked in, Kourt trailing behind, just in time to respond to her own. The sub rolled her eyes but ignore their lateness.

Ricky caught Nini's gaze and smiled slightly at her. She looked back at him for a moment, frowning, then looked away quickly and walked  quickly over to her seat. Kourt shot him a glance, and there was something in her expression, but she was looking away before he had figured out what it was.

By the time the bell rang for lunchtime, he was sufficiently freaked out by his apparent new-found popularity and went looking for Nini, hoping she'd have some answers.

He found her just leaving the girls bathroom, and she grinned at him, face lighting up, before composing herself and then she had a strange look on her face. Almost like she was dreading this moment.

"Nini, can I talk to you? Please?" he smiled at her, not even trying to cover up his feelings. She nodded reluctantly, following him outside, ignoring the watchful eyes of their peers.

He took her to the field outside the cafeteria and took a seat at an empty bench, away from most of the other people with them. She sat down opposite him, twiddling her thumbs. He frowned, confused. She seemed almost...nervous. But what reason she would have to be nervous around him he couldn't fathom.

"Neens, are you okay?" he asked. She glanced up at him, smiling slightly, but he could tell she was worried about something.

"I'm fine, Ricky. It was you that wanted to talk to me, remember?" she muttered in response, refusing to meet his gaze. He nodded, reminded of what he wanted to ask her about.

"Have you... have you said anything to anyone?" he asked. She raised her eyebrows, looking blank.

"About what?"

"About us, or me..."

"Well, I told Kourtney everything this morning. But other than her... I don't think so, why?"

"Because all of a sudden people are acting...weird. Like, I'm not a social outcast. Girls smile at me in the hallway, and say hey. Guys aren't laughing at me anymore. And for the first time since I started High School, I've actually had somebody sit by me in every class so far today." He explained. Nini laughed at his small joke, but her heart wasn't in it. Then again, neither was his.

"I guess those things I said on Friday made an impact on people." She shrugged. He smiled, a little relieved although he wasn't sure why.

"So that's it? People don't know about us?" he asked.

"Well, not officially. I still haven't confirmed or denied it. But, I don't know, I guess people must have their suspicions after Friday."

"Yeah, I suppose." He sighed, and they drifted into silence. For the first time in a while, however, they didn't feel comfortable. After a few awkward minutes, Ricky couldn't take it anymore.