Ethereal Love

It's You & Me... Always

"Ricky?" Nini's voice was soft, and he could tell she was fighting back tears. But still, he couldn't open his mouth; couldn't respond.

"Ricky, I'm really sorry. I don't know how this even happened, but-"

"Are you sure?" he finally managed to choke out. She bit her lip, finally meeting his eyes, and nodded. He sighed heavily.

"I am so sorry, Ricky, I never meant-" Ricky cut her off, incredulous.

"Nini, don't apologize! This is as much my fault as yours, if not more." He smiled a little reassuringly. She just grimaced.

"I don't know how it happened, though. We always used a condom. Always!" she was sobbing now, body shaking, and Ricky reached over to wrap his arms around her and pull her onto his lap.

"Hey, Neens, calm down. It's okay. We'll figure this out." He whispered soothingly. She shook harder and he clutched her tighter.

"I just don't get it!" she wailed. He shrugged.

"Condoms are only 99% effective. I guess we're that unlucky 1%. Do you... do you know how far along you are?" he asked. She nodded.

"About four weeks, I think. I have to go to the clinic, though, to check that everything is okay." She stopped crying, and he wiped her eyes.

"And you're keeping it, right?" he asked. She sighed loudly, shoulders drooping, and shrugged.

"I don't know, to be honest. I mean, there's no way I'm getting an abortion. It was our mistake and I'm not destroying a life because we screwed up. But I'm only seventeen, Ricky. I can't have a child." She gasped, reality seemed to hit her. Hard. He winced at the look of despair on her face and rubbed her back.

"Look, Nini, I know this is scary. Fuck, it's terrifying. But it's happening. And we'll get through it, you and me. Together. Okay?" he looked her in the eyes, completely serious. She nodded once, and then burst into a fresh round of tears. She felt terrible; she'd been expecting the worst. She'd been waiting for him to shout, yell, dump her, and accuse her of cheating on him. She should have known that he'd be like this. And she felt like a terrible person for expecting the worst.

"Nini, Nini it's okay! What's wrong now?" he asked, brow furrowed in concern. She laughed a little cynically.

"I was so scared, Ricky. So worried that you would break up with me or get angry and hate me. And that's so not fair on you, because you're an amazing person and I should have known that you'd be amazing about it." She buried her head in his shoulder and he chuckled a little softly.

"Don't feel bad Nini. Most guys would have been like that. I'm not offended that you'd think that. I'm a little sad, admittedly, that you were so afraid to tell me. But I know this is a huge deal. I totally understand why you would be scared." He kissed her on the top of her head and she smiled softly into his tear-stained shirt.

"I love you, Richard Bowen." She breathed.

"I love you too, Nina Salazar-Roberts. So... who else knows?" he asked. She took a deep breath and sat up to look him in the eyes.

"Kourt knows; I wasn't planning to tell her, but then we were talking this morning and I couldn't keep it to myself. She's the one that convinced me to tell you, actually. I'm sorry I didn't tell you first, though. But you and Kourtney are the only people that know. I didn't even tell Gina." She admitted. Ricky's eyes widened.

"How long have you known?"

"Well, I only took the test yesterday evening. I bought it when I went into the store yesterday, when you waited in the car with my mom. But I've suspected for a week or so; my period was due a while ago, and when it still hadn't come by Saturday I knew I had to take a test. I've always been regular; never late or early. Not once. And I just... I think I kind of knew. Like, I had this feeling that there was something different about my body." She explained. He frowned.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with all that alone, Nini. I should have realized..." he trailed off, and she scoffed.

"Don't you dare blame yourself for that, Ricky. There was no way you could have known unless I had told you. I chose to keep it to myself. And honestly, I was fine until I found out that I was right." Her breath hitched and she started crying again. He kept his arms around her, muttering things into her ear until she calmed down again. Eventually, she pulled away again and smiled at him.

"Ricky, do you mind missing a few days of school?" she asked. He looked puzzled by the sudden change of topic, but shook his head.

"No, not really. Why?"

"Because I think I need to go see my mom."
________________________________
❤️