Ethereal Love

What Should We Do? (Pt. 1)

By the time Monday rolled around, Nini still hadn't heard a word from Ricky. She almost decided against going to school but, as her mom was quick to point out, she had to face Ricky at some point. He was the father of her child; she couldn't avoid him forever.

Groaning and flapping her arm around wildly in search of the alarm clock, Nini opened her eyes and blinked, trying to talk herself into getting out of bed. Eventually, she managed to get up and wander into the bathroom to shower and get dressed, pack her bag and make her way downstairs. Her parents were in the kitchen, talking quietly, but they stopped and smiled at her when she walked in.

"I'm going to school." She told them, opening the pantry to grab the oatmeal and start making herself a bowl. Carol nodded, smiling, but Dana frowned.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" She asked, concerned. Nini and Carol both rolled their eyes.

"Mom, I'm not disabled." Nini sighed.

"Yes, well, are you sure you feel alright to go back to school?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I wasn't even sick this morning." She shrugged. Dana still looked dubious, but nodded her consent.

"Alright then, if you're sure. But be careful, Nini."

"I will, don't worry. Oh, and mama D?"

"Yeah?"

"You know my, um... my Tesla?" she asked, glancing at her mother worriedly. Sure enough, Carol's eyes widened and she glared at Dana, then at Nini, then back at Dana.

"You bought her a car?" she asked her ex-wife disbelievingly. Before she could answer, she whirled on Nini. "You can drive?"

"Um, no. I can't." Nini muttered, embarrassed. Carol looked even more surprised as she turned back to Dana.

"So you bought her a Tesla and she can't even drive?"

"That was what she wanted." She shrugged, defending herself. Carol rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath. "Don't start on me about my parenting skills, Carol." Her voice was harsh and they briefly made eye contact. Carol pursed her lips, nodding. Nini was appalled.

"Sorry. You're right. I have no right." Carol murmured, blinking rapidly as she fought back tears.

"Well, anyways... I want you to sell the car, mom. I'll use the money to help pay for baby stuff." She instructed her mom, before storming out of the room. Her parents made eye contact.

"She really wanted that car, Carol. I didn't just buy it because I wanted her to shut up; that was what she really wanted. She's paying for her own driving lessons, which she was going to start in a couple of months. Not anymore, obviously."

"I'm sorry, I assumed-"

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to your daughter." She said sadly, before walking out of the kitchen and upstairs. Carol sat back down and rested her head in her hands.

LINE BREAK

When Nini got to school she only had a couple of minutes before homeroom, so she hurried down the halls towards her classroom. She slid through the door just as Miss Jenn started calling out names. The two smiled at each other before Nini hurried to take her seat, fighting the urge to look around for Ricky. She was listening to the names being called, waiting for Ricky's, so intently that Miss Jenn had to repeat 'Nina Salazar-Roberts' three times before she responded, cheeks flaming. Eventually, she reached Ricky's name, and Nini held her breath. There was a moment's pause as the teacher glanced around, and then she sighed and went on to the next name.