𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲 [ 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗮𝘂 ]

telling myself .44

ricky and nini laid in bed. the girl just finished crying as she was cuddled into ricky's arm. she laid her head on his chest as she traced random words and drawings on his chest. ricky rubbed nini's back up and down while the tv played in the background, "sorry for crying so much," nini finally said, breaking the silence.

ricky shook his head, "you don't have to be sorry about anything. you have every right to feel this way, neens," ricky comforted the girl. she nodded her head with understanding and sat up, "what's on your mind?"

"ricky...i don't wanna go back," the girl confessed, "i know i probably should but i just don't want this life anymore... i don't really know what i'm gonna do but i'll figure it out. i think it'll be best if you go back though. you got your whole career ahead of you. don't let me ruin this for you."

ricky gave nini a confused look and shook his head, "i'm not gonna leave you here, nini. everything is all fucked up down there anyways. there's no point in going back."

"you have everything back in new york. your career, friends, family — i can't stop you from having all that. besides, i know you want it. the only reason you're here is because of me."

"exactly! and if i don't have you down there then what's the point?"

"i'm not letting you stay here with me, ricky."

"i'm not asking for your permission," ricky answered back. before nini could say anything, a knock interrupted their conversation. ricky and nini instantly looked at the door and felt a lump go down their throats, "who is that?"

ricky started to get up from the bed before nini yanked him back down, "don't answer it!" the girl whispered to him. before ricky could argue with the girl again, there was another aggressive knock on the door.

"police! open up!" the two kids heard through the door. nini felt her heart start to beat faster as her mind scrambled. ricky looked at nini, waiting for a signal or a direction on what to do but the girl was as frantic as he was.

"ricky, nini! it's time to come home now," they heard ivan yell through the door, "open the door so we don't have to make things difficult." ricky looked over at nini again. she started to back away from the door and into the corner of the room. she had tears running down her face as she repeatedly shook her head.

"i don't—i don't want to," she cried while she stuck herself in the corner of the room. ricky looked at nini and felt his heart sink to his chest. the boy grabbed nini and pulled her into the closet.

"just wait here and be quiet, okay?" ricky whispered to the girl as she sat on the floor. nini gave him a confused look while ricky felt tears start to fill up his eyes, "you just ... you gotta be quiet, okay baby?"

"ricky... what are you—"

"i love you, alright?"  ricky told her. he grabbed the back of nini's head and gave her a longing kiss on the forehead. he gave her one last look before shutting the door. nini sat still. she held in her breath as she heard ricky walk over to the door and open it. soon enough, footsteps emerged into the room.

"richard bowen?" a man said as he looked at the boy. ricky looked at the two cops in front of him that were standing alongside to ivan. the boy was nervous he just nodded his head and dug his hands in his pocket, "yes ... that's me.."

ivan looked around the room then back at ricky with annoyance, "alright, cut the shit, ricky. where's nini?"

the girl felt her heart sink from her chest as she heard ivan call out her name. ricky felt his heart start to beat faster but tried to keep his cool as best as she can, "i don't know where nini is, alright? it's just me here."

"bullshit. nini's so-called "father" called the police and said that the both of you showed up to his house," ivan argued back with ricky. the boy fell silent and looked at the cops. before ricky could do anything, they pushed him to the side and started to walk around the room looking for the girl. she felt her heart beating faster as she heard them get closer and closer to the closet door.

"she's not in here! she ran away again," ricky tried to say but they only ignored the boy. soon enough, nini's moms and benjamin showed up to the door with another cop. ricky looked at at her moms and ivan then back at benjamin, "benjamin .. don't."

all of a sudden, ricky heard nini start to scream. he turned around to see the cops pulling nini up from the floor as she kicked and cried at the top of her lungs. ricky felt his heart sink and tried to run up there and grab her but ivan and the other cop held ricky back.

"NO! NO! NO! i don't wanna go— PLEASE! RICKY HELP! please, i don't wanna go! LET GO!" nini cried as both of the officers held her up and brought her to her parents. they were basically dragging her away from ricky and the apartment as she cried and screamed as hard as she can. the girl tried to reach out for ricky but they only pulled her back more, "mama! mama! MAMA! i don't wanna go!! please!! BENJAMIN PLEASE!"

"she's 18! she doesn't have to follow her parents!!" ricky argued as nini's screams got quieter the more further away the cops took her away. he looked to the benjamin or some help but the man just kept his eyes glued to the floor.

"she's unstable and isn't in the right state of mind," mama dee stated, "we'll take care of nini from now on."

"NO! YOU WON'T!" ricky yelled but ivan and the cop just held the boy back, "she doesn't want to live you guys anymore. she doesn't wanna be famous anymore! just let her go!"

"nini, doesn't know what she wants. she never does," mama carol said as they started to leave the room, "now, you're not allowed to be around her anymore unless you both are filming. everything from now on is strictly business. do you understand that richard?"

"i'm not staying away from nini."

"you either keep your distance from my daughter now or never see her ever again," mama carol told the boy. ricky felt his body tense up but stayed silent, "your choice."