𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 [a rini au]

one hundred and twenty

the night shift on friday's was typically chaotic, customers consisting of mostly high school and college students grabbing dinner and dessert after late night meetings or sports games. nina was running around between the floor and counter, replaying orders in her mind and balancing milkshakes on her server's platter. she barely had time during her break to eat her delectable dinner of grilled cheese and fries that her boss treated her to. when midnight finally rolled around, nina was beyond relieved to have a new worker pick up where she would be leaving off.

the girl parked in the back of the diner for the night. she normally didn't like to because of its sketchy appearance, especially in the dark, but she didn't plan on hanging around. already wiped from the stress of her day and her shift, nina was planning to hop in her car, lock the doors, and speed off to her bed at home. after using the restroom briefly, she bid the cooks and other waiters adieu as she disappeared into one of the diner's hallways that connected to the back entrance. clutching her phone tightly, she put a hip to the door and pushed it outwards, the warmer spring air hitting her with one giant gust. with her eyes previously on the pavement beneath her as she stepped down the two little stairs to the parking lot, nina wouldn't have noticed the surprise waiting for her if it hadn't said anything. well, he.

"you told me to write a song for you."

nina froze, originally anticipating a predator to be standing there, ready to jump out and kidnap her. but, when she developed the courage to look at the owner of the voice, she realized she should've known who it was by their first word. her tired brown eyes rose from the ground and latched onto ricky bowen's, the boy miraculously standing only a few feet from her. he wore a blue baseball tee, hands shoved in his front jean pockets while his vans-covered feet tapped anxiously. nina didn't need him to elaborate on his opening statement, for her mind instantly flew back to the day they departed in salt lake city for the first time. she took herself back to when she was leaving his car in the east high parking lot, memories painting familiar and once bittersweet pictures in her brain.

"bye, nini," ricky settled on the easiest goodbye, reciprocating her smile. "have a milkshake for me."

nina airily giggled, bowing her head to avoid him seeing her blush. "as long as you write a song for me," she teased, eventually shutting the door and beginning her walk of shame back to her civic.

her lips pursed, a deep breath to accompany it, when she recalled her final words to the boy that day. "as long as you write a song for me." he had that joke over-interpreted in his back pocket all along. nina bit the inside of her cheek, arms falling limp at her side as her face softened. "what are you doing here?"

"i just want you to hear me out," ricky admitted, removing his hands from his pockets to show he had at least some confidence still left in himself.

nina's head started shaking, beginning slowly and then speeding up. her expression was distasteful, worrying ricky. "you don't get to do that," she almost whispered. "not now, not here, not ever."

"nini, you don't have to forgive me," he stepped closer to her, the girl retreating as he advanced. she had backed herself up the small stairs yet again until her back was against the cold, metal door. ricky stopped at the foot of the steps, which happened to actually make him eye level with her. he wore the most sympathetic face as he attempted to continue without losing her attention. "i'm so stupid. i'm just another idiot, nini. you were always right about us and what you deserve from me. i was blinded by my career, and i promise you that's not me. you know it's not. i just got caught up in all my new opportunities and it made me second guess the best thing that has ever happened to me."

without an objection from nina, only a vacant stare, ricky took a bigger breath before carrying on with waves of his hands for emphasis. "i didn't know how to cherish you. i've never had someone appreciate me, love me the way you did, even just platonically. it sent me spiraling, wondering if there was more out there when all i needed was right in front of me this whole time, just like it–she–is now.