Make You Happy - a Rina story

Rose's thorns

Nini stepped out of Salt Lake Slices and called Ricky.  ,,Hey Ricky. Are you home right now?" ,,Nini! Yes, I'm home." ,,Okay, I'm coming over." ,,Great, can't wait!" Nini hung up. Time to set thing straight.

She knocked on Ricky's door. He opened them almost instantly. He greeted her with a kiss and invited her in. They went into his bedroom, where she made herself comfortable on his bed, not even taking off her jacket. ,,I'm so happy to see you." Ricky sat down beside her. Nini nodded with her lips curled to the side. ,,I need to talk to you." she said. ,,Oh no, that sound serious." Ricky tried to joke around. ,,It is." Ricky stopped smiling. ,,I want you to know that I love you very much and I am glad we got back together, but this isn't working." Ricky's face was emotionless. ,,Are you-" he began to speak. ,,Let me finish." Nini shushed him. Ricky held up his hands to show he was sorry. ,,I want more space. I like hanging out with you, I really do, but I also need time for myself." Nini took a deep breath. ,,And this, right now, doesn't allow me to get any. You didn't even let me spend time with Kourtney today. We were literally talking for an hour. Only an hour! I spend the rest of my day with you. Why are you so pushy?" Nini was getting worked up. After her last words Ricky's expression changed from hurt to frowning. ,,How am I being pushy?" ,,You texted me about thirty times and you still had to facetime me twice. Once again I feel obligated to remind you that all this has happened during one hour. Do you think that's normal?" ,,Oh, so according to you, I'm not normal?" ,,I didn't say that. I'm just saying you need to give me some space!" ,,Fine, I will give you space." Ricky calmed down. ,,I'm sorry." he added and looked down at his feet. ,,It's okay." Nini got closer to him and pat him on the shoulder. ,,I'm glad you understand." Ricky gave her a weak smile. They sat there for in silence for a few minutes. After a while they started talking about school, homework and other things in their lives, pretending as if the previous conversation never happened.

Meanwhile, Gina was sitting at a park, thinking about everything that has happened lately. Sure, Ricky might have misunderstood what she said - even though she sincerely doubts that - but why did he stop caring? Why doesn't he see she needs him? Ever since he got back with Nini, he's been very distant. Almost as if nobody else mattered anymore. ,,Oh hey Gina, didn't expect to see you here." a voice interrupted her thoughts. ,,EJ. Hi." she smiled. ,,Is that seat taken?" ,,No, not at all. Come, sit." she tossed her head in direction of the free seat. EJ sat down. ,,How have you been holding up?" he asked her. ,,Me? What do you mean?" she looked at him confused. ,,Well, you moved in with Ash, your mother is in a different state and you seemed kind of down at Carlos' party." ,,Oh. You noticed that." she looked away. ,,Of course, it was hard to miss." ,,I'm doing okay, thanks for asking." she turned her head back to face him. ,,I'm glad to hear that. That is, if okay really means okay." he laughed. ,,Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" EJ asked genuinely. ,,There is one thing that I've been dying to do." Gina smirked.

,,I thought we would go jump off an airplane or something." EJ licked his ice-cream. ,,A girl needs to take a break from being this awesome all the time." Gina laughed. Her and EJ went to get some ice-cream from an ice-cream truck parked nearby the park. They continued to talk about the most random things and shared many laughs together. This is exactly what she needed. A break, something normal. To spend some quality time with a friend. Even though their friendship started off in a weird, kind of twisted way, they still bonded in the end. Gina found herself another friend, who would have her back. Someone who wanted to spend time with her, someone who cared. Unlike... somebody else. Gina sighed. ,,What's wrong?" EJ asked. ,,Nothing, sorry. I just remembered something that's not exactly pleasant to think about." ,,Want to talk about it?" ,,Not really. I should get going, though. It's getting late." EJ agreed and they walked back to Ashlyn's house. ,,Thank you for today. I had so much fun." Gina looked at EJ. ,,I had fun, too." he smiled. ,,I'll see you tomorrow then?" ,,Yeah, see you tomorrow."

The next day in school felt different. Gina enjoyed spending some more time with her friends. It was definitely more fun to have someone to talk to during breaks and to not be alone all the time. She hasn't seen Ricky for most of the day, but she didn't mind. He wasn't her priority anymore. Just as she thought that, she saw Nini walking down the hall alone, holding onto her backpack, looking at the ground. Her and Ricky are usually glued together every time she gets to see them. Is he absent or something? Gina decided to talk to Nini. She walked up to her and greeted her, which surprised Nini a little bit. ,,Gina. Wow. Hello." ,,Why didn't you join us?" ,,Join who?" ,,The crew. We were all gathered up together during the break." ,,I didn't feel like it I suppose." Nini walked up to her locker and started stuffing her things inside. She looked a little angry. Gina leaned on the locker right next to Nini's. ,,Are you okay?" Gina asked her. ,,Yes, I'm fine." Nini shut the door of her locker with a bang. ,,I don't think you're fine but I'll leave you to it. Just remember you can talk to me if you'd like." Gina suggested. ,,Thanks. It's nothing, I'll get over it." ,,If you say so." Gina straightened up. ,,Gotta get to class. I'll see you around." she walked away. Nini watched her for a moment, then headed to class as well.