Make You Happy - a Rina story

Misleading feelings

,,Yeah." Gina nodded. They walked to EJ's car and he drove her home. When they got to Ashlyn's house, he walked her to the front door.

,,I'll see you tomorrow then." he smiled.

,,That you will." she said, pausing for a second to look at him properly. He turned around to leave but her words stopped him: ,,Wait, I need to tell you something."

,,What's up?" he faced her again.

,,I, uh. I'm not good at this emotional stuff so I'm just going to say it."

EJ slightly raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything and waited patiently for her to speak.

,,I like you. The past few weeks we've spent together have been great, you've been great and I, um, I guess I wanted to put that out there." she said as quickly as she could. EJ looked frozen for a second, which made her even more nervous. So much so she started stepping in place.

,,Look, Gina," EJ finally spoke, ,,don't take this the wrong way, but I don't like you in that way?"

Gina stopped her stepping, her heart sank.

,,If it will make you feel any better, I thought I do like you, even a week ago. But, after giving it some thought, I've realized I've never had a girl friend who I'd spend so much time with. Plus, most of my friends abandoned me. I don't blame them, I've been way too focused on myself. You helped me realize that life is not just about me, it's about other people as well, and that's what makes you so likable. You're an amazing person, Gina, but I don't think either of us sees the other in a romantic way. We might think we do, but I honestly feel like we should just stay friends." EJ's words calmed her nerves a little, yet she still felt like an idiot.

,,It's fine, my confessions never go right anyway." she half-whispered, her voice breaking mid-sentence.

,,Hold on, what do you mean? Who have you confessed to besides me?" EJ got curious.

,,Doesn't matter. Thank you for being straightforward with me."

,,No problem. I do think both of us will find great partners some day, but the two of us isn't it."

She smiled.

,,If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm still your guy, okay?"

,,Okay."

,,Good. Now go get some sleep." he pulled her in for a hug. She gave in, hugging him back, enjoying the comfortable embrace. Maybe they really should stay friends and nothing more.

,,I'm fine, dude. Thanks." Ricky reassured Big Red for what felt like the fiftieth time today. Big Red, like the great friend he was, wouldn't leave his side the entire time they were in school. Excluding classes, of course.

,,Fine, but you can text me if you'll need anything." Big Red said as they split up before the next period. Ricky gave out a soft chuckle and shook his head.

,,I will, thanks. You can stop worrying now."

He headed to class where he sank on his seat. As he almost hid himself behind his desk, he saw Gina running in the hallway, passing his class' door. Gina being late for something? That's new.

,,Hey, late runner." he grinned as he approached her at lunch. She looked up and jumped back as if she had a mini heart attack.

,,Saw you running late for class today. What's up with that?" he chuckled. Gina narrowed her eyes, searching him top to bottom with her eyes.

,,Slept through my alarm." she said with a tone so neutral Ricky got chills.

,,Okay. I can tell when I'm not wanted." he put his lips together and walked to a different table, Gina's following gaze going unnoticed.

,,Yo, do you know what's up with Gina?" he asked Big Red as he sat down.

,,What should be up? Did something happen?"

,,I don't know. She's been ignoring me ever since Carlos' surprise birthday party? She didn't want to pair up with me during the improv exercises and now it seems she doesn't want to talk to me either. Have I done something wrong?"

,,You probably have, dude. But, like I told you already, I'm just as lost as you are when it comes to girls and relationships."

,,What does this have to do with relationships?" Ricky furrowed his eyebrows.

,,I was just- I meant- Nothing." Big Red couldn't find the right words, he wasn't quite sure what he meant himself.

,,Okay, so we have no idea what I've done. How do I make her talk to me again?"

,,Get locked in a room with her or something?"

,,Dude-"

,,Wait, bad idea, isn't it? Let's forget about that." Big Red shook his head. ,,How about you try to approach her during or after rehearsals? Maybe she'll be a bit more open then."

,,Yeah, that's a better idea." Ricky said, still thinking about what his friend came up with a few second prior.

,,Gina." Ricky tried approaching her once again during rehearsals. They were almost over, so Miss Jenn couldn't rebuke them.

,,Ricky." she replied, obviously not happy he has approached her.

,,Can we put whatever has happened behind us?" he said, surprising her. Her eyes widened for a second before she retreated to her poker face again.

,,I don't know what I've done, but I don't want us to be on bad terms." he continued. Gina's facade started crumbling down.

,,Honestly, it's a little too late for that, don't you think?" she said, tears slowly forming in her eyes.

,,Gina, what's going on? Tell me, please?" Ricky got frustrated, seeing the sadness in her eyes.

,,No-" she whispered. She could feel her voice cracking again, so she shook her head instead. She closed her eyes and gulped. After opening them again, she walked past Ricky and walked as fast as she could to the girl's bathroom. Ricky's heart broke when he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, but he didn't want to chase after her and make things even worse than they already were. He looked at the crew and realized everyone is looking at him. Did they see Gina crying?

,,Where did Gina go?" Ashlyn asked.

,,She- She forgot her water bottle in the bathroom and got thirsty." he lied. He thought everyone would see right through him, but they surprisingly bought it.