Make You Happy - a Rina story

Seeing you

Gina took one last look back before heading out. The idea of having sleepovers was amazing and it was even working with Ashlyn, but this is not what she has expected. Did having fun mean discussing weird, uncomfortable topics and making somebody feel unwanted? Like they don't belong? Because that is what she was feeling right now.

Ricky put his jacket on and ran down the stairs. What was he thinking coming to this sleepover? He should have known better than to hang out with a bunch of theater kids. Maybe it has crossed his mind that he's a theater kid now as well, but after today? Ha, right. He was, is and always be a skater guy. The only reason he joined theater was Nini. Then he stayed for Gina and, he couldn't believe he was even thinking this, but the reason he auditioned for this musical was Mazzara. He wanted to take some responsibility and look where that got him. How did he even get the lead? It couldn't have been because of his chemistry with Ashlyn.

As he was watching lines on the pavement disappear, he looked up to see what's in front of him. On the other side of the road was a girl, coming towards him. She was also looking down while walking. She had her arms crossed, it looked like she was cold. He tried to see who she was, but she was too far away, so he carried on walking before he got close enough to see.

As they both got closer, the girl looked up as well.

,,Gina?" he said.

They were staring into each other's eyes.

He broke off the eye contact to look both ways before crossing the street and ran to the other side.

,,Are you cold?" he asked. It was the first thing that came to his mind.

,,Not exactly cold, but I should have put something on." she admitted. He immediately took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

,,You know what, I won't even protest right now. Left all my energy at home." she grabbed the jacket's sides, wrapping it tighter around her.

,,What happened at home?"

,,Eh, I don't want to talk about it."

,,What about you? Aren't you supposed to be at East High's theatre club wonderful guys-only sleepover, enjoying yourself?"

,,Guess I'm not a guy." he chuckled. He could see a tiny movement on Gina's lips, but she didn't laugh. At least he tried.

They were both looking down at their feet, neither of them knowing what to say next.

,,Wait... Are you talking to me now?" he asked.

,,You didn't leave me much of a choice." Gina said, still looking down.

,,Nini found out about the chocolates." he suddenly said, which made Gina look up.

,,She called me and the guys... let's say they didn't take it lightly." Ricky stopped himself. He wasn't sure if he wanted Gina to know about the exact word exchange that has happened.

,,That might have been my fault." Gina pressed her lips together. ,,I mentioned chocolates and Nini asked what it meant, so I explained what happened and she got mad I guess?" she shrugged with an apologetic expression.

,,I'm sorry, I had no idea she didn't know."

,,Yea, that's fine. I should have told her." he pauses. ,,But I didn't know it was anything significant, you know?"

,,Apparently, yeah."

,,Okay, I tried to avoid telling you this, but the guys said I've been leading you on. Is that true?" he asked. Gina couldn't help but gape at him before regaining herself.

,,Wow, what makes them say that?"

,,Apparently you wouldn't have thought that I could send you chocolates on Vday unless there was something going on. That's crazy, right? First, I didn't even send anything, and second, even if I did, it could have been a friendly gesture."

,,Yeah, except it wasn't." Ricky was looking at her with his typical clueless face. She rolled her eyes.

,,It wasn't a friendly gesture, because you never sent me any chocolates. And there was something going between us, wasn't there? At least I thought so. I told you how I feel and you tossed me away. I would be fine with it, by the way, if it wasn't for your other actions. Sure, you might have broken my heart when you got together with Nini, but do you know how hurt I was when you started ignoring me as a friend, too? Do you even realize you were the first person I've ever opened up to?"

Ricky was still staring at her.

,,No, you don't. You never do. Is it because you have no idea how emotions work or is it because you don't want to see it?" Gina was getting desperate. How hard is it to understand someone?

When Ricky didn't show any expressions, she turned on the spot and stormed off. Ricky wanted to run after her but he knew he had to think about what he's going to say next.

He found her sitting on a bench under a street lamp. She was resting her head on the bench and had her eyes closed.

,,Mind if I sit?"

She opened her eyes and looked at him with what seemed to be annoyance.

,,Sure." she closed her eyes again.

,,I didn't know you had feelings for me. I would have never lead you on, I swear." Ricky sat down. ,,I admit I am pretty hopeless when it comes to emotions, I guess that comes from my parents. Thinking about what happened between us now makes it all seem so obvious, but I promise I had no idea until now."

Gina opened her eyes again. ,,Yeah, you're a dummy when it comes to feelings." she smiled at him. He immediately smiled back.

,,Walk me home?" she asked.

,,Of course."

,,Here's your jacket." she said when they arrived at her doorstep.

,,What? I thought we made up?" Ricky hesitated a moment before taking it from her.

,,We did. I just feel weird about taking your jacket."

,,Oh."

,,I'll see you at school." she smiled at him and got in the house.

,,See ya." he watched her close the door in front of him.

Gina ran up the stairs, hoping the sleepover would be over by now. She was aware sleepovers usually take course over the night, but maybe they have decided to call it off.

To her disappointment, they haven't.

,,Gina! I was worried. Are you okay?" Ashlyn got up to hug her as soon as she got in the room.

,,Yeah, I'm fine." she hugged her back.

,,Where were you?" Ashlyn let go.

,,With Ricky." she shot Nini an insidious smile and went to change her clothes.