Make You Happy - a Rina story

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,,You noticed that?" Gina asked. She couldn't believe what she just heard.

,,Of course I have. I wanted to ask you what's wrong, but you blew me off during the improv exercise and I didn't want to bother you anymore. Plus I saw Ashlyn looking at you and I knew she would have your back."

,,You're right, she always does." Gina smiled to herself. ,,I still can't believe you noticed, I thought you didn't care."

,,I always care about you. I might have a funny way of showing it, but I do." he took her hands into his. She quickly retreated. Her hands might start sweating and that's the last thing she needs him to see right now. Ricky got a little nervous after her reaction, but tried to not show it.

,,I suppose I'd better get going." he said, standing up.

,,I'll walk you to the door." Gina followed him.

They walked to the door in silence. Gina unlocked it, Ricky stepped outside and turned to her.

,,Thanks for the ride." she smiled.

,,Anytime."

,,I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

,,Just to be clear, there's nothing going on between you and EJ?" he ignored her question.

,,No, there isn't." she had to hold back from rolling her eyes.

,,Nor any other guy?"

,,No, Ricky, I'm as single as a Pringle." she laughed.

,,Good." he said. She still had no idea why he was bringing up her love life.

,,See you at school." he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and went to Big Red's car. She stood there for a while, blushing and thinking back to after homecoming, when a similar situation has happened. Except it was her who kissed his cheek.

,,Have you talked things out?" Ash popped up behind her.

,,Geez, Ash, you scared me!" Gina scolded her.

,,Wasn't my intention, like, whatsoever." she took a sip out of her almost empty smoothie. Gina pointed at the living room.

,,Yes, we have talked. It went better than expected to be honest." she started explaining as they made their way to the living room.

,,Uhh, details, please?" Ash sat down on the coach.

,,He kissed me on the cheek."

,,Wait, what?"

,,Yeah, it reminded me of homecoming."

,,Why would it- has something happened between the two of you on homecoming?"

,,I never told you? Oh, boy." Gina inhaled the stuffy air around them as Ash watched her in suspense. ,,Homecoming wasn't very ideal for me if you remember: I went with EJ, I got into a small argument with Ricky because of it and then I also got into a pretty big fight with EJ, where I poured a drink over his head."

,,Yes, I remember vaguely." Ashlyn chuckled. Gina rolled her eyes and chuckled, too.

,,After that fight I left to get my coat and Ricky caught up with me. He apologized for earlier and I told them we'd be even if he gave me a ride back, which he did. We ended up talking in his car and, uhm. I kissed him."

,,You what?!"

,,On the cheek! Gee, that sounded much worse. I kissed him on the cheek just like he did today, so it reminded me of homecoming."

,,Have you two not talked about that either?" Ash crossed her arms. She knew the duo all too well to expect them to talk things through.

,,No, but at least that time there seriously was nothing to talk about. We shared a moment, we forgot about it the next day..." Gina paused.

,,What's with the long face?" Ashlyn asked.

,,I just remembered he told me he can't forget about anything that happened after homecoming. I wanted to say something but my brain sort of lagged and he changed the topic before I could stammer anything out."

,,Ugh, typical Ricky."

,,Yep, well, what can you do. You gotta give it to him though, today wasn't typical him whatsoever."

,,That's true, I'd never expect him to do anything like that." Ash said and Gina agreed.

,,Alright, time for bed." Ash headed towards their room.

,,Fine, mom." Gina chuckled.

Gina was stuffing her things into her locker and talking to Ashlyn when she saw Ricky enter school with Big Red and Nini. She wondered why those two were together, but decided not to think about them, not even for half a second.

Ricky's eyes wandered to Gina. She had an adorable denim jacket on and a skirt. Her hair was let loose and he could have sworn she was literally glowing. He kept on staring at her until he smashed into something very cold with a loud noise. It was a locker. He rubbed his face to ease the pain and looked back at Gina, who was now staring at him with a staggered expression. She wasn't the only one looking at him.

,,Dude?" Big Red asked, apparently not understanding why he would walk into a locker in daylight. Nini, on the other hand, caught on as soon as she saw what direction Ricky was gaping at. She shook her head and left.

,,Go, just go." Ricky hinted at Red, started walking and pushed him so he would also start walking.

,,What happened?" Red pressed on.

,,I got distracted is all. Here, our English classroom."

,,Did you see that?" Gina couldn't keep her laughter in anymore. Her and Ash burst out laughing.

,,Was he checking you out or something?" Ash said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

,,Huh?" Gina abruptly stopped laughing. ,,No, what? Why would he?"

,,Do people just randomly walk into lockers? Especially when their crush is nearby?"

,,I wouldn't say I'm his crush."

,,Gina, he gave you a kiss yesterday."

,,So? Could have been friendly."

,,Was your homecoming kiss friendly?"

Silence.

,,That answers your question." Ash pat her on the shoulder and went to find Big Red.

Did Ricky have a crush on her? Does one even call it a crush? Maybe I'm just imagining this, Gina thought to herself.

,,Gii!" Ricky shouted after Gina shortly before lunch. She turned around to see him running towards her with a wide smile. ,,Would you like to grab something to eat with me?"

,,What do you have in mind?" she beamed.