Nini Salazar-Roberts has been best friends with Gina Porter for as long as she can remember , and she's been attracted to Gina's older step brother, Ricky Bowen, for as long as she Can remember. What happens when Ricky suddenly shows an interest in...
"Okay so I'm thinking we can go to Dave and Busters, I've been dying to go to the arcade" Gina rambled on and on about the girls night her and Nini were planning as they walked into school.
She was super excited to be planning a girls night with her best friend because usually they just spend the night over each other's houses, they usually don't go out and do anything.
"Yeah that sounds fun. Plus we can just stay in the same place to eat" Nini said as they approached their lockers
Their lockers were right next to each other, so it was easy for them to continue their conversation
"Okay perfect so we'll go Saturday night?"
"Perfect" Nini smiled as she swapped her books out and prepared to go to her next period.
She was shocked that she wasn't exhausted especially considering the fact that she'd stayed up stargazing with Ricky, but the run that morning gave her a weird burst of energy.
"Hey babe" Ej smiled placing his arm around Gina. Nini mentally rolled her eyes at the sight before closing her locker.
She was truly happy for Gina that she had Ej because the two really seemed to love each other, she just wished she could have something like what she had.
Nobody ever asked her out or showed any interest in her at school and she found it kind of disappointing.
"Hey babe" Gina smiled as she pecked ej on the lips
"We still on for risotto later right?"
"Wouldn't miss it" Gina smiled
"I'm gonna uh I'm gonna head to class Gi, I'll see you at lunch?" Nini said not wanting to hear anymore of the conversation at hand
"Yeah, see you then Nini" Gina smiled before Nini headed off to her first period.
As usual she saw Ricky flirting with a girl, but what was new? This was a daily thing for him, but that didn't change the fact that everytime she saw it she'd shift uncomfortably wishing that it was her.
•••
"What did you say I shouldn't ask Nini out?" Jeremy asked Ricky as they did a few basketball warmups in PE
"Dude why are you so persistent?" Ricky asked, irritation laced in his tone
"I mean, have you seen her?" Jeremy asked in a 'duh' tone.
"Look Jeremy" Ricky set the basketball down "if you know what's good for you, you'll leave Nini alone. I told you she doesn't want a relationship right now, leave it at that" Ricky said before picking the basketball back up and resuming the drill
"It was just a question" Jeremy put his hands up in surrender.
He had no idea why Ricky was being so protective over Nini especially considering the fact that Ricky was flirting with a different girl everyday. He wasn't the relationship type
"I was just clearing it up" Ricky shrugged
"Alright everyone! You guys can go ahead and put the basketballs away, we're gonna have a scrimmage!"
•••
Nini sat on her bed working on her physics homework. She was in her element with her hair in a high ponytail, her comfy pajamas, and she swapped her contacts out for glasses.
"Alright so if velocity equals v naught plus acceleration times time, and they only give me v naught and acceleration, that means I have to figure out what time is to solve for velocity" Nini said to herself out loud since it helped her remember better
(Sorry if my equation is wrong, I haven't taken physics in two years BAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
"Someone's a smarty pants" a voice came from Nini's door catching her off guard
"Oh my god, Richard you scared me" Nini said holding her chest in fright. She called Ricky by his full name knowing he hated being called that
"My bad Nina." Ricky said knowing she hated getting called by her full name too "your mom let me in" he tucked his hands in his pockets rocking back and forth awkwardly
"Wow, the Richard Bowen coming to see Lil ole me? What did I do to deserve this amazing surprise?"
"It seemed like the last time I was in here was—" "When I got my first period?" Nini finished his sentence with a slight chuckle "Yeah that's because it was the last time you were in here. Thanks again for that"
"That was like four years ago" he laughed
"Yeah, but you saved me a lot of embarrassment. I appreciate it"
"I care about you a lot Nini. You know I wouldn't just let you walk around like that. I wouldn't then and I wouldn't now. You're super important to me" he said causing them heat to rise in Nini's cheeks. She made an effort to hide them but she wasn't able to before he took note of the blush that rose. "Aww did I make you blush"
"Shut up Bowen you're like never this mushy" she hit his arm "shouldn't you be like making out with a random girl right about now?" Nini joked
"Yeah she's sitting in the car waiting for me" Ricky said and Nini's eyes went wide just like they did the night before "you know, you're gonna have to learn to recognize when I'm joking about these things" Ricky laughed and so did Nini feeling relief wash over her.
"You're gonna have to learn how to stop playing with me like that" Nini laughed and hit his arm again
"Ouch! That's gonna be sore in the morning you know?" He joked
"Good" Nini laughed
"This room has changed a lot since I was last in here, it suits you better" he said analyzing her room "and it smells good, whats that? Pineapple?"
"Yeah, I like to burn a candle while I study. Something about the aroma makes me feel so much more relaxed. And I honestly love my room. I remodeled in here over the summer, it screamed 13 year old before" Nini laughed
"So what do you think it screams now?"
"Honestly? I think it just screams Nini now. It's exactly how I want it to be"
"Yeah I think so too"
"So uh what brings you here Bowen?"
"I was on my way to the skate park, and thought I'd stop by, hadn't been here in a while"
"Trying to get away from Gina and Ej huh?"
"They're just so—coupley" Ricky shifted uncomfortably
"I know right!" Nini laughed, and Ricky joined her "thanks for coming,this was nice. It feels like we never talk. Just us. As friends" Nini smiled looking Ricky in the eyes
"Yeah...friends" Ricky said before and awkward silence fell among the two "well I should probably get going, my friends are waiting for me"
"Yeah, I'll uh I'll see you later Ricky" Nini said before Ricky left her room. She sighed and fell back on her bed when she got a text notification.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A/N Hey besties! I like this story so far! Y'all like this story so far? I hope y'all do and I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter . Tysm for reading!
