𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 [ 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐮 ]

deserving pain .21

"are you sure about this?" ricky asked. the boy was leaning against the back of the couch as nini paced back and forth across the room. the girl wasn't really one for confrontation, but she wasn't going to let some blonde girl put her career down the gutter because of jealousy.

"she's already on the way, isn't she?" nini asks. ricky nods his head as nini took in another breath. her phone started to ring and she looked down to see zack calling her. the girl handed her phone to ricky and walked away.

"what's this for?"

"keep it for now. if i have it in my hand i might answer him or text my friends. i just need to be away from a phone for now."

"you're gonna be okay, neens..." ricky softly said as he put nini's phone in his pocket.

"i know i will be," nini quietly said as she leaned back against the wall. ricky noticed how distraught nini really was and grew more concerned. the boy stood up more.

"nini ... you okay?" ricky softly asked. the girl looked up and nodded her head.

"mhm."

"you don't look okay..."

"im just nervous."

ricky sighed and shook his head, "you can talk to me."

nini and ricky exchanged looks of comfort and the girl just shrugged her shoulders, "it's just ... tiring."

"what do you mean by that .... ?"

"i just ... i tried so hard to get where i am today, you know? i've been working my ass off for so... long. when both of my moms died, i didn't wanna be in this world without them. i was stuck working for the caswells and never got anything back. i was trying so hard to keep up in school and go to work — whatever. you know the story," nini stated, "and i don't know, i think we're both mature enough to say that .. our relationship was .. toxic .... and the way you treated me ricky... it was horrible."

ricky's face fell but the boy nodded in agreement, "yeah .. i agree," was all the boy said. nini took in a sigh and shook her head.

"back then, you know, i ... i never had anything good in my life. i was working so hard to live but ironically living was the last thing i wanted to do. but now.. i have so many people who support me and love me. sometimes i find myself still in a funk but at the end of the day, i still wanna wake up to see the next morning. like i worked for days like those. i deserve it. that sounds egotistical, but i don't care. i deserve as many fans, awards, and happiness that comes my way... i've lost too many times to lose in a game i didn't even know i was playing."

ricky let out a soft smile and nodded his head, "it's not egotistical if it's the truth," he softly spoke, "you do deserve everything life has to offer you. i know you do."

before nini could answer, the doorbell rang. ricky and nini's smiles faded and they looked at the door with fear. ricky took in a deep breath and made his way over to the door, "hey lily," he said as his eyes met her blue eyes. lily gave ricky a snarky smile and chuckled.

"ricky, hi. miss me so soon?" lily confidently asked. ricky didn't say anything but open the door wider for lily to see nini, leaning against the wall. lily's smirk faded and she looked at ricky with anger, "ricky, what the hell is this?"

"just come inside."

"i'm not talking to her," lily spat.

nini rolled her eyes and gave lily a stern look, "yes, you are."

"i'm leaving," was all lily said before turning around.

"you sure got a lot to say on the internet so you might as well say it to my face, twitter fingers," nini called out. lily stopped in her tracks and scoffed at nini's remark.