in a heartbeat

eight

Nini sits in the back of the auditorium during a break in rehearsals, staring down at her phone.

"hey love, you okay?" Ricky asks, sliding into the seat next to her.

she glances up at him, "Lola wants to have dinner tomorrow. i haven't told her yet and i don't think i could get through dinner without telling her."

he sighs, his hand finding hers and intertwining their fingers, "do you want me to come with you?"

"would you? she really likes you so maybe if you're there it won't be so hard." she asks, her eyes soft.

"of course," he says, kissing her hand, "anything for you."

"okay kiddos! let's get back to work! it's our last week before Christmas break!"

the couple gets up, hand in hand, and heads for the stage to join their friends.

***

"does this dress make me look pregnant?"

Ricky looks up at his girlfriend from his seat on her bed, "i don't know how i'm supposed to respond to that."

Nini groans and turns back towards her closet, "my bump is starting to come in and every dress i own shows it, i don't want her to know until i say something."

the boy chuckles, getting up to stop his girlfriend from throwing hangers like she currently is, "hey, hey, stop," he grabs her hands and pulls her into his chest, his hands dropping to her hips, "everything is okay, i know you're stressed about tonight."

"that's an understatement," she groans, dropping her head against his chest and closing her eyes, "my heads been killing me all day and my nausea is back. this baby is killing me. plus with the holiday coming up next week, there's so much to do and i'm already tired."

he rubs her back gently before grabbing a black dress from her closet, "here, black is slimming they say, plus it's not as tight as your other ones. just put a sweater on with it and you'll be fine."

Nini smiles softly, "what would i do without you."

"probably die." he chuckles.

she pushes at his chest and goes to get dressed.

***

Nini can already smell her Lola's cooking as they stand outside of her apartment door. they had to drive a bit to get to her assisted living home but now that they're here, there's no turning back. she knocks gently and squeezes her boyfriends hand as they wait for the door to open.

"Ricky, Nini! come in! dinners almost done!"

the teens walk inside and Nini has to fight to hold down the bile rising from the sudden hit of nausea she receives from the smell of the dinner cooking.

Ricky can tell she's struggling and rubs her lower back gently, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "go to the bathroom, i'll stall her."

she looks at him gratefully before heading for the bathroom.

"so Lola, what're you cooking?" she hears him ask as she closes the door behind her.

she's become pretty good at throwing up quietly, as her morning sickness usually comes at night and she doesn't want to wake her moms. she waits a minute for her stomach to settle before flushing the toilet and rinsing her mouth with the mouthwash on the counter and washing her hands.

she returns from the bathroom to find her grandmother and her boyfriend setting the table.

"take a seat kids, i'll grab the dinner."

they both take a seat at the table as the older woman leaves the room.

"are you okay?" Ricky whispers.

she nods, "i'm fine."

Lola returns, filling the teens plates before sitting down and digging in. the trio eats in silence for a while, Nini just pushing her food around to make it look like she's eating.

"so, what is new with you two?" Lola Malou asks.

the couple shared a glance before Ricky speaks, "well there is something we want to tell you."

the table is quiet while Nini finds the courage to speak, "i'm pregnant."

she watches as the older asian woman's face turns a mix of confusion and anger, "what did you just say?"

"i-i'm pregnant Lola, i'm gonna have a baby. i'm eight weeks today."

Ricky grasps Nini's hand beneath the table as they see the woman grow increasingly angrier, "Nina Amor Salazar-Roberts, how dare you become pregnant. are you the father Richard?"

"yes ma'am." he says quietly.

Malou nods shortly, "well, i assume you are getting an abortion."

"no Lola, we decided that's not what's best. we're putting it up for adoption."

"i see. well i want you to know Nina that you are no longer welcome in my home, neither are you Richard. i will not accept a granddaughter that is reckless enough to get pregnant at sixteen. your mothers should be ashamed of themselves and of you. i am ashamed of you."

Nini has tears slipping down her face, "Lola..."

"get out of my house."

the teen girl whimpers as her boyfriend gets up from his chair, guiding her along with him. once they're in the hallway, she breaks out into sobs, almost collapsing. Ricky holds her tightly as he guides her to the elevator and down through the front door of the complex, heading to the car.

once outside, he opens her passenger door and sits her on the seat as she sobs hysterically. he crouches down next to the seat, his hand on her leg, "hey, look at me. Nini, look at me."

she turns to face him, her makeup smeared around her eyes as she lets out small sobs. his heart breaks as he looks at her. he reaches up and wipes under her eyes, collecting her smudged makeup and tears.

"it's going to be okay. i know this sucks right now but it will be okay."

"my grandmother hates me." she sobs.

he frowns a little, his hand holding her cheek, "i'm sorry."

"can we just go home?"

he nods, getting up and shutting her door before getting into the drivers seat. it's not long after they begin the drive home that his girlfriend cries herself to sleep. he wishes he could take all this pain from her. he'd do anything to make her feel better.