𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 || 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘢𝘶

37.

The party carried on for the next hours,the parents excusing themselves after a while,leaving only the group of friends outside.They were now chilling in the garden,scattered around and talking amongst themselves,too tired to do anything else.
''Hey Neens.'' Seb approached Nini who was talking with Ricky and Kourtney.''It's getting late,so me and Carlos are gonna go,my parents are gonna pick us up any second.''he said.
''Oh,so soon?'' she said sadly.
''You know how my mom is.'' he rolled his eyes.
''I do know.'' she giggled.
After that they quickly hugged and they wished her once again happy birthday before they had to leave.Soon after them,the rest followed,Red and Kourtney leaving as well.
''Hey.'' Ricky nudged Nini.''I think I am going to leave too,it's almost 1am.'' he informed her.
A deep frown took over her face.''You're not staying over?We always have sleepovers after our birthdays.''
''Oh I didn't know if you wanted to this year.''he said nervously.
''What? Why?''
He scratched the back of his neck''I don't know,I thought maybe you'd tell Aiden to stay,being your boyfriend and all.'' he chuckled awkwardly.
''Please,like my moms would ever let me have a sleepover with my boyfriend.'' she let out a laugh.However,the smile fell of his lips,at the thought that if she actually could he would have chosen Aiden over him.Like she sensed what he was thinking she quickly spoke.''But even if they let me,I still wouldn't tell him about it,it's our tradition.'' she softly smiled,him reciprocating it.
They were interrupted by Gina who informed she had to go as well.''Wait how are you going home?It's late and you didn't bring a car.'' Nini told her.
''Oh I was going to walk,it's only 10 minutes from here.'' she said.
''There's no way you're walking alone in the night at almost 1am.'' Ej butted in.''I'll drive you.'' he said.
''You don't have to-''
''It's not a big deal,okay? I'm not letting you walk alone.''
''Okay,thanks,I'm going to grab my coat from inside.'' she said and offered him a small smile,grabbing Nini by the hand with her.
''Good luck with that.'' Ricky said cheekily at Ej.
''Shut up.'' he said. ''Also I haven't forgotten that you still haven't told me what you got for Nini's birthday.You're telling me tomorrow.'' he said matter of factly.
Ricky smirked.''I'll think about it.''
Ej began to speak before Ricky interrupted him again.''Shut up,they're coming.''
''Ready to go?'' Gina asked Ej.
''Yeah,let's go.'' he said.''Goodnight guys.''
Ricky and Nini saw them leaving,Ej leading Gina by holding her gently by the waist.
''God,when are they getting together?'' she asked.
''Tell me about it.''
Gina and Ej's relationship was confusing to say the least.They had a great time together at the dance all those months ago but nothing really did happen afterwards.They kept flirting and acting like a couple yet no one made an actual move.
Ricky saw Aiden coming towards them,his coat in his hand.''Um,I'm going by my house to grab something okay?I'll be right back.''Ricky said.
''Oh,but don't you have pyjamas and stuff for the night already?''
''What? Oh I do,I just forgot to bring something,be back in 5 minutes.'' he said and quickly left to save himself from the possible awkwardness that always seemed to settle between the two boys.
''I heard Ricky saying he'd be back,is he staying over?'' Aiden asked her curiously.
''Um,yeah,it's a small tradition me and him have.We do sleepovers after each other's birthdays.'' she said.
''Oh,that's nice.''
She hesitated to ask the next question.''Does it bother you?'' she questioned.
''No,no babe.''he quickly shook his head.''I know you have been best friends for a long time and I trust you,always.''he answered.
She felt herself relaxing.''Okay then,sorry for asking,just wanted to make sure.''
''It's okay.''He opened his phone and looked at the time.'' I have to go,but I'll see you tomorrow for our date,right?''
''Yes! The date which you still haven't told me any details about.'' she said with a fake pout.
''It's a surprise.'' he laughed.
She squinted at him.''Fine.'' she said.
His phone sent a notification,seeing it was from his dad asking him to come home.''I definitely have to go home now.'' he said.
''Okay,I'll see you tomorrow.'' she said and grabbed him by the neck planting a soft kiss on his lips.However,when Aiden felt a set of eyes on them,specifically Ricky's,he held her closer and dragged the kiss longer before he released her lips.
''Goodnight babe.''
''Goodnight.'' she answered and watched him leave.

Nini went inside and got up the stairs,opening the door of her room,to find Ricky already sat on her bed with his pyjamas,a stray curl falling on his forehead,as he scrolled through his phone.
''Hey,when did you even come up here?''
He looked up at her.''Oh,I saw you were still with Aiden,so I came straight here.''he answered.
''Hm,okay,let me go change and I'll be here in a minute.''she said and he nodded.
After she emerged from the bathroom she spoke up again.''So what was that thing you went to get from your home?''
''Yeah,about that.'' he stood up from the bed and took a box from his bag.''It's your present.''he said shyly and handed it to her.
She opened the box,a small gasp leaving her lips as she took a look at the beautiful locket necklace inside it.
''Wait,this is identical to-''
''I know.''he said.
''How did you find this?'' she asked.
''Well,I remembered when your Lola gave you that old necklace she had and how much you loved it.And I also remembered when you lost it some time ago and how sad you were.So,um,I found this old shop with antiques on the other side of town,and they had this which is similar.And,I made them do some alternations so it's now identical.'' he said as tears threatened to spill of her eyes,at how thoughtful his present was.
''And I know it's not the same but it also opens up and you can put pictures inside it.'' he continued.
She did as he said and saw already two pictures on the locket,one of her and her Lola and one of her Lola and her husband from when they were young.
''Wait how did you find the pictures?''she asked.
''Your Lola gave them to me when I visited her again this week.''
''Again?'' she questioned.
''Oh,yeah,I visited her a lot especially the days we weren't speaking.''
''That's so sweet,Ricky.''
''Yeah,I guess.'' he said. ''Anyway you probably think this is silly or -''
''What?No! It's beautiful.Can you help me put it on?'' she said as she turned around handing him the box.
''Sure.'' he said and moved her hair to the side.He clasped the necklace in place,his fingers softly brushing her skin,causing her to shiver at his touch.She turned to him again and wrapped him in a hug,him immediately reciprocating.
''This means so much to me Ricky.'' she said and held him closer.
''You mean so much to me.''he said back as he let her warmth invade his body.He slowly pulled away from the hug,their faces much closer than they were before.He let his eyes wonder to her lips,those lips he desperately wanted to crash his own into.He didn't miss the way her own eyes casted down to his so he quickly cleared his throat and put some distance between them.She started to feel the awkwardness settling in but thankfully he spoke up.
''Um,I would say to watch something but I'm so tired.'' he chucked.
''Me too.'' she yawned and moved towards the bed.
Both got under the covers,sitting on their side looking at each other.
''Did you have fun today?''he asked tiredly.
''Yes,lots of it.'' she mumbled.''Best birthday ever.'' her mouth curved into a smile.
''Good to hear,bubs.'' he yawned as well.
''Okay,let's go to sleep,I can barely keep my eyes open.''
He moved closer to her and pressed a lingering kiss at her forehead before he placed his head into the crook of her neck and let his eyes flutter closed.
''Goodnight.'' he mumbled.
''Goodnight.'' she said with a shaky breath,feeling her cheeks burning up and the butterflies swarming in her stomach.Those butterflies she was so used to but had thought that were long gone.