rainbow connection | rini

fourteen

"Can we actually go to lunch today?" Ricky asked Nini as they were packing up their dance bags. "Eating protein bars for lunch every day is killing me."

"But I like the library."

"I understand, but you have books in that little elephant backpack of yours and you know it." He looked at Nini and she said nothing. "Come on, please? I'll give you my tater tots!"

"Wow, a boy who gives me tater tots instead of taking them from me? Amazing," she joked. "Fine, we'll go to the cafeteria."

He took her hand in his and swung it back and forth as they walked down the hallway. She smiled at his action because she didn't expect him to be so open about liking her. After all, he did only admit it the night before.

The sight of them was definitely a head-turner for a few people in the hall. Nini realized that she was nervous about seeing her and Ricky's former teammates. She was scared of that particular group of people in the past, but during the short time she wasn't, she realized that if she could get past the humiliation they imposed on her, they weren't all that scary.

Ricky found an empty table to leave their stuff and then practically dragged Nini into the lunch line. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually visited the cafeteria, so she took to sliding her tray and letting Ricky drop items onto both of their trays simultaneously. At some point, he stopped and turned to her.

"What?" she asked.

He chuckled and leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers softly. "Hey!" a cafeteria monitor yelled. "No kissing! Keep your hands to yourselves." The two looked at each other and choked back laughs.

"Think you can stomach two orders of tater tots and two apples?" Ricky asked Nini once they got to the table.

Nini smiled at him and said, "No, but I don't think I have an option."

He shook his head. "You're right. Don't look now, but Gina is watching you like a hawk."

Nini rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, I'm dying to look at that."

Ricky reached out his hand and Nini took it. Before letting them rest on the table together, he placed a soft kiss on Nini's hand. She blushed with a smile.

"You're just so damn cute," he told her. "Now eat."

On Friday, Nini and Ricky arrived at the pizza place and weren't surprised to find that the football players and cheerleaders were there too. The couple sat at a small table and looked at each other for a while.

"Stop looking at me," Nini demanded.

"You stop first," Ricky responded with a laugh.

After a while of staring and laughing, Nini finally broke her gaze away from Ricky. He yelled out in excitement from winning, which drew attention from some unwanted onlookers. Nini shushed him and ducked her head with a giggle.

"Let's eat a crazy pizza," she suggested.

"I think I'll have the barbecue chicken. It has onions on it." Ricky grinned at Nini as she fake gagged.

"I'm not kissing you tonight!" She exclaimed. He pouted and batted his eyes. "You're too cute."

They thoroughly enjoyed their pizza while ignoring the watchful eyes of the group of people they'd been avoiding. Nini didn't once think about how much she didn't want to eat. She was focused on Ricky and that felt nice.

"I actually kind of want a milkshake," she told Ricky when they got to the ice cream parlor. "What flavor combination do you suggest?"

He held the door open for her and said, "I'd go for cookies and cream, chocolate, and cookie dough with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. So good."

Nini laughed and said, "That sounds deadly." Ricky nodded.

"You asked for it. You're getting it." She didn't protest.

"It's delicious," Nini told him honestly. "I think all my teeth might fall out immediately after, but I'm enjoying it."

Ricky laughed. "I honestly don't remember what it tastes like. I haven't gotten that since I was 9." Nini's jaw dropped in playful betrayal and she pressed the straw to his lips.

"Now you have to try it," she commanded.

Ricky winced after his sip and said, "A little heavy on the sugar there." They laughed together as they enjoyed their dessert.

The following Sunday at church, Ricky's parents were surprised to see him helping Nini with the Sunday school kids after church. They were happy that she'd been a good influence so far, though.

While they waited, Carol and Lynne got to talking. They gushed about their children and how sweet their relationship was. Both fathers rolled their eyes with smiles.

"All done!" Nini declared when she approached her parents. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Bowen!" Both adults hugged Nini and her parents did the same with Ricky.

"What's that, Ricky?" Carol asked, pointing to a piece of paper in Ricky's hand.

"Oh, one of the kids gave me this. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be yet, but I'll figure it out," he said with a laugh. "I told him I'd hang it up."

"Nini has a whole board of drawings from these kids in her room," Carol told the group.

"Nini, you're such a sweet girl," Lynne commented. Nini smiled, which turned into a blush.

Ricky took her hand in his and groaned when his mother squealed. "Mom, you're so embarrassing."

"I'm sorry, you two are just so cute! Can I take a picture?" She asked. Ricky rolled his eyes and at the same time that he said no, Nini said yes. "Nini said yes, smile kids!"

Nini grinned and Ricky faked a smile. The idea of him being forever captured in his Sunday's best on probably every single Christmas card that would be sent out that year was haunting.

"Can you send that to me?" Carol asked. "I want to make it my lock screen."

"No, Mom, please!" Nini pleaded. "Dad?"

"No, Nini, I think I might want it too," he joked.

"I, on the other hand, will you both peace from your crazy mothers," Mike told them with a hearty laugh. "Hey, why don't you guys join us for lunch?"