Your Lie - A Rina Fic

Chapter 4

The four of them pedaled furiously through the streets, the wind whipping against their faces as they raced towards the concert hall. The sight of the grand building came into view, and Ricky couldn't contain his excitement. "There!" he exclaimed, pointing ahead.

With a screech of tires, they skidded to a halt just outside the entrance, their breaths heavy and chests heaving as they leaned against the side of the building. The adrenaline of the mad dash still coursed through their veins.

Ej let out a relieved laugh. "Shit, man! I can't believe we made it!" he exclaimed, wiping sweat from his brow.

Nini joined in, her eyes sparkling with exhilaration. "Well, I guess our plan might work after all. Though, I hope nobody saw us," she grinned mischievously, the rush of the adventure still lingering in her voice.

Gina, still catching her breath, didn't have a chance to fully process their achievement before Ricky grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the entrance. "Can't thank you guys enough, but we should go if we want to make it," he called out to Ej and Nini. Gina managed to give a wave of gratitude to their friends before focusing on keeping up with Ricky's determined pace.

Gina felt the weight of everyone's eyes on them as they hurried through the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the semi-crowded lobby. But as they reached the entrance to the contestant area, Gina noticed the warmth of Ricky's hand slipping away from hers, leaving her feeling a sense of emptiness. She glanced back at him, a sudden realization dawning upon her.

"What are we even going to do? I don't have a change of clothes! What do I even-" Gina's panicked words were cut off as Ricky's hands gently settled on her shoulders, his touch calming and reassuring. When their eyes met, she saw the gentle smile on his face.

"Porter, calm down," Ricky chuckled softly. "Everything is going to be fine. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to not speak to you all week, but I came up with a plan, and it starts with you getting into this." He handed her a duffel bag that Gina instantly recognized as the same bag Ej had been carrying earlier.

Confusion flickered across her face as Ricky handed her the bag. "I had Ej grab what I assumed were your nicest workout clothes. It's nothing too flashy, don't worry," Ricky explained with a playful grin. Gina had so many questions swirling in her mind, but she knew there was no time to dwell on them. With a mix of curiosity and caution, she took the bag from Ricky's outstretched hand and made her way toward the changing rooms.

After changing into the outfit, which she'll admit was pretty cute Gina sat on the bench, her hands folded and planted on her knees, as she waited for Ricky to finish changing. She couldn't help but notice that this was the same hallway, the same building, where she had sat four years ago, contemplating her life as a dancer. The weight of her thoughts pressed upon her, making it difficult to clear her mind.

As she sat alone in the hallway, the silence and solitude only intensified the swirling emotions within her. Happiness and nervousness danced together, creating a mix of anticipation and apprehension. She didn't want to let Ricky down, didn't want to ruin his performance, yet the pressure was mounting, threatening to consume her.

Lost in her spiraling thoughts, she was taken by surprise when she felt a gentle pressure on her arm. Startled, she turned her head to find Ricky sitting beside her, his presence grounding and reassuring. His touch brought her back to the present, away from the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.

"Hey," Ricky turned her body towards him, his eyes filled with warmth and concern. "Keep your eyes on me and take deep breaths." He began inhaling and exhaling slowly, and Gina followed suit, syncing her breathing with his. With each breath, she focused on his messy hair, his genuine smile, and the kindness in his eyes.