California Dreamin

17

When she entered Ruth's house, she found her bringing something to the table while Roberto and Richard were sitting down.

"Hey Neens, just in time for lun-" Ruth's smile faded as she was cut off by Nina walking past her and heading to her room. She immediately turned to Richard, looking for an explanation, but the boy was even more confused so he simply got up and followed the younger girl.

"Nina what's going on?" He stopped her before she could touch the doorknob of her bedroom.

"It's really funny that you're asking me." She laughed out of anger before turning around to face him.
"You told her, didn't you?"

"You might have to be a little more specific because I have no idea of-"

"Nancy." She interrupted him, speaking with gritted teeth.

His expression seemed even more confused than before. "What?"

She scoffed bitterly.
"Of course you did...To get your revenge, right? I would've rathered you telling Mike about my birthdays at this point."
He remained silent.

"She wants me to stay away from you AND RUTH. Do you understand? RUTH. You and I literally used to fight over her when we were kids."

"Are you mad? I didn't tell her anything! Maybe she's just suspicious."

"Oh yeah? Guess what, Ramirez. She doesn't want our families to do that vacation we do every fucking summer. How are you going to deal with it now? What are we going to tell our parents?"

His silence made her run out of patience even more.
"RICHARD."

"What? I'm telling you I didn't say anything. I'll talk some sense into her, don't worry."

She sighed, biting her inner cheek.
"Tell Ruth I'm not hungry." And before he could answer, she closed the door behind her and jumped into bed.

She stayed inside the room the entire day, refusing to let anyone in. She needed some time alone to think about Nancy's and Richard's words. How could she tell Richard was telling the truth? Maybe Nancy was really suspicious or Richard told her everything to screw her over. She certainly couldn't go to Nancy and ask her if Richard told her something. It would've made her more suspicious.

And as if things couldn't have gotten any worse, she suddenly heard Richard's voice outside her door.
"We're having dinner over Mike tonight."

Spectacular. She thought to herself. But she had something in mind. As soon as she was ready, she left her room, readier than ever to talk to Mike. She was going to regret it but to her, it was the only way to find out if Richard told Nancy the truth.

The dinner went well and they were all sitting in the living room together chatting about whatever.

"So, Nina, I've heard that recently you turned seventeen right?" Mike said, capturing the girl's attention. Nina slightly widened her eyes, not expecting him to talk to her. She muttered a "yes" while her hands were getting a little sweaty. She still wasn't comfortable around him.

"We even made her a surprise. You know, she doesn't like celebrating her birthday." Ruth smiled proudly, glancing at Nina who swallowed hard. It was her moment.

"And why is that?"

"Because of what happened to your wife a few days later, Mike." She quickly replied, taking everyone's breath away as the room fell silent.

With the corner of her eye, she could see Richard's face. He was confused and almost looked disappointed in a way. Bingo.

Richard didn't wait too long to ask her for an explanation. As soon as they went back home, she went inside her room, followed by him.

"Why did you do it?" He whispered.

"Why are you so agitated?" She lifted an eyebrow.
"You wanted to do the honor? I'll tell you what. I wanted to know how you screwed me over for telling Nancy your secret. Now that I know that you didn't tell Mike about mine, you certainly had your revenge with Nancy."

"You did this to somehow prove that I screwed you over by telling Nancy the truth about us? But it doesn't make any sense!" He raised his voice at the end.
"I didn't tell her anything, Nina. Don't you think she'd react way worse than that?!"

Nina stopped to think for a while, sitting on her bed. He had a point and in that moment she was cursing herself for telling Mike the last thing he needed to know when the only thing she had to do was analyze Nancy's attitude.
Good job.

That night, she just couldn't sleep well. All of her thoughts went to Nancy and Mike. His face when she confessed the reason why she hated her own birthday, it was indescribable. He was caught off guard but he showed some remorse whatsoever.

She scoffed as she got up to leave her room. She expected not to find Richard in his bedroom as at least she could insist and try.
A sigh of relief left her mouth followed by smile when she saw him sleeping on his bed, slightly snoring.

She closed the door and went to shake him a little, gently whispering his name to wake him up.

"What happened?" He mumbled, opening his eyes to try to look at the face who interrupted his sleep, soon recognizing the girl.

"I...I can't sleep, can I stay here with you?" Her words were imperceptible given her voice volume but he still heard her as he answered with a smile, opening his arms to her.

As soon as she was in his arms, she calmed down and let the boy caress her back.
She knew it was wrong but she was feeling too good to get up and leave.