Can I be your favorite?

Chapter 8: Let the games begin.

Anika's Pov

Niki and I walk in silence; her, lost in thought while I fidget with my hands. I look at her from the corner of my eye, trying to guess the thoughts in her head. Just as I am about to shake her for some answers she speaks up, "I really- She sighs unable to get the words out which stresses me out even more. Just spit it out, I want to scream at her, but I don't want to scare her away either. So, I remain silent, slowly dying from the suspense.

"There is no easy way to say this" she finally says, building up her resolve. She looks at me, guilt written all over her face, sending my heart into overdrive. I paste a fake sympathetic smile, nudging her to continue. "I have a crush on your boyfriend!" she blurts out loud, her cheeks reddening. A beat passes. I stop walking, letting out a sound of disbelief. Niki looks concerned, she grabs my shoulders and looks straight in the eye. "I am so sorry. I know we are friends. It's just that I have known Ricardo since freshman year and we only just met- Niki stops talking when I start to laugh, her concern for me, deepening. I place my hands on my knees to balance myself, from laughing so hard. "Niki...was that it? You have a crush on my boyfriend?" I ask her once the laughter dies down.

"Um... yeah?" her concern shifts to confusion, subtly taking a step away from me. I smile, relief flooding my body. "You had me worried there. I thought you were going to say that he was cheating on me, or he had a secret child or something" 

Niki still looks confused. "Usually, the girlfriends are more angry than happy that another girl, a friend" she purses her lips, pausing momentarily, "albeit, recently- has a crush on their boyfriend" she states, while widely gesturing her hands. I sigh, "Maybe. But I'm not like other girls" I say, using air quotes, "besides, I know you would never do anything to jeopardize my relationship with Ricardo" Niki raises her index finger, indicating for me to pause, "I hate to be the one to point this out but, we literally just met" Niki seemed to be panicking while also looking extremely perplexed. 

I think I'm beginning to understand why Veronica teases people so much, it's quite entertaining. "True" I agree with her, "however today I saw you, the way you interacted with your friends." I grin at her, with a touch of nostalgia hitting me. "It reminded me of myself. How I am with my own cousins back in India. As the eldest, we tend to take responsibility for our younger siblings' mistakes." An understanding look crosses Niki's face. She crosses her arms and leans against the pillar, listening to what I have to say. "I also saw your sense of loyalty. So, I just knew instinctively that you would never try to come in between Ricardo and I" I shrug my shoulders. 

"Unless I'm wrong?" I ask, giving her the side eye. "No! I would never do that! I swear I'm a girl's girl" she reassures me, crossing her chest as a show of reassurance. I chuckle, "That's good to know. Besides what kind of girlfriend would I even be if I can't even trust my own boyfriend. I mean I know I'm new to the whole dating thing but I'm pretty sure relationships are built from tru-" I stop abruptly when a memory of a last week flashes through my mind

A strange look overcomes Niki's face. "Trust?" I blush, looking down at my shoes. "It's silly I know but it's how I feel" I lie "No! it's not silly. Actually, it's very mature of you, Anika. Not even some adult relationships have that deep level of understanding of relationships" she states, in a rush. She gives me a soft smile, "I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you in any way by unburdening my feelings on to you... I felt it would be better to tell you myself than you hearing from someone else" 

I grab her hands in mine and give them a reassuring squeeze "You did the right thing. Thank you for trusting me with your secret. If you don't mind me asking but why did it never work out between you and Ricardo?"

The thought suddenly occurred to me. Maybe she might know what has been bothering Ricardo. she did mention they've known each other for a while. I know I said I would wait but I'm at my limit. I need answers. Whether it's from a third-party source or my own boyfriend.