A Thing Called Love

Blocking - Part 2

POV NINI

I know, I'm still reeling from the break up and the betrayal thing, but I guess it's because I still haven't eaten anything yet or that I'm shouting at some random couple who was in the Red Pizzaria.

- Have you eaten yet? - Kourtney asks to me.

- Not yet, but I'm so angry.

- Maybe it's because you're not yourself when you're hungry.

Then I laugh a lot. That's my best friend. She always makes me laugh when I'm feeling down.

- I mean, how do seniors do that without... You know! How do they sleep at night?!

- Just like a shark, eyes open. - she answers me. - Just try to forget it, right?

- I'll try.

- These are your choices. - Kourt shows me the menu. - A very sad-looking bran muffin or some really shriveled-up carrots...

Her eyes grow bigger as she looks to the horizon.

- What?

- Don't look now, but your shark's cousin is here.

- Hey. - Ashlyn says and gets quickly away from the pizzaria.

I need to get to her.

- Hey! Ashlyn! You don't have to avoid me!

- No, I'm not avoiding, I... just decided to make a half-caff mocha frappe at home.

- Listen, no matter what happens between me and EJ, there's no bad blood between us. I mean, you might have some because you are related to him, but that is not your fault.

- Nini, I really don't want to be in the middle.

- Wait, you're not. It's not like you knew what he did.

- Yes... I didn't know, but it was me who connected the dots about your former girlfriend.

- And you knew about the hot egg and Emily Pratt?

Emily Pratt was supposed to be the Marian the Librarian on the day I was performing for the first time on the summer camp, but E.J. gave her a hardboiled egg and she spent the whole night in the toilet. I know it because he confessed it to me. He said it was because "he believed in my potential".

- Not till today, but I'm not totally surprised.

- Are you totally disgusted?

- A little, but he's EJ. He tends to do the wrong things for the right reasons.

- No, you cannot possibly defend him.

- No, I'm not, I'm not! - she assures me. - Look, I know what he did sucks, but he likes you and he's hurting right now and...

- Yes, and what? What am I supposed to do with that? Find some way to forgive him?

She stays silent for a few minutes.

- No. Maybe? I mean, I don't want to get in the middle, and this is up to you. Bye, Nini.

- Bye. - I wave as she gets her bicycle and goes away.

POV RICKY

- Do you like it hard or soft?

I'm on Big Red's house to sleep tonight, and he's filling up an inflatable bed, or something like that.

- Are you sure this is even a bed?

- Can you sleep on a pool toy?

- Leave it, I can just sleep on the floor. - I say.