It's A Small World // Gini AU

𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢

My led lights were on as I stared up at the ceiling.

Everything about this whole day has been a rollercoaster. I knew I shouldn't have gone to meet Nini at the mall. Despite the feelings I felt with her today, I couldn't let myself admit them or fall for her in anyway, shape or form.

I get that Ricky wants to be civil now but frankly his attitude and assholeness made me want to just ignore his whole existence. Maybe Nini wasn't so bad but I could never admit that out loud. I can't be vulnerable with another person. Astrid taught me a lesson and that's not letting someone break your walls down isn't always a good thing.

I let it happen with EJ and Ashlyn and i'm beyond happy with that. But Nini doesn't just want a friendship. She wants a relationship, I think I could pick up on that from all the hand holding and almost kisses that have happened in our two encounters.

There's a knock on the door before Vanna comes in and I smile.

"You know you sleep here too. You don't have to knock"

She shrugs her shoulders.

"Yeah but it's still your room. Privacy is something I gotta give you"

Vanna has a sort of sly smile on her face as she says that. I don't know what exactly that means but it's Vanna I won't question her.

"Hey actually do you have a minute"

I nod my head and Vanna sit on the bed while I sit up and let my back rest against the headboard.

"What's up?"

"Do you know a girl named Nini?"

My heart starts beating fast. And I frankly feel like my face visually drops.

"Um yeah I guess. She goes to my school"

Vanna nods her head.

"Why?"

How could Vanna know Nini? Or about her. She was friends with Carlos but to his knowledge I haven't spoken to Nini since that night at the party. And he doesn't know about what happened between us.

"Astrid has a duet planned with her and I got curious."

My eyes widen. I had no clue that Astrid even knew who Nini was. How could she? Astrid lived all the way on the East Coast, somewhere I knew Nini had never been.

"H-how come?"

"They've followed each other since our Freshman Year. They spoke a could times and Astrid loves her voice. So they wanted to collab while she was here"

I nodded my head. I knew that Nini had an amazing voice. Probably even better than Astrid's but I'm also not ready for both of my lives to merge together. I didn't know the world could do stupidly small.

Austin had dated EJ once. Vanna was super close to Carlos. Vanna and Astrid hate Ricky, granted that was because of what I had told them but still. And now Astrid knew Nini. How the hell didn't I know all this before moving back to Salt Lake City.

"So is this girl any good?" Vanna snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Uh yeah. She sang at the event we had after my first game. She's pretty good"

I made a small face and my lips were tight. Vanna probably thinks it's just because I'm tired. I mean who wouldn't be it was already close to midnight.

"Gi?"

"Yeah?"

"That sweater. Who gave it to you?"

Shit. It was Nini who had given it to me. As a Christmas gift despite Christmas being two days away.

"Someone you don't know"

She nodded her head and I hoped she'd let the topic go.

"You tell random people about your dad now?"

My eyes widen. I loved Vanna for being so honest and brutal with all her friends. It pained me when it was towards me though because Vanna didn't put up with my bullshit and didn't let me hide things. I love that about our friendship but right now god do I want this bed to swallow me up.

"No... not at all. Look, can I be honest?"

Vanna just looked at me, as if I were the most stupidest person alive. Of course she wanted me to be honest.

"I met this girl. She's really sweet and I would love to let her sweep me off my feet. She's trying so hard to be my friend. But I keep being a bitch to her and I've made her cry before with my words. There are so many reasons as to why I can't open my heart to her, Vanna. But I want to so fucking badly. I just, I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt her"

"Want my honest advice"

I nodded my head frantically.

"You're too fucking scared for someone who's fearless. Have Gina Porter do anything in the world including jumping off of the Williamsburg Bridge Waterfront, she'll do it. Tell her to open up? She becomes such a coward."

I laughed at the memory. Austin once dared me to jump from a Williamsburg Bridge Park, called East River Park and into the East River. Of course I did it, Austin had his friends out on Jet Skis who got me from the water right after I jumped. Vanna and Astrid gave me such a fucking talk but I didn't care. So now I have that on the list of things I've done.

"So you'll risk your life for stupid little shit. But you won't even dare to risk your heart. Especially after your break up with Astrid, and considering you broke up with her I really don't think that's fair Gina. Not to us or anyone else but to yourself. You have to let people in."

She's right. I do push people away and I know I do. I'm extremely good at it and hell even Astrid never thought to get me a gift this meaningful. But all I can do is make Nini feel like shit.

Vanna sighs and gives me a good short smile but lying down on the air mattress and I reach over to turn off the lights. All I know is, it's way too soon for me to give into Nini. She's going to have to really show me she wants me in her life before I let her in so easily.