𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬.

welcome home

the production of high school musical was a huge success. there were a lot of twists but the audience still loved it. with that, it was a great and confusing opening night for nini. first, she scored her first ever lead role as gabriella. second, ricky finally had the guts to say i love you back and got back together and third, she got accepted in the youth actors conservatory when she thought the dean walked out on her. the confusing part was what would she choose? go to denver to attend this performing arts school or stay in salt lake to be with her family, friends and her boyfriend, since they just got back together. she needed to figure that out.

as soon as she told ricky about the news, he was so happy for her and insisted to live her dream in denver. although, he was devastated about her leaving the city but he didn't want to get in the way of her dream. he assured that he truly loved her and with that they would make their relationship work despite the distance.

even if her stay in the youth actors conservatory was significant and fulfilling, it still wasn't home. it wasn't east high. she decided to finish the remaining months of junior year, then head back to salt lake where she truly belongs. her family and friends supported her decision.

when she headed to the exit of the airport, she noticed a curly haired boy at the distance. "ricky! ricky!" nini screamed as she ran and jumped into the boy's arms.

"hey baby!" she said in between kisses. "i missed you so much."

"i missed you too. so glad you're finally back."

"ahem! ahem!" carol and dana interrupt. "are you forgetting anyone?"

ricky and nini chuckle as she gives her mothers a tight hug. they all head to ricky's car, nini's mothers sitting in the back while nini sits in the front passenger seat. "do you know what nini, he offered to drive us here, since our car broke down. keep him please." carol says and the couple burst into laughter. "don't worry mama, i'll keep him." nini responds and ricky hold her hand tight.

as soon as they reached her driveway, ricky helps  get her luggage out of the trunk and she suddenly speaks up. "do you wanna stay for a while?"

ricky shakes his head, "oh sorry babe but your moms said they wanted some time with you since they will be out tonight. but i'll pick you up at 7 for ashlyn's party alright?"

nini sighed, "ok sounds great. bye." and she gives him a kiss.

the afternoon went by so fast. dana cooked nini's favorite home meal while they sat in the kitchen counter, talking and laughing about nini's yac experience. after her bonding time with her mothers, she ran to her bedroom to unpack and picked an outfit for ashlyn's party. she still wasn't aware what the party was all about. ricky said it was just a coincidence that she'd throw a party at the same time she came home from denver.

ricky pulled up in her driveway and saw that nini was already waiting for him by her front porch. as soon as she saw the boy, she jumped into his arms. "baby, you're finally here. i missed you."

"nins, we saw each other like 5 hours ago." ricky chuckles, noticing how clingy his girlfriend was but he wasn't complaining.

"that was." nini said in between kisses. "five hours ago." she whines and he laughs.

"well, we will be together all night so don't worry."

when they arrived at ashlyn's house, nini was surprised. the party was for her. it was a welcome home party for her. "you guys! you didn't have to do this."

"well you're back and we knew that you wanted to spend more time with us!" kourtney says.

"we hope you like it! we planned it for months." ashlyn responds.

"yeah, i do! thank you guys!" nini replies and they all emerge in a group hug.

"ok enough with the chit-chat! let's party!!" Gina shouts and everyone in the room cheers.

the party was fun. they ate, drank, laughed and danced to some rap music playing in the background and sang to some high school musical songs. they played the usual games such as truth or dare and played some rounds of spicy uno.

ej offered ricky some beer but he insisted not to. "wow, bowen. no beer for you?"

"eh, i'll settle for kombucha this time. i'm driving nini home and i don't want to get too drunk."

it was getting late and everyone had too much to drink except for ricky and nini. he noticed that nini was getting tired already. "hey, you wanna go home?"

"yes please."

the couple drove home while the rest of their friends stayed. ricky carried nini up bridal style to her room and she just collapsed to her bed.

"ugh, i need to freshen up but i'm too tired" nini whines. "baby, can you take off my makeup for me pretty please?"

ricky was hesitant. he didn't want to hurt her. "uh sure. will it hurt you though?"

"no it won't. just do it please." nini pleads.

"ok anything for you."

ricky rushed to her bathroom to grab the makeup wipes, the toner and some cotton. they both sat at the edge of her bed. when he was about to take off her eyeshadow, she stopped him. "wait i forgot, i'm wearing fake lashes. can you take it out first?"

ricky was reluctant. "wait are you sure? i don't want to hurt you."

"yes babe. stop being so dramatic." nini chuckles.

he gently removes her fake lashes out of her eyelids. when the lashes were halfway down, he would still ask her if he was hurting her and she would just shake her head.

after that, he gently grabbed the wipes from the dresser then cleaned the makeup out of her face. he grabbed the toner and cotton and swiped it along her cheeks and forehead. he loved seeing her without makeup. he admired how beautiful his girlfriend was. "all done."

nini grabbed her pocket mirror from her dresser and looked at herself, "wow ricky, you even do it better than me." and they both burst into laughter.

she puts back the mirror in the dresser then returns to bed. ricky cleans up the wipes and cotton used in the bin then returns to nini to kiss her in the forehead. she grabs his hand and pleads, "can you stay til i fall asleep?"

"of course."

ricky hums some tunes in his head until he noticed that nini fell asleep on his chest. "goodnight baby, i love you."

note: hi ! thanks for all the support! keep voting, commenting and if you have requests, just comment! i wanna hear from you guys :)