"it's over, Nini. you survived it."
"in a way, Ricky, i think this may only be the beginning."
nini salazar-roberts was living an averagely eventful life living with her two moms. highschool, drama, she even had a little crush. but on valentine's da...
nini walked through her front door with her mom following behind her with two bags from the mall downtown.
"oh i have to look at it again!" nini exclaimed as she sat the bags down on the couch. she opened one of the bags and pulled out a short, red dress.
"isn't it just beautiful! and the shoes go perfectly!" she said, admiring the dress.
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"it's is beautiful, sweetheart, especially on you." her mother said smiling at her radiant daughter.
"thank you so much mama! mom is going to love it! she always said red was my color!" she said as she embraced her mom in a hug.
"and it is. now i predict when ricky sees you in the dress, he isn't going to want to dance with anyone else!" ninis mom said, making her blush.
"but, there is just one thing missing from the picture. i'll be right back." her mom said as she hurried upstairs. before nini could ask any questions, the doorbell rang.
nini walked over and opened the door to see ricky standing on her porch.
"hey, how's it goin?" he said in a friendly tone with his hands in his pockets.
"great, but i thought we were going to meet each other at the dance?" nini said, slightly confused why ricky was at her house.
"that's actually why i came over. there was just one thing i wanted to run by you." he said, in a tone that hinted it wasn't a very big deal.
"well come on in. i just got home myself." nini said, opening the door wider to greet ricky into her living room.
"cool, i just wanted to make sure we are on the same page about tonight. you know, since we said we would just meet up with each other at the dance, it's not like a "date" date, or anything. so it's cool if i bring someone." ricky said while nini sat down on the couch.
"you want to bring someone?" nini said, trying to hide the fact that she was slightly hurt.
"well you know how hung up gina has been over EJ since water polo season started, and she just asked if i would take her, you know so she wouldn't have to walk in alone." he said before nini briefly interjected.
"you're taking gina?" she said softly.
"yeah, i mean you can still come along and hang out with us, i mean if nothing better comes up." ricky suggested, making nini feel like she was some puppy that just wanted to tag along.
"yeah i'll see." nini said, putting on a fake, close mouthed smile.
"okay, well i'll maybe see you there. tell your mother 'hi' for me." ricky said with a smile and nini walked him back to the door.
"yeah, okay! bye." nini said in her best fake-cheerful tone. when nini shut the door, she turned back around and her face fell.
"well that's not a good look, i hope you aren't having second thoughts about the dress, darling." her mom said as she came back down the stairs.
"oh, no. it beautiful. really, too beautiful to waste wearing it to a dance. i don't really know if i'm up for going anymore, mama." she said, trying to make her voice sound as if she didn't want to cry.
"oh i know what you have. a case of cold feet. and it's okay! you are getting a little nervous that you have built up the night too much in your head and you are scared that reality will let you down. it's fine, sweetheart, but when you get to the dance, you are going to have a fantastic time!" her mother said, taking ninis hands in hers.
"no mama, i don't think that's it. i'm just really tired and i think i'm coming down with something like the flu." nini said biting the inside of her cheek.
"nina, i know you, and you wouldn't let something like the flu keep you from a night you are excited for. now aren't you at least a little bit curious why i went upstairs?" her mother asked, causing nini to shrug her shoulders and nod her head yes.
"i want you to wear this. as good luck. it was a gift from your mom to me on one of our very first dates." her mother said, handing nini a silver bracelet with pearly beads placed along the chain.
"oh mama, aren't you afraid i'm going to lose it?" nini said, admiring the beautiful piece of jewelry.
"not at all. it has a very firm clasp, so you can dance all night long without it falling off. i can attest to that." her mom said, placing the bracelet on ninis wrist and holding her hand.
"thank you mama." she said as she hugged her mom and started to gather her the bags to head upstairs.
"are you okay, nina?" her mother concerned about ninis demeanor.
"i'm fine. it's late so i should start getting ready." she said will a small smile and headed upstairs. nini didn't have the heart to tell her mother that she didn't plan on going to the dance anymore. she decided she would get ready, leave the house and go waste a few hours at the movies or something, then come back home and keep the details to a minimum, saying the basis of "yeah, mama, the dance was fun! a lot of dancing. anyways i'm super tired now, goodnight!"
nini couldn't help it but be disappointed by what ricky said. she knew his intentions weren't to hurt her, but that was exactly what he did.
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Authors Note : not to spoil, but the main problem for the story happens next chapter! (maybe the one after, depends on a few things) don't be a silent reader!! do you like this book so far? xoxo, jo <3
