wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

winter ; 01

Welcome back to Kauai, Nic Roberts.

The surfing community in Kauai was throwing a celebratory party for Nicholas Roberts, who had just returned from a successful surfing competition season. Lydgate beach was well-decorated with fairy lights, open bonfires; tables were set up with cheap alcohol, soda, red cups and light sticks. These parties had been the talk of the town ever since Nic made a name for himself in pro-surfing, but Nini never attended any of them. Nic and Nate weren't your typical protective older brothers; rather, they loved including Nini in whatever they were up to. Their mom had always  encouraged them to do things together, and it stuck. Nini loved her brothers and would follow them anywhere, but parties weren't really her scene, she preferred to be stuck in the depths of their comfy sofa reading books on her kindle. After Nate's relentless nagging for her to live a little, she made a promise that she'd start attending when she was 18. She never imagined that he'd remember her promise, and never regretted that promise more than the very night of the party. Nate was so excited for her to join them at the party that he'd already picked out an outfit for her.

So, unlike most girls who'd fret over what to wear to their first party, Nini threw on the cute yellow top, blue jean shorts that Nate picked out and added a beige knit cardigan for the final touch, knowing full well that the beach was rather windy on a winter night. She put on some mascara lightly and filled in her brows, but left her hair looking natural. "Lookin' good, Nins. Excited for your first party?" Nate asked as he dragged her to his truck. Nini merely shrugged, she was kind of dreading the night ahead, but also really excited to see Nic for the first time since last winter.

As Nate pulled into the parking lot at Lydgate, he ruffled her hair lightly and said, "Just say the word and Nic and I will take you home, okay?" Nini nodded silently as she fiddled with her cardigan. She wanted to go home already, but she also wanted her brothers to enjoy this night without worrying about her. They both got out of the car and headed toward the beach, which was already crowded with people. "Hey Nate, hey Nini," People swarmed around them, bumping fists with the oldest Roberts son. Nini smiled and waved, acknowledging the familiar faces as she followed her brother to the table near the bonfire. Upon spotting Nic in the crowd, Nini broke into a run, maneuvering through the crowd surrounding him, and pulled him into a big hug. Nate followed behind closely, enveloping the two in a group hug.

"First party, Nins," Nic ruffled her hair lightly, like Nate did. Nini rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder. "Really, that's the first thing you say after you haven't seen your baby sister for a whole year?"

"I'm just glad you're here," Nic smiled and ruffled her hair again. He introduced her to his friends, most whom she already knew because Nic always invited them over when they were younger. One of them, however, was an unfamiliar face. "This is Ricky, and he just moved here from Oahu a few weeks ago." Nini stuck her hand out for a handshake, and was met with his warm hand. There was a sparkle in his eyes as he took in the view of Nini Roberts. She was a really small girl, compared to her brothers but he noticed she was pretty confident for someone who was at their first party. The way she leaned into her brothers comfortably was really cute, and he liked the sound of her laugh.

The group slowly started to dissipate as Nate went off to find his fiancee and other people began to approach Nic to talk to him about his competition season. Nini headed further to sit on a log around the bonfire, a source of heat in the chilly night. A few people chatted her up, she felt a little uncomfortable that they knew she was, but still managed small talk. She didn't last long and eventually pulled away from the crowd, farther into the beach, while making sure that she was still within eye-shot from her brothers.

She settled on the sand, wrapping her cardigan tighter around her body, staring out into the waves, listening to them crash.

"Hey Nini, what are you doing out here?" She turned her head around to the source of the voice, finding that Ricky was standing behind her.