wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

spring ; 03

"Waterbug, wanna go down to the South Shore to catch a wave?" Nini groaned from under her covers. Nini was having a hard time adjusting back to school, she'd been sleeping later than usual, trying to get her project done and could never bring herself to wake up before nine. "What the heck, Nate, it's only eight in the morning, I can't do this..." Her voice muffled because she had pulled her pillow over her head to dampen the loudness of Nate's voice. "Of course you can Nins, Ricky's on shift at Poipu today," Nate teased, knowing that was what would get her out of bed. True enough, she willed herself to sit up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Go get ready, waterbug, I'll pick something out for you." Nate shoved her into the bathroom and picked out a yellow bikini and light blue romper to wear over. Nini never needed to call her girl friends to ask them what she should wear because Nate would always choose the most flattering clothes for her. Before Nini changed out of her pajamas, she took a glance at her phone and just as she had hoped, there was a message from Ricky.

Ricky

Morning, Nina, hope you had a good rest last night, can't wait to hang out at the Shipwreck tonight

It was a week after game night, Nini was back in school and her conversations with Ricky continued despite their busyness of school and work. They never failed to facetime good nights and text good mornings. They hadn't managed to hang out yet, Nini was swamped with incoming assignments. But, Ricky was understanding of her struggle to juggle school work and helping out at her family business. Two days ago, he had asked her if she wanted to hang out at the Shipwreck bar on Saturday night and of course, she told him that she'd love to hang out with him, it was a weekend after all.

Nina

Morning, lifeguard! Stay safe out there, can't wait to see you either

Nic and Nate were loading the truck with their surfboards, while Nini stumbled into the kitchen to put together a sandwich for Ricky. She figured that if she was going to surprise him on duty, she couldn't show up empty-handed. After all, she was out to impress. Ricky had impressed her but remembering that she wanted to be called Nina, which is a name that no one really addressed her by anymore. She expected that any guys who befriended her just wanted to get closer with her brothers, but she couldn't be more wrong. This was a time to return the favour to him, and show him that he was special to her.

Upon their arrival at Poipu beach, Nini hopped out from Nate's truck with a bunch of bananas and the sandwich in hand and her small bag around her shoulders. The bananas were for the rest of her lifeguard friends, whom she acquired last year after visiting Poipu beach almost everyday the entire summer. Heading over to the lifeguard tower, she immediately spotted EJ and Big Red. Nini ran up the stairs leading the tower as quickly as her not-so-long legs could take her and hugged the guys. "Guys, I brought something for y'all to snack on shift," Nini excitedly handed the bananas over to Red, only to realise a third guy had just came out of the tower to join them outside; a curly-haired guy donned in the yellow lifeguard singlet and red shorts. His sunglasses blocked her view of his eyes but she recognised his silhouette. Ricky.

Nini moved over so that she was right next to him, "Hey Ricky." She leaned over to kiss his cheek and much to her dismay, he responded curtly with a "Nina", shuffling away from her. He was busy scanning the beach for any sign of distress, "You know that visitors aren't allowed on the tower right?"

A crinkle appeared on her face, "I'm not just a visitor, Ricky. And, I brought you a sandwich, you could have it for your break later." He took it from her, muttering a "thanks" but still did not spare her a glance, his eyes continually fixed toward the beach. Despite her disappointment, she tried to hold his elbow to get his attention; but, was even more disappointed than before when he shrugged her hand off his arm, still looking out into the sea. Nini was confused, up till this morning he still indicated interest, saying that he couldn't wait to hang out with her but right then, as she appeared before him after one week of not seeing each other, he was suddenly cold and couldn't be bothered with her. Nini decided then to back off and head in the water to clear her head. Nic noticed the shift in his little sister's mood, and ruffled her hair to comfort her. She sighed in response, dragging her surfboard into the water as quickly as she could.

It was an angry surf. Nini paddled furiously, snapped the lids of waves relentlessly; in all honesty, she was killing the game. Ricky watched her from the lifeguard tower, his heart clenched every now and then. She looked so attractive in yellow, and in that yellow bikini on that blue board, she never looked more in her element. This was the first time Ricky saw her in the water, and gosh, was she beautiful. He was not expecting her to show up at this time, while he was on duty. He knew that she didn't get much sleep last week and figured that the earliest she would go surfing would be around 11, which was during his lunch break. He never thought that he would have to show this side of himself to her this soon, and he didn't even prepare for it. Ricky knew that she was disappointed in him, and maybe even hurt by his actions. He wondered if he would get the chance to explain himself, or see her later that night. He shook the thoughts away and tried to focus on the water again. I'm on duty, I need to focus.

As Nini got out of the sea to dry off, she took a final glance at the lifeguard tower, only to be met with the sight of Ricky staring far out into the ocean, again. She shook her head in disappointment and fought the tears that came to her eyes. She really thought that he would be different. Nini quickly dried her hair and slipped on her romper, following her brothers back to the truck. She couldn't wait to get back home, lie on her bed and cry into her pillow.

It was two in the afternoon when she finally woke up to several texts from Ricky.

Ricky

Hey Nina, sorry about this morning, you caught me at a bad time.

Can we still meet up tonight?

I know I owe you an explanation, would really want to meet tonight to talk

I get that you might not want to talk to me but I'll be at the bar waiting till you show up.

Please come

"Hey bug, you're finally up," Nic was sitting across her in the hammock set up in her room, "What happened with Ricky just now?" She sat up, leaning against the headboard, formulating an answer in her brain. Her brothers could see through her, they detected every lie since she started lying; there was kind of no use in trying to cover up the truth. "Do you think he likes me?"

Nic raised his eyebrows, "Nins, why is that even a question?" He moved out of the hammock and onto the edge of her bed, "I'll tell you, I met Ricky in Oahu a few months ago when I was there for my season and he always seemed on edge or upset about something. But, last week during game night, that was the first time I saw him chilled out, and he even smiled. And, why was that? Because of you, Nins, you have that effect on him."

"Well, I clearly didn't have that effect on him today. He was freakin' ignoring me this morning, wouldn't look me in the eye," Nini sulked, her lower lip jutting out in a pout. "Are you going to let him explain himself before you decide to ghost him and maybe regret it for the rest of your life, or are you going to let this destroy your something special?" Nic asked her.

Nini protested, crossing her arms over her chest, "Nic, he already destroyed it. And, what makes you so such that it was something special?"

"Nini, He likes you, you like him, we all saw it. Now, stop throwing a tantrum and go fight for your something special." Nic nudged her, but she stayed put, sitting against the headboard of her bed.

That night, she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to shake the thoughts of Ricky that flooded her mind. He rejected her, was he playing her? Did he think he could just play hot and cold with her? Nini pulled her pillow over her head, counting sheep to get her mind off the image of him sitting alone, waiting for her.

——
eeks dramaaaa...
would really love to see some comments along the way ♡