wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

summer ; 13

"I don't wanna go," Nini pouted at Ricky and Nate; Nate was, as usual, her designated stylist and Ricky was just mere support for his girlfriend. "Nini, you're a Roberts, what are people going to say if you're not there?" Nate threw a pillow at her, standing at the edge of her bed that was closest to her closet. Nini leaned the crown of her head into Ricky's shoulder and groaned, "But, we aren't even club members, why do we have to go?" Ricky ruffled her hair awkwardly, not knowing to do between the siblings' disagreement. "Nins, get up, stop being a brat; you are going to Midsummer's tomorrow with the family, Gina, EJ and Sarah will be there too. Ricky should leave soon too, it's getting late." Nate hung up the outfit for her next to her door and exited the room. He had no tolerance for his sister's whining, she whined about Midsummer's every year but this year, maybe it was because Ricky was here, she was extremely whiny and had the nerve to throw a tantrum.

"Nina, why don't you want to go?" Ricky nudged her lightly; he didn't know what this Midsummer Party was, neither was he invited by anyone or the Roberts. "It's this stupid party the rich people throw every year at the Kukui'ula Country Club. It's for people who spend tons of money to buy their membership only. Don't get me wrong, we aren't rich like those people; like yea, we live comfortably but we can't afford that stupid membership. It's not like we need it or anything. Like, why do the Roberts need-" Ricky cupped her face in his hands, cutting her off, "Nina you're rambling..." Nini closed her eyes and groaned again, "Sorry, I'm just so over this. Anyway, my Dad did some interior design stuff for one of the rich dudes from before he got rich, so our family gets invited. Now, my parents are just hellbent on maintaining relations for the sake of my dad's business. But, I hate being the prized daughter, Nini Roberts, having pretentious conversations about my dad's business or Nic's surfing or Nate's business. I usually hang with Nate but since he got engaged and started his business, he'd had to look after Emma so he has no time for me. Sorry, I'm rambling again, I just really don't want to go." Ricky enveloped her in a hug, he didn't really have any words for her situation; it sucked, that was the truth, but she also didn't have a choice.

He hated that he had to leave her that night, but he was on duty the next day, he needed to rest. Nini had burrowed her head into his chest, arms wrapped around his torso tightly, refusing to let go, "Nina, I got to go, else Nate is going to come after me." Nini let out a whine, when she was reminded about her angry brother and the reason why he was angry at her. Ricky ran his fingers through her hair, "Hey, I tell you what. Tomorrow, you go to Midsummer's with Nate, Emma and everyone, and then after that, you can come over to mine for ice cream and cuddles. How's that?" Nini leaned in to kiss him, a smile growing on her lips, "Deal."

Nini put on the dress that Nate picked out for her, a navy bodycon dress with sparkles, a gift from Gina that she'd never worn since she received it; she'd never tell Gina that it was too sparkly for her liking. She put on some makeup and curled her hair, transforming into the perfect Nini Roberts for the world to see. As she held the last strip of hair in the curling iron, she saw Nate in the corner of her eye, leaning against the doorframe. Nini turned to her brother wordlessly, still holding her hair in the curling iron. "I know you think the flower crown thing is stupid, but Emma made you one this year," Nate walked up to her; she finally released the curl from the curling iron and let him put the flower crown on her head. Another requirement she hated about Midsummer's, the goddamned flower crowns that they made girls wear. Usually, she would loathe having to wear a headdress but this time, her sister-in-law had made this one for her. Nini slapped herself internally for being a brat the day before; her brother and wife clearly just wanted to help make the whole party more tolerable for her, and instead, she threw a tantrum and was ungrateful. She hugged her brother, apologised to him and let him drag her to his car for the party.

Kukui'ula Country Club was on the South side of the island, not too far off from Poipu beach. "Nate, can we drop by the beach for a short while?" Nini pleaded with her brother, who was behind the wheel. He pulled up at the beach wordlessly, and she grinned, jumping out of the car with haste. "Oh my gosh, Nate, she left her shoes in the back seat," Emma laughed at the girl's antics; Nini would tell her that no one in their right minds would wear their heels onto the beach. No one. Nini ran to her curly-haired lifeguard who was standing on the beach and squeezed him tighty in a hug. "Damn Nina, you look really pretty." He dropped a kiss on her head, welcoming her presence, "We're still up for tonight, right?" Nini leaned in to whisper into his ear, "Of course, I can't wait to spend the night." Ricky nudged her nose at her playfulness and was about to kiss her when they were interrupted by the ringing of her phone. Nate was calling her, to get her back for the party. Nini kissed Ricky on the lips lightly and turned away to return to Nate's car. Ricky pulled her back to him for one more kiss, "Go be Nina Roberts, okay?" She smiled at him and ran back to the car.