Your Secret's Safe With Me

Chapter 10: Honesty: Part 1

**Time Skip* It's been a week and a day (so it's Wednesday the next week). Nini and Ricky continue to get together after school for their tutoring sessions. They even take turns at each other's house. Ricky's "improving" his grades a little but not enough to show he's still hiding something. Ricky introduced Nini to Big Red one day out of the week briefly and Big Red thinks it's really cool of her to be "helping" him. Finnick's back at college now but made Nini promise to keep him updated daily as always. Anyway, it's Wednesday and Nini and Ricky just arrived at Nini's for their tutoring session.*

Nini: So, are you ready to tackle your physics work?
Ricky: As long as you help me *laughs*
Nini: *laughs* You know I always do
Ricky: How'd your meeting go with Mr. Mazzara about that scholarship program?
Nini: Fine, but that man is so boring! It's like, you try to talk about something other than school and he switches the topic right back to school! And how he always speaks in such a monotone voice like, oh my gosh I just wanted to get out of there *laughs*
Ricky: monotoned is right *laughs*
Nini: But I'd much rather be here teaching you then in a room with him
Ricky: well that's good to hear *laughs* you tell me, have I gotten better the last week? Even a little?
Nini: I'd say you've improved a little bit and are starting to understand things better then you did before
Ricky: all thanks to you *laughs*
Nini: Hey, I'm not the one working hard to improve. It's a team effort
Ricky: I'll take it. So I guess we should get started?
Nini: I guess we should. Wanna go upstairs to my room to work today?
Ricky: sounds good
Nini: *we walk upstairs and sit down in my room* Okay, do you want to try the first one on your own?
Ricky: sure. Oh thank god this is multiple choice *laughs* all comes to worse, I can just guess and pray *laughs*
Nini: *laughs* Answer the question goofball

*we work for awhile*

Ricky: *We are still working and of course I get to another question and circle the wrong answer*
Nini: No, that's not right. The question says "If you double the force when stretching a spring, the elongation of the spring is normally what." And it's half as much
Ricky: well no, it's twice as much.
Nini: Huh?
Ricky: oh um... I'm just guessing again...
Nini: When you elongate the spring, it looses its stability, therefore can loose force. It-
Ricky: but Hooke's Law says that the strain in a solid is proportional to the applied stress within the elastic limit of that solid. So that would mean the elongation of the spring is twice as much *SHIT*
Nini: *What the hell? How did he know that?!* H-how did you know that?
Ricky: I- It just came to me- I- *stop lying. It's time she knows the full truth* *exhales deeply* I-
Nini: Ricky, you know we don't lie to each other. I said I wanted full honesty
Ricky: I know Um. I couldn't tell you the 1st day and ever since then I haven't been able to figure out how to tell you.
I told you I was bullied at my old school for how I was as a person. That is true, partly. I was mostly bullied because of how.... well because of how smart I was. 100s and over in every class, rewards in every subject, and all that kind of stuff. That's what I was picked on for. I even wound up in the hospital needing stitches on my knee from the bullying getting so bad. I don't think I was arrogant about any of it, I just always had special treatment from the teachers and the other kids hated it. That's why I act dumb at school. That's why I'm failing all my classes. I can't lie to you anymore.
Nini: W-wow. I didn't expect that. Why didn't you just tell me the truth? You know I would never hate you for who you truly are. Do you not trust me?
Ricky: no... that's not it at all. If I didn't trust you I wouldn't have taken you to my house literally the day I apologized. I didn't tell you because, well because if I told you... then I wouldn't need you as my tutor.
Nini: But why- *oh no, did he think that* Oh did you think that I was gonna leave you? Because I didn't have to tutor you anymore?
Ricky: at 1st yes, but after this past week no. I just didn't know how to tell you without making you feel stupid. But while I'm being honest I guess I'll tell you the real reason I didn't like you very much
Nini: Why didn't you like me?
Ricky: because you are so smart. You are the person I was, but not only do you not let it bother you, it works for you. When I tried being myself.... my full self, I wound up in the nurses office everyday and even the hospital that one time. Being smart and yourself and all, just works for you and it bothered me so much.
Nini: Ricky, I had no clue- god I feel so dumb, I'm so sorry I did that to you
Ricky: you didn't do anything. It's my stupid brain getting in the way of everything as always
Nini: No, it's not your fault. It's not my fault. It's every last person that made you change. That hurt you. That messed with your stuff. Called you names. Teased you. It's their fault.
Ricky: they sucked *laughs a little* I'm sorry for not telling you sooner
Nini: At first I was upset that you weren't fully honest with me, but I understand why you weren't. I get it. But it looks like you need something...
Ricky: I need to be honest more often is what I need *laughs*
Nini: Yes that *laughs* But that's not what I was talking about
Ricky: what do I need?
Nini: A big big Nini hug! *smiles*
Ricky: oh I could definitely use a big Nini hug *I hug you*
Nini: *I hug you tight*
Ricky: I hate to ask this again...
Nini: What?
Ricky: please don't tell anyone about this... I'm still not ready for everyone to know
Nini: Of course Ricky, I'd never do that to you. Like I said, your secrets safe with me.
Ricky: *I pull back* thank you. So that does mean you have to tutor me everyday
Nini: No, I can just lie and log that we did. But can you at least try to bring up your grade a little? Maybe so yo have like a D- at least?
Ricky: okay. I promise. But I was saying I don't want to cancel our tutoring sessions.
Nini: Why?
Ricky: I like studying with you
Nini: *Well I like studying with you too cutie* We can always study together, but now I don't have to reteach you things. But I like studying with you too
Ricky: yeah. No teaching necessary. But we can still help each other I guess
Nini: I'd like that, plus I won't have to feel bad for hanging out with you during our tutoring time. Wait, you still wanna hangout right?
Ricky: totally. let's just finish this then we can play a game or something.
Nini: Okay. Wait, you can do all these problems without me, right?
Ricky: Sorry, yeah *laughs a little*
Nini: It's okay *laughs* I'm gonna go to the bathroom quick while you finish

Nini: *I walk into the bathroom and text Finnick*
Nini: *texts* Finnick... he's smart
Finnick: *texts* who?
Nini: *texts* Ricky, like smart smart. Like smarter than me smart
Finnick: *texts* arn't you his tutor?
Nini: *texts* Yeah, but long story short, he lied so I would still have to tutor him and be around him because he thought I was gonna leave him
Finnick: *texts* I told you he likes you!
Nini: *texts* Or maybe he just didn't wanna loose a friend
Finnick: *texts* or maybe he likes you... now that you know or whatever, are you gonna like stop tutoring him? arn't you suppose to be logging hours or whatever
Nini: *texts* Yeah I'm still gonna log hours but I'm just not teaching him anymore
Finnick: *texts* so are you... well did he say that there's really no reason to get together after school anymore?
Nini: *texts* No he still wants to hang out with me. He thought I wouldn't want to hang out if he told the truth
Finnick: *texts* I thought boys were the oblivious ones... come on Nini... he could have easily just asked you to log hours so he could be free after school. he wants to be around you.... like you said. he. likes. you.
Nini: *texts* I still think he just sees me as a friend. I mean, I'm one of his only friends
Finnick: *texts* why are you denying this? you like him. we both know that. he wants to hang out with you. there has to be a reason you don't see it. do you not want him to like you?
Nini: *texts* No, I do want him to like me, I just have the feeling he doesn't
Finnick: *texts* why?
Nini: *texts* I don't know I just do. I gotta get back to Ricky though because I've been gone for a while. byeeeee
Finnick: *texts* love youuuu.
Nini: *texts* Love you tooooooo

Ricky: *I finished while Nini was gone and now I'm just looking at my phone*
Nine: *I walk out and back into my room* Hey I'm back... Are you done already done?
Ricky: Maybe..
Nine: Oh god, now I feel stupid for helping you so much *laughs*
Ricky: Oh please don;t feel stupid, thats all on me. I'm so sorry
Nini: It's fine *laughs*
Ricky: Hey, so I was thinking we could play truth or dare? Definitely an honesty game *laughs*
Nini: What are we, 6th graders? *laughs*
Ricky: very intelligent 6th graders *laughs*
Nini: Well okay then. Ask away Bowen                      
Ricky: here, I'll look up truths and dares... okay truth or dare?
Nini: Ooh Dare
Ricky: Okay okay *l look through dares*
Nini: Choose wisely now *laughs*
Ricky: we'll start simple... try and lick your elbow *laughs*
Nini: Oh god *laughs* *I try to lick my elbow and fail* Well that was a major fail
Ricky: yeah but it was fun to watch *laughs*
Nini: Oh gee thanks *laughs* Can I see the list?
Ricky: *I hand you my phone*
Nini: Okay, truth or dare?
Ricky: umm truth
Nini: Oooh okay *I scroll through the list* What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?
Ricky: oh god um... I don't know if this counts but basketball *laughs*. I absolutely hate basketball and I'm so bad at it. I really only got captain because I was chosen by vote of the team, but I know the coach can tell how terrible I am with dribbling a ball and throwing it in the hoop
Nini: Oh poor Ricky *laughs* It's okay, we all have our strong suits and our weaknesses
Ricky: *laughs* Iguess so *I take my phone back* truth or dare?
Nini: Mmm I'll do truth
Ricky: Okay... um... *I put the phone down* do you like me with or without my glasses on better?
Nini: Hmmm I personally like you better with glasses
Ricky: really? *laughs*
Nini: Yeah, really *laughs* You look better in your glasses
Ricky: *smiles* thanks
Nini: No problem. *I grab the phone* Truth or Dare?
Ricky: I guess I'll do dare this time
Nini: Oooh okay *I scroll the list* Oh yell the first thing that comes to your mind
Ricky: TUTOR
Nini: *laughs* Well then, I guess that works
Ricky: *laughs* I mean you're still my tutor
Nini: Let's be real here though, you're probably smarter than me
Ricky: how would you know that?
Nini: I just have the feeling that you are
Ricky: mmm I don't know... you are "Miss 100" after all *laughs*
Nini: Didn't you say that's who you still are?
Ricky: what do you mean?
Nini: Well like you told me, that was you when you were younger, so you're probably still insanely smart
Ricky: I haven't gotten a solid grade like on a test or homework assignment in years though
Nini: But did you know what every correct answer was on say... the last physics test?
Ricky: maybe not ALL of them...
Nini: Ricky...
Ricky: Nini...
Nini: Are you lying?
Ricky: there's a small possibility...
Nini: Ricky! What did I say about honesty?!
Ricky: I'm sorry! I'm still getting use to it *laughs*
Nini: It's okay *laughs* We've been through this, just be honest. I'm not gonna judge you for who you are
Ricky: *without hesitating I all the sudden just hear myself saying* I like you *did I just- I did*

So now Nini knows he's actually a geeky boy...
And Ricky just said... yeah you saw... sorry for the cliffhanger!
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