euphoria. [ rini au ]

chapter six.

Entering her history class on Monday afternoon, Nini walked down the narrow aisle between rows of desks and slid into her spot in front of Kourtney. A few seconds later, Ashlyn skipped in with a bag of chocolate chip cookies in her hand.

"I bring sustenance," she declared, sitting across from Nini. "In culinary class today, we were trying to come up with a dairy free and gluten free recipe. Let me know if it tastes like dirt."

"Oh, how inviting," Nini teased as she accepted one and took a bite. The flavour wasn't that bland, but it still wasn't as satisfying as cookies should be. "What is exactly in this?"

"There's some almond flour, peanut butter, flaxseeds and some other stuff," Ashlyn told her, taking a bite. "God, these need work."

"Speaking of work," Kourtney interrupted, "how about we try to work on the project that's due next week? We need to come up with a topic and schedule to work on it after school."

"This week really isn't good," Nini said. "I can do part of it at home, but I have track every day after school and then the meet on Friday and Saturday. Maybe next week?"

"What about free period?" Kourtney asked, scanning her planner. "And study hall."

"I don't have a study hall, I took gym instead," Nini reminded her. "And I have track during free period except for Wednesday and Thursday - I have basketball tryouts, plus any time in between, I'm practicing for the musical auditions."

"I'm free Sunday," Ashlyn said, looking up from the calendar on her phone.

"Ricky and I were going to-," Nini sighed when she saw Kourtney's face cloud," -yeah, that can work."

"Well, no, if you and Ricky were going to do something-," Ashlyn was cut off by Kourtney.

"She said it was fine. I'm sure Ricky and Nini can reschedule their basketball game or movie day or whatever it was," Kourtney replied, irritated by her friends lack of interest. Nini remained silent, something that didn't go unnoticed by Ashlyn.

"Kourt, that's not fair. If they had plans, maybe we should pick another day," the redhead's voice said.

"There isn't another day, Ashlyn," Kourtney shot back. "You have robotics and baking club and Nini has this ridiculous track schedule and basketball tryouts and maybe even the musical, so that pretty much rules out any other moment of actual intellectual activity."

"Hey, that's not fair," Ashlyn said. "Your schedule is just as bad."

"Yeah, but mine can't be changed. Nini, can't you just tell the track coach you need to miss a practice or something. Or Coach Russell could let you skip tryouts. You're on the team anyways." Kourtney said in a rather rude manner.

"No, Kourt, I have a meet coming up. It decides who goes to States. Sort of important." Nini spit out. "And if I want captain, I need to be at tryouts."

"Captain is a big position," Kourtney told her in the same voice a mother would use to their kid. "Look how much time Ricky spends with it. You'll barely have time to help me run for student president."

"I'm thinking of passing it up this year. I've helped with student council every year since I came to East High and I want to do something different."

"You'd give up student council for basketball?! Nini, it's basketball!" Kourt cried out, horrified.

"Kourt, relax and focus on the project," Ashlyn reprimanded. "Not everyone looks down their noses at the athletes. She's allowed to have fun, you know."

Nini just kept silent, continuing to help brainstorm ideas for the project as she tried to push the conversation out of her mind. So much for having a best friend to support you and be behind your back, she thought to herself as she furiously took notes from the textbook.