euphoria. [ rini au ]

chapter eight.

Nini's head was spinning. She had won. First place was hers. She got a spot at States. The idea barely circled her brain once before Ricky's yells and whistles drew her attention that way. He was proud. She had made him happy. He had seen her beat everyone and win.

For a moment everything faded and she could see the smile on his face, and she locked eyes with his warm brown eyes. Someone yelled her name and her eyes flicked over to the West High students before finding Hunter. It wasn't Hunter though that was standing awkwardly near the fence in the parking lot.

"Kourtney," Nini whispered to herself. "What the fuck?"

She gave a small wave and then shrugged, as close to an apology as Nini knew she could expect in public. Another yell came from the coach and Nini looked at Kourtney again before jogging over to the bench where E.J. was.

"Kourtney's here?" he asked and Nini nodded.

"I don't understand," she told him. "The things I said to her, I thought she would-"

"Would what? Nini, you were completely right about everything you said. Sure it wasn't in the usual, subtle Nini way, but you were still right."

"I know and I know it had to be said, but I didn't think she would come here."

"Maybe it means she's listening. Kourtney's not a horrible person, she just takes things at face value. All the years since you've known her, it's been you and her but now you're doing your own thing. There's nothing wrong with that, but for her it's new. After two months of not being around, you appear to be a completely different person," E.J. explained stretching before his event.

"Am I?" she asked, "Different?"

"Yes and no. I recognize you because you came back as the girl I knew before you stopped hanging out with me in high school because you thought it was ruining my reputation. I like that girl," he insisted. "I know that girl. So, to me and Ricky and Ashlyn, you're the same. Kourtney just needs time to learn how to do things on her own."

Nini nodded as the coach called E.J. to get ready. Motioning him to go, she let her eyes draw to the boy across the field who was watching only her. She knew he would be trying to figure out what she was thinking and it made her smile that he still put that much effort into pushing her buttons to get his desired response. She recalled something Madi had said at camp when they were still on shaky grounds. He knows how you think and what you need more than you do. If he didn't, it wouldn't have cause this sort of gap between you over the years. The people who know us best and call us on our shit are always the people we try to prove ourselves to. God, that girl was always right, Nini thought as she locked gazes with Ricky.

Ricky knew what she wanted and he understood what each thought behind each action was. Did she do the same for him? Or had it somehow become one-sided? No, her brain rationalized, you know him. Grinning, she saw each smile he had ever given her flash through her mind. She knew when he was joking or when he was mocking her by the way his smile lit his eyes. She knew that his jaw muscle twitched when he was lying and how the pulse in his neck fluttered when he was upset. She knew a smirk from a grin and a genuine smile from one that was humouring those present.

She knew that he ran a finger through his curls when he was nervous but ran a hand over his face when he was frustrated. She knew he closed his eyes whenever someone was on his last nerve and she knew it was better for him to yell at you and acknowledge you than to have him give you a blank stare and brush past. No, Nini thought to herself as they tore eyes apart and looked to see an East runner hand his baton to E.J. in the last lap, she knew Ricky as he knew her. He just hadn't needed her yet the way she needed him.

He was the air that let her breath and the roots that kept her grounded. She needed him around even if it was to yell, she couldn't function without knowing where and what he was doing. She wished they were alone, in the treehouse or on her back porch where she could tell him that she finally got it. She finally knew what it felt like. Instead, she tried to focus on her teammates.

Damn, she wished she could run up and kiss him first.

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The distance between them was painful. Nini watched as Ricky leaned against the railing talking to Seb and Carlos, willing him to turn around so she wouldn't have to walk all the way to him. She loved him, yes, but her muscles screamed with abuse and her joints were comparable to the Tin Man. Wait, she loved him? She paused as her thoughts actually registered.

She loved him.

Okay, don't panic. It just slipped, that happens. And he is pretty much your best friend, you're supposed to love your friends. You can love him without admitting you're in love with him.

Oh screw it, she was in love with him.

Well, she decided, that would have to wait because right now all she wanted was to drop her tough girl act and demand he carry her to the car. Nini trudged across the turf, dragging her bag behind her on the ground when he turned and a grin lit up his face as he hurried to take the bag from her hand.

"Screw the bag," she told him, snaking her arms up his chest and behind his neck.

"You were amazing," he gushed. "I've never seen you work so hard in my life. You were so damn-," his lips were covered by her hand.

"I'm tired," she mumbled, her face pressed against the fabric of his shirt.

"Your mom said she had to go back to work to make up for taking the afternoon off, but she wanted you to call to see if you would be home tonight. Ashlyn mentioned a sleepover, but I agreed to be the messenger," he told her, flinging her bag over his shoulder.

"Mmmm," she replied. "Sleep."

"So is that a 'Yes, Ricky, call my mom and tell her I'll be passed out at home' or a 'Ricky, drive me to Ashlyn's so I can sleep on the floor'?" he joked, bending so he could pick her up and bring her to his car.

"You going?" she asked.

"Maybe," he teased, tensing when he felt her lips nip the spot behind his ear. She's tired, he told himself. "Neens? What are you doing?"

"You going?" she asked again.

"Yes."

"Mmmm, 'kay," she murmured.

That settled, Nini snuggled closer to him and shut her eyes as they walked towards the parking lot, over to Ricky's car.

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Ricky felt the feather light fingertips on his skin but couldn't see her in the darkness of Ashlyn's living room. Fumbling through webs of sleep, he opened his heavy eyes and let his fingers clutch hers. She gasped and he chuckled sleepily before propping himself up on one elbow. Nini's profile was highlighted by the streetlight coming in through the window and he ran a hand along the parts he could see, tracing them.

"It's late," he told her, feeling her head lay on his chest.

Around them, their friends lay sprawled in various positions around the room. E.J. claimed the couch and Gina was on an air mattress. Ashlyn and Big Red escaped to a spare bedroom and Seb and Carlos were in sleeping bags on the floor. Nini and Ricky were on a double air mattress against the far wall. Nini had fallen asleep earlier during the bickering over what toppings for how many pizzas. Sliding a hand against her shoulder, Ricky rested his chin on top of her head as her breath tickled his chest.

"I know, I didn't mean to wake you," she said softly.

"Are you hungry? You only ate an apple before falling asleep," he told her but she shook her head.

"I'm fine, go back to sleep," she urged as he lay his head against the pillow, inclining it towards her.

"You too?" he asked, running a finger through her hair.

He missed the nod as he closed his eyes again but he could feel the fire racing through him as her limbs and torso pressed against him. Letting his fingers dance up her arm, Ricky looped an arm under her back and pulled her closer. Feeling her breath warm his kin, he let it lull him to sleep.