𝐚 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.

𝟒 | 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜.

nini drove as quickly as she could to the salt lake police department. she immediately got out of her car and ran her way to the entrance. nini was surprised when she saw ricky already talking to the police officer. "i'm here! what happened?"

"there's no easy way to say this." officer jenkins explained. "but a few hours ago, there was an accident down the block. a drunk driver hit right passed a white vehicle. the bodies were identified to be your friends, connor and isabella adams. the reason why we called you two was that, you were both the emergency contact found in their wallets and cellphones."

both ricky and nini started tearing up, nini spoke up again, "what about their baby? is she ok? what happened to her?"

officer jenkins sighed, "don't worry, she's fine. she was left with the babysitter when we checked. now she's in social services."

"social services?! what why? why is she there? i-" nini starts screaming and crying while ricky rubs her shoulders to keep her calm. "hey hey, calm down. it's ok."

officer jenkins adds, "connor and isabella's lawyer will come visit the both of you tomorrow morning to explain everything. with that, they suggested that you two should spend the night at their house for the meantime."

before nini could protest, ricky said, "ok thank you officer."

officer jenkins left the two alone. nini sat down at the nearest chair, her head dipped low while ricky remained standing. the last time they saw the couple was two days ago at gracie's first birthday. it was nice to see them all happy and excited. now, they both asked themselves, what's going to happen now? who's gonna take care of their child?

ricky broke the silence when he checked the time in his phone, seeing that it was getting late. "hey nini, i think we should go." nini wiped her tears and stood up. "ok."

ricky and nini walked out of the station with tears still coming out of their eyes. it was definitely hard to take in the news that their best friends who they loved were officially gone. and to think that they were just starting their amazing future together, ricky and nini got even more emotional thinking about that.

"hey." ricky starts. "do you need a ride?"

nini sighed, "no uh it's fine. can i meet you at their house? i'm just gonna grab some clothes for the night in my apartment."

"alright." ricky responded as he grabbed his keys from his pocket. "i will probably do the same thing."

"and oh." nini added, making ricky look back at her. "if you get there first and the door is locked, just know that the spare key-"

"is hidden in the night light beside the doorbell." they both respond and nini was surprised.

"yeah i know. i've been friends with isabella as well so i know her ways." ricky said nervously while he brushed off the curls falling to his forehead. meanwhile, nini just smiled at the boy. "ok ricky. i'll see you."

"see you. bye nini."

—

ricky arrived first at the adams home. he noticed that the main door was locked so he grabbed the spare key that was inside the lamp, as said. their house was dark and quiet. a bunch of toys were scattered in the living room, isabella's keyboard and connor's guitar were displayed nearby and pictures were hung in the walls. as ricky took a glance, he sat down at the cold hardwood floor and started crying again. he was never like this. he was always known for not showing any sad emotions at all, but the loss of his best friend hit him hard.

ricky heard a car door close, meaning that nini was here. he immediately wiped the tears in his face so she wouldn't notice that he had been crying for a few minutes. "hey ricky."

"oh hi nini."

the two sat in silence again until ricky spoke up, "uhm you can sleep in the guest room, i'll just stay here at the sofa."

"uh are you sure? because i-" nini tried to protest but ricky cut her off, "it's fine, their sofa is a sofa bed so it will be ok."

nini just nodded but before she headed upstairs to the guest room, she approached ricky, "hey uhm i just wanted to say that everything will be ok alright?"

"wow being kind to me nina? i thought you hated me." ricky smirked and nini slightly rolled her eyes. "let's just put our feelings aside for now alright, until we hear an answer from the lawyer tomorrow morning. anyways, good night ricky."

—
the next morning, the two woke up early to get ready for the day. they had breakfast and immediately changed into decent clothes before connor and isabella's lawyer came to talk to them. suddenly, the doorbell rang and they both answered the door, seeing a man in a suit. "good morning. i'm mr james baker, connor and isabella's lawyer. i believe you're ricky bowen and nini salazar roberts?"

the two nodded as they let the man in. they immediately proceeded to the dining table to talk. mr baker opens his brown briefcase, bringing a bunch of papers, making ricky's heart pound and nini nervously fidgeting her fingers. "ok so i know both of you have a lot of questions."

"yes, uhm mostly about gracie. i think that's what we're both thinking of." nini started talking while ricky nodded.

"have connor and isabella talked to you about their guardianship arrangements?" mr baker asks and they both shake their heads.

"oh wow uhm ok so a few years ago, in preparing their will, one of the things we had to talk about is who will take care of their baby in the unlikely event they should both die, and uhm they named you. the both of you."

ricky and nini stood up from their seats, "wait what?!"