Ricky & Nini : After All

Chapter 29 : Bluff

Ricky's POV:

I know that we can't pretend that the kiss didn't happen. Honestly, that'd be stupid. But I didn't know what else to say in the moment. I have no idea how Nini is feeling, and I don't know which way to turn.

Nini's probably well asleep by now, and I'm just laying on the couch under a blanket, replaying the kiss in my mind a million times. It really did come out of nowhere, but for some reason I wasn't surprised by it. It felt natural.

Nini's POV:

It took me forever to fall asleep last night. I wish I could admit it wasn't because of the kiss, but I'd be lying if I did. The main question that kept circulating through my mind was, "Why did it feel so... right?"

Even though I didn't fall asleep until late, I somehow woke up before the sun rose. After scrolling through my phone for a few minutes, I sneak downstairs and find Ricky still asleep on the couch. I try to be quiet as I get a cup from the cabinet. As I'm shutting the fridge after getting some water, I hear Ricky grumble, "Morning." 

I turn around. "Good morning. I'm sorry for waking you up. I was trying to be quiet." I reply apologetically. "Don't worry about it." Ricky says, rubbing his eyes. He sits up on the couch. "What time is it?" He asks. "Just after 7." I reply, filling up another glass of water. I walk over to the couch and hand it to him. "Thanks." He says as he takes the cup. After taking a few sips, I say, "I think I need to go grocery shopping." As soon as I said that, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Allie. 

"Oh, wow! Allie was able to get on a flight today, so she'll be here tonight." I say, relaying her message to Ricky. "That's great," Ricky replies, still half asleep. "About grocery shopping, do you wanna go soon or wait until she gets here?"

"I think we can go in a little while and just get some essentials." I reply, and Ricky nods. We both get ready and then we leave for the grocery store. I looked it up earlier, and it was only a 10 minute walk. "You ready?" I ask as I grab my purse. "Yes, let me grab my phone." Ricky replies. 

As I'm waiting at the door, I start running through our conversations this morning. Part of me wishes we could just talk about what happened yesterday, but the other part of me wants to forget it happened, like Ricky suggested. I don't know if he actually meant that or he just thinks it'd be the easier option for the both of us. 

The weather is nice, so the walk to the grocery store is enjoyable. We get a few things that won't be much trouble to carry back to the house. As we're checking out, I pick up a little keychain and turn it over in my fingers. It's a pretty image of the bluff overlooking the blue ocean that I can see from my cottage. "Get it." Ricky murmurs. "Need at least one souvenir." I roll my eyes, but add it to the cart. 

Ricky's POV

On the way back to the cottage, we decide to take a more scenic route that allows us to see more of the beach down below. As we're walking, I can't help but toss around the idea of bringing up the kiss. But I can't. I was the one who suggested we pretend it didn't happen. Why the hell did I say that?  I think over and over in my mind. 

But at the same time, I have to ask myself...why do I feel like this? I got out of a three year relationship not that long ago. Is this even okay to be feeling? I guess I'm the one who gets to the decide that for myself. 

We continue walking along the bluff. At one particularly pretty spot, Nini asks me to take a photo of her. I agree and take a few from different angles. "Thanks!" She says, skipping along ahead of me. I can tell that she's so happy to be here, and that makes me happy.

I look down the little cliff at the sand and waves below, and I'm equally traumatized and amazed. The sound of the waves hitting the shore is a constant and peaceful sound. I can begin to see the cottages in the distance. Nini is still ahead of me. "Nini, wait up!" I say jokingly.

She spins around to face me, and in that split second I realize what's about to happen. "Nini..-" I start to yell. But it's too late. As she takes a step backwards, her foot slips on a rocky ledge, that seems like a makeshift staircase, and she falls. Pieces of the stone crumble and go down with her. 

 Nini screamed. And it was all I could hear, even after she stopped. It's all I could think about as I rushed to her. And that's when I knew for sure. I love her. 

The rocky steps were steep and probably rarely used based on their ruggedness. I almost tripped running down them. She was near the bottom, almost in the sand. One of her legs is bloodied and she's laying on her side. "Nini!" I shout, running up to her and cradling her in my lap. "Are you okay?" She doesn't answer. Her eyelids flutter. "Please answer me." I say, getting desperate.  I check her pulse, and it's definitely still there, but she won't answer me. No. No. No. This is my fault. I think.

At this point, I'm shaking. I have no idea what to do. Do I carry her up the steps and try to find help? Do I try to call whatever emergency services they have on this tiny island? 

"Nini, please." I whisper. 

I take her hand in mine. "I love you."

And she squeezes my hand. 

A/N: Hi, I'm alive. Long hiatus, I know. But now I'm back with a dramatic chapter to say the least. Hope you enjoyed.