Too Much Time Together - RINI

chapter nine: two wrongs don't make a right

"Can we talk?"

"Please," Nini smiles at that answer, stepping back so the girl can join her outside. They walk silently to the swing in the tree, Gina asking with her eyes if she can sit beside Nini, Nini nodding in response.

Nini walked to Gina's house this morning with the sole intent of making up with her, not wanting to have EJ separate them any longer. After last night, things have changed, she feels differently toward the situation. She just wants her best friend back.

"I miss you," Nini whispers, Gina's eyes meeting hers with shock. Of all the things Gina expected Nini to say right now, it wasn't that. "Can we just put this behind us? Because I forgive you, if you're happy with EJ, I'm happy for you."

"Really?" Gina breathes out, Nini nodding. "I miss you too, so much. I am happy with EJ, I really am."

Nini smiles at the girl, sensing her genuine happiness. "Good, I'm happy for you." the two girls lean into the hug with a laugh, relishing in the fact that everything between them is solved, it feels like it's back to normal.

Gina offers to give a ride to Nini to school, the girl accepting. They spend the car ride catching up about everything they may have missed in their short time apart, smiles evident on their faces the entire time.

"So how are things with you and Ricky? I saw you two head off together at the party?" Gina asks, eyebrows wiggling as she enters the school parking lot, Nini pausing at her question. To be honest, she can't answer that question, she doesn't even know.

Things with her and Ricky are different than before, they're good. They still haven't established what they are yet, they haven't added labels. Ricky and Nini spent the entire weekend texting non-stop, about the most stupid things, but they never discussed what they meant. So she answers Gina with not wholly a lie, but not fully the truth.

"They're the same," she hums, refusing to meet Gina's eyes. "I do like him, but I don't know."

"He's stupid, trust me he'll come around," Gina says with a roll of her eyes, the two girls opening their car doors. "I need some bestie time, wanna have a sleepover tonight?"

"Can't promised my mom's family night." Nini lies, chest tightening with guilt. In all honesty, she and Ricky agreed to meet up after school to hang out considering they probably won't get much time together just them during school.

"Aww, that's okay. Another time." Gina grabs Nini's hand, the duo walking into school together, just like their normal.

"Glad to see my fave besties made up," Seb comments as he walks up to Nini's locker, linking up with the two girls.

"It was long overdue," Gina says, flashing a smile to Nini. Way long overdue. The bell rings above them, the trio heading to their respected classes. Nini walks through the halls to her first period and spots Ricky down the hall closing his locker, she sends him a secretive smile.

Today he's wearing a simple jean jacket and slacks, but he looks better than ever, hair in perfect curls (like usual).

He smiles back goofily, getting pulled into the class by Gina, but not before he can send the girl a wink. She walks into her next class completely flushed, mind fuzzy. She can't wait for second period.

"Nini," their teacher calls out to her, the students around them eyes flitting up at her. She drops her pencil eyes turned to the teacher. Nini wasn't fully focused on the lesson, too focused on writing different variations of her and Ricky's name all over her notebook paper (definitely not ever writing "Nini Bowen", why would you say that).