wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

winter ; 37

New Year's was probably the weirdest thing ever, for the Roberts family and for Ricky. The Nini they knew, who hated parties and alcohol, who would rather sit at home or at the beach to read, play her instruments or have heart-to-heart talks, was suggesting that it would be a good idea to attend EJ Caswell's New Year's party. The family was out bowling, Ricky had his arm around Nini's shoulder when she peeked up at him, telling him about her idea, "I heard there's gonna be fireworks." Ricky's eyes widened when he heard the words, "Let's go to EJ's party,"; between them, it was most likely that Ricky would be the one to suggest going to a party — except that he wouldn't because he knew that Nini didn't like parties and would never want to deliberately put her in an uncomfortable situation. Nic had overheard their conversation, it was not like they were talking very softly and he could not withhold his surprise, "Nini Roberts just initiated going to a party. The world is ending, Nate, or our sister has lost her mind." Nini rolled her eyes at them; they were being annoying, yet she was unable to refute him. They weren't wrong, they had spent years and years convincing her to tag along with them, promising they would take care of her. Now, she was the one jumping into the lions' den on her own accord.

"Anything you want, Nins. I'll just be glad to spend time with you," Ricky kissed her cheek and she leaned into his side a little closer. "Finally, Nins, it's time for you to get wasted and see what you've been missing," Nic teased her, Sarah shoving his head telling her to be careful and not listen to Nic. "Are you guys coming as well?" The curly-haired boy extended the invitation to the rest of them, feeling his girlfriend freeze in his arms. It was then that he knew she wanted it to be just the two of them and buried his face in her hair, whispering an apology for being dumb. Nini just squeezed his hand to assure him it was okay. Fortunately, the rest of them were busy, Nate and Emma were going to open Seas the Day till late that day and Nic and Sarah were gonna meet some of his high school pals to catch up. Ricky could feel the girl in his arms relax a little as she met his eyes with a smile on her face. She couldn't wait to kiss him when the clock struck twelve.

Nini picked her outfit on her own again, the girl was finding her own style and also knew what Ricky liked to see on her; Nate was a little sad that his baby sister was growing up, she was no longer his barbie doll that he could dress up every day. She threw on a blue eyelet ruffle top and blue ruffled denim shorts, filled in her eyebrows, curled her lashes, put on smudge-proof lipstick and grabbed her phone before leaving the empty house — everyone was out that night, her parents over at a business partner's new year's function, her siblings doing their own things. Ricky was leaning on his car, waiting for her when she popped her head out to check if he had arrived. Nini quickly locked the door and ran to him, the winter breeze blowing in her hair. He held her by the waist as she leaned in to lock her lips with his, flipping them over so he could pin her body against the car door and press his body as close to hers as possible. Ricky moved down from her lips to kiss her neck and Nini let out a giggle, "Ricky, we got a ninety minute drive to the North Shore. We really should get going." He looked her in the eyes with an intense gaze, staring into her dark brown orbs and his lips found hers once again. Nini put her arms around his neck and pulled him impossibly closer to her, forgetting the duration of the drive to the party. When they pulled away to finally breathe, Ricky caressed her soft skin at her exposed midriff, and his phone exploded with the chorus of Barbie Girl by Aqua, the ringtone the guy had set for EJ who he teased for being like the Ken of Kauai. Nini held in her laugh as Ricky picked up the phone, "Seriously, bimbo?"

"Bro, the rest of the dudes already had pre-drinks, they're waiting for you to do shots. Are you not going to be here soon?" The curly-haired lifeguard smirked, they really went all like they promised to. "Listen, Ken doll, I've told you guys that I won't be drinking tonight. I got to send my girlfriend home later." EJ groaned in response, relaying this information to the rest of the lifeguard gang to be reciprocated with a chorus of boos and Noah's slurred shout saying that Ricky was whipped. Nini kissed Ricky's bicep in gratitude for prioritising her safety, figuring that she would move along his arm to his neck. He unconsciously tilted his neck so she could get more access and intertwined his free hand with one of hers. "We'll be on the way soon, bye," Ricky hastily hung up the call, slipped the phone into his back pocket and pushed Nini against the car door again, pressing a kiss to her lips, "You cheeky bunny. Why are you such a tease, hmm?" She murmured in response, breath hot against his lips, "Let's not go to the party anymore." He laughed and kissed her once more before putting some distance between them, "Hey, don't forget you're the one who suggested that we went to this party, Nina." She pouted and leaned in to kiss him again, "But what if I really don't want to go now." Ricky didn't buy into her cute act, her attempt to kiss him failing as he maintained the space between them. "Come on, let's go, else I'll get my ass whacked by Noah and Red next duty." He walked over to the driver's seat and got in, Nini doing likewise on the passenger's side.