𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 (𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚) || hsmtmts au

7. disgusting

•••••

R I C K Y 'S P O V

ASHLYN CASWELL'S BASEMENT

we all get situated in a large circle on the ground in the middle of the basement, with an empty wine cooler bottle on a checkerboard--that's covered in scratch marks from previous games--placed in the center.

i'm sitting in between gina and big red, across from e.j, nini, and ashlyn. e.j's obviously had a lot to drink (which i'm guessing is also "tradition", because everyone's acting like that's normal), because he's noticeably out of it.

"i'll go first!" ashlyn volunteers as she scoots herself forward to spin the bottle.

i'm not really paying attention the game though, and am more focused on the fact that e.j's being way too touchy with nini. i keep seeing her nonchalantly inch away from him--which makes him move back twice as close each time.

i'm zoned back in by the sound of cheers coming from the circle, and look over to see carlos slowly pulling away from seb's face. i mean, at least someone's having a nice night.

after a few more rounds, it's nini's turn.

you'd think e.j would care more about his girlfriend about to kiss someone else, but he seems to care more about the fact that this is "tradition" (also, there's the fact that he's way too drunk to remember any of this tomorrow).

my heart pounds for some reason while she spins the bottle, watching anxiously as the glass slows down by my spot. my heart drops when it looks like it's landed on me--

until it just so happens to keep going, and lands just barely on gina. a series of "oooh"'s erupt from the crowd in anticipation.

"wait, should i spin again?" nini turns back and asks e.j.

"no, no, no," e.j slurs, pushing at her back, "no, this is gonna be hot-"

"e.j, i swear to god!" ashlyn slaps at his shoulder, causing everyone to burst into a fit of laughter. nini crawls over, meeting gina over by our spot.

"okay, let's just get this over with," gina breathes out as the two of them lean in.

i feel like i should look away. i should definitely not be watching this, right?

it's weird, i can't help but feel kind of..i don't know, jealous?-

no, shit, wait!

not jealous, cause that would be--it's not..i didn't..you know, 'cause like..why would i? it's not like--oh my god.

i think i might have feelings for nini.

G I N A 'S P O V

i bring my hand up to the back of nini's head as we kiss, threading my fingers through her long, silky dark hair. usually when i do this--with a random guy, most likely on the football team-- it's gross, and i kind of..just sit there and wait for it to be over. but this is different for some reason? i don't know. not that i'm saying i like this because she's a girl, that's..disgusting.

yeah. disgusting.

i'm only doing this because it's part of the game, obviously.

besides, even if i did like kissing nini because she's perfect, her lips are really soft (like, almost concerning soft) and she's absolutely gorgeous--which i don't--i could never be with her. or any girl.

i mean, come on.

i'm head of the cheer squad, head of the student council, on the honor roll, on the student body--the list could go on. imagine just how bad that could make me look. my reputation would go to shit. not to mention the fact that my dad's on our church council, and my parents don't support that kind of thing.

and i don't either.

okay? okay.

i don't even realize how long it's been until she pulls away, all of the raging thoughts flooding my head drowned out by everyone's cheers and laughs.

"you good?" she giggles, tilting her head. she doesn't seem to be phased by what just happened.

"uh, yeah," i say, as if i most definitely did not just have my entire world get rocked.

N I N I 'S P O V

by the time everyone starts to leave, e.j's already crashing on ashlyn's couch. i'm sort of thankful i won't have to deal with him the rest of the night--but it also means i don't have a ride anymore. i scan the room as everyone exits, my eyes landing on ricky making his way up the stairs. i follow him up and tap on his shoulder when we make it outside.

"hey, could you maybe give me a ride?" i say, catching up to him in front of ashlyn's house.

"yeah, for sure," he smiles, "did e.j really have that much?"

"he's passed out on ashlyn's couch right now," i chuckle as i hop into the passengers seat. he gave big red a ride here too, so now we're just waiting for him to come back up so we can leave.

"i'm really sorry he did that..that's super shitty, and--"

"oh, no, it's fine," i shake my head, "i guess that's what rickys are for."

"wow, is that all i am to you?" he jokes.

"mm, no, you're also good for movie nights. which we will be doing tomorrow, as promised."

"your house or mine?" ricky smiles.

"mine, obviously."

"what's wrong with my house?!"

"i have those good cheese crackers, you just have off-brand microwave popcorn," i say, the two of us bursting into laughter.

"okay, yeah, that's fair. that's a fair hit."