A message for my readers here in the U.S:
Stop for just a second and check your fears and anxieties before you read today. Tension is high. This is an escape. Everything will be okay, no matter what side you're on. We'll figure this out. Enjoy today's chapter. ❤️
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Nini POV
"You know what this reminds me of?" Ricky mumbles into my ear and I crane my neck, pushing myself up off his chest a little. "What's that?" I ask and he pulls me back to his chest, further tangling our legs together. "Prom night." He says and I laugh loudly. "Wait how? I'm actually frightened for you to make this comparison." I giggle and I can just tell he's grinning. "Don't you remember?" He asks and I laugh. "I'm trying to but-" I'm hit with the memory almost instantly.
"Ricky Bowen this dress is NOT too low. Now zip it up for me." I squint at Ricky, shaking my head. I didn't care how hot he looked in his jet black suit and baby blue tie, he was entirely too hormonal and protective tonight. "Yeah I'm sure the guys we're on the dance floor with will completely agree with you. It's definitely not too low. Just enough to see everything." He says sarcastically, shrugging as his own eyes narrow. I wasn't quite sure what was going on. He and I were supposed to be getting ready for prom, my moms weren't home, it was supposed to be romantic and fun. Instead, I'm seconds away from biting back a rude response.
Something in me makes me stop before I do though, Ricky shoving his hands into his dress pant pockets and looking at the ground in complete sadness. Something about his slumped stance triggers a feeling that something isn't quite right with him. My Ricky wouldn't come over on prom night and start a problem on purpose. I snake my arms around my back, zipping up my dress as much as I could on my own, and I walk over towards my boyfriend standing on the other side of the room. He knows I'm approaching him, his shoulder slump in defeat. "What's going on? Besides my breasts in this dress offending you and possibly the entire male senior class of East High?" I joke lightly, wrapping a hand around his left bicep. When he doesn't respond, I place my other hand under his chin, tilting it up so that we could make eye contact. His eyes hold so much sadness. "What's going on?" I ask softer and Ricky eyes deepen just a little before he sighs sadly. "I don't have a car to take us to the school." He admits. The statement sounds so simple, so silly that I can't quite understand what the problem is, and why it's such a big deal. Until he continues talking. "Big Red offered but I thought I'd be okay and take my dad's. I wanted us to have a fun, special drive over. But he had to fucking pick up another shift tonight at work. You know he's been helping out my mom, Todd and Lucas since treatment for Jason's therapy center is expensive and-" I squeeze Ricky's arm so that he could reel in his rambling. "And I just don't have a car to take us to prom. I'm sorry." My jaw drops and I shake my head. "Why are you apologizing Ricky? This is no where near something you could control andddd we can always walk. I need the exercise." I joke and Ricky gives me a serious look. "You want to walk to our senior prom? That's so fucking lame Nins and it was my job to make sure that you-" I cut him off and move both of my hands down to squeeze his wrists lightly. "Nothing was your job. You know what? Your only job is being here with me. I love you Rick, not the transportation you supply." I lean up to kiss him on the lips. "Or the material items you try to impress me with." I kiss him again, this time slower. "Or the image you try to keep up." I kiss him again and this time he catches the back of my neck to pull me in deeper, slipping his tongue past my lips. "You're wearing heals. I can't make you walk Nini-" I press my lips right back to his when he attempts to pull away and speak. "I'll wear my converse with my prom dress on the way there. That's real fashion." I say proudly and Ricky laughs lightly. "I haven't told you how gorgeous you look tonight. You're stunning Nins. And I'm sorry I came over and tried to start a problem. I love you so much." I slip my fingers through his neatly combed curls. "That's okay. I'm so grateful for you Ricky."
"You remember now don't you?" Ricky asks, and I shake my head. "You planned this didn't you? A series of similar events on slightly different levels?" I ask and Ricky laughs, shaking his head. "I definitely didn't plan almost losing you Nini." I turn over so that I can meet his eyes. "You know, everything I said remains true to this day. I love you. Not the material things you try to offer." I whisper. Ricky's eyes soften and his grip tightens on me. "I promise I'll try to remember that this time around."
