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

32. the perfect gift

N I N I 'S P O V

i turn my head to look at ricky as we drive back, the sky being almost pitch black at this point. the way his face looks so concentrated from the side while he drives puts a soft smile on my face, just admiring my best friend from the other side of the console.

ricky catches me staring at a red light, his smile immediately matching mine. he finds my hand in the dark and squeezes it three times (i couldn't really tell you why, he just does it) before the stoplight shines green again. i squeeze his hand back three times too, not missing the way his grin just gets wider.

"it's so nice to have you back," i sigh, rubbing shapes into the back of this hand.

"what do you mean? i never left," he chuckles.

"no, i just mean like..you're kind of back to
normal. you seem happier now."

"well, duh. it's my birthday."

"shoot! that reminds me.."

i let go of his hand to grab a small silver gift box from deep down in my backpack as ricky pulls into my driveway.

"what's that?!"

"just open it!!"

he excitedly turns and rests his arms on top of the console, biting his lip as he lifts the lid off. inside is a red guitar pick with the words silly goose engraved on the front and a little metal chain poked through it (so he can wear it as a necklace if he wants to).

"it's 'cause you're my silly goose," i smile, anxiously waiting for him to say something.

"nini, i.."

"i know it's not perfect..and it's cheesy, and it's completely embarrassing, so if you want me to retur-"

"no, no, just being your silly goose is the perfect gift, nins."

i can't help but beam at his equally cheesy response, looking into his eyes across the console.

"do you wanna come inside?"

"i'd love to, but i have dinner with my mom and her boyfriend," he frowns.

"oh, that's okay. facetime me after?"

"will do, luvie."

our faces are already so close, so i decide to quickly press a soft (unexpected) kiss to the side of his cheek, putting a hand on his chest while i lean over.

"how dare you?" ricky says with a pretend serious look on his face over my giggles while i unbuckle and start to get out of the car.

"not so fast," he laughs, quickly getting out and running around to my side of the car. ricky opens the door, wrapping his arms around my legs to lift me out of the car (while spinning me around slightly, which is weirdly reassuring for some reason). he somehow manages to hold my body up with one arm, leaning over and grabbing my backpack from the car.

i grab my backpack from him as he slowly slides me down on the porch (his arm still wrapped around me, just on my waist now). i set my backpack down just to wrap my arms around him, pulling him into a tight bug. ricky hugs me back just as tight and rubs his nose up against my cheek.

"hey, good luck with the play tomorrow," ricky tells me as we rock our bodies on my porch, knowing that the musical starts it's showings tomorrow night.

"thanks, i'll probably need it. i mean..first time being cast as the lead on purpose-"

"but it won't be the last, nini." he smiles as he pulls back from our hug, shaking my shoulders.

"yeah, whatever," i giggle, picking up my backpack and heading inside.