Ethereal Love

Changing Relationships

The next two weeks of camp were pretty great. Ricky and Nini still didn't like each other, trading insults and dirty looks whenever they were together, but they were a little less...biting. And neither of them said anything that they knew would truly hurt the other. Ricky even found himself apologizing for one crude remark he made, but admittedly that was mostly due to the headlock Gina had him in until he said sorry.

The camp was six weeks long, and at the four week mark, Nini found herself feeling a little depressed, knowing that she would be leaving in two weeks. But she decided to put that to the back of her mind and focus on having fun. She had become closer to Gina and Ashlynn. And although she wasn't necessarily part of their friend group, she was even friendly with Jessica, although the ditzy blonde had some crazy idea that she had a thing with Ricky, so a lot of the time she just irritated her. Every time Nini spoke to the guy, Jessica would glare at her as if she was insulting the blonde girl herself.

Red was probably one of the funniest guys she had ever met. Yeah, he was an idiot, but he was always the first to crack a joke and make everyone smile. She'd become close enough to him that they could hang out, just the two of them, and not find it awkward, but she was reluctant to call him a 'friend', per say, due to his status as Ricky's best friend.

And Ej...Nini wasn't really sure how she felt about Ej. She spoke to him a lot more than she spoke to most guys back home, but they definitely weren't friends. She thought he was cute, and sometimes, when their finger's brushed or they bumped hips as they were walking, her stomach would do a strange little flip.

They were all hanging out in Ashlynn's cabin, playing spin the bottle, when it happened. It was Nini's turn, and for a moment it looks suspiciously like the bottle would land on a certain curly-haired boy that she certainly wouldn't like to have to kiss. But no, Nini sighed in relief when the bottle passed over the Ricky and stopped on Ej. Their eyes met and she smiled a little awkwardly. Ashlynn grinned, clapping her hands enthusiastically.

"Come on guys, you know what you have to do." She smirked. Nini shrugged at the unspoken question in his eyes and leant towards him. He smiled and did the same.

Nini's eyes fluttered closed as their lips met. Seven seconds, that was the rule. Well, the rule Gina had come up with when they started playing. But Ej's lips were so soft, and his hand that moved to rest on her waist where her shirt had ridden up a little was so warm...

They sprang apart at the sound of someone clearing their throat beside them and Nini sat back down, flushing.

"Um, Nini...?" she looked up at the sound of Ej's voice, smiling.

"Yeah?"

"D- do you want to go for a walk?" he asked. She smiled, glancing at Gina. Her friend nodded, winking, making Nini blush harder and then get to her feet, smiling at Ej.

"Wait!" Ricky protested. Ej looked at him, frowning, and Nini just glared.

"What?" Ashlynn asked.

"Well, we were all hanging out. I just don't think it's fair for them to leave..." he muttered half-heartedly, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

"Hush, Bowen. We can hang out anytime. You two go on." Gina beamed at Nini, motioning for the two of them to leave. Nini shot Ricky a half-hearted glare, but she was mostly too distracted by the thought of being alone with Ej to be angry at him.

Nini smiled at Ej once they were outside the cabin.

"So...how are you?" she knew it was lame, but it was a conversation starter.

"I'm okay. Great, actually. You know, you're a really good kisser." He complimented her. She blushed.

"I've had a lot of practice." She joked. Ej's face fell slightly and she rolled her eyes at herself.

"Oh, I see..."

"I don't know why I said that, please forget I did...I'm not a slut. I've only ever kissed a guy once."

"But you've kissed loads of girls, right?" he joked, elbowing her playfully. She pouted.

"That was one time! And we were drunk!"

"You weren't that drunk...but don't worry, there isn't one of us who hasn't made out with Gina at least once. Even Ricky has, and he's probably the biggest prude you'll ever meet." He said. Her expression hardened at the mention of Ricky.

"Why would any girl want to kiss him?" she said spitefully, without thinking. Ej stopped walking, shaking his head.

"Okay, look, I know you and Ricky don't get along, and that's fine. To each to his own. But Ricky is one of my best friends, Nini. And I like you. Like, a lot. A whole lot. But if you're going to insult him every time I mention his name...I can't do this." She knew he was giving her an ultimatum and she knew whatever she said now would make or break things between her and Ej.

"You're right, that was thoughtless of me. I know you're close, I was out of order. I'm sorry." She said. He nodded, accepting her apology, and started walking again. She then smiled.

"So...you like me, hmm? Like, a whole lot?" she asked. Now it was his turn to blush, but he nodded.

"Yeah, I do. I've been trying to work up the courage to ask you out for a while now. Tonight seemed kinda like fate, if you ask me."

"Well, you want to know a secret?"

"Sure..."

"I kinda like you too. Like, a whole lot." They both grinned at each other.

"So, Nini Salazar-Roberts, would you like to go out with me?" Ej asked, grinning widely. She giggled.

"I'd love to!" she said enthusiastically, throwing her arms around him in a hug. He laughed happily, hugging her back.

"So...I usually don't kiss until the third date, but we've already passed that milestone, so..." Nini said as she pulled back. Ej leant forward and kissed her for the second time that evening, this time deepening it. She gasped as he nibbled her bottom lip and eventually pulled away, resting her forehead against his.

"You know, you're a pretty good kisser yourself."

"It's all the practice." He mocked her, winking.

"Um, guys?" they jumped apart, also for the second time that evening, and Nini blushed, refusing to meet Ricky's gaze. She wasn't sure why she was so embarrassed.

"What's up, Bowen?" Ej asked, slinging an arm around Nini's shoulder causally. She smiled, leaning into his side instinctively. Ricky looked away, feeling his stomach flip. He put it down to the chicken he'd had for lunch.

"We're putting a movie on, and Gina told me to come and tell you, see if you wanted to join us." He mumbled quietly, scuffing the ground with his toes.

"Sure, c'mon Neens." Ej nodded, pulling Nini in the direction of the cabin. She smiled lovingly at the nickname.

"What are we watching?" she asked Ricky. It was a simple question, but one that made Ricky's shoulder's tense.

"Dunno." He mumbled. Nini sighed, rolling her eyes, biting back a snarky comment.
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