Ethereal Love

Should've Said No

"What?" Ricky stuttered, after a moment's silence. Nini blushed, looking away.

"Nothing. Just... forget I said anything."

"No. Nini...you barely even know me!"

"There's a reason for that." Her voice was dry, resigned.

"But... you're dating Ej!"

"I never said I was in love with you, Ricky. But you're the kinda guy I've always fallen for in the past. Sweet, innocent, tall, brown hair, brown eyes, incredibly hot... If I do get to know you, and I do like you... even if we were just friends, when we go back to school, things will go back to the way they were."

"They wouldn't have to, Nini. You could change... you could stop pretending."

"But I don't want to. I like my life how it is."

"Sure you do."

"For fuck's sake, Ricky, you don't know me! Stop acting like you do!" she yelled, losing her temper. He stepped towards her.

"What if I said I do want to know you? I want to be your friend. I want to talk to you. I don't know how to explain it, but there's something about you... I want to know you. I want to touch you," he said softly, moving his hand up to caress her face softly. She gulped, "I want to love you." He whispered softly, leaning in so that their lips were almost touching.

She should have moved away. She should have pushed him off her, told him to go get a life and stop creeping on his friend's girlfriend. She should have said no.

"Why?" she breathed, choosing to go with her heart, not her head.

"Because you're beautiful. And I've always been good at reading people. And underneath all your bitchiness, I can see that you're hurting." He said.

"Or maybe you're just imagining it. Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm just a bitch?" she asked, voice raised, as she moved away from him. He looked a little disappointed for a second, and then shook his head.

"No, you're not."

"Don't tell me what I am and what I'm not, Ricky!" she screamed.

"Calm down, Nini!"

"No, I won't calm down! All my life, people have left me. My mom left me. My best friends all moved away from Salt Lake over the years, so by the time I got to high school I had to make all new friends! Then Ethan left me because I wouldn't put out, and then I left SLC and nobody cared which is even worse. And now I'm going to leave here in a week and everyone is going to forget me and...why can't you just accept that I'm a bitch and move on?"

"Because you're not!"

"Yes, I am. And I hate you. I want you to leave!" she yelled, staring at a spot over his shoulder. He shook his head, moving towards her.

"No, Nini. You don't hate me."

"Yes I fucking do!"

"Nini, look me in the eyes and tell me you hate me." He said calmly. She shook her head.

"Don't tell me what to do. Just go away."

"Look, if you do this, I'll go away and leave you alone for good. Look me in the eyes and tell me that you hate me and that you want me to leave."

She let out the breath she'd been holding, looking up to meet his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak, but found herself unable. She was lost in his chocolate brown eyes, caught like a deer in headlights.

"I hate-" she managed to choke out, but before she could finish what she was saying, his mouth was on hers. She gasped as an electric shock ran through her body at the contact, and then his hands were on her hips and her hands were in his hair and all she could think about was his body against hers and his lips on her own and his hands...