Translucent Melody || rini au

31

nini swung her bag over her shoulder as she took a deep breath

it was the first day back to school and she wasn't ready. she wasn't ready to actually have to see ricky every day. but she had no choice

her eyes shifted to the cardigan that laid on her chair, not worn since christmas day because it reminds her too much of him. it reminds her of how he probably just made fun of her even more. how he didn't actually care but only made her feel like he did.

she ran down the stairs to see carol sitting in the living room with owen as they played a harry potter video game

"now you press the triangle button to jump," owen says

"okay, how to i kill this thing?" carol asks

"you-"

"mom, ej's here so i'm going," nini says, putting a sweater on

carol glances at her daughter "alright hun, have a good day at school,"

nini puts a small smile on her face before opening the door and making her way towards the large black car parked in front

she got inside where ej was sitting on his phone before looking up

"hey," he smiles

nini returns the gesture and ej takes a deep breath as she closes the door and they start making their way to school

"so, you okay?" he asks

she looks at him "what do you mean?"

ej shrugs his shoulders "i don't know-i guess i thought that you would've said something about...ricky."

nini takes a deep breath and looks out the window "we're just different ej. it's better this way."

ej opens his mouth to say something but decides against it. he knows by the way she's acting that something happened and it didn't go how him and the others thought it would've

they arrive at the school and get out of the car, making their way inside

all of the different people inside stopped one by one and looked at the two

"why are they staring at you?" she asks him quietly as they continue their way down the hall

ej opens his mouth, looking around before clearing his throat "uh-not me. you."

she widens her eyes and adjusts her bag "please tell me this isn't because of ricky."

"it's probably the show. you did get a standing ovation," he suggests

the two take deep breaths and continue walking until they reach their lockers where kourtney and seb were standing urgently

"finally!" kourtney exclaims quietly

"did you hear anything?" seb asks

"what now?" nini sighs

"well-there's this-rumor, that you and ricky sort of are a thing-"

"what?!"

she shouted so loudly that everyone stopped and looked at her before nini quickly opens her locker

"but we're not-"

"we know that but apparently that's what's happening." seb says

"is this because he came to see me at the show?" nini asks

"maybe-"

"why was he even there?" she questions

kourtney and seb open their mouths and swallow before looking at ej

nini whips around to face him and he looks back at her

"uh-well-see there's a very simple-and funny-explanation for that-"

the brunette girl raises an eyebrow and folds her arms

"we invited him." he mutters

nini's arms drop to the side of her and her jaw drops "you did what?"

"it was only because we knew that you were the girl he was looking for so we thought that-"

"that everything would be okay if the truth came out?" she asks "how is that even logical-"

"it's not! but-you know me! i'm just a sucker for romantic endings." he sighs "i'm really sorry neens."

nini lets out a breath and looks behind ej to see ricky walking down the halls with his two red-headed friends

she feels her heart stop when his eyes meet hers for a split second but he doesn't give anything away in his facial expression

she quickly turns around to face her opened locker as his group passes hers and closes her eyes

"we're really sorry neens." kourtney frowns

nini opens her eyes once again and takes a deep breath "me too."

***

ricky, big red and ashlyn turned around the corner to their lockers

"you okay man?" big red asks sadly

the curly-haired boy puts on a small smile "i'm fine. it's just how it's supposed to be right?"

ashlyn shakes her head "not if you let it."

he sighs "ash, we already talked about this. it's never going to work, we're completely different people and-she doesn't even want anything to do with me. i can't change that."

ashlyn tries to argue back but gets cut off by big red shaking his head at her, signaling it wasn't the right time to