𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 [𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙞 𝙖𝙪]

38

"yes ricky, i'm headed there now," nina said into her phone as she walked through the airport.

"are you tired? you sound tired."

"no ricky, i'm not tired, you just keep asking the same question, and before you ask, i'm still not at my gate."

"sorry, i didn't know you were leaving so soon. it felt like it was just last week we were talking about you not wanting to go back." the boy pouted from the other end of the line.

"that was last week," she pointed out. "actually, it's been everyday since we started dating, it's a daily tradition."

"what's gonna be our daily tradition when you land in la?"

"the same thing except salt lake city, and instead of dreading to go back, we'll be counting down the days," she smiled with a sigh as she sat down at a chair in front of her gate.

"1 month."

"1 month," she repeated.

"attention all passengers of flight 236 to LAX, los angeles airport, we are now boarding people with first class tickets."

"that's my cue," nina frowned. "gotta get on the plane now."

"why did you have to get first class tickets, couldn't you have flown coach so we could have more time to talk?" ricky pleaded.

"too late now, i'm sorry. plus, my moms insisted, they even paid like half."

"your moms are very persuasive."

"yes they are." nina looked around and saw the line entering the plane was coming to an end so she knew she had to rush faster to get in on time. "ok, i gotta go, i'll text you when i land, okay?"

"okay, have a safe flight, neens. i love you." ricky said.

"i love you too, bye," she said before hanging up the phone and practically running to the end of the line with her plane ticket in one hand and her carry on luggage in the other.

once she got settled into her seat and put her carry on, on the top compartment. she rustled through her bag to make sure she had everything. she pulled out her phone once she saw that she did, and checked her notifications.

a smile over took her face and a warm feeling in her heart.

-

once her flight landed, she acquired all her belongings and headed off the plane, thanking each flight attendant she passed. after getting off, she went straight to the baggage claim where she saw her two best friends waiting with signs that read "ninI-" the 'i' being capitalized, "-salazar-roberts."

she screamed a high pitch squeal as she ran towards them, one arm dragging the luggage and her other up in the air to initiate a group hug.

"welcome back nina," alice greeted whilst in the hug.

"thank you, i love you guys, thank you for picking me up."

"so, nini?" elena wiggled her brows as she nudged nina's shoulder.

"what about it?" the brunette playfully scoffed.

"how long have you been nini?"

"about 3 years," she answered matter of factly. "but then i made him stop when i found out we knew each other, then he started again when we got closer and since we started dating-" the two girls faced each other with excited open smiles, "-it's like he doesn't know my name is nina."

alice and elena could see how bright the woman's face shone in the dim lit airport, and how she spoke so sincerely like she was explaining a dream she was so in love with; how she spoke like she was the only one in the airport.

"what?" nina asked, slightly embarrassed when she saw how her friends watched her.

"you're blushing," alice replied.

"oh," nina smiled, as she brought both her hands to her face so she could hide the redness she felt rising.

"you really like him, don't you?"

"what makes you say that?" she feigned light laughter to avoid an awkward moment.

"you never talked about ej like this," elena answered for alice. "you never talked about anyone like this."

she shook her head and looked down quickly before looking back up, "i don't like him, i love him."

"aww" the two girls cooed loudly at the same time.

"stop, you guys are so annoying," nina playfully grunted as she broke them apart and walked past. "where'd you park the car? i'm leaving you guys here."

"i love him," alice and elena mocked as they followed nina out of the airport exit doors.

they couldn't see, but in front of them, nina had the biggest smile on her face. partially because she was back home with her friends, but also because they were happy for her, and they didn't judge her for moving on as fast as she did. she was happy because back in salt lake, she had the love of her life, waiting for her to come back, to fill the space that was left empty after the first time she was forced out of his arms.