if i can't have you || rini au

16. party party

nini grinned "aw, you're worried i'm nervous?"

ricky stiffened and flustered as he smiled sheepishly "um-i mean-you-your-lets go inside."

nini laughed softly before she took a deep breath, exhaling as she felt only the slightest amount of her nerves leave her as she followed ricky into the house

"hello!" he exclaimed to gain attention, hearing voices and seeing the group in the living room

"there you both are!" ashlyn beamed as she rushed towards them

ricky handed her the bag of pastries, ashlyn thanking him as carlos arrived to the three

"hello hello!"

"happy birthday carlos!" nini smiled brightly, handing him the rectangular box

ricky shook his head with a chuckle as carlos excitedly took the box from nini's hands

"thank you! you really shouldn't have."

"and by that he means it was obligated," kourtney whispers as she arrives towards the group

they all laughed, nini fiddling with her fingers as she glanced at ricky, who nodded assuringly with a warm smile. it made her feel more relaxed all of a sudden.

ashlyn, kourtney and carlos all lead ricky and nini to the living room, sitting down on the couch as they greeted the others before they were deep in random conversations

"i'm getting a root beer. you want something to drink?" ricky asked nini as he stood up.

the brunette girl just shook her head with a grin "i'm very invested."

ricky put his thumbs up as he walked off towards the kitchen

"uh-yeah! thanks we're good too!" ej exclaimed after him with a smirk

everyone else chuckled before looking at nini

"so, where in europe did you come from?" gina asked the girl interested

nini opened her mouth "oh-um...england?"

"but you don't have a british accent?" seb said in confusion

"right!" nini laughed nervously "it-it comes and goes. due to...my interest in...movies. american movies. and my british accent comes in when i'm nervous...."

everyone nodded before ricky came back "what are we talking about?"

"just where nini's from." ej shrugged

ricky and nini exchanged glances before he nodded

"right! from..." he looked at nini "e-england?"

she nodded brightly, making him exhale in relief

"right, we need to play a game." carlos grinned, taking a folded rectangular piece of board and setting it on the table

"what is this?" nini asked intrigued

"i call this high school musical; the choosical!" carlos exclaimed proudly "and since it's my birthday, it is only fitting that we play it."

"i have never watched the movies..." nini said quietly to ricky, ashlyn and kourtney gasping

"oh my god, los, change of plan." kourtney said

"but the game!" carlos groaned

"we can't play the game if nini doesn't know what bop to the top is," ashlyn chuckled "ej set up the tv."

ej nodded as he stood up and went to the bookshelf to get the dvd's and turn on the tv

"bop to-pardon?" nini asked, suddenly completely lost as to what was happening

ricky just laughed as he leaned back against the couch and watched everyone get comfortable as the movie was about to start

"i'm extremely puzzled as to what is going on." nini whispered as the lights dimmed

ricky grinned "it's just a movie about zac efrob dancing with a basketball."

"i thought it was a movie about a boy named troy falling in love with a girl named gabriella and whether or not he chooses to follow his heart or stay true to his friend chad?" she replied confused

"you know for someone who doesn't know what high school musical is, you know a lot about it." ricky replied with a smirk

"i read." she shot back

"less flirting more talking!" big red's voice is heard from the beanbag

ricky stiffened and cleared his throat awkwardly while nini just stared back at the screen, apparently not aware of what big red meant.