nini giggled as ricky sighed, leaning back against his seat
"you're really not going to delete that are you?" he asks
the girl shook her head with a grin as she took a bite of her dessert "why would i?"
"something about consent, i don't know." he shrugged sarcastically, making her roll her eyes playfully
"you're very uptight, you know that?" she asks
ricky gasped in mock offense, taking his fork as he held it up "i challenge you to take that back."
"i shall not sir!" she exclaimed as she held out her own fork
"on guard!"
nini giggled as they started 'sword' fighting using their cutlery - it didn't matter how much noise they made with their laughter and protests seeing as they were about the only ones left in the restaurant by now.
ricky glanced down at the dessert in front of the brunette girl sitting in front of him before he quickly moved his fork towards the whipped cream and flicked it lightly, causing for some to spray onto her face
nini let out a gasp, but her smile was wide "that is a foul move!"
ricky laughed whole-heartedly at the sight of her face, spots of cream speckled around as she just joined him
"here," he chuckled, taking a napkin and handing it to her
nini thanked him with a soft smile as she wiped her face clean before taking a deep breath and dramatically holding it out to him "a token of my affection."
"i am honored milady," he faked a bow as he took the napkin from her hand
as he reached for it, their fingers grazed each other's and neither of them said anything about a sudden jolt of feeling that flowed around their bodies.
nini hid her blush as she pulled her hand back, taking a deep breath as ricky put the napkin back down on the table
"well, i think this is the best restaurant i've been too so far - apart from erica's café of course." she said
ricky raised his eyebrows "how many of restaurants have you been to?"
"well, let's see." she thought "there's the café, school-"
"hate to break it to you princess, but cafeteria food doesn't count as restaurant quality food in any way." he smirked
nini rolled her eyes playfully as she sighed "alright, fine. then i guess this is the only restaurant i've been to."
ricky shook his head with a small smile before taking a deep breath "alright, you ready to go, your majesty?"
nini grimaced "that's what they call my mother-"
he laughed at her reaction before calling for the check and as the waitress arrived, she smiled at them
"you two make a very cute couple." she complimented
ricky and nini froze as they glanced back at each other, the girl looking down with a rose blush on her cheeks while he just laughed nervously
"...um-we're actually friends... but-um...thanks...?" he told her
the woman just chuckled "alright dear, here's the check. hope you enjoyed your food!"
nini snorted a laugh as she looked back up "well...that was embarrassing..."
ricky forced a weak laugh quickly, taking the check book and opening up as he searched for his wallet in his pocket
nini knit her eyebrows together "um...what are you doing?"
ricky raised his eyebrows "i'm paying...?"
the girl shook her head "no you're not. i'm the one who invited you-"
"it's fine," he waved off
"ricky," she sighed as she reached for the check but he pulled it back
"nu-uh-"
"but-"
"i already have my wallet out-"
"i have money in my purse-"
before she could protest anymore, he quickly took out the money that was asked and stuffed it in the book, closing it shut
"it's done." he grinned
nini groaned "i could've paid-"
"but i wanted to." he told her
the girl looked at him as she took a deep breath "alright, fine. but i'm paying you back-"
"no, you're not." he chuckled as they took their stuff, both standing up from their table and making their way towards the entrance of the restaurant
nini put on her cardigan as soon as they stepped outside, hugging it closer to her body as she continued to fiddle with her charm bracelet.
ricky glanced back at her, looking at the feather locker she was playing with
"you never take it off."
nini looked up at the sound of ricky's voice, seeing him with his eyes on her as they walked down the darkened sidewalk
"pardon?"
ricky couldn't help but smile at the formality she still has inside of her, gesturing to her neck "the necklace. you never take it off."
"oh," she said sheepishly, looking down "um...my father gave it to me. for my thirteenth birthday. it's one of the last things i have to remember him by."
ricky frowned "i didn't mean to-"
"oh, no," she said quickly, shaking her head "it's okay. after what you said at the field...i've been feeling a bit better. talking about him and all..."
a smile formed on his face at that. knowing he was able to help her with something like this made him happy. happy to be there for her the same way she was for him.
"me too..." he admitted "with-my parents and all that."
nini smiled sympathetically "how are things? at home?"
the boy sighed slowly "the same." he answered, looking down at his feet "but-talking about it helped."
"well, you can always talk to me. any place, any time." she told him assuringly
ricky smiled at her "thanks, nini. you too."
"thank you." she whispered
they both held each other's gaze for a few seconds before ricky took a deep breath, breaking the trance they both caught themselves in as they took a turn to arrive at the road where the café was.
"well, i hope you're fineness level is good with the hike we're going to go on." nini said, a grin forming on her face as she jumped excitedly
ricky groaned "do we really have to go hiking-"
"yes! it's an adventure!" she beamed "it'll be fun! plus, big red said that there's a lake with a waterfall and we could go cliff diving-"
"woah woah woah-" ricky said quickly "um-cliff and diving shouldn't be in the same sentence?"
nini rolled her eyes playfully with a giggle "come on, live a little richard."
"that's precisely why i don't want to dive hundreds of feet into water, nina." he shot back with a raised eyebrow
they arrived at the café entrance, nini shaking her head as she took the keys out of her bag "trust me, you'll have fun. because it'll be with me and the others."
ricky kept the small smile on his face while nini unlocked the café door, stopping before she walked in as she turned around to face the boy
"also, thank you for tonight." she said, her eyes lighting up with happiness "i had the best time."
"me too, nini." he told her "goodnight."
"goodnight." she smiled softly, closing the door as she locked it and made her way towards the spiral staircase, the expression never leaving her face.
ricky watched until her figure disappeared up the stairs, smiling to himself as he made his own way home.