nini sighed as she walked out of her bedroom, adjusting her ponytail as the green and white ribbon fell around it, her green cardigan around her body over her white shirt with her light blue jeans.
"is this okay??" she asked, the woman turning away from the tv and to her niece with a small smile
"why are you so nervous?" erica chuckled
nini's jaw dropped "i'm not just nervous, i'm terrified! i'm meeting ricky's parents! do you know what that means-?"
"it means you're going to have to listen to boring adults talk about the whether?" erica grinned, folding her arms
nini gave her aunt a look before sighing "very funny."
"you need to relax," erica laughed "you'll be perfect. i'm sure of it."
the brunette girl took another deep breath calm her nerves before a knock at the front door was heard, causing for her to widen her eyes again
"oh my gosh, he's here!" she exclaimed "what do i do?!"
"answer the door?" erica said evidently, pointing at it as nini nodded
"right..." she mumbled as she made her way to the door and opened it up, seeing the curly-haired boy with a nervous smile on his face
"hey! you ready?" he asked
nini nodded silently, looking back at erica to bid her goodbye before taking ahold of her boyfriend's hand as they made their way out of the building and to his car
the ride was silent, nini looking out the window with her fingers still intertwined with ricky's while his other hand was on the steering wheel. the radio was playing music throughout the vehicle, it was only calming nini's nerves to an extent; ricky's hand in hers also helping but it still didn't prevent her anxiousness to rise.
when they pulled up in front of ricky's house, nini leaned forward a little in her seat to get a good look at it through the window.
it was quite an average suburban house; grey and white paint on the outer walls with wooden-framed windows and a wooden door. she felt like it would be those types of loving homey houses where the walls were decorated with family pictures and the rooms were always ready for each time of the season.
"hey," he said softly, snapping her out of her thoughts as nini turned to look at him "you know you don't have to be nervous right? they're just people."
"yes but...they're your parents...what if they don't like me?" she asked quietly
"not going to happen." he smiled, leaning forward to plant a light kiss on her cheek that made her heart flutter "you ready?"
nini nodded slowly as she took a deep breath and got out of the car along with ricky, the two walking towards the front door as nini looked down nervously at her cardigan
"are you sure i look alright?"
"well, i mean my parents hate green-"
"richard!" nini exclaimed suddenly, making him jump and laugh
"i'm kidding! i'm kidding, you like perfect." he said, nini exhaling deeply as she watched him take his keys out of his pocket and open the door
nini stood on the doormat while ricky walked in, she was nervously fiddling with her necklace before the boy stopped and turned to look at her, shaking his head with a small smile and taking her hand once more to pull her into the house.
"it's okay," he chuckled softly
"ricky?"
nini widened her eyes at the sound of a woman's voice, the figure emerging from the living room into the hallway.
she had a kind face, her eyes tired with long curly-brown hair a lot like ricky's. her face - that had a slightly worried expression - now was surprised when she caught sight of the brunette girl standing by the door next to her son
"oh! you brought a guest!" she exclaimed with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes
nini nervously tucked her hair behind both her ears as she took a deep breath and held out her shaking hand "h-hello! it's a pleasure to meet you mrs bowen...my name is nini."
"oh nini!" lynne said with a raised eyebrow, glancing at her son who had his shy gaze on the ground before she shook the girl's hand "please, call me lynne."
nini put on a small smile as lynne pulled her hand back and took a deep breath
"well! let me just...go add a set place for you." she said kindly before turning away and rushing back to the kitchen
the brunette swiftly turned to ricky, who jumped at her sudden movement
"you failed to mention that they didn't know i was coming." she whispered sharply, knitting her eyebrows in confusion
ricky shrugged his shoulders with a sheepish smile "...oops?"
"richard-"
"come on, let's go to the table!" ricky exclaimed, taking her hand as they made their way to the dining room where ricky's mom was now preparing a place for nini next to ricky.
"it smells delicious mrs bowen." nini complimented sweetly as she sat down next to ricky
lynne smiled "lynne, dear." she chuckled awkwardly "and, thank you."
nini nodded slowly, her eyes moving to the boy beside her who was looking around the room curiously
"mom, where's dad?"
"i'm not sure." lynne sighed, a slight frustration in her tone as she placed the salad bowl on the table "he was supposed to be home twenty minutes ago to help me with dinner."
"it's okay mom." ricky said, his voice going small, regretting that he'd ask...
"we'll get started without him, you both must be hungry." lynne said as she sat down after more platters were added to the table
ricky served nini first, the girl giggling as he made little designs with her food to make it 'presentable'
"ricky!" she exclaimed softly with another laugh "eat your food!"
"okay, wait just one more thing." he whispered, placing a small piece of lettuce on top of her piece of meat
"thank you very much, kind sir." she said, leaning forward to nudge him lightly with her shoulder
"why of course, madame." ricky nodded before chuckling as he served himself
"you're both very adorable," lynne chuckled, eating her forkful of mashed potatoes
the two teens blushed as they exchanged looks, continuing to eat, nini complimenting the food as lynne thanked her while ricky just ate.
"-so, nini, tell me about yourself. i feel like ricky's been hiding you all this time!"
nini chuckled "he has hasn't he?"
"it's not hiding, it's just...awareness." he shrugged
lynne shook her head with a smile and sigh as she looked back at the brunette, who suddenly realized she had to answer the question
"oh! right-yes! um...well, i'm from a very very small place in england..." she began, fidgeting with her fork anxiously "and, since i'm really fascinated by the world, my mother thought it'd be a good idea to let me spend time with my aunt erica for my senior year here in salt lake before...graduating."
"that's wonderful." lynne nodded impressed "so, are you going to take a gap year then after high school?"
"mom-"
"yes!" nini lied "um...yes, i've always wanted to travel and see the world."
"me too. there's a lot out there yet to be discovered." lynne sighed
"exactly!" the girl exclaimed excitedly, ricky shaking his head with a light chuckle at her reaction before the loud sound of the front door opening was heard
"sorry! before you go off on me, i'm sorry i'm late," a man's voice boomed as he rushed into the dining room, not noticing nini seated at the table along with his wife and son "i know we said seven for the infamous dinner we needed to do, but i got stuck at work and-"
ricky's dad stopped when getting a good look, nini nervously glancing at him while ricky had his mind occupied on something else and lynne had a sort of look on her face to her husband that was one you would watch out for when you were about to get into trouble.
"oh! who's this?" mike asked curiously, walking towards the table and reaching his hand out "i'm mike bowen, ricky's dad."
"hi, mr bowen...my name is nini."
"the girlfriend." mike said with a grin and his eyebrows raised, looking at his son "nice job rick."
but the curly-haired boy ignored the remark and looked between his two parents "what infamous dinner?"
the two adults stayed silent, mike looking at lynne as she just sighed and looked down at the table, her elbows resting on it as she folded her hands together.
ricky felt his leg bounce up and down anxiously, waiting for their answer that wasn't coming as he exhaled shakily
"w-what's going on?"
lynne just shook her head, forcing a smile "it's not important-"
"obviously??" ricky snapped sarcastically, "dad just walked in saying that the 'infamous dinner' was supposed to be at seven. why?"
nini stayed quiet, seated next to the boy as she looked between the three people around the table...she didn't have a good feeling about this.
"ricky..." mike sighed slowly, sitting down "look-"
"no, mike not now." lynne snapped coldly, shooting him a glare
"lynne, he just said that he wanted to know-"
"we have a guest-"
"i didn't know she was coming!"
"i didn't either?! what? are you blaming me?!"
"again with putting words in my mouth-"
"guys!" ricky exclaimed, his breathing uneven "j-just...just stop arguing. a-and tell me."
nini looked down at her hands on her lap...she had no idea what to do. she didn't want to get up and leave because she was always taught to never leave the table until everyone was finished...and she knew this dinner was nowhere near over.
mike and lynne avoided each other's gaze as ricky looked at them, his mom having her eyes now on him as she smiled sympathetically
"sweetheart...we've decided to legally separate." she said softly
nini's mouth parted open as she closed her eyes before turning her head to the boy
ricky had his face pale. his mouth was open and his eyes were moving between his parents in complete confusion
"w-what?" he whispered in a weak voice "n-no-"
"ricky-"
"no!" ricky exclaimed "no, you're not-i thought things were working out? you've stopped arguing! you-you guys were laughing yesterday! i saw it!"
"honey, please-"
"please what?!" he exclaimed, standing up suddenly as he made nini jump slightly in fright from the loud sound "you guys are just going to give up?!" ricky questioned, his breathing heavy "no! no, i'm not accepting this! you guys told me-"
"sweetie, trust me this has nothing to do with you. if anything you've been the one thing keeping us together-"
"really, we're quoting the therapist-?"
"you don't agree?? what do you want to say?!" lynne replied shortly, quieting mike down
nini looked at her boyfriend and felt her heart break at the sight of him...she didn't know what to do. she never really knew how to comfort people...with ricky it usually came naturally but right now she didn't know how she could make him feel better.
"ricky..." she whispered
"no." he shuddered, moving away from the table as he rushed out of the dining room, leaving nini seated with lynne and mike who sighed slowly
nini swallowed before she took a deep breath, slowly standing up "um...excuse me." she mumbled kindly "d-dinner was...um...the food was lovely...mrs-i mean-um...lynne. thank you..."
before the woman could answer her, nini sped out of the room, heading for the door and opening it, feeling the cool air rush past her as she stopped suddenly in her tracks when seeing the curly-haired boy seated on the steps to the porch with his knees up to his chest.
nini could hear his breathing being short and hollow, frowning as she hesitantly made her way closer to him and sat down next to him.
she had her eyes moved to his face, seeing him look out in front of him blankly, noticing his eyes glimmering with tears in the porch and moon light.
"ricky..." she said quietly "m-maybe...maybe they'll...work it out-"
"no. they won't." ricky said sharply, cutting her off as he shook his head with another bitter laugh and looking down "t-they won't."
nini's heart sank as she put her hands in his, feeling his grip on hers tighten in comfort and she looked back up at his face when he talked again
"i-i really-i really thought they were going to go back to how they used to be." he whispered vulnerably "i-i thought-"
"i know." nini nodded sadly "i know..."
ricky looked at her and let out another shaky breath "i-i don't know what to do."
nini smiled comfortingly, bringing her hands up to his cheeks when seeing a tear fall from his face.
she wiped it away with her thumb "i'll be here with you. okay?"
ricky nodded hesitantly, feeling the girl lean forward and place a soft kiss on his forehead before he leaned his head on her shoulder
"thank you..." he whispered
nini knit her eyebrows as she leaned her head against his "for what?"
"for being the one i can count on..." he confessed "you're my home."
nini forced herself to not stiffen at the sound of that. she didn't want to make ricky focus on her. she didn't want to worry him about her.
but she hated this.
she hated knowing that she was going to have to leave him too...
a/n: hi!!! lol so yeah the story's gonna start now 😎 n e way,, hope u enjoyed this chapter!! this is just a message letting y'all know that i've released the first chapter of my new rini au 'in your reflection' so if you haven't already go check that out and comment on what u think so far :) really excited for this one eeeek!!! ok happy reading <33