a week passed and ricky's condition was the same.
mike and lynne let nini stay in ricky's hospital room, sleeping on the couch at night and staying with him all through the day, even though they suggested she went home to sleep, but she wouldn't.
ida and sam came to visit her and see how she was doing. she would lie, saying she was put together, when really, she was a mess
gina would bring her breakfast and clothes, staying with her for some time in the day, while the others would come in the afternoons or evenings to visit ricky
they all waited and hoped his condition would change, but still nothing.
nini now was sitting in the chair, writing in her notebook while looking up at the lifeless, curly-haired boy every once in a while
she suddenly hears someone knock at the door and snaps her head to the right to see who it was
"hey gi," nini says quietly before turning back to look at ricky
"i brought you waffles and some milk." gina smiles as she walks inside to sit next to nini
nini thanks her as she takes the food and eats small bites at a time
"are you sure you don't want to go home and sleep in your bed?" gina asks her
she shakes her head "no. i don't want to be gone for too long."
gina takes a deep breath and nods before looking back at ricky
"the same?" gina asks
nini shudders a breath "when is going to wake up gi?"
gina feels her heart sink when she sees nini's eyes tear up and pulls her in for a hug
"i promise he will soon enough." gina assures her
nini looks at the lifeless boy over gina's shoulder and closes her eyes
when gina pulls away, she helps nini wipe her tears
"now, what i do know, is that when he wakes up, he's not going to want to see the girl he loves crying is he?" gina asks her with a smile
nini laughs weakly and shakes her head as she wipes her tears
she takes ricky's right hand and holds it in hers and gina looks at the view of nini staying beside ricky days on end.
time passing through photos
the next two weeks, all of nini's friends took turns to stay with her and take care of her and ricky. they all knew how hard it was for her to see him like this, and she would always refuse to leave his side.
nini was starting to feel like he wasn't ever going to wake up. she still kept some hope inside of her, but it was slowly fading
she looks at him and takes his hand before feeling her eyes sting
"wake up." she pleads "please wake up."
her tears fall down her face as she hears the ventilator hiss and no movement from him
"wake up ricky please wake up." she cries "i didn't mean anything i said-please wake up."
she sobs as she tries to tell him to wake up and nothing works.
suddenly, she feels a pair of arms wrap around her and she sobs into the boy's chest
"wa-"
she could barely form the words as she cried and cried in daniel's embrace
he strokes her hair and lets her tears fall on his shirt as he looks at ricky laying there
'please wake up soon ricky.'
***
daniel came out of ricky's hospital room, seeing gina and ashlyn standing there with tears in their eyes after hearing everything
"she's asleep, but she's losing hope." daniel sighs
gina shudders a breath and wipes a tear that fell "it's been a month guys."
ashlyn puts her hand on gina's shoulder in comfort and they all take deep breaths
"he has to wake up soon right?" ashlyn asks them
they all look at each other, not knowing whether or not he will.
***
nini shifted around and opened her eyes, they hurt but she was already used to it.
she looks at the window, seeing that the sun was setting and let out a breath
slowly scooting closer to ricky's face, she places a hand on his cheek. she caresses her thumb on his skin in circles, like he would for her whenever she was nervous or scared and leaned her face closer to him, placing a soft kiss on his cheek
she presses her forehead against his head before placing hers on his shoulder
"i love you." she whispers "i don't hate you, i love you. so please keep fighting and please wake up soon, because i need you in my life."
she stays silent for a few seconds as she keeps her hand in his before feeling her eyes becoming heavier and heavier
suddenly, she feels a small amount of pressure on her hand and snaps her eyes open, looking down to see ricky's fingers slowly moving around