27. back to how it was

                                    

                                          
"have a good night." nini said kindly, forcing a smile at a customer as they thanked her and walked out of the café, leaving her to finally close up the place. 
after two weeks since the divorce, nini had finally gotten herself to leave the house and get back to work and her life. she wasn't her same old self yet, of course not. that would take a lot of time. but she was trying. and she was thankful that she had her friends to help her too.
when she put on her coat and beanie on, she swung her satchel strap over her shoulder and exhaled deeply, leaving the coffee shop and locking the door before turning around, noticing how snow was falling.
she frowned to herself as she began to walk, passing by an elderly couple that wished her a merry christmas week. that didn't usually happen, but then again, they were so happy and in love that they wanted to show that with the world and anyone who passed by them was to witness it.
nini had forgotten that christmas was arriving in a short time. honestly, the thought of it made her anything but merry and joyful. 
because all she could think of was her first christmas with ricky.
flashback
"you know, i never decorated a christmas tree..." the nineteen year old said sheepishly as a black-haired boy helped him with the ornaments for the tree they were decorating
the brunette girl swirled around from seb's oven where she was taking care of her cookies that had been baking. 
"you never WHAT?!" she exclaimed in shock 
"what happened?"
"who died?"
ej and ashlyn asked in unison before the room was filled with chuckles
"nothing, just ricky here telling us about not having ever decorated a christmas tree." seb explained as shock filled the cousins' faces and they stared at the curly-haired boy
"what?" ricky laughed "it's not exactly my fault. my parents always used to buy those expensive already-decorated ones."
"ah," gina sighed "you know it's christmas when white boys complain about their exhausting good fortune."
"ha ha," ricky said flatly but he had a smile on his face nonetheless 
"i don't know, it doesn't feel like christmas yet." kourtney hummed thoughtfully as they finished up decorating the tree
carlos nodded "oh yeah!" he beamed before turning the tree around the other way to show his side - which was perfectly symmetrical in decorations. 
"see, now it does." kourtney said "now we just need nini's cookies."
"which are coming right up!" nini exclaimed. she hadn't taken her eyes off of the oven, apart from talking to ricky occasionally, and was currently sitting on the floor, watching them intently.
her eyes darted to the side for a split second when sensing ricky sit down beside her and her heart fluttered at the sound of his laugh
"you know, they're not going to burn if you look away for a second." he teased
nini shrugged "they might."
"fine then, won't give you my present—"
"ooo! gimme!" the girl exclaimed brightly, finally turning around to look at him and they were in awfully close proximity. but that was how they were at this point in their friendship. always around each other, always wanting to be around each other.
"got you." ricky grinned as nini frowned in confusion
"are you saying there's no present?" she questioned "that's very grinch-like of you to trick me."
ricky rolled his eyes playfully "the present is for christmas day genius."
"why are there so many rules at christmas." nini groaned "i say just do what you want. what's up with all the traditions?"
"it's fun!" ricky defended
"aw, new jersey." nini cooed, bopping his nose that made him scrunch it up in response and she giggled "you've got a lot to learn."
"city girl," ricky replied, leaning a little towards her "you do too."
nini's breath hitched as she opened her mouth to say something before ej spoke up from further back in the living room.
"what's that smell??"
"ugh, ej—"
"I DON'T MEAN ME!"
"SHOOT MY COOKIES!" nini suddenly exclaimed, jumping up as she caught sight of them beginning to burn as she quickly opened the oven and grabbed a mitt to take the tray out.
end of flashback
nini didn't realize how a hint of an amused smile had appeared on her lips at the memory. ricky apologized relentlessly and nini kept trying to get him to stop because she didn't mind and the others all knew it was bound to happen if the two clueless teenage friends who were oblivious to their feelings for one another were alone to supervise the food.
that next morning, nini remembers waking up to help ej and seb to make breakfast for the group so they could all eat together and when they were distracted, ricky pulled nini aside to give her the present. 
it had been a small wooden guitar pick with flowers engraved on it and on the back, it was written 'a heart cannot be lied to.' within the next few moments, nini remembered ricky asking her if she still thought christmas traditions were dumb and when she asked why, he'd told her that they were standing below a mistletoe.
and that was their first real kiss.
nini sighed to herself as she took a turn to arrive into her neighborhood, continuing to think back to her christmas memories with ricky. 
how they'd bake cookies together...together being that she'd make them and he'd watch, trying to help while she'd protect her sacred cooking from him.
the list of movies they'd binge together, wearing a fluffy blanket with a cup of hot chocolate for each of them.
before the girl could continue to reminisce, she looked up to go up the stairs that lead to her apartment building before stopping in her tracks when she saw the curly-haired man sitting down on the steps, his eyes down before darting up to look at hers