19. Spring Break

[Avni: So I found out why Ricky wasn't at my party- he and Nini broke up- and I feel terrible. He isn't really talking about it, but I'm determined not to let him isolate himself for the whole week.]

Avni was about to give up when she video called Ricky for the nth time, and he didn't pick up. But then she glanced at her blank notebook again, and tried his mom instead. She picked up on the third ring.

"Why aren't you picking up your phone, you asshole?" She asked Ricky when Lynn handed it off.

"I turned it off."

"How convenient. I thought you died or something."

"How would I die?"

"On the flight. It could be a Manifest situation."

He scoffed, "That was a terrible show. I refuse to die that way."

"What are you talking about? Manifest was incredible."

"The first season was incredible. Then it was pretty much shit. Everyone says so."

"Literally no one is saying that," Avni replied. Then she glanced at his surroundings. "Are you planning to mope around at home for the entire week?"

"There's nothing to do."

"Go out sight-seeing! You're in a new city!"

"I don't wanna go out with my mom."

"Why not?"

"Did you while you were in New York?"

"Of course, I did," she said. Ricky raised his eyebrows at her. "My mom made me," she mumbled, looking down at her book.

"Exactly," he laughed. "So, how's it going with Hrithik?"

"We don't have to talk about that."

"Nah, I want to."

"I haven't seen him since the other day. But we've been talking," she looked at her book again.

"That's good."

"Yeah," she frowned at the lyrics she'd written before.

"Why do you keep looking down?"

Avni sighed and held up her book, "I'm trying to write a song. For closure."

"Why do you need- oh, EJ."

Avni smiled grimly.

"Does that work?"

"The Internet said it would. So- you know- it might. But so far, it's not. I keep writing love songs instead."

He laughed.

"No seriously, listen to this- 'Please don't let this be happening again, this already happened once. And it's already been three years but, every time I see you my heart goes and I can't seem to make it stop.'"

"That's- corny," he said, trying not to laugh, but ultimately failing.

"You're an ass."

The day was going by real slow. It made her regret not picking up a shift at the restaurant. And this song was going nowhere- and she was getting in her head.

Her phone pinged.

Thank god.

"What are you up to today?" It was Hrithik.

"Absolutely nothing. Bored out of my mind."

"Where are you?"

"Home. You can come over if you want"

Nerves flooded Avni immediately after she hit send. Is that too suggestive? Why do I never think ughgdyufwihiuhe-

"Omw."

Oh, okay.

Their lips chased each other over and over even as their lungs burned for oxygen. Their breaths mingled as their fingers explored everything.

(Over the clothes).

Avni was made brutally aware of this fact when everything around her got too hot and she yearned for the feeling of skin-on-skin.

She tugged at Hrithik's shirt, and he got the hint. He sat up on the bed, peeling off his shirt.

The abs? Definitely real.

She was impressed, and it must've shown on her face- because Hrithik grinned proudly before leaning down to peck her lips, and then kissing her again- this time slower.

The mood shifted dramatically. It gave Avni time to appreciate the feel of his lips over hers, and the placement of his hands, and the feel of him under her hands.

She broke away again, this time to take off her own t-shirt.

His eyes dragged up and down the newly- exposed skin. He kissed down her neck, down her collar bone, and over the curve of her breast- when her phone rang from her bedside table.

"Ignore it," Avni breathed.

Hrithik complied, but then the phone ringed again.

"Just pick it up," Hrithik said, getting off her.

She sighed and rolled over to see who it was.

"Shit," she said, and got up. "It's a video call. From Ashlyn. Why do they insist on video calls?" She groaned, grabbing her shirt and putting it on.

She ran a hand through her hair and accepted the call. "Hey, what's up? I'm in the middle of something."

"Where've you been? You missed a call from Miss Jenn."

"What was it about? Another reminder to work over the break?"

"North High dropped like a diss track on Instagram about us slacking off while they went on some immersion trip in New York," Ashlyn said.

Avni's eyes widened. She looked over at Hrithik, who held a slightly guilty expression. Who was also still shirtless.

"One second," she told Ashlyn. She placed the call on mute. "You're in New York?" She asked Hrithik, amused over the whole thing.

"Mr. Roy and Lily are in New York," he said. "They sent the footage. Everyone else is here."

She grinned, "Is that why you came over? To distract me while your classmates dragged mine?"

"I trying to soften the blow!"

Avni nodded, "I think it worked."

He grinned at her. "You're not mad?"

"You're shirtless."

He winked, "That was the idea."

"Hello?" EJ said. Avni all but jumped when she heard him. What is he doing there?

"We were thinking about writing a song to retaliate," Ashlyn said.

Avni unmuted. "What d-"

"Leave her alone, Ash," EJ said. "She's busy with Hrithik."

Avni looked at him in surprise.

"You look like you were in the middle of a make out," he said, not even looking at the phone.

Avni felt her stomach churn at his words and his tone. She felt oddly guilty- but then again, she had no reason to feel that way. EJ and her had only been dating in her dreams- yet she felt caught. She could feel Hrithik stare intently at her, watching her reaction at the words. Which puzzled her further- because he didn't know anything.

"I think that's my cue," he said quietly. Avni put the call on mute again and placed her phone face down on the bed.

"Hrithik-"

"You should work on your song with- EJ," he said. "Plus, my parents will be home soon and I should get back."

"I'm sorry," she said.

He smiled, "It's no big deal."

"I'll call you tonight?"

He nodded, "Yeah." He pecked her lips sweetly and walked out.

He's so fucking nice.

Avni picked up her phone and placed it on her desk. Tying up her hair, she said, "Thank you for ruining that for me, EJ." She took a seat. "Now talk to me about this song."

"Flight's cancelled… omw to Ashlyn's" Gina texted Avni.

"Do you need a ride?" She asked. It was late.

"Sure."

"So, I-um-" Avni started hesitantly. "This thing happened with EJ earlier today and I kind of haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I know it's like the middle of the night and you're in Chicago, so it's later for you- so I didn't call, just recorded this song I was finally able to pen down. So yeah- here it goes."

She started strumming her guitar.

"Why am I still out here, waiting for us to happen? It's not like you'd want it. Everything I loved about you I think I imagined, 'cause we never had it…"

A/n

Both the songs are Katherine Li's- Happening Again and Never Had a Chance. Spotify found her for me, so I have no sense of how popular she is- but if you haven't heard her music, please check I out- it's amazing.

Especially Never Had a Chance.

Also jealous EJ?!

Please comment and vote!