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1
What is it with humans getting married at the same time lately? What is it with humans getting married? That's the real question. They link they´re short miserable lives to another one, and for what? To get divorced in a short amount of time? With kids in the middle? Love never lasts that long to believe in marriage, Gina didn't believe in love itself, love is lame. She's been in quite a few weddings to just confirm it more and more. Not only weddings, but high school relationships, where all of them either end in someone cheating, or in couples therapy once they marry or live together. The same with college relationships, they want to be serious, compromised, until someone decides they don´t.
Gina´s seen it all in her long vampire life, 111 years to be exact. And there she was, carefree of what was happening in front of her, almost yawning at how bored she was, another wedding! Usually she would make things fun, whether that is getting a little drunk to pretend she's enjoying it, or going to the extremes– like feeding on someone to compel them to forget afterwards. But this time, it was her human best friend´s wedding: Ashlyn and Maddox. She could be very careless sometimes, but at the end of the day, she had seen their relationship… maybe it could end in divorce but at least it would take a little longer.
She was sitting at the top rows of the venue, in a red dress Ashlyn had decided the bridesmaids to wear, it was a very pretty dress she must admit, she felt hot. She was, duh. Sitting beside her was Kourtney on one side and Carlos on the other. Kourtney was the one in charge of Gina unless she wanted to do something crazy like past times, as if she needed a babysitter, please. She rolled her eyes when Kourtney couldn´t stop staring at her. “It's fine Kourt, I won't bite,” she smirked, annoyed. “You're not funny,” Carlos said beside her. “See who's talking” she came back at him.
“Now why am I the one who's being babysit when you literally almost killed someone at Jet and Kourt´s wedding?” Gina snapped at Carlos, whispering. “I was a fresh vampire oh my gosh, I would´ve died if I didn´t.. You know.” Kourtney shook her head at the memory when Carlos almost killed EJ Caswell, he wouldn't have been missed anyways.
After a few minutes of chatter and bullying each other, more and more guests came in, friends & family of Ashlyn Gina had seen a billion times, some of them loved her and some of them, not much… she couldn´t compel every single one, please understand. She saw Carlos and Kourtney on her side tensed, they were singing and making weird looks at each other. “What are you doing?” Gina asked annoyed. “Nothing love, we´re just judging some people´s outfits, that's all.
Of course they were lying, and Gina was too lazy to figure it out so she didn´t insist on them telling her. “Okay, I´ll go for something to drink, call me when the ceremony begins” she got out of the building confused as to why they didn't stop her, she clearly can't drink blood in front of humans, but Kourtney and Carlos seemed too on their own minds to even care. Maybe they knew she wasn't that stupid.
Meanwhile, inside the venue, Carlos and Kourt couldn´t believe their eyes. They rushed to where he was sitting, Ricky only sighed waiting to be lectured on why he was here? After everything that happened, and how did he know it was Ash and Maddox´s wedding– blah blah blah. Their words weren't important to him, he was only there for one reason. “Long time no see.” He didn't answer any of their questions and replied with a cynic phrase. “You know, after almost 45 years without seeing each other I would at least expect a how are you, Ricky?, glad to see you!, can't believe you're here to imply the fun in this miserable wedding. He smirked. “Answer our questions.” Carlos firmly said. Ricky groaned annoyed at them. “I think it's very obvious. Where is Gina?” His tone turned serious after the sarcastic tone he had managed for a few minutes.
“She can´t see you. We already told you, she thinks you´re dead and it must stay that way. Now go.” Ricky laughed, he was losing his patience. “Listen to me, Kourt. I won't leave until I can talk to Gina. There's things I want to clear up with her. Now I´ll ask you for the last time before I lose all my patience. Where. Is. Gina?” silence. He laughs again, standing up, “Fine, I´ll look for her myself” Before Kourtney or Carlos had any chance to go after him, he was already gone.
If anything goes wrong at this wedding, which is likely, Maddox and Ash would never forgive them. There was still 15 minutes left before the ceremony, so they had time to look for Gina before Ricky did. “Kourt, how do you think Gina would react to seeing his dead ex love of her life just walk towards her on a random Sunday 45 years later?” Kourtney covered her face with her hands, quickly fading away from the venue to look for Gina. Carlos did the same, but for Ricky, they were best friends before, he knows Ricky still appreciates him, or so he hopes.
He started his hide & seek game with Ricky, which considering he had been a vampire for way longer than him… it would be hard and they only had 15 minutes. Kourtney had the advantage of being older than Gina, and she wasn't even hiding from them so she believed it would be easier to find her. She headed to the wedding buffet, inside the beautifully decorated salon for after ceremony party. As a matter or fact, Gina would be there, with a blood bag to drink. She was relieved to see the image she was expecting, unless, this time she was tearing up? It had been decades since Kourtney saw Gina cry, the last time it was when Ricky “died”, what she didn't know back then is he came back to life almost immediately, thanks to a witch 45 years ago. And it had to stay that way fro as long as they could.
“Gi?” She reached out to her, sitting on the floor beside a chair which she had already broken out of anger. Gina quickly wiped her tears, and put on her serious, careless expression she was so good at. She couldn’t really tell why she was crying, maybe it was jealousy? Of what though? Of her best friends having a beautiful wedding which won’t last very long by the way, decorations all over the salon, sweets and saltines everywhere… She knew she’d never have that and thank god, she’s already been through enough to even think of weddings or love, cause her thinking remained the same: love is lame.
“I can't even have a blood bag in peace?” She snapped even though she didn´t mean to. “The ceremony is about to start, we were starting to get worried.” she faked a laugh. “Worried? Worried about me? Or worried that I would kill someone on my way here?” Kourtney felt guilty but this time it wasn't like that. One, Gina had only killed one person in her life, when she turned into a vampire. She always threatens to do so, but it never happens, because even after all the pain she's gotten through, her humanity was still on and it had to stay that way.
“No. I was genuinely worried.” she hummed, not very convinced at her response. “Were you crying?” her face turned red for a quick second. “Me? Crying? I don't do that anymore Kourt” she continued “Crying made me feel weak, so I don´t do it anymore, easy as that.” Kourtney could see the pain in her eyes. “Alright, you weren't crying. But it isn't weak Gina, you were suffering back then, you had lost someone-” Gina interrupted her next sentence. “Don´t. I said I didn´t want to talk about him ever again, I suffered a lot loving him and I suffered a lot losing him.” Well that wasn't really helping for the current situation… Now more than ever, Gina couldn´t see Ricky. She's sure that if she did, the pain would be unbearable for her to handle and she'd end up flipping her humanity switch.
Carlos had been searching for Ricky for a few minutes, he still had a solid of 5 minutes to find him before it´d be too late. He was walking through the woods, cause he knew Ricky loved losing himself in them, he heard a creak in one of the logs. Ricky could be sneaky and have this bad boy, sassy facade but he was terrible at hiding, he forgot how bad he really was. “1,2,3, now come on out! You're seriously still this bad at hiding, Bowen? That's embarrassing.” Ricky rolled his eyes coming out the tree he was hiding in like a punished kid. “I was looking for Gina and I couldn't find her in town so I realised-”Carlos interrupted the brown haired man. “If you want to snap my neck or make me weak after I tell you this, fine! I don't care but please Don't. Find. Gina. If you love her, you won´t.” Ricky´s gaze softened. He never told her he loved her, I think that's one of his principal reasons he wants to talk to her again. He was a coward who couldn't get out of his toxic relationship even though feeling everything for Gina Porter. He wanted to make this right this time, even i he was too late.
He stayed silent and Carlos kept talking. “I know you´re here because you want to do these things but, one, she thinks you're dead– he started listing the reason– two, loving you absolutely consumed her and three, she's not the same Gina you knew, she's there but she's also changed a lot. “Did she-?” he implied what he was most scared to ask and receive the wrong answer. “No Richard she didn´t flip her humanity switch, she's been suffering for 45 years but has managed to do certain things for it to be less painful, she´s turn cold, she gets drunk more often, she ruins weddings and it won't be because of you that she ruins this one.” Ricky stood silent before talking again. “Carlos, the only thing that's keeping me from flipping the switch and ending all this pain is the hope that she'll forgive me.” Ricky feels like people forget that he's also suffered in spite of this, but he only cared about Gina.
“Ricky, please. Just…not today. We don´t want her t flip her switch before the wedding at least. Maddox and Ashlyn are very close friends.” He nodded annoyed that he was right but he'd do anything for Gina. “Okay. I'll go.” Carlos smiled at his response and turned back to get out of the woods.
Kourtney and Gina were done talking and headed to the venue again, just a couple of minutes before the ceremony starts. “Hey, before entering I should hide this.” Showing Kourtney the empty blood bag with her. “Okay, I´ll wait for you inside Gina. Please-” she rolled her eyes. “I won't do anything stupid, I promise.” she looked for options as to where to hide a blood bag, the woods would do right? No human ever goes in there, cause it's scary. Lame humans. She rolled her eyes again when she heard two voices, far away. If you didn't know, vampires have a perfect ear. She recognized his friend's voice immediately because she couldn't even think of the possibility of the second voice being someone she knew. She gently approached to where they were. One step closer, two steps.
“Okay, I´ll go.” she heard that second voice and was left paralyzed when she saw the other boys hair, to finally see his face. Ricky turned to see her, pale more than he already was as a vampire. Carlos let out a big sigh, knowing what was happening before turning around. A paralyzed Gina, tears in her eyes, an empty blood bag in hand. She never thought she'd see him again, was she having visions? You´re not a witch idiot. He was there. Ricky was standing in front of her, alive…
2
Like a shotgun, all her memories with Ricky flooded her mind and made her heart sink more and more every time she reaffirmed his presence. And it hit her, Carlos and Kourtney knew this, that's why they were acting weird, this is why Kourtney was looking for Gina. They don't care about her – that's the first thing she thought, they just didn't want her to see Ricky alive, cause they knew it would hurt her and that she would be mad. The thing is Gina wasn't mad at that moment– she was furious, she felt the need to punch Ricky and Carlos in the face. The pain was unbearable.
“Gi. Please, listen to me.” Ricky´s tone softened and as soon as he reached out to grab her arm she stepped back. Ricky´s eyes started to turn red out of his forming tears at how she was looking at him, it wasn't a scared face or a surprised one. Just a numb expression, her tears ricocheting, her mind screaming at her to just turn it off, turn it off Gina, you don´t wanna go through the same pain again, your friends lied to you, why would you care about them now? She closed her eyes firmly and Ricky knew what he was witnessing.
“Gina! Don´t do anything stupid, switching it off won´t help” Is if like hearing his voice was only reassuring her that she had to turn it off, she couldn't bear the sound of him saying her nickname she hasn't heard in decades, and so, after just a couple of seconds, she turned it off.
When you're a vampire, the emotions you feel are heightened, if you feel happy– you´re not just happy, you´re screaming excitedly and your body can´t fight the feeling of joy. When you're sad, it can be too powerful for you to fall depressed. And when you're in deep emotional pain, it can be literally impossible to handle that the vampire heart and brain shut down, making you turn your feelings off or live in an eternal hell of suffering.
“Gina, Gina! Tell me you´re not gone.” Carlos lied a hand on her shoulder as soon as she opened her eyes again. She gave him a death stare before punching him in the face. Ricky chased her as she started walking away off the woods while Carlos healed. “Ugh, you´ll be fine, you're a vampire remember?” she yelled at him hearing his groaning in pain. She teased a smile to the brown haired boy in front of her who two seconds ago she would´ve ran away from crying in pain. “What do you want?” Ricky pretended her tone didn´t stung– he had already had his humanity off… but that's another story. He knows she´s in there, and he might have an idea as to how bring her back. But for now, he had to make sure she didn't ruin another wedding. This was all his fault for showing up at the first place, and he was going to be the one to fix it.
“I can´t let you go in there, not like this” she faked to be offended and loudly gasped putting her hands on her chest. “Judging a vampire without her humanity… what happened to just love and be the bigger person! Oh that's right, you never were.” Her words hurt Ricky more and more, he knew she'd never say it like this if her flip was on but it still hurt.
“If you hate me it means you´re at least feeling something.” She laughed again.
“No, actually I couldn't care less about you right now.”
“And that's why you were crying as soon as you saw me?” He was naturally sassy and sarcastic but never with her, but he knew he had to bring out any emotion in her for this to work, hatred, sadness, rage. He didn't care if at the end she really ended up hating him for life, he just wanted her back as before.
“ Were is in past tense, Ricky. Please, not everything's about you.” He knew that in that moment nothing could make her change her mind. Her switch had been off for only a few minutes. “So where are you going? To ruin your best friend's wedding?” Gina raised her eyebrow unamused. “And why would you care about that?”
“You ́re right, I don´t! I don't even know who they are but I care about Carlos, he was my best friend for a long time remember?” Gina felt like vomiting at how soft Ricky was at that moment. “Why don´t you two kiss already or something and you leave me alone?” she started walking out again. All Ricky could do was go behind her, until he came up with an idea.
“Okay, listen to me.” She groaned annoyed. “I didn't remember how talkative you are, it's really annoying Bowen. Whatever that made you come back didn´t know what it was doing.” He took a deep breath in.
“I have a deal for you.” his tone turned cocky and suspicious, which Gina found way more interesting than his whining about Carlos. She turned around to face him again, and crossed her arms. “Okay? Spill.”
“If you don't go in there… I'll– he can't believe what he's about to propose– I'll turn it off too and we can have all the fun you want far from here.” She faked a thinking face for a few seconds, leaning in closer to him to the point where their noses were touching and Ricky felt his breathing heavy and his heart skipping a beat, she leaned in closer and closer before bursting out laughing and pulling away afterwards. “Out of all the people in the world, I wouldn't share my fun with you. Not worth it.” That was it for him. Two could play this game.
“Alright, then you leave me no other option.” He quickly grabbed her hand and ran as fast as he could, which for vampires was almost like teleportation and without further notice, Gina was already sitting in his car that it was actually Big Red´s. The windows were instantly looked and he start the engine almost at the second she reacted. “Ouch?!” she ranted about hitting her accidentally with the car door before getting inside. “Wait…”-- she tried to force the doors to open but she was unsuccessful. “Don't even try to do something stupid… again. This car has a protection spell so no matter what you do to try and kill us know… which is kind of impossible, nothing will happen.” He now faked a smile that sent Gina a raging anger within her. “Good! You´re feeling rage, that's progress.” She wanted to literally stake him in that moment, but sadly she didn't have one. “Did you just kidnap me?” Ricky rolled his eyes. “I told you, I had no other choice. Don´t tell me you weren't about to go and feed on every single guest at that wedding.” She stood silent and he continued. “If you ever get your humanity back you´ll forever feel guilty about it and believe me, guilt is not an emotion you wanna experience for the rest of eternity.”
“Go to hell.” That was her last statement before him going down the road, “I was already there, don´t worry.” She didn't find him funny, but why did she slightly smirk at his response? At how ridiculous he was, that must be it.
The ceremony had concluded, Ash and Maddox were officially married. Kourtney applauded with genuine happiness but all she could think about was where Carlos and Gina were… she imagined the worst possible scenario, her anxiety was up the roof, and her gut was telling her to run away and look for them but she couldn´t. She was the only girl friend left there– you could see Elton on the back rows, Big Red next to him, Seb also looking for Carlos even though they had been broken up for decades now as well. And of course, Ashlyn and Maddox getting closer to her, faking smiles to their families cause they knew all too well Gina was supposed to be standing besides them in the ceremony.
“Kourt… What happened to Gina and Carlos?” Maddox finally asked her concern.
“I´m sorry girls… I don´t know what happened but it's bad, I can feel it.” Ash and Maddox shared a look before asking again. “Kourt, what happened?”
“Ricky´s here. Or was? I don't know anymore.” Ricky might not know who the two girls were but they knew exactly who he was… they knew he was Gina´s love of her life and how much she suffered because of him. The girls stood there in their dresses shocked, expecting Kourtney to continue when Carlos came behind them out of breath, his punch was already healed. “She saw him.” it's all he could word out to them and Kourtney knew… “She flipped it off right?” Carlos nodded which made Kourtney dizzy– just what they were avoiding, happened.
“Flipped it off? What does that mean?” Ashlyn asked concerned. “Remember when we told you that being a vampire made our emotions heightened?” They nodded expectant. “Well that means that pain is also heightened and it can be unbearable to handle for a vampire brain, which forces vulnerable people in the moment to turn off their humanity to not feel more pain… and it makes the vampire be the worst versions of themselves” The girls were stoic but out of the blue, Maddox talked again “That's kinda cool” Ashlyn covered her mouth quickly and whispered to her ear “Not the time, love” she blushed at her response.
“I think Ricky went away with her to avoid her from ruining your day. I saw Red´s car gone and he's way too busy flirting with Seb to notice.” Kourt took some deep breaths. “Okay… okay um… There's nothing we can really do right now, if she´s with Ricky, he'll make sure she's safe and that others are too. I'll call him just to make sure.” Carlos nodded and hugged the brides in front of them. “Now you two, don´t worry, you will still have the best time of your life today.” He walked them out of the venue to head over to the party salon. “Carlos… Gina´s our best friend, we have to be there for her.” Maddox agreed. “No, it's dangerous. You'll party and have a great time while Kourt and I handle this along with Ricky.”The girls, saddened by how the day was turning out finally after a few minutes, accepted to just go and try to enjoy their wedding night.
For the others this would be a long night… or life. It´d depend on how long it would take them to make Gina slip her switch on again.
Kourtney remembered being a witch, the one who turned Ricky back from the dead. But not just any witch… this witch was one of her best friends way before Gina even turned into a vampire: Nina. She was a good, kind hearted witch that was also lost in love with Ricky ages ago… until she realised she didn't like men after all… but in that moment those two were a mess, Ricky and her would break up and come back like it was nothing, no communication skills, toxic discussions… he would always be chasing her again and again until he met Gina… his whole world turned upside down and it scared him. How he died was not a story for her to tell but Nina´s, since no one else knew exactly what had happened.
“I´ll talk to Nina, you go and find Ricky and Gina, please tell me once you find them.” Carlos nodded. “I got the hard work? Again?!” Kourtney annoyed by Carlos, pushed him away, losing her patience. “Do I have to remind you this was your fault in the first place? Go!”.
3
The orange car pulled up to Ricky´s old home in Salt Lake. He hadn't been there ever since he “died”. He knew it would be the only place where Gina and other people could be safe until Gina´s humanity came back. He was going to try every single thing in order to get her back, maybe this was a perfect opportunity to stop being a coward for once and be there for her this time. Gina however, wanted to strangulate him at how he perceived her staring getting down the car and not having a single reaction to the house, where they spent a lot of moments when they were younger friends.
“Get yourself comfortable cause I won't let you leave until you have turned your flip back on '' Gina rolled her eyes, groaning and sitting on the couch like a punished teenager. He wasn't gonna lie, it made him contain a laugh, how did she manage to still enchant him with her attitude? It's something only Gina could do.
“Why is it so important to you? You didn't care about me before, why would you now?” Again, the words seemed to be stinging Ricky more than he´d expect. The thing is he cared deeply about her, not only that, he loved her– and he has never loved anyone else so deeply, so passionately and so purely.
“Gi, I care about you so much” she muffled a disbelieving laugh. You could tell that somewhere deep inside her, she was still in pain because it doesn't matter if you turn off your switch, there is always a feeling of emptiness, that you can't explain and you ego in that moment won´t let you even think about it cause now the pain was gone. He knew about this cause he experienced it once…
“I´m serious and I didn´t want to clear things out in this way but maybe it´ll help you, it's why I'm here in the first place.” Gina grabbed a cup of what seemed to be wine? He didn't even have wine in his house, or he didn't remember..
“I really don't care Ricky, all I know is you didn´t value my friendship or whatever the hell we had back then. I suffered a lot when you left and then I found out you were dead– I had never felt such pain until a couple of hours ago. But guess what? There's no more pain, all I feel is absolute indifference about you.” Ricky knew this wasn't helping at the slightest so he had to make her feel challenged in some way, create a single spark of competitiveness which always characterised her and one of the many qualities she had that made him fall in love with her.
“I don't believe you, Gi.”
“And please, stop calling me that.” He insisted.
“Why? Does it make you feel something?” This time she snapped at him and threw the glass of wine to the floor.
“I don't feel anything anymore! God, you´re so annoying” she turned away from him to find his room, or somewhere where she thought he´d leave her alone but of course that didn't work.
“I annoyed you, that´s a feeling.” She kept walking to his room or a spot to hide from him but he kept chasing her and insisting. “Gina please listen to the full story and then if you want me to leave you alone… I will.” It was a hard promise to keep but he would… If he told her the full story and apologised maybe it would make her flip it back on– he had to try cause losing Gina forever was not an option, he had lost her once, he wouldn't lose her twice and less in these circumstances.
“If that´s going make you let me go for good, okay, I´ll listen.” He sighed before sitting on the corner of the bed where she was sitting. She moved a little more at the first sense of his hand on her leg… it instantly warmed her up and made her heart start skipping beats… she knows she shouldn't be feeling this way. He was hesitant to start and it was making Gina impatient until she snapped at him again… “So? Is it storytime yet? Cause I´d rather be doing a million things than being here with you.” He sighed again but with a more cocky tone he replied. “What Gi? I won't bite you.”
He finally started.
1978 - Thanksgiving Day
Gina found herself in his door, hesitating for a long time whether to ring the bell or not. She knew it was stupid, come one Gina, just ring the bell. So with a giant tray of cupcakes in hand which she had baked of course and the hand knitted hat on the other, kind of hiding it, still not sure if she'd give it to her, it was a ridiculous orange hat for the cold that had these tiny ears in it with a special message on the tag which is why she was hesitating on gifting him in the first place. She rang the bell
She wishes she could not care about it… like she did before. She only cared for herself, her mother, but never has she cared for a man. She wishes she wasn't standing there in the cold in anticipation of him opening the front door– in a moment of sheer panic she retracted because the waiting felt long and she started walking away at the perfect time where Ricky opened the door.
“Gina?” She closed her eyes as soon as his voice got to her from behind. There was no escape now.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” She noticed the boy's sad but surprised expression on his face. She knew he had been struggling with his family lately– they wouldn't accept him as a newly vampire, his parents were even divorcing and they made sure he knew it was his fault.
“Wow. Um, thank you! Come in.” He had just hung up from a phone call with her mom´s new boyfriend… which was eating him alive. He didn't notice how cold he was being, he never was with her. “I´m sorry can I meet you at the party? Thank you for the cupcakes.” Gina´s gaze saddened, but she was starting to know him well enough and figured it didn't have to do with her. He looked distant but he still let her in…
“Are you okay?” She saw Ricky rushing to his fridge to grab a blood bag, he was kind of new at this vampire thing and it was relevant that he was struggling with his emotions and hunger. He closed the fridge and stood there in the counter, she could see tears forming in his eyes and it was breaking her heart. “I don´t want to overwhelm you. I´m sorry for being cold, it's not about you at all, I promise. Are these carrot cupcakes?” He tried to change the subject hoping Gina wouldn´t insist or maybe hoping she would? It was always better when he talked to her. She was the first one to help him with his vampire journey, and family issues.
“Carrot and cinnamon apple…” she softly smiled at him before talking again. “Ricky, you can talk to me, okay? I´ll never judge you.” Her words were comforting and reassuring for him which made his body relax a little– only Gina could do that and yet, he feels guilty for feeling the way he does with Gina, it's a strange one, he couldn't put a definition to it. He took a big breath and started talking.
“I just hung up on my mom's new boyfriend… i wanted to talk to her, hoping she´d be convinced about the whole vampire thing and how I am still me” his tone turned frustrated real quick, Gina however, didn't answer, she let him continue without interrupting. “And I don´t know, I feel like everything's changing so quickly, no further notice… I had to become a vampire which a year ago I would´ve thought it was only a fantasy, things with Nina are harder everytime and I don't think it's worth fighting that battle again. Not when-” he stopped his next sentence cause of course he wasn't thinking straight.
“I don't know… everything's been weird and different lately, I feel lonely, I even considered for that one second before transitioning, that maybe it would've been better to let myself-” Gina interrupted his sentences for the first time, not even wanting to hear what he was about to say.
“Stop. First, I know things have been hard for you, your parents will have to understand at certain point but if they don´t… you are not alone Ricky” she started to subconsciously step closer and closer to him as she talked. “I know things with Nini are complicated, but maybe you´re the ones making it complicated don´t you think? Maybe you both need some space and see what happens before rushing it.” At this point their faces where just a few centimetres away– Gina could feel her heavy breathing against his chest, when did they get so close? She wasn't going to be the one pulling away , that's a fact.. She could hear his heartbeat and his mouth half opened in front of her, licking his lips in desperation. He wanted to kiss her. “And, don't ever say you'd rather be dead right now, cause it's because of you that we found a connection, you have been a ray of light for me when others have belittled you. Cause… you´re so special to me Ricky, more than you know.”
Maybe her words were too much, she just let herself go. She was conscious of how much he meant to her, and how much she loved him. She was in love with Ricky Bowen. Before anything else happened, she left the hat on his counter besides them hoping he would see it whether it was before or after this.
His mind felt dizzy, he wasn't blind okay? He felt strong things about Gina and for that moment all the chasing Nini stuff seemed ridiculous. How could he try to get someone who's not showing any more interest in him when the most beautiful and comprehensive human being is standing at 2 cm of him. He had to do it, he was going to kiss her. Unfortunately, her phone started ringing… perfect timing mother.
The moment was very much over and she answered to Terri giving Ricky a sweet smile before answering her phone.
Present Day
Gina was silent. Ricky paused the story to hope and hear her thoughts. “I still don't know how this meant you going away and ignoring me for decades… I understand it less now. So if you excuse me, I´m heading out.” She stood up in the corner of the bed and rushed to the front door to get out. Ricky chased her immediately.
“You said you'd listen to the whole story first.” Gina groaned annoyed but she had a plan this time. She sat down back in the living room´s couch, Ricky following her relieved but suspicious about her calm reaction. “Okay I'll listen to the rest.” She faked a smile and Ricky was ready to start talking again… but this time she was quicker than him, well, she was always quicker than him. She ran to the door and before he could react she was gone. How did she even run that fast? Even for a vampire. In other circumstances he´d de impressed positively but this was a problem.
He ran out the door to scan the whole street– she wasn't there. Timing had been really bad ever since he came back but this was just another level. As soon as he starts his car to go find her Carlos appears behind him. “Richard.” He almost had a heart attack because of the jumpscare he created but we know that´s practically impossible.
“She's gone… I have no idea where she went.” He hit himself with the car's steering wheel making the horn sound loud and long. Carlos knew how dramatic Ricky could be. “On the contrary of you, she´s very good at hiding so we´re so screwed.” Ricky gave Carlos a look, and not a friendly one. “You´re not helping, Los. Now you´re gonna help me find her if you don´t wanna end up with a broken neck.” Carlos wasn't afraid at the slightest but he knew it was important to find Gina so they started the road.
4
tw: blood mentioning and death, nothing explicit.
Something inside her had the urge to go back to Ricky´s… not because he missed him obviously but at least she had wifi and food… she had nowhere to go. She kept walking more and more until she found service. She started calling for Ash, maybe Maddox but nothing– of course they wouldn't care about her, especially with her humanity off, who knows? In one of those rage moments she could snap Maddox´s neck or something… because she doesn't care anymore about anyone (or that's what she insisted in her head). She gave up the idea of calling someone and quickly rushed to a near seven eleven, giving deathly looks to the cashier.
Her plan was getting out of Salt Lake as soon as she could, before Ricky or Carlos or Kourtney found her. She didn't want her humanity back, as Ricky said– living with guilt and pain for the rest of eternity it's the least thing she could do, so she knew all the guilt of how she was treating him would flood her. Why do you keep thinking about Ricky? The worst part is she knows he cares about her which makes her more mad about the whole situation… an idea came to Gina´s mind immediately. If Ricky found out Gina had done something irremediable, he would stop caring for her, he'd stop chasing for her.
She put a bottle of water on the cashing spot, along with some snacks for the road– the cashier was concerned about the girl in front of her… considering it was late at night and no one else was there and the earlier death looks he perceived from her. She faked a smile when she approached him. “Listen, I don't have any cash or pennies so is it okay if I just… take these for free?” The cashier, confused, denied her offer which made her furious. “Let's try again ,shall we?” her cynical laugh alarmed the cashier.
“You´re going to let me take this for free and then, you´re gonna stick this wooden stick lollipop to your neck, so you can die a quick and bloody death, did you hear me?” This time, the cashier had been compelled to do what she demanded so cruelly. She would've killed the poor man herself but getting her hands dirty before taking a public bus? It would be so stupid.
She paused to hear the man scream in pain once her demand was done and ran away to catch her first bus out of town. Too sad her plans would be ruined before starting, again. She heard a shadow sound behind her, a cold breeze suddenly rushing through her shoulders. Something was wrong. She walked a couple of blocks and was standing still on the bus station when she heard it again… “Ricky?” she innocently asked the air cause it still seemed like no one was there… until it was.
Darkness, suddenly that's all that was left. She felt a prick of something that debilitated her– most likely to be vervain, a substance that debilitated vampires instantly, one of their worst enemies.
.
The place spun in her head, barely opening her eyes she noticed she was not in the bus station anymore. Actually– it was what looked to be a house in the suburbs when she saw a window from far and trees… Once she gained her full conscience she was found by the least person she wanted to… no it wasn't Ricky. “EJ?!?”
“Good morning sunshine.” She quickly tried to stand up but her hands were tied along with her whole body. On the other side of her was… Nina? Tied up as well but still unconscious. Her head kept spinning but her rage was stronger. “Did you kidnap us? You son of a-” Elton interrupted her insults, if she felt cynical, he was way worse, she's never seen him like this before. What did he want?
“I wouldn't recommend insulting you, Porter. What happened to “EJ´s a good dude, I´m so sorry to have hurt him in the past, he was just the right person for me when Richard Bowen was chasing Nina like a homeless puppy? Oh right. You never did. But you know what, Gina? It's okay because we´re together now and nothing will happen to you, I should be worried about Nina tho, she's only a witch and your boyfriend will be here as soon as I call him and you know… I think I´m gonna kill him” he started manically laughing.. Not gonna lie, he looked ridiculous, Gina could only find herself starting to chuckle.
“And why do you think I care what you do or don´t do, Elton? I don't care about anything and let me say, you look so funny trying to be the villain. You´re pathetic.” Like clockwork, the door burst out open as soon as she finished that sentence. He was burning in rage by her words and by who had entered the door. “Oh I see, you flipped it off… this is going to be easier than I thought then! Kourtney! I´m glad you´re here, join the party” Kourtney´s jaw dropped, she couldn't believe the current scene that was going on.
“EJ?” she noticed Gina´s tied up body with Nini on her side.”
“What did you do?! Is she alive?” EJ continued his ridiculous cheap movie attitude as a villain.
“For now. But I don't think she'll last very long unless you call Ricky right this second.” Kourtney hesitated, this wouldn´t lead to anything good but Gina and Nini were her friends… she had to stick by their side.
Carlos and Ricky walked into a seven eleven to get water and food. They had been looking for Gina all night– in her old house, with her mom, who wasn´t any help by the way cause Terri is already very old to comprehend. They looked for her at East High,gas stations, now– they were headed to Kourtney´s.
They walked on 7/11 and their faces were pale… a dead man laying on the floor with a big lollipop stick on his neck… Ricky didn't want to think this wasn't accidental but it all seemed to appear that way. “Carlos? Get the body out, now.” He noticed something on the place´s floor, something he recognized immediately… Gina´s ring. The ring he once gifted her for her birthday, 45 years ago. That's when it hit Ricky, she had done this… she wanted him to know it was her with that purpose? To think we would just give up on her? It hurt to say that Gina didn´t know him at all, he's not the same Ricky he was 45 years ago and he would continue to prove it.
Carlos entered the place again to find Ricky holding Gina´s ring. He knew. “Um, the body is gone… now can I wash my hands please, I feel like throwing up with all this blood in my hands?” Ricky raised an eyebrow. “You don't like blood? You´re a vampire!” he nodded. “It tasted good but that doesn't mean I can ́t be disgusted by it. I didn't even want to be a vampire in the first place” Ricky didn't even want to waste more time with the silly discussion with Carlos.
They walked out the place but it was interrupted by a phone call, it was Kourtney.
“Ricky? You have to come to Nini's house now!” To Nini´s? He didn't even know Nini still lived in Salt Lake. Her tone was terrified, which altered Ricky´s patience. “Kourt… What's going on? Carlos stuck his ear on his phone eating a bag of chips beside him.
“EJ kidnapped Gina and Nini… You have to come now, no time for questions. HURRY UP.” Ricky hung up and rushed to the car again with Carlos by his side. His eyes were starting to form tears, thinking about what if EJ decided to end their lives… Gina´s life. He wouldn't be able to live without her, not again, not like this. Carlos talked to Kourtney the whole ride to Nina´s, updating him on the situation until Kourtney hung up all of a sudden. He imagined EJ took her phone away. He doesn't even go here? Why the hell would he do this…? He's never been the most likeable person but he´d be incapable of killing a mosquito.
Once he got there, he opened the door dramatically because who´s Ricky Bowen without a dramatic entrance or storm out? He was surprised to see they weren't there… The basement, maybe he moved them to the basement so they wouldn't be heard. Carlos and Ricky sprinted down the stairs at Nini's place. And there he was, with Gina and Nini untied, but debilitated, Nini was still unconscious.
Gina´s eyes glistened at the sight of Carlos and Ricky… she noticed her ring on his hand… he knew what she had done. Why was he here then? I think it's the first time Gina´s plan fails, right when she needs it the most. She stared at him with no expression on her face. How could she feel so empty at the sight of him yet feel something about him? Flipping her switch was the worst mistake, she was starting to regret it… but there was no way out of this now.
“Did you think I'd leave you? You´re so dumb, Porter. Now you have to experience what killing someone is… but I´ll get you out, well, you´ll do it, it depends whether you want to be helped or not.” Gina hesitated on her answer, Ricky only confused her even more, the tiniest bit of humanity left on her shined through as he spoke to her ear.
EJ however, just seemed to be more and more mad. “Well, we can leave all this PDA for another time, now I have to kill you.” Ricky´s eyes widened, but he wasn't afraid. EJ Caswell could never intimidate him– he was acting differently this time though… he had to be smart with his moves. He would get himself killed if that meant protecting Gina. He wasn't running away this time.
“Before you do that, Caswell. While I´m pretty doubtful you´d be capable of doing so, please wake up Nini and untie her. Let Gina drink something and leave them alone, whatever you have against me, they have nothing to do with it.” EJ hesitated but untied Nini a couple of seconds later, the other thing he didn't mean to accomplish.
“That's the thing, Bowen, she does. How could Gina– The Gina Porter chase after you after all that you did to her? Running away with Nini, ignoring her and pretending you had no feelings for her and she still wanted you. After you “died” I was the one by her side! But even after everything that happened, she still loved you.” Those last words sent Ricky into a spiral, he did not know Gina loved him… he was too blind to see it for himself, how could he even see it for her then?
He knew it was time to complete the story. “EJ, can you please let Gina drink something, I need her to listen to the full story.” Gina however, interrupted him at that moment. “No.” Her coughing was debilitating her more and more– “I suffered Ricky… loving you was the worst mistake I couldn't commit, I cried, I was weak, you abandoned me. Why did you even come back anyway? None of this would've happened.”
“Come on Gina, you wouldn't be saying all this if you had your humanity.” She nodded at him weakly. “No, I think I would´ve caused me without humanity is the one who held that pain and remorse for decades… Now you want to fix it with a little storytime? Don't you see I'm basically drunk in vervain?” Her words hurt Ricky cause she was right but he knew it, he was a coward and weak, but he never stopped loving her once he admitted to himself.
“Please, you promised you´d hear it. Please” She saw his eyes were honest and actually considered it for a second. “No! There's no time for stories from the past, now, I´ll let you decide if you want a quick or slow death, Bowen.” EJ stared at Ricky expecting a reply but Ricky was faster, and smarter. “Carlos?” Carlos understood, and quickly snapped EJ´s neck, don't worry he's not dead as if anyone would care anyways, he has a protection spell from Nini that he probably forced her to do.
“Nini? Are you okay?” She could barely talk so she nodded a yes to them. Carlos took care of her too. Leaving Ricky and Gina alone in the basement. He quickly grabbed a blood bag he was carrying to give her.
“Why are you here?” She said as soon as she recovered.
“Did you think you´d scare me away? I´ve changed a lot these years Gi, I won't let you ruin your life like this. Nothing you'd do could ever make me run away.” Gina sat there in silence for a while.
“Now, will you listen to the full story? Please.” again, she didn't say anything. Was she gonna regret not listening to him? As if her humanity would come back at this point– she's done a lot of harm already… she ́s conscious about it but it made her feel worse to not care about it, to not feel a single emotion or mercy for that cashier or for anyone. She took a deep breath.
“Alright. I´ll listen.”
5
1978 – First day of winter break
Gina was standing there static seeing Ricky and Nini talk behind the school´s bleachers outside. She never eavesdropped before but she heard her name be mentioned. Not to say that Ricky has been avoiding her and chasing Nini once again… Which was fine by her, it's not like they were anything anyways. After what almost happened at Thanksgiving, he had been acting weird and cold, like if they were strangers. And now he was talking about her with Nini?
“I can't do it. This past month has been hell without her, Nini. I´m sorry for telling you like this but I-” The girl interrupted him from his attempt to tell her she loved Gina. That everything they went through together meant the world to him but he had to let her go for good.
“I just don't get it, Ricky. Didn´t EJ threaten you or something about not seeing her anymore?” he breathed in deeply. At this point Gina couldn't hear their conversation anymore because Kourtney convinced her to get away from there cause she'd get hurt again and again.
“I´m not scared of Caswell, Nini. Apparently he's saying I should get away from her cause bad things would happen to me if I hurt her– which he's right but I wanna tell her Nini, I wanna tell her I love her.” Nini smiled at him softly, no remorse, just well wishes for him, but also a concerned look.
“I would still be careful Ricky… I´m happy you found Gina this semester but, don´t you think EJ said that with a meaning? What if he hurts you?” He laughed, underestimating him.
“Him as a human and me as a vampire? Please. I´ll be just fine. Thanks for understanding.” Nini, unconvinced, gave him a hug hoping he´d be safe. She had a plan though… Whatever happened with EJ, she´d protect him. She was starting to figure out the whole witch thing and what her ancestors gifted her, but she'd try her best to protect her friends, always and forever.
.
Gina was headed to EJ Caswell´s house. EJ? She doesn't know why they've recently gotten closer, I think they both found comfort in each other with their love drama… he was a good man, but he was also very intense sometimes. She appreciated his friendship even though it seemed and was obvious that we wanted something more.
She started walking down the street with her headphones, unbothered by her surroundings, until she wasn´t. Her heart was breaking at the image, and she couldn't do anything about it. Ricky holding hands with Nini and running away… laughing? They got back together… Gina felt stupid for thinking something could ever happen between them but for a second she did… she thought he was being serious when he said chasing Nini was ridiculous, she knew it could be possible when he almost kissed her at Thanksgiving, she knew it was possible in that moment where she knitted “I love you” under the hat tag.
Tears started rolling down her face in pain, true love pain. Was it even real love? Love can hurt this way? This was her first heartbreak… After decades she decided she wouldn´t fall in love cause love was lame and it hurt everyone who experienced it. Ricky, however, changed her mind when she met him at the stairwell… but it wasn't real either. Love is lame, love is painful. And she swore she'd never do it again.
.
A couple of hours earlier, Ricky headed to EJ´s house to confront him. It all seemed to be just a man to man talk and maybe he'd punch him or something– for then to just go away and find Gina and be with her forevermore. Easy, right? Until it wasn't anymore.
“You want me to do what?” EJ had threatened him once again but it was different, this time, he had no escape. EJ smiled cynically at him, he was starting to lose his patience if he even knew what that word meant. “If you want Gina alive, you have to turn off your humanity… if you don´t do it, I will start getting angry and you don't want to see me like that, Bowen.And if you´re doubting my words, here's the stake.”
“Why are you saying this EJ? Didn't you like Gina?” He huffed in irony. “No. I don´t, maybe I did but she could only talk about you, how much you meant to her and I started to get tired. She's too annoying sometimes. She's coming here soon, so I invited her for coffee… So I´ll say it again, if you want your vampire girlfriend alive, you have to turn off your humanity and leave Salt Lake forever.`` Ricky was in pure shock and anger, how could he talk about Gina like that? He was manipulating her. Turning off his humanity for the price of her life? He didn't think about it twice.
“Okay. I´ll do it, but leave her alone, please.”
“You´re not even gonna fight Bowen? You know this means you´ll never see her again, or at least for a long time.” He hated that he was right… he was a coward, he-d rather turn off his emotions to save her than to fight for both things… but he had to, he couldn't risk Gina getting hurt.
“I said I´ll do it, Elton.” He closed his eyes, wanting to flip it off, EJ had a malicious smile in him. His plan had worked… or so he thought. Ricky opened his eyes, with a numb expression, the pain was gone for good. The left of his tears forming before were gone. He was gone.
“Ricky?” He heard a voice from behind, it was Nini. She quickly started using her powers against EJ, which was a great distraction for them to escape. “Ricky come on, I can´t hold him like this any longer” EJ was in excruciating pain since Nini was causing his head to explode, not literally but the pain was that strong. “No, I have to kill him first!” he screamed at her. “Ricky, are you serious? Just come here, we need to escape. He wasn't thinking straight”
“You don't get it, Nina. I turned my emotions off, I need him dead. Whatever his reasons were, I don´t care.” Nini had to go to the extremes, the only way to stop Ricky from killing him was killing Ricky, not literally, she could do a protection spell for him and he´d wake up. And so she did.
She grabbed the stake EJ had in the counter and got it right through Ricky´s heart. He looked confused for that one second, like if she had betrayed him.
Once he woke up again, EJ was unconscious on the floor but not for long… Ricky got up, confused and angrier once he gained consciousness again. He looked around, Nini was sitting on the couch waiting for his recovery… “Did– did you kill me?”
“Kind of, yeah. You´re very alive, well not very considering you´re a vampire with no humanity but-” he interrupted. “Nini…” he said threateningly for an answer. “It was the only way to stop you from killing EJ!” he sighed, annoyed. “As if anyone would miss that loser.”
After a few moments they found the opportunity to escape. Ricky wasn't sure if he'd get his humanity back ever again, but Gina was safe… that's the only thing that mattered.
Present Day
In those moments where I was dead , the rumour flies quickly through town… that's why you thought I stayed dead all this time. After that, I left town as I promised and I isolated myself from everyone who knew I was actually alive, including Carlos and Kourtney.
Gina couldn't believe it… she´s had the story wrong for 45 years. “No one said a word to you cause they said you didn't want to hear anything from me ever again, and it would be the best if I stayed dead to you.”
Tears were starting to stream down her face… as Ricky continued.
“Gi… I never stopped thinking about you, I never stopped thinking about what if I had fought more for you, and I kicked myself everyday when my flip turned on again for letting you go so easily. You think I didn't care about you but I started to care about you from the first second I met you at the stairwell. You helped me with my parents, you helped me when I became a vampire, you heard me and advised me. I care deeply about you and not only that Gina… I love you. I have loved you forever and I´ll always will, cause you´re my life, Gi. And I want to spend my miserable vampire life by your side, I wanna live with you, I wanna take care of you, I wanna live every single moment that I didn´t back then, but with you by my side. Gina, I love you. Full stop.”
At this point Gina started crying real tears, her flashbacks with Ricy flooding her mind, the past few years… decades. The guilt started to creep in, how badly he treated him with her humanity off, how she literally killed someone to prove a point. How much she still loved him… and how she would always love him, no matter what. Because love wasn´t lame between them, Ricky taught her otherwise. She smiled at him for a second. “Ricky,” she whispered to him.
“Welcome back, Gi.” She ran towards him, she was desperate to taste his lips, to touch him again, to hug him and to feel again with him . “I love you, too. I´m sorry for everything, I treated you horribly I-” he wouldn't let her feel bad about it cause he knew that it was deserved. She had all the rights to be mad and to hate him.
“Hey, hey, it's okay. It's over now. Plus, I deserved it.” In the midst of what seemed to be the calm after the storm, Gina yelled when she saw EJ´s shadow behind him with a stake in hand and a running Carlos. He never ran,
“Ricky watch out!” He turned quickly to face EJ, he grabbed the stake before he could swing it through him. “Did I ever tell you, Caswell, that you look so ridiculous playing the villain?” He threw the stake to Carlos, while Gina and Ricky fought against EJ, punching him. Until knocking him out on the floor.
Carlos ran to where he was. “You know, Caswell. I wish our love story could´have lasted longer…” Those were his last words before killing EJ with the stake. It was all over, finally.
Ricky and Gina hugged for a while. “Um, excuse me? No props for the other hero?” Carlos claimed and Gina pulled him towards their hug along with Kourtney, who was holding Nini from as they came back down the stairs to the basement.
“I love you.” He said it again, full stop, no hesitation. Gina smiled and kissed him once again, a long, desperate kiss of true , real, heightened, full of human love.