a/n - updates have been a little slow bc i've already started writing the bachelorette one lol i know i need to finish the spiderwoman one properly tho

nini's pov

i walk to the entrance, smiling at y/n who was talking to her mom and dad. "nini," the dean says, standing in front of me. "oh my gosh," i manage to say. "hi." "uh, you're from the..." "conservatory. kalyani patel, nice to meet you," she introduces herself, holding out her hand. i shake it, "i just... i, uh, i thought you left." "ah, forgive me for leaving before the curtain call. i had an important phone call to make to the president of the board. nini, you have talent. but more than that, you have a unique voice, and it's clear you have things to say," she says, "i'd like to offer you a spot starting next month."

she hands me her business card, and i hum, taking it. "you'll let me know?" she asks. "yeah," i nod with a smile. she walks away and i do a short exhale, looking at the card. i watch her walk out, the other door opening. "hey nini! you ready to go?" y/n asks, smiling at me, "come on, everyone's waiting." she smiles, walking out. i look at the card, then back where the door where y/n was standing just a moment ago.

i walk out, seeing y/n waiting by her car and everyone else around their own cars. "about time!" kourtney yells. i chuckle, walking up to them. kourtney smiles at me, hinting that she saw my conversation with the dean. i give a small smile back, and we head into our cars to go to denny's.

y/n opens my door for me, and i get in, "thanks." she hums, closing the door and getting in the other side. kourtney, seb and carlos also get in the back. "to denny's we go," y/n says, driving out of the car park. "what do you guys think the next musical's gonna be?" y/n asks. "it would make sense if it's high school musical two," kourtney says. "it's out with the old, and in with the new," carlos starts to sing. "goodbye clouds of grey, hello skies of blue!" we all join in.

"holding your hand when it gets cold," nini and i sing to the camera as we step out of the school lockers for the school theater instagram page. "promise me you'll never let go," nini hold my hands as we smile at each other. "it's winter break but we'll never break apart," i twirl nini around, connecting our hands again, "a season of celebratin', the memories we'll be makin', makin' a change, make a new start."

"you guys... i don't think i was recording the song..." miss jenn says, looking up from her phone. "are you serious?" nini says amongst the chatter. "go back to places?" she asks, "what? i thought i pressed it!"

i walk out, holding nini's hand. "wanna come to mine later? " i turn to her. "sounds good," she says, smiling.

i pick up the pizza plate as the fire alarm starts beeping. "uh... maybe don't tell your mom about this one?" dad says. "you think?" i chuckle, placing it in the sink. "hey... thank you for staying with me for christmas." "chicago's too cold me for anyway," i answer, "it's good to be home, i mean." "yeah it's... this house has been good to us," dad chuckles. the doorbell rings. "nini's here," i say. "okay, i'll go upstairs," dad says. i smile, walking past him to the door.

i scoop up snow, throwing it at nini. she squeals, and the snowball hits her back. she bends down, throwing one at me. it lands a few feet in front of me. "what was that?!" i yell, laughing.

we walk up to the door. "hey, look up," nini says. i look up, laughing at the mistletoe. "did you put that there when you came over?" "nope! must've been cupid," she chuckles. i smile, connecting our hands and leaning in to kiss nini.

nini picks out an ornament from the box to hang on the tree. "oh my gosh, look at how cute you are!" she says, standing next to me and showing me the ornament. "look at you!" i laugh, nini putting it on the tree.

i hang an ornament of mom, dad and i up, nini dancing to 'santa tell me' by ariana grande that played in the house speakers. nini puts an ornament on the tree, and i pick up our 2 hot chocolates. she turns around, and i hand it to her, smiling. we gently clink our cups, drinking them. 

we sit beside the fireplace. "oh, was there something you wanted to tell me tonight?" i ask, watching nini sip her hot chocolate. "oh yeah, um," she places her hot chocolate on the coffee table, "i just wanted to tell you how much i love giving you gifts!" she says, handing me a rectangular box that was poorly wrapped. we both chuckle. "um, i'm the worst at wrapping things," she says, smiling. i unwrap it, seeing a guitar strap. "i know you said your one was uncomfortable, so i got you a new one," she says. i glide my thumb on the guitar strap, admiring it. "you're not saying anything," nini chuckles nervously. "no, it's just that, um... the first gift i can remember unwrapping under the tree is a guitar... from my mom," i say softly. "oh..." nini says. "this is really nice, thank you," i say, placing it to the side. "hey," nini reaches over to me, placing her hands on top of mine. "nah, it's all good. no, it's just the... you know, first christmas without her. but you're here," i look on the brighter side, kissing nini's hand.

she smiles, and so do i. she sighs, looking down. "so um, i have 2 things for you," i change the subject, picking up a small box. i hand it to her, and she opens it. "earrings," she chuckles, bringing the box closer to her eyes. "they're beautiful," she says. "i saw them at the mall and i thought that you'd like it," i say, nodding. "thank you," she smiles. "of course. next gift, i wrote you a song. i hope it fits, 'cause you can't return it," i chuckle, picking up my guitar.

"when the perfect gift is you..." i finish, looking up at nini, whose eyes were tearing up. "y/n, that was incredible," she says and i laugh. "harry styles could never! no, i'm serious. means a lot, y/n." "thanks... i gotta stay in fighting shape for the spring musical, am i right?" nini and i chuckle, and i push my hands that were on the floor towards nini, giving her a small kiss. "i honestly can't wait to do it all over again. and i'm never walking off stage in the middle of a show again. because this, us..." i hold her hands, "it's like the one thing, the one thing i can always count on... you're my home."