𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲 [ 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗮𝘂 ]

escape plan .14

nini heard the doorbell ring and made her over. she opened the door and greeted ej as the both of them made their way to her living room. they both sat on opposite ends of the couch, staring at their legs or their surroundings. nini cleared her throat and creaked a smile at ej.

"thirsty?" she asked him. ej shook his head and sighed.

"you wanted to talk .. " he quietly murmured while nini nodded her head, "what's up?"

the girl shrugged her shoulders and looked at ej with astonishment, "ej ... why are you doing this?"

"nini, i want to do this."

"why though?" the girl quickly asked him. ej's head shot up from the floor and he looked at nini with guilt.

the picture of maya and ej sneaking around three years ago lingered in his head. they met at the hidden gala, just like nini and ricky. although, no one knew. no one was allowed to know. ej was nini and they were the celebrity power couple. maya and ricky have barely started their journey in the industry. no one would ever be okay with a montague falling in love with a capulet. it's forbidden.

"because you deserve this, neens," was all ej could creak out.

"but you don't deserve this," nini told ej, who only faced the ground once again. little did she know, he kinda did. ej shook his head and scooted closer to nini, "ej, i would never ask you to do this for me."

ej smiled and nodded his head, "i know, but you wouldn't have to. i'd do anything for you in a heartbeat."

nini felt her heart sink in her chest. she loved ej, but not in the way she thought he loved her. she's always saw him as a friend and even though they dated for so long, it never felt real to her. it has always been fake because it was their job. sometimes she worried ej actually thought it was real.

"ej ... you know i love you , right?" nini started to tell him, "but ... it's not the same love that you think. i love you by my side as a .. friend. i just feel really bad because i don't want you to risk your career because you. love me when i can't even-"

"neens, i know," ej said in a stern voice. nini shut her mouth and watched as ej sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, "i've always known our relationship was strictly platonic. we were just a couple for the sake of capulet records and our careers. i know that, nini. but i just can't keep living like this anymore."

"like what?"

"oh come on, nini," ej quietly said to nini. he looked around the house to see if anyone was watching them before he continued, "you know what i mean. being told what to wear all the time, who to date, who to be friends with, what to say, when to eat, sleep, sing, wake up - it's too much, neens. i mean we can't even be friends with certain people because of our stupid careers and contracts. that doesn't bother you?"

nini thought about ricky. sometimes she wishes she didn't have to sneak around with him, but really that was kind of the best part of it. it was an escape from her real life. the kind of life that ej is dreading on and on about right now. he has a point.

"it does, but this is the only thing i have. it's the only thing i'm good at," nini told ej, "you're not afraid of losing everything you've worked for. i get that you're tired of this ej, but .. your whole life is about to ruined. this is what you used to love. you still do, deep down. you're just tired."

ej thought about maya. he thought about all the times he saw her award shows and wasn't allowed to talk to her. all the times he texted her only having to delete her phone number and messages with her. all the times he wished to keep memories or show them off to the world, but he couldn't. the text maya sent ej that morning. he loves her more.

"i am tired but it's time i wake up," ej said to nini. he got up from the couch, "nini, i think i'm gonna leave capulet records."

"WHAT?" nini exclaimed as she shot up from the couch, "ej, don't do this. you're only supposed to lay low for a couple of months after the scandal but don't leave! i know it's a big thing but you can pick yourself up quickly and maybe things won't be so bad. we can post that i forgave you and that we're still friends later on so the fans won't get so mad at you and-"

"neens!" ej cut nini off. the girl realized she was ranting and looked at ej in the eyes. she had tears filling up her eyes and shook her head at the boy. it's been her, ej, and ashlyn since the beginning. she already lost ashlyn to montague records and now she was gonna lose ej too.

"please don't leave me, ej," the girl softly creaked out. ej looked at nini with sincere eyes before pulling her into a hug.

"it's for the best," ej whispered to her, "you'll see."

he let go and started to make his way out of nini's house while she trailed him short behind, "so that's it? you're just gonna quit acting and music ... forever?"

the boy turned around to face nini. they were both already outside next to ej's car, "i don't know, neens. maybe. this is my decision though, alright? don't feel like this is your fault. i've been thinking about this way before the contract. now it's just easier to leave."

"ej ..." nini started to say but couldn't find the right words to say. she wasn't going to beg him to stay for her. he was already doing so much for her at this point so she figured she should just respect his career decision. the girl let out a deep sigh and pulled ej into another hug, "i love you."

"i love you too, neens," ej whispered, "thank you for everything."