PAPER RINGS || R. bowen ✔️

003

"SO, WHAT DID NINI HER TWEET MEAN?" Ricky asks Ophelia as they're on their way to the auditions. "You liking someone?"

Ophelia shakes her head, she knew he saw her tweet, they all did but she just hoped they would forget about it evwn though that chance was small.

Now for Ricky, ever since he saw the tweet and then Lia's comment, which basically comfimed it was about her has it stuck in his head.

"Nah, Nini thought I liked someone in our class and even though I told her I do not she posted that for some reason."

Ricky humms, pushing open the doors as they enter the room they see a lot of people already there, "So you don't like him?"

"Nope." Only if he knew there is no boy and it actually is about him.

Ricky doesn't know why, but he is relieved that she doesn't like someone. He is confused by the sudden feelings but shakes it off, it probably is because her last relationship didn't end well and he doesn't want her to get hurt again.

"Miss Jenn, is it all right if me and Ricky audition together?" Ophelia asks as the two teens stop infront of the blonde lady.

Ophelia is almost sure of the fact she won't have a problem with it, they auditioned together for the last musicals aswell.

"I already counted on it." The blonde smiles before walking away to talk to Carlos about whatever.

The number they choose to audition with is 'meant to be' but ?
Mack and Brady's version.

Ricky was gonna play the guitar for the music and they're both gonna sing it, Lia just hopes it'll go well.

"You guys auditioning together, again?" Gina asks as the two join their friends who were all standing together to the side, apart for Carlos who is right now talking with miss Jenn.

"You seriously have to ask? obviousky they are. They do it each year." Ej replies, rolling his eyes. "And they get the leads each year aswell."

"Can you blame it though? Their voices sound great together and they have chemistry. Basically all you need for the two leads."

"Okay seriously what's up with you today and the comments about me and Lia? You made more then usual."

They're both used to the comments Ej and sometimes the other make about them, but she has to admit Ej hasn't shut up about them yet. The whole day they had to listen to him making comments about them, even when they weren't in class with him, he would just text their groupchat.

Ej shrugs his shoulders. "Just joking around. Unless.."

Ophelia groans at his words while Ricky starts telling him that they're not together.

"Okay you two done?" Ashlyn interrupts their bickering. "Auditions are starting."

The next minutes are spend by watching teens audition with songs from the first or second movie, some were good some tried.

Lastly it is Ricky's and Ophelia's turn, seeing their auditioning together they're last.

Ophelia stands up from her seat as she makes her way towards the stage, soon joined by Ricky who has his guitar in his hands.

"Ready?" Ricky asks the girl on his right, his fingers positioned on the guitar so he can start playing the song.

As Ophelia nods, Ricky starts strumming his guitar while Ophelia starts singing

Ophelia turns her head to look at Ricky as the first two lyrics escape her lips. "When it's meant to be, the starts seem to glisten."

Ricky smiles at her before joining in on the next lyrics. "Meant to be, all the clouds de part. When it's meant to be."

Opehlia stops singing as Ricky sings the next lini solo. "It's destiny callin'."

"And if you listen you'll find your heart." They end the song, Ophelia starring at Ricky who had already turned back to Miss Jenn.

Weird. He only looked at her once in the song, smiled at her before quickly looking away, which never happened before, they never had an problem with singing to each other.

Lia just shakes her head before turning her attention to miss Jenn who smiles at them as she claps just like the other people in the room.

"That was great, thank you Ricky and Ophelia."

Ophelia quickly sends her an smile as saying thank you before rushing back to sit by her friends.

As she sits down Gina nudges her shoulder. "What was that?" She whispers, also noticing how Ricky suddenly didn't even acknowlodged her.

"No clue." Lia mumbles, looking at Ricky who is seated next to Ej, at the end instead of next to her where he first was seated.

After everyone was done an quite awkward car ride home took place seeing Ricky barely talked to her and simply answered with yes or no, so she just stopped talking and is right now sitting in silence in the car, arms crossed infront of her chest.

"Okay, are you mad at me or something?" Ophelia sighs after she couldn't take the silence anymore, their carrides were always filled with laughter and singing not this silence.

Ricky looks to her side for a few seconds before a sighs escapes his lips and he returns to look straight forward.  "No."

"You sure?" She has an uneasy look on her face, she didn't kniw what she could've done to upset the boy but it surely looks like he is. "Cause if I did something just tell me."

"I promise, you didn't do anything wrong, I'm just tired." The boy reaches one hand over to grab hers and gives it an gentle squeeze.

"Okay." An relieved sigh escapes her lips, she wouldn't want him to be mad at her.

It is rare for the beat friends to fight, sure there are small arguements but they always forgwt about it within minutes so she wouldn't want to get in an fight with hin right now.

Especially not now that they're playing the leads in their upcoming musical.