Second Chances ~ An Alternative Ricky & Gina (Rina) Story

The Woods

EJ was working in the night, as the beginning of shooting was tomorrow. Ricky came into his tent.

Ricky: Have you heard that there is a shrine out here? I think I kind of figured out where it is...

Gina: What shrine? (She appeared all of a sudden inside the tent. Ashlyn and Kourtney also accompanied her.)

Ricky: They say it's where "Woman in the Woods" lives...

Gina: Oh my God, EJ, we have to see this!

Kourtney: Are you guys crazy, it seems so scary! 

EJ: Gina, I'm really sorry but I have to finish the arrangement of the script before Corbin Bleu comes tomorrow. I'm really stressed out...

Gina: Hey, I told you I would force the fun out of you if I saw you being all stressed out! You are coming to the woods!

Gina tried to lift EJ up from his hands, but he didn't get up.

EJ: Gina, I'm so sorry, but tomorrow is so important because we have to prove to them we are worth making a documentary of. And if the script isn't near perfect, we will all be screwed. I will have to pass for tonight, I'm so sorry...

Gina: (She smiled in a bittersweet way.) It's okay. It's just for this night. I get it. But you owe me. (She chuckled, trying to hide her disappointment.)

EJ: I know I do, I will try to make it up to you.

Ashlyn: I will hold his place, don't worry Gina. (She smiled.)

Kourtney: Oh, there is no way I'm coming, good luck. (And she walked out of the tent.) 

Gina walked out of the tent upset. Ricky and Ashlyn followed her.

Ashlyn: Okay, where are we headed?

Ricky: Well, I saw it in this direction...

And they followed him.

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Gina: I thought you knew where we were going...

Ricky: Yeah, so did I... 

They looked around and couldn't see any tents, or campfires from a distance. All around them were trees and it was dark.

Gina: Are we lost? Oh my God, we are lost! (Gina got mad, and also a bit scared, but she didn't want to make it so obvious.) And Ashlyn isn't with us either, great!

Ricky: Okay, don't worry, if we go back the way we came, we can find EJ and he will tell us where the camp is, okay? I remember where we came from. (Ricky was panicked, too but didn't want to terrify Gina).

Gina: Okay. But we still have to find Ashlyn! 

Ricky: Yeah, you're right... Aaaa!

He had heard a crackling sound coming from the trees and jumped to hold Gina's arm. Both Gina's and Ricky's heart skipped a beat, but it wasn't solely due to the sound. Gina felt strange Ricky holding her arm.

Gina: Don't worry, it's just a bird.

Ricky: Oh... I'm sorry... (He said, holding his breath.)

Gina: I see you are so fearless. (She chuckled.)

Ricky let go of Gina's arm in a second. What the heck am I doing, he thought regretfully. He got embarassed.

Gina: It's okay, I would be lying if I told you I wasn't even a bit scared.

Then they heard a singing from a distance. They followed it. Ashlyn singing "Rising." And they then decide to get back.

All three of them were heading back to the camp.

Ricky: I think I know where we came from.

Gina: Oh, we saw what happens when we follow you!

Ashlyn: Don't worry, you guys. I think I know... You can follow me...

Ashlyn walked from the front fast. Ricky thought this was the opportunity to talk to Gina.

Ricky: G, while I have you... I wanna talk to you about something, actually.

Gina looked at him, curious about what he wanted to say.

Gina: Yeah? What is it?

Ricky felt his heart beating really fast all of a sudden. Why am I this nervous, he thought.

Ricky: Okay, umm... I know... I know I haven't been the best to you last year. And I wanted to apologize for avoiding you...

Gina's eyes opened wide. Ricky couldn't look into her eyes.

Ricky: I came to you for advice multiple times about my relationship, which I really shouldn't have, and completely ignored what was going on with you. And then you, rightfully, wanted space so I tried to give it to you but... 

Gina was taken aback. She wasn't expecting him to bring this up, ever.

Gina: I... I... (She stopped walking.) I don't know what to say, Ricky, really. 

Ricky: You don't have to say anything. I know it was my fault. I just know you didn't deserve any of that.

Gina stopped and took a deep breath before speaking.

Gina: You know, it was a really hard time for me last year? I was away from my mom the first time, and I thought you would be there for me, but you weren't. You know I was gonna move with her?

Ricky: Yeah, of course. Didn't you stay because Ashlyn offered you her home?

Gina: No, I'm not talking about that. After the quincenero, I was gonna leave for real.

Ricky: Wait, what?  

Gina: Yeah... I had told Ashlyn but she convinced me to stay. That's why she was singing "Home" in the rehearsal room. (She chuckled.) And also EJ was really beside me through everything. Caswells really are amazing people.

Ricky could feel his stomach turning upside down.

Ricky: Gina... I never knew any of this. I'm so sorry...

Gina: Don't be, Ricky. It's all history. I've moved on. But thank you for apologizing. I didn't think you would ever do that, honestly.

Ricky: Why? Am I that horrible?

Gina: No. But you sometimes can be without even knowing. You choose to ignore what's happening around you and it makes you feel like the problem doesn't exist, but it does. And the moment you realize it, it kind of becomes too late to fix it all.

They both went silent.

Gina: Come on, let's catch up with Ashlyn. I don't wanna get lost again.

And Gina walked from the front. Ricky's tongue was tied. He knew he had deserved it. At that moment, he was starting to realize how blind he had been last year to see any of this happen. He then followed the girls from a distance.