Not Your Average Ricky(Ella) Story

Only got twelve hours in LA, no time to waste

A/N: If you're struggling right now, take a deep breath, drink some water, and put some music on. It's going to get better.

Song to listen to while reading: Feel Something by Joshua Bassett

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"Happy Valentine's Day, Ricky," says Ashlyn, the girl I recognize as the Prom committee organizer Big Red mentioned, as she walks up to me and hands me a fake rose with a card.

"Thanks," I grasp onto the rose and walk down the hall to my locker.

"Ooooh. Someone's got a secret admirer. Who's the rose from?" Nini asks me while leaning against her locker.

I look down at the note on the rose and see that it's from Gina.

"Oh," My smile falls from my face because a small part of me thought it'd be from E.J but that's impossible.

He is as straight as a pole.

"I give all my friends gifts on holidays. It's a random act of kindness. Happy Valentine's Day, Ricky," Gina comes up to me and hands Nini and me a hand-made card.

Wow. That's nice. I am glad Gina came to East High

"You were hoping it was from someone else, weren't you?" Nini nudges me on the shoulder and whispers to me.

"Shhhhhh," I nudge her back on the shoulder.

"Sorry. I'm hoping you get your happily ever after. How was suit shopping with Carlos?" Nini asks me as we walk down the hall to our classes.

"Could've been longer, I'm glad it wasn't. I tried on 5 suits and found the perfect one and a necklace. I need to pay Big Red and Carlos back now," I say to her and suddenly fall into the middle of the hallway with my books after being tripped by someone.

"Gay freak. Stay away from E.J, he's not into you. Stop calling him hot. What is this some stupid kindergarten crush?" I watch the girl who I now know as Lily, E.J.'s ex-girlfriend as she sticks her tongue out at me as she sashays down the hall like a queen.

"Oww!" I wince in pain and reach for Nini's hand after falling on my butt.

"Are you okay? Jeez, those cheerleaders can be mean. Do you really think I am hot?" I feel a warm and strong hand reach for mine as I grasp onto it to stand up.

That's not Nini's hand. I look up and see E.J Caswell standing in front of me.

Why do we keep meeting like this? When I am either being assaulted or being bullied.

I look over my shoulder and see Nini standing by the water fountain holding onto my textbook and notebook.

"Lily, shut your mouth, please" I hear E.J say to her before she leaves to turn down the hall while I use this moment to go hide in the bathroom.

Wow. He's even acting polite while shutting her down in front of everyone

Lily just outed me in front of the entire school on Valentine's Day. It was bound to happen anyway.

Shit, that means they 2 L's took my science notebook and songbook. I got my songbook last night after a lot of searching but don't realize my science notebook was missing. My worst nightmare has come alive.

Thankfully, the bell just rang so everyone's in class. The bathroom is empty. I immediately slug my body over to the handicapped stall and curl up in a ball on the tile floor then lock the door.