Not Your Average Ricky(Ella) Story

The thorns on the roses will thicken your skin

A/N: A promposal?

Song to listen to while reading: You'll Be OK, Kid By Demi Lovato

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It's' the second to last day of March, and I think I got my creative juices back. I've been in a songwriting kick lately and have to write lyrics down on my phone notes app since Lula is still my songwriting book and I can't even read my handwriting.

I type in my phone notes while I sit on the bench at the EHS garden rooftop.

I haven't found the bracelet my mom gave me yet. I don't know where I put it in my room.

I've been getting to school super early, sometimes an hour or two before classes, just to sit and watch the sunrise. I make sure to finish all the cleaning and chores before I head out. One of the perks is not having to rely on transportation since I've got my trusty skateboard. It's starting to warm up a bit, but it's still chilly enough to need two hoodies.

"Ricky, what are you doing up here at 6:30 am?" I turn my head and close my phone, to face E.J. standing by the stairs to go down to the hallway.

"E.J what are you doing here at 6:30am?" I shove my phone in my hoodie pocket and watch him walk towards the bench.

"I asked you first," I watch him sit down a few inches away from me.

He smells like fresh mint soap. Hmmm.

"Waiting for the sunrise, so what are you doing here at school so early?" I watch him button up his letterman jacket.

"I was at football practice. Not exactly the place I want to be at 6:30 am on a Friday. But it's better than having to listen to my dad talk on the phone all day and night to his Live Nation team. He wants me to be like he was in high school. A popular athlete/singer with a scholarship but that's not who I want to be. I keep trying to impress him by doing that, and he doesn't even come to my games sometimes. Kinda feels like I'm not his son anymore," E.J leans back on the bench and stares up at the sky.

"I'm sorry. I can relate. My dad used to be my biggest supporter, and now all he cares about is his work. It's like I'm the man and father of the family now," I look up at the sky while we wait for the sun to rise in a few minutes.

When I say work, I mean finding drugs and alcohol to consume. I'm never going to tell E.J that though.

"That must suck too. I never asked you this question before. Where's your dream vacation spot?" E.J closes his eyes to relax while he is talking.

"My mom always wanted to go to Dubai before she got busy with my dad," I do what he's doing and close my eyes too because the sun isn't rising until 6:58 am.

E.J doesn't know about my biological birth mom, he still thinks that L is my mom.

She's my step-mom and I don't consider her a mom.

"Oooh fancy. I've always wanted to go to Toronto. My dad's been there for work and it makes me jealous that he gets to go." E.J scoots closer to sit next to me.

"Why Toronto?" I scoot away from him because he is with my Lula and I don't want her to lash out at me in school.

I would love the chance to cuddle with E.J just not in school.

"My mom is there. Shawn Mendes is also from there," E.J notices that I've scooted away from him and gives me a confused look.

"I love Shawn Mendes. I mean not himself but his music," I can feel my cheeks heat up because I have a small gay crush on him.