common sense • rini/jolivia one shots

soulmates

"how did you and dad get together?"

Nini stopped and looked at her teenage daughter. she knew this question would come up eventually. she had been putting laundry away while her daughter Audrey was doing homework at her desk.

Nini sat down at the edge of her daughters bed, motioning for the girl to sit next to her. "why do you want to know?"

Audrey shrugged, "i don't know. you guys just seem like it was really easy. every relationship i've had hasn't been easy."

"oh honey, it was anything but easy for me and your dad!" Nini scoffed.

"but you're Ricky and Nini Bowen! everybody talks about how great you guys were in high school!"

Nini shakes her head in disbelief, "yeah well they weren't there for all of it. i guess i'll tell you the story. you know how dad and i were friends when we were little?"

Audrey nodded.

"well, we started dating our sophomore year of high school. everything was great. until i told him i loved him in an instagram video."

Audrey's eyes widened, "you did what?!"

"i know, i know, it wasn't my smartest move. he didn't say it back and then he told me that we should take a break while i went to theatre camp. i was so heartbroken. i didn't leave my room for 48 hours after he left. but i went to camp and i found myself away from your dad for the first time in a while. that when i met your uncle EJ."

Audrey's face lit up, "awe! i love uncle EJ!"

Nini continued, "we started dating that summer when we were both in The Music Man together."

"YOU DATED UNCLE EJ?!"

Audrey was beyond grossed out, she couldn't ever think about her parents being with other people, it was just so weird. Uncle EJ was one of her dads best friends, probably his best friend next to Uncle Red.

"only for a few months dear. your dad and i were not speaking to each other but we both got cast in High School Musical together as the leads and we were stuck together."

Audrey knew all about the musical. High School Musical was always on in the Bowen household. growing up, her parents would sing Start of Something new to get her to fall asleep at night. it's always been a part of her life.

"your dad was trying so hard to get my attention. uncle EJ wanted nothing to do with him, which i know is hard to believe considering they're such great friends now. i was so mad at your dad for auditioning for the show. we argued everyday in rehearsal. i knew he just auditioned to get back at me. but then i saw him dancing in the library with uncle Carlos and i realized that this was more for him than he even realized."

Ricky had grown to love performing, he went on to do several other shows spanning his time at East High and in college. it had become a passion of his.

"so when did you and uncle EJ break up?" Audrey asked, her head turned to the side.

Nini chuckled, "well your uncle EJ stole my phone and deleted a voicemail from your dad because he thought that your dad was trying to get me back."

"was he?"

"well yes but that's not the point. i broke up with him and told him to leave me alone. i was in my room writing a song and your dad came to stay at my house and grandma Carol let him in. this was when things with grandpa Mike and grandma Lynne were getting bad so dad needed someplace to go. he chose my house."

"why yours? what was wrong with uncle Red's?"

Nini laughed remembering Ricky telling her about Red's sleep apnea machine, "ah well that's another story. anyway, your dad and i talked about how he was feeling and i told him that no matter what i'd always be there for him. then we almost kissed and i ran back to my room, making something up about getting him pillows. when i came back your dad was gone. i got a text later that night saying that he went home."