Ricky Bowen Sickfics

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I figured i'll probably just use Nini's POV for most of these but if someone requests a y/n one then i'll do that!

Nini's POV

One week during rehearsals, I finally thought that things were calming down. The drama had made everything so intense, but I finally felt that this week things weren't as high-strung as they had been the past few weeks. And then Ricky walked in. 

He had a red nose and a packet of travel tissues in his hand. I knew what this meant. Ever since we were kids, Ricky always had really bad allergies, especially in the fall when ragweed was a problem. As he got older he started getting allergy shots but there were always a few days between when the last one starting becoming ineffective and when he was scheduled to get another one. 

He had been a bit sniffly the past couple of days but his last shot must have really been wearing off today. 

This was not going to go well. 

Ricky set his bag down on the ground and then sat down next to it. Almost immediately after, Miss Jenn walked in and he shot back up. 

"Alright everyone, today we're starting by focusing on Troy and Gabriella rehearsing with Kelsi. Ricky I need you on your mark with Kelsi and a fresh face! Carlos, get Nini prepped for her cue, and-"

Ricky cut Miss Jenn off with a medley of sneezes followed by a sheepish smile. He murmured, "Sorry about that." 

Miss Jenn continued, "Big Red I need you to strike the chairs by the piano. Let's go, people."

Everyone started moving except Ricky, who just took a tissue out of his pack and blew his nose. 

"Hey, you feeling okay, Ricky?" I asked. 

Ricky nodded, "Yeah yeah, I'm fine. I'm not sick, I swear, it's just-"

"Allergies. I know," I smiled. "Is there anything you can do?"

"Nope, not until-" His breath hitched and he pulled his arm up to his face. He held it there for a few seconds and then dropped it back to his side, sniffing unsatisfactorily. "Sorry, false alarm. But um, yeah, no not until Thursday when I go to the doctor for my next shot." 

I frowned slightly and then gestured to my script. "We should probably get to our marks." 

"Yeah, one sec," he said, then blew his nose one more time. "Alright, let's do this."

I was distracted from Ricky's problem by Carlos prepping me with my cue. The scene in the movie that we were recreating was the sort of montage while Kelsi is helping Gabriella and Troy prep individually and then together. 

Ricky was doing his individual part first, then I was coming on, then he was to move offstage. 

Carlos was in the middle of running the line with me quickly when Miss Jenn started yelling. Everything else went quiet. 

"Ricky, I can not have you sick in the middle of this rehearsal, you know our policy on showing up and risking the possibility of infecting all of your other cast-mates!" 

Ricky spoke up shyly, "I-Miss Jenn I'm not-I'm not sick, I promise." He cut himself off with a quick cough followed by a sniffle. "I-it's allergies, I have bad allergies."

Miss Jenn sighed. "Ricky, this has never been a problem before. If you're sick just go home and get some rest and we'll see you when you're in tip top shape, okay?"

"Miss Jenn, I'm not sick, I told you, it's allergies, I can-" his breath hitched, "I can-" he sneezed twice into his elbow. "I can work through rehearsal, really."

"Ricky, you are clearly all worked up, take five and then we'll have Carlos come check to see if you have a fever and we'll go from-"

Ricky cut her off, louder and intentionally this time, "I'm not sick, Miss Jenn!" 

"He's not lying," I spoke up.

Big Red joined in, "Yeah, he's not. But he is embarrassed about his allergies so I think this isn't the best conversational topic to be discussing in front of the entire cast and crew."

Ricky put his head in his hands and Miss Jenn looked like she felt guilty. 

"Everyone except Nini and Ricky, go busy yourselves with what you're supposed to be doing. Go!" Miss Jenn ordered. Everyone started moving, and then Miss Jenn turned to us. "Ricky I'm sorry but you need to rest. Infection isn't the only problem, we don't want you straining your voice either. We'll move this scene to when you're feeling better and won't damage your voice. Since we won't be running anything with Troy today I'll need a few minutes to figure out what we're running instead, so Nini go with Ricky and call his dad and tell him he needs to be picked up and make sure Ricky gets some rest, then come back and we'll figure out what we're doing with today."

Ricky looked heartbroken. "Miss Jenn, please, can I at least stay here and watch rehearsals? I just...I don't really want to go home...right now." He sniffled pitifully and Miss Jenn sighed. 

"Alright. You'll stay and sit in and I'll just have EJ run Troy's lines and you'll watch. EJ can learn choreo another day. Okay, let's get set up, then. Oh, and Ricky, there's a box of tissues on my desk if you need it." Miss Jenn turned and walked away as soon as she finished speaking.

Ricky's face turned red. I smiled. He always got so embarrassed whenever his allergies came up. He thought it made him look weak and he didn't want people to think he was all germ-y and disgusting. I thought it was cute that he would get distressed over his momentary lapse in control. 

Ricky sneezed twice into a tissue and then sniffled. "Sorry, I know this is disgusting. I really can't help it, you know I would if I could."

"You know I don't mind, Ricky. I think it's cute. I-I mean, I think it's-"

"You really do always know what to say, huh." Ricky smiled. His voice was crackly and congested, and he was flashing me a smile with watery eyes. "God, this fucking sucks."

I laughed, "Couldn't be me, I've never had allergies."

"I know, I know, I remember you telling me that one time we went out and we discovered how my body decided to react to the perfume you were wearing," Ricky said. 

That made me smile. I added, "I think I also mentioned it the time we went to some party and the host ended up having five cats."

"Yeah, that was not my best night." Ricky scratched the back of his head. 

It went quiet.

"I should probably...get to my mark," I said.

Ricky nodded, "And I should get the tissues. Good luck. I mean, not that you need it. I mean, because a) it's rehearsal and b) you're amazing and you would never even need luck, so, yeah, I'm gonna go find the tissues."

"You do that, Ricky," I said. 

And off he was. 

It's safe to say it took me at least a few minutes to get my head in the game after that.