Ricky Bowen Sickfics

11

Nini's POV

Today was going to be our first rehearsal using the actual stage lighting for the show. We wouldn't always rehearse with the stage lights on because it used a lot of energy, but we needed to start getting used to it. I made my way to rehearsals after school and I was excited. It was the first time that the spotlight would be shining on me when I really deserved it. 

When I walked in, everyone was buzzing with excitement. 

Miss Jenn was helping Big Red familiarize himself with the lights. Carlos was chatting with Ashlyn and Seb. Gina was stretching and warming up. EJ was on his phone. I wasn't surprised at that one. Ricky was pacing.

I walked over to him. "Hey, you okay?" I asked. 

Ricky nodded. "Yeah. I just am really realizing for the first time that I'm the lead in a school play and that spotlight is gonna be shining directly on me. I've never had a spotlight on me!"

"I'll be under it with you, don't worry." I gave Ricky a reassuring smile. "It's my first time having the spotlight on me when I'm actually meant to be playing the lead, so."

"You're going to be great, Nini." 

We chatted for a few more minutes until Miss Jenn called us to run the first scene of the entire musical under the lights. Ricky looked at me nervously. 

"Okay, so we're gonna practice the lights coming on just like it's going to be on opening night," Miss Jenn said. "So we'll all take our marks in the dark and then on its cue, the light will turn on."

We did as instructed. As soon as the lights turned on I saw Ricky look at them, then turn to the side and sneeze twice into his elbow. 

"Bless you," I said. 

Ricky shook his head a bit like he was trying to shake away the feeling. "Thanks. Sorry, can we try that again?"

The lights turned back off, we waited for the cue, the lights turned back on and we got ready to start. Ricky and I stepped up onto the mini stage we were singing on and smiled at each other. 

The music started playing and Ricky turned to face the audience a moment before his line was supposed to start and then snapped to the side with another pair of sneezes. Ricky's face went red. He had missed his line. 

"Bless you, Ricky. Let's go again. From the top." Miss Jenn said. 

The lights went off, we went back to our marks and waited to start again. This time, Ricky sneezed right as the lights turned on but Miss Jenn motioned for us to keep going. 

Ricky didn't miss his cue to start the song but he did catch a glance at the light and then sneeze three times into his elbow during one of my lines. We kept going. He only sneezed again at the end of the song as we made our way down the stage for the fireworks scene. 

"Cut real quick! Troy, I need you to be looking out at the audience during Start of Something New, okay? I love the chemistry with Gabriella but what I am not loving is you staring at the ground for half of the song, okay? Chin up, please!" Miss Jenn said. "One more time from the top!"

I heard Ricky sigh heavily as the lights went off.

"You okay?" I asked. 

Ricky avoided my question and said, "It's fine."

It was my turn to sigh as I walked back to my mark. 

The lights turned on and this time, Ricky was okay. During Start of Something New he stifled one or two sneezes when he looked up at where the audience would be.