It's five years after High School Musical was put on at East High. Nini decided to go to the music conservatory. Now, she's making it big in the acting industry. What will happen when Ricky, now singer/songwriter, and Nini reconnect?
"Okay, what do you have in mind?" I ask. I don't have anything planned for today, because the cast has a day off before the actual worldwide premiere of the movie tomorrow. We'll have some interviews and things for the next few days, before returning home. I don't want to think about packing up my small but cozy Vancouver apartment in just a few days. So I don't, and return my attention back to the present.
"I was thinking Santa Monica . It might be crowded, but it'll still be fun." Ricky replies. My face lights up. "I've always wanted to go!" I reply. "Okay, well you can get ready here and meet me at my room whenever you're done." Ricky says. "Okay!"
Ricky leaves the hotel room so I can get ready. I luckily brought a swimsuit, because I'm quite the over-thinker and the over-packer. I put on a red strapless bikini and matching bottoms with some distressed jean shorts and a black tank top over it.
I put on a tiny bit of makeup and brushed my hair. I threw on some comfy flip flops and zipped up my suitcase. I gathered all of my belongings and headed to Ricky's room.
Ricky's POV:
I was going to spend today starting to unpack my apartment, but Nini is more important. Besides, I don't think much of the furniture has been delivered, and this will be a lot more fun. I threw on some swim trunks and a t-shirt and waited for Nini to arrive.
About fifteen minutes later she knocks on my door. "Ready to go?" I ask. She nods in response. We carry our luggage down to the lobby. I help Nini with some of her bags, because she brought a lot more then I did. We went out and found my car where I parked it in a parking garage. "Ooo, I love your car!" Nini says as she gets in the passenger seat. "Thanks. I just got her last year." I reply.
Nini's POV:
Ricky pulled up directions to the Santa Monica pier. It was going to be about an hour drive with some traffic along the way. "Can I put on some music?" I ask. "Of course." Ricky replies. I plug in my phone and we start jamming out to my Spotify playlist.
It seemed like a scene out of a movie. Driving along roads with palm trees, blue skies, and puffy white clouds. Windows rolled down. Jamming out to loud music. I was soaking it all in.
I didn't think about Carter once.
Once we found a parking spot, we started walking around the pier. There was a cute little stand selling straw hats that I immediately fell in love with. "Aw, Ricky, look how cute!" I exclaim. Ricky smiles and takes one off the hat rack and sets it on my head. I laugh. "I want to get it." I say. I go up to the cashier and pay for it. I don't get a bag, instead I just put it on.
We keep walking for a little bit. There were so many cute little shops. We buy some drinks because even in September, it was sweltering. We walked by a person drawing caricatures who shouted out to us, "Does the cute couple want a caricature? Would be a great souvenir!" We're taken aback, say no thanks, and keep walking. Once we're far enough away, we burst out laughing.
I point to a cute fence up ahead of us. "That's a cute spot! Can you take my picture?" I ask. Ricky nods. We walk up to it, and I hand him my phone. He takes a few. He even kneels down to get a good angle. That makes me laugh.
"You should post one to Instagram. Show Carter what he's missing." Ricky says, handing me back my phone. I smile. "Okay, I will." I choose my favorite and post it. "I'm gonna be the first comment." Ricky says, waiting on Instagram for it to pop up. I can't help but laugh.
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We decide to head onto the beach. Ricky bought a towel at the pier, so we set it out on the sand. I take a picture of the ocean. It's so pretty. There were people everywhere, but I didn't feel anxious or claustrophobic. I felt at peace.
We sat down and continued to drink our sodas. "So, you moved out of Nashville, right?" I ask. "Yup, LA actually. That's why the premiere was easy to attend." Ricky replies. "Ohhh, that makes sense." I reply. We continue to talk about whatever comes into our heads, from if we still like a certain band to our recent vacations. It feels so natural to be talking with him again. I never thought we could ever be close again. I guess I was wrong.
Suddenly, two teen girls come walking up to us. "Hi." one of them says. I look up and reply, "Hey!" "We're huge fans of y'all and were wondering if we could get a picture." The other girl says. "Of course." Ricky replies as I nod. Their dad takes one of their phones and takes the photo. The girls were in the center with Ricky and I on either side. "What's y'all's names?" I ask. "I'm Katie." the first one says. The other replies, "I'm Christina." "Well, it was so nice to meet y'all. I hope y'all have a great rest of your day." I say. Ricky waves bye as they walk away.
We sit back down on the towel. "They were so sweet!" I say. Ricky nods in agreement. "It's almost dinnertime, I can go run up to the pier and get us something." Ricky says. "That'd be great!" I say, starting to pull out money. "No, I got it. What would you like?" He asks, getting up. "I trust you to pick out something I'll like." I reply. He nods and is on his way.
He comes back about twenty minutes later with two trays in hand. He had gotten me a yummy looking salad and french fries. "Oooo, looks delicious." I say, grabbing a fry. We sit down and eat our meal. After finishing, we decide to go into the water. I peel off my tank top and shorts and run into the ocean with Ricky close behind. The water feels great on my hot skin. I splash my feet around the water like a five year old but I don't care. For one of the first times in my life, I feel completely secure in who I am. I'm not thinking about people judging me at all.
Ricky's POV:
Today has been amazing. I know I did this for her, but I really needed today too. Just to get my mind off of everything. And it's worked. I feel great.
"I don't really wanna get in much deeper." Nini says. "C'mon...you gotta! It'll be fun." I say. She debates it.
Before she can answer, I throw her over my shoulder and run into the waves. She's laughing so much. I toss her off in a somewhat gentle way, and she submerges in the ocean. She comes up, soaked, but with a huge smile on her face. "You're so dead for that." She says, laughing. She splashes me, and I splash her back.
After a little more swimming, we head back to the towel to dry off. Even though the sun's about to set, it's still really hot.
Nini's POV:
I'm speechless at how beautiful the sunset is. This is definitely the perfect ending to an amazing day. I had no idea what I was in store for when Ricky suggested to do something fun, but I'm glad we did it. Everything I was dealing with yesterday somehow already seems so much smaller. Sitting here, with my high school ex-boyfriend, who I now would call my friend again, I feel more at peace than I have in a long time.
