The Show Must Go On

Act Two

Nini's POV

Time for act two. For breaking free with Ricky. We were coming in from the opposite ends but I didn't expect to see EJ.

I covered my hand over my microphone "Where's Ricky?" I asked him.

"Trust me" he responded.

We started the song but when I saw Ricky came in, EJ noticed and left. I walked over to Ricky and we sand the song. How it was supposed to be.

After that was done we all did the Curtain Call. Ricky and I smiled at eachother.

"Hey Mom" Ricky greeted his mom after the show was over "Did you bond with Olivia well?"

"Very well" she smiled.

"Nini!" Someone called from behind me.

"Yeah?" I turned around to see EJ.

"Carlos wants a group photo" he explained.

"Ok, coming" I got Ricky and went for a photo.

"Where's Olivia?" Carlos asked us.

"With my mom" Ricky answered.

"She needs to be in it with us" Gina smiled.

"Ok, I'll get her" I ran out and got my daughter after explaining to Lynne why and brought her into the room.

"Photo time!" Big Red exclaimed.

"On or after 3?" Ricky joked.

Everyone laughed.

"Just stand still" Big Red laughed.

"Hey Kourt, I'm gonna go pack up. The Dean from YAC left and..." I told my friend.

"Understood, you go" she interrupted "I'll take Olivia"

I handed my daughter to her and went into the room.

"Hey. I was looking for you" Ricky came into the room.

"Yeah, I was just packing up" I smiled.

"Sorry that teacher chic left. She doesn't know what she's missing" He smiled.

Chic? Did he just call her a chic?

"It's fine. I was kinda dying to give in all of a sudden but it looks like I'm supposed to be here" I explained.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah" I nodded, smiling. We just looked at eachother for a minute until I broke the silence.

"What was the... Uh... The question you were going to ask me before we bowed?" I asked.

"What?" He looked confused.

"The question" I reminded him.

"Oh... I was just going to ask... What happens now?" He asked.

"Now?" I shook my head.

"Now that it's all over. I've never closed a show... Or opened one so... What happens now?" He explained what he means.

"Well, usually the theater kids cry and then we go to Denny's" I joked. We both laughed for a second.

"I mean... Now that it's all... Over" he added.

"Don't you and Big Red have a few months of video gaming to catch up on? And we've got Olivia to keep us busy" I told him.

"Yeah... I suppose" he nodded.

We just looked at eachother for another minute before I broke the silence, yet again.

"Is that it?" I asked.

He looked at my like he was saying no but he didn't say anything so I assumed he meant yes.

"Great job tonight. And the past few months as well" I grabbed my bag and smiled at him and walked off.

"I love you" he blurted out. I turned around and looked at him. What did he just say? Did he just say he loves me?

"I've loved you since the first time you picked up your ukulele and wrote a song about clouds, a silly little song about clouds. I love you" he continued "And that night in your room when you told me you loved me. I meant to say it. I meant to say it and I've kicked myself everyday since then because I didn't say it but I do. I love you" I was crying by this point "I've loved you since 7th grade when I made you ride on the front row of Demon's Destiny at Six Flags and you told me you sometimes get a little seasick on rollercoasters and I said 'come on, live a little'" he smiled.

"I remember" I laughed.

"Yeah. And then I puked all over your shoes and you didn't even make me feel bad about it. No, you just said... Um"

"No worries, I've been wanting to get rid of these shoes for a while" I finished for him.

"Yeah, because you outgrew them. The thing is... I never out grew you" he smiled "And I don't know what happens tomorrow or in two minutes when we walk out that door... All I know is that I want this feeling to keep going. I don't want this to just be a show-mance. I want this to be the real thing. It feels like it is the real thing I just... I want a chance to prove it. I do"

"Ricky..." I started "You know in musicals when burst into song because you've run out of things to say?"

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Sometimes it's easier to just kiss" I walked towards him.

"Yeah" he smiled.

We kissed. It was perfect.

"Look, there's your mommy and daddy" I heard Momma C explaining to Olivia.

"So, you two together again?" Momma D asked.

"Of course they are" Lynne smiled "We just caught them making out"

"Not official... But yeah" I smiled at Ricky.

Mike smiled "That's good"

"Nini, Ricky. The others parents want photos now" Kourtney explained coming in.

"Coming" Ricky and I replied.