Was it real? [Ricky Bowen]

- 14 -

"I hope Ms. Jenn is okay" Big Red says to the two girls. "I hope so too, she seems a little off since we decided to use this venue" Rosella comments. "Yeah, I think I'm going to speak to her" Ashlyn states, walking back into the theater room, to look for their teacher.

"So, what's going on between you and Ash?" the brown headed girl asks her friend, grinning up at him. Before the short holiday break, the two seemed to get a bit closer already and she saw his secret glances at the girl as he thought nobody was looking but since Thanksgiving the two almost seemed to be attached at their hips.

"I dont know what you're talking about." "Don't lie to me Red. I see the way you look at her" she tells him. "Okay, don't tell anybody but I kind of like her, she's really interesting" he mutters, earning a big smile from the girl who squeezes his arm excitedly. "You two are really cute together." "Thanks, I guess."

"Did you talk to Gina after you two left on Friday?" he changes the topic as they sit down on the floor. "No, I texted her but she ignores all of our texts and calls. I'm really worried about her. She became my best friend and it's hard to see your best friend so broken and moving away" Rosella voices, playing with her rings.

"But on another note, which may is a bit girly for you, but I already told Gina, even if she doesn't answers, and I just have to tell someone else" she starts after some silence. "Ricky told me he loves me" she squeals, grinning as brightly as ever. Big Red opens and closes his mouth, not knowing what to say. "What? Wow. I never thought I would experience the day when Ricky tells someone he loves them" he tells her shocked, but really happy for the girl.

He knows how much she means to the boy, more than Nini meant to him. He only figures that much while Ricky always talks about her when they do something, only the two of them. Maybe it's because she tries to learn stuff he really likes, like skating for example, or how she makes him try new things out himself. They just really compliment each other and bring the best out of the other one. The two just seem to be a match made in heaven.

"Hey, Ms. Jenn is ordering pizza" Carlos comes up to the two. "Can you look for Nini and Ricky, please?" "Yeah, sure."

After getting some flashlight, the two friends walk through the dark hallways, looking for their friends while talking. "We should scare them" the boy tells her, ginning as she nods chuckling, hearing their voices.

Slowly they walk up to the door, trying to make as little sound as possible before swinging the door open only to be welcomed by something both of them didn't think will ever happen. In front of the piano the two actors are sitting, their faces only inches apart from each other as they slowly lean in, not realizing the other two into the room. Just as Ricky stops and is about to lean backwards again, the flashlight falls out of Rosellas hand, landing on the floor with a loud sound, earning their attention.

"Ella" Ricky stutters shocked, as he sees the girl standing in the doorway with tears running down her face. "I can explain" he states as she turns around, walking away with fast steps as she wiped her cheeks aggressively. Ricky follows behind her, earning a disappointed look from his best friend.

"Ella, angel, wait, please. Let me explain" he calls after her as she walks past the cast to get her bag, ignoring him. Not knowing what's going on, the other cast members look at the two confused, seeing Rosella cry for the first time. The girl always wears a smile on her face, even if she's having a bad day, so what could possibly have happened to make her cry?

"Ella" he tries again, taking her hand so she can't walk away. In a swift motion she turns around and slaps the boy across his cheek, shocking the whole room in a deathly silence. "Don't touch me. Don't ever touch me again" she spits out before turning to Ashlyn who stands a couple of meters to the left of them. "Can you drive me home, please?" she asks the girl who nods quickly, gathering her bag as the two walk out of the theater.

"Ella, please, it wasn't like what it looked like" Ricky tries once more, following the two girls out of the theater. "Oh so it wasn't like my boyfriend, who just told me he loves me, was about to kiss his ex-girlfriend?" she asks him, stopping so she can look at him with red eyes, just as the mentioned girl comes out as well, hearing what Rosella just said. "Rosella" the girl tries. "Don't" she tells her stern.

"I was about to pull back, you have to believe me! Ella, I love you" Ricky pleads, tears falling down his eyes as well.

"You know, Ricky, I thought in this fake world, full of fake smiles, fake friends, fake love... I really thought we were real. Maybe not in the beginning but somewhere in-between I thought it was real." "We are real, please, I love you. I love you, please don't do this." "No you don't because if you really loved me, you wouldn't have done what you did. But who am I kidding? This was all fake anyway, right? So congratulation, you got Nini back" she laughs.

With that said, she gets into Ashlyns car who drives her to her cousin, needing him right now more than anything.