UNDER THE MASK ✔️

🦸🏻‍♂️{14}🦸🏻‍♂️

Ricky's POV-
It's the second week of August and I don't know how this summer went by so quickly. It's also the week that EJ and his family go to France. I'm going to miss him, even if he's only going for a week it's still sad. I've been going to his house a lot recently and his aunt and uncle don't mind at all.
Things with my parents aren't so great. My moms in Chicago but she calls me, not a lot but she calls. It's 3:00 right now and I'm on my way right now to go to EJ's house before his flight tonight. I'm hoping to get there before everyone else.
I walk up to the familiar house and knock on the door. I smile when I hear the door unlock, hoping to see the beautiful smile of EJ Caswell but I was met with...
Nini.
My smile immediately dropped as I saw her face. Yes, I still don't like her and yes, she is still annoying.
"Hey Rick!" She says opening the door for me to come in.
"It's Ricky."I say walking in.
"Hey Rick!" I here EJ say from the couch.
"EJ!"
My smile is back on my face and I jump on the couch sitting next to him and he puts his arm around me.
"I'm glad you came." He says.
"Me too, I'm not going to see you for a week." I whine snuggling into him.
Nini stands next to the couch staring at us.
"You two seem...closer then usual." She says sitting next to me.
I scoot closer to EJ and he pulls me in tighter.
"Yeah, I guess we are." EJ says smiling down at me and I smile back.
"Uh, when's everyone else coming babe?" She ask eyeing me weirdly.
"I don't know. Probably soon."
Ashlyn soon comes down and we all talk until the door bell rings and Ashlyn gets up to open the door. Everyone walks in and I get really happy when I see Gina. We've became really close since the first time we met.
"Hey bestie!" She says hugging me and sitting on my lap.
"Hey!" I say laughing.
I look over at Big Red and wave to him. He waved back and goes to talk to Ashlyn. We haven't been talking like we usually did. He spends his days talking Ashlyn and hanging out with her and Brook. I've been spending time with EJ and Gina but we're still best friends.
"So since EJ and Ash are leaving us." Kourtney says fake crying. "We have to do a bunch of fun stuff before they go."
"We could play a game." Seb suggest.
"Ok what game?"
"How about never have I ever?" Carlos ask.
We all nod our heads agreeing getting up to get drinks. And by drinks I mean soda because we can't have alcohol.
"Ok I'll start." Ashlyn says. "Never have I ever, been in a relationship."
Carlos, Seb, Brook, Nini and sadly EJ all take a sip of their drink. Gina also takes a sip too, I'll have to ask her about that later.
We've been playing the game for awhile and I figure out that non of us have had alcohol or been drunk except Brook, everyone has snuck out of their house except for me and everyone has had their first kiss. Except for me, obviously. Even Big Red has had his first kiss before me.
I remember in 6th grade we were invited to a birthday and they decided to play spin the bottle. I refused to play and sat in the corner. A few moments later 11 year old Big Red came running to me screaming that he had his first kiss.
"Ok never have I ever had feelings for someone of the same gender." Kourtney says.
My face goes red and I hear Big Red giggling. I look over at him and he's looking back at me. I roll my eyes at him with a nervous smile, of course he would laugh because he knows I like someone the same gender.
Carlos and Seb obviously take a sip because they're dating, which I didn't know until a couple weeks ago. Also Brook takes a sip. She looks around at us and rolls her eyes.
"Really,you guys have never liked the same gender, or at least thought about the same gender in a romantic way?" She asked.
"Ricky, EJ" She says smirking at us.
Oh no! Why is she looking at us like that?
"You have never had feelings for a guy?"
"No, I'm pretty sure I would know if I did." He said laughing.
She looks over at me because I didn't say anything.
"Ricky?"
I shake my head fast not able to form any words.
"Ok. I'll go. Never have I wanted to kiss anyone in this room. No offense to you guys." She says smiling looking straight at me.
EJ, Nini, Seb, Carlos, Ashlyn and Big Red all take a sip.
"You know I feel like some of you have been lying a lot in this game." She says looking at me.
"Alright my turn!" Big Red says saving me.
__________________________
We decided to stop never have I ever and play some board games. It was now 5, and they leave at 6:30 to catch their 7:15 flight. We decided to watch a movie on Netflix. We ate popcorn and pretzels as we watched the Coraline.
Gina's legs were on my lap and one of EJ's arms were around me and the other around Nini. Brook kept eyeing me and EJ snuggling, does she know I have a crush on EJ. No she couldn't know, they only person who knows is.....Big Red.
Did Big Red tell her?!
"I'm going to miss you curls." EJ whispers.
"Im gonna miss you too EJ." I whispers back forgetting about everything else.
He started calling curls the day I first went to his house, I guess because of my curly hair.
We finish the movie and his aunt and uncle start bringing the bags in the Uber. We all say our goodbyes hugging them. EJ gets to Nini and obviously they start making out. He hugs me and I hug him back tight not wanting to let go.
"Will you still text me memes and your terrible jokes?" I ask.
"Of course and I'll make sure they're extra funny and corny."
I smile at him and we let go.
He goes over to Gina and Brookelynn and whispers something to them. They look at me and nod their heads.
Weird.
We say goodbye one more time and watch them drive off.
When the cars out of sight we all say bye to each other and walk home.
"Hey you wanna come to my house?" Gina ask grabbing my hand.
"Ok sure."
As we're walking I feel my phone vibrate. I take it out my pocket and check to see a text from EJ.

My face was now completely red. EJ thinks I'm cute! And...he loves me? No he didn't mean that, he loves Nini not me.
"Who's making you blush Richard." Gina says smirking trying to look at my phone.
I shut it off and put it back in my pocket.
"No one, just some memes."
She rolls her eyes. "You and those stupid memes."
"Hey, when we were playing never have I ever, you took a sip when someone mentioned a relationship."
"And you want to know about it?" She ask with her eyebrows raised.
I nod my head nervously.
"Well you know me and my mom move a lot. One of the places was Australia and I met someone at a soccer camp."
"Was he good to you?" I ask.
"Yeah he was, but then we had to move and I knew we wouldn't last so I ended it."
I look at her with sad eyes and she looks at me with a sad smile.
"Don't look at me like that. I was upset about it before but now I'm ok." She tells me squeezing my hand.
I squeeze hers back and we walk the rest of the way in peaceful silence.

Hey y'all! How's everyone doing. Did y'all notice I mentioned somethings from one the movies Sofia was in. If not it was Back of the Net. I'm thinking of not waiting a week to post a new chapter I might just post them when I'm finished or every other day. Also my school is doing zoom until January so I'll have more time to write new chapters.
Make sure to vote and remember...
Stay
Calm
And
Stan
RJ- rjstannie