UNDER THE MASK ✔️

🦸🏻‍♂️{16}🦸🏻‍♂️

Gina's POV-
"Again!" Ricky screams making me drop on the couch laughing.
Ricky slept over my house last night and today we're playing Just Dance, which was Ricky's idea but I think he's regretting it now.
"You're too good of a dancer it's not fair." He pouts crossing his arms over his chest like a baby.
I laugh at my friend turning off the tv and taking out the CD.
"Come on, let's go to my room and learn some stuff off of YouTube."
He reaches his hands out and I roll my eyes pulling him up from the couch.
I grab a couple snacks and we head up to my room. I close the door and we both go on my bed. I open my laptop and go to YouTube.
"What should we learn?" I ask Ricky, who's head is on my shoulder.
"Those paper swans, I can never do the last part right." He answers making me laugh.
I search up origami swans and click on the first video. As the intro begins I get up to get some origami paper from my craft box.
I put them in the middle of my bed and and we start following the steps.
We had to pause a lot of times because Ricky wouldn't get a step or he would skip one and he would have to start over.
After many tries he finally does it and jumps excitedly.
"I did it! I did it!"
He's so crazy. He decides we should make something else so I look up simple origami and click the first one I see. In the middle of our crafting I randomly think back to the day we were all playing never have I ever and that Ricky said, he's never had his first kiss.
"Hey Rick." I say.
He hums but is to concentrated on his craft.
"Have you seriously not had your fist kiss yet."
He looks up at me slowly, his checks becoming red.
He shakes his head not making eye contact with me.
"Do you want to change that now?"
My question makes his stare right into my eyes.
"W-what?" He stammers.
"Just to help you out as a friend. Don't worry I don't like you like that." I say. "So do you want to?"
He's quite for a second before shrugging his shoulder. "S-sure."
I like Ricky but not in that way. He's like a little brother to me, even if he's older then me I'm always the one taking care of him.
I crawl closer to him and grab his chin. I lean in and kiss him. He's kisses back but it's just a short kiss. I back away and smile at him, his face completely red.
"So, what did you think?" I question.
"Uhh, it was, cool."
Cool?
I don't think that's how you're supposed to describe your first kiss.
I see a frown on his face and I instantly become worried.
"Hey, what's wrong? Did you not want to kiss? Was I that bad?"
"No! No, it not you Gi. It's just- never mind."
I crawl next to him putting my arm around him and pulling him close.
"What's on your mind Rick. Wait, is there a girl?"
I hear small sniffles come from Ricky causing me to look at him, my heart breaking when I see tears forming in his eyes.
I sit up with him and cup his face, whipping a tear that fell.
"Hey, what's up? Talk to me."
He shakes his head more tears running down his cheek.
"Ricky you know you can tell me anything. I would never judge you for anything."
"Gi. I-I don't like girls."
I give him a warm smile and whip some more tears that fell on his cheeks.
"I like- I like boys, I'm gay." He whispers letting out a sob.
I hug him tightly in my arms rubbing his back soothing trying to calm him down.
"Ricky it's ok. It's ok if you like boys, I'm so happy you told me this, it takes a lot of courage to come out and I'm so proud of you. Ok?"
He nods his head in my chest and we lay in this position until he calms down.
"Hey, how about we get some popcorn and watch something."
He nods his head and I go downstairs warming up two bags of popcorn. I grab two drinks and bring everything up back to my room.
We sit at the top of my bed and I go to Netflix. I let Ricky choose what to watch and he chose The Vampire Dairies.
———————————————————We became bored after the 6th episode and decided we would just talk. He was laying on his back and I was laying on my stomach talking about nothing. He's quite for a second before he says my name.
"Gi?"
I turn my head to look at him. He looks at me biting his lip nervously hesitant to speak.
"Hey, remember what I said. You can tell me anything."
He takes a breath before continuing.
"Uh..so..you and EJ seem..really close." He says sounding a little angry towards the end.
"Yeah? I guess we are close. Oh speaking of EJ, this one time when I went to his house we were talking about our ticklish spots and did you know that he's ticklish behind his ear. He has the most hilarious but adorable laugh, and-"
"Do you like EJ or something!" He says sitting up looking furious.
"What! No! EJ and me are just friends. I guess the reason we're close is because his uncle and my mom work together."
His face softens at my words and I can he feels guilty for raising his voice at me.
"Oh, s-sorry. I didn't mean to sound-"
"Do you like EJ?" I ask catching him off guard.
He looks at me nervous before nodding his head slowly.
"More as a friend?" I ask just to make sure and he nods his head slowly again.
"But I know I'll never have a chance because he doesn't like me like that, or any other guy." He says with a frown on his face.
"Hey it's ok. I know there are plenty of guys who would definitely like you."
He gives me a small smile. As I'm about to continue my phone rings. I look to see the caller is Brook and I pick it up.
"Hey Brook what's up."
"Robbery at the bank!"
"Alright I'm on my way."
I hang up the phone grabbing my suit from the closet and put it on. As I walk out I remember Ricky. I turn and he looks at me confused .
"What the hell is up with the costume? You do know Halloween isn't until October?"  He says laughing.
I hate having to this to him but it needs to be done. I go over to him my eyes turning white.
"When I snap my finger you're going to go to sleep, when I say..."
I stop thinking of what word to say I light up and giggle when I think of the perfect thing to say.
"When I say EJ Caswell you will wake up."
His eyes start to close and before he can fall back and hit his head I catch his head putting it gently on a pillow.
I leave my room closing the door.
I walk downstairs and see my mom putting her keys on the counter.
"Hey sweetheart. Did Ricky leave?"
"Uhh no he's asleep."
"Oh I bet he tired himself out after all that Just Dance you guys did." "Actually, he's asleep because I hypnotized him." I laugh nervously.
She turns around to face me, her eyebrows raised.
"And why did you hypnotize him."
"Because there's a robbery at the bank and I'm going to go help Brook." I say with a smile.
She rolls her eyes shooing me away with her hands.
"Just be safe please and come home as soon as you're done."
I nod my head putting on my mask and speeding to the bank.
__________________________When I get there I see Brook talking to a cop.
"What happened? Did you already get them?"
She shakes her head. "No we looked everywhere and we can't find them."
I stare at the building using my x-ray vision to see if I can find the thieves.
"There on the second floor in the vents."
"Alright, come on guys." She says to her team.
"You two come with us." She says to me and Brook.
We follow her up to the second floor and I use my vision again looking around. I see them in a room trying to go through the window. I point to the door and the cops break it down hand cuffing them.
"Thank you guys for the help."
We nod our heads and walk outside.
"That was easy."
"Yeah, you did all the work because non of my powers were helpful. They never are." Brook says upset.
"Hey. Your powers are helpful you just have to wait for the right time to use them."
She shakes her head. "How can any of my powers be useful. Shape shifting is just weird, fire is basically what causes harm to others and how is being able to tell someone's emotions useful!"
"I don't know when you'll be able to use them but the time will come, and is empathy a new ability you got?"
"Yeah. That's how I could tell Ricky has the hots for EJ." She says laughing.
"So that's why you were asking him and EJ if they ever liked guys."
"Yup. And I knew Ricky was lying but EJ, I couldn't figure him out. He likes Ricky but I don't know in what way."
"Well you can't tell anyone about Ricky liking EJ, you can't even tell Ricky you know. He'll think I told you and he won't trust me ever again."
"I won't I would never out someone."
I smile at her nodding my head.
"I have to get home, my mom wanted me to be back as soon as I was done with this, and I also hypnotized Ricky to sleep."
"Ricky is probably dreaming about EJ now, I think he's fine. We share a laugh the say goodbye and I speed back home.
"Everything good?" My mom ask as I walk in.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go change then wake Ricky up."
I run upstairs and change out of my suit putting it back in my closet neatly. I put on the clothes I had on before and go to the bed, sitting on the side.
"EJ Caswell." I say trying to hold in a laugh.
Ricky's eyes slowly start to open. He turns his head to me while rubbing his eyes.
"I fell asleep?" He ask.
"Yeah, we both did but I woke up about an hour ago. I didn't want to wake you so I let you sleep."
He nods his head sitting up and stretching.
"Hey I know we already talked about EJ a bunch today but does anyone else know that you like him, or at least know that you're gay?" I ask.
"Only you and Big Red know, but I feel like Brook knows too."
I look at him with wide eyes. Why would he think Brook knows? The only reason Brook knows is because she has the ability to tell other's emotions.
"Why do think she knows if you didn't tell her?"
I can see his face getting red, but not blushing or embarrassment. He looks mad and upset.
"I think Big Red told her."
I shake my head. I don't know Big Red well but I know he would never try to intentionally hurt Ricky. He's his best friend after all.
"Why would you think that. Big Red seems nice and not the type of person to out you."
"Well he also doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. He probably told her when they were hanging out. But what's  even worse is that Big Red only hangs out with Brook when Ashlyn is around, so what if she knows!"
I put a hand in his shoulder in a comforting way. "Well, I doubt Big Red would tell anyone. And even if he accidentally told Brook and Ashlyn, they wouldn't tell EJ. They're your friends and would never hurt you."
He looks down in his lap playing with his fingers.
"Can we watch more of the Vampire Diaries?"
I nod my head and take my hand off his shoulder. I grab the remote and go to Netflix, resuming the show to where we were.
———————————————————Ricky ended up staying for lunch but then had to leave after his dad called him telling him to. I became really bored without Ricky being here so I go on social media.
I check Instagram and see EJ posted some pictures of a museum he's at and Ashlyn posted a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. Looks like they're having fun.
I then go to snapchat and look through people's stories. I come across Nini's story saying that she wants someone to face time her.

I smile at the photo and snap her.

She immediately calls me and I pick up.
"Hey Gigi!" She says excitedly.
"H-hey Neens." I say stuttering.
Why am I so nervous? And why does my face feel hot? Me and Nini never called or FaceTimed before, we usually just text but it's rare.
"So, what's EJ so busy with that he can't call you?"
She rolls her eyes. "I have no idea! I feel like we're drifting apart."
"Oh." Was all I said.
"Oh?" She repeats confused by my comment.
Oh? Really Gina! Out of all things i could say I say oh!
"I mean....uh- why would you think that. You guys seemed pretty close the day he left."
I felt a little mad as I remember seeing Nini all snuggled up into EJ's side and seeing them give each other pecks on the lips.
"I know but...when we first started dating we would FaceTime all day. He would even FaceTime when he was having dinner, but know all we really do is text, and if I ask him to FaceTime he'll always say he's busy. She says her voice cracking a little.
"And he used to always invite me to his house, and I know the last time I was there was when he left but before that he hasn't invited me on awhile and....I don't know what I'm doing wrong." She says a tear falling down her cheek.
I feel so sad seeing her like this, I just want to hug her. I also want to punch EJ in the face for making her feel this way, but EJ's also my friend so I have to know what's up with him first.
"Hey it's ok, maybe when he comes back you guys could hang out without the rest of the gang, like a date. Maybe go to a restaurant and talk about how you feel." I suggest.
"Yeah, that's actually a good idea. I'll text him now."
Her screen goes blurry meaning that she's doing something else.
"Ok now we wait." She says happily.
We talk for hours until my mom comes in my room and tells me to go to bed. I look at the time and see it's 2 in the morning.
"I'll talk to you later Nini."
She frowns but nods her head. "Ok bye bye Gi."
My stomach feels funny after she calls me Gi but I ignore it.
"Bye." I say and hang up.
I lay down on my back. I can still feel the smile on my face. Why am I still smiling at that, she just called me Gi which is my nickname, everyone calls me Gi. I ignored the feeling and close my eyes dreaming of the girl I just got off the phone with.

Ahhh Ricky came out to Gina! Now two people know. Do you think Big Red told Brook that Ricky likes EJ or do you think he's a loyal friend. Also who's excited for the Holiday special tomorrow! I know I am! I jus ask that no one post anything about the special until the next day, Saturday. It just gives the people who can't watch it earlier to watch it with out spoilers. Thank you!
Next chapter is coming out on Saturday 12-12-20 make sure to vote!

Keep
Calm
And
Stan
RJ- rjstannie