𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 (𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚) || hsmtmts au

34. i love you

N I N I 'S P O V

THE NEXT DAY - OPENING NIGHT FOR EAST HIGH's SPRING MUSICAL

i close my eyes as kourtney swipes some powder on my face from back stage, gina and i singing along to the faint sound of the ensemble singing "we're all in this together" from the stage. i probably should have ate something more than a cereal bar earlier, because i genuinely feel like i'm about to pass out. not to mention the fact that college scouts are out there watching (because some local news outlets had turned this entire thing into a story), so if anything goes wrong, i'm screwed. i just have to do this last curtain call number though, and then i'll be fine. it also shouldnt help that e.j is my troy, but..i don't know.

i guess he's been kind of okay, lately?

like i said, i don't know. i guess he's just respecting my boundaries, which (knowing e.j) is a lot to ask from him.

i smile when gina (who's playing taylor) grabs my hand, leading us out for our bows.

R I C K Y 'S P O V

ten minutes later

i can't fight the smile forming on my face as i make my way backstage, clutching onto the bouquet of red roses in my hands as i look around for nini.

this is it.

i'm finally ready. i'm just gonna be direct and cool, and tell her straight out.

i'll just tell her i love her-straight from the heart.

well, i wish i could tell you i'm going to make it up as i go, but there's just no way that's happening. i've waited for forever to tell her this, i needed to make sure i had everything rehearsed. i'll walk in there, start up a little nonchalant conversation and congratulate her, and then just as she's walking out i'll tell her. she'll probably whip her head around in shock, then come running into my arms.

and then we live happily ever after and have our pinterest board wedding with three kids and a dog.

it's easy.

"hey, have you seen nini?" i ask kourtney in the backstage area (who was on makeup crew).

"oh, she's in the green room getting her bag," she tells me, pointing over to the dressing room across the hall.

"great, thanks," i grin, straightening out my shoulders as i walk across the hall and into the green room. there, nini's back is facing me while she gathers her things in her light pink backpack.

"hey, there you are. i was wondering where you went," i say, making her turn around. her eyes immediately dart down to the roses in my hand, her face lighting up at the gesture.

"oh my god, thank you!" nini squeals, coming over to give me a hug.

"you were absolutely amazing. you sounded like an angel up there," i tell her when we pull away, tucking a strand of hair out from her face.

"i didn't know you were coming," she smiles.

"nini, you were the lead. i'd never miss that," i tell her.

"well, i'm glad you didn't, these smell amazing. no, wait, i think that's you," she says, inhaling deeply, "yeah, it's definitely you."

i feel my face heat as i try and play it off with a laugh, my cool act fading drastically.

"hey, um..i needed to talk to you. about something."

"what about?" she asks, continuing to zip up her back on the counter.

"well, uhm..i just wanted to thank you. for last night. you didn't have to do that, especially the night before opening night when you need rest-"

"oh, ricky, you know i'd do that for you any time. besides, i'm pretty sure you were the one that said that's just how we work, so.." she smiles, swinging her back over her shoulder.

"i know, but..it still means a lot."

we just stand and smile at each other for a moment silently, until nini speaks up.

"is that it?"

"well-"

"knock-knock," kourtney interrupts from the open doorway, "nini, your moms are asking for you, and i think your grandma wants pictures."

"oh, okay. i'll be out in a second, thanks," she tells her, turning around to face me when she's gone, "i should probably.."

"yeah, no, totally. i'll catch up." nini turns around, starting to walk out. here's my cue.

taxes and laundry, ricky.

"nini, i-"

"i love you, nini!"

but it's not me who says it.