Chapter Text
Ricky was panicking, and Nini was nowhere to be found. Again. Honestly, he needed to someone else to rely on, because this wasn’t working and he was still panicking.
He couldn’t do this. He had thought before the show that he had no business being in there, but he had gone out there only to screw up, and maybe screw it up for Nini. She deserved to get into that school, and she wasn’t going to be able to do it with Ricky as the leading man. He couldn’t do this.
Ricky all but ran into the dressing room, taking off Troy’s jersey and thrusting it at EJ once he had the other boy’s attention. The other boy was a great actor, should have gotten the role in the first place. Ricky had no place, no business being here. The sooner he was gone, the better. He didn’t belong here, that much was for sure. What had he even been thinking, auditioning at all? But that was the thing, he hadn’t thought. And now, look at what had happened. He might end up screwing up Nini’s chances at that amazing school because he couldn’t get his head screwed on straight. The whole thing, it just wasn’t fair.
This stuff wasn’t even about his mom’s boyfriend showing up unannounced in the middle of the show. There was just so much going on, and it was overwhelming. Nini needed her best shot to get into the school, and Ricky definitely wasn’t it.
EJ frowned as he took in the jersey and Ricky’s appearance. He was sure he looked like he was freaking out. “What’s going on?”
“You need to do the second act. As Troy.” There was no hesitation in his voice. Ricky knew that as soon as he got out of here, he was going to panic, but he wasn’t going to fall apart in front of EJ. He couldn’t let EJ see him like that, but EJ was the only person who could fix this now.
“Are you sick?”
Now was not the time for EJ to be worried about Ricky’s welfare. Sure, he was starting to like the guy, maybe in more ways than one, but this wasn’t the right time or place for that. “No, I’m good. Just not good enough to help get Nini where she wants to go.”
EJ looked like he hadn’t the faintest idea what was going on. Maybe Ricky wasn’t the only person who had been kept in the dark about the dean’s presence. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m screwing up, out there. I can’t blow this for Nini. There’s someone in the audience who could change Nini’s life. She needs the best shot to impress them.”
Ricky knew that he was rambling, but he just had to keep on going. There was just so much going on. But when he opened his mouth to continue, to tell EJ what he thought of the other boy, he hesitated. This wasn’t the time for that. He had to get this resolved now.
“Will you do it? Go on, take it,” he said, hoping to convince the other boy so that he could leave this place and go clear his head. He needed to get out of here. Ricky had no idea what he was going to do once he was able to leave, but in the grand scheme of things, that stuff really didn’t matter all that much.
EJ shook his head, silently, like he was unwilling to give in, but he had to. Ricky definitely couldn’t handle the role, and EJ’s hands were more than capable. He was by far the better actor, probably the best at East High. He was the best person to play Troy in the whole school. Better than Ricky.
“Look, EJ, you have to take it. I can’t do it. I have to get out of here.”
Ricky took another step closer to EJ, staring him in the eyes. This had to be done.
As he watched, it was almost like something snapped. He liked EJ. Ricky had been guessing such things for a few weeks now, but as he stared at EJ, he knew it was true.
So much of their relationship has changed, all for the better. The animosity over competing for Nini, that was all gone. Otherwise, EJ would have accepted the role in a heartbeat. But he wasn’t. Why?
A lot of things didn’t make sense right now, including this. Everything was spiraling, so of course Ricky was going to make bad decisions.
It just so happened in this case, that part of this bad decision was pressing his lips to EJ’s.
EJ’s lips moved against his, and for a second, Ricky let himself live in the moment, before he realized what he was doing, breaking away from the other boy.
And then, Ricky ran. He couldn’t face looking EJ in the eye. He didn’t know what had just happened there, but he had to get out. He couldn’t handle this. It was just so embarrassing, kissing a straight boy. No, not just kissing a straight boy. Kissing EJ, the boy he had a crush on.
He had to assume that EJ would take over as Troy as he ran down the halls of East High.
Ricky didn’t need Nini. He couldn’t tell her about this anyway. He just wanted to be left alone. He knew that he was scared, but he just had to take this one step at a time. That was the only way he’d ever be able to get there. Ricky wasn’t exactly sure where there was, except at least he wouldn’t have to be involved in all of this mess anymore, and that was the most important.
In fact, if he needed anyone, it was going to be EJ, but he wasn’t about to talk about that. Sure, he liked EJ, but that didn’t make any of this stuff easier. There was a lot going on, but he had no idea how to even begin to talk about any of this. It just seemed impossible.
It was much later before any of this was able to come to life though. After the show, after Nini had brought Ricky back as Troy, after everything that had happened. It was almost magical. At the beginning of the semester, he could have never imagined EJ Caswell, of all people, giving him the shot and the role. EJ stepped down to give Ricky that moment. Even after what had happened during intermission.
It was kind of the best night ever.
Of course, now, Ricky was just completely exhausted, but he didn’t have the time for this now, because cast party!
Now, he had never been to one before, or really had any idea of what it would be like. Nini had always gone to the cast parties, but Ricky had never gone with her. He didn’t belong there, though maybe now, he actually did.
Speaking of Nini, they had a great talk in the dressing room. As long as Ricky could manage to be just a little bit brave, then what happens now was going to be absolutely amazing. But had Ricky ever really managed to be brave? He had to.
Right now, he was in the kitchen at Ashlyn’s, as everyone in the living room was setting up for a High School Musical: The Choosical game. Ricky was excited and thrilled, really. But that didn’t make him any less tired. Or any less scared. He had to do it, but it was terrifying.
He was grabbing a drink from the fridge when he heard someone enter the kitchen. And he looked up to see EJ of all people entering the kitchen.
Ricky wasn’t ready for this. Sure, he knew that he had to, that he needed to get this off his chest, but it was like he just froze at the sight of the other boy. How exactly was he supposed to be able to do this?
Instead, he just stared, unable to really say anything, before EJ, apparently fed up with it, broke the tension between them.
“So, I hear that you and Nini got back together after the show. Congrats.” EJ said, his voice dull and monotone.
Ricky fidgeted. They weren’t. He might love Nini, but he wasn’t in love with her. They were great friends, but they also were better as friends. Best friends, for sure, but not any romance in that.
EJ snatched a drink out of the fridge, spinning on his heel before starting to walk away. Ricky knew that he had to act now. He had to find the courage, somehow.
He cleared his throat. “Hey, EJ, hold up a second.”
The other boy slowly turned back around. RIcky couldn’t manage to look the other boy in the eye, but he still had to find the words.
His voice cracked as he spoke next. “Nini and I aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
EJ scoffed, but Ricky could see some of the tension leave his shoulders. “And why would I care about that?”
Ricky took a step closer. Even though he knew what he thought he should do, that didn’t make any of this easier. He felt like his voice wasn’t working, that his limbs weren’t responding to him. But he’d regret it if he didn’t do this.
“Thanks for getting me back up on that stage.”
EJ crossed his arms. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, you did. You stepped offstage and told Nini what to do.”
Ricky wasn’t sure how to transition to what he did want to talk about, as he watched EJ shrug. “Nini’s the one who came and got you.”
“Yeah, but you believed in me first. Thank you.”
He forced himself to keep eye contact with EJ, as he took another step closer. EJ didn’t move away.
“But what I- well, I wanted to say that- back before that- I, uh.”
EJ cleared his throat, interrupting Ricky’s stammers. “If you wanted to make sure I don’t mention what happened when you asked me to take over as Troy, don’t worry about it.”
“But I want to talk about it!” Ricky said, before realizing that might not be the most subtle way. This would be so awkward. He didn’t want to be straight up rejected. It was too late for that now.
EJ stumbled back a step, looking shocked and confused at the same time. “Wait, you do?”
RIcky nodded, biting his lip. This was his chance, as long as he didn’t blow it. “Yeah. I think I have a crush on you. That’s what me and Nini were talking about in the dressing room. I’m bisexual, I think.”
He couldn’t look directly at EJ after that. There, he had done it. He could never face EJ again, but at least he had actually said what he was feeling, and that had to count for something.
Ricky didn’t look up until something touched his shoulder, and he looked up to see EJ, only inches away from him until he found EJ’s lips meeting his.
It was just like before, except even better. Ricky didn’t even have the words to describe it. He was living in the moment, and this moment, it was right.
When they broke apart, EJ grinned at him. “By the way, if that wasn’t obvious enough, I think I like you too.”
And for now, this was enough. Ricky was happy, and he was ready for whatever his future, especially as a part of their relationship, would hold. And this time, he definitely didn’t need Nini because he had EJ.