Chapter Text
Big Red tried not to think about the situation, but he couldn't help it. When he went to sleep that night, he dreamt of Ej and Ricky at school, staring at each other from across the hallway. But they wouldn't make a move near one another, and yet they both looked so miserable. Big Red would try to scream at them, shake his hands in every direction, but none of them listened; it was as if he wasn't there. He woke up abruptly with a cold feeling in his stomach.
A whole week went by after Ricky told him everything, and that was all Big Red could think about.
When he was supposed to be focusing on Algebra problems, he would end up thinking about how Ricky said Ej used to tutor him in math. When he ate lunch with Ricky, he couldn't help but glance at the water polo table, eyes lingering on the senior. When he walked to his classes and had to pass by the school's pool, he would look around to see if he was there. But he usually wasn't; not at the time Big Red always looked.
He had to do something. As Ricky's best friend (well after Ej) He had to do something for them to talk to each other. It was such a shame for two best friends to stop their friendship because of miscommunication, Big Red was sure that if they just had an opportunity. . .
And It didn't help that Ricky and Ej seemed to really hate each other during the whole musical production. Not to mention that Ej becoming Nini's boyfriend added extra salt to the wound. (Ex now but it still didn't change the fact that Ej and Nini had something between them).
One day at rehearsals, only a few weeks left for the production to be opened to the public, Big Red couldn't help but stare at Ej while he was practicing his lines with Gina and Ashlyn. He watched as Ej would rehearse his lines perfectly. All his lines were memorized and there was no stuttering when he talked. He made it look so easy. Big Red found it hard to believe that this senior, who presented himself as the typical jock, was someone Ricky considered as a "best friend." How could two people that seem so different physically, be at one point in time, united?
He tried to picture Ej skating, even wearing the same style of clothes like Ricky, but he found himself inwardly cringing.
He should have known that he wasn't being slick with his "secret glances."
When Carlos called for a five minute break, Ej walks over to Big Red, surprising the poor redhead.
"Hey, are we good?" His tone was full of uncertainty, not the anger that Big Red was expecting. Even his face was full on confusion and there was no hint of annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, wh-,why what's up?" He stuttered, stumbling to put away some equipment.
"You've been staring at me since we started rehearsals. I thought I made you angry or something and I wanted to talk to you." Ej shrugged, leaning over with Big Red to lend a hand on the heavy equipment. Big Red then remembers that Ej was on his whole honesty streak lately, so it made sense for the senior to confront him head on if there was going to be a "problem."
"I just think you're really good and you're doing a great job." Big Red blurts out, before he could open his mouth to blab on anything else.
Ej half smiled, replying, "Thanks man, you too." They both laid down the heavy equipment in the room beside the theater. Ej began to stretch his arm over his chest.
Big Red stayed quiet for a moment, feeling anxious. He needed a plan to get Ej and Ricky to talk again. He was so sure that if they just talked, everything would be fine. He wracked his brain to come up with something because this could be the only chance that he would get with the senior alone.
"Hey, I was wondering, if you wanted to hang out? I think I want to learn about being an actor, and I would really appreciate, ah, the tips from you," He said, his voice shaky. Ej narrowed his eyes, but in the next second he grinned. The junior melted in relief.
"Yeah, we can hang out, I've been acting my whole four years so I got some tips I can share with you." Ej checked his phone, swiping a text message away. He glanced back at Big Red, giving him a grin. "I didn't know you were interested in becoming an actor, " Big Red nodded, replying back, "Oh yea, I realized that I want to try something new, and this whole production has been opening my eyes." Ej nodded.
"Yeah tell me about it, I've been learning a lot of new things about myself." He murmured, finishing up a text on his phone.
"I can't do today, but I can do tomorrow after water polo practice, how does five sound?" Big Red nodding, letting out a breath. The hard part was done, now he had to convince Ricky to stay after school. He almost didn't believe how easy Ej had agreed to meeting up with him of all people. He always believed that Ej would never hang out with anyone that wasn't his girlfriend or his water polo friends. Let alone a junior.
"Cool, I'll text you tomorrow then," Ej clapped him on the back, winking at him. "C'mon, let's head back, everyone else is probably getting started." Ej gestured at him to move along, giving him a warm smile. Big Red walked beside him, willing himself to stop blushing. Before they entered the other room with everyone else, Ej gently touches his shoulder. Big Red looks at him quizzically, only to be bombarded with the cutest smile Big Red has witnessed from Ej. It was like Ej had accepted him.
"Thanks for reaching out, I'm glad you asked me." He turns away and walks toward his place on the stage, beside Gina and Carlos.
Big Red can't help but blush again, and he has to excuse himself to go to the bathroom to calm down because holy shit when did Ej become even hotter?
Big Red had practiced his lie and facial expressions well enough by the time he met up with Ricky after school. They decided to walk to Ricky's since Big Red forgot to bring his skateboard. When Ricky was finished talking about how messed up it was for one of his math teachers to give a pop quiz, Big Red decided it was time to casually bring up his lie.
"Hey, tomorrow after school, do you mind meeting up with me? Like around five?" He asked nonchalantly, and holy shit should he be an actor because he was getting good at lying. Ricky raised a brow, cocking his head to the side.
"Yeah but what for? You taking tutoring again?" Ding Ding Ding!
Big Red loved that it was midterm season, it was the perfect excuse to say that he needed tutoring. It wasn't too early or too late in the semester to get some extra help with grades. He took a quick breather before he replied to Ricky; he was so nervous that he was going to see right though him and his plan.
"Yeah, I am, and my mom isn't going to be at home, she's working late again so I don't wanna be by myself," He replied with ease.
Big Red made a mental note to look into the try outs for the play next semester, because this whole lying situation was definitely opening his artistic side. Ricky nodded, not asking anymore questions.
"Yeah I will, don't worry." They arrived at his house, and Big Red couldn't help but imagine little Ricky and little Ej on the porch wearing their Halloween costumes. He wished he would have known them in their friendship, and not when they were angry with each other.
Big Red hoped and had faith that tomorrow was going to work.
It just had to.
Big Red was anxious and nervous. How was he going to pull this off? Suddenly, this didn't feel like a good idea. It seemed like Ej and Ricky were taking their sweet time. He chose to hide behind a building nearby the quad area. If he peeked out on the side corner, he could see a table that was only several feet away, under a tree. He had told both boys to meet him on that specific table.
His phone started to vibrate. He glanced down to see Ej was calling him.
"Hey!" Big Red answered, hoping his voice didn't sound too enthusiastic.
"Hey, I'm sorry I'm taking a while, coach made us do some laps and I took a quick a shower so I didn't show up smelling gross." Ej sounded breathless, but he didn't sound annoyed or irritated. He actually sounded apologetic. Big Red had always heard Ricky say mean things about Ej, like he was so selfish and egocentric, but it seemed like the senior changed his ways now that the musical production took place. Or maybe I'm truly starting to get to know his true self, Big Red thought.
"No you're good, I'm waiting for you at the quad, I'm sitting on a bench next to the F building. I'm going to the bathroom really quick though, so just wait for me there okay? Please?" The junior crossed his fingers tightly, eyes closing and sending a wish to the universe.
"Yeah cool no problem, I know where that is. See you soon," Ej said. They both hung up, just in time because Ricky sent a text message to his phone.
Hey, I bought sandwiches, I'll wait for you at the bench where you said to wait.
Big Red texted back that he was on his way. Now this was the scary part; it would either go horrible or succeed. Big Red was willing to take his chances. A part of him did feel slightly guilty, he could have told Ricky what was going on but he wasn't too sure if his friend would actually voluntarily show up.
He peeked out the wall, to see Ricky sitting at the bench, with two sandwiches wrapped on the table. He was still wearing his backpack, so he most likely went to a diner after school and came back.
Big Red glanced to the right, seeing Ej walking fast to the bench. Since Ricky was wearing his hoodie, and his back was to Ej, (also pure luck that Ricky decided to put up his hoodie, Big Red had no control in that situation whatsoever.) Ej thought that Big Red was the one sitting there.
Ej approached the table with a big smile.
"Hey man, sorry to make you wait-" When Ricky looked up and flipped his hoodie down, Ej's face fell. Big Red was sure he was going to pass out behind the wall. A couple of girls passed Big Red, giving him a weird look.
"Hey?" Ricky said, confused. Ej set down his duffel bag that looked heavy.
"I didn't know Big Red invited you here. I thought it was going to be the two of us." Ej claimed, narrowing his eyes. Ricky frowned, and then he face palmed himself. Of course Big Red would do this. He didn't know if he wanted to strangle him or shove him off a bridge. He should have seen this coming-or maybe he chose not to. The last thought surprised him.
"Big Red wanted to meet up with me too. Here. " Ricky said with a sigh, as if that explained everything.
"What do you mean?" Ej asked, preparing to grab his duffel bag. Ricky stared at the table top. There were so many things Ricky had to get off his chest, and right now, being with Ej for the first time by themselves outside of the theater, was making him reflect more of what he wanted to say to him. He had this opportunity to talk to his ex best friend; he needed to tell him everything he couldn't before.
"Can we talk?" Ricky asked, looking up at him. Ej's blue eyes widened, glancing away from the junior's intent gaze.
"About what?" Ej crossed his arms, still standing across the bench. The sun was setting, and the sky began to darken.
"Where's Big Red?" He asked. He began to take out his phone, but Ricky interrupted.
"I told him about how we used to be friends. He wants us to talk."
Ej now looked even more irritated, and he grabbed his duffel bag to leave.
"I have nothing to say to you. Tell Big Red that I was here but something came up-" He started to walk away, and he was only a few steps away when Ricky interrupted again.
"I'm sorry for what I said that day. I regret opening my mouth and saying those hurtful words. I wish I could take it back." Ricky was now standing up from the table bench, his heart pounding. Ej stopped, turning around. He stared plainly at him. The silence seemed like an eternity to Ricky. He was sure Ej could hear his heart pounding against his chest. He was sure everyone in the entire school could hear.
"Why are you telling me this?" Ej asked. "Why now?"
Ricky felt like it was hard to swallow.
"Because I had to tell you. I need you to know. I need it out there."
"And? What am I supposed to do now?" Ej walked back to the table bench, but he still held onto his stuff. Both boys stood across from each other, now meeting each other's gaze. Ej suddenly scoffed, crossing his arms in front of him. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes-it wasn't a warm smile.
"You're a real fucking work Ricky. So what you come at me now for some fucking closure? That's all this is, and I'm supposed to say I forgive you and that's it-"
Ricky began to shake his head, saying, "No, no, no, you don't have to forgive me, I didn't say it to gain your forgiveness I am saying it because I needed to say it, I needed you to know that I recognize the horrible things I said to you,"
"Okay and? Thanks I guess?" Ej frowned, shrugging. "See you around Bowen."
"I'm trying to talk to you, Ej. It's been three years, if not more, since all of this happened. I'm sorry for what happened. I had fault in it," Ricky responded quickly, leaning as much as he could over the table.
Ej stepped back, his arms still crossed, his body language straying far from the conversation. Ricky sighed heavily; he said what he wanted to say. He was at peace; the most he could be. He began to gather up both of the sandwiches with napkins, preparing to leave. Ej watched him, choosing to stay quiet until the very last moment.
"You know, I waited for you. I waited and I searched for you every day of my sophomore year, because I didn't believe it was done between us and you were done with me. I understand we stopped being friends because of me, but did you have to really leave me?" Ej blurted. Ricky's eyes looked up, surprised at what had just come out of the other boy's mouth. The senior looked away, clearly hurt.
"I never left you-" Ricky began to say.
"Yeah you did. And yeah I know I'm being a fucking hypocrite, because I left you first but you weren't supposed to let me go so fucking easily. I was just stupid; I made stupid decisions when I was a freshman." Ej's voice turned shaky, breaking on the last part.
"How was I supposed to know this? You told me that you weren't feeling our friendship! You said that I didn't understand you." Ricky shot back.
"Yeah and you believed me?!" Ej snapped. He paused, uncrossing his arms. He ran a hand through his hair, and Ricky really saw his eyes- how grown Ej was.
"But it gives me no excuse for treating you bad. I'm sorry for not being able to keep our friendship. It wasn't fair to you, to have to deal with someone who couldn't get his shit together," Ej sat down on the table bench, arms out in front of him. His hands fidgeted with each other. He sighs again, this time, Ricky can see that he is tired. His eyes are drooping, with sadness or stress he doesn't know.
"I didn't think you were going to stop talking to me; a part of me thought that you were going to talk to me when you got over that fight." He said softly.
"It was a big fight Ej, it was a build-up of what was happening that whole year." Ricky said, exasperated.
"Yeah it was a fight. Our first real fight. But the thing that gets me is that we could have still talked. I could have said hi to you in the hallways, or have small talk, but you never spoke to me. It was like I was dead to you. Until this musical that is, and it wasn't even for me; you talked to me to tell me to stay away from Nini." Ej looked at Ricky, meeting his gaze. "I could have lived with us talking like strangers, if it meant talking to you. And now, after all this time, you tell me you regret everything you said? Why now? Why couldn't you have done it earlier?"
Ricky was at a loss for words. What Ej said struck a chord with him. When the fight happened, he told himself he would never speak to the older boy. He had destroyed any evidence that they used to be friends; photos from his phone, thrown out hoodies he had borrowed from the other boy's closet, thrown out birthday cards. When he started high school, he made it a point to not even look in Ej's direction. For the first year of high school, Ricky made the purpose to never walk by or go near the school's pool; if he did he would purposely take the long route to wherever he was going.
After half of sophomore year, he kinda forgot about Ej and their friendship; mainly because he was over it. But when he found out about Nini dating Ej, his main goal was to get her to realize that she still had feelings for him. He never once thought about telling Ej about how he regretted what he had said.
"Ej, I was the one that was relying on you too much. I had to grow up and learn some boundaries. To do that, I thought that I needed to completely distance myself from you." Ricky sat down as well, his hands on the table top. Both boys slipped into silence again, but this time it was different. It was the type where they both could feel the tension.
"I'm sorry for telling you horrible things that day. And I'm sorry for fucking up the friendship." Ej said softly, surprising Ricky once more. Ricky was now feeling a deep sense of sadness in his stomach, his chest, everywhere. He couldn't quite describe it; a sad nostalgia took over.
He didn't respond this time, waiting to see if the senior would say anything else. And he did.
Ej finally brought up the incident. What Ricky wanted to talk about since the day he came back from camp.
"I didn't want to talk about the kiss because I was scared that we would become more than friends." He confessed. He was now staring down at his own shirt. Ricky felt his heart skip a beat. His throat suddenly became dry.
Sometimes, he wondered if that kiss was even real, because it was never spoken about. Sometimes, he thought that he had imagined the kiss, or that the kiss meant nothing at all, just a kiss between two friends. But still, it hurt him to pretend that the kiss never happened.
But of course, Ej didn't want to be more than friends. Ricky didn't flinch; he wasn't stupid. He knew that Ej could never like someone like him, even back in their younger days. This was definitely a one sided attraction.
"Because you didn't like me." Ricky said, nodding. He made sure he sounded casual and nonchalant. He wanted to make this easier for Ej; he didn't want him to actually say it out loud. It was humiliating enough as it was.
Ej started shaking his head.
"No, I did like you. But I was so scared that I was going to mess you up. I wasn't exactly the best version of myself I could be when I came back from camp. You don't deserve to be with someone like me, especially the me of three years ago. I wasn't good enough for you." Ej's brain started flooding with memories of his freshman year-
The time he lost his virginity to a girl to prove to himself that he was over Ricky.
The times he constantly ignored Ricky's texts because he was too busy being high or screwing around with another girl to prove to himself his sexuality.
The times he acted so oblivious to what Ricky wanted to say to him. . .
"You deserve someone who is perfect for you, someone who wasn't a mess." Ej continued to think about the stupid decisions he made in freshman year; he had almost lost himself in trying to please everyone; his water polo friends, his parents, any girl that batted their eyelashes at him. He cared about his image too much, so instead of ever showing his emotions, he always put a front that everything was fine. But it wasn't. After that year, he had made big changes and decisions, yeah he worried about his image still, but he's true to himself. Things are more clear now than three years ago. He had so many missed opportunities; but he wanted to start a new.
Ricky's words startled his thoughts.
"What the fuck are you saying? You were good enough. You are. Just because you were doing new shit doesn't mean that I stopped liking you. What hurt me was that you stopped talking to me. I thought I did something wrong, or you thought that I was a little kid," Ricky paused, taking a breath.
"I thought that you got bored of me. But I never stopped having love for you. All those things I said to you, I was just angry and immature, I knew that you were acting stupid and it wasn't you. We were friends at some point in time, good enough that I knew you inside and out. I was trying to still talk to you, because I knew that you were good enough . "
"And then you stopped talking to me." Ej interjected, hands clenching into fists. He felt odd, it had been a while since he felt so vulnerable.
"That doesn't mean that I thought you weren't good enough. I took that day that we fought as a sign that we needed space; you needed to figure out who you were and I had to back off. We weren't a good match for our friendship anymore and it was best to separate when we had the chance. But never once in our friendship, did I think that you weren't good enough. And also, me not talking to you was just me being petty, c'mon I get so fucking petty," Ricky pleaded, causing Ej to look up.
"You are petty. And people in the club think I'm petty." Ej scoffed.
"I am petty. But only when I've been hurt by someone I care about." Ricky raised his brows.
This time, the older boy had been staring at Ricky throughout his whole monologue, and in that moment, Ricky saw him. Like really saw him; the older Ej. Not his own twisted version of Ej that he made up as soon as he saw that he was with Nini; the version of who he really was. The mature, older, loyal Ej.
"I wish things ended differently." He said in a low voice. Ricky said nothing, and his gaze now turned upwards at the sky. He finally noticed that the sky was darkening, the clouds were billowing over like a blanket of darkness. He couldn't help but remember that Halloween night, where Ej started to pour his heart out open to Ricky. It was never a problem for Ej to talk about his feelings; back then he always told Ricky what he was feeling. And then, when he went to high school, it all changed. Ricky couldn't deny that it still stung to think about it.
"Maybe if we talked about our feelings earlier, we could have still been friends?" Ricky suggested, his voice full of sadness.
"Maybe." Ej paused to imagine a world where they actually talked about their feelings; beginning with Ej's doubt of their friendship when Oliver pointed it out to him. Maybe, Ricky could have helped him and just maybe, they could have still stayed as friends. They could have gone to more parties with Ej's friends and then leave early because they were tired. They could have gone to skate parks, they could have continued sleeping at each other's houses. Ej would have been by Ricky's side when his parents were falling apart. Ricky would have slept over so many times; he would have been at Ej's side for when he got his drivers license. Ej would have eventually made Ricky audition with him to a play, and they both could have been actors in the theater department. They probably would have spent birthdays together again. And maybe, over time, they could have become something more. Ej imagined both of them holding hands in the hallways of East High.
"Do you miss me?" Ricky asked suddenly, disrupting Ej's imaginations. Ricky was pretty sure his heart had stopped beating for the millionth time that day.
Ej hesitated, but he said, "Yeah I do. A lot. I never stopped missing you." Ricky's breath caught in his throat.
"But we're different now, you don't know me, and I don't know you." His words nonetheless stung Ricky. It was true; at one point in time they had known each other inside and out, only for them to turn out as complete strangers in the end.
Ej was different now, and so was Ricky. They probably didn't have anything in common at all. Getting to know each other could end up with both of them getting hurt at how different they were. The friendship could be taken nowhere; maybe they were only just childhood friends.
And yet, Ricky was willing to take that chance.
"Then we get to know each other again." Ricky replied nonchalantly. Ej scoffed, zipping up his jacket all the way up.
"I'm serious." Ricky paused, and he added, "Hi. I'm Ricky, and I like musicals now." He took his hand out, reaching over the table, waiting for Ej to catch on. He stared at Ricky's outstretched hand for a few seconds, that felt like an eternity to Ricky.
The senior broke into a small smile, gently grabbing onto Ricky's hand.
"I'm Elijah James, but I go by Ej. I've always liked musicals." Their handshake lingered. It had been too long since they touched each other. They settled back down on their seats.
People began to pass by, and the majority of them coming from a sports practice.
"You came from water polo right?" Ricky asked. Ej nodded. The senior watched as Ricky unwrapped one of the sandwiches, and with a napkin in hand, he opened the sandwich to take out tomatoes and onions. He wrapped the sandwich, throwing the napkin to the side. He held it out to Ej, who took it gently.
"Thanks." Ej said, opening the sandwich. He bit into it, and soon, started scarfing it down. Ricky began to bite into his. After a bit, he couldn't help smile at Ej. A big, wide smile. It was as if his heart was opening up again. In a way that he couldn't explain it, but it was this type of happy that he only felt with Ej; back when they were friends.
After swallowing his bite, Ej let out a shaky laugh.
Both boys continued to eat their sandwiches in silence, but now it wasn't the painful awkward silence they used to have in rehearsals- it was a comfortable silence.
Like they didn't need to say anything else.
It was like a breath of fresh air. And truly, he thought it was worth it.
Ej's hair was beginning to dry in his natural wavy state, and it brought Ricky the memories of little Ej. For a second, he could see little Ej sitting in front of him, eating the sandwich. He blinked and the older Ej returned.
He realized he would go through all of it again, if it meant finally talking to Ej in the end. He would go through all the heartbreak, the anxiety, the loneliness to reach him. Now, sitting across from the senior, every feeling of resentment, of bitterness, of insecurities and sadness disappeared. All the feelings of blocking Ej out were gone; all of his feelings of missing and want flooded through him. It was nothing but warmth filling his heart and body.
That night, he never felt so at peace with himself. And a giddy type of happy.
He made the mental note to call Big Red when he got home later.
That night, when Ej goes home, his heart is still pounding hard. He goes through his night time routine like normal; taking a warm shower, applying on a face mask and applying coconut oil in his hair etc. When he settles down to do his homework, he manages to focus and complete half of his physics problems. Except, he can't help the smile that's sliding onto his face. He wants to tell his mom what happened, but he's by himself in the house so he doesn't exactly have anyone to talk to this about.
He glances at the clock and reads that it's one hour past midnight.
He glances at his phone, sighing. He still can't believe what just happened.
He opens his phone to distract himself. He went through Instagram, liking everyone's picture that ended up on his feed.
He ended up going to his own profile, then decided to put his phone down. He wandered to the closet of the house, which was beside the bathroom. Inside, on the top shelf, his mother kept mementos of him and all of his childhood accomplishments. He searched through the plastic box, and there it was. Pictures of Ej throughout his life. He began to search one particular album, and he finally found it. It was labeled Ej's Journey In Middle School!
He opened the worn out album, flipping through the pages to find him.
He stopped abruptly, finally finding the one page that made him smile. It was two photos on the page, one of them was Ej and Ricky dressed up as Spiderman and Captain America. Another was Ricky and Ej at a burger joint; Ej's mom probably took them after work. On the side of the page, was a strip of photos with three panels. He carefully took it out, trying not to bend the photo by the side. It was pictures of him and Ricky in a photo booth. It was one of the summers where Ej hadn't been thinking too much of what they were. In the strip of photos, one of them was little Ricky sticking his tongue out, with little Ej leaning over and stretching so his two fingers behind Ricky's head came out.
Ej started to tear up, chuckling lightly when he saw the second panel of the strip. Ej was making a face, and Ricky struck his serious face. In the last one, Ej remembered vividly that they were thinking of other poses to make, Ej had been scrambling to come up with a cool pose, but the camera was already at the one countdown, so Ricky had grabbed Ej's shoulders, put his arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
Ej's eyes were glassy with tears, as he saw his own younger face in the picture. He had the biggest smile on his face.
He stared at them, a feeling of relief seeping into his heart. After the whole fight with Ricky, his heart broke in a way that never filled or healed. Sure he got "over" it; after sophomore year he stopped thinking about Ricky and junior year he only had fleeting moments of heartache after seeing Ricky in the hallways; but after a while he was okay.
Now that they had talked it over, he felt like that piece of his heart was slowly mending. He didn't think it affected him that much. But right now, staring at the photo strip, he felt actually happy; a type of happy he didn't feel with anyone else, not even Nini. Like everything was going to be okay, and everything will be all right.
He started to look through the photo albums, giggling and groaning in embarrassments at some of them.
Ricky was playing his guitar in his room. He didn't realize he was strumming to the tune of
What I've Been Looking For.
He stopped to think for a moment. Ricky got up and walked to his desk. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk. So many papers and notebooks were stuffed in it. He started to take them out and finally found what he was looking for-
A brown worn out composition book.
He opened it and flipped through the worn out pages filled with unfinished songs and lyrics.
He realized one page was thick, the first one. He opened it fully to see that he had pasted Ej's note onto the first page. He flipped the pages more to see that there were countless songs written for Ej. He saw words like blue eyes, and starboy. He saw on one of the pages, there was a surprisingly well kept pink post it note, in Ej's handwriting it read Ricky and Ej Forever!! with an angry smiley face.
He had forgotten about that part.
Ricky grinned, walking back to his bed where his guitar lay.
He started playing his song that he had asked Ej to sing, that day when Ej was spinning in his chair. He began to slowly strum, remembering every note.
He wondered how it would sound now under Ej's matured voice.
He would know soon enough.