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Ricky doesn’t always have the best ideas. Auditioning for the school musical to try and win his ex-girlfriend back is one of the many. He had this whole plan to sing her the song she wrote for him and to declare his forever eternal love in front of everyone. But that didn’t work out as planned. He stumbled over his words and wasn’t able to say it like he wanted, leading to a disappointed Ricky, an almost furious Nini, and a semi-confused audience.
After his performance, he walked off to the side, where a very pretty girl was already staring. She quickly looked down after being caught, and he stood next to her. The drama teacher had called more people up for auditions for another character.
“Nice performance, Troy. Bold move, though, singing a love song to your ex in front of her boyfriend.” She spoke up. Ricky looked over to her confused as to why she was even talking to him.
“Seemed like a great idea at the time. Then again, I don’t really have any great ones.” Gina let out a small laugh.
“So who are you, lover boy?”
“Were you not paying attention to my grand entrance?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t really focused on your loud distraction. However, that little thing with the flashlight was adorable, may I add.”
“Yet, another idea that may have backfired.” Ricky shoved his hands in his pockets, looking over at Nini whispering to EJ.
“You should probably get over her,” she suggested. “Chasing after someone who’s taken is one of the worst things to go through, especially if you fail.”
“I’m sorry, who are you again? And why are you speaking on things you know nothing about?”
The pretty girl extended her hand out, “I’m Gina Porter, future lead of this play.” Ricky hesitantly took her hand and shook it. He noticed she was waiting on his name, but he didn’t give it. He wanted to drag out being unknown as long as he could. She was the only one who didn’t already have a preconceived feeling about him, and that felt good. To not have someone know what you’re known for.
“Future lead? Pretty ambitious don’t you think?” Gina’s face fell for a second, which he noticed, but it quickly went back up in the confident stance she was previously in.
“If you don’t have ambitions then what’s the point?” she inquired.
“You don’t always have to have a goal in life, Gi. It’s okay to sometimes just… coast.” He countered. The nickname slipped out easily and she was taken aback. She usually hated being called a nickname, but with this mysterious boy, it just felt… right. Gina was about to reply when the drama teacher signaled the last of the auditions was finished. Ricky smiled and winked at her and slung his guitar case over his shoulder, quickly escaping the stage with his best friend in tow, leaving her confused about the curly-headed boy. She noticed Nini follow him out, causing her to leave out also. She ended up losing her but caught up to them mid-conversation, which seemed heated, to say the least. Hiding behind lockers around the corner, she listened to the rest of their argument.
“Well, let me tell you about the old me. All right? The old me had her heart broken, okay? And then she went away, and she found herself. And you don’t get to show up now, just to try and confused things,” she ranted.
“You think that's why I'm here? No, no, Nini. I always believed in you. In us. Even if I sucked at showing it. That's why I'm here.” It looked like she was going to say something else before Carlos barreled through with the cast list and an army of theater kids following him. Ricky, Nini, and the red-headed kid were lost in the sea of students, with only Ricky being the sole one left once they dispersed. Gina should’ve made her way towards the cast list, where everyone was shouting and cheering, but the boy standing in front of her seemed way more interesting. Before she could even move, Ricky turned and stopped seeing her right there. His eyes were almost red and it looked like he was going to cry soon.
“I’m surprised Gabriella isn’t looking at the cast list right now,” Ricky said, fixing his posture and walking towards the girl. Gina’s lips turned upwards at the use of the name.
“Right back at ya, Troy. I heard some of that… conversation. Are you okay?” She asked. Both were surprised at the question. Gina didn’t think she cared for his feelings, and Ricky didn’t think anyone did.
“Not sure. Maybe this whole plan wasn’t worth it, you know? Trying to win the girl back by auditioning for this role. This was all doomed from the start,” he chuckled, moving his hand to the back of his neck.
“It definitely was,” she joked, “but at least you put yourself out there.” Gina didn’t know why she was attempting to reassure him his efforts weren’t in vain. She honestly doesn’t know why she’s not clamoring at the posted cast list that everyone else is yelling and gasping about. Ricky finally took notice of the crowd behind them and gestured his hands towards them.
“I should go look at this list,” he said, breaking them out of the silent trance they were in. Ricky started to make his way towards them when Gina stopped him again.
“Who are you?” She asked again, not getting a clear answer earlier. He contemplated his answer, because who was he? Was he a skate rat? A theater kid? A failure? He didn’t know who was, and that was the answer that seemed to fit.
“I’m whoever you want me to be, pretty girl,” he said with a small smirk, turning around and going towards the cast list, where everyone was already looking at him and whispering. Gina smiled at the boy leaving, completely confused about their whole interaction that started ten minutes ago. Why did she care so much about this boy that she just met?
Gina only knew one thing. She was intrigued.
And she doesn’t get intrigued.