This story contains gay slash and is 100% fantasy and fiction. I do not write to impress only for pleasure and to have this as an outlet. All characters are based off characters that were written into existence by other people. I do not own the rights to any of these characters.

This story takes place in season 1 before EJ and Nini's problems start and Ricky is still pining over Nini.

"What's going on man?", Big Red asked walking up to Ricky at his locker on Wednesday morning before classes started.

"What? Oh, hey man. Uhhh. Nothing. How are you?", Ricky said stumbling through his words while never turning to look at Red.

Red looked past Ricky to see what was distracting him, sure enough it was Nini and EJ together at EJ's locker, cuddling, holding each other's hands, a kiss every now and then. They were truly young, passionate, and in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.

"Oh right.", Red muttered to himself, but enough the Ricky could hear him.

"What was that?", Ricky asked without looking away from his ex and her new boyfriend.

"Ugh.", Red got annoyed and stepped in front of Ricky's field of vision breaking him of concentration.

"Dude!", Ricky protested

"Don't dude me. What the hell man? You've got to start moving on from Nini. She's moved on. Why can't you?", Red tried to talk to his best friend

"You've never been in a relationship before. You don't know what its like. And, you definitely don't know what it's like to have your heart broken.", Ricky said so angry at his life situation that he slammed his locker catching the attention of a certain couple down the hall.

Nini and EJ looked over in the direction of the slam and saw Ricky looking back at them. Nini gave a look of compassion knowing that Ricky was going through a lot of pain, but quickly looked away remembering how much he hurt her. EJ on the other hand gave a look of envy. EJ was getting tired of the repeated attempts to make a scene in order to break the two up. EJ wanted to send a strong message to Ricky so he pulled Nini in close and made out with Nini. Then the bell rang EJ pulled away and smiled at Nini who smiled back with blushing cheeks. Nini said goodbye and ran off to her first class.

EJ pulled a book from his locker than shut it walking down the hall toward Ricky and Big Red with as much swagger as possible. EJ high fived a friend in passing and proceeded to walk toward Ricky, smiling at him. Ricky was furious at what he had just seen, his jaw was clinched, and as he saw EJ approach him it took all his strength to not unleash on him. Then as EJ walks past Ricky he bumps into him with his shoulder, knocking Ricky into the lockers. EJ kept walking to his class as if nothing happened.

"I'm gonna kill him.", Ricky said as he took a step toward EJ.

"Woah. Woah. Woah.", Big Red said grabbing him by his shoulders and holding him in place.

"Just calm down buddy.", Red said moving in front of his best friend.

"I know your hurting. I know that. And yeah EJ is a fucking jerk, but you can't let him get the better of you. You have to be the bigger person here.", Red tried to calm his friend down with little success as Ricky still pushed against Red's hands on his chest.

"What would Nini think? You're trying to win her back and you go and beat up EJ? You think she'd respect you after that?", Red asked and actually got through to Ricky

Ricky calmed down and stopped pushing against his friend as he saw EJ turn the corner down the long hallway and out of his sight.

"You're right. I'm sorry about that.", Ricky said acknowledging his friends' feelings and grabbing a book from his locker and closing it.

"Its okay. Everyone's got feelings.", Red said and walked with Ricky to their first class.

As Ricky walked to his class he knew that there was no way he was got to let EJ just get away with what he just did, but he also knew he couldn't disappoint Nini in the process or Red for that matter. All he had to do was figure out what course of action he was going to take.

All of the students went about their normal days until they had to meet for rehearsal at the end of the day.

"Okay everyone. I have to deal with a personal matter, so until I get back just work on the warmup scales and exercises. I want the leads working with their understudies and the ensemble to pair up.", Miss Jenn told the cast before leaving the auditorium to take a phone call.

Since the leads were to be paired up with their understudies that meant that EJ and Ricky were going to be paired up.

EJ and Ricky faced each other as they worked on the traditional mirror exercise where each person mirrors the actions of the other. Each stared into the eyes of the other with complete hatred. Ricky was first to start by raising his right hand, EJ then raised his left and mirrored the actions the Ricky did.

"You know, I'd really respect if you would just back off of me and Nini.", EJ said while taking the lead in the exercise and Ricky now following his movements.

"Interesting. And, I'd respect if you would understand that we're supposed to be together.", Ricky said while mirroring EJ's moves.

"Well if you were supposed to be together then you'd probably be together, but from what I gather you're just a fucking self-centered narcissist who's just jealous that Nini isn't with you anymore.", EJ said giving Ricky a cocky smile at the end.

"Fuck off. You don't know anything about me!", Ricky yelled but trying to keep his voice down and taking back over the job of making the motions.

"How do you think we got close before we were official? Who do you think she poured her heart out to? I know all about you.", EJ taunted getting into Ricky's head.

"That's a fucking lie and you know it!", Ricky again yelled as low as he could so no one would overhear.

"I think one of my favorite things about dating Nini is how she screams my name when she cums.", EJ calmly said taunting Ricky even further.

"You fuck!", Ricky screamed at the top of his lungs as he tackled EJ to the floor and got a quick punch off across EJ's face.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!", Miss Jenn yelled as she ran down the auditorium aisles coming back from her call.

The other castmates already took action to pull the two teens apart and hold them back from one another.

"What is this?", Miss Jenn said getting up on stage

No one said anything.

"Okay, you two with me. Now!", Miss Jenn said storming off to one of the backstage rooms with the boys in tow.

Miss Jenn stood outside the door to the costume closet and ushered the fighting teens in the room.

"I don't entirely know what is going on between the two of you, but ever since the start of this production you have been at each other's throats. Now, if this is going to be a good production then I need you two to find some sort of common ground so until rehearsal is over you two are staying in this room.", Miss Jenn declared and then started to close the door.

"No, no, no!", Ricky protested

"Miss Jenn come on!", EJ said stepping to the door.

Miss Jenn said nothing and closed the door, and with the sound of a locking deadbolt she walked away to conduct the rest of the rehearsal. It was 3:45 and rehearsal ended at 5:00. EJ pounded on the door for a little but resigned to his fate for the next hour and fifteen minutes before sitting down and checking his socials. Ricky was taking his time and looking through the various costumes of past productions. A shocking hour of pure silence passed by and then one of the boys decided to break the tension.

"Okay. I'm willing to talk, actually talk, if you are.", EJ said trying to be the bigger person after texting Nini during the hour and Nini asking if EJ would try and make peace with Ricky.

"Pfft. What do we have to talk about? I think we're pretty solid on our views.", Ricky replied looking up from his phone at EJ

"Look, all I'm saying is that we are going to destroy this production if we don't learn to at the very least tolerate each other. And that is going to hurt Nini more than anything else.", EJ said thinking that maybe using Nini's happiness would be the way to appeal to Ricky.

Ricky took a moment to think it over before realizing that EJ was right. He wanted EJ and Nini to break up but not destroy the first show where she was cast as lead.

"You've got a point.", Ricky said rolling his head

"So, can we…I don't know, call a truce?", EJ asked

"What does a truce mean?", Ricky asked

"I think it means that you have to stop trying to get in between Nini and I.", EJ said

"So essentially just give up on Nini?", Ricky asked trying to get EJ to clarify.

"Yeah pretty much.", EJ said

"If I'm going to do that then I'm going to need you to stop being so pda around me.", Ricky bargained

"You're asking me to not be loving with my girlfriend?", EJ asked

"Yeah.", Ricky said being completely oblivious to what he was asking

"Did you tone down the pda when you were with her?", EJ asked

"No, but that was different.", Ricky said

"Oh, you mean different because there wasn't some stalker trying to break you guys up?", EJ said standing up with irritation in his voice.

"Fuck you that's not fair!", Ricky said standing up from leaning on the counter.

"Really? It's not? Then what would be fair? Because, I'll tell you what, I think that if someone says I love you and you can't say it the fuck back then maybe you shouldn't be with that person and just deal with it!", EJ yelled taking a couple steps forward.

"You do not know why I couldn't say it back, fuck off!", Ricky yelled but had a quiver in his voice

"I actually think I do know why you didn't say it.", EJ said with strength in his voice and stepping up to Ricky grabbing the front of his shirt in his fists.

The two breathed heavily as they looked at each other's eyes, their heartbeats raced, and EJ leaned in and kissed Ricky on the lips. Ricky was to stunned to move before the feeling of EJ's pillow lips sunk in. Ricky closed his eyes, relaxed, and enjoyed the moment. EJ let the kiss go on for several seconds before pulling back.

"Was I right?". EJ asked referring to him knowing why Ricky couldn't say "I love you." to Nini

Just then the sound of the deadbolt being unlocked caused EJ to let go of Ricky's shirt and take a step back from the shell-shocked curly haired boy. The door opened and Miss Jenn stepped into the room.

"Well. You're both alive so that must mean some progress was made, she said hopefully.", Miss Jenn said skeptically.

"Me too, Miss Jenn. Me too.", EJ said with no empathy walking out of the room.

Miss Jenn looked at EJ leave and then back at Ricky.

"Everything okay?", Miss Jenn asked because it looked like Ricky saw a ghost.

"I…I don't know.", Ricky asked

Ricky then left the room and went immediately home.

To Be Continued…

As always, I hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading. All criticism and compliments are welcome down in the reviews.