SHILOH WORDS hung with Ricky ever since she said them. A lot of the things she said stuck with him, but nothing like this.
"I hope I'm there with you. For... however long you chose to have me."
Ricky and the idea of his future was strange. He didn't want to think too heavily about it, but he wanted to know what was in store for himself.
But he knew he wanted Shiloh in whatever future he had for himself, in fact, he had a lot to thank her for. For example: with the help of Shiloh, Ricky was able to get into Salt Lake University and Santa Monica Community College... 21 minutes away from UCLA.
And though Shiloh hadn't announced where she would be attending, it only made sense for her to go to UCLA after getting Ricky into a college 6.6 miles away from her.
Regardless, Ricky knew that he wanted Shiloh in his life... full stop.
So, that morning he woke up bright and early and made his way towards Shiloh house and gently knocked on her bedroom window before pulling it open and stepping inside.
But she wasn't there, which was odd... almost.
She wasn't working on the movie anymore, so there would be no need for her to go to school as early as she normally would, but then again, she had a club to run and five freshman to guide before she considered passing down the torch to them.
Ricky sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets before he turned back towards the window to make his way out.
But before he could do that, her bedroom door open and Jonathan made his way into the room and placed the giant boxes down.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
Ricky began to rock on his heels and sighed. "Came by to see my girlfriend... you?"
"She gets these PR packages and since everyone else is out, I'm the only one who can bring them in."
Ricky nodded. "Cool... I'm gonna go now."
"Ricky." Jonathan called, "... I'm sorry."
Ricky turned, his brown knit in confusion as he looked over at Jonathan. "What?"
"I don't particularly like you—"
"I hadn't noticed."
"but that's because of my own reasons and... It's very, very clear that she's in love with you and I've been hard on you... and her, so I'm sorry."
Ricky nodded. He truly didn't know what to say or do in the moment. Jonathan wasn't going to like Ricky overnight and Ricky wasn't going to automatically feel open to Jonathan because he was sorry.
He put both Ricky and Shiloh through hell and all Ricky wanted was to be accepted by her family... but why?
Why did he want to be accepted by his high school girlfriend's family?
Well, though he didn't really know it then, he knew now.
So, Ricky nodded, turning back towards the window and left. He was there for Shiloh and she wasn't there.
Ricky was enough for Shiloh and he knew that. Ricky was loved by Shiloh and he knew that. Ricky wanted to be with Shiloh for a very, very long time... and he knew that.
SHILOH QUICKLY shoved her dress into the closet of The Love Club and heavily sighed.
She had one more thing to consider before she debated on calling it a game of heads or tails. Of course, she was given an opportunity of a lifetime, but was she passionate about? Was this something she saw herself doing in the long run? Did she always wanted to be known as "The Love Club Girl"?
She rested the palm of her hand on the closet door before bowing her head and closing her eyes.
She opened her eyes, her palm resting on the cold closet door, but also on a picture. A picture of herself and the club on the very first day they announced their club.
Her life was here in Salt Lake and would soon be where the hell she would go to college for the next four years.
Shiloh took one last look at the photo before hearing a gentle knock against the club door.
She went to open it and on the other side stood Evie, a small smile painted on their face.
"We've been looking for you Gabriella." Evie smiled, looping their arm with Shiloh and shutting the door them and leading her to the bomb shelter. "God, once this musical is over we can finally get back to our lives."
Shiloh smiled, pulling Evie closer. "I know, plus it gives Ashley and I time to visit UCLA during Christmas break."
Evie sighed. "Do you think she wants to go to UCLA?"
"I can't imagine her wanting to separate from the club, you know."
"But we can't control that." Evie said. "Madison told us on the plan ride back that she didn't really like the campus."
Of course Shiloh knew that separation was something that could and would happen, but for some reason, deep down, she always thought they would all go to college together, but she wouldn't push any of them to go to a school that didn't feel like home.
So, with a sigh, Shiloh nodded. "Whatever's best for her. And if that's not UCLA, so be it. Besides, that's months from now and I don't want to dwell on it and get said before my debut as Gabriella Montez." She smiled.
Evie smiled. "Ah, can't wait to see you on stage, you're gonna kill it."
The two of them entered the bomb shelter and everyone turned to see the duo.
Ricky held a wide smile on his face as he watched Shiloh separate herself from Evie and make his way towards her.
"Hi." She smiled.
"Hey. Where have you been?" He asked.
"There's so much I have to tell you." She smiled. "But, um, I'm still trying to figure things out."
Ricky nodded, turning his back towards her before looking at her once more. "Do you have a minute? There's something I wanna tell you. Or, um, give you."
"Wildcats, this is your five-minute call!" Maddox called.
She began to flicker the lights causing everyone to scream and Shiloh felt Ricky grab ahold of her forearm and squeeze it.
"You guys don't do the lights thing?" She asked.
"We thought you'd be dead again." Ashlyn answered.
The two of them laughed before Maddox left the room and Ricky gained Shilohs attention once more.
"Change of plans." He said. "Meet me in the dressing room at intermission."
Shiloh nodded. "I'll meet you there."
Ricky smiled, pressing a gently kiss against her lips, but pulled away quickly once he heard Mack's name being called.
"Don't mind me. I was never here." Mack smiled and made his way towards Shiloh. "This is for you." Mack said, pulling a flower from the bouquet. "It's a 100-year-old bird of paradise. A friend of mine grows them. It was John Stamos, guys."
"Wow." Ricky muttered.
Mack smiled. "Hey, you still got it!"
Shiloh grabbed the flower with a smile. "Thank you, Mack. Who are the rest for?"
"Oh," He smiled. "They're for Ashley. Have you seen her?"
"She's working backstage." She smiled. "You'll find her in the gym."
Mack nodded, thanking the girl and making his way towards the gym.
Miss Jenn soon entered the bomb shelter. "Everyone, let's circle up. Circle up."
Everyone grabbed someone's hands and Miss Jenn began her small speech.
"My babies." She smiled. "I know that some of you are disappointed that we don't have the auditorium tonight because Quinn and her band of Hollywood elites have secured it for some other kind of event. But tonight, after promising the principal that this is now an unofficial event, we have the homecoming gym and an audience of loved ones and each other. And we have our dreams. And to quote a wise coach, "You only have two hours left to be team. So, go out there and hold each other close tonight because you never know who might be taking flight tomorrow.""
Shiloh sighed, giving Ricky's hand a small squeeze before Maddox entered the room and shouted for everyone to take their places.
THE LIGHT dimmed in the gym and the musical began. The first song being Now or Never and Shiloh making her stage debut as Gabriella Montez.
"Troy!" She sang, her hands over her heart as she made her way onto the floor.
She could practically hear her family screaming as she made her way closer and closer to Ricky.
She could already hear her family screaming and shouting because Victoria was apart of the band that played in the musical.
It was a very surreal feeling from being known as The Love Club Girl to being a Disney+ star, and now she was the lead in the school musical with her boyfriend.
It really made her think. She had everything and more. What more could she possibly ask for?
Once she did her moment from Now of Never, she made her way off stage and back into the dressing room in order to get ready for the next scene.
Once that time came, Ricky had seen her enter the backstage and gestured for her to come closer.
"Look at me and look at you." He muttered softly and took her hands gently.
"A very unforgettable night." Shiloh smiled.
"Because of you."
Ricky smiled, leaning in to kiss Shiloh. His lips, for once, not chapped as they pressed against her. Something about this kiss was warm, more gently than most, but comforting, like it was meant to be.
"Hey, Troyella." Maddox called. "You're on. Come on."
Shiloh pulled back from the kiss first, hands still laced with Ricky's as she licked her lips.
Ricky chuckled. "We're kinda..."
"Oh, my God." Maddox sighed. "Your cue. Let's go."
With that, the two of them walked on stage for the next scene. Though Shiloh didn't consider herself to be a strong enough actor, she was doing a pretty good job a conveying a scene when she needed to. But why?
As the scene went on, Ricky, as Troy, stepped behind Shiloh and wrapped his hands around her waist.
"It suddenly seems like the rest of the school year is coming at us so fast." Ricky said, speaking as Troy.
"Yeah." Shiloh muttered. "I wish it would all just stop." She paused, her eyes watering some. "At least just slow down."
She looked over her shoulder, Ricky very much into character... while she very much wasn't.
The reason why Shiloh could easily tap into her emotions when she needed to was because she felt for that character. She felt the same way her characters had and that's why she feel for them.
That's why Quinn wanted her to be the lead in her new movie.
That would be filming in New Zealand for six months.
She would miss the rest of her senior year if she chose the movie.
She would miss the club if she chose the movie.
She would miss Ricky if she chose the movie.
But what do you do she you have a once in a lifetime opportunity such as this.
Stay or go?
— lucy has something to say !!
four chapters and an epilogue (maybe) left until the love club is officially over! let's all sit in the corner, rocking back and forth, and cry!!
i have a lot to say when the story is officially over, but for now, i will say, thank you all and i love you lots
now, im asking you 🫵 if i should separate my love club family for college (i already talked to kelly about it and i know what i want but im asking you)
anyways i love you lots xoxo
ricky bowen loves to put his lips to use because goddamn
i have something to say about a main hsmtmts characters but i won't until the end
bye :))))