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yeeterthek33per · 5 months ago

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Two's Company, Three's A Crowd, Four And Five Say Let Chaos Reign (Katrina Gorry x Reader)

A/n Requested. Part three to Missing Toddlers and Mayhem :) Will Edit later, cause I'm at work atm y'all.

(Y'all this took me so long freaking long to write like 😭)

Content/Warning(s): mildly suggestive, warning you now, it does get a little itty bit spicy. Harper, Kyra, R, and Chacha ganging up on Katrina.

Hot Stuff❤️🥵

"So do I get to know where we're going or are we doing a surprise again, because the last time we did this, I got my butt kicked on a public beach."

Katrina🔥❤️

"If I recall correctly, that was your fault, Miss L/n."

Katrina🔥❤️

"Also, no 😘"

Hot Stuff❤️🥵

"I don't recall going into this knowing you were a professional slide tackler😫"

Katrina🔥❤️

"Could have left the gear in the boot and never mentioned it. You should know us footballers are legally obligated to accept rondo challenges 😜"

Hot Stuff❤️🥵

"☹️"

Katrina🔥❤️

"Turn that frown upside down, Babe😊"

Hot Stuff❤️🥵

"🙃"

Katrina🔥❤️

"Smartass🙄"

Katrina🔥❤️

"But close enough."

Katrina🔥❤️

"Just be ready by 12, I'll be there soon😘"

Hot Stuff ❤️🥵

"Of course, see you soon, Gorgeous😘"

Hot Stuff ❤️🥵

"Wait"

Hot Stuff ❤️🥵

"What do I wear??"

Katrina🔥❤️

"Hike meets cozy casual😘"

Hot Stuff ❤️🥵

"Got it, thanks, Cutie😘"

You'd been talking non stop in the days between the last time you'd seen each other in person.

Over the phone, via text, even a facetime at some point, where Harper managed to sneak in and say a very happy hello to you.

The little girl manages to bring a massive smile to your face every time Katrina talks about her.

There was always a smile on your face lately, or so your sister had pointed out just yesterday.

"I swear that woman's got you glued to your phone, dorky little smile and everything."

"Leave me alone, Ash." You whine.

A soft rap on your door lifts your head from your current position of smiling over your phone.

You really need to stop proving her point.

Ashley opens the door, a small smirk already on her face making you roll your eyes.

"Can I help you?"

"It's date time soon, why are you not ready?"

"How would you know what-"

"You told me yesterday, all dreamy eyed. Geez, she got you hypnotised too now?"

You huff.

"Whatever, why are you in here?"

"Because you're being awfully quiet about this Kat and I'm worried, because you haven't said a word about who she is or what she does."

"I haven't been murdered, I'm fine, you can stop grilling, nor are you grilling her when she gets here."

"I have to do my sisterly duties, now hurry up and get ready or else I'll have longer with her because you're running late for your date."

Glancing at the clock on your wall, she's right, it's about forty or so minutes before Katrina is due.

Standing up, you shoo the woman out of your room and quickly jump into the shower, grabbing out a pair of hiking pants, a simple short sleeve shirt and a light blue denim jacket.

By the time you're out of the shower dressed and touching up your hair, there's a knock at the door downstairs.

You fire down them, shoving your sister, who's racing you to the door, away.

As smoothly as you can, you open the door with a warm smile.

Katrina's warm smile greets your own.

She's beautiful as ever and you tell her as such, the long sleeve jacket almost matching your own except she's in shorts and sneakers and a light pink button up underneath it.

"Hey, Beautiful."

You step out the door to greet the shorter woman, arms wrapping around her, her leaning up into you, hands settling on your shoulder blades.

"Hi, Cutie."

You pout softly as she goes to pull away, and then she chuckles meeting your demands with her own lips.

Humming softly in appreciation, you squeeze her waist.

"You ready?"

Nodding, you go to shut the door behind you, keys, phone, wallet and water bottle already with you.

Of course, Ashley decides now is the perfect time to pop out, only, she pauses, surprise on her expression.

"Well... I was going to do the whole sisterly, bring her back by ten talk but... I don't need to. You two have fun!"

And with that, she slams the door behind you, giving you a loving tap to the butt.

Katrina looks confused, matching your own bewilderment at your sisters actions.

"I'm gonna be honest, I have no idea what that was."

You cough into your palm, covering a half laugh.

"Anyway, continuing on. Are we good to go?"

She nods, grabbing you by the hand, leading you to the car parked in your driveway.

Clipping in, she reverses out and starts driving off in the direction of the northern exit from the outer city, a drive you know well enough, having gone this way quite a few times.

She leans over and hands you a black cable, winking at you from her spot in the driver's seat.

"Passenger princess duties are all yours."

The cheeky grin makes you roll yours playfully with a small huff.

"Sure, babe."

Switching to some music you'd both listened to that Saturday night, your hand settles in hers across the console as you hit the highway.

"So, do I get to know, yet?"

"Nope."

It's short, the little smile on her lips doing little to mask the amusement in her tone, her brow quirking a little at the pout on your face.

"Patience."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Making a joking salute, you start to hum along to the radio, thumb caressing across the back of her hand.

She huffs, shaking her head but gives your hand a squeeze anyway.

The drive isn't overly long, no longer than any of the trips you've taken, about forty-five minutes on the road.

You feel like you almost recognise the roads she's taking but a right turn far before anything else comes up on the forested roads throws you a curveball.

Normally you'd been one of the more observant travellers on these roads, however, it seems you'd never paid the tiny dirt road any mind before now.

The greenery, denser than when you'd entered the little driveway, started to part into a small dirt and gravel alcove, to which Katrina pulls in, parking in front a small wooden bollard that lines the alcove.

There's dense green directly in front of you that splits into a small dirt and gravel path which disappears off to the right in a slow curve.

Reaching across the console, she taps your leg with a small grin.

"Hope you brought your hiking legs."

Scoffing, you nudge the woman and basically bounce out of the car in the face of her challenge.

"Damn right I did."

It starts off fairly easy, a basic hiking path for anyone, not much change in altitude but then it starts to increase, and you find yourself falling into the familiar rhythm that you love when it comes to hiking.

If you'd said that to your teenage self, she would've cried at the mention of cardio.

Katrina, it seems, falls into the same familiar feeling, the mild sweat from the hike mixing but also the complete relaxation in her stance as she moves beside you, ahead of you in smaller sections of the path and behind you as you move ahead to crest the more difficult bits first as a precautionary.

It's the first time you really fall into an understanding that someone else gets.

There's a peacefulness to the area surrounding you, bird chimes and occasional cicada chirps as you pass by certain bushes and grass patches.

You think you even spot a small rabbit hopping off the path ahead of you.

Finally, the incline slopes downward again, and then leads down and off to the left, the faint smell of moss and running water becoming more apparent to breathe in, it's refreshing.

"God, I've missed this."

She sounds rightly out of breath as she steps onto a particularly tall rock lodged into the path.

"You've been missing out, then?"

"Far too much, between how cold it got in Sweden and just not really going too far from the city, it's been a good while since I've even gotten to take Harper on smaller hikes."

"Damn, life of an athlete, much?"

A small joking lilt.

"Ha ha."

You can practically see her eye roll from where you're walking in front of the woman.

"It's not that bad, just keeps our lives hectic if anything."

You hum.

"How's Harper feel about that?"

You miss the way her lips curl up at the mention of the mini-mini.

"She loves it if anything, sleepovers with Nonna three times a week and when the international break pops up, she gets to stay with the team and see all twenty-two of her aunties and siblings."

The closer you get to the running water, the less the trees hang over the both of you and the more the suns starts to bead down on your light blue shirt, the warmth very familiar as winter shifts into spring once again.

It's been about an hour or so since you'd started off on the track.

She moves in front of you, turning with a small nod and grin in the direction of the beginning of a large clearing.

"C'mon, we're getting close."

The sun shines through the light brunette hair around the tops and sides of her head that most likely refused to be tied down properly, but in a neat, casual setting.

Slowing to a stop near where she's starting to descend a slightly steeper part of the path, you look out into the opening, a large water not far off to your one o'clock, the green moss abundant around its edges and the dampened ground surrounding the flowing water and the small pool built up around its base.

The pool breaks off into a surpisingly sandy bay that opens into a much larger river, flowing from another path away from you and out into what you see is the beach.

You nearly miss the small misstep as she steps on a mossed up stone, grabbing her arm to stop her falling, alarm on your face.

"Thanks."

"I gotcha."

You nod softly, hand squeezing her bicep, continuing jokingly.

"No hurting yourself, as much as I'd love to carry you back.."

She smacks you a little with a laugh before continuing down a different stone to avoid the same outcome.

"Real funny, Babe."

It's one massive secluded beach and it reminds you heavily of your first tryst together.

Only this time, it's much more private and less accessible, something you can almost appreciate with the nature of it all.

Privacy.

Another understanding between you.

As a public figure and known football player, Katrina knows the feeling well.

It doesn't come often, with media days a regular occurrence and spending near all of her time with teammates, club and country as well as with a two-year-old toddler at all hours of the day.

Of course, she wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

But privacy is a luxury that not even well paid athletes can afford.

So she understands the immediate droop and sigh of contentment when you see the vast empty beach and nothing but the sound of crashing waves and bird song behind you.

Letting your head fall back as you take in the cool summer breeze from the coastline, the smell of sea salt and damp greenery filling your senses, your head turns to look at the shorter woman.

She's already watching you, a small challenging smirk on her face that brings you back to the present.

"...What's up?"

"Nothing, I figured a nice walk and then a rematch would be a great way to start our day together."

"Rematch?... Wait-"

You're cut off as she suddenly pops out a soccer ball from behind her that she'd apparently managed to hide in her backpack the whole way, and tosses it towards you, darting off towards the beach.

"C'mon, I wanna see if you've learned anything yet!"

Jogging after her, you yell out.

"You mean that I'm not the professional footballer in this scenario and that I'm going to get my butt kicked again?"

"I'll make a baller out of you, yet, now get out here!"

It goes on like that for a while, how long exactly, you aren't sure but by the time you both land breathless onto the sand, mainly you, the sun is leaning more towards the other side of the sky.

"I hope you brought snacks, because I'm gonna need them after that last one."

Katrina giggles down at your dead flat form on the ground, chest heaving.

“You can’t give up on me now, to think you were just getting close to beating me.”

The teasing lilt to her voice makes you swat at her ankle lightly.

“Close, my ass. It’s like twenty-six to three.”

“Actually it’s about nineteen to six.”

She kicks you in the foot, tossing up a little sand in the air towards you in the process, landing near your face.

“Hey!”

“Whoops?”

Darting up, surprising yourself you tackle the woman into the soft white sand, landing on top of her.

“That is so not allowed, that was a dirty play ref!”

You call out to the imaginary sideline ref pointing off into the distance with a fake angry face on.

She’s laughing underneath you, almost breathless because of your weight on her stomach, and her hands settle to grip your hips, as you look back down at the woman with a small pout.

“Aw poor baby.”

It’s a little mocking tone that you pout more at.

Poking her tongue out up at you, she sits up slightly to tug you back down towards her, your hands landing either side of her head and you shift to be more level with the woman’s head.

“Hi.”

Grinning once again, you brush your nose against hers.

“Hi.”

A small peck to her lips is all she needs to tug you further down, fully sealing yourselves together, lips locked.

The breeze blows over your back, and the sounds of the waves wash away as you sink fully into the shorter woman, lips sliding across hers.

A new but familiar sensation, becoming accustomed to having the air in your lungs sucked from you every time you kiss her.

Sighing softly into her mouth, you take the opportunity to let your hand wander over the crook of her neck, before shifting to rest over her collar and then over her neck again.

It’s not intentional when you do it, but your thumb almost caresses the column of her throat and it’s her turn to sigh into the kiss.

Pulling away for a small breath, she notes the way your fingers now rest just under her jaw, on her neck, sending shivers through her.

If you noticed it, you don’t say anything, instead diving right back into her, fingers squeezing the skin slightly.

It seems you notice the way she hums into the kiss, a small smirk crossing your face as you let up once more.

The effect you have on her is shown well and truly in the way her cheeks redden and the part in her lips as her eyes open to meet yours.

“Hi.”

A warmth spreads through you at the smile she gives you once more.

“C’mon.”

Nudging you up once more, she pulls herself up, offering you a hand up.

Taking it, you stand close to her still, hands settling on her waist.

“So, what’s next then?”

Her hands grab yours and drag you over to where the bag lies in the sand.

“A little walk and wander and maybe a little bit more of that before dinner, hey?”

Grinning, you tug her towards the bag.

It’s just minutes back on the path that you tug her back into you for more.

You’d say you were someone who had quite the ability for self restraint, especially in previous relationships, but with Katrina, she’s just there, and it makes you want to kiss the daylights out of her every second you’re together.

Inevitably, it takes you both longer on the way back to the car, stopping every ten minutes to admire the scenery in a way only a couple making out against every tree can.

By the fifth time she’s resigned to let you do it every five minutes, more than happily letting the privacy you two have, consume you for the moment.

The way she tugs your neck down herself after an hour of this makes you well aware of the fact she feels the same.

Addicted to the way you taste.

Addicted to the way your lips slide so perfectly on her own.

By the time you get back to the car, you both look more than kiss-mussed, swollen lips, occasional purple marks over your neck when her teeth nipped at the skin.

Like love-sick teenagers.

But not that.

Not yet.

Pressed against the driver-side door, she looks up at you with a look you can’t describe other than pure and utter infatuation.

It makes your heart flip and twist like never before, the fact that someone can look at you like that.

It’s invigorating.

The brunette eventually lets go of you, and you pull back to let her off the car with a very content smile on your lips.

Opening the door for her, you gesture her into the car.

“Shall we go?”

A breathless nod and she’s in the car feeling as giddy as anything.

‘Breathe woman.’

She tells herself.

Settling into the passenger seat after packing the bags into the boot, you buckle in and the whole drive spent going to your next outing is one with clasped hands and small kisses pressed to the back of her hand and wrist.

When you pull up to a familiar club, it makes your heart swell a little.

She’d wanted to come back because the overall ambiance of the place was warm and welcoming and it made her feel comfortable in a place she wouldn’t normally spend any time going to.

Clubs have never been her thing but there was something about this one.

Maybe it was the fact you were involved in it. That it was attached to your first date together.

That would make sense.

You’ve been the deepest breath of fresh air she’s had in a long time. Even with the invigoration of her sport, her work, her home, her daughter. You’re new in her life and it makes her heart feel even more full.

The fact you adore every aspect of her life, her home, her family, makes it all that much better.

The fact that you ask to spend more time with her family without prompting when you both sit down for drinks makes her heart leap.

“Can we do the next one with Harper?”

There's a small sheepish smile on your face.

"It's just been a while since we've all had some time spent together and I miss her-"

Katrina cuts you off with a reassuring smile and a hand on yours.

“I was beginning to wonder when you’d ask again, of course we can, she’s been begging to know when she can see her new friend.”

You smile at the thought.

You had missed the little one quite a bit.

Her wide smile and nearly always happy personality brought so much light into your life that day.

When your drinks are sat down in front of you by a knowingly smirking Aiden.

“Whenever you ladies are ready, I’ve got you queued up with a classic.”

Taking a peek at the ipad in his hands, you see the song and roll your eyes.

It’s one you performed all the time for about three months straight because that’s all people would request from you.

Dragging the woman up with your drinks and a wink at the woman who’s just resigned to the fact she now has to sing every time she’s with you here.

There’s an adoration in her eyes as you step up onto the stage, keeping your eyes locked on hers and speak into the mic with a small wink.

“Hey everyone, we’ve got a good old classic today, it seems I’ve been requested of this one with my duet partner. Everyone thank Aiden for us.”

When the instrumental starts, Katrina half huffs at the song choice, half laughs.

Love Shack by The B-52

You start the song off, letting her get comfortable with the song first.

If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says "15 miles to the Love Shack"

Love Shack, yeah, yeah I'm heading down the Atlanta highway Looking for the love getaway

Bouncing to the beat slightly, you encourage her to move with you, gesturing down at the second mic that has been slipped into her grasp.

Headed for the love getaway I got me a car, it's as big as a whale And we're headin' on down to the Love Shack I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20 So hurry up and bring your jukebox money

You almost have to laugh, she's better at this song than most would expect.

In fact, you'd bet she was better than you.

The love shack is a little old place where We can get together Love Shack, baby (the Love Shack, baby) Love Shack, baby, Love Shack Love Shack, baby, Love Shack Love Shack, baby, Love Shack (love, baby, that's where it's at) Love Shack, baby, Love Shack (love, baby, that's where it's at)

The pair of you yelling the chorus into the mic has a few people in the bar up and singing along as well, a few whistles and cheers as the pair of you keep making eye contact with each other.

Sign says (woo), "Stay away, fools" 'Cause love rules at the Love Shack Well, it's set way back in the middle of a field Just a funky old shack and I gotta get back

There's something about the way she dips and kisses you mid song.

You know you're screwed when she pulls you back up and there's a wink thrown your way as she turns to the crowd and starts hopping along to the beat finally, encouraging them to do the same.

You never thought you'd be up here, jamming along with a woman who's been matching your adventurous nature since you've met her.

Despite being someone who has somehow managed to calm your erratic nature, she's also had the more energetic side of her brought out that she normally only sees amongst the kids of the team.

Glitter on the mattress Glitter on the highway Glitter on the front porch Glitter on the highway

There's a small giggle she let's out as you step up and belt out the next verse.

The Love Shack is a little old place where We can get together Love Shack, baby (Love Shack, baby) Love Shack, that's where it's at Love Shack, that's where it's at

You don't miss the small shake of her head when you poke your tongue out between your teeth cheekily at her.

In fact your eyes stay on her for the majority of the song, every movement, every gesture, every expression, every grin while she sings with you.

The sweetest brightest laughter as you both duck off the stage panting is what seals the deal for you.

Her eyes glint with joy up at you and that's when you know she has you hook line and sinker.

"So he had to bail you out?!"

"I know right?"

"Babe that is so not-"

"Waitwaitwait before you judge me on it-"

She snorts and covers her mouth at the small glare you give her across the table, having to silence your own laughter to make it hold even a remote amount of sincerity, though she knows otherwise by the quirk in your lips.

Standing, you gesture to the door, wanting to get away from the loudness of the bar for a few moments.

You continue outside into the slowly cooling afternoon air.

"The dude had it coming, he was being way too touchy with this poor girl and security was not doing anything-"

"So you drop him in a trash can after throwing hot sauce in his eyes?!"

"It was well deserved, she was very grateful to not be harassed by that asshole anymore. Besides, the assault charges were dropped when I offered to show them the club footage of him grabbing where he shouldn't"

"Still, you shouldn't have risked going to jail over that-"

"I'd have broken his nose, too, but I literally just had a manicure done finally after like a year of refusing to go, I didn't feel like being made to go back, again."

An amused shake of her head as you both slowly walk down the path to the carpark.

"You're something else."

"That better be a good thing."

She giggles at the half pearl clutch gesture you make in response paired with an offended look.

"Of course it is, babe."

Giving your hand a squeeze, she can only smile at the grumpy look you give her.

"Hush you."

"Or what?"

"Or I might just do something about it."

"Do it."

A beat of silence, your eyes locked on the cocky smirk on her face.

She's baiting you, you know it.

Of course, you take it.

Two steps back towards her.

Three steps pushing her back into the building wall.

One more to find your place pressed against her.

None to press your lips into hers like they'd never separated in the first place.

The small hum she lets out as you do so makes the idea of the very public display suddenly leave your mind, wanting nothing more than to hear more from her.

It's when you pull away gently with a tug and pop that you both pull back a little breathless.

"That works."

She says, eyes still closed, breathing ragged.

You notice a flash of movement, thinking it was a stranger walking by until a small body crashes into the woman in front of you.

"Mummy!"

"Oh my god, Harper what did I say about running off like that? Especially across roads?! You can't do tha-"

A huffing, clearly scared looking Charlie practically sprints around the corner, bent over at the knees.

Her head snaps up at the realisation of who Harper's managed to run into.

"Oh! Mini, Hi!"

The brunette looks a little unimpressed at the blonde.

You get the distinct feeling it's less from the interruption and more the words of the woman who'd just been sprinting after her daughter.

"Charlotte Grant..."

"Wait. Wait. I didn't- She ran off. I promise I was doing everything to chase her down. It was a little road."

Katrina sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.

The tiny human being attached to her leg looks up at her with an innocent grin on her face.

"Harper, what did we say about running off?"

Picking up the smaller blonde, sitting her on her hip.

Suddenly very sheepish looking like only a toddler can, she looks in your direction in search of something to avoid the conversation.

Of course, with you being you, she does very quickly.

Practically jumping into your arms with excited squeal, the small child latches onto you out of the older woman's arms.

"Y/n/n!"

Giving her a squeeze, a few giggles leaving your lips at the affection from the little girl you hadn't seen in person since that first day, only catching some time talking to the little one over a phone screen.

"Hi Harper, whatcha doin here, huh?"

"Goin to the park."

"Is that right?"

You smile and wave to Charlie with an amused glint in your eye.

The twenty-two year old nods sheepishly.

Looking down at the little one in your arms, you raise a brow in her direction, too.

She nods enthusiastically, her little arms wound tight around your neck as she lays her head on your shoulder.

Katrina watches the exchange between her daughter and yourself with a hardly hidden heart eyes look.

She'd totally forgotten that the park they usually go to is only a couple blocks from where you both were, but it's on the other side.

Raising her brows in Charlie's direction, a small questioning look on her face.

"I can... explain.."

Another pair of footsteps come running around the corner, too, nearly bumping into the blonde, a mop of now very messy wind blown brunette hair.

"Charlie did you get her- oof!"

Nearly ending up in a tangled mess on the floor, Charlie catches the both of them from falling.

"Idiot."

"Hey! You're the one that- Oh hey, Min', we were just- oh."

The mischievous look on Kyra's face that appears at the sight of you.

"That's what you were busy with today. Or who you were busy with."

She wiggles her brows at the older woman.

"I swear, do I need to start leaving you three with Nonna, again?"

Harper's head whips up so fast, you nearly clash heads and you're surprised she doesn't give herself whiplash.

"Nonna? Can we go see Nonna?"

"Sorry Harps', you can see Nonna tomorrow, it's just Kyra and ChaCha for now, alright?"

The little girl pouts for a minute before settling back into your arms.

"Oky, I stay wiv y/n/n, then."

You chuckle at her, before looking up at Katrina.

"Mind going for a walk to the park?"

She sighs softly, before shrugging.

"Alright, why not?"

You pass the little girl back to Charlie, much to her protests.

"One minute Harps, You can hop up again in a bit, I need to talk to mum first alright?"

She pouts before nodding.

You nod at the two to walk ahead, grabbing Katrina's hand softly.

"We can always continue later? You haven't got anything time sensitive?"

She shakes her head no with a small chuckle.

"Just a walk in restaurant, they're open late, though, it'll be fine."

You quirk a brow at her, and she makes the lip-zipping motion.

"C'mon, we've got a little girl waiting."

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, you both walk slowly behind the group, though quickly get dragged into carrying Harper for the remainder of the walk, still holding hands with the shorter woman beside you.

The pair of twenty-somethings ahead bickering only serves as a reminder of how chaotic this life is for the Footballer, yet it doesn't bother you.

In fact, it feels like something so much bigger for you, something you could get behind.

You don't want to commit yourself so early, but you don't fight the way your heart swells with a little love each and every word you exchange with both Harper and Katrina.

By the time you're both wandering back to the car, late after Kyra and Charlie have left, taking the little one back home to bed.

Late after having sat and eaten and discussed everything from Harper to thousands of kilometres away worlds of a sport you've never found yourself loving before now.

At least now, it seems you've found your favourite people entwined with it.

It's then you find yourself wanting to learn more.

"Hey, I know this is probably something you hear with your work a lot, but just, talk to me about football, anything you want, the rules, the games, anything."

She looks a little surprised that you bring it up, considering you've never personally been a big sports fan, at least, as much as she's known for the past couple weeks.

"I thought you didn't want to know about it?"

"Actually, I want to learn about it, if I'm gonna be showing up to my sister's matches, and maybe get to see you."

You pause, and the last bit is said with a little sheepishness behind it, though you don't miss the way her smile widens at it.

"I wanna know about the game. Or even just your experiences with it. What do you love about it? Tell me anything."

With that, she starts off on where she started with it, how much she loved it as a kid, how she always spent time playing it with her brothers, her time in the academy, in the beginning with the youth team in Mount Gravatt, to her start with the Melbourne Victory and everywhere after.

How she came to Brisbane Roar, her time in the US.

Her injury, her time spent trying to recover. Of course, she's told you the basics of how Harper came to be.

She talks about some of the bigger games she's played.

About the upcoming World Cup in July.

"You should come see us play."

"You'd want me there?"

"Of course I would."

It's said short and almost in an offended tone, but it shows so much more for you.

She wants you there at the biggest stage of her career.

You don't protest it.

"I'll be there, then."

"Good, I would hate to have to pack you into a suitcase to drag you to camp with us instead."

A laugh escapes your lips at that, head tilted back in laughter.

"Of course you would. You're cute. No but seriously, are you sure? I wouldn't be intruding?"

"Hell no, if eighty thousand other people can be there to watch it, why can't you?"

"Fair enough."

You continue like that, laughing, chatting, letting her rant on and on about everything and anything because you could listen to this woman go on and on for hours with no complaint.

Swinging your joined hands as you both wander along the boardwalk she'd taken you to, you look out on the slowly darkening skies over the water.

The colours are as amazing to witness as always, to the point where you both settle on a bench to relax a bit and watch it darken a bit longer.

The sparkle of the fading sun behind you warms your backs as you both settle into each other, the shorter woman contentedly tucked into your side, words starting to slow and you both quieten to enjoy the moment.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

Turning your head to meet her gaze with the tips of her fingers.

"I like you. A lot."

You grin.

"I would hope so. Or this could be really awkward for- hey!"

She smacks your shoulder with a little roll of her eyes.

"Kidding. I really like you, too."

"Too? I only said like not really."

You guffaw at the woman.

"Hey!"

She giggles.

"Okay, I deserved that."

Grinning, you lean down to meet her lips for the what seems like thousandth time today, though, neither of you mind at all.

It's soft, sweet and much less urgent than all of the ones earlier.

It's easy.

You find it easier and easier with each pass to kiss her.

There's a way she spends the time holding your face, caressing the skin of your cheek, that has you in an absolute whirlwind of just... her.

It's invigorating beyond anything.

Yet also, cathartic.

She tastes like home.

And who knows, maybe this is what you've been missing.

The cathartic parts.

A way to calm an already chaotic life.

Sure, she's a professional footballer, that gets chaotic more than a lot of jobs do but it's the way she handles everything. Somehow able to juggle the life of having a child and playing football across the country and internationally when called to.

But to be honest with yourself, there's nowhere you'd rather be than with this somehow new cemented person in your life.

You can't wait to see where this goes.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE GOING OUT WITH THE KATRINA GORRY!"

"Jesus fucking Christ, Ashley! Chill!"

-------------------

#woso #woso x reader #woso imagines #woso imagine #katrina gorry imagines #katrina gorry imagine #katrina gorry x reader #harper gorry x reader platonic #kyra cooney-cross x reader platonic #charli grant x reader platonic

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mysunshinetemptress · 1 year ago

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Hi, Can't wait for the fics that you write I lover them all. But can I request a Katrina Gorry x wife reader, where the reader is a footballer too but in England or Spain team. Thanks....

Mi Vida

Katrina Gorry x Reader

Angst fluff

Falling in love with your wife has been the easiest thing you had ever done, telling her you loved her was nerve wracking but not hard, asking her to marry you was an easy decision planning out how you where going to do it not so much, organising the wedding was complicated but ultimately you both had decided to marry at La Fortaleza in Mallorca and finally the decision to start a family had been the quickest yes you had said in your life finally feeling your life align the way you had always hoped.

That changed when your wife had been signed to a team in Sweden and had ultimately decided that she would be the one to take your 6 month old daughter with her. Both your girls where three hours away by plane and the only way you got to speak to them was through a phone most of the time. You couldn’t help but feel deflated after you hung up every night, looking over the videos you had been sent of Harpers first steps to her first words and little sentences she was still trying to string together.

You spent every break you could in Sweden trying to make up for lost time but every time you saw them both your heart broke at how much had changed how big Harper was getting so quickly, and with that her interests something you didn’t catch on to until she had been a screaming mess shouting how much she hated paw patrol when you had tried to give her the presents you had brought over. What hurt even more was how little Spanish she had or understood compared to her understanding of Swedish “Osa puedes decir te amo mamá ?.” Harper had stood clueless babbling before you tried again and she began to get frustrated a tantrum ensuing after as Katrina watched heart breaking at your crest fallen features realising what was happening to her family.

Leaving was never easy you felt guilty watching Harper beg and cry for you to stay to not leave her and how hopeless she slowly became to your promises to return “too long mama stay.” You of course would only answer in Spanish wanting to surround her in as much of it as possible during such a short time, “lo sé, osa, lo siento, te prometo te veré pronto mi niña.” Harper would begin getting frustrated shouting for you to speak English.

Katrina had been a bystander during these moments, she had felt her heart break the minute she told you she had signed to play in Sweden and would be taking Harper with her, she was surprised you hadn’t fought for her to stay in Spain with you surrounded by her Tías instead when she had begun shouting at you to say something about her decision you had grabbed her into your arms and told her it was ok, having Harper move from place to place wouldn’t be good for her at all and if Katrina thought Sweden would be best for your daughter then you would support her. But she couldn’t deny she felt regret and guilt creep in watching you try to hold back tears on FaceTime or hear you cry every night you where home as you tried to hide it.

After talking to her agent Katrina decided that the 2023 season would be her last in Sweden, but she had decided to keep it a surprise from you wanting to bring some spark back in your eyes since she had left. But first was the Women’s World Cup.

Australia and New Zealand had been chosen to co host this years World Cup and the Matilda’s had been hopeful that they would win it on home soil, whereas the Spanish team La Rojas as they where fondly called had been shadowed in controversy and had come into the tournament wanting to prove the world they where more than what the news projected them to be.

Your contract with Barcelona was set to end while you where playing at the World Cup and you had made the decision to leave the club on a high of winning a champions league and leave for a new league the WSL, what team you would been signing to was get to be made known to the press wanting to tell you close family and friends before the big announcement.

The Spanish federation hadn’t been as accommodating as you hoped, refusing to allow you to fly over two days ahead of the team in order to see your wife and daughter or even letting you see them once you arrived over stating they didn’t want any distractions, Alexia and Ona stood beside just off camera as you called Katrina “Hola Mi Amor.” Katrina knew something was wrong the minute your face appeared “everything ok my love.” You looked at your teammates before sighing “they won’t let me fly out two days early or see you during the tournament, I don’t know how you say eh distracción.” Katrina eyes softened “distraction love.” You nodded “I just want to see her and to see you too.” Katrina felt the guilt come back “I know I’m sorry my love it won’t be much longer.” You nodded “is she there my little osa.” Katrina smiled sadly at the hope in your eyes at seeing your daughter “mums taken her to the park y/n I’m sorry.” You could only smile sadly at her “it’s ok, I have something to tell you though.” Katrina hummed letting you know she was listening ��I’m leaving Barcelona, I want to go to England to play plus flight times are less I get to you both quicker no.” Katrina was overjoyed at the news “oh darling I’m…really but you love Barcelona.” You nodded “I do but it’s the right time.” Katrina smiled at you before she was interrupted by your older two children Kyra and Charli “hola ma how are you.” You smiled at the younger girls. “I’m good but I have to go I’ll see you all soon and please give my osa a big hug and kiss from me tell her I love her.” Katrina could see the heart break in your eyes at your words “she knows my love but I’ll remind her.”

The tournament had been a nightmare for the Matilda’s, they had been knocked out by England and would now battle Sweden for the bronze while you faced England at the hopes of winning it all. The team had gathered in the screening room to watch match hopping for your wife to win. Anytime Katrina came on screen your team cheered and your heart swelled every time of course those cheers got so much louder when your daughter appeared on screen as they all talked about how cute she was you felt tears form in your eyes seeing her dressed in her Australia jersey waving a flag. You texted the Australian girls after stating how proud you where of and that deserved so much more but that she should be proud of leaving it all out on the pitch and creating history.

You stood in the tunnel holding your mascots hand when you felt a tap on your shoulder turning to see Alessia Russo “Rumour has it your joining the WSL.” You nodded smiling “that rumour would be true.” Alessia smiled Turing to face the front “I look forward to it then.” You smiled before squeezing your mascots hand asking if she was ready to go. Walking out you stood proud giving your jacket to the young girl shivering in front of you before singing the national anthem and saying good by taking your place on the back line with Ona.

You had done your best making sure your back line stayed strong against such a strong English squad. You found an opportunity in the 29 minute the lioness gravitating to the left wing gave you the chance to break into the middle right before calling for the pass from Bonmatí seeing Mary just off her mark you sent a rocket to the top left holding your breath as it nestled in the back turning you ran to your bench jumping onto Alexia as she screamed in excitement before you looked past the bench to see the Matilda’s standing behind it, you spotted your wife and daughter pointing at the letting them know it was for them before Alexia pushed you back down to the pitch telling you to get a move on.

The minute the final whistle blew you dropped to the ground before feeling your teammates pile on top of you before you shook them off walking straight to the lionesses, congratulating them on their performance before Lotte Wubben moy grabbed you “we need you holy shit mate.” You laughed pulling her into a hug “I’m Spanish but ooh to be a gooner.” Lotte squealed pulling you tighter “can’t wait mate.” You nodded before excusing your self.

You ran right past your management team before jumping the Barrier as fans around you tried to grab you but you ignored them running up the steps “salto de Osa.” Harper jumped from Charli’s arms “oh mi Osa te amo.” Katrina pushed through the girls congratulating you pulling you down to kiss her “I’m so proud of you of all of you you did it Y/n.” You felt tears well in your eyes “I couldn’t do it without you it is all for you I’m sorry you didn’t win but what’s mine is yours sí.”

Harper wouldn’t let you go for the trophy ceremony, Katrina stating she was jealous of the mascot the minute you walked out holding her hand screaming that you where her Mama and only hers. You took your medal with Harper on your hip as well as threw her in the air when they raised the trophy before letting the girls take her away briefly as Katrina made her way on to the pitch “for you.” You took your medal off putting it over your wife’s head kissing her softly. Katrina held you as you watched Harper laugh with the girls “ lm leaving.” You froze “leaving what.” Katrina could see the worry in your face “Sweden I’ve decided I’m done splitting this family apart so at the end of this season I’m leaving and I’m following you to England.” You felt your heart swell “really.” Katrina nodded “my life is with you and Harper no where else I can’t live through that or put you both through that again it broke my heart seeing her cry every night knowing you where doing the same in Spain.” You held her as she gave you her reasoning “I’m going to Arsenal.” Kyra squealed from behind you “I am too oh we are going to be a real family in England.” Charli nodded “yeah cause I decide I wasn’t being left out either.” You felt content finally creep back in as you looked around at your little family “oh mi Vida es Bella.”

#leah williamson #awfc #woso fanfics #woso one shot #woso #woso imagine #harper Gorry #charli grant #kyra cooney cross #katrina gorry x reader #katrina gorry #Katrina Gorry x y/n #Katrina Gorry x you

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alotofpockets · 9 months ago

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Gorry Fam Appreciation

Request a player | with @totaly-obsessed

Plus a little Auntie Macca appreciation

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cat-in-an-antique-shop · 2 years ago

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Chidi Anagonye (The Good Place) and Alan Zaveri (Russian Doll) are the same person in a different font

Here is the list I have made to demonstrate my point:

#the good place #chidi anagonye #good place #good place Chidi #russian doll #alan zaveri #chidi x eleanor #eleanor shellstrop #william jackson harper #kristen bell #nadia vulvokov #natasha lyonne #charlie barnett #russian doll netflix

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eddysocs · 4 days ago

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The Tie That Binds Us — Chapter Thirteen (Love, Actually)

Summary: As the holiday season unfolds, Harper and Olivia navigate their shared grief while finding comfort in each other’s presence. Amid bittersweet memories and quiet moments, their connection deepens in ways neither of them fully expected.

Word Count: 1,527

Warnings: Little bit of angst/grief, but really this chapter is mostly fluff

For the next couple of days, Harper felt a little awkward around Olivia, but what had she expected? She couldn’t just pour her heart out and then pretend like she hadn’t, but as always, Olivia was respectful of her, of her feelings, and of her needing a little space. Every minor thing, like shifting around one another in the kitchen, or meeting in the hallway in the morning made Harper's pulse jump for a moment, feeling like she was somehow overstepping, but after several days passed by, she got less jumpy. She went back to feeling at ease with her, knowing that her admission hadn’t drastically changed anything between them.

Then the next week was Christmas. Christmas Eve had been rough, both of them feeling the loss of Hannah more acutely than they had since her death over two months ago. Every little thing seemed to set one or both of them off. Hannah's favorite Christmas song had brought Olivia to tears, and the sunflower eraser that Hannah had given to Harper last Christmas appeared in her desk drawer as she was finalizing the draft of her admissions essay to NYU and it caused her heart to ache and tears to sting at the back of her eyes.

But the evening brought them together for what had become one of their favorite shared pastimes, watching romantic comedies. This evening's selection was suitably festive; Love Actually. They laughed, they cried, they each had candy canes and hot cocoa, and let the emotions in the movie temporarily override the ones they’d been feeling all day. All in all, it had felt like a cathartic way to end their day.

Christmas morning arrived and hadn’t entirely replaced their sadness. How could it? This was the first Christmas they’d had without Hannah. If it was painful for Harper, she could only imagine how much it was hurting Olivia, who had been there for all of them. But it seemed Olivia wasn’t going to let her grief overtake her, as she was already up, the smell of cookies emanating from the oven and a happy but tired smile on her face as Harper met her in the kitchen.

"You’re up early," Harper stated with a yawn, her playful tone half disguised by her grogginess.

"So are you," Olivia replied.

"In my defense, I smelled cookies." Olivia chuckled and promised they were almost done, so Harper went to the couch and flicked on the tv and put on the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. It had been a favorite of hers since she could remember, and she’d never skipped a year of watching it.

Not long after, Olivia came in with a selection of Christmas cookies on a plate and Harper greedily snatched the biggest one before Olivia sat down beside her, leaving the plate on the coffee table. They watched the parade for nearly an hour before Olivia interrupted on a commercial break.

"Do you want to open your gift?"

Harper paused mid bite, surprised that Olivia had gotten her something. "I thought we said we weren’t doing gifts," she argued after swallowing down the gingerbread confection.

It was true, they had agreed on that, but that had been before Olivia had seen the beautifully painted sunflower canvas hanging in the front of a resale shop in town. Once she had, there was no way she wasn’t going to buy it for her. Before Harper could protest further, Olivia got up and hauled the wrapped canvas out from her closet where she had stored it the week before.

"Go on," Olivia invited, seeing Harper slack jawed at the mere size of the gift before her. Harper looked to Olivia for a second and with an extra nod of permission, Harper tore into the paper and pulled out the gift.

"Olivia, this is so pretty," she gushed.

"I thought it would look nice hanging right above your bed. I’ll help you put it up if you like."

Already thrilled at the idea, they went right to it. Harper carried the canvas in, and Olivia fetched a hammer and nail from the garage to hang it with. When she met Harper in her room, she was already standing on the mattress, lining it up just right. Olivia handed over the hammer and nail when she was ready and in about ten minutes it was hung on the wall like it belonged there. It felt like it did.

Harper flopped down on the bed, satisfied with her work, and Olivia took a seat on the edge next to her. "I feel bad I didn’t get you anything," Harper said.

"Don't. I know we agreed, but it was me who broke the deal. Besides, you’ve been my gift. If you hadn’t been here, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this holiday season."

A quiet lull fell between them, filled only by the faint sounds of holiday music playing from the living room. Harper glanced up, catching Olivia's gaze lingering on her. Something about the way she was looking at her made Harper's breath catch in her throat.

Their conversation from weeks ago hovered in the space between them, unspoken but not forgotten. Since that night, things hadn't changed dramatically. Olivia hadn't made any grand declarations, and Harper hadn't pushed for more. But there had been moments like these, moments where the air felt heavier, where Olivia's touch lingered a second longer than necessary, where the weight of it all pressed against them.

For a second, it almost seemed like she might reach out, might close the space between them. Harper didn't dare move, didn't dare breathe. Then Olivia exhaled, a slow, deliberate breath, and instead of closing the distance, she offered Harper a small, hesitant smile. "Thank you. For staying."

Harper nodded, her own smile just as careful. "Always."

They spent the rest of their holiday watching more Christmas movies and eating the entire tray of cookies until they finally decided to call it a night. And, despite the lingering feeling of loss, it had been nice to be together.

New Year's Eve was next. The weather had gotten chilly, the wind cooling off the town and giving them the perfect excuse to stay inside until January came. It had been business as usual for the two of them, but Harper felt the nagging urge, brought on by the sentiment of the holiday, to kiss Olivia at midnight. She couldn’t. She promised she wouldn’t push, and Olivia hadn’t said anything of her own feelings, whether or not she figured them out yet. Yet the thought would not leave her mind.

They'd already planned to stay up and watch the ball drop, teasing each other throughout the day about who would fall asleep first. Harper's money had been on Olivia, though it was now eleven pm and neither had so much as nodded off. They shared a total of two bowls of popcorn as the main event of the night approached, and Harper had finally, and almost entirely, been able to shove her thoughts to the back of her mind and just enjoy watching the festivities.

Finally, they had made it, the countdown just beginning. Harper had fully let herself into the moment, counting down along with the host. Olivia, on the other hand, turned her focus from the television to Harper.

She realized several things at once. First, how Harper had become such a fixture in her life in just a little under three whole months. Second, she noticed just how lonely she’d been, even since before Hannah's death. How Andy hadn’t been there emotionally for years, and how Harper, within a handful of times of meeting her at that point, had made her feel more worthy of love than Andy maybe ever had. And finally, she realized that Harper wasn’t alone in her feelings. Harper had brought the sunshine to the darkest part of her life and they’d made a home together, as strange as that felt sometimes, but it was like the world had brought them together just when they needed each other the most. Or maybe it had been Hannah pulling the strings somehow, from wherever she was, watching over them.

"Three…two��one…Happy New Year!"

The roar from the crowd on the television drowned out everything else, fireworks exploding across the screen in brilliant colors. Harper grinned, turning toward Olivia, but the moment she met her eyes, she could tell something was on her mind.

The world outside was celebrating, but here, in this space between them, something entirely different was happening. Olivia's gaze flickered to Harper's lips, then back to her eyes.

Harper swallowed. "Olivia—"

But before she could say anything but her name, Olivia moved. It wasn't rushed or impulsive, but deliberate, like she'd been thinking about this, maybe for days. She reached up, her fingers just barely grazing Harper's jaw, and then she kissed her. Harper had been almost too stunned to kiss back, but she had, just a little, before Olivia had pulled away.

The weight of the moment settled between them, different from all the others before. Because this, this changed everything.

🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶

Chapter Twelve <- 🩶 -> Chapter Fourteen

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @kmc1989, @curious-kittens-ocs, @fanficanatic-tw, @gcthvile, @immyowndefender

Harper Cassidy: @megandaisy9, @boobear729, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @freshmoneyalmondathlete

#oc: harper cassidy #fc: charly jordan #fd: 13 reasons why #fic: the tie that binds us #harper x olivia #olivia baker #olivia baker x oc

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bradshawssugarbaby · 1 year ago

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since I have a TGM entry lined up for my valentine's series and I just posted one...

#clark kent x reader #derek hale x reader #stiles stilinski x reader #charlie young x reader #charlie baker x reader #jack harper x reader #fanfic writing

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27emailsicantsend · 2 years ago

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Set it Up: A Rina AU

Chapter Nine

After leaving the shoe store, Gina caught a cab back to the studio. Her head was spinning from the confusion and lies that had been her reality the last few months. Everything Nini and she built up was going to come crumbling down in a month and the only way she could stop it was by stopping EJ first.

Once the cab approached the studio, Gina sprinted in the door to Ricky's desk. She swooped the calendar under her arm and popped her head into EJ's office. Gina stood in his doorway for a few moments, hoping to catch him before he inevitably destroyed Nini's life, but he wasn't there.

Gina was acting angrily, impulsively. Everything that should have been said to her was put off for months and months with no thought as to how it would affect her. She decided it wasn't worth waiting for EJ. She had all the evidence she needed tucked under her arm, so she raced to the elevator and hit the button to head up to Nini's office.

This once magnificent building suddenly looked bleak to her. The red and black seemed to fade into a maroon and gray. The fluorescent lights felt harsh and irritating. The hallway felt smaller and drab. Gina felt herself never wanting to come back to this forsaken place again.

Making a turn around her desk she ran down the hall to Nini's office. The door was open and EJ was kneeling next to Nini in her desk chair. Panic coursed through Gina as she realized what she might have been interrupting.

"Don't do it!" Gina screamed, horrified looks returned back to her. She approached Nini's desk, scrambling to get Nini not to say yes. "Nini, look I know he's the guy you've been seeing for awhile and you think he is nice, but he really is not. You do not want to get engaged to this man. He's not who he says he is. You said the other day you weren't going to get married to him, please don't change your mind. Let's get out of here-"

"Excuse me?!" Nini and EJ exclaimed in unison.

EJ looked more furious than confused, with Nini looking the vice-versa. EJ stood up from the chair, his tall body sizing up Gina's as he began to lecture her. "How dare you tell me what I can and can't do with my girlfriend. You have no right coming in here and demanding something of your boss. You are just her assistant-"

"-EJ!" Nini cut him off, now looking just as angry. Gina tried to hold back a little smile seeing Nini knock him off his pedestal. "You will not talk to Gina like that! That's not ok!"

"Thank you, Nini. So much-" Gina began, only to be shortly cut off by Nini as well.

"And Gina, you're not out of the doghouse here yet, either. Coming in and telling me what to do with my relationship is also not ok. You know that you're also supposed to knock before you come in, even if my door is open".

Gina could feel herself getting smaller. The courage she had tried so hard to have was going away, again. It was infantilizing. Any ounce of bravery was washed away from Nini's lecture. Gina wondered if maybe Ricky was right. Maybe she never would find the courage because Nini refused to listen to her. Anytime Gina tried to stand up for herself, she was immediately told no, so it was easier to cower. Even now, cowering felt easier.

Regret filled Gina as she began to back out of the room, apologizing profusely. "I am so sorry for doing this. I should have never come. I-I will j-just go back to my work. I'm sorry..."

"Is that Ricky's calendar?" EJ asked, pointing to the calendar still tucked in her arm.

Gina paused, taking a moment to lift her arm up and look at the calendar, before looking at EJ and responding, "Y-yeah... it is. I was just... doing some... planning with it. I'm going to go, though. I'm sorry for wasting your time..."

"M-maybe I should just take it from you..." EJ said suspiciously. Gina's eyebrow raised as he approached her, using his hand to try to pull it from Gina. At first Gina only tugged back a little, but as EJ started to use more force so did she. Quickly she found herself saying, "EJ, stop. Stop! Let go!"

EJ didn't stop trying until Nini upsettingly chimed in, "EJ! Stop it!" This caused EJ to immediately let go and back off.

Nini finally got up from her chair and walked over to the pair of them. Her body language was cross, her arms folded in irritation. Once she reach the two of them she demanded answers. "What is going on?! Both of you? This is so unlike both of you to act this way and we're not leaving this room until we get to the bottom of this".

Gina had a snarky thought about how EJ was definitely always like this pass through her mind, but she remained quiet.

"Gina, I'm sorry for trying to take your calendar. There? Now can we move on?" EJ said, turning his head to give Nini an apologetic look. Gina knew that if EJ had eyes in the back of his head, they would be glaring at her.

And Gina realized that eyes in the back of his head perfectly demonstrated exactly what EJ was: he was two-faced. He acted one way to those he wanted to impress and another to everyone else. It was completely dishonest and lacked integrity. He lacked any sense of morals, no matter how much it continued to hurt those he cared about.

Although Gina realized by cowering to Nini and not coming clean about EJ, she was just as bad as him. And Ricky. Everyone had been two-faced in some way. It made her spine crawl thinking about how, even though she set up EJ and Nini for good reasons, it still was a lie. And she didn't even think about who EJ was, she just cared about herself and getting free time from work. Gina felt like she couldn't even look at herself in the mirror.

And suddenly, the courage she had been waiting for- praying for- finally came. If she wanted to be as brave as Nini, if she wanted to get everything she wanted, she was going to have to say what was on her mind regardless of what anyone else has to say. She was going to have to be honest.

"Nini, EJ is going to fire you after Cabo," Gina said, feeling sucker punched to the stomach after 'Cabo'.

"Gina, don't be ridiculous-" EJ started, but Gina figured if she was brave enough to tell Nini, she was brave enough to talk over EJ. Nini looked a little confused, but remained quiet as thought she was going to hear Gina out.

"I'm not. Nini, I have evidence. He's not who he says he is. He's completely planning on washing you out of the company. Look," Gina opened up the calendar to the next month, when Nini and EJ were supposed to return. "Every one of your recording days is for Carlos only. See?"

Gina flipped through the next few months, pointing out the Monday's sporadically.

"Gina. This doesn't prove anyth-" EJ tried to defend himself again, only to have Gina speak over him unapologetically.

"It proves everything. And if you need more proof, I know about the company going bankrupt. I know no one wanted to work with you and Nini was a last resort because she was rich. I know you're planning on cancelling her CD and her tour, so you can invest the money in Carlos. What I don't understand is why you would have wasted her time and your money recording things you never planned on putting out. Did you even actually record the soundtracks or was that fake too?" Gina reprimanded EJ.

EJ looked like a scared child, doing everything he could to defend himself. Gina would have felt sorry for him, if she wasn't so revolted. Nini remained quiet, but surprisingly didn't look mad. She looked more hurt than anything.

"Nini, honey, you know I would never do that to you. I love you-"

"Oh and him loving you? Total sham too". Gina added, slightly wishing she could take back what she said. But it was too late. She had already set the truth free.

"Huh?" EJ puzzled, definitely not following Gina at this point.

"Everything. This whole thing was-" Gina began to say, when she was interrupted by someone in the doorway behind her.

Gina slowly turned around as she heard Ricky talk.

"A lie. All of it. Gina and I set you two up because we were feeling worked to the bone. We hoped that you would fall in love so we could get more time off. The dates-" Ricky was going to confess everything and just like before, take away Gina's chance at being bold. Brave. She wasn't going to let him this time.

"-the presents, some of the text messages, and so much more. EJ, do you know anything about Nini?" Gina resumed, breaking away her eye contact from Ricky.

"Yeah... she can sing and... dance... and..." EJ began, obviously not knowing what else to say.

"And what else, EJ?" Nini pressed, her arms as cross as she looked. Gina thought she saw a little bit of tears forming in Nini's lower lids, but it could have been an illusion. "What about my favorite dessert? Or where I want to go tour? Or if I want kids? We've talked about all of this".

EJ blinked, his silence filling the room.

After a few seconds of misery, Nini finally spoke again. "I want all of you to leave and never talk to me again. Gina and EJ- you're fired. I'll never work for this terrible company again".

Gina's felt her heart crumble and turn to dust on the floor. She couldn't reply, or move, or breathe. All of her dreams, everything she worked for- gone. Her one chance at Broadway vanquished. It wasn't until she felt EJ and Ricky walk out behind her that she was able to muster up the courage to leave.

Gina wanted to beg, plead, do anything that would let Nini know she was still there for her. That even if she never worked for Nini again, she would be there. But Gina knew that wasn't true. Nini meant what she said and what she said was she never wanted to speak to Gina again.

Exiting the doorway with her head down, Gina heard EJ's voice by her old desk say, "you're fired too" before he angrily exited the room. Gina stood several feet away from Ricky who was first watching his feet, before he slowly looked up and made eye contact with Gina. Ricky's eyes were a story of shame, guilt, denial, and anger... and underneath the anger, a heap of sadness.

The two people standing in the room went from successful, brave, and goal-centered individuals to a pair of plain, humbled humans. Every foot of carpet between them seemed a mile long. It was painstakingly obvious their relationship was done, too.

Gina was the first to end eye contact, swallowing and looking to the side at anything that wasn't Ricky. Ricky almost spoke up, almost tried to make amends, but he couldn't find the words to say. So he walked away, leaving all of their memories behind him.

**********************************************************

The next two weeks were nothing but a blur for Ricky and Gina. Gina had stalked Nini's social media to find that she never went to Cabo (which Gina could have presumed) and EJ still went to Cabo because he made Ricky gather his things from his desk before he left.

As upset and hurt Ricky and Gina were about losing their careers, Ricky tried to find solace in writing music. Lily kept prompting him to write songs about her, but every time he tried, he fell flat. Gina spent the time wandering New York, glumly staring at new Broadway show signs and taking job applications, but only letting them pile up in her room. A couple of times she passed the old taco stand outside of Caswell Records, one of those times being on a Tuesday where she wondered if she would see a tall guy with curly hair waiting for her at the table, but she was greeted with a family of four instead. Gina just kept walking.

Two weeks had somehow turned into two more weeks for Ricky and Gina, both not doing anything more productive than when they first got fired. At this point, Gina found herself not even trying to look for jobs. She would sit and watch endless YouTube videos of people on Broadway, while shoving large scoops of ice cream into her mouth.

On one Saturday in particular, Gina had a giant scoop of Mint Brownie ice cream making it's way toward her mouth when she heard a knock on her apartment door. Gina wasn't expecting any visitors, but she eagerly set the spoon down and opened the door to be greeted by Kourtney.

"Kourt!" Gina exclaimed, so excited to see her best friend again. Kourtney had been busy since the wedding, decorating her new apartment, spending time with Jet, and working that they hadn't really seen each other since the wedding. Gina threw her arms around Kourtney excitedly, before Kourtney made a face and pushed her back a little.

"Gina, I love you, but when was the last time you showered?" Kourtney's concern turned into judgement as she wandered around the apartment she used to reside and saw how messy the place had gotten. There were dishes piled high, wrappers and straws strewn around, and about three empty cartons of ice cream were sitting disfigured outside the trash can. "And what happened to this place?!"

Gina sheepishly looked at Kourtney, knowing there was no excuse good enough to cover up the pig sty she was living in. Gina hadn't told Kourtney she lost her job, wasn't talking to Ricky, and had been slowly wilting away in her apartment over the last month (which could partially be attributed to having a broken A/C in the summer). Gina couldn't help herself, seeing Kourtney's concern and feeling overwhelmed from how bad her life had seemingly crumbled, she began to sob.

Kourtney walked back over to Gina, obviously not caring about her smell, because she embraced Gina in a tight hug and Gina cried. Gina continued to cry for at least a minute before finally pulling back and wiping her wet cheeks with her hoodie's sleeve. Kourtney led her over to the couch where they sat (after moving a pizza box off of it) and Gina told Kourtney everything that had happened.

Once Gina finished reiterating the last four weeks, Kourtney asked, "so you and Ricky...?"

Gina shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "we're probably done for good".

"Ok great!" Kourtney replied enthusiastically, Gina's eyebrow raising in confusion.

"I- I think I'm lost?..." Gina laughed, confusion in her voice.

"I don't mean great you aren't with Ricky, but I do mean great you aren't distracted by a guy any more. Just for the time being! You can do so much with this time, Gi!"

"How? I don't have a job, Nini, anything-"

"Screw the job, Gina! Screw it all! You don't need a job to be on Broadway! Now you have time to rehearse and audition. You don't have to work around someone else's schedule anymore. It's like, the universe's gift to you you got fired!"

Gina never thought of it that way. Kourtney was right- she had been spending her entire last month moping when she could have been going to auditions. Sure, Nini acted like a shortcut- but Gina realized that for most people, there weren't really shortcuts to making it big.

"Ok," Gina responded, a large smile spread across her face.

Kourtney responded back excitedly, "Ok?!"

"Ok!" Gina chirped, standing up. "Let's do this! Let's go get me a role on Broadway!"

The two girls giggled as they ran back to Kourtney's old room (now Gina's office) before looking up local auditions on the computer.

In a different part of the city, Ricky was plucking his guitar strings on his living room couch, trying to find some inspiration for a song. A few times over the last month he thought he was on the verge of writing something meaningful, but every time he did he would start to think of his job- and Gina- and it would become too painful to write that he would give up.

The living room door flew open with Lily excitedly holding a small Armani bag. She skipped over to the couch and sat next to Ricky, giving him a big kiss on the cheek. Ricky smiled, nodding to the bag as he asked, "what's this about?"

Lily bit her lower lip, her eyes wide in anticipation. "Open it!" she clapped happily after handing the bag to Ricky.

Ricky pulled out a small black box with a bow around it. After carefully unfastening the bow, he was able to glide the lid off the bottom. Inside revealed a small bottle of luxury cologne, which Ricky guessed was no cheaper than $100.

"What's this about?" Ricky laughed, opening the cap and spritzing a little on his chest.

"I have an audition this weekend and I asked if I could do my own song. The director said yes! He also said I could bring in someone to play the music for me, so you've got a gig!" Lily reached out and held Ricky's hand, holding it tight. "Look, I know things have not been great between us, especially after losing your job, and I want to make it up to you. The director told me he is looking for musicians for the play and I know it isn't 'global superstardom', but it's something".

Ricky wanted to be touched and excited for the opportunity, but he couldn't find it in him. He tried to write songs for Lily all month, but she wasn't giving him the inspiration he needed. In fact, he would just get mad and give up because usually it was after one of their fights he would try to write. He had been told for years to "write from the pain", but it just turned out to be a pain in the neck.

Even worse, he didn't want the gig Lily was offering. It was sweet she was trying to help, but the thought of him being in another job that would be him working from the bottom to try to make it to his dream job again just felt useless and daunting. It was like moving backwards to him.

But Lily looked sincere and like she was trying to help, so Ricky (with hesitation) agreed to perform for her. She gave him another kiss before leaving the apartment because she had a party to go to. Another one where she didn't invite Ricky.

******************************************************************

"C'mon, let's go!" Kourtney was yelling at Gina from Gina's front doorway. Gina had three auditions to go to in one day and was already 10 minutes behind when the two were planning to leave. Gina asked for Kourtney's moral support to help her get to each audition, because Gina wasn't sure she could find the motivation- or courage- to do it on her own.

Gina took one last look in the mirror before applying some lip gloss. Her hair was in braids tied together in a high ponytail. She had on a white cropped tank top and some high waisted black leggings. She nearly tripped trying to put on her black and white converse before running out the door with Kourtney.

The day was excruciatingly hot for New York City. Yes, it was midsummer, but that didn't make the heat any more tolerable for the girls. A taxi would have taken longer than on foot to get to the first audition, so the girls walked fast to the nearby theater. By the time both girls arrived, they had beads of sweat dotting their hair lines.

The first audition was for an off-Broadway version of Mamma Mia! Because Gina and Kourtney were running late, Gina ended up being one of the last people to audition. After nearly two hours of introductory business and auditions, Gina was finally able to audition.

"Gina Porter?" the director called out, before Gina briskly walked on stage, nearly tripping over her feet on the way to the microphone.

"And what will you be performing for us?" The director asked.

Gina wasn't sure if it was the bright lights, the nerves, or the many, many other auditioners watching her in the audience- but for some reason she couldn't find the words to say. She was immediately filled with regret for ever letting Kourtney talk her into auditioning. Gina wanted to jump off the stage and never return.

But she stayed.

"Gina? What will you be performing for us?" The director asked again, a little annoyance in his tone for making him wait.

Gina stammered her answer, "uh.. um.. The Winner Takes it All... starting at 'it's simple and it's plain'". Gina gripped the microphone, feeling her palm slide on it from the sweat. She didn't remove it from the stand as she looked over her shoulder and nodded to the pianist behind her.

The music started to eventually cue Gina in and before she sang she looked to her left to see Kourtney on the side, nodding her head in encouragement of Gina. That is what Kourtney has been for her for the longest time- her biggest support and encouragement. In that moment, Gina knew that even if she failed miserably, she had someone who still believed in her regardless.

So, Gina took a large gulp and sang from her heart. After singing, she read a few lines (with the director) from the scene between Sophie and Donna when Donna is trying to comfort Sophie and assumes she wants to call off the wedding. Lastly, Gina performed a few beats of a dance number she had been rehearsing (luckily she could use any song she wanted, so she chose an uptempo instrumental) before the director thanked her for her rehearsal.

As the director was making closing remarks to everyone who auditioned, Kourtney stuck her arm in front of Gina's face. They were sitting in the audience listening to the director, when the bright glow of Kourtney's watch alerted Gina that if they didn't leave immediately, they were going to be late for Gina's second audition.

Gina and Kourtney escorted themselves out of the theater quietly before opening the door into the blaring sun. Somehow the day had gotten even hotter, which Gina didn't know was possible. She could feel herself sweating within seconds of being in crowded Manhattan.

Pushing through the massive amounts of people, Kourtney held onto Gina's hand and led her to a nearby subway. The next audition was at least 30 minutes away by subway, so it was going to be the quickest route. However, once the girls got to the subway entrance, there was a barricade saying it was down for maintenance.

Gina was exhausted and felt like she was on the verge of heat stroke, she couldn't even bare the thought of going to where they needed to next on foot.

Nearly in tears, Gina looked at Kourtney sadly before saying, "Kourt, there is no way we're going to make it. This... this has to be a sign... right?"

Kourtney sighed and said, "Yeah... it is a sign..."

Gina was actually caught off guard that Kourtney was agreeing with her. Gina was about to acknowledge her surprise but Kourtney finished her sentence before Gina could say anything.

"A sign for us not to give up! Gina you worked way too hard to let one silly little Subway block keep you from going!"

"But Kourt... it's so hot out- I feel like a melted popsicle. And then there is the fact that even if we went on foot, I will probably miss the audition by the time we get there. A taxi is going to get stuck in this crazy traffic... which is unusually busy for New York City... I just..." Gina whined, feeling distraught and overwhelmed.

Kourtney grabbed Gina by the shoulders and shook her, making Gina's eyes widen.

"You! Are! Going!" Kourtney gave Gina a shake between each word. "We will sprint in this heat and I am right there with you. And you know I would never do anything to ruin my clothes, but I will do it for you because you deserve to do something for yourself for once, Gi! Do you really want to waste what could potentially be the role to your dream career for some heat and a dumb sign?"

"... No..."

"And do you want to waste this time that you somehow miraculously got from being fired? Don't let Nini's secret gift to you be wasted".

Holding back the tears that were trying to escape from her eyes, Gina nodded with a half smile. Kourtney quickly said "good" and the girls began to run down the street.

Thankfully, about half an hour into jogging, the traffic let up and the girls were able to hail a cab. It still got stuck in traffic for about twenty extra minutes, but it was a lot quicker than the probable hour it would have taken to get to the audition on foot.

The girls walked into the building that held the theater and could hear someone's muffled audition from behind the theater doors. A kind lady, about in her forties, was sitting at a table with a clipboard and some nametags. She assisted Gina in getting her audition nametag and the two quietly entered the back of the audience toward the end of the audition from the girl that was currently on stage.

Gina clapped nonchalantly until she heard the director call a name. "Lily Keegan?" Gina's felt the entire room shrink three times it's size as she watched an all-too-familiar blonde walk on stage. She and Kourtney both looked at each other in shock.

"Out of all the auditions in New York today..." Gina murmered, glancing around the room and praying she wouldn't see him.

But he walked on stage shortly after Lily took her place in front of the microphone, flattening her bright yellow skirt. Gina wasn't surprised by Lily's attire- they were auditioning for Beauty and the Beast after all. Gina shrunk in her chair as Kourtney placed her arm around Gina's shoulders and pulled her close. Gina was grateful she didn't have to endure this alone.

"My name is Lily Keegan and I will be singing an original this handsome guy wrote..." Lily began in a confident (and slightly arrogant) tone, "... well for me".

Lily gave a playfully knowing wink to the director and began to sing. As much as she didn't want to pay attention to him, Gina thought she saw Ricky roll his eyes. Or maybe he didn't. She didn't care.

The song was a ballad accompanied by a smooth melody from Ricky's guitar. The song started off normal, things about "not believing their eyes" when the singer noticed the person across the room the first time and "holding tight to the memories made". The kind of music Gina used to love before Ricky ruined love for her.

A nice prechorus, then a smaller chorus (Gina had an instinct the song would grow as the writer's love continued to grow stronger... and Gina had no idea how Ricky wrote that about Lily). But then, there was a line about a dance club that didn't seem quite right. Sitting at a table with the love interest in the back of the room- Gina couldn't remember him sitting with Lily. And then another line about wishing he could make things right again with the only person who ever really understood him. And then another line about eating tacos on busy streets.

That last one caused Gina and Kourtney to snap their heads at each other.

"I can't believe he wrote a song about me! And made Lily sing it!" Gina shoved the glass door leading back to the street open, fuming. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she tried to make sense out of why Ricky could do something like that in front of her, right before she had to audition.

"What did he do that for?!" Gina continued angrily as her pace hastened going down the street. She wasn't even sure where she was going. She just had to get far, far away.

"Gi," Kourtney grabbed Gina's shoulder and pulled her back with a sigh. "Look at me".

Gina shamefully looked at Kourtney, mascara ruining her foundation she meticulously put on that morning. Gina wanted to look perfect in the stage lighting without the help of stage makeup.

Kourtney held the sides of Gina's face as she wiped the tears with her thumbs. "I don't know why he decided to write that, but letting some boy ruin your chances at getting everything you want... it's not worth it. I have known you for so long, Gi. If there is anything you aren't, it's a quitter. So you're going to march back in there and audition! He's probably gone by now anyway. The site where we signed up said you don't have to stay after you audition".

"But he knows I was there, Kourt! What if he's waiting behind the curtain to... I don't know... ambush me?!"

"Listen, I know you're hurting, but you don't need to be delusional," Kourtney tilted her head like a concerned parent. "You know those stage lights are really bright and we were sitting in the very back where it was dark. I doubt he saw us-"

Just then, Gina heard the same whiny, shrill voice behind her begging for a conversation.

"Ricky, please! Can we just talk about this?" Lily walked out fast, chasing behind Ricky who was walking in the same anger Gina had moments ago. "Babe, it's not what you think. Listen, we can work this out... I swear!"

Gina's fight-or-flight instincts kicked in quick as she bolted back into the building. Ricky had his back turned to her and the last thing she wanted was for him to see her.

"Well, this is convenient," Kourtney smirked. "Look where we are!"

Gina rolled her eyes but had to admit it was pretty funny. The one thing keeping her from auditions chased her right back in. Knowing that fight outside was probably going to last and that Kourtney was right- Gina shouldn't let some tall, curly haired man dictate her life- Gina grabbed Kourtney's arm and dragged her back into the theater with a "come on".

*********************************************************************

Ricky and Lily were gathering their things and walking off the stage after Lily's Beauty and the Beast audition. Ricky wrote the song hoping that Lily wouldn't realize it wasn't for her and it worked! Yes, they did only have tacos once from a street vendor- to which Lily spit them out and said some horrific things that Ricky refused to ever repeat- but Lily believed the song was for her and that was enough for him.

Ricky couldn't help writing it. He had no inspiration for months, but heartbreak sure had a way of giving him the words he needed. The advice of "writing from the pain" wasn't a lie, he was just writing about the wrong person. After his fight with Gina, he became a song writing machine.

But sneaky song writing aside, what Ricky last expected to see was Gina Porter walking out of the theater after he finished helping Lily with her audition. Ricky wondered how she even knew he was there? And why did she come if she wasn't going to talk to him after?

It was puzzling, but not as puzzling as the many, many messages lighting up Lily's phone. Ricky could only see previews, but countless men were sending her messages.

"Hey babe, do you think we could..."

"I just knew you would look hot in that...."

"What are you doing tonight? I have..."

And more and more and more like this.

"Oh Ricky, that song was so wonderful! I-"

"Lily, what is this?!" Ricky held up Lily's phone, it continuing to light up her face in the dark backstage.

"Just some annoying guys, Ricky. I promise. I've told them to leave me alone," Lily replied, a little panicked.

Ricky wanted to believe her. Wanted to trust her. But he had seen her constantly flirting with other guys in front of him, they'd been fighting like this basically since they started dating, Ricky couldn't take it anymore. The camel's back was about to break.

"Show me".

"Wha- wha- what do you mean?" Lily stammered, her doe eyes and pointed nose barely showing up in the lights reflecting from the stage.

"Show. Me. Open up your phone right now and show me the rest of the messages from these guys," Ricky demanded, his arms crossed like an angry dad.

"Oh Ricky... baby... you don't really need to see that? Do you? Why can't you just trust-"

"Lily, I'm not kidding. Show me now".

Lily complied as she shakily used her face to unlock the phone. Her hand was trembling as she handed the bright screen over, more text messages flashing in and out at the top of the screen. The number count of the messages rapidly growing.

Ricky opened up the first message he could see from some guy named Brad. They had just had a lunch date the week before.

Then another one from a Steven. They were sending each other flirty pictures and a lot of romantic emoji's.

Then another from Ethan. She had asked him on a date for tomorrow.

And more and more and more.

"We're done," Ricky said, no remorse. He didn't know why it took him this long to get a backbone to Lily. He didn't know if it was because he finally learned how to take charge of other people who ran him over (EJ) or because he saw Gina in the audience or because he was tired of being lied to. He just knew he was done with Lily and this relationship.

Ricky handed the phone back to Lily and began to walk outside using the back exit of the stage. Behind him he heard Lily whimpering, begging for him to just "hear her out".

"Ricky, please! Can we just talk about this?" Lily yelled behind him as the daybreak finally hit his eyes.

"Babe, it's not what you think. Listen, we can work this out... I swear!" Lily called, trying to get him to turn around. He knew she would be fine in about two hours on her date with Samuel.

Lily took one last shot at Ricky, probably hoping this would teach him a lesson. "Ok and what about Gina? You're going to tell me all of your time with her wasn't cheating? That you don't have feelings for her?"

Ricky turned around to make one last comment, putting Lily in her place once and for all. "It wasn't. And yeah, Lily. I do!"

Ricky flailed his arms to his sides with his admittance before he turned around and continued to walk away. Lily was stunned at first, but then started to yells please again. They became white noise as Ricky's walk turned into a jog which turned into a run, making the noises from her mouth eventually fade into into traffic and bystander sounds.

He was free.

***************************************************************

Nini: Gina, I found something you left at Caswell Records. Do you think you could meet me there?

It had been about a couple weeks since the auditions and Gina had received callbacks for every single one. What she wasn't expecting was a callback from Nini. After how poorly everything ended, Gina's stomach felt like it had lurched a thousand miles down reading the message. But Gina had nothing to lose this time, so she replied.

Gina: Sure, where and when?

Nini: How about in an hour? Where my old office was?

Gina: I'll be there.

Gina took one last look in the mirror to make sure outfit was up to Nini's standards. As much as things went south with Nini, Gina still wanted to "dress to impress". Gina still had respect for her at the end of the day and it was important she showed that. Gina had on a short pink dress dotted with flowers, her usual white converse to match. Her hair was flowing with braids she had created the night before.

Gina's heart pounded as she approached Caswell Records. With each step she took the elevator, memories of the last several months flooded her mind. Listening to Nini record music that would never be released, Carlos making awkward conversation in the elevator, the time a baby got dropped off (she couldn't help it- this made her giggle), playing long rounds of chess with...

Gina shook her head. He was in the past and so was this place. She was going to take what she needed to get and never return.

Gina walked into Nini's old office- this time without knocking. Nini was sitting behind her old desk as though this was still her career. The same authoritative demeanor in her body language.

"Gina, take a seat". Nini's body language didn't match her voice. Gina was caught off guard by how soft and polite Nini sounded. Apparently Gina wasn't the only one who had changed over the last month and a half.

"Look, you know I'm not one to give apologies because they aren't necessary-"

There's the old Nini, Gina thought.

"But I do give second chances. Gina, I'm planning on creating my own recording label. I act like my own boss, but continue to let other people boss me around. Treat me- Nini- like dirt! I mean, who am I?!"

Gina stood awkwardly as she didn't have a response to this existential crisis Nini was apparently starting to have.

"Um.. anyway..." Nini began again, recomposing herself. "I need you again. You were so good and I didn't appreciate you enough. You kept things afloat and I need someone with your intelligence and organization to keep the show running. I'll even let you stay my back-up dancer and give you a huge raise. What do you say?"

Nini was offering Gina everything she had spent years for. Everything she was working toward so she could eventually make it to Broadway. But Nini was the long route. She was the difficult road Gina chose to travel because she didn't believe in herself.

Now that Gina made it to callbacks, she wasn't going back. Working for Nini would be going in the opposite direction of her dreams, even if it was less risky.

"Nini, I am so thankful I got to work for you. That I got to learn and develop so many skills from you. But the most important skill you taught me and are teaching me all over again in this moment- is that I've got to fly on my own. Thanks for pushing me out of the nest," Gina kindly responded with a soft, closed-mouth smile.

"I understand... and honestly had a feeling you would say no. But it didn't hurt to try did it?" Nini smiled back.

This was one of the only times Nini had ever smiled at Gina. Nini was kind and showing affection? Gina thought she was in a dream.

"Nah," Gina grinned back. She stood for a moment in silence before remembering why she agreed to meet up with Nini in the first place. "Hey, what was that thing I left here?"

Nini's eyes widened in shock, almost like she had misplaced the items. Nini frantically looked around her desk and in the drawers until she pulled something out: the rubberband ball. She tossed it to Gina and Gina caught it with ease.

Gina raised an eyebrow suspiciously before asking, "this is it?"

"Yeah... yup..." Nini stammered. Gina was even more confused by Nini's mannerisms because she wasn't showing confidence now either. Something was up.

"This isn't even mine Nini... it was..."

"Bowen's. I know. I just thought you might still hang out with him and that he might like it back".

"Well... I appreciate the gesture, but..." Gina started, flicking one of the bands uncomfortably. "He and I don't... we don't really..."

"Just keep it," Nini urged. "You might see him again one day".

Gina smiled and wished Nini the best before heading down the elevator, past EJ's lounge, and back outside.

Gina used the ball to push the heavy door open and turned to walk back to her apartment, past the taco stand.

Waiting with a large, boyish grin was none other than Ricky Bowen. He had on a blue button up and jeans, black and white converse, and his curls were the tightest they'd been yet. He looked... casual. Not the usual strung-up, straight-laced man Gina remembered.

But she thought this look was so much better on him. It suited him.

"Hey," Gina casually walked up, holding up the rubber band ball and shaking it in her hand.

She placed it gently in Ricky's palm before joking, "for you".

Ricky bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back a chuckle. But he failed as he flicked the same band Gina had earlier.

"Right... my 'toys'. Can't ever forget those," Ricky smiled.

It was hard not to melt at the sight of Ricky's grin. Gina hadn't seen that smile from him in months and she missed it like she missed Christmas Day. It wasn't new- it was a reminder of the way things had been.

Nostalgia eating her alive, Gina couldn't help but ask, "and can I ask why you're here on Taco Tuesday?"

"C'mon Gi," Ricky teased, Gina's heart fluttering. She wished she could put her hand on it to make it stop. "You know I wouldn't miss Taco Tuesday for anything".

"... where's Lily?" Gina couldn't help it. Curiousity got the best of her.

"Oh, she's probably off with Nick. Or Branden. Or Jarrod." Ricky replied apathetically.

"You two aren't together anymore then?" Gina tried hard to tame her excitement, but she knew some of it seeped through her words.

Ricky laughed again, causing another flutter to Gina's heart. "No, we're not. We broke up after the Beauty and the Beast audition".

"You did?! I didn't hear that-" Gina's excitement tore through and there was no coming back. But then she realized what she had done: admitted that she was there. "-I-I mean... I didn't know she had an audition..."

"I saw you walk out when she was singing," Ricky dryly confessed.

"Well, remember? I do have one of those faces you never forget," Gina retorted with a sly wink.

Ricky had to pull himself together, even a wink from Gina Porter could send him under. He had it bad for her and he knew it. The two stood in silence that was no greater than the tension between them.

"But, yeah, we did break up," Ricky rushed the words out, trying to ignore what the sight of Gina was doing to him. "And I had... shouted something on the road that I didn't think someone would hear..."

Now Gina was lost. She had no idea what Ricky was talking about.

"I'm sorry, Ricky... I wish I was following?..." Gina edged her words, trying to get Ricky to explain what he was saying better.

"I think Nini 'Parent-Trapped' us," Ricky finally explained. "I think she wants us to get back together".

As much as Gina wanted to make amends and stop fighting with him, she couldn't. He lied so much to her and Nini and caused both of their heartbreaks. It was time for Gina to go.

"I-I'm sorry. This was a bad idea," Gina stammered before turning around to walk away.

Gina began her exit when she heard Ricky say something she was expecting least of all, "Nini heard me say I had feelings for you after the auditions. She told me to try to get you back, but I said it wasn't worth it because you were probably still so mad at me. But I did ask her if she could pull some strings for you, so at the very least you could be happy".

Gina was still turned around, but she was listening. And maybe that was enough of a win for Ricky.

"I told her that I didn't care if I ever had a job again or ever talked to you again, as long as you got onto Broadway. She said she would offer you a job or if you really felt like you wanted to invest your time into it, she would help you pay your rent until you got a role".

"Why didn't she tell me all of that a few minutes ago when I was with her? She only offered me the job, but no rent," Gina replied, walking slowly back toward Ricky.

"Because she wanted you to make the decision. To see if you believed in yourself enough to choose the scarier option, without knowing about the rent-help first".

Ricky believed in her, believed in her ability to make it. Ricky knew her like the back of his hand. Ricky wrote that song for her. Ricky stayed late and sacrificed his time to work on stupid schemes with her. As he reminisced on times past, Gina's bitterness and resentment started to melt away in the summer heat.

"Then why are you here? If you said you were ok with me never talking to you again?"

"Ahh... that. Did you get a text saying you left something here too? I've been waiting for Nini to come down. That's why I think she 'Parent-Trapped' us. She asked for my number after talking to me after the audition the other day. This made no sense because there no way Nini Salazar-Roberts would want my number. She was able to help you on her own," Ricky chuckled.

"You're right. She wouldn't want your number, because," Gina said, taking a small step closer to Ricky. She took a deep breath and continued, "you lied when it mattered most. You can't take care of a baby if your life depended on it. And please, for everyone's sake, don't become a professional dancer".

Ricky's face pulled back in confusion. He thought Gina would be thankful for everything he did. Her smile grew wider with every insult. He was not expecting that response.

And then it clicked. The wedding.

"You do a goofy dance every time you're excited. You think office supplies are toys. You waited what felt like... forever to break up with a guy you were not interested in". Another step closer from Ricky.

Gina giggled as she sassed, "you're one to talk". Gina inched forward.

"And yet," Ricky responded, knowing what Gina would say next. Another step.

"And yet," She echoed, taking one more step as she had to look up so their faces met.

Ricky grabbed the back of Gina's head and pulled it up softly toward him, kissing her. Their lips met in a shock of electricity, unforgettable moments and undeniable tension building up to this. Every heartache, lie, and resentment vanished between them as the seconds ticked outside that old taco stand.

After the kiss, Ricky pulled back, still holding Gina's face close.

"I just can't believe she set us up," Ricky bemused, his face equally perplexed.

Gina laughed as she responded, "just shut up and kiss me, Ricky Bowen," before pulling him back in for another.

#hsmtmts #high school musical the musical the series #rina #ricky bowen #gina porter #ricky x gina #set it up #set it up au #charlie x harper

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