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RICKY'S POV

"Go talk to her!" Big Red tried to convince me, as I stared at Y/N who had her back to me practicing the 'Stick to the Status Quo' dance number in front of Carlos.

"No, man! I can't do that!" I sputtered in a tremulous tone as I paced around the classroom filled with the rest of the drama kids. "C'mon man, we both know you have close to zero chance with her, but dude you have to try!" Big Red smiled brightly and sent me a petulant look.

"Thanks man, that helped a lot." I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him as I observed Y/N as she began to get frustrated with herself as she attempted the jazz and ballet move again.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I noticed how she moved so gracefully and powerfully, yet never seemed satisfied with herself.

Y/N'S POV

"Carlos, are you sure i'm doing it right?" I inquire, motioning towards my feet.

When Carlos convinced me to 'help out' with the musical a month ago, I thought he meant being a part of the crew and helping out Kourtney with costumes or assisting Big Red and the technical team, not turning into a whole ballerina!

"Y/N, you're doing it way better than all the other dancers and you've been practicing the number the most, yet you give yourself zero credit for all the effort you give!"

I nodded and looked down at my sneakers. "Thanks, Carlos. I'm just going to run it again one more time. I think Seb is waiting for you, go to him!" I gesture towards the table near the back of the classroom where Seb was sitting with a couple of friends.

"Just don't overwork yourself." Carlos advised, glancing at me with concerned eyes. I nodded repeatedly and he rushed away towards Seb. I kicked off my sneakers for reasons unknown and hit the replay button on the speaker.

I counted the beats up till I received the cue. My socks gave me more speed as I attempted the pirouettes again, and I found myself slowly losing balance.

RICKY'S POV

"Just go talk to her! Look! Carlos just left to talk to Seb, this is your chance." Big Red nudged my shoulder. I shook my head anxiously, biting my nails. "What do I even say?"

"Dude, just flirt with her! Use those lines we found on google!" Big Red exclaimed, patting my shoulder reassuringly.

I swallowed and nodded. While I approached her I watched her reset the music and practice the routine all over again.

She turned around in her socks attempting a pirouette and began to slip against the cold vinyl tile as she lost her balance.

My eyes went wide and with the speed of light, I caught her as she fell, wrapping my arms around her waist and shoulders.

"Shit."

I panted slightly, relieved that I managed to catch her. My eyes met Y/N's and our glances lingered until reality seemingly caught up with her brain and she cleared her throat and fixated her eyes away from mine as she stood up.

"Thanks, Ricky. I don't know what I was thinking trying to practice the number in my socks." She peered down at her bright blue socks with small yellow ducks on them, her cheeks turning an embarrassing shade of pink.

"It's fine. I like your socks." I compliment her politely, a sudden wave of confidence rushing through me.

Remember your pick-up lines, Ricky!

"I- Uh, so.. are you a camera, because every time I look at you I smile." I grinned widely. "What?" Y/N furrowed her eyebrows. What was I doing?

"Um, let me try again." I muttered, rubbing my palms (which were growing clammy) against my dark jeans. I'm beginning to realise what I did wrong; walking over here in the first place! I knew I shouldn't have listened to Big Red, but unfortunately I already did. There was no turning back, I had already opened my big mouth.

Okay... plan B! Wait.. we didn't make a plan B!

My eyes widened as I remembered one of the pick-up lines I had rehearsed with Big Red. "If you were a vegetable, you'd be a cucumber. Oh wait! I mean a cutecumber."

Y/N's expression did not falter, while my previous smile was long gone at this point. I could practically feel my confidence leaving my body as fast as it arrived.

After several moments of silence between us both,
Y/N's face softened and her eyebrows which were previously stitched together separated as she came to realisation of the current situation.

"Ricky, are you trying to flirt with me?" Y/N inquired, attempting to ease the tension from before with a light chuckle. Y/N had always found Ricky attractive, she just assumed he was still obsessed over Nini.

At this point she had forgotten all about the music, her socks, and everything happening around us. She was focused on me. A couple minutes ago that would've been the greatest thing ever. Her, me, the only thing on our minds being each other, just not in this context. Now, I wish I could just crawl into a hole and forget this even happened.

"Uh, yes?" My response came out more as a question than an answer. I was 100% sure my cheeks were probably tomato red by now, but that was the least of my worries.

Y/N brushed off my unsure answer and chuckled with ease. It was as if all my confidence had been transmitted into her body.

"You really need to work on that."

"I know." I laughed and looked down at my worn out Vans, relieved that she didn't find me to be a total weirdo and was still speaking to me.

This was a miracle. By now, the song had ended, and now a random Harry Styles song that was on shuffle was playing on the speaker.

"Maybe I could help you practice sometime?" Her words made my head snap up immediately, my gleaming eyes meeting hers. I wore an excited, cheesy smile on my face and nodded spontaneously, unable to utter words.

She was really good at flirting.

I should've stayed silent, but once the words popped into my brain they spilled out of my mouth. "I lost my number. Could I have yours?"

Y/N rolled her eyes, trying her hardest not to smile and keep a serious face. "C'mere." She motioned for me to follow her and she walked over to her navy blue backpack and reached into a small pocket and pulled out a pen.

"Hold out your arm." I obliged and pulled up my hoodie sleeve and allowed her to write on my forearm. I tried my hardest not to squirm as the ballpoint pen began to tickle my skin.

"There. I'll see you when I see you." She winked before the bell rang and she abruptly turned around and walked out of the drama room, leaving me absolutely frozen, speechless.

I looked down at my arm. I noticed under her phone number she had written a small note.

If you think i'm good at flirting now, wait until you flirt with me over the phone <3

I could feel my cheeks heat up again. I slowly turned around to Big Red, who's face was just as surprised as mine. He put two thumbs up and I shook my head jokingly before picking up my backpack and walking out of the classroom as well, a giant grin tattooed on my face.

N O T E !
when y/n fell i got teen beach movie vibes
i cant explain it i wish i could delete it now💀