IT WAS the last day of school before Christmas vacation.

Miss. Jenn had gathered the theater department altogether in order to make a special video for East High's newest Instagram page.

The production of High School Musical had been more than successful. Of course, they had several bumps on the way there, but nonetheless, their show had drawn in more people wanting to join the spring musical and the drama department altogether.

After refilming the video (because Miss. Jenn hadn't been recording the first time), she gather the department together with a box by her side.

"Before everyone leaves. I was able to get copies of the Love Club's magazine feature." Miss. Jenn smiled.

The day the club had heard that this big time teen magazine wanted to interview them they couldn't believe it. They also couldn't believe that they were the main topic at hand. They were going to be on the cover and have several pages dedicated to them.

Miss. Jenn picked up a magazine from the box, showing the cover to the department. The applause hadn't died down since Miss. Jenn brought up the fact she was able to get the magazines beforehand. How she got them? Probably the same place she got her teaching license.

"They mentioned me in here." Miss. Jenn smiled, "Grab a magazine and have a wonderful holiday break!"

Ricky Bowen grabbed a copy of the magazine and stepped away from the people crowding the box.

Shiloh Molina wasn't allowed to talk about what she talked about in the interview. She legally couldn't according to the people at the shoot... but maybe that was just to scare her.

He flipped the magazine to Shiloh's spread (of course he would read the others, but it was his girlfriend) and read over what she had talked about in the interview. She had mentioned everyone it seemed. From Dylan Lapids, EJ Caswell, Miss. Jenn, and Ricky, addressing him as, "my very odd, kind of shocking, can make me laugh, stupidly handsome boyfriend." her actual words, not his.

"Can you get an autograph for me?"

Ricky looked up from his magazine and looked back over his shoulder.

Nini Salazar-Roberts held her magazine in front of her face, she held a very wide smile across her face.

Ricky and Nini had become closer as friends since the musical had ended. Nini had gotten into the Youths Actor Conservatory or YAC for short and was leaving a couple of days after the New Year.

Ricky smiled, "I'm sure she would love to sign it."

"They really made sure to mention everyone, didn't they?"

"I heard Jenna tried to mention everything, but they cut her short."

"How do you feel about everything?" Nini asked, "Shiloh Molina isn't East High's little secret anymore. A lot of people know who she is... and maybe know you."

Shiloh never mentioned that Ricky was her boyfriend in anything. She didn't know how comfortable or uncomfortable he was with the sudden name drop. But if you read what she said thoroughly you could connect the dots and figure out that they were together.

"Never thought of it that way." Ricky sighed, "If Shiloh feels good about everything, then... I see no problem."

"That's great." Nini smiled, "I couldn't imagine having that many eyes on me. Or being in a magazine. It almost seems-"

"Too fast?"

"I was going to say crazy... but fast is also something. We wouldn't know how anyone feels unless we ask them, you know."

Ricky nodded slowly, "There's Evie. I'm going to try and get an autograph. I'll see you soon, Ricky." Nini smiled.

He watched as Nini tried to catch up to Evie.

Ricky flipped his magazine back open and began to make his way over towards the Love Club.

Ricky remembered that Shiloh had mentioned that the people there wanted them to spill whatever they could and talk about everything they felt like they couldn't.

She wasn't going to do that. None of them were. Shiloh didn't mention the fight she and Ricky had during tech rehearsals, she didn't mention the anxiety she felt when it was opening night, and she didn't mention how she felt while trying to figure her emotions out... to full extent.

They felt like it was a lot to take in for their first really big interview. They felt like it was a lot in general. They didn't know if the people would twist their words or fabricate anything, but they didn't. They actually sat there and listened to what each of them had to say.

The reason they mentioned the drama department and Miss. Jenn was because if it wasn't for them, they wouldn't have gotten the spot for the magazine anyway.

The Love Club had now been seen countywide, statewide, and maybe even globally, but none of the members knew that Miss. Jenn even had the magazines.

He softly knocked on the club door before entering inside. As he had promised, he finally got around to helping Shiloh decorate the club room for the spring semester.

Shiloh stood on top of a chair staring at the blank wall in front of her.

Shiloh looked down at her boyfriend before looking back up at the wall.

"Staring contest."

"Haha." She sighed, jumping down from the chair, "Principal Gutierrez wanted one of the walls clear. Said something about a surprise when we get back from break. Crazy how much he cares about us once we start making big news you know."

"Has he seen the magazine yet?"

Shiloh grabbed her box off of the floor and put it on the table. She turned and faced Ricky and placed her hands on the table behind her.

"I haven't even seen it. So, I don't know how he would."

Ricky held the magazine up and Shiloh looked at it with wide eyes.

"Oh, my God." She smiled, taking the magazine from his hands, and looked over at the cover.

"You should read the part where you called me stupidly handsome."

Shiloh playfully rolled her eyes and hit him with the magazine.

"I would like my copy not damaged, please. I need it signed."

Shiloh smiled and handed him the magazine back. She picked her bag off of the floor and faced him again.

"Make it out to your stupidly handsome boyfriend, would ya?"

"Are you being serious?"

"I'm proud of you." He smiled.

Shiloh dug around in her backpack for a Sharpie. She finally found one and quickly wrote a message on the front of his magazine, right under her picture.

"To my stupid boyfriend. Love Shiloh." Ricky read, "You left out handsome."

Shiloh threw one arm around Ricky's neck, "Thank you for the support, my very, very handsome boyfriend."

"See, now this time you forgot stupid, my very, very beautiful girl."

Shiloh smiled and Ricky took the opportunity to scoop down and kiss her. The kiss he initiated was firmer, more passionate. It was such a tiny, brief, casual kiss.

Ricky broke the kiss first, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Anything. You know that."

"Still up for my place for Christmas?"

Shiloh smiled, "Of course. Wouldn't miss it."

CHRISTMAS HAD come a lot faster than what Shiloh or Ricky would've thought. It seemed that they were just at school yesterday and now here they are at Ricky's celebrating the supposedly happy holiday.

Things had been very different for both of them. Home wise that is.

Ricky had found out literally seconds before Shiloh arrived that he had to move from his childhood home.

To say he was shaken up was an understatement.

Shiloh on the other hand still had this very full house that she lived in and it just seemed like her personal space was being invaded more so than usual.

Her sisters coming in and out of her room at night, her brothers asking for rides to the park, her sisters sitting on her bed in the mornings scaring her half to death.

Ricky and Shiloh seemed to be on the opposite sides of things when it came to their current household living situations, but that was a discussion for later.

Right now, Shiloh had been outside the Bowen household for a couple of minutes.

She had been there a handful of times. She hadn't been able to properly meet his mother Lynne Bowen. They couldn't even say they met at all. It was a quick glance at the musical and a short awkward conversation to be added.

But from how highly Ricky talked about Shiloh before and after dating, both of his parents were happy that he had found someone new. Someone that could possibly help him see that not all change was a bad thing.

Shiloh kicked the snow around her and quickly became distracted. Truly was she needed to be at the moment.

The soon door swung open and Ricky stepped out. He donned a small smile and shut the door behind him.

"Merry Christmas." She smiled.

Ricky held a small smile, "Merry Christmas."

"You don't sound so jolly. What's up?"

Ricky let out a deep breath before pointing up. Shiloh followed and let out a breathy laugh as the two of them stared up at the mistletoe hanging above.

"You're funny."

"I think I've gotten a lot funnier while dating you."

"As you should." She smiled, "Never date a guy who can't make you laugh."

She lightly grabbed his face, turning it slightly, and kissed him on the cheek, "Merry Christmas."

"That's it?"

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" She questioned, "You know you can tell me anything."

Ricky watched as Shiloh's eyes bounced around; trying to find some answer to her question.

"I promise I'm fine. Nothing to even worry about."

Shiloh puckered her lips. She wasn't satisfied with his answer. Not really knowing if he was lying or not. She pushed the thought to the side as she reached up, taking her thumb and rubbing over the high point of Ricky's cheek. She began to lean towards him and he quickly followed her movements.

She sighed happily and nuzzled into Ricky's chest. One thing Ricky always noticed about Shiloh was, no matter the circumstance, she always smiled when the two of them kissed.

"You know what I want? Hot chocolate." Shiloh smiled.

Ask and she shall receive. Shiloh watched as the marshmallows dance around in her hot chocolate. She rather have the marshmallows get super soggy before tasting the drink.

"What's that?" Ricky asked.

Shiloh looked up and over at the box beside her, "Merry Christmas." She smiled.

Shiloh was very into Christmas. It was her first Christmas with a boyfriend and she was ecstatic about it.

She set her mug down and handed the box over.

"It's okay if you hate it."

Ricky looked up with furrowed brows, "I'm not going to hate it."

"You don't know what it is."

"I'm not going to hate it." He reassured.

Ricky opened the small box to reveal a necklace. A dog tag one to be specific. His finger brushing over the engraved text.

"The club room is my space. You know, with how loud it is at my place... sometimes I can't think or do anything. The club room has always been my space to just sit and think or do whatever and now I can do that with you." She explained, "R and S. Me and you. My person. My stupidly handsome boyfriend." She smiled.

Ricky's small smile never leaving his face as he ran his finger back and forth over the text. My stupid boyfriend, it read.

"But if you hate it, I most likely can't return it, so I'll just stick it away. In a very tall place."

"What made you think I would hate this?" He asked, putting the necklace on.

"I don't know. It was a last minute gift... sorta. I got you this first." Shiloh grabbed the skateboard from behind her, "You gave me your old skateboard to practice on after I scarred my knee and I felt bad just taking it so, but I was trying so hard not to cry, so you practically begged that I take it, so I got you a new one. Also, I found this Love Club sticker on Redbubble which probably has nothing to do with our club, but the Lorde song, but it's still pretty cool."

She passed the skateboard over to him. Ricky didn't say anything as he held it in his hands and brushed over the sticker.

"Oh, my God. You hate it. Um, I'm sure I can... stick this in a high place and get something different."

"No, it's just that, um, the first gift, that like, I can remember unwrapping under the tree is a skateboard from my mom."

Shiloh sighed, "I'm sorry. I... I didn't know."

"Can't know what I didn't tell you." He smiled softly, "Don't worry about it. I love the gifts. Thank you."

"Ricky-"

"No, it's just the... You know, first Christmas without her. But you're here." Ricky smiled, taking her hand and kissing it lightly, "So, listen, I know money's kind of been tight lately."

Ricky dropped Shiloh's hand and grabbed his guitar.

"I've owed you a song for a while now. So... This is your gift. I, uh... I hope it fits, 'cause you can't return it."

Shiloh smiled as Ricky's song flowed around the room. The small strumming of the guitar, the bright smile on her face, with the added mixture of the fireplace crackling was indeed the perfect gift.

"You know, a guy has never written a song about me before."

"Oh, really."

"Really. Ricky, that was incredible. It really means a lot."

"Thanks. I gotta stay in fighting shape for the Spring Musical, am I right? I honestly can't wait to do it all over again. And I'm never walking off stage in the middle of a show again. Because this, us..." Ricky paused, grabbing Shiloh's hands again, "It's like the one thing, the one thing I can always count on. You're my home."

"Of course, Mr. Troy Bolton. I like where we are. I wouldn't change that."

"Me either."

As the two of them began leaning forward, Ricky paused, "I almost forgot."

Ricky held onto Shiloh's one hand and grabbed his old guitar from behind him, "My dad got me a new-ish one for Christmas, so I'm giving this one to you."

Shiloh held her mouth agape as she held the instrument in her hands, "Is this the one that you taught me how to play Breaking Free on?"

"Guilty."

"You better watch out, Mr. Music Man. Soon I'll be writing songs about you."

"I'll believe it when you can tell me the chords."

Shiloh playfully scoffed and hit his shoulder, "Okay... I still need practice, but I'm getting there. Watch."

"I don't doubt that."

Ricky leaned forward and kissed Shiloh softly. Whether or not they knew it, they were always in sync. They knew how they felt and they knew that each of them could see right through each other. That's how they worked. And they weren't planning on changing that anytime soon.

- lucy has something to say!!

is the love club blowing up unrealistic? maybe but i don't care 🤪

omg ricky and shiloh stay kissing each other 😫

they really dropped the ricky skateboarder arc... bring it back

bought joshua bassett merch 🤩

sometimes i do cringe at my own writing which is fine

I'm running out of memes of the show someone help

bye :))))