Archive of Our Own ^beta

EJ has never met anyone like Gina.

Not in an otherworldly, romantic kind of way (although he was starting to feel that too). Rather, in a genuine, honest way. There is no one like her.

He supposes that’s true for most people. There’s no one like Carlos, or Kourtney or even Ashlyn. The difference between his friends and Gina is that she is constantly surprising him.

He won’t lie, after the whole homecoming debacle, he kind of thought he had Gina figured out. She was an ambitious, show stealing wonderstudy. In other words, she was exactly like him.

Except he’s not that guy anymore. And she’s not that girl.

Now, she’s the girl who sang in a trio with her best friends, even though it meant taking the spotlight off of herself.

She’s the girl who organised Carlos the most beautiful birthday party because she knew how much it meant to him.

She’s the girl who talks sense into him. She makes him actually feel good about himself and want to be better.

She’s the girl he can’t stop thinking about.

-

EJ parks up outside Ashlyn’s house and hops out his car. Before Gina moved in, he would usually just beep twice and Ash would come out. Now, he walks up to the door and knocks. If Ash has noticed the change, she thankfully hasn’t mentioned it.

“Morning, EJ,” Ashlyn greets when she opens the door. She makes her way to the kitchen as EJ steps in, closes the door behind him and follows her. Ashlyn is pouring coffee into three thermoses, handing one to EJ and screwing the tops onto the two remaining.

EJ takes a sip off the too hot drink and tries to appear nonchalant as he asks, “Where’s Gina?”

“She’ll be down in a sec,” Ashlyn informs him. “I swear, that girl takes way too long getting ready for something as mundane as school.”

EJ doesn’t have a reply that doesn’t involve calling Gina beautiful, so he keeps his mouth shut and just nods.

The sound of rapid footsteps down the stairs is followed by “Hey guys, sorry, I’m here” and suddenly she’s right next to EJ and he has to remind himself to breathe. She looks amazing today, he thinks but would never say. Again, mouth shut, keep nodding.

He grabs the top to his thermos and his keys and follows the girls out the door.

Out at the car, Ashlyn automatically hops in the back and Gina goes to follow her, but EJ opens the passenger door and gestures. She looks confused, but only for a second, and then puts her bag in the backseat and closes the door. Walking over to EJ, she smiles sweetly and says “Thank you,” before climbing into the car. EJ closes the door after her, takes a deep breath and goes around to the driver side. Ashlyn, the saint that she is, does not mention the change in their seating arrangements.
-

The car ride to school, as usual, is filled with ‘girl talk’. EJ doesn’t contribute much, except to agree with whatever the girls want him to agree with. He doesn’t mind, of course. He loves that Ashlyn has Gina and Gina deserves a best friend after moving around so much and never having that connection before.

He pulls up at school and hops out. Gina is out of the car before he can open the door for her, but he beats her to the back seat to hand her her backpack. She smiles at him again (which will probably carry him through the rest of the school day) but her eyes definitely have a touch more confusion in them.

They meet up with a bickering Seb and Carlos by the bike rack and Gina is instantly pulled into their drama as they all walk into the school and head towards their lockers. EJ and Ashlyn hang back and let their friends walk further ahead, out of earshot.

“I’m aborting the plan,” EJ says lowly. “It’s not working.”

Ashlyn rolls her eyes. “It’s barely even started. Don’t talk yourself out of this.”

“She definitely doesn’t like me back. Did you see her face when I handed her her bag?”

“That’s just because she isn’t used to guys doing things for her. She’s never had a boyfriend and when she liked Ricky—“

“—She liked Ricky?!”

“—she was waiting around for a sweet gesture and it never happened. Now it’s happening and she doesn’t know how to react. Trust me, Eej. You just have to show her you’re that guy.”

EJ stares down at his cousin, frowning. “Okay,” he says finally. “Okay, we’ll stick to the plan. But only because you’ve never steered me wrong.”

Ashlyn grins, holding her hand up for EJ to slap. EJ rolls his eyes, but obeys.

“Hey, what are we high-fiving about?” Gina interrupts, smiling fondly at the pair. She must’ve realised she’d lost the two of them and walked back.

“Oh, nothing,” Ashlyn waves her hand dismissively before linking her arm through Gina’s and heading to their lockers. “EJ just needed some motivation.”

Gina looks back at him, raising her eyebrows inquisitively, but EJ just shakes his head and follows behind them.

-

EJ sat in class, leg bouncing. He couldn’t focus on anything the teacher was saying. Instead, he was going over and over the plan he and Ashlyn had come up with the night before. Actually, it was mostly Ashlyn. Gina had opened up to her over spring break about what she was looking for in a guy. Ashlyn wouldn’t tell him what she had said (apparently that breaks ‘girl code’) but she very helpfully gave her cousin pointers on how to show Gina he liked her.

“It’s always better to show rather than tell,” Ash had said. “Gina needs someone who will be there for her.”

So, that’s what he is going to do. Show rather than tell. Be there for her.

He never wanted to put her on the spot by blurting out his feelings for her and expecting a response straight away. Gina was guarded, and although she had changed a lot since he first met her, he felt she still didn’t trust easily. EJ had to make her see that he was worthy of her.
-

When the lunch bell rings, EJ shoots out of his chair and dashes across three hallways to wait outside Gina’s classroom. He tries to go for a suave, effortless look, leaning against the wall as if he’d just been there by chance. His slightly heavy breathing probably gives him away.

Gina looks pleasantly surprised to see him, walking over as soon as she spots him. “Hey, EJ! I thought you had History this period?”

EJ is so momentarily thrilled that Gina seemed to know his school schedule, just as he knows hers, that he doesn’t register the question right away. Until, of course, he’s grinning so stupidly at Gina that she starts to look a bit concerned.

“Uh - yeah. I am. I mean, I was. I just got out. I wanted to walk you to lunch.”

Gina looks startled. “Oh.”

EJ plows on, trying to quash down his nervousness. “So can I?”

“Can you…?”

“Walk you to lunch?”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.” Gina shakes her head as if she’s coming out of a daze and they start in the direction of the cafeteria. “So… what’s with the escort?”

EJ shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “No reason, just thought you’d like the company.”

“I do,” Gina says softly and ducks her head. “Like the company, I mean.”

EJ’s heart feels like it could burst out his chest at any second, but he manages to keep his cool the rest of the way.

-

Waiting in line for their food, they make quips about how awful the cafeteria food looks. EJ picks up the last muffin and automatically puts it on Gina’s tray, before continuing down the line. He doesn’t catch the look Gina gives him.

After EJ scans his lunch card for both their meals, he carries his and Gina’s tray to their usual lunch table. Most of their friends are already there, chatting and laughing. The only people missing are Ricky and Big Red, and that’s not a surprise. They are late to all their periods, and lunch is no exception.

EJ takes a seat next to Ashlyn, placing both trays on the table as Gina takes the free seat next to him. Kourtney pulls Gina into a fashion debate with Nini straight away, and Ashlyn elbows EJ discreetly, raising her eyebrows. EJ just lifts one shoulder in response and gives a small shake of his head.

Just then, Ricky and Big Red show up. Big Red takes the seat on the other side of Ashlyn, giving her a kiss on the cheek. EJ gets the same feeling, watching them, as he does when he’s listening to Gina and Ash gossip together. He’s so incredibly happy for his cousin and that she’s found people who embrace her and see how amazing she is.

Ricky takes the only vacant seat at the table, which happens to be next to Gina. EJ has worked on his issues, and definitely doesn’t want to go back to being jealous, but he can’t help but watch them closely now that he knows Gina used to have a crush on Ricky. Gina smiles and greets him as he sits down, but then immediately goes back to her conversation. No lingering glances, no sitting-too-close shoulder touch, and EJ can’t help but notice her smile didn’t seem as soft as it does when it’s directed towards him. As he’s thinking this, Gina suddenly turns her head to look at him. He stares, inexplicably panicking that she’s read his thoughts, but she just smiles and turns back to Kourt and Nini.

Lingering look. Soft smile. And their shoulders are definitely touching, because EJ’s left side has been on fire since they sat down.

EJ turns to his cousin, who gives him a wink and a thumbs up.

-

EJ is late for rehearsal, which is very unlike him. He got caught up talking to his water polo teammates and lost track of the time. Jogging down the hall, he gets to the studio in time to catch the tail end of Miss Jenn’s speech.

“So sorry, Miss Jenn,” he says, wincing at her disapproving glare. “Won’t happen again.”

“Take a seat, EJ,” Miss Jenn instructs, “I was just saying that we were going to start the blocking for Act 1.”

“Great!” EJ says, too enthusiastically. “Can’t wait.”

He heads over to the benches, looking for a seat. Just as he’s about to squeeze himself between Carlos and Kourtney, Gina moves her bag off the space next to her and gestures. EJ grins, side stepping and taking his seat. Gina tuts at his in a mock disapproving way for his lateness and EJ laughs. They smile at each other until Miss Jenn claps her hands loudly and pulls him out of his trance.

-

After rehearsal, EJ is surprised to see his teammates still hanging around in the hallway outside. The rest of the cast is spilling out the room and making their way home. Gina is close behind him, and he knows Ash will be waiting behind for a ride home too.

One of his teammates, Jason, gives a head nod. “Hey, EJ, can we talk to you for a minute?”

EJ nods, holding up a finger to ask them to hang on. He fishes his car keys out his pocket and turns to Gina.

“Can you let Ashlyn know I’ll be out in a sec?” he asks Gina, placing his car keys in her hand.

She takes the keys and nod, looking over his shoulder at the three water polo players. “Yeah, okay.”

He watches her walk away before turning to his team. “What’s up, guys?”

-

EJ gets into the car and slams to door behind him. Gina and Ashlyn, both already in the car, flinch.

“Sorry,” he sighs, most of his anger leaving him in the presence of his favourite people. He starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot.

Ashlyn and Gina, thankfully, divert the conversation to the musical, instead of addressing EJ’s unexpected Hulk moment. When they get to Ashlyn’s, Ash jumps out of the car. Seeing that Gina isn’t following, she turns back.

“You coming?”

Gina glances at EJ. “I’ll be there in a sec.”

Ashlyn nods, giving EJ a knowing look before heading into the house.

Gina and EJ sit in silence for a minute, not looking at each other.

“You can talk to me, you know,” Gina says finally.

EJ feels the last of his anger and frustration leave him instantly. “I know.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“It’s nothing - I mean, it’s something but it means nothing. It’s just, my teammates think I’m putting too much of my time into the musical, and with the last game of the season right around the corner, they think I should be spending more time—“

EJ is cut off but Gina bursting out with laughter. He stares at her, confused. “What?”

Gina snorts, and covers her mouth. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! You just — you realise that’s the exact plot to High School Musical.”

EJ blinks.

Suddenly, the car is filled with the sound of their uncontrollable laughter.

“Oh, god,” EJ says, wiping tears from his eyes. “It is. That’s ridiculous.”

“What did you say to them?” Gina asks when they finally stop laughing.

“I didn’t make Troy’s mistake, if that’s what your asking,” EJ jokes. Gina laughs and shoves his shoulder.

“Seriously, though.”

“I told them that I’m committed to water polo, and we’re going to win the championship,” he tells her, and Gina smiles proudly, nodding as if it that was a given fact. “But I also told them that I love the musical, and investing time into something I love isn’t something I’m prepared to stop doing.”

“That’s… Wow, EJ. What did they say?”

EJ frowns, slightly reluctant to share his teams thoughts with Gina. “They said that they thought I only signed up for drama class because I was trying to get girls.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

They sit in silence for a beat.

“Well, that’s stupid.”

EJ huffs out a laugh. “What?”

Gina rolls her eyes at him. “If you’re only into drama to get girls, you’re doing an awful job so far.”

EJ drops his jaw in a mock offended way, putting his hand over his heart. “You wound me, Porter.”

“I mean to, Caswell.”

There’s a moment of silence again, but this time not as intense as the start of their conversation. EJ smiles at Gina, again thinking of how amazing she looks. Why doesn’t he just tell her? Are they going to have a better moment than this? Sitting alone, uninterrupted in his car.

“Well, I better get going—“

“I wanted to tell you—“

They speak at the same time and stop, laughing at each other.

“You first,” Gina says.

“I just wanted to tell you,” EJ starts. Now or never. “that you…” are amazing. Just say it EJ! You’re amazing and smart and beautiful and would you ever consider going out with me even though I most definitely don’t deserve it. “You are the only person I can talk to like this.” Chicken, EJ. You’re a chicken.

Gina blinks, seemingly surprised. “Oh… What about Ashlyn?”

EJ shrugs. “Ashlyn is great, don’t get me wrong. But you… I seem to unload on people, and always feel worse afterwards. Like I overshared or something. With you, I can unload and somehow you make me feel even better than I did before.”

Gina grins. “You gotta show up for your peeps, right?”

EJ laughs, thinking back to when he said the same thing at the airport. “Yeah, right.”

“Wait,” Gina stops, putting her hand on EJ’s arm. He stills, trying to breathe evenly. “Your water polo game.”

EJ is confused at the change of subject. “What about it?”

“You said it was soon - the championship, right?”

“Yeah, it’s next Friday.”

Gina lifts her hand off EJ’s arm briefly to slap him on the shoulder. “EJ!”

“What?!”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone? Don’t you think I - everyone would want to show up for you?”

“Nah,” EJ shakes his head. “It’s really not that exciting, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

Gina glares playfully at him. “Fine. But I, for one, will definitely be there. Get ready for some seriously embarrassing supportive chanting.”

EJ beams. “Can’t wait.”

-

EJ, as usual, calls Ashlyn before bed to go over the plan. Ashlyn, as usual, is more than helpful.

“She likes you, you idiot!”

“Thanks, Ash, shout that louder, I don’t think North High heard you.”

“Oh, shut up, you big baby. You’re just scared to admit I’m right.”

“Yeah, okay, we had like… a moment, or something. I’m just not sure if she’s ready, or if she wants me to do something about it or what.”

“Trust me, she’s ready. You just have to make the move.”

“Right, okay. I’ll make a move.”

“I didn’t say make a move! I said make the move.”

“What’s the difference?”

“You think Gina hasn’t had guys hit on her? Get real! You need to stand out.”

“Stand out. Okay.” A pause. “Anything in mind?”

“Oh, I have the perfect thing in mind.”

-

It’s the day before the water polo championship and EJ is exhausted. Between classes, extra credit, rehearsals and polo practice, he’s really stretched himself thin. He’s barely had time to catch up with Gina, except from driving her to and from school. And he most definitely hasn’t had time to execute the rest of the plan. He knows if he doesn’t do it today, he will have run out of time. Literally.

He catches Gina after her last class, before their rehearsals that day.

She greets him with her usual soft smile and it helps to elevate some of the nervousness he’s feeling.

“What’s up, Eej?” Gina asks, eyeing the way EJ is wringing his letterman jacket between his hands. She’s never seen him so anxious before, and it’s rather worrying.

“You know how the polo game is tomorrow?”

Gina shakes her head, thinking now that his nervousness is linked to the pressure of the championship. “Don’t worry, EJ, you’re going to be great.”

EJ smiles, ducking his head. “Thanks. It’s just, you said you’d be there, and I was wondering if you wanted to wear this?”

Gina looks down to where EJ is holding out his jacket.

“Your team letterman?”

“Yeah,” EJ says, voice cracking. “It’s a show of support. So that people know you’re there to support, you know, me.”

Gina lifts the jacket delicately out of EJ’s grip, grinning. “Yeah, of course! I’d be honoured.”

EJ releases the breath he didn’t realise he was holding. “Great! That’s great, thank you… We should probably get to rehearsals.”

“Walk with me?” Gina nudges him playfully.

“I’d be honoured.”

-

The next day, EJ finishes up his last class early - water polo privileges - and heads to the locker room to get ready for the game.

It was somewhat tense between him and the guys; they hadn’t really talked after the hallway confrontation, but EJ is the captain and it was his job the get the team motivated.

He gives his usual ‘team spirit’ speech, putting emphasis on the fact that winning this game meant winning the championship and resisting the urge to shout “What team?!”

They were just rapping up and about to head out when Jason grabs his arm.

“Hey, man,” Jason says, “I just want to say sorry about what happened. We kind of cornered you, and it wasn’t fair. I was just so worried about this game. It might not mean that much to you, but if scouts are here today, it could mean a scholarship for me.”

EJ claps his teammate on the shoulder. “No big, man. I get it. And just because water polo isn’t in my future, doesn’t mean I don’t care. We are going to go out there and win this thing!”

Jason grins. “Thanks, man! Oh, I saw your girl out there. She’s looking real supportive.”

“My girl?” EJ frowns.

“Yeah, you know, the one wearing your letterman jacket?” Jason slaps his shoulder one last time and heads out of the locker room. EJ stands for a moment, processing his words.

Out by the poolside, EJ saw what Jason meant by Gina looking “real supportive”. Not only was Gina wearing his letterman jacket, which made his chest feel like fire, but she’d also tied her hair up with red and white ribbons, and she had painted ‘EJ’ on her cheek in red paint. She was stunning. So stunning, in fact that he almost failed to notice the people surrounding her. Gina was holding one half of a banner that read ‘Go, EJ!’ and Ashlyn was holding the other half. Big Red was standing next to Ash, cheering along with Ricky, Nini, Kourtney, Carlos and Seb.

EJ could hardly believe his eyes. Gina had come, not just wearing his jacket and supporting him, but showing him how much support he had by inviting all their friends. She was incredible.

Suddenly, he was awfully aware that he was standing, staring at his friends in nothing but a speedo and a swim cap. He waves quickly at them and jumps into the pool, kicking off the game as soon as the whistle sounded.

-

They won.

The team was cheering and yelling and banging on the locker doors in the changing room when their coach came in and told them to quit being rowdy, though his grin took the heat out of it. EJ sat, towelling off after his shower, and listens while the coach gave the team a final speech about how he’s been so proud of the team and the work they’ve put in. EJ was feeling elated by the win, and wanted to celebrate with his teammates, but a larger part of him just wanted to go and find Gina and see if she was just a little bit proud of him as well.

Just as he’d escaped the locker room, he was grabbed around the neck by an excited Jason.

“EJ!” the other boy shouts, practically jumping over EJ. “That was amazing!”

“Yeah, it was,” EJ says, pulling the boy off him and giving him a high five. He spots Gina down the hall talking with Ashlyn and Big Red. “Well done, man.”

“The scout from Stanford was there,” Jason continues. EJ was happy for his friend, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Gina is he tried. “Stanford, EJ! They want to meet with me and my parents right now! I could be going to Stanford!”

“That’s amazing, J! Congrats!”

Jason, who finally seemed to realise EJ’s attention was elsewhere, glances behind him to where EJ’s friends were waiting for him, and the girl who EJ couldn’t stop staring at. He turns back to his teammate with a smirk. “Thanks again, EJ. I’ll leave you to it.”

They gave each other a hug, separating and heading off in different directions. EJ bounds up to his friends with a distinct skip in his step that didn’t entirely have to do with winning.

“There he is!” Ashlyn greets. “Congratulations, Captain!”

“Thanks, Ash,” EJ replies, giving his cousin a hug.

“You were great,” Gina says softly at his side.

EJ glances at her. “Thanks. So were you. I mean, you look great.” EJ shakes his head, looking down. “I mean, the banner, and getting everyone to come, it’s just — it means a lot.”

Gina nods, blushing slightly. They both stand staring at each other, smiling like idiots until Ashlyn clears her throat.

“Everyone’s heading to Slices, if you guys want to join?” Ashlyn asks.

EJ nods enthusiastically. “Definitely. I could murder a pizza right now.”

“Cool. I’m going ride with Big Red, are you okay to drive with Gina?”

EJ smirks at his cousin. The sneak. “Absolutely.”

-

In the car, Gina stops him before he could put it in drive.

“Hang on, Eej, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

EJ turns in his seat, giving her his full attention. “Yeah, of course, what’s up?” He can’t help but notice she is still wearing his jacket and the paint on her face had only faded slightly, turning his insides to jelly.

“Nini said something interesting to me. During your game…” Gina looks nervous, wringing her hands and biting her lip. She won’t look him in the eye.

EJ’s stomach turned from butterflies to knots. He thought back on all the awful things Nini could have said to Gina about him. After all, he wasn’t a very good boyfriend and he’d be the first to admit it. But no, Nini’s not the type to do that, and they’d gotten past what had happened last year. He couldn’t imagine her saying bad stuff about him.

“She said,” Gina says when EJ didn’t respond, glancing up at him. “That me wearing your jacket meant something. That the other people there wearing letterman jackets were the team’s girlfriends and boyfriends.”

EJ swallows the lump in his throat. “Well, yes, that’s typically who wears the team’s jacket.”

Gina stares hard at him. “But that’s not why you asked me to wear yours? I mean, you don’t see me as — It was just a friend thing, right?”

EJ closes his eyes and took a deep breath. “No. It’s not just a friend thing.”

“So… what kind of thing is it?”

“I was hoping, really, that it could be the typical girlfriend wearing her boyfriends letterman to support him at his game thing.”

EJ says the words too fast, and his voice cracked in several places, but it was out there now, and he couldn’t take it back. He didn’t want to take it back.

“Girlfriend?” Gina asks, her voice wavering.

EJ nods. “Unless you want it to just be a friend thing. I’d be completely okay with that.”

Gina smiles, shaking her head. “You are such an idiot.”

“What?”

“What kind of friend changes her hairstyle in the middle of the school day just so she can tie ribbons in her hair. I had to run to Kourtney to borrow a red lipstick to paint my face because I didn’t have any on me. I got Ash to skip class so we could paint a banner. I made sure everyone knew they had to show up for you or I’d show Miss Jenn how to change the Wi-Fi password in the studio. You, EJ Caswell, are an idiot.”

EJ’s jaw hung open. “You mean, you—“

“Yes, EJ. I do”

EJ beams. He reached over and took Gina’s hand in his. “Gina, will you be my girlfriend?”

Gina grins, already nodding. “Only if it means I get to keep the jacket.”

“Yes,” EJ laughs. “You can keep the jacket.”

“Then I suppose…”

“You suppose?”

“Yes, EJ. I will be your girlfriend.”

EJ felt like he’d won the championship ten times over. Sitting in his car, holding Gina’s hand, was better than anything he’d ever felt before.

That was until Gina leaned over and kissed him.

Gina Porter. Constantly surprising him.