CHAPTER SIX !

Eliza had woken up in Ricky's bed. She had gone over the night before and they had studied and finished the homework they hadn't done over the weekend as Eliza was busy hanging out with Kourtney and Nini before Nini had to go back to Denver. It had been late when they finished, and she was already asleep by the time Ricky even mentioned her sleeping over.

Eliza sat up when the sun shone through the curtain and realized she wasn't in her bedroom. Ricky's arm had rested on her waist. She patted around her trying to find her phone, when she found it, there were multiple missed calls from her parents, and many many texts from her mother. She went to the family group chat first as it was the latest messages.

Family

Dad: Just got off the phone with Michael Bowen. Eliza is sleeping over. She's safe. It was too late for her to drive home.
Mom: Eliza, you're grounded. Come straight home right after practice and rehearsal. Ricky's not allowed over until we decide when.

"Oh my god," Eliza complained. In her seventeen years of life, she had never been grounded.

"Woah— what happened?" Ricky said. His eyes were still closed as he sat up.

"I fell asleep, and I'm probably going to be grounded until graduation next year," Eliza said. "Maybe even later than that."

🥀

"Everyone gather round, we have a two-hour window before the storm is expected to hit and I intend to use every minute of it," Miss Jenn said. "Big, splashy group numbers always succeed at the Menkie Awards. So, we need to workshop a punchy, breathtaking number that will put us in the number one spot. We have a guest coming this afternoon, but let's hear from our choreographers."

"As our head choreographer," Carlos began, "I am so happy to announce that today we will, at last, begin rehearsing one of the most show-stopping, iconic, and bar-raising numbers of the entire show."

"Be Our Guest!" Gina interrupted, "Yeah, it's Be Our Guest, guys."

"We need to make Belle and our entire audience feel welcome," Miss Jenn said and went off to tell a story about hospitality when a repair man went into the wrong unit and her mom had hog-tied him and gave him some tea. "And with that, Carlos and Gina, take it away," Miss Jenn said.

"That's not at all terrifying, Miss Jenn. I was thinking we can do some soaring with a can-can style like this."

"My vision to make this dance really soar, is to stage, wait for it, and can-can style that features a father dusting spectacle."

"Interesting," Carlos commented. "I had a different path that's a little more elevated and less basic. Think. A noir-inspired performance where Lumiere guides our audience through the entire time."

"Okay. But I actually spent a month in France once, so I kinda know this dance inside out."

"And I choreographed all three of my sister's Quinceanera dances, despite not getting one for myself so I think I know how to twirl with a salad fork, okay?"

"Okay! You know what? Let's stick a pin in Be Our Guest and brush up on Gaston. EJ and Big Red to the front of the room, please." Big Red stood up, making Miss Jenn do a double take. "Wait, where's EJ?"

"I haven't seen him, not that I've been really paying attention to anyone," Eliza spoke.

"I think the Feather duster brigade sounded cool," Ricky commented as Gina sat with the other kids on the seats.

"Really, really?" Gina questioned.

"It is a cool idea," Eliza interjected. "What? Does he need to send you a box of chocolates to prove it?"

"Well, if anyone sees EJ, would you please tell him that rehearsals are mandatory, even for soon-to-be college students who are obviously suffering from senioritis."

Kourtney gasped, "Nini!"

"I don't want to interrupt. I just needed one more group hug." Nini had surprised everyone when she came back home to visit from the Youth's Actor Conservatory, which she raved about, and told Eliza she was missing out on a lot of experiences.

"Neens," Eliza smiled hugging Nini. "You know you can come back and visit a lot more. These video calls aren't doing it for me or Kourt. We need you here with us." The three girls hugged.

"You're just saying that," Nini said. "I do miss you two like crazy, and it's nice to be back at East High even for a few minutes."

"What's wrong, Nini?" Eliza questioned. "Isn't the conservatory everything you hoped for? You've been raving about it since you got there."

"I just— I guess I'm a little homesick and sad to be leaving again," Nini said. "I wish you were with me." Eliza had been offered the spot at the conservatory but turned it down to let Nini get the chance that she deserved. "Oh no, my driver cancelled because of the snow, and the next car is twenty minutes away. Great, watch me literally not make it back to school."

"Maybe we can drop you off," Eliza suggested, motioning between her and Kourtney. "Spend a little more time together, this weekend wasn't enough."

"Nonsense, girls. We're still in the middle of rehearsal," Miss Jenn announced as she walked into the hallway. "Nini, I can take you to the bus station and then zip back to school. Sound good?"

"Yeah, that works," Nini responded.

"Eliza, your sister should be here soon," Miss Jenn said as she looked at her phone. "I let her know about the plan for rehearsal—"

"Wait, why would my sister be here soon?" Eliza interrupted.

"I thought it would be nice to have someone who's been on Broadway and has been the lead of this show before to help us with our show, gives us an advantage for the Menkies," Miss Jenn explained. "Nini, we should go before it gets too late and before the storm hits."

Eliza watched Nini and Miss Jenn as they walked down the hallway. She turned to Kourtney. "How did Miss Jenn even know or meet Nicole? Is it too late to drop out of the show?"

"You know if you left the show, we'll be left with no leads because Ricky will follow you," Kourtney stated. "And Miss Jenn didn't choose anyone as understudies after the Troy incident last semester."

"Carlos was Chad for a few scenes, he wasn't terrible," Eliza said. She was able to get Ricky back as Troy before Breaking Free, but EJ had stepped in the role of Troy, and Carlos was Chad, it wasn't ideal, but it worked for a few scenes. Apparently, it scarred Miss Jenn who removed understudies for Beauty and the Beast.

🥀

"Has anyone seen EJ?" Ashlyn questioned. "He's been hiding all day, and—"

"Hello, wildcats." A voice rang out by the door. Eliza was glad that Miss Jenn gave her a heads up about seeing her sister anywhere but at home. Even with the warning, she still froze in place. "Or should I say, Bonjour, chats sauvages,"

"Who are you?" Gina questioned. Nicole smiled.

"Nicole Parks," Nicole introduced herself. Everyone glanced at Eliza, who refused to acknowledge her sister, twisting the ring on her finger. "Your director, Miss Jenn, found out I was Belle for a local theater club four years ago before I was scouted for a Broadway show. I was understudies in a lot of shows, and a swing for others. I was Katherine Howard in SIX for a week straight when both the main and understudy were out with laryngitis. I could talk about my credentials for a long time, but I'm here to help with your show. Give you guys some advice for the Menkies and the show in general."

"Eliza, why didn't you tell us your sister was on Broadway?" Carlos questioned, excitement in his voice.

"I didn't know you had an older sister," Ashlyn commented.

"You okay?" Ricky whispered. Eliza nodded.

"I guess I'll be a fly on the wall until anyone needs any advice on anything, or until your director comes back," Nicole said as she walked through the group of teenagers and made her way to the seats. "You guys can go back to whatever you were going over. Which was what?"

"Right, we're gonna workshop our Be Our Guest visions on you guys separately before adding the dancers," Gina told the group. "The winning version will then be decided in an anonymous vote. You know, fun and easy." A group of murmurs were heard.

"As head choreographer, we'll run through my vision first," Carlos announced. "Belle, we'll need you sitting at the table," Carlos led Eliza to the table that was set up for the scene. "This number was inspired by my second-oldest sister's quince." With the mention of a quinceanera, Eliza glanced at her sister who was watching the theater kids intently, waiting to give them some sort of advice or anything. "Theme, sultry jazz. Sebastian, you may begin." But as Seb started playing the piano, the lights went out.

"Oh, what was that?" Ashlyn questioned, then a thud was heard.

"Maybe a powerline went down?" Gina suggested.

Eliza followed Carlos into the hallway. It was completely empty, and they stared at the storm outside the window. It was a white-out.

"Oh, my gosh, you guys, get out here!" Carlos shouted. Moments later, everyone had left the bomb shelter and crowded into the hallway.

"This is insane!" Ricky commented. "Are we the only ones stuck at school?"

"Looks like every other club went home," Kourtney said. "Should I check on Nini? I'm checking on Nini."

"Cheer practice was cancelled," Eliza stated as she went through her phone. "I wish I knew that earlier."

"I don't mind the idea of being stuck together all night," Big Red whispered- tried to whisper to Ashlyn.

"Maybe we should hold each other for warmth?" Ashlyn suggested. Nicole let out a laugh, but covered it with a cough. Eliza had almost forgotten she was here.

"Okay, you guys," Ricky said.

"Listen up folks, we need to act fast and gather supplies in case this gets worse," Gina spoke up.

Carlos scoffed, "love the commitment, Gina, but I don't think it's that serious."

"No, she's right," Nicole spoke up as she made her way to stand beside Gina. "Rehearsal can wait. Like the blondie said, Salt Lake got half a foot of snow and it looks like it's not stopping anytime soon."

"Follow my lead. Contact your parents every half hour, but conserve your phone batteries," Gina continued. "Waters, flashlights. Let's move, people." Everyone dispersed.

🥀

"I thought you were talking to your sister," Ricky questioned when he and Eliza found an empty hallway. She leaned against the window frame watching the storm.

"At home, I've started to, but she's— I just didn't expect her to come here and become a mentor or whatever to everyone," Eliza said. "I don't even know how Miss Jenn found out about my sister being on Broadway, or what gave her the idea of asking for her help."

"It would be a good thing to talk to her now, wouldn't it?" Ricky suggested.

"Ricky, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can't talk to her and pretend nothing happened. She knows what she did, and she hasn't apologized for it," Eliza said. "We should head back to the bomb shelter, see if they found any supplies," she pushed herself away from the window frame and dusted off her hands before making her way down the hallway before Mr Mazzara stopped her.

"Miss Parks, Mr Bowen," Mr Mazzara spoke as he flashed a light at their faces. "I'm trying to gather up the theater kids. I need you all in the rehearsal room, it's the closest thing we have to a bomb shelter, because it's a bomb shelter. If you see any of your friends, have them head there."

"Of course, we will," Eliza covered her eyes with her hand before he moved the light from her face. "Thanks for temporarily blinding me, Mr M," Eliza commented.

🥀

"I've been looking for you," Nicole spoke as she found Eliza in a hallway. She was sitting on the floor across the doors of the theater. "Your friends are nice," she commented as she sat beside Eliza.

"You say that like you haven't met Kourtney, Nini or Ricky before," Eliza said. "What are you doing here?"

"Your drama teacher asked me to—"

"Not here. What are you doing back in Salt Lake?" Eliza questioned. "I'm surprised you even remember the address to the school, even the house. New York was too much for you? Not big enough for your ego?"

"I know you're upset with me, Eliza, but you're only cutting me down to make yourself feel better for being angry."

"Of course, I'm angry! You've been gone for three years with no contact—"

"That's not true."

"You're right, you just got too busy with your life to answer your younger sister anymore." Eliza wiped her cheeks as anger tears flowed out. "I stopped calling and texting you after I realized you were never coming back. You were living your dreams, and I was just here— at home wondering when my big sister was going to text or call, but they never came."

"I couldn't come home until I was ready," Nicole said. "And I wasn't ready yet, but when mom and dad told me that you were in theater again, I had to. You hadn't done a show since you were Chip."

"I thought of doing theater freshman year, but you had already left to New York— then, the accident. I didn't think I could do another show if he wasn't in the audience with the biggest bouquet."

"He'd be really proud of the woman you've become. He'd be disappointed with me, for leaving the family after everything happened. I'm not asking for forgiveness, Eliza, but I want you to understand that I couldn't come home without feeling like it was my fault. He was driving to pick me up from the airport."

"I'm sorry, I never thought of it that way," Eliza stated.

"But I should have never ignored you for the past two years. Every time I saw your messages, the words would always change to it's your fault papa's gone. I'm sorry, Eliza."

"I'm sorry, Nicole," Eliza hugged her sister. When they pulled apart, Eliza spoke up, "How grounded am I for last night and this morning?"

Nicole grimaced. "There's a chance it could be for weeks, or days. Your phone may be taken away when you get home since you don't know how to use it to communicate." Nicole did air quotes.

"There you are! I need to spill," Kourtney said as she found the two sisters. Both Nicole and Eliza stood up. "There's pizza in the bomb shelter if you're hungry. Not you," she told Eliza.

"What's up, Kourt?"

"What does a boy do when he likes you?" Kourtney questioned.

"Boys are a language that I haven't fully comprehended. What boy? And what did he do?" Eliza questioned.

"Howie may or may not brought the pizza I mentioned earlier and my flashcards," Kourtney tried to hold in a squeal, but she failed. "In a snow storm, Eliza! A snow storm!"

"Howie, the delivery guy from Slice's? Are you two having a co-worker romance trope?" Eliza questioned.

"No. Because he's just a nice guy who wants to stay on my good side because I'm technically his boss, right?"

"Sure, maybe you're right. Or maybe, he does have a crush on you because who wouldn't? Kourtney, you're amazing!" Eliza smiled. "Wait, is he the one in the glasses? He's cute."

"Oh, you can back off there, Eliza. I don't think Ricky would like you saying that about another guy," Kourtney said.

"Ricky doesn't get jealous, and besides, I've never spent the night at anyone else's house before."

"You spent the night at his house?" Kourtney raised her voice towards the end of her question. "Okay, you've been in Rickyland far too long. We need to get together and talk."

"I also may be grounded for— maybe until I'm thirty because of that, but my mom didn't say anything about you coming over. This weekend?"

"If my schedule allows it, how do you handle all your clubs? And be able to have a decent social life?"

"My social life is within each club," Eliza explained. "I probably wouldn't see Ricky if he wasn't in the show— actually, no, that's wrong. He's like the only person I make time for, sorry."

"Liza!" Ricky called out. "Lights are on, and roads are clear. Can I take you home?"

this may be 2,800 words and might be the longest chapter, but honestly who knows at this point. I said the valentines was the longest chapter then I began writing this one.

Also Eliza and her sister made up... sort of, yes.

Also my first update of the year?? Yay! Let's hope my next one doesn't take this long.