CHAPTER FIFTEEN!

Eliza and Ricky were in their own bubble over the holiday break. They weren't official— she didn't want to be until she could talk to Nini alone. What do you say to your best friend when her ex revealed his feelings for you? And that you had feelings for said ex?

"We have to be off-book for this, Ricky," Eliza commented, trying to take the script out of Ricky's hand, but didn't work since he raised it up high in the air. "I can jump, you know. Literally trained since I was eight," Eliza stated. But she didn't jump, Ricky handed it to her with a smile on his face. "Now, let's be serious. Opening night is in like two weeks. And if we aren't off book by tech-rehearsal— well don't find out."

"You know you're not that scary anymore after we've kissed like—"

"Shush!" Eliza brought her hand up to Ricky's mouth. "We don't know who is listening at the door," Eliza whispered. Lily had the tendency to listen at Eliza's door, the same thing Eliza had done to Nicole. "Why don't I go downstairs and get some water," Eliza spoke loudly, and went to open her door. She heard the wood board creak and when she opened the door, her sister's door had shut.

🏀

"What the hell happened?" Eliza spoke as she stepped in front of the group of teenagers looking at their stage. Water was dripping over their sets.

"It's okay. Nobody was hurt. There was a small fire in the theater over the holiday and the sprinklers did their job," Miss Jenn sighed.

"Unfortunately the show cannot go on," The firefighter told Miss Jenn.

"What?"

"Fire ripped through half of your costumes and the sprinklers ruined a bunch of your sets. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to red tag the entire backstage area for a month at least," the firefighter finished.

"Did she just say costumes?" Kourtney asked quietly.

"Okay. Okay, listen up. Hug your neighbor, take a moment, and let's reconvene in the cafeteria after school to talk about options. Eliza, Ricky, spread the word," Miss Jenn finished. "Eliza?" Eliza stood there staring at the ruined stage. It felt as if a piece of her just died. The day was already hard enough with her grandfather's memorial later that day.

"I'm sorry. Yes, after school. Cafeteria," Eliza repeated. "I'll make sure everyone's there."

🏀

"Okay, guys! Wait, where's Gina?" Miss Jenn asked the group of kids. Eliza was already sitting down, her notes app was on her phone— last minute tweaks on her speech she wrote. She set her phone behind her to listen to Miss Jenn.

"I think she's going through a family thing right now," Ashlyn answered.

"Okay, prayers to our Gina. I'm really not sure what to say. You've all worked so hard. I've seen all of you grow so much. But if we don't have a theater, we don't have a show."

"What?" Everyone exclaimed.

"We have to do something, Miss Jenn," Eliza said.

"I think we, I don't know, I guess we could consider other venues?" Miss Jenn suggested, making everyone start suggested venues that were either condemned or turned into a coffee shop.

"How about the El Rey?" Carlos asked.

"Any other ideas?" Miss Jenn said, completely ignoring the venue Carlos suggested.

"Miss Jenn, I feel like you just had a really weird reaction to what I just said," Carlos responded.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Miss Jenn asked.

"Carlos is asking if we can try and use the El Rey Theater," Nini repeated.

"My uncle Ruben is the listing agent, and the last thing they had in there was a fashion show, like, four years ago," Carlos said as he stood up and called his uncle. Everyone cheered when his uncle agreed to let them use it for the show. It seemed like the day was looking up.

🏀

"Hey!" Ricky walked up to Eliza. She was leaning against a wall, avoiding everyone. All their stuff they brought from the school was already in the theater, so some people were just sitting around. "How are you holding up? I know today is a bit rough, for you more than other people."

"Everything is looking up, we got a stage for the show, and we're here and ready for the final stretch of rehearsals," Eliza responded.

"That's kind of half of what I meant," Ricky added.

"The other thing is inevitable emotions. I just have to hope we're out of here at least by dinner, if not before they start the whole memorial."

"I'll make sure you'll get there in time," Ricky said. "I'll cover for you if you leave early." Eliza smiled.

"Okay! Let's have some real talk," Miss Jenn announced. Ricky motioned for Eliza to join him and the other theater kids. "Welcome to tech rehearsal. I don't know if you've noticed but most of the tech in this particular theater appears to be hand cranked. Natalie Bagley, my dear, my stage manager, this is your chance to be the hero."

"She's not here," Eliza told Miss Jenn.

"Natalie Bagley's getting her wisdom teeth out," Seb added.

"Okay. Okay, so I'm down a stage manager, my Taylor's MIA."

"Gina's okay. She's a fighter and will be back opening night," Ricky said.

"Did she text you?" Nini asked. Ricky shook his head.

Then a sandbag fell, making everyone jump. Eliza jumped back into Ricky. She didn't realize how close she was to him.

"Totally normal. Just, heads up, from now on," Miss Jenn said. "All righty, Big Red, do you know how to hang a light?"

"I know how to hang out?" Big Red responded, making everyone laugh. Eliza just shook her head.

"Cool. Carlos, let's set marks to light Status Quo. Troy and Gabriella, find somewhere quiet and run the rooftop scene. It's been a while and I need you opening night ready by dinner time, okay?" Miss Jenn told Eliza and Ricky.

"We're staying until dinner?" Eliza questioned, as she followed Miss Jenn off the stage. "Miss Jenn, I do have something scheduled that I do have to leave at a certain time. But Ricky and I will work together until then— it's just an important family thing. Let's go, Ricky." Eliza took her phone out of her pocket to text her parents.

Family

Eliza: rehearsals aren't done until after dinner. I will meet you at the memorial. I promise.
Mom: It's just down the street from the El Rey, you shouldn't be late. I'm proud of you for making an effort this year. Papa would be proud of you. See you when you get here, love you.
Eliza: Love you.

honestly, I wrote this entire book within a week around Christmas, and it's so not where I originally planned it going since I changed some things, but as it's nearing the end of season 1. (I do plan on writing for the other 3 seasons and I have the first few parts of the second season written with Eliza and Ricky)

I hope ya'll are enjoying it, because I do enjoy Eliza and Ricky's relationship. ♡︎