CHAPTER NINETEEN!

"It's almost intermission and I am currently dying," Eliza whispered to Nini and Kourtney. "I'm going to miss you as Taylor, though."

"I think I got off that stage just in time," Kourtney responded.

"You were so funny, Kourt," Nini added. "You know my moms are both of yours biggest fans."

"It was really nice to have you beside me on the stage, Kourt," Eliza said.

"I wish I could find them," Nini peeked behind the curtain looking for her moms. "Hang on, is that Kalyani Patel?"

"Uh, who?" Kourtney questioned.

"The Dean from the Youth Actors Conservatory. That's her. Her pictures are all over their website— Fourth row, writing on the clipboard," Nini pointed to the Dean. "Why is she here?"

"Uh... I guess I kinda invited her?" Kourtney admitted. "For both you and Eliza— you two were fighting and I thought this would bring you two back together. You two could be roommates there and it'll be like you both never had that fight."

"Seriously, Nini. You need to read your emails," Eliza added.

"You knew she'd be here?" Nini asked Eliza. "That's why you were actually nervous— I've never seen you that nervous before. Kourt, this is some next level pressure."

"You'll do great— you're already doing amazing," Eliza told Nini. "Just pretend she's not in the crowd."

🏀

Eliza stood behind the set watching the number for Get'cha Head in the Game, and as many times as she's watched them rehearse, Ricky always surprises her. He was a natural. And then Ricky dropped the ball while being in the air.

Eliza peeked behind the curtain and tried to see what made Ricky freeze. She saw his parents, and Lynne's new boyfriend, Eliza assumed. After the song ended, Eliza stared at where Ricky stormed off to, and decided to stay put— she would've had to run across behind the jocks. It was now intermission. She went the other way out of the gym and looked for Ricky.

"You need to do the second act. As Troy," Eliza heard Ricky tell EJ.

"Are you sick?" EJ asked.

"No—"

"You better have a really good reason for leaving," Eliza interrupted, walking into the dressing room. "Because there is no way in hell I'll be playing Gabriella without you as Troy. No offense, EJ."

"None taken," EJ said. "I'll just leave you two— yeah," he rushed out of the dressing room.

"EJ's your best bet, I'm messing up out there. I cannot be the reason why you don't get into that school," Ricky said.

"Kourtney told you?" Eliza asked.

"Why didn't you?" Ricky questioned.

"Because I'm not even sure it's what I want. Kourtney signed both me and Nini up when we were on the outs, and yes, the Dean is out in the audience. But she's looking at my performance— not who I'm in the scene with," Eliza said. "I told you at the first rehearsal, if you quit, I'll quit. I'll keep my word— you promised that you wouldn't let anyone else be Troy."

"Liza, I'm doing this for you—"

"No, you're not. If you were doing it for me, you wouldn't quit. We worked too hard for you to quit in the middle of the show. What happened? Because I know something happened to make you think you aren't what's best for me."

"My mom brought her new boyfriend and I am not happy," Ricky admitted.

"Okay. But why do you want to quit the show? It cannot be your mom's fault."

"Let EJ be Troy and you'll be a shoo-in for the acting school or whatever."

"Okay, fine. If that's what you think is best," Eliza stated. "Give EJ the damn jersey, and then you can just break your promise."

🏀

Eliza was seething, but her sister had taught her better— as a stage actor, you always had to adapt. The show must go on. EJ was a last minute understudy, named understudy after Luke quit the show. EJ had assured Eliza that he knew all of Troy's lines, but she didn't care.

"So, this is your real stage," Eliza faked a smile.

"I guess you could call it that. Or just a smelly gym," EJ handed the basketball to Eliza. And she shot the ball— and made it in. "Woah, don't tell me you're good at hoops, too?"

"I once scored forty-one points at a league championship game," Eliza stated.

"No way!"

"Yeah, and the same day I invented the space shuttle and microwave popcorn," Eliza grabbed the ball from EJ's hand, and as she rehearsed with Ricky, she began to travel with the basketball.

"Miss, I'm sorry, this is a closed practice," Coach Bolton said as he walked up with Miss Darbus—Ashlyn.

"Dad, practice is over," EJ said.

"Not till the last player leaves," Coach Bolton finished. "Team rule."

"I'm sorry, sir," Eliza apologized.

"Dad, this is Gabriella Montez—" EJ started

"You're detention buddy," Coach Bolton interrupted.

"I'll see you later, Troy," Eliza said as she walked off the stage, hearing Ashlyn saying her line.

🏀

"Richard Bowen, you are— oh, I'm sorry," Eliza stopped watching the interaction between Ricky and his mom.

"Eliza, it's been awhile. How have you been sweetheart?" Lynne Bowen asked.

"I've been better," Eliza stated. "Could I talk to Ricky alone?"

"Oh, of course," Lynne said. "Maybe you can convince him to go back in the show— he made commitments he needs to keep."

"With all due respect, Mrs Bowen, it's entirely up to Ricky whether or not he goes back on stage. He did make a commitment, but if he's not comfortable, he doesn't have to uphold it," Eliza told Ricky's mom. Lynne gave her a smile before returning to the gym. When the gym door closed, Eliza turned to face Ricky. "Except, I already had to do one scene with EJ, and I hated it."

"You did great—"

"Of course I did. I do great with any scene partner, I'm adaptable. And it goes to show that whether or not you think you can't help me, you're wrong. Ricky, you're the perfect Troy and I will not do another scene without you."

"Eliza, I can't—"

"You can't or you won't?" Eliza questioned.

"I'm not at my best, Liza. I won't be a good scene partner," Ricky stated.

"I don't care, I just want you with me on stage. I don't want to be on stage with anyone else but you. Please?"

next chapter is the last chapter... <3