CHAPTER SIX!

"Gina, that was amazing," Eliza's mouth dropped when Gina did her Stick to the Status Quo choreography. She wasn't too sure Gina didn't bring up this choreography to scare Eliza away. Eliza never gets scared away. "Only critique, I can't dance half as good at you. I think cheer makes me really stiff, because you kind of have to be stiff for most of the routines and the flips."

"Don't worry, we can practice. What do you think Miss Jenn?"

"It's a wonderful idea, Gina. Would you mind working with Eliza until she gets the choreography down? And possibly Nini, in case she has to step in as Gabriella."

"She won't have to," Eliza stated. "I take theater very seriously and unless I am on my deathbed, nothing will make me miss out on being Gabriella."

"I like the dedication," Miss Jenn commented. "Let's take a five, and you two hydrate before we continue."

Eliza walked over to her backpack and grabbed her water bottle and took a drink. When she turned around, Luke stood there with a caramel apple sucker. "What's this for?"

"It's an apology candy— your favorite," Luke explained. "I'm sorry, I don't know how to be just friends with you. I hate that I realized my mistake too late, and I miss us."

"You can't do this to me, Luke. It's already hard enough for me to see you everyday, and you auditioned for the show because I did. And now, you're saying you miss us yet you're the one that broke up with me because you can't afford any distractions and here you are in a show that takes a lot of time to put on. So what is it? Am I a distraction or not?"

"Eliza, I'm ready," Gina spoke up. Eliza took the candy from Luke's hand and shoved it in her bag before meeting Gina in the middle of the room. Gina handed Eliza the second bedazzled tray before explaining the moves.

🏀

"I don't think my calves have ever felt this sore," Eliza complained as she walked out of the locker room. Gina's choreography was no joke, then the new choreography the cheerleaders have been working on.

"You got the lead in the school play?" Andrea, the co-Captain, questioned as she walked with Eliza. "How is that going?" Andrea was a senior on the cheerleading team and had chosen Eliza to be co-captain.

"You know, I got the lead. And it's really fun, but we've been working on the choreography which is the reason I was already dead before practice today," Eliza said.

"It's not going to tire you out, is it? I mean, I really think this year we could actually make it to the finals. But that's not until spring so," Andrea trailed off. "But I know you could handle it. I don't need my co-captain to run out of battery before the first time we cheer."

"I won't— but I do have to get home for dinner. I will see you later," Eliza said before walking away. She took her phone out of her bag, calling her mom. No answer.

Family

Eliza: Mom borrowed my car and I don't have a ride home. May be a few minutes late for dinner.
Dad: Working on one last case before heading home. I can pick you up before heading home.
Eliza: I can walk, don't worry. See ya'll soon 😎

Eliza locked her phone and put it back in her bag before she walked out of the school.

"Need a ride?"

"I can walk," Eliza told Luke. She walked away and turned around. With every step, her calves burned. "Actually, a ride home would be nice. Thank you."

🏀

If Eliza knew accepting a ride home from Luke meant her parents inviting Luke to eat dinner with them, Eliza would rather have suffered by walking home. Calves be damned.

"He's always been a nice boy," Mrs Parks told Eliza when Eliza rushed to help clear the table. "You know I met your dad when I was your age. We were friends before, just like you and Luke were. I'm sure one day you'll both realize that—"

"I don't want to talk about Luke," Eliza interrupted. "I can't believe you invited him to dinner. It's a family thing, and he's never been invited during the two years when we were actually together. I— we're not together anymore and he was just being nice by giving me a ride home since your car is in the shop." Eliza said, before her phone buzzed. She grabbed it and looked at her screen. It was from Ricky.

Ricky Bowen

Ricky: I need advice. I might've done something stupid.
Eliza: you're gonna have to be more specific there bowen. I could have a whole list of things you've done that was stupid in a minute.
Ricky: okay, I didn't ask for that. But I need some advice from someone other than big red.
Eliza: ofc. I needed an excuse to leave my house.

"Could I head out for a few minutes, maybe for half an hour. Ricky— you know Mike and Lynne's son, they live across the street."

"Of course, I know the Bowens. Why are you talking to Ricky?" Mrs Parks asked her daughter. "Are you two—?"

"He's actually the Troy to my Gabriella, so we're actually running lines and practicing on our own time. He's new to theater, so I've been giving him pointers. I will be home before it gets too late, I promise."

🏀

"You left Nini a voicemail?" Eliza asked when Ricky told her what he had done. "Okay, maybe you should run anything you do or tell Nini by me before you actually do it. What made you want to leave the voicemail?"

"We had a moment, or at least, I thought we had a moment. She hasn't mentioned anything to you? I know you guys are usually open about everything—"

"Okay, whatever I ever told Nini and you found out, forget it. Take it out of your brain, stomp on it and burn it," Eliza interrupted. The groupchat between the three girls were filled with secrets and relationship milestones. "She found her phone in lost and found earlier. She probably hasn't heard it yet. Give her some time to go through all the texts Kourt and I sent, then she'll focus on the voicemail, if anyone ever checks their voicemails. I know I never do."

"Yeah, I should give her some space. You're right."

"I'm never wrong," Eliza stated and leaned back into the couch.

"Luke was at your house?" Ricky asked. "How's that going?"

"Do you really care?" Eliza questioned, Ricky didn't respond and waited for her to continue talking. "Everything seems to come so easy to him. I know we have this plan to get our exes back, but he broke my heart and I can't forgive him because I haven't forgot what he said. He just— he needs to let me stay mad at him for a while before trying anything. He couldn't even let me find a rebound."

"Did you want to find a rebound?" Ricky asked.

"Not at East High," Eliza stated. "I'd have to visit North High to see if there's any acceptable rebounds— not that I actually thought about it."

ricky ain't slick asking if she wanted a rebound...