CHAPTER THIRTEEN!

Eliza froze when she heard whatever came out of Carlos's mouth. She took a step back and sat on the box that the boys had been standing on and just got lost in her thoughts as she played with her ring on her hand.

She joined the show after two years of quitting theater because it was her favorite movie. Now, with her drama teacher on the verge of losing her job, it felt like a lost cause and a waste of time.

"Rehearsals are officially cancelled until further notice!" Carlos shouted, and Eliza finally looked up to see a near empty rehearsal room. Ricky was the only one left in the room when Carlos stormed out.

"That's it, isn't it?" Eliza questioned. "All of this. Everything we worked for is just gone." Eliza felt this feeling before, and she didn't want to remember it.

"Are you okay?" Ricky asked.

"Physically, I'm fine," Eliza answered and used her sleeve to wipe her runny nose. She was trying her best not to cry. "It's over."

"It's not over, it can't be. Everything will be okay," Ricky stated.

"How do you know?"

"She's Miss Jenn. She's unstoppable. The whole show's unstoppable," Ricky finished.

"Nothing's unstoppable, Ricky. It will come to an end. Might be today, or after the school board meeting—"

"Let's not go there," Ricky interrupted. "It can't stop. We still have too much work to do," Ricky trailed off. "What if I show you the acoustic song idea? Take our mind off the show being cancelled?" Ricky motioned to his guitar case.

"Really?" Eliza asked. She didn't want to admit it, but after so many rehearsals, Ricky's voice started to become her favorite sound.

"Of course," Ricky said as he grabbed the guitar from the case. "You can sing too, I know it's your favorite song. You used to sing it all the time when we were younger. Here we go," Ricky began strumming.

"I thought you were my fairytale, my dream when I'm not sleepin, a wish upon a star that's comin' true, But everybody else could tell That I confused my feelings with the truth When there was me and you, oh, oh," Ricky sang. His eyes never leaving Eliza's. He nodded encouraging her to sing along.

"I swore I knew the melody that I heard you singin' and when you smiled, you made me feel like I could sing along, but then you went and changed the words now my heart is empty, I'm only left with used-to-be's and once upon a song," Eliza sang along with Ricky. "Now I know you're not a fairytale and dreams are meant for sleepin' and wishes on a star just don't come true."

"'Cause now, even I can tell that I confused my feelings with the truth because I liked the view when there was me and you," Eliza finished, by herself. After a few seconds she spoke up, "Ricky, we have to do something to save the show. I don't know what, but we have to try."

🏀

The entire drama club was sat in Big Red's basement. Eliza looked around, she was sat in the chair Ricky was sitting on when she got there, now he was sitting on the ground beside her. And everyone stayed silent, not wanting to be the first one to talk.

"This is terrible party, there's not even pretzels," Natalie spoke up. "What are we all doing here?"

"We all ended up in the same basement after a really bad day, so someone should say something," Ashlyn spoke.

"Fine," Carlos spoke up. "I'll say something. I'm mad at Miss Jenn."

"Why?" Gina questioned. "Because she's got a couple skeletons in her closet?"

"No. Because she's giving up. She was the first teacher to not see me as a punchline, and now she's not even a real teacher?" Carlos questioned.

"Define real teacher," Ashlyn said.

"He's got a point," Kourtney added.

"Does he, though?" Natalie questioned.

"Guys," Big Red sighed.

"So, why are we all here then?" Natalie asked, again.

"Good question. This is a waste of time," EJ complained.

"Honestly? Because she gave me a shot," Carlos added. "And it's been a long time since someone gave me a shot."

"She helped me find my passion for theater again," Eliza spoke up. "I didn't think I'd ever be on stage again without. . ." Eliza trailed off. "I didn't think I would ever be on stage again."

"Okay, does anyone here actually care if her past is a little bit sketchy?" Ashlyn questioned. "Anyone?"

"I do," Ricky said.

"Seriously, dude?" Big Red questioned.

"What, because you live some perfect life?" Kourtney shot.

"Let's not do that," Eliza spoke up. "Tensions are already high, and we don't need to— just explain, Ricky."

"Because," Ricky stood up, "she put our show in jeopardy. And now we're all here, maybe for the last time, together. And for some of us, this has become— I don't know," Ricky trailed off.

"Family," Eliza finished, twisting her sister's ring on her finger. Ricky looked at Eliza.

"What team?" Ricky asked.

"Wildcats," everyone responded quietly. Some with a smile on their face.

"Okay, wildcats. What are we doing about it?" Ashlyn asked, looking around the room.

🏀

All the theater kids stood behind Miss Jenn waiting for the principal to reach his final decision. Without realizing, Eliza found Ricky's hand and held it waiting for the decision. Everyone cheered when it was decided Miss Jenn could keep her job.

Eliza jumped as high as she could, then immediately hugged the person beside her. Ricky grabbed her tightly and spun her around.

"We did it! It's saved. You were amazing, oh my god," Eliza's smile was wide, before she was whisked away and hugged the rest of the drama club. After a bit she took out her phone, sending a quick text to Ricky.

Ricky Bowen

Eliza: Remind me to thank your dad with something homemade. You're so lucky to have someone like him. ❤️

it's a short chapter, and probably the only story I'm updating this week. who knows, bc I dont.