"I'm just suggesting-" EJ tried.

"EJ, no." Nova stopped him.

"Just for safe measures." he tried again.

"How many times do I have to say it? Absolutely not." Nova said, throwing the bubble wrap off her arms and into his lap, "Let me eat my lunch without this."

"Okay, okay." he rose his hands, watching as Nova went to take a bite out of her sandwich before it was taken from her, "Just gonna cut this in half for you real quick. Don't want you to choke."

"Attention, thespians! I have a brief announcement." Carlos spoke as he rose to his feet, standing on one of the benches, "After spending the last couple of weeks google-stalking the Menkie Awards, I've discovered that there is no category before Best Choreography: And since the Menkies is step one to me becoming the first ever winner of a MEGOT."

"MEGOT?" Big Red whispered toward Ashlyn in confusion.

"Mankie, Emmy, Granny, Oscar, Tony." the Caswell girl nodded.

"I've decided I will be auditioning fo be on stage this year." Carlos beamed as he looked around, "Thank you, all!"

The group cheered for him. Nova left EJ at the table as she walked over, rubbing Carlos on the back, "And zero need to worry. I will be amazing at your behind the camera role."

"V, you're seriously not gonna audition?" Gina frowned up at her, "You did great as Belle last time."

"Back when I had a unrealistic dream." Nova shook her head as she sat down, "Now I need to focus on how to own a business and take trips across the world and never be home."

"Is that really what you wanna do?" Seb asked, seeing the cringe across her face.

"Yes." she said back, though it seemed to nearly kill her to say so.

"Big Reds trying out too!" Ashlyn announced as she lifted his arms.

"Yeah, he is!" Ricky cheered.

"Big ups, Big Red. You gonna teach me some of those allegedly great tap moves?" Gina joked as she leaned on the table more.

Big Red gave a laugh, "I'm so scared."

"Oh, just remember you cannot play Chip, the teacup since it'd obviously be weird for you to be my son." Ashlyn pointed out with a tight lipped smile, "I mean, i'm probably getting Mrs.Potts. Not that we don't all have a equal shot."

"So, that means Nova is also on lights?" Ricky asked with a worried expression, "Don't wanna pull another Heather Chandler."

"I did not drop that light on her head." Nova defended herself.

"Yes, you did." the entire table said on sync.

"Miss Jenn also tells me you are going out for a roll this year." Carlos nudged Kourtney with a grin.

She gave a cute giggle, "What can I say, I play Taylor for half an act of HSM and suddenly I think i'm Regina King."

EJ walked over, his hand on Novas shoulder when he took a seat, looking at Ricky, "You're welcome."

"Huh?" the Bowen boy questioned when he sat.

"Oh, I've decided to take myself out of the running for the Beast." EJ said as the whole table gave a look of disbelief, "I'm just... I've got a lot on my plate."

"Like what? Wrapping Nova in bubble wrap and child proofing her house?" Seb giggled.

"Which reminds me, I should probably pick a meal plan for Duke." EJ snapped his fingers as he dug into his pocket.

"Wait, you officially got in?" Ashlyn grinned.

"Back up. You're not doing the musical either?" Ricky asked.

"No, I've only got the bandwidth for a supporting role." EJ shook his head as he looked at Nova, "Plus, who is gonna keep a eye on this one?"

"Considering i'm nearly eighteen..." Nova trailed off with a odd look.

"What do you mean either?" EJ asked Ricky, thinking back to his words.

Ricky gave a nervous laugh as he looked around, "Uh, i'm not sure if i'm auditioning this year. You know, once a skate rat...right?"

"You can't skate and burst into song at bad times?" Nova questioned.

"You can't do business and burst into song at bad times?" he shot back her way with a raise of his brows.

"Wait, for real?" Gina asked in disbelief his way.

"Okay. Um, sorry, I've been trying to work up the courage to say this. Okay, I can't believe in standing infront of both Troy Bolton's right now." Lily, a blonde girl who Nova had english with, fan girled as she stood infront of the table, "Both your performances last semester in HSM were incredible."

"Thanks."Ricky spoke.

"Thank you. That means a lot to us." EJ explained with a smile her way, "It honestly takes a villlage to get a shoe on its feet. I've been blessed."

"Okay, hollywood premier." Nova whispered, impressed.

"No, no. I mean, thank you. Really. I mean, you both inspired me to wanna try our this semester. It's intimidating being basically, like, brand new to theater." she explained, out of breath from talking so fast, "Hey, honestly, you guys are all so talented."

"Oh, thank you." Ashlyn chuckled with a flushed face.

"Hey, do you mind if we..." she trialed off, pulling her phone from her pocket.

"Oh." Ginas eyes widened.

"Selfie." Nova gave a awkward laugh.

"Selfie, yes." Lily giggled in response as they all leaned in, smiling as she snapped the photos

"Hey, you can tag me in that." EJ laughed. Nova rubbed his back, he always was so much kinder and more talkative then she was. Nova was the type to wanna get away from a conversation while EJ did everything in his power to make sure it wasn't a awkward situation and make the other person feel welcomed, "It's just EJWaterPoloTheaterGuy. Theater.. e-r."

"Just did." Lily grinned as his phone went off, "Bye."

"I gotta get to class too, I missed a lot of school." Nova explained as she pulled her bag on her back.

"Let me carry that, shoulder cramps." EJ grabbed it for her as they headed off.

"All I'm saying is that you could kill as a leading role and I wish you'd just take the opportunity." Nova explained as she stood backstage with EJ.

"Okay, and so could you but you're not." he argued in the slightest.

"I'm on lights now." Nova defended herself, "Big Red taught me everything."

"You shouldn't be on lights you should be under light." he explained with a shake of his head, "I mean, Nova, you're a star."

"A star who lets her emotions get the best of her." Nova corrected him with a huff, setting up his mic better, "Then gets in a car accident and nearly dies because she couldn't handle the fact that someone else got what she wanted."

"That could have happened no matter what went down the DePaul. Belle could be your co-" he began before she cut him off.

"I'm not doing the play." she spoke sternly with a shake of her head, "Let's just drop it already."

With that, she left him backstage to join Miss Jenn in the audience.

•

kylie speaks

noves ):